April 17, 2024 • 27 mins
Brad's Story: I was born in a Bad neighborhood in Gulfport without a father, he committed suicide when I was a baby. My mother died when I was 12 years old. I got affiliated with a Gang at a youthful age and started using drugs. I ended up in prison for the third time and the gangs wanted to kill me. I gave my life to Christ of November 12th, 2020, in SMCI Prison in Mississippi. Today, I am a new person, with a new life, and promoting God’s mercy and forgiveness.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The promoter.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hello, my friends, it is a joy to be back with you.
Have you had your conversationwith Jesus this past week?
You know, when you ask himquestions, share your struggles,
maybe thank him for something.
I'm Ron Myers, I'm your host,and this show is about helping
you get the hell out of yourlife.
(00:45):
You will hear stories fromindividuals who got the hell out
of their life and today theyboldly share the love, mercy,
grace and forgiveness that comeswith a personal relationship
with Jesus.
Today's story comes fromBradley, and what a testimony he
has to share with you.
(01:05):
He's open, honest, transparentand very authentic.
Listen to the love as he speaksand declares several times in
the interview that God has aplan.
Bradley, thank you for taking afew minutes to share your story
with my listeners.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, first off, I just want to say thank you,
Jesus, for allowing me to comeon.
First thing I want to say isI'm 28 years old and I've got
the world all figured out.
No, I'm just playing.
I'm from Gulfport, Mississippi,and I grew up in a rough
neighborhood called MagnoliaGrove.
And my father.
(01:45):
He committed suicide when I wasa baby and my mother had
leukaemia and it was a realtextbook kind of sad situation
and really all we had in myneighborhood was like selling
drugs and basketball.
So there really wasn't muchguidance there.
And so I would kind of relateto the guys in my neighborhood,
(02:08):
the older guys in myneighborhood, and I would get in
trouble a lot.
But the whole time, the wholetime, god had a plan, he had a
plan, and you know, my mother,around 12 years old, she ended
up dying from an aneurysm whileshe was sleeping and, um, from
that moment on I didn't have any, really any, no guidance in my
(02:31):
life whatsoever and, uh, god,had a plan.
So I ended up hanging around theguys um in my neighborhood.
I would relate to them, I wouldfind identity in them and I
would try to do the things thatthey were doing, which were
committing crimes and doingdrugs, and so they would shit me
off, right, my family theywould.
They would send me to live withthis aunt way up in New
(02:52):
Hampshire and they would send meto live with this aunt in Green
Bay, wisconsin, and I wouldalways get in trouble and and
always get shipped to live withsome cousin or some aunt, right.
And so when all this washappening, you know, I felt like
my family didn't want me, Ifelt like there was something
wrong with me and about thistime there was this guy named
(03:14):
Brad Holt and he actually, youknow, he works for Youth for
Christ on the coast right now.
I met him and along with severalother people in my life that
would try to reach out to meduring this time and really show
me the love of Jesus, and Igrew up and I knew about Jesus,
but I really didn't know Jesus.
You see, it was kind of likethis okay, I'm a big sports fan
(03:35):
and I really like LeBron James.
Well, I could tell you probablyevery stat and every shot
LeBron James ever made.
You know everything about himand what he's done and you know
I really like and love LeBronJames.
But if you call LeBron Jamesright now and say, hey, do you
know Brad Hancock?
He's going to tell you, no, youknow, because I just knew a
bunch about him.
I really didn't know him.
And it was the same way with meand my relationship with Jesus.
(03:57):
You know, I grew up knowing abunch about Jesus.
So, uh, well, my family, whenthey were shipping me around, I
felt like they didn't want me, Ifelt like something was wrong.
So I really really then reallyreally started to cling to the
guys in my neighborhood and uh,so I ended up.
I ended up joining a gang at ayoung age and, um, I devoted my
life to that gang and uh, so Iended up getting really hooked
(04:21):
on drugs and I started shooting,shooting heroin, and I would
always end up in trouble andtrouble.
That was just the thing.
You know.
I remember being at a young agethe first time I ever ran from
police and I got away and itactually worked.
Getting away.
That was it.
It like did something in me.
I guess I was just destined tobe a criminal.
But God had a plan and so Iended up going to prison and I
(04:47):
couldn't stay out of prison andI couldn't stop getting high to
save my life.
And I would always get out fora couple months and go right
back and I was wondering.
I was like man, maybe somepeople are just normal and maybe
some people just have jobs, butI'm just not one of those
people and I was just I kind ofsettled and accepted in my heart
that I was either going tospend the rest of my life in
(05:09):
prison or I was just going todie a drug addict.
And God had a plan.
And I remember the third time Iwas in prison this last time I
went to prison and I stillcouldn't stop getting high.
And there's a lot, a lot, a lotof drugs in the Mississippi
Department of Corrections and Iknow that may shock some people,
but there's a lot of gangsthere too, and the gang that I
(05:30):
was affiliated with, they, theywere after me, they wanted me
dead and the building I was inthey made it a point to tell me
that and walk by my bed everysingle day and tell me look when
we leave here you're through,and I remember just feeling this
ultimate closeness and nearnessto death.
(05:52):
I just knew any day now thatthis was it.
I tried to run to the policeand the police wouldn't help me.
They threw me back on the zoneand I just knew that it was over
.
And at that point in my life Iwas still getting high, so in
prison, and I remember I was upfor like three days and and I
remember feeling this terriblefeeling and when you're in
(06:15):
prison, the group of believersif you have any Christians on
the zone they they kind of havetheir own little church.
They gather together throughoutthe day because they really
don't have services there, andso they would shout and announce
these meetings on the zone andthey would call them prayer
calls.
So I remember hearing the wordsprayer call, prayer call on the
back of the zone and this wasNovember 12th of 2020.
(06:40):
And at that moment I was at facewith my decision.
I was face to face with my lifeand my choices.
And I remember looking to myleft and my Bible was on my bed
and I knew all the verses.
I've been taught the verses mywhole life.
I knew about Jesus.
I had seen Jesus move in otherpeople's lives and I needed them
(07:03):
to do that in mine, right thenand there, and at that moment,
something happened within me.
At that moment, what hurtJesus' heart began to hurt mine,
and I got on my knees and Iprayed.
I said, god, you know, I'veseen you do this for other
people.
I've seen you move people'slives.
I've seen you heal people.
I've seen you restore things.
Father and Father God, I don'tknow what the future holds,
father, but I know that you holdthe future.
And right now I give my life toyou.
(07:25):
And I don't know how much timeI got left.
I don't know what's fixing tohappen to me.
I don't know if I'm going todie tomorrow, but I'm yours for
whatever time.
I got left and I started seekinghis face.
I started seeking his face and,you know, I began to read all
these promises in scripture andI got to see them come true
before my eyes.
I remember laying on my bed andthese people would walk by my
(07:48):
rack every day and tell me youknow, hey, you weren't praying
out in that world, you hadn'tbeen going to church.
I don't know what you're goingto thought for now.
You're scared.
I remember you saying God, butI also remember reading about a
God who is a God of deliverance.
I remember reading about Davidwhere he said you know, god,
these floods of ungodly mensurround me and they encompass
(08:10):
me, but you're my refuge and mystronghold.
I remember reading this.
Those same guys that wanted tokill me I got to see, one by one
, give their life to JesusChrist in front of my eyes in
prison, which never happened.
It never happened.
You know, I remember readingthese promises and seeing them
come true and I began to see hisface and I realized that not
only is there a God who is herefor me now, but as I began to
(08:32):
look back, I remember seeing andremembering all the time God
had reached out for me and howhe was there the whole time
While I was in prison aboutthree months, I was three months
over and I was seeking his face.
And you know everybody's gotthis idea that when you get
saved, your life just supposedto be perfect after that, right.
(08:53):
Well, no God, god's got to dosome work in you.
And so I'd ruined my marriage.
I hadn't seen my daughter inyears and you know they had zero
contact with me.
So I remember reaching out onthe jail phone and I said I said
, god, you know, I really justwant a picture, I really just
want you to restore these thingsin my life.
And I remember reading in yourword, lord, where you said that
you would restore what thelocusts have eaten.
(09:13):
So I reached out third partyand you know the answer that I
got back was no.
It was a no.
It was a no not right now,please don't contact me.
That was the answer.
I got back my ex-wife, but Isaid, god, you know what, not
what the circumstances tell me,not what my own heart is telling
(09:34):
me right now, but what you sayin your word.
That's what I'm going to standon.
Nowadays I talk to my daughterevery single day.
In fact, she got to see me forthe first time sharing my
testimony at the Youth Surpriseevent.
There's so many promises that Igot to see over and over again
come true in my life and that'sstill to this day.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
That's still to this day that, that, that is an
amazing story.
You had people in jail thatwanted to kill you, but you got
to see each of those gangmembers begin a new relationship
with Jesus.
That had to be an excitingmoment.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Yes, it was incredible, and you know the
prison I was in.
That never happens.
I mean, this is a prison thatis known for death, this is a
prison that is known for beingran by gangs, and it just never,
ever happened.
And it was just an undeniableproof that God was doing
something.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah, Now, what prison were you in?
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I was in South Mississippi Correctional
Institution which is in peoplerefer to it as Green County, and
it's changed a lot since I'vebeen released.
But they have a newcommissioner which is a man of
God, mr Beryl Kane.
He's done a great work inMississippi prison for the Lord
and the kingdom.
But, yeah, it's known forviolence.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
What are you doing right now?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So right now, god just continues to fulfill
promises and let me see daysthat I never in a million years
thought I would see.
Right now I live in JacksonMississippi.
I have been called and I workat Gateway Rescue Mission.
We're a homeless shelter thatfeeds and houses the homeless
and we also offer a new life,drug and alcohol program.
And sometimes I get to cook.
(11:12):
I'm hired on here as staff tocook, but I'm also what they
call a program associate, whichis we volunteer, we teach
classes, we do a number ofthings here, and it's been an
amazing experience and God'sreally let me see days.
I never thought I would bethrough gateway rescue mission.
I mean, there was a time in mylife where all I knew was a
(11:33):
heroin spoon and and a jail cell, and now now I have a job, I
have a career, not only a careerbut a purpose serving God.
My employer, gateway, has putme and paid for me to go to this
online university called TwoDivision University and I'm in
college.
And not only am I in college,but now I have A's in college.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
So, brad, are you telling us that there is life
after drugs or incarceration?
I?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
am telling anybody who is listening to the sound of
my voice right now there is aGod that loves you and there's a
God that has always loved you.
And one thing that I've seencome true in my life it doesn't
matter whether you're wrestlingwith addiction, it doesn't
matter if you're hearing myvoice on a radio in Parchment
Prison, it doesn't matter whereyou're hearing the sound of this
(12:23):
voice.
This voice is telling you thatthere is a God that loves you
and circumstances, no matterwhat they are, do not change God
.
God changes circumstances.
There is an abundant life foryou.
You are loved and he will letyou see days that you never
thought you would see.
I remember one of my favoriteverses is Ephesians 2.20.
And it says now unto him, whois able to do far more than we
(12:46):
could ever ask or think,according to the power that
works within us, he will seedays that you never thought you
would see, and he will healwounds that you never thought he
could.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So what would you say to a naysayer out there says
you know, here goes that Godstuff again.
What would you tell to thenaysayer that believes that?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, to be honest, man, I'd probably walk up lay
hands and pray with them, butwe're in a society now to where
that's not so easy.
So, really, how I address thatissue, man, is you know, I
understand that there's probablythis guy listening to me right
now that doesn't believe in God.
But the fact is, whether youbelieve in God or not, he
believes in you, he believes inyou and he wants to love you.
And if you would just give hima chance, if you would just say
(13:27):
God, you know what, not whatI've been doing, and I'm tired
of the way I've been going, ifyou would just give God that
chance, he will show you thatlove.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
You know I was reading in your story here that
said today you take pictureswith police officers.
One day they're puttinghandcuffs on you.
Now you take pictures with them.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yeah, yeah.
So I went to the.
God will give you the coolestmoments, man.
I mean, this is just one ofthose things, like I said, days
I never thought I would see.
So there was this captain ofHarrison County Jail and this
guy seen me, he seen me.
In my words, I mean, I'm prettynormal around the jail down
there.
And so I go down there and Ididn't know that I was going to
(14:06):
even be speaking at the Youthfor Christ event.
It was a last minute thing.
I didn't know the HarrisonCounty Sheriff's Department was
providing the food for the event.
I didn't know any of thesethings and I was just obedient.
And when God said go, I went.
So I went down there and thefirst thing that I hear when I
get out of the parking lot isHancock.
And I look and there is thisofficer that has known me, this
(14:26):
captain that has known me mywhole life, and he asked me what
I was doing there and I said,man, I've been watching the game
, brother, I'm speaking at thisevent, and we got to see each
other and he got to see what Godhas done in my life and, it's
crazy, the same ones that usedto drag me out of my cell when I
was giving them problems arethe same ones that I'm taking
pictures with.
And what the enemy meant forevil, god meant for good.
(14:47):
Wow, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
So the reason that I do this show Get the Hell Out of
your Life is to validate to theworld that God is a God of
restoration, redemption, mercy,forgiveness and a whole new life
, and I see that also.
You got some tattoos removed.
Why did you get some tattoosremoved?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
When I was living that life, man, I ended up
getting my whole face covered intattoos and gang tattoos and
stuff that symbolized that life,and I have them all over me,
but I would always pray.
You know I have them all overme but, um, I would always pray.
You know I was the guy thatwould walk through Walmart
parking lot and five peoplewould hit the lock button on
their car.
So you know, and, and everybody, everybody was like man, that's
(15:30):
your testimony, don't do it.
But I remember praying.
I'm like God, you know.
I'm thankful for the scarsyou've given me, because if I
didn't have them I wouldn't knowyou.
But I want these tattoos gone.
I want to look what you said Iam and you said that I'm new.
You said that all things wouldpass away and I want to look
that way.
And I remember reaching out tothese organizations and these
doctors and it was reallyexpensive for laser removal.
(15:53):
I kept praying.
In fact, I remember looking atmy Facebook the other day where
I posted the status.
I said God, I pray that youwill one day open the door for
me to get these tattoos off ofmy face.
Now I'm sitting here with youand I got a clear face.
God has opened that door andhe's provided a very affordable
way for me to do that, and it'sjust one of the many, many
blessings that God has given me.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
The title of the show is Get the Hell Out of your
Life so blessings that God hasgiven me.
The title of the show is Getthe Hell Out of your Life, so
Brad how do you get the hell outof your life?
Speaker 2 (16:21):
The only way that I've gotten the hell out of my
life is to bring the kingdominto it, and there's only one
person that can do that.
If you're out there strugglingright now and you're wondering
how you're going to get rid ofall this stuff in your life, you
need to fall in love with theperson who can, Because by your
own strength you can't do it.
By your own strength, you'regoing to keep going back and
using the things that you wereusing, looking at the things
that you were looking at ordoing the things that you were
(16:43):
doing.
But the more that you fall inlove with Jesus, the more you
will fall out of love with thosethings, and that's the only
option and that's the only way Iwas able to man Before I let
you go.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I like my guest to pray for the listeners out there
.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Okay, all right.
So, father God, I just thankyou.
I thank you for your salvation,I thank you for your grace, I
thank you for your restoration.
Right now, I pray for anybodyunder the sound of this voice,
anybody listening that feelsbroken, that feels rejected,
that feels like there's no hope,that feels like they're
different, that feels likethey're incarcerated and they
may not see the light of day,whether behind a wall or in
(17:23):
their heart.
I pray right now, father, thatyou will liberate them, that you
will show them a new love in amighty way, father, the love
that only you offer, that canchange their life.
I pray something will happen intheir life, father.
I pray something that willhappen that will break those
chains, break those addictions,break those habits, restore
those relationships in theirlife, father, and that you will
open a door for them likethey've never seen before.
(17:43):
Father, god, I pray that youwould draw that heart of the
person listening here.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Amen, listeners right after the break, my final
thought the comeback kid.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life
with your host, ron Myers.
Real stories, real strugglesand real hope.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
Does God speak to us today?
If so, what does he sound like?
Thundering roars, crashingwaves, a booming megaphone?
Maybe, sometimes, but maybeit's not quite as Hollywood,
dramatic as all that.
Maybe it's a little more simple.
John 10, 27 says my sheep hearmy voice, I know them and they
(18:29):
follow me.
In the midst of all the noiseand questions, god is speaking
and we can hear his voice.
We just need to learn torecognize it.
So what does he sound like?
He sounds like love, likereconciliation, like kindness,
wisdom, hope, truth.
(18:50):
Do you know those sounds Then?
Maybe you hear his voice moreoften than you think.
Maybe you're being led by himmore than you realize.
Maybe God is speaking to youand you actually are listening.
You just didn't know it.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
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Speaker 7 (19:39):
I'm always gonna have your back and if nothing else,
you can always come back whenyou need me.
I promise I will never let youdown the comeback kid?
Speaker 3 (20:08):
that's my final thought today.
Did you watch any of themasters or hear about the
masters golf tournamentnament?
When you hear golf, most peoplewill think of Tiger Woods.
I was watching for Tiger tomake a comeback this week.
Well, he did not make acomeback, but everywhere he went
(20:29):
, people just cheered andapplauded him.
They were wanting a comeback.
I was wanting a comeback.
Have you ever been riding thewave of destiny and everything
seems to be going good and then,out of nowhere, something
suddenly hits and sets you back.
Maybe a doctor's visit, loss ofa loved one or a job loss?
(20:53):
That's what happened to meyears ago.
My motivation had taken a backseat.
I had lost a job that I reallyloved and I sat on my pity pot
for a long time.
I didn't care about doinganything, I wanted to sit around
and I felt sorry for myself.
But then one day, friends, Irealized that this was a
(21:14):
defining moment in my life.
Would I go forward or would Isit there on my pity pot?
So, with all my energy, I stoodup.
I looked up and declared thatthis would pass and that I
needed to wake up and smell theHoly Spirit and discover my
destiny.
So that day I accepted that Godwill often place us in the
(21:40):
right place at the right time,even though we may feel it's the
wrong place and the wrong time.
So what was the life lessonthat I learned with that, and
how do I tie that into TigerWoods and the the Comeback Kid?
Perhaps we are drawn to comebackstories like Tiger's because we
(22:01):
see ourselves in these peopleand we cheer for them and
simultaneously we are cheeringfor ourselves, reminding
ourselves to have that faith, totrust the process and, above
all, don't quit.
Express gratitude to Jesus inour daily conversations.
(22:21):
Friends, we should be gratefulfor his hand guiding us, because
he will lead us to where heneeds us to be, and sometimes we
don't like the changes in ourlife, but we have to have faith
and we have to have trust.
Now.
(22:41):
Tiger did not win this year'smaster, but he was an
inspiration to watch.
I was so happy to see him withhis son at the masters.
And my final thought for youthis week is this that in life
we win some, we lose some, butwith perseverance and unwavering
(23:04):
faith, God will lead us to ourmaster, our teacher, our mentor,
our savior, and that is JesusChrist.
What a life with Jesus.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life
with your host, ron Myers.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Real stories, real struggles and real hope, if you
need something more out of lifethan what you've already
experienced.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
If you need a new start, a clean slate, If you
want to live life forever, youneed God in your life.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
If getting old has you depressed, Growing up
sometimes scares the daylightsout of you.
If you want to know what thefuture holds, get in touch with
the one who holds the future.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Stop wasting time and get a hold of God.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
It's not about earning points by being good.
It ain't about some boringchurch.
It's not about working your wayto heaven.
Finding God is not aboutfollowing some group who claims
to be the only way to God.
It's not about being religious.
It's not about religion.
It's all about God's only son.
It's all about Jesus.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
It's all about.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Jesus.
It's about Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
No one comes to the Father but by me.
Well, someday, when I standbefore God and he asks me why
should I let you into heaven?
All that's going to matter isif I knew Jesus or not, and
that's what it's all about.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Ron will be back in a minute to close out today's
show.
We want to remind you today ofthe last words of Jesus it is
finished.
What is finished, the finishedwork of Jesus?
It is finished.
What is finished, the finishedwork of Jesus refers to the
complete and finalaccomplishment of salvation
through his death andresurrection.
It means that Jesus has doneeverything necessary for our
(24:50):
forgiveness, redemption andreconciliation with God.
Through his sacrifice on thecross, Jesus paid the price for
our sins once and for all,providing total forgiveness and
cleansing.
This finished work of Jesusmeans that we no longer need to
strive or work to earn God'sfavor or forgiveness.
We can rest in the assurancethat our salvation is secure and
(25:14):
that we are fully accepted byGod because of what Jesus has
done for us.
Now back to Ron.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Well, friends, my time is up and I did want to
tell you the rest of the story.
I told you in the final thoughtsegment that the worst day of
my life is when I lost a job.
But you know, one year later,that worst day turned into the
best day of my life.
When I was thinking of what todo after I was terminated, I
(25:47):
said, jesus, what do we do now?
And that's when I was inspiredwith the idea of a radio show,
of a podcast called Get the HellOut of your Life.
So, friends, today I've beensharing stories all over the
world for over five years andthey literally are going across
(26:08):
the world.
So sometimes those dead ends wehit, those things that well,
just don't seem like they'regoing in the right way.
Trust the process, trust Jesusand remember we are all comeback
kids.
We will come back.
It may not be exactly how weremember it, but it will be
(26:29):
something that will be awesome.
We will love it, we will findpeace, we will find purpose and
we will find a passion.
Hey, listen, get the Hell Outof your Life is a podcast on all
your favorite podcast platforms.
So please help me promote Getthe Hell Out of your Life.
(26:50):
I'll be back next week withanother great episode.
In the meantime, remember thisthat I love you, god loves you,
and when you give Jesus yourheart, you not only get the hell
out of your life, but life getsgood.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Get the Hell Out of your Life is underwritten by the
Christmas City Gift Show.
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(27:41):
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episodes, please visit ourwebsite, thepromoterorg.
Join us next week for anotherepisode of Get the Hell Out of
your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
It's time now to get the hell out of your life.
A weekly broadcast with realpeople sharing real struggles
and offering real hope.
Today's show will encourage,inspire and empower you to face
life's challenges with a boldconfidence and renewed hope.
Now let's join our host, ronMyers.
The promoter.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hello, my friends, it is a joy to be back with you.
Have you had your conversationwith Jesus this past week?
You know, when you ask himquestions, share your struggles,
maybe thank him for something.
I'm Ron Myers, I'm your host,and this show is about helping
you get the hell out of yourlife.
(00:45):
You will hear stories fromindividuals who got the hell out
of their life and today theyboldly share the love, mercy,
grace and forgiveness that comeswith a personal relationship
with Jesus.
Today's story comes fromBradley, and what a testimony he
has to share with you.
(01:05):
He's open, honest, transparentand very authentic.
Listen to the love as he speaksand declares several times in
the interview that God has aplan.
Bradley, thank you for taking afew minutes to share your story
with my listeners.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, first off, I just want to say thank you,
Jesus, for allowing me to comeon.
First thing I want to say isI'm 28 years old and I've got
the world all figured out.
No, I'm just playing.
I'm from Gulfport, Mississippi,and I grew up in a rough
neighborhood called MagnoliaGrove.
And my father.
(01:45):
He committed suicide when I wasa baby and my mother had
leukaemia and it was a realtextbook kind of sad situation
and really all we had in myneighborhood was like selling
drugs and basketball.
So there really wasn't muchguidance there.
And so I would kind of relateto the guys in my neighborhood,
(02:08):
the older guys in myneighborhood, and I would get in
trouble a lot.
But the whole time, the wholetime, god had a plan, he had a
plan, and you know, my mother,around 12 years old, she ended
up dying from an aneurysm whileshe was sleeping and, um, from
that moment on I didn't have any, really any, no guidance in my
(02:31):
life whatsoever and, uh, god,had a plan.
So I ended up hanging around theguys um in my neighborhood.
I would relate to them, I wouldfind identity in them and I
would try to do the things thatthey were doing, which were
committing crimes and doingdrugs, and so they would shit me
off, right, my family theywould.
They would send me to live withthis aunt way up in New
(02:52):
Hampshire and they would send meto live with this aunt in Green
Bay, wisconsin, and I wouldalways get in trouble and and
always get shipped to live withsome cousin or some aunt, right.
And so when all this washappening, you know, I felt like
my family didn't want me, Ifelt like there was something
wrong with me and about thistime there was this guy named
(03:14):
Brad Holt and he actually, youknow, he works for Youth for
Christ on the coast right now.
I met him and along with severalother people in my life that
would try to reach out to meduring this time and really show
me the love of Jesus, and Igrew up and I knew about Jesus,
but I really didn't know Jesus.
You see, it was kind of likethis okay, I'm a big sports fan
(03:35):
and I really like LeBron James.
Well, I could tell you probablyevery stat and every shot
LeBron James ever made.
You know everything about himand what he's done and you know
I really like and love LeBronJames.
But if you call LeBron Jamesright now and say, hey, do you
know Brad Hancock?
He's going to tell you, no, youknow, because I just knew a
bunch about him.
I really didn't know him.
And it was the same way with meand my relationship with Jesus.
(03:57):
You know, I grew up knowing abunch about Jesus.
So, uh, well, my family, whenthey were shipping me around, I
felt like they didn't want me, Ifelt like something was wrong.
So I really really then reallyreally started to cling to the
guys in my neighborhood and uh,so I ended up.
I ended up joining a gang at ayoung age and, um, I devoted my
life to that gang and uh, so Iended up getting really hooked
(04:21):
on drugs and I started shooting,shooting heroin, and I would
always end up in trouble andtrouble.
That was just the thing.
You know.
I remember being at a young agethe first time I ever ran from
police and I got away and itactually worked.
Getting away.
That was it.
It like did something in me.
I guess I was just destined tobe a criminal.
But God had a plan and so Iended up going to prison and I
(04:47):
couldn't stay out of prison andI couldn't stop getting high to
save my life.
And I would always get out fora couple months and go right
back and I was wondering.
I was like man, maybe somepeople are just normal and maybe
some people just have jobs, butI'm just not one of those
people and I was just I kind ofsettled and accepted in my heart
that I was either going tospend the rest of my life in
(05:09):
prison or I was just going todie a drug addict.
And God had a plan.
And I remember the third time Iwas in prison this last time I
went to prison and I stillcouldn't stop getting high.
And there's a lot, a lot, a lotof drugs in the Mississippi
Department of Corrections and Iknow that may shock some people,
but there's a lot of gangsthere too, and the gang that I
(05:30):
was affiliated with, they, theywere after me, they wanted me
dead and the building I was inthey made it a point to tell me
that and walk by my bed everysingle day and tell me look when
we leave here you're through,and I remember just feeling this
ultimate closeness and nearnessto death.
(05:52):
I just knew any day now thatthis was it.
I tried to run to the policeand the police wouldn't help me.
They threw me back on the zoneand I just knew that it was over
.
And at that point in my life Iwas still getting high, so in
prison, and I remember I was upfor like three days and and I
remember feeling this terriblefeeling and when you're in
(06:15):
prison, the group of believersif you have any Christians on
the zone they they kind of havetheir own little church.
They gather together throughoutthe day because they really
don't have services there, andso they would shout and announce
these meetings on the zone andthey would call them prayer
calls.
So I remember hearing the wordsprayer call, prayer call on the
back of the zone and this wasNovember 12th of 2020.
(06:40):
And at that moment I was at facewith my decision.
I was face to face with my lifeand my choices.
And I remember looking to myleft and my Bible was on my bed
and I knew all the verses.
I've been taught the verses mywhole life.
I knew about Jesus.
I had seen Jesus move in otherpeople's lives and I needed them
(07:03):
to do that in mine, right thenand there, and at that moment,
something happened within me.
At that moment, what hurtJesus' heart began to hurt mine,
and I got on my knees and Iprayed.
I said, god, you know, I'veseen you do this for other
people.
I've seen you move people'slives.
I've seen you heal people.
I've seen you restore things.
Father and Father God, I don'tknow what the future holds,
father, but I know that you holdthe future.
And right now I give my life toyou.
(07:25):
And I don't know how much timeI got left.
I don't know what's fixing tohappen to me.
I don't know if I'm going todie tomorrow, but I'm yours for
whatever time.
I got left and I started seekinghis face.
I started seeking his face and,you know, I began to read all
these promises in scripture andI got to see them come true
before my eyes.
I remember laying on my bed andthese people would walk by my
(07:48):
rack every day and tell me youknow, hey, you weren't praying
out in that world, you hadn'tbeen going to church.
I don't know what you're goingto thought for now.
You're scared.
I remember you saying God, butI also remember reading about a
God who is a God of deliverance.
I remember reading about Davidwhere he said you know, god,
these floods of ungodly mensurround me and they encompass
(08:10):
me, but you're my refuge and mystronghold.
I remember reading this.
Those same guys that wanted tokill me I got to see, one by one
, give their life to JesusChrist in front of my eyes in
prison, which never happened.
It never happened.
You know, I remember readingthese promises and seeing them
come true and I began to see hisface and I realized that not
only is there a God who is herefor me now, but as I began to
(08:32):
look back, I remember seeing andremembering all the time God
had reached out for me and howhe was there the whole time
While I was in prison aboutthree months, I was three months
over and I was seeking his face.
And you know everybody's gotthis idea that when you get
saved, your life just supposedto be perfect after that, right.
(08:53):
Well, no God, god's got to dosome work in you.
And so I'd ruined my marriage.
I hadn't seen my daughter inyears and you know they had zero
contact with me.
So I remember reaching out onthe jail phone and I said I said
, god, you know, I really justwant a picture, I really just
want you to restore these thingsin my life.
And I remember reading in yourword, lord, where you said that
you would restore what thelocusts have eaten.
(09:13):
So I reached out third partyand you know the answer that I
got back was no.
It was a no.
It was a no not right now,please don't contact me.
That was the answer.
I got back my ex-wife, but Isaid, god, you know what, not
what the circumstances tell me,not what my own heart is telling
(09:34):
me right now, but what you sayin your word.
That's what I'm going to standon.
Nowadays I talk to my daughterevery single day.
In fact, she got to see me forthe first time sharing my
testimony at the Youth Surpriseevent.
There's so many promises that Igot to see over and over again
come true in my life and that'sstill to this day.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
That's still to this day that, that, that is an
amazing story.
You had people in jail thatwanted to kill you, but you got
to see each of those gangmembers begin a new relationship
with Jesus.
That had to be an excitingmoment.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Yes, it was incredible, and you know the
prison I was in.
That never happens.
I mean, this is a prison thatis known for death, this is a
prison that is known for beingran by gangs, and it just never,
ever happened.
And it was just an undeniableproof that God was doing
something.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah, Now, what prison were you in?
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I was in South Mississippi Correctional
Institution which is in peoplerefer to it as Green County, and
it's changed a lot since I'vebeen released.
But they have a newcommissioner which is a man of
God, mr Beryl Kane.
He's done a great work inMississippi prison for the Lord
and the kingdom.
But, yeah, it's known forviolence.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
What are you doing right now?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So right now, god just continues to fulfill
promises and let me see daysthat I never in a million years
thought I would see.
Right now I live in JacksonMississippi.
I have been called and I workat Gateway Rescue Mission.
We're a homeless shelter thatfeeds and houses the homeless
and we also offer a new life,drug and alcohol program.
And sometimes I get to cook.
(11:12):
I'm hired on here as staff tocook, but I'm also what they
call a program associate, whichis we volunteer, we teach
classes, we do a number ofthings here, and it's been an
amazing experience and God'sreally let me see days.
I never thought I would bethrough gateway rescue mission.
I mean, there was a time in mylife where all I knew was a
(11:33):
heroin spoon and and a jail cell, and now now I have a job, I
have a career, not only a careerbut a purpose serving God.
My employer, gateway, has putme and paid for me to go to this
online university called TwoDivision University and I'm in
college.
And not only am I in college,but now I have A's in college.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
So, brad, are you telling us that there is life
after drugs or incarceration?
I?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
am telling anybody who is listening to the sound of
my voice right now there is aGod that loves you and there's a
God that has always loved you.
And one thing that I've seencome true in my life it doesn't
matter whether you're wrestlingwith addiction, it doesn't
matter if you're hearing myvoice on a radio in Parchment
Prison, it doesn't matter whereyou're hearing the sound of this
(12:23):
voice.
This voice is telling you thatthere is a God that loves you
and circumstances, no matterwhat they are, do not change God
.
God changes circumstances.
There is an abundant life foryou.
You are loved and he will letyou see days that you never
thought you would see.
I remember one of my favoriteverses is Ephesians 2.20.
And it says now unto him, whois able to do far more than we
(12:46):
could ever ask or think,according to the power that
works within us, he will seedays that you never thought you
would see, and he will healwounds that you never thought he
could.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So what would you say to a naysayer out there says
you know, here goes that Godstuff again.
What would you tell to thenaysayer that believes that?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, to be honest, man, I'd probably walk up lay
hands and pray with them, butwe're in a society now to where
that's not so easy.
So, really, how I address thatissue, man, is you know, I
understand that there's probablythis guy listening to me right
now that doesn't believe in God.
But the fact is, whether youbelieve in God or not, he
believes in you, he believes inyou and he wants to love you.
And if you would just give hima chance, if you would just say
(13:27):
God, you know what, not whatI've been doing, and I'm tired
of the way I've been going, ifyou would just give God that
chance, he will show you thatlove.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
You know I was reading in your story here that
said today you take pictureswith police officers.
One day they're puttinghandcuffs on you.
Now you take pictures with them.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yeah, yeah.
So I went to the.
God will give you the coolestmoments, man.
I mean, this is just one ofthose things, like I said, days
I never thought I would see.
So there was this captain ofHarrison County Jail and this
guy seen me, he seen me.
In my words, I mean, I'm prettynormal around the jail down
there.
And so I go down there and Ididn't know that I was going to
(14:06):
even be speaking at the Youthfor Christ event.
It was a last minute thing.
I didn't know the HarrisonCounty Sheriff's Department was
providing the food for the event.
I didn't know any of thesethings and I was just obedient.
And when God said go, I went.
So I went down there and thefirst thing that I hear when I
get out of the parking lot isHancock.
And I look and there is thisofficer that has known me, this
(14:26):
captain that has known me mywhole life, and he asked me what
I was doing there and I said,man, I've been watching the game
, brother, I'm speaking at thisevent, and we got to see each
other and he got to see what Godhas done in my life and, it's
crazy, the same ones that usedto drag me out of my cell when I
was giving them problems arethe same ones that I'm taking
pictures with.
And what the enemy meant forevil, god meant for good.
(14:47):
Wow, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
So the reason that I do this show Get the Hell Out of
your Life is to validate to theworld that God is a God of
restoration, redemption, mercy,forgiveness and a whole new life
, and I see that also.
You got some tattoos removed.
Why did you get some tattoosremoved?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
When I was living that life, man, I ended up
getting my whole face covered intattoos and gang tattoos and
stuff that symbolized that life,and I have them all over me,
but I would always pray.
You know I have them all overme but, um, I would always pray.
You know I was the guy thatwould walk through Walmart
parking lot and five peoplewould hit the lock button on
their car.
So you know, and, and everybody, everybody was like man, that's
(15:30):
your testimony, don't do it.
But I remember praying.
I'm like God, you know.
I'm thankful for the scarsyou've given me, because if I
didn't have them I wouldn't knowyou.
But I want these tattoos gone.
I want to look what you said Iam and you said that I'm new.
You said that all things wouldpass away and I want to look
that way.
And I remember reaching out tothese organizations and these
doctors and it was reallyexpensive for laser removal.
(15:53):
I kept praying.
In fact, I remember looking atmy Facebook the other day where
I posted the status.
I said God, I pray that youwill one day open the door for
me to get these tattoos off ofmy face.
Now I'm sitting here with youand I got a clear face.
God has opened that door andhe's provided a very affordable
way for me to do that, and it'sjust one of the many, many
blessings that God has given me.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
The title of the show is Get the Hell Out of your
Life so blessings that God hasgiven me.
The title of the show is Getthe Hell Out of your Life, so
Brad how do you get the hell outof your life?
Speaker 2 (16:21):
The only way that I've gotten the hell out of my
life is to bring the kingdominto it, and there's only one
person that can do that.
If you're out there strugglingright now and you're wondering
how you're going to get rid ofall this stuff in your life, you
need to fall in love with theperson who can, Because by your
own strength you can't do it.
By your own strength, you'regoing to keep going back and
using the things that you wereusing, looking at the things
that you were looking at ordoing the things that you were
(16:43):
doing.
But the more that you fall inlove with Jesus, the more you
will fall out of love with thosethings, and that's the only
option and that's the only way Iwas able to man Before I let
you go.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I like my guest to pray for the listeners out there
.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Okay, all right.
So, father God, I just thankyou.
I thank you for your salvation,I thank you for your grace, I
thank you for your restoration.
Right now, I pray for anybodyunder the sound of this voice,
anybody listening that feelsbroken, that feels rejected,
that feels like there's no hope,that feels like they're
different, that feels likethey're incarcerated and they
may not see the light of day,whether behind a wall or in
(17:23):
their heart.
I pray right now, father, thatyou will liberate them, that you
will show them a new love in amighty way, father, the love
that only you offer, that canchange their life.
I pray something will happen intheir life, father.
I pray something that willhappen that will break those
chains, break those addictions,break those habits, restore
those relationships in theirlife, father, and that you will
open a door for them likethey've never seen before.
(17:43):
Father, god, I pray that youwould draw that heart of the
person listening here.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Amen, listeners right after the break, my final
thought the comeback kid.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life
with your host, ron Myers.
Real stories, real strugglesand real hope.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
Does God speak to us today?
If so, what does he sound like?
Thundering roars, crashingwaves, a booming megaphone?
Maybe, sometimes, but maybeit's not quite as Hollywood,
dramatic as all that.
Maybe it's a little more simple.
John 10, 27 says my sheep hearmy voice, I know them and they
(18:29):
follow me.
In the midst of all the noiseand questions, god is speaking
and we can hear his voice.
We just need to learn torecognize it.
So what does he sound like?
He sounds like love, likereconciliation, like kindness,
wisdom, hope, truth.
(18:50):
Do you know those sounds Then?
Maybe you hear his voice moreoften than you think.
Maybe you're being led by himmore than you realize.
Maybe God is speaking to youand you actually are listening.
You just didn't know it.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
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day, and now you can accessCoffee News anytime, anywhere,
(19:26):
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Speaker 7 (19:39):
I'm always gonna have your back and if nothing else,
you can always come back whenyou need me.
I promise I will never let youdown the comeback kid?
Speaker 3 (20:08):
that's my final thought today.
Did you watch any of themasters or hear about the
masters golf tournamentnament?
When you hear golf, most peoplewill think of Tiger Woods.
I was watching for Tiger tomake a comeback this week.
Well, he did not make acomeback, but everywhere he went
(20:29):
, people just cheered andapplauded him.
They were wanting a comeback.
I was wanting a comeback.
Have you ever been riding thewave of destiny and everything
seems to be going good and then,out of nowhere, something
suddenly hits and sets you back.
Maybe a doctor's visit, loss ofa loved one or a job loss?
(20:53):
That's what happened to meyears ago.
My motivation had taken a backseat.
I had lost a job that I reallyloved and I sat on my pity pot
for a long time.
I didn't care about doinganything, I wanted to sit around
and I felt sorry for myself.
But then one day, friends, Irealized that this was a
(21:14):
defining moment in my life.
Would I go forward or would Isit there on my pity pot?
So, with all my energy, I stoodup.
I looked up and declared thatthis would pass and that I
needed to wake up and smell theHoly Spirit and discover my
destiny.
So that day I accepted that Godwill often place us in the
(21:40):
right place at the right time,even though we may feel it's the
wrong place and the wrong time.
So what was the life lessonthat I learned with that, and
how do I tie that into TigerWoods and the the Comeback Kid?
Perhaps we are drawn to comebackstories like Tiger's because we
(22:01):
see ourselves in these peopleand we cheer for them and
simultaneously we are cheeringfor ourselves, reminding
ourselves to have that faith, totrust the process and, above
all, don't quit.
Express gratitude to Jesus inour daily conversations.
(22:21):
Friends, we should be gratefulfor his hand guiding us, because
he will lead us to where heneeds us to be, and sometimes we
don't like the changes in ourlife, but we have to have faith
and we have to have trust.
Now.
(22:41):
Tiger did not win this year'smaster, but he was an
inspiration to watch.
I was so happy to see him withhis son at the masters.
And my final thought for youthis week is this that in life
we win some, we lose some, butwith perseverance and unwavering
(23:04):
faith, God will lead us to ourmaster, our teacher, our mentor,
our savior, and that is JesusChrist.
What a life with Jesus.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life
with your host, ron Myers.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Real stories, real struggles and real hope, if you
need something more out of lifethan what you've already
experienced.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
If you need a new start, a clean slate, If you
want to live life forever, youneed God in your life.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
If getting old has you depressed, Growing up
sometimes scares the daylightsout of you.
If you want to know what thefuture holds, get in touch with
the one who holds the future.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Stop wasting time and get a hold of God.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
It's not about earning points by being good.
It ain't about some boringchurch.
It's not about working your wayto heaven.
Finding God is not aboutfollowing some group who claims
to be the only way to God.
It's not about being religious.
It's not about religion.
It's all about God's only son.
It's all about Jesus.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
It's all about.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Jesus.
It's about Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
No one comes to the Father but by me.
Well, someday, when I standbefore God and he asks me why
should I let you into heaven?
All that's going to matter isif I knew Jesus or not, and
that's what it's all about.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Ron will be back in a minute to close out today's
show.
We want to remind you today ofthe last words of Jesus it is
finished.
What is finished, the finishedwork of Jesus?
It is finished.
What is finished, the finishedwork of Jesus refers to the
complete and finalaccomplishment of salvation
through his death andresurrection.
It means that Jesus has doneeverything necessary for our
(24:50):
forgiveness, redemption andreconciliation with God.
Through his sacrifice on thecross, Jesus paid the price for
our sins once and for all,providing total forgiveness and
cleansing.
This finished work of Jesusmeans that we no longer need to
strive or work to earn God'sfavor or forgiveness.
We can rest in the assurancethat our salvation is secure and
(25:14):
that we are fully accepted byGod because of what Jesus has
done for us.
Now back to Ron.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Well, friends, my time is up and I did want to
tell you the rest of the story.
I told you in the final thoughtsegment that the worst day of
my life is when I lost a job.
But you know, one year later,that worst day turned into the
best day of my life.
When I was thinking of what todo after I was terminated, I
(25:47):
said, jesus, what do we do now?
And that's when I was inspiredwith the idea of a radio show,
of a podcast called Get the HellOut of your Life.
So, friends, today I've beensharing stories all over the
world for over five years andthey literally are going across
(26:08):
the world.
So sometimes those dead ends wehit, those things that well,
just don't seem like they'regoing in the right way.
Trust the process, trust Jesusand remember we are all comeback
kids.
We will come back.
It may not be exactly how weremember it, but it will be
(26:29):
something that will be awesome.
We will love it, we will findpeace, we will find purpose and
we will find a passion.
Hey, listen, get the Hell Outof your Life is a podcast on all
your favorite podcast platforms.
So please help me promote Getthe Hell Out of your Life.
(26:50):
I'll be back next week withanother great episode.
In the meantime, remember thisthat I love you, god loves you,
and when you give Jesus yourheart, you not only get the hell
out of your life, but life getsgood.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Get the Hell Out of your Life is underwritten by the
Christmas City Gift Show.
We invite you to come shop withover 255 vendors from all over
the United States from November8th through the 10th inside the
Coast Convention Center locatedon the beach in Biloxi,
Mississippi.
You can find more informationat ChristmasCityGiftShowcom.
Thanks for listening, and ifyou would like to share your
(27:41):
story of what God has done inyour life or listen to previous
episodes, please visit ourwebsite, thepromoterorg.
Join us next week for anotherepisode of Get the Hell Out of
your Life Real stories, realstruggles and real hope.
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