John Greyeyes
I was born and raised in Fort St. John, BC, and I've worked in sawmills in the area for over 30 years. When I was 16 my "career" with alcohol began. I believe my habit of alcohol got out of control when I lost my best friend and my brother through carbon monoxide poisoning in 1977.
At that time I didn't care if I lived. So I drank until I dropped, and I even thought about suicide. My life spun out of control. I drank, I fought and I survived numerous auto accidents. Everything I tried, tested or tasted was meaningless, useless, irrational, pointless, foolish and empty. I don't know how many impaired driving charges I got, but I know that one time they caught me passed out in front of my brother's grave. I was once beaten up real bad and was told that I might lose my eyesight. After I recovered, I was a bitter, bitter man.
When I was a child, my grandmother had influenced me toward the Lord, but it was when I went to a church meeting in 1982 that I first gave my life to the Lord. A family from that church invited me to their home and shared with me about how to receive Christ. I went home and asked the Lord into my life. I could sense a "filling up." Before that day I used to have recurring dreams of fighting the devil, but after that day I never had that dream again. I knew there was spiritual power there.
However, I met a girl on that first visit to that church, and I got involved with her. I bought a Bible, but I never read even one verse. I was totally in love with this girl, I thought, and I didn't follow the Lord at all. All I thought about was her, and the Lord was way down on my list of priorities. We had children together, but drinking and all that went with it continued in both of our lives.
During that time, in 1984, I had lost a Christian friend who used to talk to me all the time about God. My friend meant a lot to me. When he died I really was sad. We had worked together at the mill and at lunchtime he would talk about the Lord. I respected him.
I used to go by a certain church and something would always be pushing me to go in. I avoided looking at that church building so I would not have that feeling. Finally, I took the first step and called the pastor. I became impressed by the way he taught the Bible. He gave us a chance to ask questions, and he gave answers to any kind of questions we had.
I had a lot of burdens, alcohol being the main one. But God totally destroyed my cravings for alcohol. It now saddens my heart when I see somebody drunk on the streets. I thank God because I'm firmly convinced that I'd be dead if I hadn't quit drinking.
But I didn't fully surrender until 1998. I had made God a "spare tire"-I didn't make him the "steering wheel" till then. I started to attend church, but slowly. Then I started reading my Bible regularly. I started praying regularly. I wasn't ashamed of Jesus Christ anymore. It was only when I was in "spiritual motion" that I saw results in my Christian walk. I got baptized in April of 2003.
I truly appreciate the teachers of the faith that I have had. They've built for me a foundation built on Jesus Christ. So I'm eternally grateful. I'll never be able to pay them back-even if I was to live as long as Methuselah!
I love to share my faith. I share it at the mill-I bring it up, much to the chagrin of some people. I think we're all put on this earth, as Christians, to glorify God. I've served weekly at a church soup kitchen for numerous years. I love the people who come in.
God has helped me to forgive people. Years later I ran into the fellow who was the ringleader of the group that almost beat me to death. On two occasions I extended my hand and I shook his hand and forgave him.
I have served on the board of our local Christian radio station. I am on other boards, too, and I visit people who are dying at the hospital. I do a lot of work with the street people. I also answer phone calls for the Tribal Trails TV ministry, which has been a priority ministry for me. The wisdom the Lord has given me to do this is amazing. It comes from reading the Bible. If I use my own wisdom with these people, I believe the cross will be emptied of its power-no effect, nothing. It has to be God's wisdom. It's all Jesus.
You can view a video interview with John by visiting http://www.tribaltrails.org (you will need to enter his name in the Search box at the top of the page).
Reprinted from the Tribal Trails TV newsletter, News & Views, a publication of Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (NCEM). Used by permission.
