My name is Don Young and I have been serving God for over 20 years, I have preached the gospel in several countries including Japan, Mexico, U.S.A, and of course Canada. My ministry has taken me to many of our Canadian Indian reservations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Manitoba, and to the US as well.
MY TESTIMONY.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I accepted Christ on January 18 1987 in Buffalo Lake Alberta, there was no service going on or choir singing Amazing grace, but there was a man of God who loved Jesus and cared enough for the smelliest, most foul mouthed, greasy haired 17 year old punk on the settlement to tell him that jesus loved him, and that I needed to get saved. This man's name is Terry Bourque and he loved the Lord and he would pick me up every night and take me with him to where he worked as a night watchman, it was there that he would talk to me about jesus and his amazing love, but, at that time in my life after years of verbal, physical, and mental abuse I was at a point where I had a hard time trusting anyone or loving myself let alone any one else, and simply didn't care if I lived or died, in fact about a week before I got saved I tried to end my own life, but God wasn't having any of that, for, just as I stood with a razor blade poised to slash my wrists, I heard a voice say audibly "you've lived this long don't give up now I love you and have something for you" It was at this point that I threw the razor blade aside and started to search the trailer I was in for the owner of the voice and I'm ashamed to say it was with the intent of beating up who ever it was, so I searched the trailer and our yard cussing and swearing and threatening to kill the person if I found them, yep, back then I was not a nice boy.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So this was the state I was in when Jesus came onto the scene, you see when I met the Bourque's it was quite by accident. I was 14 when we moved to Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, and everyone said that the Bourque's were bad news and that you didn't mess with them! (Isn't The devil a Liar!!) you see nothing could be further from the truth for these brothers (Gordon,Joe,Terry and Patrick) had found jesus and the chances of them harming me were about as remote as the ocean drying up tommorrow!.
Galatians 5:22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law
You see I first met the Bourque children, and one day we were playing frisbee and as I thew it the wind caught the frisbee and it hit Gordon's youngest son Todd in the face and almost broke his nose, I was frantic with fear, and I ran all the way home figuring that when Gordon found out who I was I would get beat up, (It was Gordon that performed our marriage) imagine my relief when I finally met him and he chuckled about it and said it was ok his son explained that it was accident, then he started to tell me about Jesus, well I tell ya wanted to be anywhere but there so I listened for awhile and left.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
But guess what? God doesn't give up that easily, I was walking home and this fella driving a truck pulled up and said "where are ya going? want a ride?" and it was hot so I said sure, and when I got in the truck he stuck out his hand and said "Hello my name is Joe Bourque" and I thought oh!! no!! not another one!! and he said son let me tell you about Jesus, I must have had that rabbit cornered by a fox look because he laughed and started to tell me of a friend that was closer than a brother, and had so much love he died for everyone! well it sounded so good but it was so hard to believe when everyone I ever trusted betrayed or hurt or abused me, I wanted so much to believe but I was so scared that if I trusted I would get hurt again. Well it went on like this for some time and even got to the point that when I seen boy's cars I would go hide! but one glorious January night it ended when Terry led me in the sinners prayer, and I gave myself to the Lord Jesus, and what a change in my life! I felt so clean and so new I felt light as a feather and for the first time in years I cried with joy.
Luke 15:7 I
say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy
in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Love in Jesus
Don Young