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TESTIMONIES OF GOD'S GRACE
Delbert "Pete" Austrew I came to Bethel colony of Mercy in November, 1998. At this time in my life I found myself at a loss of family, friends and everything else I loved or cared about. I had been drinking and drugging very heavily just to deal with the emotional pain I was feeling. On arriving at Bethel, I had a desire to turn my life around simply because I knew it was a miracle of God that I made it there. You see, I knew "about" God but had no relationship with Him. Everything I had attempted in life had become a failure. Relationships, employment and then my health! In 1987, I was involved in an industrial accident that resulted in six major surgeries in seven years! Two major back surgeries that left me relying on a wheel-chair, a total left hip replacement, and two shoulder replacements. A tumor was found in my neck resulting in surgery that has left one side of my face numb. On my back in Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, I cried out to Jesus Christ. Soon after that a nurse came into my room and asked; "Where are the roses? I smell roses." No one had brought roses to my room. I continued in my difficulties for some years as I was in and out of physical rehabs. At one point I was prescribed over ten different pain medicines and had become addicted to them all. I was also addicted to street drugs and alcohol. This continued to the point I lost my family and all that mattered to me. Then, a family member told me about Bethel Colony. I came to Bethel as soon as I could get in. My experience at Bethel was one that I will walk with for the rest of my life. I wish I could say that when I left Bethel everything went well for me. Sadly, my life continued to spiral downward. But, at the most precious time in my life, what was instilled in me while at Bethel came forth! I had "NOT" surrendered everything to Jesus! I had held on to anger, resentment, and deep emotional pains. My most precious time was the point of surrender of everything to Jesus! Feeding on the Word, I began to discover how much He loves me. John 3:16 says; "For God so loved the world (me), that He gave His only Son." I discovered His identity within the Bible and began to see my own identity through His eyes. This experience changed my life forever! You see, as I discovered these truths through the Holy Spirit, I discovered who was the author of my failures...Satan! I learned I have authority over my enemy in the name of Jesus! Because of this discovery, my life has purpose and meaning today. Yes, I lost everything, but God has restored my health, both mental and physical. Today I am as healthy as I have ever been in my life. God is blessing me in so many ways. On June 8, 2007, I graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville, NC. I am a licensed Baptist minister. I will be attending Florida Baptist College to pursue a Master of Ministry degree. In the meantime, I have traveled from Kentucky to Florida preaching the Word of God and giving my testimony. I feel the Lord has placed a burden on my life to write a book concerning the role of the "Spiritual Priest of the Home". God is doing things for me that I would not have thought possible! My testimony is simply this; He is still in the business of raising the "dead"! He is no respecter of persons and He will do the same for "whosoever". The roses no one could find in my hospital room? One day I read in the Bible that He is the Rose of Sharon! Praise God! The tomb is empty! Revelation 12:11; "And they overcame the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." Praise God, we win! And as the old song says..."It is well with my soul!"
Raised in a little fishing community on the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia, I attended church regularly as a youth. From the beginning my father and I always clashed and often he would go beyond acceptable disciplinary actions. When I was about 14, I was asked to leave the house frequently by my dad. Being exposed to an older group of boys who drank, ran the roads all night and dabbled in whatever came their way - fighting, stealing, destroying property and such - I stopped going to church. At 17, I began smoking marijuana which led to stronger stuff and by the age of 37 I had tried all the popular drugs such as cocaine, heroin, speed, LSD and was drinking alcohol as well. I had two failed marriages under my belt and was generally a basket-case, unmanageable, drunk or high all of the time. I even beat a woman I was in a relationship with within an inch of her life. I had never thought I was capable of such things. She forgave me and on June 8, 1987, we had a little girl and named her Julie. I thought she was my turning point, but years of a life filled with sin will take you farther than you want to go, leave you longer than you to stay and cost you more than you want to pay. When I was 50 and my little girl was 13, she led me to the Lord on October 24, 2000. The Christian life is everything my godly grandmother told me it was. I had joy, was at peace with myself and enjoyed a rewarding relationship with my daughter. It was not long before I was again struggling with things like my temperament. My moods were lousy and I fell away from the Word of God at the most needful times of my life. I struggled to find peace on my own with no success. Soon I was back drinking and doing drugs, but I felt awful for turning my back on the Lord. I tried to get back in right standing with Him and could not figure out what was wrong. Then I remembered something my grandmother had told me when I was young; "Whenever you are in trouble, say; ‘Lord, please have mercy on me.’" He did. My sister knew of my struggles and found information on Bethel Colony from pamphlets and testimonies. The Lord revealed that I was to go to Bethel for the help I desperately needed. For years I had harbored unforgiveness towards my dad. I also had hatred in my heart for being sexually abused as a child. Bethel brought out these problems and showed me exactly where to take them - the cross. Thank you, Lord. I am now free from the guilt of the past and free from unforgiveness and hatred. I have my confidence back and, "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Thank you, Lord, for setting me free without charge or remembering my sin. I also thank everybody who gives to the Lord at Bethel.
Below is a letter written to Bethel on June 19, 2007 from a Former Bethel Student:
Dear Bethel: I was a student there from mid August 2004 through mid October of the same year. I want to thank you for your ministry. I tried to conquer my addiction to alcohol on my own. It was only through my complete and total submission to Jesus Christ while at Bethel that I was healed from that addiction - not only alcohol but tobacco as well. I use the word "healed" because - from the perspective of dependency - I am just as I was before I ever encountered alcohol or tobacco. They are truly a non-issue in my life today with Jesus. He has truly worked miracles in other areas of my life that I never would have thought possible. I can not emphasize enough the importance of faith. I and my family are doing well and are very active in our church. Although we still experience all of life's struggles from day to day, we take care of what we can, and leave to Christ those things we can not. You will always stay in my prayers. I'll make a point to visit the next time I'm in the area. Sincerely yours,
Bill Howington 1953 graduate of Bethel, shares a testimony of God’s grace in his life. Bill has been faithful to the LORD and to Bethel since his graduation. What a testimony to the power of God!
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Testimony
of Bethel Graduate
Michael Pruitt