I
A Broken Marriage
Healed in Jesus Christ
Gregor & Rachel

I began listening to your program back in 1994. I had listened for only about a year during which time it gave me great comfort, as I was struggling with a great loss of a relationship. I had married a non-believer, eventually leading to divorce. In addition I got caught up in the word of faith movement and was searching for every sign and wonder, to the point that I forgot what I was searching for. However, from time to time, I would still pray for the young man I had married in the hopes that he would one day receive his gift of salvation.

Around my 40th birthday, this man came back in my life after years of having no correspondence. It was God’s perfect timing, not my own that brought us together. Then, out of nowhere, God put it upon my heart to tune into “Let’s Talk About Jesus.” I hadn’t thought about the program in years, but the seed was planted many years before. We began listening to your Christ-centered message, and knew we were finally hearing the truth about Jesus. He not only became a Christian, but additionally, I was delivered out of the prosperity gospel and finally saw Christ.

But there’s more blessings from Loving Grace Ministries that I would like to express. This past weekend, we had the wonderful opportunity to experience God’s awesome presence and fellowship with other Christians at your weekend retreat. One of the best moments of my life was to see my husband being baptized at the lake, publicly declaring his new life in Christ.
I just wanted to share with you how much of a profound impact your ministry has had on our lives. Who would ever thought that 17 years ago that a seed would be planted from your radio program. The message you shared never fell among the thorns or the rocks, but slowly took hold and truly rooted... bringing forth life.         

Rachel & Gregor

II
“I Cried Out To Jesus And
He Saved My Life”
Tommy

I’ll never get tired of sharing how much my life has been transformed by His Spirit through this ministry.

25 years ago, I responded to Jesus’ call to follow Him. I was literally in a room ready to commit suicide when Jesus saved me! For three years I told everybody what He did for me and all I heard from Christians was what I had to do for Him, just to be sure He loved me. I was threatened with hell on a regular basis until I heard “Let’s Talk About Jesus” on the radio. It was there I heard of God’s unconditional love and God’s grace. I knew this was who God really was. Sadly enough I did a lot of work for God but was never discipled by God, so when emotional conflict came into my life I gave in to temptations and I backslid into the trap of active addiction.

I was a hopeless heroin addict for 18 years, completely enslaved; body, mind and spirit; doing anything I had to to get my next fix. I lied, stole, was locked up, lived in parks, I overdosed several times, I began to hate God, I went into Christian recovery houses, but to no avail. But I always had a transistor radio and at 11:30am I would listen to you, Wayne, and in that hour I was given hope that I could get clean and be free once again, only to return to the living hell of active addiction.

A little over 5 years and 5 months ago I was in a restroom in a pharmacy on the corner of the Lower East Side. I injected myself with heroin and I began to die awake. At that point I cried out to Jesus and He saved my life. I entered a detox, a secular 12 step recovery program that gave me hope as I went through severe withdrawal (I still attend daily meetings to this day). I listened to your program through the pain. My goal was to go to Worship in the Woods clean, and I got to go, and have been to many these past 5 years. I left an adulterous relationship I was in for years, and I asked God for a helpmate, and he gave me one whom I’m engaged to, soon to marry, who has a heart for addicts.

And this last Worship in the Woods, across from me at my dinner table sat a director of one of the Christian programs I went to years ago that I left unsuccessfully due to my own unwillingness to surrender - but because of his prayers along with yours and of course Christ’s intercession I am where I am today. He’s going to send his people to our 12 step group at my church along with giving me an opportunity to share my story at his Christian recovery place, for God’s glory. This is what Loving Grace does - it connects broken people with hope and shares Jesus as He is. This is why this program needs our support and prayers.

Tommy

III
From Self-Hatred To Being
God’s Beloved Child
Bill

I’ve been listening to “Let’s Talk About Jesus” for a little over a year now and Wayne’s message of “God’s love for all people” has been helping me overcome my poor self image and the guilt of my past sins and failures. I grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family. I lost my father when I was 14 to illness. I was neglected. I was sexually abused by one of my sister’s boyfriends when I was 17.

I guess it was self-preservation that led me to isolate myself from people. I didn’t trust anybody. I never let anyone see the real me. I found the answer in drugs and alcohol. Over time I didn’t even know the real me any longer. I carried all my baggage into marriage. She put up with me for 17 years, but my self-destructive, addictive behavior eventually wore her down. We’re divorced now.

In the depression, loneliness and despair that followed my divorce I turned to God. The only God I ever knew, from Sunday school and church in my youth, was the rule-giver: the very strict and demanding perfection, impersonal God. So I tried to get on the straight and narrow. I quit all my bad habits, read the Bible studiously, wore the right clothes, went to church 3 times a week (or more), tithed of my income and surrounded myself with people who did the same things. In trying to become perfect, I became perfectly miserable. But I never could let on how miserable I was because I was supposed to be “in the victory” all the time which meant, I thought, to be always happy and never in need.

What followed was that I got angry at God. I felt like He wasn’t living up to His end of the deal. In retrospect I now see that I wasn’t truly seeking God at all, I was just trying to manipulate God. Eventually I returned to my old vices. For a time that cycle continued: walk as perfectly as I could; get angry at God; return to my sinful habits; repent...

During that time I happened to tune into 560 AM one day. I’ll never forget it. Wayne was teaching about “Christ in you, your hope of glory.” I never heard a preacher say the kinds of things Wayne said. I wept for the entire hour and from the depth of my being I cried to God. I knew this is what I needed - I knew that this is what’s been missing from my walk with God all along. It wasn’t as if God touched me that day and I was instantly dramatically changed. It’s been slow growing for me. But I am learning to relate to God through Jesus Christ in a new way - through love. I go through times of discouragement and depression and sometimes I feel like giving up. Now I know, thanks to Wayne, that doesn’t mean that God’s given up on me!

Today I am drug and alcohol free (including tobacco)! Not because I’m trying to earn God’s favor but because I’m learning to love myself. My body is God’s temple - He chose me as a dwelling place - I should take good care of God’s temple.

One of my biggest struggles is fighting off these feelings that I have that God is disappointed with me or angry at me all the time. It’s hard to enjoy the presence of God that way. I’ve learned through Wayne’s teaching that God sees me as His beloved child, holy and acceptable. I am clothed with a robe of right-eousness. It’s taking me a long time to accept and believe these things because I’ve had a lifetime of living in self-hatred. But more and more I am becoming rooted and grounded on the Rock of God’s love for me in Jesus Christ.

“Let’s Talk About Jesus,” the tape ministry and the Prayer Line are very important tools for my walk with the Lord. That is why I am writing this letter to ask you to give to keep Wayne on the air so he can continue to help me and others like me who need the clear message of freedom in Jesus Christ.

Bill

IV
The Captive Set Free
Samuel

My name is Samuel. I listen to you on Saturdays when we have no church and I pray that you do not go off the radio. I am in jail and in jail I gave myself to the Lord Jesus Christ and on July 1st I was saved from my sins. Since then I’ve been moving forward with the Bible and would like to go further in the Bible.

When I listen to your sermon I sit on my bed and I cry because I want more of the Lord Jesus Christ and would like to serve Him. I love Him with all my heart. So when I listen to you it makes my day. So you can stay on the air, the only thing I could do is pray. I listen to you on WVNE.

Samuel

V
“I Was One Of Those Prisoners”
Doreen

I was brought up a Christian - the kind you talk about - believing He was born, died, and raised, but not truly grasping the meaning and just going along with my life.

Searching, I went to Bible studies (most lacking) and listening to “Christian” speakers who only talked about positive thinking.

Last year I started praying to Jesus to lead me to a Bible study where I wouldn’t be misled or misguided. Lo & behold! I was led to your radio show (and I never even knew Christian radio existed!). My sister tunes in every day and I happened to be there one day. A prisoner called in saying how much your program helped. I said, ok, I’ll donate if it helped some prisoners.

Well, little did I know I was one of those “prisoners.” Each day I would get a little more drawn in and now listen every day. I’ve learned so much and have so much more to learn.

I’m starting to feel closer to our Father.

Doreen

VI
From A Cult To Christ
Joanne

I was in a Bible-based cult for 15 years that required rigorous obedience - constantly reminded that the flames of hell waited for the rebellious. Over the years - since I left there I’ve attempted numerous times to walk in God’s love and grace - but the voices within and without would get the better of me - always bring me back to striving for God’s approval.

I tell my friends, “I listen to Wayne because he’s what I need. He’s like a broken record focusing only on Jesus Himself and the New Covenant.”

And finally-I think I’m getting it.

Joanne

VII
“Christ Desires To Live In Us”
Karen

When I was 8 years old I prayed the prayer of salvation - I accepted the Lord. On July 9th, 2003, 35 years later, I met my Savior. For the first time in my walk with Him, I knew I was truly saved.

It was through a constant message of a personal relationship with a Living God through Loving Grace that I finally saw the Light. I can’t explain it all - I only know that living in the unadulterated walk of the New Covenant that Christ died for is indeed Life.

Through some very difficult seeking years, Wayne spoke of something that I really wanted - not religion, not programs - something real that didn’t require my maintenance. He bore a testimony of the truth that Christ desires to live in us, love us, help us through this crazy world we live in. And eight years further down the road I see His hand in everything that is good in my life - I’m not searching and programming - He is with me.
I think singly the thing that brought this to life for me was the beautiful teaching of being a priest unto Him that Wayne faithfully supplies. It is so easy - yet we miss it - and that seems to be the way in. If you are seeking, you will find Him here at Loving Grace. And don’t give up until you are fully satisfied with what you have with Him. Just keep seeking. Cultivate your priesthood - it’s beautiful. I am indebted to Loving Grace for helping me find Jesus. May His favor be upon this ministry always!