longest post ever-i can't help it.

I had the opportunity to bear witness to the power of God in amazing ways over the past 2 days.

Sunday at “Reality” was a little different than usual. The students were greeting in the parking lot by booming bass. The lights were dimmed and psychedelic animations danced on the projector screen. On the stage was a DJ-not the “normal” worship band. After mixing some songs for the crowd to dance to, he told us a story.

His name is Jeremy Lowrance, formerly known as “Jelo.” He came from a small town and an all-to-typical divorced family. As a child he was abused. As a high school student, he was rejected by the female species on all but one attempt at a relationship. However, he was the epitome of an ugly ducking and by the time he got to college, he traded his past for new friendships.

He met some “cool” people on campus and they welcomed him with open arms. Unfortunately, being “cool” meant dabbling in just about every drug you could name and before he knew it, he had an expensive habit. He started to go to raves where he fell in love with the music. Being an entrepreneur, he began buying more drugs than he needed and selling the excess so his supply would be free. He also started DJing. And he was GOOD at both professions. He started getting a name around town. He got a national following. He was doing shows in front of 30,000 people on a regular basis in Memphis, New York, Chicago, Canada, etc. But his drug habit followed him everywhere he went. He thought that if he moved to a new place, he could leave his addiction behind and start over. But bad company corrupts good character. All the while, God was trying to call out to him. He wouldn’t listen.

In Chicago he met a woman who had heard of his reputation (not as a musician). In short, he started working with the mafia and was raking in tens of thousands of dollars for 45 minutes of work each week. His life was about to change.

On returning home from a show, he was pulled over. It was the DEA. Jeremy was arrested for international drug trafficking with a sentence of 40 years to life in federal prison. But by a loophole in the legal system, his attorney got the sentence reduced to 4 years in Leavenworth. At 23 years old, he went from an underground national celebrity to a number in the judicial system.

It was in the darkness of a prison cell that he was broken. It was here that he finally succumbed to HIM. He was befriended by a HUGE fellow prisoner who was a Christian. Jeremy was reluctant to even make eye contact with the man initially, as he feared the worst. However, he began attending the prison church services, then a bible study. Before he knew it, he was leading the church service. God worked in amazing ways in Leavenworth. He witnessed another believer pray with diligence over the injured ankle of a Muslim prisoner on the handball court and he was instantly healed. That Muslim turned to Christ in front of a crowd of his brothers. Other conversions quickly followed.

Jeremy has been out of prison for almost 2 years now. He is still a DJ, but now only plays music that honors God. He is married, with a child on the way. His story is powerful. An amazing witness!

The other is of Darin, the friend who was shot a few days before Christmas last year. He has lost his leg, but not his spirit! He came down to Peoria last night with his mom to visit. It was great to see him and to see that he has not lost his sense of humor or enthusiasm. I can’t imagine all he has been through, and yet he is strong.

Sorry this post was sooo long!