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Robert K. Stratford
 I was raised in a broken family. By the time I was five, my parents
were divorced and I had no real contact with my father until I was twelve
and that is when it all started…
By the time I was eighteen, I was well on my way. I was involved with
motorcycle clubs and small time gangsters who lead me down a very dark
road consisting of drugs and alcohol. By 1979 I was doing “time”.
By 1982 I was married and my first child was on the way. Through the
80’s two more children and how I managed that I don’t know
because if I wasn’t in jail I was running from the law, or running
something I shouldn’t have been running.
In 1988, my family had enough so they left. But not me. I was still
trying to be Satan’s #1 runner, which took me right to looking
at my second strike with the state of California. I spent most
of 1999 fighting this second strike case. While in jail, I met
this guy named Jesus and I accepted Him into my heart. He saved
me and by His grace I was released from jail.
In 2002 I had backslid and found myself back in jail looking at more
time. Well, guess what? There was Jesus again forgiving me and accepting
me with grace. During this time I began to devote my time reading the
Bible and praying to have God change my thirst. Well, let me tell you
boy did He ever change my thirst. By October 2002 I was in the day room
watching TV. I looked down on the ground and found a newspaper. I picked
it up and tried to throw it away. But after about seven attempts it
would not stay in the trashcan. I opened it up and found a story about
The Live Ride Church. I cut it out, put it in my Bible and prayed for
God’s will and faith to carry His word of life no matter if I
was going back to prison or on the streets. On December 5, 2002 I was
ready to take the state’s deal that was offered to me which was
5 years @ 50% which means I was only to serve 2 ½ years. While
in the courtroom, I was told that my public defender had passed away
over the Thanksgiving weekend and my new attorney needs time to look
at my file. Three days later I returned to court and my attorney came
to me with a dumb founded look and said, “The D.A. has dropped
existing charges and will continue you on a Prop 36 program. You will
be released today.”
Well, I took this as a sign from God and headed for The Live Ride Church
where I serve today as a missionary to men in transition of addiction
and brokenness. |
