My Story
Lost Dying Addicted Hopeless
Saved Healed Delivered Called
Lost Dying Addicted Hopeless
Saved Healed Delivered Called
He never gave up on me!
-
A Testimony of God's Love, Mercy, Healing, and Grace.
-
A Testimony of God's Love, Mercy, Healing, and Grace.
PLAY VIDEO
|
Early Beginnings
By the age of thirteen, Mark was already an alcoholic, sneaking liquor from his parents’ cabinets and replacing it with water. As a middle school student, Mark was unable to function without having a drink before, during and after school. He was constantly trying to get drunk, causing his grades and social life to take a plummet, and he was eventually expelled from school. His expulsion from school catapulted him into further indulgence with alcohol, and aggressive experimentation with narcotics, acid and other hallucinogens. At the same time, he was joining local Rock bands playing Heavy Metal music. Drugs, Alcohol, and Rock n Roll By the time Mark was nineteen, he launched into a music career playing bass and lead vocals in up-and-coming rock bands. For 15 years, he toured the country with different bands and opened up for some famed bands including Cheap Trick, Ratt, Poison... and partying with the inside music crowd. Being assimilated into the rocker lifestyle seeking fame and fortune, deepened Mark’s dependence on drugs and alcohol. “Being popular as a worldly musician had its advantages for an addict,” Mark admits. “There were always so many people that wanted to be associated with you and the band. Everybody wants to be your friend.” Most of the time, the drugs were free. Cocaine became his drug of choice, turning into a seventeen year addiction. At the same time, Mark hit the big time in his mind, and was offered contracts and tours. By the late 80’s, Mark was frequently becoming sick and suffering from vocal problems, memory loss, pneumonia and bronchitis. Crack cocaine was destroying his body; however, no matter how bad his health became, he could not find the strength or desire to stop feeding his habit. In 1990, at the age of 29, Mark could no longer perform or function on stage. His addictions were destroying him. One day, Mark had everything he ever wanted. The next day, it was all gone. The band, his friends and the music industry wanted nothing to do with him. "You are Going to Die" Back at home in Davenport, IA, Mark’s depression & drug habit continued to increase for over a year. As the depression and suicidal tendencies became worse, so did his need for crack cocaine. He became so chronically ill and emaciated that his doctor determined him to be incurable due to his addictions. The Doctor's words still clear to Mark today: “Mark,” he said, “Your vocal chords are so scarred and covered in nodes, that you will never sing again. Your lungs are scarred and badly damaged from the crack cocaine. Your liver and kidneys are failing. Part of your heart is enlarged by almost 70%. Your heart is going to fail you.” The final word from the doctor; "We cannot do anything for you. You are going to die.” Hearing these words, brought Mark’s depression and despair to a pinnacle. He went on a binge for six months, selling everything he had to go out with a bang, overdosing on booze and drugs. He constantly tried to surpass his limits and take enough drugs to kill him; however, he would still wake up the next day. On his last overdose, Mark attempted to end his life with large amounts of alcohol, narcotics and crack cocaine... But, he still woke up the next morning. During that time, Mark thought, “I can’t even kill myself right.” "Come Back to Me” During what he thought would be his last days on earth, Mark spent more and more time watching TV. Mark muses, “Every day while I was doing drugs, or just waking up from a binge, I would turn the TV on without even realizing I was watching Christian programs. They were always talking about Jesus in a way I'd never heard before". On one particular day as thoughts of suicide were consuming him, watching TV, Mark attempted to change the channel three times, and the TV, by itself, would continue to flip back to that same program. To his amazement, Mark finally gave in to watch. |
"Come Back to Me” (cont.)
He saw a Pastor talking on a Live ministry TV program; when all of a sudden the pastor stopped what he was saying mid-sentence, looked at the TV camera and said; “Don’t change that channel! You’re addicted to drugs and you’ve been told you are going to die. You will not die because Jesus is going to heal you!” Overcome by what was just said, Mark knew that God was talking directly to him! He sat back in awe and listened as they spoke about the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (as thoughts of suicide left him) The seed of hope was planted in Mark’s life even when the world told him there was no more hope. Two days later, The Lord sent a second messenger to Mark. Patsy, was his dearest friend from the rock band days who had received her own miracle- healing, deliverance, and salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit. She came to his house unannounced, knocking on his door unannounced, (he hadn't seen or heard from her in a few years) - opening the door, she walked in and sat next to him with these words; “I have been looking for you for two months, because the Lord gave me a message for you. Mark, God is trying to tell you something but you are not listening. The Lord says this:" "You are going to die! I still love you! Come back to me!" At that moment, Mark cried out to God, “Jesus help me! Jesus help me!” “I knew it to be God, because in a second, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit even though I didn’t know what that was at that time,” Mark reminiscences. “It was a sensation of warmth, heaviness, and electricity; words don’t even come close to describe what it was. I just knew that I felt Him.” Mark shares; “I knew right then in a split second I was healed, delivered and saved. I felt every demon and power of darkness leaving me at that moment. I vowed right then to do nothing but serve God for the rest of my life.” A Brand New Heart & Voice Seven days had passed since Mark’s conversion. And he was feeling fantastic! He knew he was healed and every desire for drugs and alcohol had vanished. As he returned to the doctor for additional tests, the doctor advised that Mark needed rehab to stabilize his body and detox; otherwise, he could suffer cardiac arrest. However, Mark refused, believing he was healed. When the tests came back days later, it proved what Mark already knew to be true. His lungs, kidneys and liver were all normal. The doctor was in shock as he said: “You look like you have a brand new heart!” The very same doctor who told Mark he had one year to live. This doctor, who said Mark’s heart would fail him. The same man who said, “We cannot do anything for you. You are going to die,” now stood assessing, “You have a brand new heart!” But God did more than give Mark a new heart (physically and spiritually). With a new heart came a new voice! Before his conversion, Mark had a very raspy voice from shredding, severely abusing his vocal chords, and told he would never sing again... But on the day he was saved, Mark remembers a pop in his throat, giving him the ability to speak clearly. Doctors proved that his vocal chords that were destroyed beyond repair, had been healed. “When I gave my life to Jesus and vowed to serve Him, I didn’t know what I was going to do... But the first time I ever heard his voice, He said ; "Sing for me. Sing to me, and tell them what I have done for you, and I will heal them.’” After hearing this, knowing without any doubt it was the Lord, Mark vowed to God at that moment, he would only sing for the Lord and to the Lord for the rest of his life! Mark has personally witnessed countless lives saved and changed through God's miraculous healing, deliverance and restoration by the power of His Holy Spirit. Whenever preaching God's word, leading in worship, sharing his testimony, or praying for others - whatever our Lord is calling Mark to do, he is always knowing our Lord and King is faithful to His promises, and He loves those who diligently seek Him, love and trust in Him... for they will find Him. For our Lord God promises to rescue those who love Him, (Psalm 91) For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. (2Cor. 3:17) Rev, Mark Martin has been ministering the Word of God around the world for over 30 years. The best is yet to come. IT'S TIME, the Great Harvest of souls is at hand! |
