This is my testimony about what Christ has done in my life. I will try to be as honest and open as I can. I am doing this because I believe this is what God is directing me to do. Perhaps you can pass this testimony onto somebody else who could find comfort in it and possibly even begin his or her way to Christ.

When I was younger, I rarely went to church. When I was between the ages of 6-10 I vaguely remember being carted off to Sunday school by my parents, but rarely if ever staying for the Sunday service. We went to a Methodist Church, but I could not tell you the first thing about Methodist beliefs, then or now. Somewhere along the line, God became apart of my life at a young age, the problem was, I didn't understand God, Jesus or the Bible. I did accept Jesus as savior at a young age, probably around the age of 10 or so. I honestly don't remember what led me to do it, I just did it. In fact, I was so uneducated about Christ, I remember accepting Jesus as savior several times, thinking that I would become un-saved if I sinned. Unfortunately, I dealt with this problem at an older age also.

I was interested in the Bible at a young age, and remember reading it all the way through, but never understanding it, and never living as a Christian should live. Once I hit my teen years, I prayed every night before I went to sleep, this is a habit that I have continued to this day, but.......once again, I did not have any real knowledge of God or who Jesus Christ was. In late 1985, at the age of 18, just having graduated from High School, I met my first wife, and her mother made me go to church with her. It was a Church of God, it scared me because people were talking in tongues during the service, and falling out in the spirit. I went only because I was forced to.

But even then, I think God was trying to find his way into my life. I listened to Hard Rock music, and my ex-mother in law gave me a tape with a sermon about Rock music, it scared me to death, and I threw out about 40-50 tapes going down the road one night, but a few days later, I was back buying the same old tapes. My first wife and I got married in July 1986, but there was no foundation built on God. She was pregnant when we were first married but suffered a miscarriage. A couple of months later, after nearly getting our marriage annulled, she was pregnant with our son Brandon. Honestly, Brandon was the only good thing to come out of that marriage. There was much mental and even some physical abuse from that marriage on both sides. We went to church sometimes, but never committed ourselves to Christ. We divorced in January 1989, but were remarried in May 1989. In October 1989 I joined the Air Force. After separating a couple of times, my first wife and I separated for good in March 1991.

This was very painful because I would only get to see my son every six months while I was stationed in California. How did I make up for that loneliness? I did a lot of drinking, I remember one stretch in which I got drunk every night for what seemed to be at least two weeks. I also began renting and buying a lot of pornographic tapes. They were very easy to come by in California. My view towards women changed dramatically. I looked at them purely as sex objects. In late 1992, I had a chance to get out of the Air Force early, and just about did due to the closure of my military base, but I received the chance to be stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida, and that is what I did. I went to Patrick AFB in December 1992, and thus began another chapter. Surprisingly, when I arrived in Florida, I was even lonelier than in California. I had alot of friends in California, friends were hard to come by in Florida.

I worried alot about Brandon, who I still only got to see about every three months. I also became more deeply involved in pornography. I would say at least 3-4 times per week, I would go to the video store renting a porno tape. I also became a regular at a strip club in Cocoa Beach. I would say during an 18 month span I probably spent thousands of dollars at that club......tipping dancers, buying drinks. The couple of women I did have relations with, were purely sexual. Even though I prayed every night before I went to bed, God had little or no meaning in my life, and it showed in the way I lived. I began filling some time by coaching Women's, Men's and even a little girl's softball teams. If I wasn't on the Softball field, I was either at the Strip Club or watching pornography.

In the summer of 1994, a friend of mine and I were at a video store, actually looking for regular movies, believe it or not. He introduced me to somebody he worked with, a cute little lady named Becky. She had a boyfriend, so I didn't think much else about it. Then one weekend, at the annual Base Women's Softball tournament, she hung around the field to watch the games after her team got eliminated, we started talking and eventually started going out and became an item. One drawback- her boyfriend. We became very close, and after about 2 months, she moved in with me into an apartment.

Within a short time later she became pregnant. Our little arrangement of living together wasn't working. We became distant, and she moved in with her Dad and step-mom. I feared she was going to move in with her ex but that didn't happen. There were alot of people trying to influence her about her pregnancy, some advising her to have an abortion. This is something I did not want to deal with again.......I say again because I supported an abortion earlier in my life, I paid for it, and went to the clinic with the woman who had it. After being away from each other, Becky and I finally got married.

Could it have been that God was looking out for me even when I wasn't living as I should? Once married I threw out all of my porno tapes, but still occasionally rented one, and even went to my old hang-out a couple of times, usually when Becky was working at Ron-Jon's Surf Shop. We moved in with her Dad and step-mom, but that was a disaster. I got out of the Air Force in January 1995 with no job because I had already signed the papers to get out before Becky and I were married. Oh yeah, I forgot the little matter of me getting a DUI on base in May 1994, right before I met Becky. Becky and I moved to Georgia in March 1995 after living with her parents didn't work. Janelle was born in May 1995. What a blessing she was.........once again, is it possible God was working in my life when I paid little if any attention to Him? We were living at my parents house and then finally got an apartment in September 1995.

Very soon after, we found out that Becky was pregnant with Savannah. I definitely was not as thrilled or supportive of this pregnancy as I was the first. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want her to have an abortion, but I was scared to death of the financial pressure. Savannah was born in May 1996. Becky and I were not getting along very well at this point, it was at the point where there was a lot of mental abuse, in terms of name calling and throwing up things from the past, mostly on my part. One time, things got so heated, that I pushed Becky through our laundry room door and it broke off the hinges. At one point, later in our relationship, I betrayed Becky by visiting Adult Chat rooms on the Internet. We did try to go to a Church close to our apartment, but there were a lot of older people there, and Brandon was made an example of in his Sunday school class for having an earring.

Becky met a friend who told her about another church, and Becky started going there without me. It was Calvary Baptist Church in Marietta. I went a couple of times, felt an occasional twinge in my heart, but couldn't get into it. At that point, Church was kind of like going to the mall, it was something to do. But soon, after going to that church a couple of times, something began to happen. At the end of the service, the pastor would ask people to come to the altar to be saved, or to recommit themselves to God. There were times when I wanted to go, but would not do it.

By this time, Becky had become a member of the church and was in the choir. The time was the first of 1999, I began having stomach problems. I would eat dinner, and get a sour stomach, this went on for awhile, I would become nauseas. This went on almost every night.. I changed my diet, I took medication, but it went on and on. I even went to have tests and x-rays done, everything turned up negative. I couldn't eat any spicy foods. In late March 1999, I became violently ill. At the time, I did not know if it was related to what I had been going through or not. My dad had to take me to the hospital where I had IV's hooked up to me. The doctor said it was not related to what I had been going through.

It took me virtually all week to get over that, the following Sunday, which was Easter, we went to church. It was a moving service, at the end of the service, they had the normal altar call. I was still reluctant, but Becky went up with me.. Becky requested that Jeff, the guy who was up there with us, pray for healing of my stomach problems, I paused him, and told him I wanted to be saved and to pray for my stomach later. At this time, I was still not sure if you became un-saved or not. We prayed, and it was quite an emotional moment. I was told by somebody else that Becky had been praying for this moment for a long time. When I went home, I felt different. I felt "born again". My stomach problems slowly went away, I put them to the big test when I got a Pizza from Pizza Hut a week later, no stomach problems! To this day, I have not had those recurring problems again. Nothing other than the normal upset stomach. Doctors couldn't figure it out, but God did. I witnessed for the first time the power of the Lord.

I started going to church regularly, I tried to quit listening to so much rock and roll. I began a friendship with Jeff Brooks, the youth minister. About a month later, Brandon got saved, and I got baptized. Everything was seemingly going good, then it fell apart. First, I was living by the spirit probably for about a month after my trip to the altar, but then I started slipping. I tried reading the Bible, but I thought it was boring and didn't understand any of it.

Here I was, a Christian, but also ordering tickets for Brandon and me to go see Metallica. My friendship with Jeff no sooner started than it ended when he left to start his own ministry in South Georgia. We tried to become apart of a "Care" group on Sunday nights which met at different people's homes, but that did not last. Pretty soon, it was as it was before. I was no longer living for Christ. But to be honest, I don't think I ever did. At least, I know that now.

Once football season began, that was it, church was over. Also, morale at our church went downhill. Nearly the entire staff left because of conflicts with the congregation and the pastor. A lot of the church services were not about God, but instead it seemed they were about defending the pastor. A few short months later, Becky and I both had left the church. We tried two different churches. First, we went to Wildwood Baptist Church. We went there a couple of times, but I was intimidated by the size. I do remember praying for God to lead us to a church. Then in the beginning of last summer, we went to Summit.

The pastor and the music impressed me. After a couple of visits I was all for trying to become members. But, I remember the pastor calling and me telling him I was too busy to talk, even though I really wasn't, I felt as if I just didn't want to be bothered by it. Pretty soon, you know the routine, it was football season. As the year came to a close, every Sunday it seemed that our oldest daughter Janelle would wake up on Sunday morning asking us if we were going to church. Finally, we began to feel guilty and decided to go. We went the Sunday before Christmas 2000. When we left, I felt that tugging feeling at my heart. We did not go the next Sunday, because we had family in...........but I still felt that tugging at my heart.

I talked a lot about God with my mother in law. I don't remember the exact conversation, but I do somehow remember talking about changes in people's lives. I was impressed with my sister in law, Susie and her husband Eddie, how calm they seemed with everything going on that weekend, kids going crazy, (mine and theirs), being more than willing to sleep in sleeping bags on the floor.......My mother in law told about how Eddie had really changed over the years, saying he use to be a bit on the temperamental side. You could have fooled me.....He seemed calmer than I had been.

Could it have been God? After they left to go to Florida, New Year's eve approached, and I had everybody get in the living room to make a New Year's resolution. Mine was that I wanted to grow closer to God in 2001. Little did I know how true that resolution would ring. One thing I started doing was reading the Bible, but I began using a Christian Study Guide, which Jeff had given me 18 months earlier to help me understand it. What happened over the next month would impact me more than anything else has in my life. I was being attacked mentally. I was having impure thoughts and I could not stop them. They would not go away. I was losing sleep, I was missing work. I would never have acted on these thoughts, not in a million years, but they still would not stop. I did not know where they were coming from, I became scared to death, were they what I was becoming? One night, I had to call Becky home from work, I was scared to death. I started denouncing God in front of her, telling her that if this was the price I had to pay for living for God that I wanted no part of it. I was cursing her, God and everything else.

She phoned the adult minister from our church. She talked to him, I would not speak to him. While I was denouncing God, Becky just followed me around with the Bible. When I went downstairs, she turned up Christian music. I finally calmed down, but was still delirious inside. Finally, for whatever reason, I grabbed a Christian cd of my own. I went to play it in my son's room. It got to the song, "Shout to the Lord". This song had always moved me, but not like it was about to. I listened, I began crying, I began praying and played it over and over for at least two hours. For the first time in my life, I felt Gods presence like I never had before. The next day, Becky and I both called into work, and we made an appointment with our Adult minister. He visited, he talked, he listened. He recommended some things I should do to attack my impure thought process. Before he left, he stated that he had looked through my collection of CD's, and said maybe I should consider making a change there.

After he left, I thought about it, and something suddenly just gripped my mind and I felt I had to get rid of the CD's. Which ones did I get rid of? I knew they were all not bad, but which were and which weren't? I did not have time to decide. I retrieved some scissors, got some trash bags, and began cutting up every compact disc I had except for one Classical music CD and some of the kids cd's and a Christian CD. This was over 200 discs, everything from Van Halen, Kiss, Motley Crue, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, to Alabama, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson. Within an hour I had destroyed every CD I had. Did my problem stop? No. I began going to a Christian counselor. After a few visits, we summarized that my impure thoughts were Satan attacking me, trying to keep me from living for God.

My years of watching Porno and listening to Hard Rock music had put a lot of bad images in my mind. Most of the music I listened to was about sex and violence. It was 25 years of garbage in, and it would not be easy to replace it. I also stopped watching professional wrestling. I had watched wrestling for 25 years, but it had gotten to the point where it was totally built around sex. I began going to church every Sunday. Becky and I even became apart of a Sunday school class. I continued going to the counseling.

I continued to read my Bible and utilize my Study guide every night, and I got to the point where I would pray on the way to work each morning in my truck while going through traffic, pray going through traffic on the way home, then pray before my Bible Study, and then I got to the point where I would go to a silent place for prayer after Bible Study. I continued to battle impure thoughts, but as I trusted the Spirit more and more, it became easier to deal with. Replacing 25 years of garbage is not easy. One reason I think I hesitated to live for God in the past was, I wondered what would I do? Christian music is boring. Well, I started listening to 104.7 the Fish in Atlanta, and became hooked. I also started reading the Left Behind series of books. Where am I at now? It's almost 4 months later.

I still have my battles with thoughts, but I have tried more and more to trust in the Lord. With God's help, they no longer are ruling my life. Why? Because I am trying my best to live by the spirit. I have only memorized one Bible verse, but it is a verse which gives me strength, Galatians 5:16. "So I say, live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature". That is what I am trying to do, live by the spirit. Instead of John McCoy trying to take control, I am trying to let the spirit take control. I still read my Bible and utilize my study guide almost every night. I am still praying on a regular basis every day. Why have I maintained my walk with the Lord this time? Prayer and Bible Study. In my opinion those are the keys to living by the spirit. Don't get me wrong, I stumble.

But, instead of veering to the far right or far left, now it's a slight turn left or right, and then right back on track again. I haven't sat down and watched a wrestling show in 4 months. The most I have watched is about 2 or 3 minutes while flipping channels. Music? I could have probably kept 30-40 percent of my CDs. But I don't miss them. I have been introduced to a new world of Christian music. It's awesome. I still listen to some secular stuff, but none of the Hard Rock which ruled my life. It's in the lyrics, I listen much closer to lyrics now, I listen to what is in the songs. What about all of that porno? I haven't watched an adult video in 3 or 4 years.

When we first got our satellite in August and got free movie channels for 3 months, I stayed up late at night watching some things I shouldn't have. But in the last 4 months I have not even had the urge to watch that garbage. Becky and I are going to Church and Sunday School on a regular basis. A couple of months ago our pastor gave a riveting service about abortion. It made me think about that baby I helped abort several years ago. I had always been on the fence about abortion, no longer. I am now a member of the Pro-Life group at my church. Oh yes, one more thing. I have held a tremendous grudge against my father in law and step mother in law for asking us to move out of their home 6 years ago.

The Spirit led me to send a letter a couple of months ago to them, stating that I held a grudge against them, why I held the grudge, and to say I was sorry. For two months I prayed that they would have their hearts softened and answer the letter. Honestly, I had just about given up. But just yesterday, I received a letter from them. Stating their side, and that they were sorry also. Why did I take the time to print all of this? Was it to be boastful? No, not at all. While doing my Bible study, and even from reading the Left Behind series, I keep on running into this little thing called "Witnessing". I believe I am much better at expressing myself through written form than verbally.

This is my way of witnessing for Jesus Christ and what he has done in my life. I am not a Bible Scholar. I cannot quote scripture, except for that one glorious verse I mentioned earlier. What I can tell you is the impact God has had in my life. There is only one true way to salvation, that is through accepting Jesus Christ as savior and repenting of our sins.

There is a heaven, and there is a hell, I know where I will be now, no doubt about that. A few months ago, I could not have said that. If there is a person in your life who needs Jesus, then if it will help, let them read this. But remember, it is only one example of many, many lives Jesus has saved.

Thank you for reading, and if it will help somebody, please pass it on. J
ohn McCoy To see more testimonials click here.

Want to know God?
Try this:

1. Sincerely pray everyday: "Almighty God, if You are REAL, please SHOW me."

2. Read - no, study the Bible - especially the New Testament (start with the gospel of John).

3. Listen to Christian Radio. There are more Christian radio stations in the USA than anywhere else on earth. Check it out. Many are online as well -

Calvary Satellite Network
K-Light - Southwestern Oregon's Christian Radio
Christian Music K-Love

I have been introduced to a new world of Christian music. It's awesome.
You betcha.

4. Go to church. There are unfortunately many churches (and entire denominations) today which are worse than useless. I would suggest that you find the Calvary Chapel nearest you. There are, of course, many other very good churches of many different denominations, but you really have to be careful these days. Find a church that STUDIES the Bible - in depth. Not the book of Mormon nor the 'Holy Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses modifications'. And if they start talking New Age liberal psycho-babble - walk out.

Calvary Chapel Fellowship Churches USA (clickable USA map)

You have to ask Jesus to forgive your sins. He already paid the price for them. This is the ultimate gift from God to us.
And if - before you take this step - you want proof of God's existance (as I did) - be patient. He chose to answer my prayer (see above) in 4 1/2 months.

Time is very short folks - regardless of what you may think of current events. Our lives here are very brief when compared with eternity.

Good luck to y'all. Hope to see ya later. Peace.