Brian’s Testimony
Revelation 12 says that when Satan was cast from heaven, darkness was overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony. When we were born again of God’s Holy Spirit, each of us has a testimony…. A witness of God’s amazing grace. God has opened the eyes of our spiritual understanding so that we can see through the darkness illuminated by the light of Christ
Brian McDaniel grew up in a dysfunctional family. His father left his family when he was a child. Without the stability of a father, and without a vision and true direction, the people wonder aimlessly…. They run wild. Brian was influenced by the wrong crowd and his life descended into chaos, confusion, abuse, and alcohol. He was in and out of rehab, AA, and therapy. Nothing worked.
While on the road to Las Vegas, his car ran out of gas. A beat up white Toyota pulled up and a little old lady leaned out the window. She said, “do you need help?” He answered, “of course.” She said, “get your gas can and get in.” It was many miles to the nearest gas station. As they were driving she said, “I saw you when I passed by on the other side of the freeway about 45 minutes ago. Something compelled me to turn around and offer to help you.” Then she said, “I’m a Christian.” She shared the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. When she dropped him back at his car she said, “I’m going to pray for you.”
Shortly thereafter, Brian was arrested on his outstanding felony warrants. While in jail, he began reading his bible. In his cell, he read for two straight weeks and couldn’t stop reading.. Brian came to realize that this hunger for the Word of God was because of the lady who had introduced him to Jesus Christ. Then he realized there in his jail cell that he was the happiest he had ever been in his entire life. He approached the other inmates and said enthusiastically, “Let me show you what I just read in the Bible.”
Brian reminds us that we all need to remember what it was like when we first met the Lord and the newness of joy when he called us to turn from darkness into the light of Christ.
Brian is thankful that in jail, he could concentrate on reading the Word of God and rejoicing in his salvation because of God’s ever present mercy, grace, and peace. There were several felony cases for which Brian was being charged. The lesser cases were dismissed one by one. When his most serious case came up for a hearing, his family had hired an attorney to defend him. His attorney said to the judge, “Brian is pleading “not guilty.” Brian had previously confessed to his attorney that he had committed the same felony violation thirty times, but this time he was caught.
When he appeared before the judge. To schedule his trial, the judge said, “where’s your attorney?” He said, “I fired her because she said that I wanted to plead not guilty. But I am guilty.” The judge said to the clerk, “where’s the District Attorney to prosecute this case?” After an extensive search of the court house, no one could find the DA. The judge said, “Even though there are no attorneys, are you prepared for me to rule on your case right now?” He said, “yes.” The judge said, “I’m dismissing this case.” Just then the DA entered the court room and said, “no one asked me to appear at this hearing.” The judge said to the DA, “I just dismissed this case.” The DA said to Brian, “Someone must be watching out for you.”
Brian camped out at church and became involved in any ministry function where he could help. Brian realized that he owed over $50,000… $28K in taxes and $23K in child support. He said to himself, “I need to find work so that I can pay off these debts.” He went to an interview for a mortgage company, but the interviewer said, “I’m not sure you’re the right person for this job.” Brian went back to the church and prayed. A few days later he was called back for a second interview and the hiring manager said, “We’re going to take a chance on you.”
Brian didn’t know how to turn on the computer. After two weeks his supervisor said, “You’re not the man for this job.” After two weeks of calling everyone he knew, He did not even have one contact who would buy a mortgage loan from him. He said, just give me until Friday before you have me pack up and leave.” That Friday, he got one client. His boss said, “you’re supposed to get fifteen per day.” He said, give me til Monday. That first month, Brian broke the company record for new clients. His phone kept ringing with people who wanted mortgage loans, even though the computer assigned calls randomly to each of the many people in the call center.
After Brian’s record breaking first month, The company’s president met with him and said, “You’re the champ. How did you close so many mortgage loans?” He said, “When a call came in, I would I introduce myself and tell them about the Lord. In this initial contact call, I asked them where they were from. After the call I would look up the nearest Calvary chapel, call the church pastor in their neighborhood, and say, you need to contact this person within two days and invite them to church. Then a few days later, I’d give the person a follow up call and close the mortgage deal.”
Every call Brian received, he said to his prospective customer, “Do you know the Lord, Are you a Christian? They would say, is this a mortgage company?” He said, “Your problem is not about your home loan or your credit score, your problem is that you don’t know how to put your trust in the Lord.”
He witnessed to a lesbian caller who inquired about a home loan. Although he knew that he should not witness to her, he asked her if she were a Christian. She filed a complaint and soon is boss called him into his office and said, “We received a complaint. You need to stop witnessing, and listening to KWAVE on your radio. You also need to take the Bible verses off your cubicle.”
Brian posted only one message on his cubicle, “Pray for our customers.” After he received a second customer complaint, his boss summoned him to his office, closed the door, and said, “we need to talk.” He continued, “you know what we need to talk about. You kept on talking about religion and this is your second offense after you’d been warned not to. You need to pack up your things and leave.” Brian thought to himself, “at least this job has allowed me to take care of my debts.”
As he was leaving, the president of the company came up to him in the hallway and said, “Hi champ, how’s it going.” Brian said, “not so well. I just got fired.” The president said, “I’m starting a new division. How would you like to work there?” He said, “I’d love to. Praise the Lord. Thank you.”
That was many years ago. Today Brian is a missionary to Haiti and God continues to bless his ministry. Brian reminds how important it is to “quench not the spirt.” His infectious enthusiasm and zeal to share the Gospel of Christ reminds us what John Wesley said when someone asked him, “why do so many thousands of people come to hear you preach?” He said, “I allow God to set me on fire with the Holy Spirit and people come from miles around to watch me burn.”
Brian continues to stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit.. He relates his zeal to share the gospel with Jeremiah’s calling in Jeremiah 20:9, “But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
We all have a testimony… we who have witnessed God’s saving grace through faith alone in Christ alone are witnesses of the love of God made manifest through Christ in us. He has made us all able ministers of the New Testament. Therefore, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.
…. That together, we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
