Mark 8:36: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” or Mark 8:37: “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” After chasing women, cash, cars, clothes, and controlling communities with crack cocaine, I found myself incarcerated and isolated from society and self-satisfaction. I had a one-on-one evaluation with my sinful, selfish soul. I looked at all the damage and destruction I had brought to so many people’s lives. I asked myself a question: How much time did I waste with the devil and being in darkness? I went through the twelfth grade twice, dropped out, and became a career criminal as a dope man. I made a lot of money, but I lost it because if it is wrong, then it will not stay long. I was hopeless, in and out of prison, and headed to the gates of hell. I had fourteen different crack houses. In 1993, I swallowed a half-ounce of cocaine and was dying in the hospital, but this doctor named Jesus stuck two tubes down my nose, pumped the cocaine out of me, and sent me to jail. I did not go to Hell. No, I did not get saved like everybody else. I was shot at point-blank range and robbed several times. I knew that I was called to do something great, but I let the god of this world—greed—grab me first.

After four felonies, I came face-to-face with fifty years, but the Father in Heaven gave me four years to find my faith and future. I realized after fourteen crack houses, swallowing a half-ounce of cocaine, almost dying in the hospital, and going in and out of prison, that it was not worth it.

I counted up how much time I had spent in darkness and I realized that I served five years and eight months; that is, sixty-eight months, 281 weeks, 2,137 days, 51,288 hours, 3,600,088 minutes, 184,623,000 seconds of my life. All I received was a momentary gain for a lifetime of pain. In the midst of my incarceration, I had a confrontation with Jesus. He gave me salvation and restoration. I gave back to Jesus all the moments, minutes, months, and years of being mixed up and messed up. With my God, I began to read the Four Gospels every chance I could. I almost became a Muslim, but I met Jesus first.

Praise Jesus, because this was my story when I was in darkness and dead, but now I am alive, and this is my résumé and future with the Lord. I have a beautiful wife and three wonderful children. I have been out of prison for over six years. I am an ordained minister and the Pastor of Agape Love Ministry where we have helped over forty hopeless and homeless teenagers find a choice, a chance, and changed circumstances in Jesus Christ. I have been on Channel 11 News with Heaven’s Way for feeding the homeless under the bridge. I have been blessed to be the Youth Pastor over children at Greater New Sanctuary Missionary Baptist Church, Pastored by Pastor Raymond Farley, Sr. I am also grateful and privileged to have had the opportunity to speak at some of the greatest historical churches in Houston, ranging from over 4,000 members to four people.

I have also spoken at many youth conferences and correctional facilities, where I showed them the prison clothes and all of the items I left prison with (that was called A MOMENTARY GAIN FOR A LIFETIME OF PAIN). I give all Honor and Glory to God because only He can take you when you are down and turn your life around. God is still able to take you when you are at your lowest and bring out your best. When you are at your worst that is when you will make Him first. I had to go through adversity, abuse, allegation, and accusation to become the author of ABCs of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the worst and darkest hours of my life, I took heed and heard Heaven speak to my heart as I wrote this book. The Bible never changes. Jesus is still taking the people we least expect in order to lead people to Eternity. God took my life from a “mess to a masterpiece.” If you need Him, He is willing and waiting to do the same for you. Remember, Jesus has no respect of person. What He does for one, He will do for another. I am so glad that He chose and blessed me with such a gift as the ABCs of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Reginald Jerrod Predom Sr.