Eradicate: A Journey Through Fire, Faith, and Redemption”

Eradicate: A Journey Through Fire, Faith, and Redemption”

Chapter Outline

1. Born for a Purpose Childhood curiosity, divine identity, and the four words God gave you.

2. The Thorn and the Calling Early spiritual encounters, prophetic identity, and the mystery of pain.

3. Dallas: The City of Awakening and War Your return to Dallas, spiritual highs and lows, and the battle for your soul.

4. 5. Women and Warfare Mary, Charlotte, Shawanda—the emotional and spiritual impact of love and betrayal.

False Love and Real Lessons The African wife, the ex-girlfriend, and the painful pursuit of restoration.

6. Guarding the Heart Proverbs 4:23, emotional boundaries, and the cost of misplaced trust.

7. Fatherhood Before Fathering Loving a son not biologically yours, and the difference between being a dad and a father.

8.The Assignment and the Accusation The young man’s false implication in murder, spiritual warfare, and destiny.

9. The Role of the Church and the Failures of Men Influences from preachers, the absence of your father, and the longing for spiritual mentorship.

10. Redemption Is Personal What true love means, what God’s love looks like, and why your story matters.

A Life of Struggle, Faith, and Redemption

Every day of my life feels like a fight.

Let me begin at the beginning: I was born on October 29, 1968. My memory is intact, and when I reflect on my past, my present, and the future I’m still walking toward, I hold fast to four words God gave me: Confidence, Family, Business, and Eradicate.

Confidence, as defined in the dictionary, is “feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured.” That was me as a child—curious, bold, and full of wonder. I was the kind of boy who needed to know how things worked. I’d take apart my toys, and even other kids’ toys, not out of malice but out of a God-given hunger to understand. I didn’t yet grasp the purpose of that gift, but I used it anyway—sacrificing playthings for insight. That drive, that curiosity, was planted in me by the Creator.

As it says in Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV): "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

On November 17, 2023, I took a trip to Dallas, Texas—a city that holds both spiritual awakening and spiritual warfare for me. It was there I met the Lord, and it was also there I backslid, pulled off course by a woman named Charlotte. Just as Mary marked the beginning of sorrow in my life, Charlotte marked the beginning of lawlessness. Both women played pivotal roles in shaping my destiny. The first encounter prepared me for the second, and I’ll share more about that in a later chapter.

Arriving in Dallas stirred up a flood of memories—ten years of triumphs and disappointments. I was excited, but also afraid. The city was dark, and the people felt cold. I nearly crashed twice, my judgment clouded by fear and nightfall. Still, I pressed on. I had no family with me, and my safety was my top priority. I was starting over, and I was determined to protect myself.

My childhood remains a mystery. I was driven, but my path was cut short. I often ask myself: Who am I? Why am I here? The only answer that ever made sense was God. Yet, two women became thorns in my side—Mary and Charlotte. I understand this through 2 Corinthians 12:6–8 (KJV):

"There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

Three women have truly held my heart: Mary, Charlotte, and Shawanda. But none of them understood what love really is. It’s heartbreaking to realize that they may never know it. On November 22, 2023, I found myself questioning another decision—marrying a young African woman. It seemed like a good idea, but it turned out to be another lesson in being used. I even prayed for God to restore a past relationship with an ex-girlfriend, but that too ended in trouble.

What I’ve learned is this: none of these relationships have anything to do with my redemption. I’ve poured out love and kindness, but I’ve had to come to terms with 1 John 4:8–9:

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

And I hold tightly to Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

There have been many people—men and women—who played a role in my downfall. I wanted love. I wanted a good job. I wanted to be useful, to bless others, to make my dreams real. Along the way, I learned something powerful from Archbishop Williams: "Your warfare is determined by your assignment."

Many preachers have influenced me—Derek Prince among them—but the one who impacted me most was my dad. Sadly, he failed to be the role model and man of God I needed. With Father’s Day approaching, I reflect on how I became a father before I ever truly became a dad.

Let me explain. The woman I loved for years had a son. I loved that boy from infancy. He needed a father—not just a biological dad—but someone who could guide him through the assignment God placed on his life. He was falsely implicated in a murder he didn’t commit. The real killers tried to lure him into danger, and when that failed, they blamed him. Even now, he doesn’t know that God has a plan for both his life and mine.