My Testimony
So whats all this JESUS stuff about anyway? Why
in the world can't you just be a normal racer Bruce? Why do you always have to bring THAT with you? What's the story
behind all of this? I'm sure many questions run through your mind when you see the girls at the track doing random giveaways,
or hear me at the track talking about God, all the while wearing our Jesus gear. Well, maybe this will help you understand
why we do that. I'll give you the short version ;).
I was raised in a Catholic home. 18 years worth of catechism and church, but I never KNEW God. I knew about some things
He did, but that was it. I wasn’t sure I was going to heaven, figured I’d try to be good and since God was
nice I’d probably make it to heaven...maybe. At the age of 17, my senior year of high school, my parents started getting
into serious disputes as they were on their way down a long road known as divorce street. Unfortunately, I'm sure there
are many people who can relate. The police were at my house three out of four nights one week. It got to where I never wanted
to be at home. I went to school, then football or track practice, and then to work. I would come home around midnight because
of my Cinderella license and then be off again at 6 the next morning. On weekends I usually slept at a friend's house. I was
having trouble dealing with this whole proceeding even though the whole time it was happening I was telling myself I was fine
and that I didn’t understand why people made a big deal out of divorce. I was angry, hurt, disappointed, scared, and
most of all in denial.
Since my home family had deteriorated, I made my schoolmates my adopted family. I still don’t think any of them know
how much I valued them. Even if I see one of them today it makes my day. My dad eventually moved out and my brother
chose to live with him. I stayed with mom, figuring that was ‘fair’, each parent getting one child. After I graduated
high school though, things changed. My world came down because the “family” I had adopted at school was all gone.
None of them really cared about me like I did for them, because they didn't know what they meant to me, and it was all a one
way relationship. I lived with my mother for a while, but I couldn't deal with her new relationships. I couldn’t
take living with my father either, and it showed. We almost got in a fist fight on more than one occasion. I decided I wanted
out. Since I was attending a community college at the time, I began looking for four year schools in the somewhat
not-so-close area. I ended up at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA. This was January of 1998. It didn’t work
out too well for me. Then the end of the semester came and I found myself in debt to the school for $7000.00. Needless
to say, I couldn’t register for classes until the bill was paid and, oddly enough, I didn’t have seven g’s
just laying around, so I couldn’t go back to school. The thought of moving in with one of my parents again
was dreadful, so I decided to move back home to Annville. I moved in with a friend for a month but his landlord said there
were too many people living in the house so I had to move out. I moved in with my aunt a few towns away in Fredericksburg.
It is now August of 1998.
Things were fine for two months. Then she announced she got a job in Philly and she was moving out. She asked me if
I could handle the apartment (financially) on my own and I said yes. I was lying. She left in November and in December I was
struggling to decide which bills to pay and how I was going to pay my rent and all my other bills. I was drowning in my own
financial mess and had nowhere to turn for help. One cold December night it all came to a head.
I had left my friends house in Fontana and was driving home. It was late, 11 or 11:30 Sunday night December 13th
. I had all the financial pressure and loneliness of my life just weighing on my mind. I happened to be driving by my high
school and so I turned in and parked my car. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing, I just knew I couldn’t handle
life anymore. I walked out to the middle of the football field and knelt down on the fifty yard line. I told God that I didn’t
know who He was or what was going on in my life. I told Him I wasn't even sure He was real, but I couldn’t
handle my life anymore and I didn't want to live it anymore. I said I didn’t know anything about Him but if
He was there He needed to take my life from me because I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I was crying and helpless
and had nowhere else to turn.
Funny how that would turn out to be the greatest day of my life.
Two days after my prayer in the field, I got a flyer in the mail from Jonestown Bible Church. I called the number on the
back and reached the pastor. He asked me to come in to see him. I went in to see Pastor Atkins and he showed me what the Bible
really says about the Lord and His plan for us. The fact is that we CAN know for certain that we are going
to heaven. Jesus died so that we might know this. All we have to do is accept Him into our hearts. Its that
simple. He asked me if I wanted this to be a part of my life and I enthusiastically said yes. The rest, as they
say, is history.
I have been saved (believer in Christ) for 8 years now and the Lord continues to stretch me and mold me. It
isn't always easy but it is always rewarding. I am so thankful that He pulled me from the dark world I was
in and can’t imagine what life would be like without the Lord now. Scary doesn’t even begin to describe
it. My finances have changed drastically. I'm not rich by any means, but I never have any need. The Lord continues
to provide for me even in the tight times. I've not had to worry about money since that day. My relationships with my
parents are as good as ever. My dad and I share a love for this sport that has helped us come together. My
mom is in Florida, and I am certain is supporting me in prayer.
I have been going to dirt tracks since I was six months old. I believe the Lord put this love for our sport
in my life for a reason. I also believe He took me down the path I just shared with you for a reason, to give me a passion
for Him. What you see in my life at the track (and away from it) is simply my desire that you would share in the JOY and PEACE
that He gave me. I cannot begin to describe to you how great these things are or how much better my life is now. The
things we do at the track and this ministry that we share with you is hopefully an obvious extention of Christ's love. The
Lord desires you to share in it as well. The only way I know how to help you understand is to talk with you about it
and share it with you.
Hopefully that answered your questions and you understand now why we do what we do. If not, just email me, I'd
love to hear from you!
