THIS IS MY STORY -- Jeremy

I grew up in the projects, the youngest of 4 children of a single mother who was attracted to musicians & drug dealers. I don't have any musical talent so I gravitated to the drug dealers By 13 I was selling weed. By 14, I was an addict myself. By 16, I was in motel bathrooms sticking needles in my arm shooting Meth.

My life was headed for destruction, but God had another plan.

Growing up, I didn't know my father. We met during a drug deal when I was 17. For the next few years, we ran together as drug buddies, selling and shooting dope. Then I went to prison. When I got out after that incarceration, something had happened to my dad. He'd surrendered his life to Christ. He tried to get me to change, but I thought he was faking it.

Then, after my next arrest, while I was in the county jail, I met my daughter for the first time. She was 12 years old and she told me that all I needed was Jesus. That seed was planted in my heart as I went to prison to serve my current sentence.

When I got to prison this time, I ran into a childhood friend who had become a Christian. At that time, I had become a Muslim. We went back and forth debating the person of Jesus Christ. I was finally convinced and 7 years ago Jesus saved me.

Not long after that i got a mentor through Metanoia prison Ministries. For 5 years, a pastor was my mentor; these years were precious to me and helped enable me to begin seminary.

I earned a B.A. degree in theological studies with MINTS Seminary-In-Prison and am now working toward a Master of Arts Degree.

I know that my calling is for ministry. I love to read in Isaiah where the prophet said, "Here am I; send me." I am scheduled to be released from prison later this year when I will begin the process of becoming a pastor.

(FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON MINTS SEMINARY-IN-PRISON, PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT www.mints.edu.)