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INfocus
by Keewatin Bird
Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute student
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When I was 13 a lady named
Jenny Bird came to my house and invited me to a "Higher
Challenge" wilderness Bible camp. There I was introduced to the
Gospel. I already knew about religion -- go to church, be baptized, take
communion -- but didn't know that I could know Jesus. What struck me most,
after attending camp, was just looking at the world and seeing the effects
of sin. Soon after that I talked to Tom Cnossen (NCEM missionary) and
prayed to receive Christ.
My first years as a believer
were in an environment full of TV porn, violent video games, and secular
music. All I had was the Word of God. I soon drifted away from church and
Bible study. The world became more attractive. At 17 I had my first beer.
I made a bet that New Jersey would beat Toronto in the Stanley Cup
playoffs. I was so confident that I told my friend I'd have a beer if they
lost. So began four years of increasing alcohol abuse.
During that time I met a girl.
One Valentine's Day I planned a special date, got dressed up, bought a
gift, and went to pick her up. I couldn't find her and, after all that
effort, I was mad. On the way home I heard a radio report of a girl who
fell off a train bridge. I thought, "I'd hate to be that girl's
boyfriend!" A couple days later my sister asked me, "What's the
name of the girl you've been seeing?" I told her and she said,
"That’s who fell off the bridge." After that I drank because I
needed alcohol to escape reality.
One day I realized how awful
life had become. I came home and found that the people I loved had only
wandered further into sin. Desperate, I made a noose out of a guitar
strap, stood on a stool, and was just about to kick it out from under me
when I heard these words playing on the stereo: "I need a voice to
set me free."
I knew the "voice" I
needed was Christ calling me back. He reassured me with those words and
convinced me that I wasn't destined to be an alcoholic. Isaiah 9:2
comforted me: "People walking in darkness have seen a great
light." I realized then that, from the time I'd first come to know
Christ, He'd never left me. The journey back to faithfulness was hard. My
heart was like a burnt ball. Slowly there were glimpses of light around
the edges of that darkness.
God placed it in my heart to
come to KBI, but I didn't really want to because I knew there would have
to be more changes in my life. A big challenge here for me is genuinely
loving others and working within the Body of Christ. I try to see it as
being a good player on a hockey team. I need patience and love -- I'm not
the team, just one member. Learning even through doing chores here has
been a big help.
I've enjoyed prison ministry. Public
Speaking class helped me to share what the Lord's done in my life. I've
also been part of a music band here. We've sung in prison, and at the
NorthQuest and SnowBlast youth retreats. We use every song as an
opportunity to share what it's meant to us personally.
Click here to meet other
Key-Way-Tin students and staff
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