From Gangster to God
By Carla Kinney
San Carlos Apache Reservation
This is a picture of Edwin Patterson. If you have ever heard the life story of a gangster, this young man lived it. In our community on the reservation, he was not very well liked in the district he lived. He was a thief, harasser, instigator and a problem. He was a gangster in the true sense of the word.
He was a lot of things. But God changed this young man when he got on his knees and accepted Jesus’ forgiveness and love. This man gave his life to Jesus and became a completely new creature. He left the gangster clothing he wore, he left his gang friends and started a new walk.
All the neighbors that he hurt and stole from who feared him and hated him were shocked. He went back and apologized to every one of them, which opened the door to share his testimony of how he gave his life to Jesus.
This summer I had the opportunity to take him to Warrior Leadership Summit in Illinois. It was the first time he ever left the reservation and Arizona. While there he applied for Bible College. He was accepted and I believe this is God's will for his life.
Please join me as I stand by this new man in prayer because I have seen with my own eyes that out of darkness a life has turned to light on my reservation. This young man became a new creature in Jesus right before my eyes.
Edwin will be attending Mokahum Bible College in Cass Lake, Minnesota, http://mokahum.org/
If you would like to help him attend Bible College please contact Jim Yost at Wings of Faith or myself Carla Kinney.
Thank you and God bless you for your prayers.
