My Five Visions: God's Power to Save#

Stephen grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church but stopped attending around fifth grade after moving to public school. From that point, his faith faded. Between the ages of 14 and 25, he lived without faith altogether — years marked by addiction, hardship, and searching.

My First Vision

Pharmakeia — that’s the Greek word for sorcery. It literally means to administer drugs and then persuade. A lot of people think witchcraft is some ancient thing, but I’d argue it’s more alive — and more subtle — than ever before. These days the enemy has sorcery on autopilot. Weed, hip hop, and movie images had me under a spell.

As a teenager, I smoked a lot of marijuana and listened to hip-hop. The weed made my mind more open to the selfish philosophies in those songs. At 15, I had a mentor — I now call him the mentor the devil sent me. He was a 45-year-old Gangster Disciple. I thought he loved me. Honestly, I think he thought he did too. We’d sit at his table after school, smoking weed and drinking liquor, while he gave us what he thought was fatherly advice. But it was wisdom from a distorted mind.

One day, we were at his house, smoking and watching the movie Belly. That film made drug dealers look respected and powerful. Under the influence of weed and those images, seeds of destruction were planted. I had one vision for the future: I wanted to be like them — a drug dealer, a respected gangster.

Little by little, that vision became reality. By my mid-20s, I was addicted to almost every drug you could name — and I sold them too. Destruction surrounded me. I hurt people. I lost my kids, my friends, my family — everything. That’s not an exaggeration. I lost everything.

Vision 2 — Nothing

After years of homelessness as a result of my choices, I was arrested. In jail, sober for the first time in a long time, I had to face myself. With my relationships destroyed and custody of my children gone, all I could see ahead was a cycle of destruction.

I had a panic attack and ended up in an isolation cell. While lying on a cold slab of concrete, I felt the full weight of being alone. Stephen King, the author known as the King of Horror, once said the scariest word in the dictionary is “alone.” I agree.

In that cell, I cried out to God:

“I know I destroyed my life. I know You’re going to give me hell for eternity — and I’m sorry.”

I believed my future was death, destruction, and hell. The thought was unbearable. So I cried out again:

“Lord, if You let me be with my kids again, I’ll serve You for the rest of my life.”

Right after that prayer, I fell into a deep sleep on that cold, hard floor.

Jesus Gives a Disciple a Reality Check

The next day I heard on the intercom: “Stephen, you have a visitor.” I had ruined every relationship I had and couldn’t think of a single person who would come see me. I assumed it was a detective investigating me for something I had done. But no — it was a pastor, someone I had never met before.

We sat down and talked. For the first time in years, I had genuine conversation and felt cared for. The pastor was in his 90s, but sharp as ever. Towards the end, he asked me:

“Son, do you know God?”

“I know there’s some sort of intelligence in the universe,” I fumbled. He listened, then said plainly:

“I’ve got to be honest with you, young man. Jesus Christ is the only way.”

I chuckled and said, “What do you mean?” I thought it was so cliché. He asked me, “If you could give your sons anything, what would it be?”

I thought about it — money, cars, opportunities? Then it hit me: eternal life. There’s no better gift.

“That’s my answer,” I said. “I’d give them eternal life.”

He replied with the wisdom of God:

“That’s exactly what your Father wants for you.”

Something sparked in my brain and he had my attention. He told me, “All you have to do is ask Him to save you.”

I asked, “What if I don’t believe?”

He said, “Just try.”

Then he led me in a simple prayer: “Lord Jesus, will You be my Savior? Will You save me?”

And in that moment, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. I was calm and peaceful for the first time in 10 years. When you’ve gone a decade without peace, and you finally feel it again — it hits different. I sobbed. From that day, little by little, I began to change. I started to use my time wisely.

Vision 3 — A Cook At Fleetwood Diner

In jail, I started doing constructive things — like my “before breakfast push-ups.” While others groaned in line at 4 a.m., I dropped down and did push-ups until the truck arrived.

One day, I had another vision: myself working as a cook at Fleetwood Diner. Their kitchen is in the front, so you can actually talk to people. For the first time in years, I saw myself doing something not destructive.

Vision 4 — Go Get Your Kids

When I got out of jail, I didn’t become a cook. I fell back into selling drugs. One day, in a motel room, disgusted with myself, I decided to escape.

My business partner and I rented a truck and we drove straight from Michigan to Las Vegas, then on to California, rented an Airbnb, and hung out at the beach all day. I thought, If I could just get to the beach, I’ll be happy. But as I stood with my toes in the sand, I was miserable.

Then God spoke: “Go get your kids.”

That vision changed everything. I began to see a future where I could have my sons back in my life. Even though my parental rights had been terminated — a nearly impossible situation — doors opened. I started having supervised visits. Painting with my boys, eating Oreos together —Those visits warmed my heart. I never thought I’d have them back in my life.

I locked in: reading a book a week, doing hundreds of push-ups, running, writing, waking at 4 a.m. My focus: get my kids back. And by the grace of God — I did. That was five years ago.

Since then, the Lord has restored every part of my life. He gave me real friends, purpose, and joy.

Vision 5 — God’s Plan

My plan was simple: make $100,000 painting houses and take classes to become a therapist. That didn’t happen, but two years ago I became a recovery coach and it was my job to help people set goals and stay sober. Unfortunately, I got burnt out. God had other plans.

In October 2024, I got a call:

“Hey, how would you like to be the executive director of Endeavor House Ministries?”

I laughed. “Me? You must have the wrong guy.”

Endeavor House is a 12-month Christian sober-living program in Lansing, Michigan, housing 27 residents. It’s a big responsibility. I felt unqualified. But it wasn’t about my ability — it was about leaning on God’s. He placed me here for a reason: to pour into people struggling with the same addictions that nearly destroyed me.

So here I am, pleading daily for wisdom, knowing I can’t do this on my own. And that’s exactly why He put me here — to keep me leaning on Him.

I ruined my life. I destroyed every relationship. But in that jail cell, when I surrendered to Jesus, He changed my trajectory forever.

Today, I stand in awe of His love and power. He truly is the Painter of Perfect Futures.