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INfocus
by Doug Sinclair
Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute Student
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I was 17 when I headed out from Pine Falls (Manitoba) for Winnipeg. I
had rebelled against my foster parents, even though they had been good
to me. But up till age 9 or 10 my life had been very unsettled. My
earliest memories go back to the day my parents left us kids all alone
in our house in Winnipeg and never came back. Then I stayed in group
homes or with relatives, but never anywhere too long.
My friends introduced me to alcohol when I was 14. The more I drank,
the less I wanted to come home. So I left for the city but I continued
to move back and forth to the reserve. I kept on drinking, and was even
involved in three car accidents, one of them serious.
At age 23 I decided to stay in the city. I couldn't hold a job
while I was drinking and I had just a Grade 8 education. In 1987 I
checked myself into a mission to dry out. But I wasn't serious about
changing my ways and kept going back to my drinking friends. I started
using drugs as well and got involved in violence. My friends would tell
me that I had to be tough to survive in this world.
Then I ran into a couple who had a place called Forward House -- a
Christian place for guys who struggled with alcohol and drugs. I stayed
there for about a year and learned about the Lord, but through my own
fault I was asked to leave. Every time I went back to drinking it got
worse. I started drinking with some guys who belonged to a gang, and
they eventually asked me if I wanted to join. At first I said no, but
one night I went out with them to a house party. I ended up in a fight
with the gang leader. It was the police knocking on the door that saved
me, but I found out later that I had put up a good enough fight to earn
a place in the gang.
I got more violent, and always carried a weapon with me when I was on
the streets, and would never walk alone. I had money and everything else
but I was always looking for something to fill the empty space in my
soul.
One day I was invited back to Forward House for supper. Without
telling them, they knew what I was up to, and they asked me if I would
move back. They said that I could take a week to decide. I drank right
up to the very last day, then decided that I'd had enough. In 1994 I
moved back and stayed for over two years and during that time I
committed my life to Christ and accepted His forgiveness. God delivered
me from drugs and alcohol. I was taught and discipled by a man from a
city church, and when I moved out on my own, God provided a job.
Here at KBI I am learning to see who I am in Christ. It's been good
getting to know the students and teachers. It's good to be with
Christians who are happy and who encourage me when I'm down (and I don't
have to walk around with 6 or 7 guys to feel safe!). I've been doing
some prison ministry and I really enjoy telling my testimony. I think I
can relate to them and they seem to listen to me.
I came to KBI without any money, but people have helped pay for my
schooling. Every night I thank God for His provision and for saving my
life.
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