TESTIMONY
SPECIAL TESTIMONY
John Doe Story
One Sunday evening, Sam and I decided to teach a series of our teachings on Understanding Your Purpose.
There was a young man that I’ll call John. He raised his hand in service and said, "So are you telling us, if our parents didn't take us to church or introduce us to Jesus they went about life the wrong way?”
After my explanation, John said, "I don't agree, my parents are very wealthy; they have everything they need. My father is a successful business man and my mother just received one of the most prestigious awards and recognition for her performance in her county.”
I explained to John that, “Fame and material things are great, but they are not more important than the one who created you. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Jesus is the only one who can give you true life. Jesus is the only one who can connect you to your creator. He is the life line to all living and non-living things. You can have all the money in the world and still be empty on the inside." I went on to tell John and the group, “Without a relationship with Jesus, there will always be someone or something missing- a missing link in your life. All the money, gold, silver, toys, gadgets, vacations, etc. can't replace Him. The missing link: His name is Jesus; you need Him in your life to have abundant life.”
John sat down and continued to listen to the word week after week and asked plenty of questions. The word was going forth in power. Everyone that came out for service gave their heart to Jesus. Several of the kids began to form Bible study during the weekday in their cells.
Soon the day came for this young man to go home. I happened to go to the Fort Bend Juvenile Detention Center one weekday to spend some one-on-one time with a few of the kids that had requested to speak to a chaplain. When John Doe saw me He said, "It's time for them to let me out to go home, I don't want to go home". "I want to stay in the Juvenile Center and hear the Word of God. Please go talk to the judge for me. John said, "If I go home my friends, my road dogs are going to be there waiting on me to go hang out with them; I don’t want to go home. I want to do what’s right." He said, "Ms. Baker will you go talk to my Probation Officer and the Judge for me?"
Long story short, the probation officer talked to the judge and shared the young man's concerns. The judge granted his request to stay longer in the Juvenile Center.
John said, "My brother is my best friend, I haven’t seen him in a long time; I don’t know where he is. I just know he is a fugitive in the state of Texas." Then John asked, "Can God do anything? Can God cause my brother to call me and come see me?" I responded with, "Well John, let's pray and ask God." and that's exactly what we did.
We prayed on a Tuesday and before I arrived at the FBJDC on Sunday, five days later, God performed a miracle! The same day we prayed, John brother got saved. Someone told him about Jesus and John's brother gave his heart and life to Jesus.
After John's brother gave his life to Jesus, God spoke to him in a unique way and told him to turn himself in to the police. When he did the police brought him back to Texas, handcuffed and legs bound with shackles. John's brother called his mother and his mother told him that John had gotten into trouble and was in the FBJDC.
John's brother ask the police superintendent if he could go to talk to his brother. He told the superintendent, "I don’t want him to wind up in trouble like me. I have something special to tell my little brother." The FBJDC is a few yards away from the county jail house where they took John's older brother. The police took John's brother who was once a fugitive, handcuffed and bound by shackles over to the center to see his baby brother. This has never been done before in the FBJD Center.
When the two brothers saw each other it was an amazing homecoming. The two brothers couldn’t believe it! John couldn’t believe God had answer his prayers so quickly within a few day John was now looking in the eyes of his brother, his best friend, smiling.
They reached out and hugged each other and said at the same time, "Man I got something to tell you.” They both at the same said, "Man I am saved"!
Hallelujah! God is a Great God! God is a miracle working God. I ask John on that Sunday when he was telling us what had happen. I said "John can God do anything?" John looked at me and said, “ God can do anything Ms. Baker”.
The young man got out of the Fort Bend Juvenile Detention Center and became manager of a major company!
A Testament of the Power of love, faith, and Prayer
By Nyree
I was so blessed to have met my God Parents Mr. Sam and Mrs. Nadine Baker when I was eight years old. I was placed in a foster home in Missouri City with my foster mother at the time. When I met them for the first time they were a very warm and inviting family. They had embraced my sisters and me as if they had known us from birth. Even then from the first meeting with the Bakers I felt nothing but love. They have shown nothing but unconditional love to my sisters and me from day one. Although my sister’s and I had come from very unfourtant circumstances of sexual and physical abuse, substance abuse addicted parents, poverty, and a back ground that were filled with dysfunctional outcomes, the Baker family never judged or treated us different from their biological children.
Throughout the years the Baker's have always been in my life. They have assured me time and time again no matter what I do, what I have done or how far I go, they will always love me. They have been and are the true meaning of unconditional love. The love that they have shown me in supporting my goals academically, professionally, and personally has been so overwhelming. They continuously support me no matter what the circumstances are. They have guided me without question when I have needed or even when I didn’t know I needed guidance. All of these acts are a testament of the love of God. The most incredible act about the Baker’s is their unwavering trust in God. They have always taught me the word of God from my childhood.
The fact that God loves me, no matter what, was constantly spoken over me. To sum it up, that’s the love God says we should display among each other. Not only do the Baker’s witness about the love of God, but they live unselfishly in displaying God’s love in their personal lives.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for but the evidence of things not seen. This is exactly what I think about when I think about how God brought the Baker’s into my life. They have always taught me about having faith and trusting God even if it seems like it’s not working out the way I want it to. I know God is in control and He works everything out for good.
As a child, when you are placed in a situation, not having your biological parents and not understanding why, it can make your life hard. Dealing with sexual abuse can be very confusing for a child. When these issues are not dealt with at a young age of confusion, then one will continue to grow into adulthood with childhood issues.
I’m so grateful that God saw fit to place Sam and Nadine in my life as parents. They have been there when I needed them to show up either at a school event or personal event. They pushed me when I didn’t want to take another step in order to reach my goals. They have disciplined me when I needed to learn a valuable lesson in life. They have hugged me when I just needed a hug. They have cared for me when I didn’t think anyone else cared. They have shared their thoughts even when I didn’t want to hear what they had to say. They have taught me skills that would help me later in life even when I didn’t want to learn. They have spent valuable time with me when I felt I was not valuable. They have motivated and encouraged me when I felt like I didn’t have the strength to go on. They have nurtured me when I needed a mother’s touch or a father’s concern. They have given me all of the components that a true parent posses. The Baker’s are what I didn’t see with the physical eye but what I truly understand with my spiritual eyes. God saw fit to bless me with a couple who could fill the shoes as a mother and father in my life. I hoped for parents, and God gave me just what I hoped for in the Baker’s.
Prayer is such a powerful tool that was taught to me since childhood. The Baker’s have been that constant reminder for me to pray about everything. As a child, I could remember them making each of us lead the Bible studies with prayer. When I grew up I realize how important prayer is in a persons life.
As an adult, I have seen God continue to work on my behalf from their prayers as well as mine. So when I receive a prayer text from Mrs. Nadine I just think back to hearing her say, ’’I’m always praying for you." The Bible says the prayers of the righteous prevails much and will not be forsaken. So when she says that she is praying for me, I know that God hears her prayers because she is His righteousness and so am I.
The Bakers have instilled in me that I am a child of the King. God will give me whatever I desire. They have encouraged me to stay in constant prayer and to go to God in prayer. I am sure that their prayers and the many times of kneeling before God concerning me has brought me out of many life threatening situations. I know they have saved my life by teaching me and with all the prayers they have prayed in my behalf.
They have been so instrumental helping me become who I am. Today I am a successful woman of God. I love Him and myself. I was able to graduate from Prairie View A&M University and received my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Prairie View A&M University. I am a successful business owner and I never settle for anything less than God’s best for me.