Acts of the Spirit in the Life of Virgil
Birth and early life
I give this testimony in the hope that some dear soul will be encouraged by it and be led to honor God and His Son in a greater degree than formerly.
I have been asked to give a testimony of God’s leading in my life. This is in response to that request. I will give a short history of the “ACTS OF THE SPIRIT” in my life only with the hope that some might be encouraged by what God has done for me and to me. Praise His holy name. Amen. I will condense this as much as is relevant to a consistent cohesive flow of thought.
I was born Virgil Keith Prindle to Ralph Virgil and Margret Fox Prindle on March 30, 1944 in the town of Lubbock Texas. My parents were new Seventh Day Adventist of about two years at my birth. Father and mother were very faithful and the whole family were in church every Sabbath. Come rain or shine, sick or well Sabbath attendance was mandatory along with obedience to all the requirements of the church!
At an early age I began to rebel secretly because no descent or protest was ever allowed. I grew to despise the Sabbath and the church and even God Himself. In my early teens I determined that as soon as possible I would leave home and be free of religious restrictions! As a result, when I became eighteen, I joined the Navy just before my 19th birthday in February 1963.
From that time, I cast off all religious affiliations. I became a derelict and rebelled in every way against God! I remember giving the street preachers in San Diego a hard time when they would try to convert me, a sailor, to God. I would, joyfully, nearly with glee, enter into argument with them about the Sunday Sabbath issue. I knew the truth about that subject having been grilled at home and at church on the mark of the beast and Sunday sacredness and related subjects. It seemed every year that an evangelistic series would be held in the Lubbock church. For 18 years this was reinforced.
The street preachers didn’t have a chance and would finally, after realizing my depravity, would in exasperation, leave in disgust. They could not argue with the reasoning from Scripture. I don’t recall one ever coming to the truth in this manner. I was not, at all, gentle in my castigation of their ignorance! I would actually mock them for their refusal to believe the truth of Scripture. I would tell them; you believe in Jesus but you deny His Word. I would then declare them deluded hypocrites and phonies.
THE BEGINNING OF A CRIMINAL LIFE
I eventually went A.W.O.L. (that means Away With Out Leave), for about a year. I was eventually caught and returned to the Navy where I received a six-month incarceration in the 32nd street brig San Diego California. At my hearing they offered an immediate discharge of undesirable status or I could serve six months and if I kept a clean record receive an honorable discharge upon completion of my tour of duty. I chose the latter and did receive an honorable discharge. This was given only by the grace of God because I did get caught for some minor offenses later on.
After serving brig time, I was stationed on a ship, the U.S.S. Holster DD 788. Here I became a gambler and thief. I stole money to support my gambling. Think God, I never got caught stealing while in the Navy. I was what they called a sneak thief. I have no idea of the total amount of my thefts or from whom I stole the money. There were several victims involved.
Upon my release from the Navy in 1967 I continued my life of crime. It seems the pattern was set. It was easier to steal what I wanted than to work for it. I wanted a lot of things, manly money, and lots of it. By late 1969 I was back in jail. This time for 37 counts of larceny, theft over, burglary, and 15 counts of armed robbery. I also had become a user of marijuana and other drugs like meth and other forms of speed including LSD.
I was put in the County jail Fort-Worth Texas, and while waiting on my court date, I was given the position of trustee in the booking office because I could type. A skill I had learned while in the Navy. I had been assigned to the radioman’s rate and taught to understand Morris code and typing was mandatory. This rate was taken from me after my release from the brig and I was assigned to the boatswains’ rate which is ships maintenance. They did not, or could not, trust me to handle classified material any longer. Now back to Tarrant county jail.
Two inmates were assigned to the booking office in Tarrant county jail. One day this other inmate approached me (I do not recall his name), and ask if I had ever thought about escaping from jail? At this suggestion I was immediately agreeable. We formulated a plan and shortly after we did escape. In the process of the escape my associate cut one guard’s throat slightly, it took four stitches to close up the wound. This was later charged as attempted murder of a police officer against both of us. A very serious crime. The people that were to meet us and give us a change of clothes and transportation did not show up so we were left afoot. As we fled, I noticed a pickup sitting in an industrial area and hotwired it. We now had transportation but there was not much gas in the tank. We made our escape of the immediate area in that fashion.
We needed gas badly and my partner told me to pull into a station, he said he had some money to buy some gas. I don’t know where he got the money. Inmates were not allowed to have money. He went to the cashier to pay while I pumped the gas, when he came back, he told me that our pictures were all over the TV. And we were declared to be armed, desperate, and dangerous. Within a mile from the gas station I noticed a patrol car following us at a distance. The attendant at the gas station had probably called the police. I informed my partner of this and ask what we should do. He did not know. Very shortly several patrol cars came from all directions at an intersection and our escape was over, we were once again caught. The Scripture is true that says “be sure your sins will find you out.” I have found this to be true in all cases. One of the policemen had a shotgun. It was loaded but he was so nervous and shaking so badly that he jacked the loading leaver and ejected a live round onto the ground. It was a very intense moment, I thought he would shoot; I cannot remember ever being more scared in my life as at this time. After that day I never saw my partner again. I do not know what happened to him or how much time he got for his part in the escape.
However, for my part there was much retaliation. The sheriff at that time was Lon Evans, an ex-Dallas Cowboy with some reputation as a linebacker for that team. He seemed particularly angry at me. I was taken immediately upon our return to Tarrant county lockup, into a room with no windows and hand cuffed to a wooden office chair. The Sheriff then took a Dallas phone book and rolled it as tight as he could and began hitting me on top of the head as hard as he could. Then he would hit me on the side of the head above the ear, in the hair line, this was to prevent visible bruising of the skin. He wanted no evidence of any violence to my person. What a roaring headache I had because of that experience. I still have neck pain from that beating. This lasted for what seemed an hour. I am sure it was a much shorter time, but it seemed a long time to me! I am not looking for sympathy, I am just relating the facts of what happened to me. I deserved much worse than I received. But God is good all the time. Even when we are in rebellion against Him! An officer finally came in and told the sheriff about some emergency. The sheriff told the other two officers that were assisting him not to do anything to me because he wanted me himself. He promised to be right back as soon as possible to finish with me.
I am very thankful. The sheriff did not return and I was not beaten again. Finally, another officer came into the room and told the first two officers that they were to put me into lockdown in what they called “the shitter,” a bare cell with no bunk, no blankets, nothing but a bare room with a concrete floor and walls.
I was informed that they were going to lock me away for the rest of my life. I was to be charged, not only with the original 37 counts of my original crimes but the additional charges of assault on a police officer, which carried a 25 year sentence, assault with intent to do bodily harm to a police officer, 25 years, attempted murder on a police officer, 25 years, escape, 10 years, destruction of state property, 5 years, plus the maximum penalty for all the other charges that had been filed against me earlier. This all adds up to well over 150 years. I would never get out of prison. I was going to die an old man in prison! This was a devastating realization for a me at only 26 years old. Man did I do some remembering and reminiscing about my child hood and youth while sitting on the hard floor with my back to the wall. I recalled, at a very young age, how I had asked God to make me his child and a worker for him when I grew up. That was something I had completely forgotten about in my rebellion. I came under strong conviction there in that dark lonely dungeon! And there I made my first commitment to God. I confessed that I had made a mess of my life and had wasted it in rebellion against Him and was to spend the rest of my life locked up. But if He would accept me, I would surrender to him. I could not see any good thing I could do or that could become of me at that time. Never the less a strange peace came over me and I fell asleep singing Amazing Grace.
The next morning the guard on duty woke me up by slamming the metal door of the food slot within the main entry door to my cell. I awoke singing Amazing Grace at the very next word of that song exactly where I had gone to sleep the night before. The guard gave me one piece of white bread for breakfast. I was on bread and water for 30 days. I thought about my awakening and coming from sleep singing the next phrase of Amazing Grace exactly where I had gone to sleep. I am reminded that the wicked will resurrect and resume the current of their thoughts right where they were thinking when they died. That is amazing to me.
At this time, I was absolutely devastated by my past sins and lusts. There is no one to blame but myself for my demise. My conscious was alive with the thought of God and how I could have been a child of His and a part of His kingdom, but instead I had been a child of Satan’s. I needed help to break the prison bars of his dominion. Only Christ and the Father can free us from that dungeon! Dear friends, I will not go into the grocer sins of my life. Let it be understood that in my rebellion I belonged to an outlaw motorcycle gang. I was actually the vice president of that organization and all the lusts and sins that we committed I will not mention for they were terrible. Even to murder and theft and drugs. And many other sins much to sordid and vile to mention! I only mention these things in case there may be someone who thinks their sins are to terrible for God to forgive. There is no sin that God will not forgive except the sin of refusing to ask for forgiveness. Don’t commit the sin of refusing to confess. God cannot forgive a sin that the sinner refuses to confess and turn away from. The only thing between you and your God is your refusal to confess and convert. What can you do for God? Surrender to Him and He will use you in ways you cannot understand or see at this time.
As I have already said a great peace came over me at that timer. I praise God for his mercy! God has profoundly blessed me since my commitment to him. I wished I could say I have never back slidden from that time, but as with most Christians I did fall back into sin. But He has never forsaken me nor left me. He always draws me back and if you are humble and confess when He reveals sin in your life. He will reinstate you in His grace until you are begotten into His very image! We must trust His word that he will cleans us from all unrighteousness until we are one with Him just as He is one with His Father!
I do not deserve Christ or His blessings! Since that day in prison He has never left me alone nor forsaken me and I thank Him and praise His name for His steadfastness toward me. Dear reader, what I have related to you was God’s deliverance of me from bondage as surely as He delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage and slavery by the hand of Moses and Aaron. So, you see, I have a glorious reason to celebrate Passover as a commemoration of my personal deliverance. Passover also points to the day God will deliver all of his children from Satan’s tyranny at His second coming. Amen, come Lord Jesus! As a Christian, I will celebrate Passover because of God’s great deliverance in my case, I do, so much, appreciate what He has done for me.
My brother had hired a lawyer, at a cost of ten thousand dollars to retain his services. After my escape, my lawyer was very angry with me. He informed me that had I not escaped I would have been released on probation within a week or two. Why he had not told me this I never knew. If I had known I would have never attempted the escape.
The prosecutor in my cases refused to negotiate any plea bargain afterward. Instead I was informed through my lawyer that the maximum sentence would be pursued for each violation. As a burglary of a Sears store was first on the docket, and because the prosecutor and judge were determined to sentence me to twelve years, the maximum sentence permissible by law at the time, I requested the jury sentence my time. This was permitted and the jury came back with a six-year sentence. Exactly half what the judge asked the jury to give. I immediately thanked the Lord for the reduced sentence.
Usually, as soon as the sentence is pronounced, the prisoner is rushed back to his cell. This did not happen. Instead the judge and the prosecutor began earnest conversation between themselves. I ask my lawyer what was happening. He told me, “I don’t know.” Very shortly he was asked to join the judge and prosecutor at the bench. They talked for a few minutes and my lawyer came to where I was sitting and said, “I don’t believe what they are offering you.” If you will enter a guilty plea for escape, they will drop all other charges and give you three years for the escape and stack it onto the six you just received, that means you would only serve nine years in prison instead of over 150 years. My response was WOW! Should I take it?
My lawyer asks? “Are you crazy? YES! Take it.” I said ok. So, I got nine years total instead of one hundred and fifty. And all other charged in Tarrant county were dropped. All praise and honor and glory to God my Savior. How the Lord blesses his wayward children when they surrender to Him completely. I praise the Lord for influencing the Judge and prosecutor for the great miracle of leniency in my cases! It was a miracle of God’s grace and love toward me.
That still left 15 counts of armed robbery in another county and a burglary charge in Belton County. But since Tarrant county was through with me, they sent me on to prison. I was later sent to Belton on a bench warrant and received 3 years for burglary and theft of a car stereo which I did not commit. The three years received in Belton County could not be added to the nine I was serving so my time was not increased, the nine years I was serving lasted longer than the three years received in Belton.
The county in which the armed were committed never called me for prosecution and I became worried that they would wait till I was ready to discharge before prosecution. One day when my brother visited me, I ask him to push the county to start the procedure of prosecution before my discharge. My brother immediately hushed me up, but I persisted by telling him that I would file a writ to force them to proceed. Jimmy immediately told me to shut up about that and not to file any writs. He informed me that the charges had been taken care of and I was not to file a writ. He made me promise not to talk of, or not even mention it again, that he would explain it to me later. He was adamant. So, I promised. By the way I failed to tell you that my brother was a deputy sheriff in the county in which the robberies occurred. The charges had somehow mysteriously disappeared and all records had been deleted from their computers. I am still amazed at the goodness of God and His providence to intervein and save me from so many charges and years of time in jail. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME, YES, GOD IS GOOD! And so, I thank God for His mercy toward me. How amazing are His mercies and His love!
But what’s wonderful, that’s not the end of His blessings to me. The miracles of God are still continuing even to this day, it is amazing!
I was received into prison in May of 1970. It seemed that almost immediately they all knew I was a Christian and began ridiculing me with remarks such as, you are nothing but a Bible back, you are just faking to get early parole, I hate Christians, and other, more severe demeaning things.
One prisoner was especially antagonistic toward me and threatened physical violence. They called him Cajun. He was from the Louisiana bayous and had a distinct accent common to that culture. I was warned that he had used a knife before. This gave me much apprehension as too what he might do.
After each meal all the prisoners were held in “the Day Room,” or “Recreation Room,” until all the prisoners returned from the mess hall (dining room). After they had all returned, we were then locked in our individual cells. The building tender (a prisoner in charge of the cell block), would call out “rack-up,” everyone would crowd around the single door waiting for their cell row (tear) to be called. Cells were arranged in three rows, one on top of the other with an access walk in front if each tear. The first was tear one, then tear two, then tear three. Thus, the inmates were separated. They were supposed to wait for their row to be called before they came to the exit door from the Day Room. This way each row could exit easily from the Day Room without being hindered or delayed. This was not observed by most of the prisoners. My cell was on row one. But when the building tender called rack-up, everyone crowded the door and when row one was called, I was delayed behind Cajun and other of his “buddies” were blocking the door. I said, excuse me, may I pass? Cajun looked back and saw it was me and moved closer to his friend trying to block my passage. I said excuse me again, but neither man moved so I turned sideways and forced my way between them. This drew curses from Cajun and a threat to harm me. At meal time the next day we were locked in the day room awaiting rack-up, I was talking to one of my associates when Cajun came up to me and said “I’m going to whip your ass.” I responded, “no you’re not.” I stood up and as I stood, I hit him hard in the face, he went backward on his back about five feet sliding on the floor. I said “you stupid idiot, you had to do this, now we are both going to be beaten by the B.T. (building tender) with lead pipes and go to solitary confinement.” I’m going to get mine while I can.” With that I began kicking him in the side of his body. He grabbed my feet and locked them in his elbows so I dropped on my knees into his face. Just then someone yelled fight and the B.T. came in with his lead filled pipe in his hand. I immediately stood up and backed up. Then the B.T. told me to unclench my fists, which I did immediately. Then he yelled “there is no fight.” I think the BT, who had heard Cajun’s threat the day before, was as much surprised, as was Cajun, at my response to Cajun’s threat. To my surprise that was the end of it. Once again God was there to protect me from harm. Praise his holy name.
I was assigned to the Ellis unit, one of several farms in the prison system in Texas. A farm of about one thousand acres. The crops were mainly cotton and sugar cane, with a deary and vegetable garden that was used for supplementing food for prison consumption. Each day the line prisoners (field workers), were loaded into several trailers and pulled behind a tractor to the fields to hoe cotton or to pick cotton or to block cotton. All depending on the season. During the winter we cleared more land for the cotton or sugar cane fields.
One day a fairly small short man showed up who was just beginning his time. I noticed he had depressions in his eye teeth. I ask what the depressions were for? He told me they were where he had diamonds implanted so that when he smiled his smile would sparkle. I thought that was strange but said nothing. I learned that his name was Al Brown. He soon learned that I was a Christian and he commenced asking me all sorts of questions that were very hard to answer. Questions like, where did God come from? Can God make a rock so heavy that He cannot pick it up? Or everything has a beginning, what about God? Do you believe that God has always existed? Why did He allow sin to come into existence? And if He allowed it, doesn’t that make Him responsible for sin. How can God be just and still condemn sin if he allowed it to begin with? These were questions that I had, for the most part, no answer for, but I promised to try and find answer for him.
What was I to do? Who could I look to for answers? I began a long correspondence with my mother. She seemed to have answers to everything. She was a deep student of the word of God! Thank God for mothers who study God’s word for themselves. I am sure the guards that censored our mail got a course in Bible 101 from having to reading our correspondence.
The answers mother would give to me I passed on to Al Brown on the trailer as we went to work in the fields each morning. He finally told me he had never talked to anyone before who responded to his questions with such positive response. He said that most of the time people just gave up and quit discussing the subject with him. You, he said, are very dedicated to your God, you at least try to answer. This made me very glad that I had persevered in my answer to his many questions.
One day, for some reason, Al did not come to the fields to work. I ask what had happened to him. one of the prisoners, in a sarcastic voice, asked. Don’t you know who Al Brown is? I immediately thought that he was going to tell me that Al was some terrible child molester or some mass murderer, so some horrible criminal act that did not deserve us giving him the time of day! I did not expect what I was told. Al is the high priest of the first church of Lucifer. They meet each Sunday afternoon in the same place that you go to worship your God on Sunday mornings! He is just leading you on to make fun of you. I was stunned! I had no idea there was any such church on the Ellis unit.
The next day Al was back. I ask him if it were true. He confirmed that it was true. I immediately ask him, if you worship Satan you must know there is a God, for if Satan exists, there has to be God, to of set the evil.
He responded. We do not believe that there is an actual being called Lucifer or Satan. We just believe the Devil is an influence that everyone has within themselves. We believe in focusing on the evil essence within and try to cultivate that influence to manifest itself more fully within ourselves. We don’t believe in a real person called the Devil, or Satan!
I later learned this is what is taught the new converts to the occult, but later as they progress in the ranks, they are taught the truth. Yes, Satan is a real being and we do worship him as god of this world!
This was very disturbing. The next Sunday I ask the Chaplain if it were true that there was a Satanic Church on the Ellis unit. And did they meet on Sunday afternoons in the Chapel where we meet on Sunday mornings? The Chaplin said, yes, unfortunately that is true! Well, that is a most insulting insult to God’s sovereignty! I was informed that there was nothing that could be done. The prison system would not build them a separate place to worship. They were a religion and that the chapel was for worship. Therefore, they were allowed to worship in the chapel. I also ask the Chaplin if I could have Bible studies on any day of his choosing for the inmates who were interested. That was ok with him but I would have to get approval from the Warden because a guard would have to be assigned. This began a five-month struggle to win approval from both the warden and the Chapin to allow Bible studies. Finally, the Chaplin informed me that he just did not have the time to dedicate to another commitment. He was much too busy.
When the Chaplin stated that there was nothing that could be done to stop the “First Church of Lucifer” from meeting in the Chapel, I informed the Chaplin that God could stop it, I requested special prayer be given to address the problem. He agreed that was a good idea.
I do not know if he ever prayed about it or not, I know that he never mentioned it in any service that I attended. No one else may have prayed but I certainly did. In fact, I made up a prayer list and prayed morning and evening for God to intervene. I continued this prayer vigil until my release from prison.
Here is a partial list of the things on my prayer list.
1. That the Satanic church would be broken up.
2. That a Seventh Day Adventist pastor would come to the Ellis unit and give Bible studies!
3. That Al Brown and Fred Linthicum, Al’s Lieutenant, the leaders of the Satanic church, would study to become Seventh Day Adventist.
4. That I would stop smoking!
5. There were several other things of which I cannot remember now.
I mentioned these four main points because these points were answered in a most striking way.
By this time, I had become what they call a short-timer. I had less than a year to serve until my discharge. By this time, I was taking college courses and had an associate of applied science recognition from Bay Town College. A special recognition for those who had finished a class of Radio and TV. Repair school which was taught at the prison. This degree is not recognized as much because it did not have all the prerequisites in math and English and other curriculum that are required for a Bachelor’s degree.
About this time the prison system brought me up for parole consideration for the third time. I was seriously thinking of refusing any parole. I had the second highest grade average in my class and had been given the position of assistant to the professor in a second class to be taught. This assured me of a position in the upcoming class for computer technology. I discussed the situation with my professor. He recommended that I take the parole if they gave it to me because I could never know what might happen in prison. I could be involved in a fight and get killed or may by someone had a grudge and might knife me. Or even a riot. I agreed to take the parole if they gave it to me.
About two weeks later I received an F. I. which means “considered for further investigation for parole. This was the same as telling me I had the parole. That very Sunday I was in Chapel thanking God for my good fortune and who do you think came into the chapel. I hope you guessed Al Brown and Fred Linthicum. They came to my pew and sat on either side of me. Al said “Guess what? I responded, I haven’t a clue. He said. “we broke up the church of Lucifer!” I responded, “You know I have been praying that would happen!” Al said “Oh, that is not the way it happened, there was another faction who was trying to take control so I had to break it up before I lost control. We will start it back up later” I said, “Yes, God does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.”
How wonderful is God! He wanted me to know that He had heard my prayer and was working to fulfill my heart felt earnest requests for His glory.
About two or three weeks later I was released on nineteen months parole. I always felt they only gave me parole to keep control over me for another year and seven months. That is alright. I had my freedom and my whole life in front of me. I was 33 years old then. I was happy, oh, how I was blessed. I had been spared all those years of incarceration I was facing in 1969 when I first went to court. YES, I WAS BLESSED!
I wish I could say that I never turned back from my allegiance to God, but that is not the case. Soon after my release on parole I bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and began hanging around others who rode Harleys, this led to compromises. One day someone suggested we ought to form a club among ourselves. The group decided to form an outlaw club. We decided on colors and a name. we called ourselves The Damned Few.
I was elected vice president. Along with all the other officers, and a patch was formulated which took about three weeks to complete. By this time, I had been out of prison about three years and was staying with my mom in Keene Texas, a small Adventist community. I had also started a business of my own in the masonry trade. I was bricking houses.
I remember mother encouraging me to come to church, I did not want to do that because I was not living the way I should. At camp meeting that year every evening mother would ask me to come to meeting. She informed me that a minister who was involved in prison ministry was the main speaker each night. He was a wonderful speaker and would I come and listen to him. I would respond, I’ll see, or if I have time. Finally, on Friday, the speakers last night to speak, mother insisted, I had to come. I said mother please. I don’t have time. And I started to leave. Mother blocked my way and said “I won’t let you go until you promise to come to meeting at seven tonight.” She would not let me go until I promised to come. So, I promised.
That night about 6:30 I told the brothers I had to go to church. They kind of made fun of me and told me that I was supposed to be with them. I told them that I had promised my mother I would go, what could I do, I could not break a promise to my mother!
The place was crowded, I remember trying to find a parking place but not one place was to be found within a half mile of the building. I finally rode up to the entry way and ask the attendant if I could park my bike there by the handicap ramp for wheelchairs. He said sure, that he would watch my bike. I went in and looked for my mother but couldn’t find her. so, I sat in the back near the entry way so I could keep an eye on my bike.
True to mother’s word the speaker was a man filled with the spirit. He delivered a powerful sermon and afterward made a call. I was under real conviction and responded. The pastor told us that he wanted to speak to us personally just as soon as he dismissed the congregation, would we please wait in the back till he had finished dismissing the congregation and he would be right back.
An elder took our names and ushered us into a waiting room. Very soon the paster came back and began taking each one into a private conference. This took some time. There were about twelve people present. He was taking them in alphabetical order, Prindle being toward the end of the alphabet I was way down on the list, finally there was only four left. I determined that if I was not called next that I would have to leave. It was midnight and I had to work the next day. Sure enough, he called someone else so, after he went into conference, I got up to leave but the elder blocked my exit, I looked at him and said do you really want to stop me? He pled, “he really wants to speak with you. Please I will see that your next.” I told him that would not be fair to the others. Never the less, I sat back down and waited.
True to his word the elder spoke to the preacher and he chose me next. Now I don’t remember how the conversation got there but him being involved in prison ministry and me being an Ex-con, the subject came up. he asks on which farm I was assigned. I told him the Ellis unit. He said, OH, that is the unit I am teaching at, do you know Al Brown? Now I had not thought of him for over two and a half years or more, in fact I had forgotten about Al all together. I said, “probably not, there were 1,800 men on that unit and the chance that I knew him personally was very slim.” Well, Al and his lieutenant Fred Linthicum— “Fred Linthicum”, I said. “Wow, now I remember. Al Brown and Fred Linthicum were the high priest of the Satanic church on the Ellis unit when I was there. You know I prayed that a Seventh Day Adventist minister would come and give Bible studies on that farm, that the Satanic church would be broken up, which happened just before I was paroled, and that these two men would study with an Adventist pastor, be baptized and become Seventh Day Adventist!”
That pastor sat down right there in the room. He declared, “I am the answer to your prayer! I am the S.D.A. pastor that came to the Ellis unit and after much persuasion, for they could not understand why I was not with my own church for Sunday morning worship. Finally, they understood that Adventist went to church on Saturday, not Sunday, and they let me in to give Bible studies which Al and Fred attended. They both are now studying to be baptized and join the S.D.A. Church.” How amazing is God? He is faithful. Even though I was out of prison and had back slidden God still fulfilled my earnest request for help. My smoking continued on for some years after until I was ready to conquer that as well. I am here to testify that God is good all the time. Even when it seems he allows bad things to happen, it is always for our benefit and our good, so, God is good all the time.
Shortly after this I could no longer be comfortable as part of the outlaw bicker club so I separated from them a had to turn in my colors. I have never looked back on that period as a time to be desired again. In fact, I have never owned a motorcycle since. For a fact, I want nothing to do with such things.
A couple of years later the church I was attending planed a series of meetings and we were asked to invite all we could for the meetings. I remembered that there was much Satanic activity in the area. Rummers about child sacrifices to the Devil and other such activities in the area of Cleburne and Keene Texas. I determined to personally invite the local coven of witches and warlocks to attend the meetings. I was acquainted with a man who knew of their residence and ask him if he would accompany me there to invite them to come to the evangelistic series. He agreed. The first time we went to invite them there was no one home. We came back the next day and still no one was home. We decided to ride around for an hour and then try again. This time a van was in the drive. We parked beside the van and my friend got out and walked up four steps onto the porch which ran the whole length of the front of the house. I sent up a quick prayer and got out and came around the front of the van. I was just about to step onto the first step to the porch when this huge dog came bounding around the far end of the porch barking as he came. It was obvious he meant business. I was impressed to rebuke the dog in the name of the Lord. I calmly ascended to the top step, by this time the dog was passing a pile of brush and limbs from trees that had been piled up for burning or something. The dog began his leap for me and just as his front feet cleared the ground, I stretched out my hand and cried “In the name of Jesus get back!” that huge dog was swept sideways into that pile of brush, turned around and ran back, yelping, the way he had come.
There was a young girl who had come out to hold the dog. She seen the whole thing and was amazed at what had happened. The girl invited me to go in. Two other ladies were inside standing at a bar in the foyer. They ask if they could help me. I responded that “I would like to speak to the man of the house”. One of the women went upstairs and called him. In just a minute she was back and said he would be right down. Shortly one of the biggest muscle-bound men I have ever seen in person came down the stairs asking, “what can I do for you, do you want the cards thrown or your palm read, what can I do for you? I answered “no none of that, our church is holding some revival meetings and we have come to invite you and your friends to attend. He turned his back and lifted his arms above his head and shoulders, displaying incredible muscles, and shouted, “get them out of here, – now” and literally ran back up the stairs. I turned to the two women and ask them if they would like to come. They informed me that they couldn’t because that would upset him very much. They ask me to “please leave because they could not guarantee my safety when he was upset, they could not tell what he might do.” I told them that I was safe and not to worry. They ask me again, please leave. I said “ok we will leave but not from fear but because you have asked us to go.” As I was walking out of the door the young girl of 16, or 17 was holding the dog by his collar. He was trying to get away. I told her “why don’t you let the dog go, can you not see that he is miserable in my presence and he wants to get away from me, he will not hurt me.” She said, Oh no, he has attacked and hurt several people in the past. I have to hold him fast.” I said “ok, but you can see he wants away from me.” So, we left.
About three months later my friend ask me if I remembered the girl who held the dog at the devil worshiper’s house. Yes, I did. He informed me that she had separated from and left the coven and gave her heart to God because of that incident. She had learned that God was much more powerful than Satan!
As to my smoking. It was still many years before I was finally able to quit smoking. That nasty habit I had started when only six years old. I smoked till I was 73 years old. I did not realize it but I had not made a full surrender to Christ. When I finally came face to face with the reality that I was lost in sin and could not see the kingdom of God or be saved. I took my surrender to God most seriously. It took my full surrender to God before He removed that habit from me. I am reminded of the covenant that God made in the presence of Moses before all the people. It is found in Exodus 34: 10-27, He promised to do things that have never been seen or heard since the beginning of time. God has most definitely fulfilled this promise to me for many amazing victories over lust and sexual immoralities have been completely overcome. It was only by His spirit’s power that I have victory!
Exodus 34: 10. “And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible (awesome, or marvelous, and overwhelming) thing that I will do with thee.”
NOTE: There is no record of this covenant being ratified in the time of Moses. This leads me to believe that it is the new covenant that Christ ratified at his death on the Cross! It is interesting that all the feast days are mentioned in this covenant. They must be mandatory after all!
He has fulfilled this covenant in a most marvelous way in my life. What I have related is just the minor things He has performed on my behalf. God has reserved the best till last. What an awesome God we serve. Just make the full surrender to Him and watch what He will do for you. The good stuff is yet to come.
THE AMAZING TRANSFORMATION
Let me confirm that my surrender to Christ after my escape from Tarrant County jail and recapture was total as far as I knew, but there were things I did not know nor did I understand the depth of Satan’s control over me. He had me in his prison house of ignorance and I was unaware of his malignant power and ownership of my soul that he still held over my life. It has taken years to understand and grow in that understanding and knowledge about his control of my life. It has been a most trying and awesome experience learning all the devices and controls that Satan has for maintaining influence in our lives. All these devices must be understood and seen for what they are and confessed and forsaken before Satan’s power can truly be destroyed in our lives and we be forever free from his prison-house of sin. There is still much I have to learn and overcome before God is finished with me. Every vestige of this earthliness must be burned away by the fire of the Lord! I have confidence in His Word. It cannot return without accomplishing what God has declared it to do! By God’s word were the heavens and the earth formed and that same word has declared that he will cause me to be his son. That word cannot fail. He has promised to make us one with Him just as Jesus is one with the Father. What an awesome promise and revelation of His desire and purpose for each individual! To be one with the Father just as Jesus was, and is with His Father, is a most imperial and magnificent position that God desires for each of His children! What a magnificent God we serve.
It is amazing that God will protect His children even when they are in rebellion against Him in their ignorance! This is what the Lord has done for me. He protected and kept me safe even though I was in sin and rebellion. God is true to His children even though they may not know the extent of their rebellion, God gives them opportunity to learn of their short comings before He cast’s them off as unsavable. Let God be true to His purpose to save all who are His.
I do not want to magnify sin. When the life of a man or woman comes under review it is necessary to mention certain short comings and sins in order to show from the depths of sin a person has been saved. there is also the factor of shame in the terrible things that the person is now ashamed of doing and admitting. Let it be simply said that with Paul the chief of sinners that I am more guilty of sin than he. And of the grocer offenses am I most guilty. Sins that are too horrible to mention on paper. Thank God He blots them out so that they cannot be remembered by God or by the individual himself. Praise his name. The re-creation of a man or woman is the most magnificent of all the workings of God! It is the fulfilment of his promise in Exodus 34:10 to do things that have never been seen or heard of since the beginning of time.
Let me only use Scripture to reveal my many sins so you can see the workings of God in my favor. I do not feel at liberty at this time to address specific sins of which I am guilty for they are vile. But the Word of God describes my sins for me.
2nd Timothy 3:1-5. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
1st Corinthians 6:9-11. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, (worshipers of the three in one God) nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: (that’s me), but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Galatians 5: 19-21. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, (pharmacy, medications, #G5331) hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Just as Paul declared of himself, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” So yes, I am guilty of all these sins listed in Timothy, Corinthians, and Galatians. That God can transform such a one is truly awesome and marvelous! My sins are much to ugly and shameful to discuss in public. Let it be understood that God’s salvation and redeeming love is more precious and more powerful than all of Satan’s power and depravity. This can never be understood nor words adequately spoken or written by mortals. Salvation is truly an act that has never been done since the beginning of time. I am now seventy-seven years young and stand much in amazement at what God has done for me!
I hope this testimony will bring glory to God and help some individual struggling with sin to have courage to make the full commitment to God! This is my prayer and hope. I simply ask you to test God’s truthfulness. He will fulfill his word in you if you will trust Him and give Him the opportunity!
Let us pray:
Holy Father, I ask that this testimony bring glory to Your name. May someone be saved as a result of the influence of this testimony that the glory may be to You and You alone. Bless all who read this testimony, may they be blessed and encouraged. I make this supplication in the name of Jesus, Your only begotten Son. Amen.
Your brother in Christ
Virgil Prindle