Personal testimonials are a huge part of our ministry. Take a few minutes to read about how Crosswalk Ministries USA has touched the lives of many youth.

When we returned on July 14, the mailbox was already full. Since then we have received letters almost every day from kids who are hungry to know more. May God give the increase! The following are excerpts from a few of their letters:

“Please help me become a Christian. I have made some very bad mistakes . . . I will be good one day and bad the next. Please pray for me and send me some information on how to become a Christian.”

—Jeremiah, Denver, Colorado

“All I wanted was the fast life, money, sex, drugs, and fast cars. I have never gotten any real joy out of it and I kept asking myself why... I realize now that I need to love and care and live for God. I have finally found out what I am on earth for--to try to change this terrible world to love instead of hate.”

—Thomas, Kewanee, Illinois

“I feel like when I pray, God doesn’t answer. Why is that? Please send me mail. I have been locked up for a year and no mail yet. My parents haven’t sent me anything... my mom’s a lawyer and my dad’s a police officer. Pray for me and my family.”

—Kaylynn, Adrian, Michigan

“I have a lot of questions for you guys--like how is God going to help a 15-year-old coke head who has no family and nowhere to live but the streets? The day I called my mom from jail she told me she didn’t want crap to do with me any more. My story is cold-hearted and has no real light at the end. Is God punishing me?”

—Marshall, Delaware, Ohio

“I have seen the light that God is real thanks to you guys. I don’t see things so bad anymore. I want to thank you guys for showing me that God is with me and understands what I’m going through. I wouldn’t have known that if it wasn’t for you.”

—Octavia, Springfield, Illinois

“I want to thank you for your performance, your enthusiasm, your energy, and your devotion to Christ... You guys are so influential. I picked up a Bible for the first time in four years when I came back from your concert... I want to be a new person. I don’t want to be Jeff who was in jail for a long time. I want to be Jeff who overcame his struggles and became a better man... I want Christ to take the burdens off my shoulders and carry me through the rough times... I have you guys to thank for that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me to want a new life for myself.”

—Jeffrey, Kewanee, Illinois

“I feel God has cursed me because of all I’ve been through... I honestly feel like giving up on life. I need someone I can tell my soul to who won’t judge me. I know God is like that, but I’ve said some mean things to him and I really don’t think he would accept me. Please write back.”

—Jaimie, Adrian, Michigan

“I feel as if I was talked to directly... you guys touched me in a way I didn’t think possible... I actually came to my room and prayed last night for the first time in I don’t know how long...
Something’s come over me and I want to learn more.”

—Larry, Kewanee, Illinois

“...I try to believe in God, but I still have my doubts. How much I would like to believe! Maybe you can write back and tell me how you became a believer...”

—Jeremey, Woodburn, Oregon

“...about two weeks ago I stopped blaming God and started praying for help . . . I’m starting to figure a lot of things out and my life is slowly turning around . . . When y’all sang CAROUSEL, OUT OF CONTROL, and I CAN’T DO THIS, God just seemed to sink in and make that much more sense.”

—Buddy, Burns, Oregon

“I really enjoyed the show and the messages that y’all were giving to us. . . I haven’t had that much fun in months. . . I used to represent the devil . . . I did a lot of bad things on purpose. . . I now spend large amounts of energy trying to defeat him. . . In a way I look at y’all as real living angels. . . Thank you so much for spending time where you didn’t have to be... The whole Crosswalk band played a part in turning my life around.”

—Robert, Columbia, South Carolina

“. . . thank you for bringing Christ into this place. I’ve been down for weeks, but when you guys came in to sing, it’s like a huge weight was lifted . . .”

—Ricky, Grand Junction, Colorado

“Please help me become a Christian. I have made some very bad mistakes . . . I will be good one day and bad the next. Please pray for me and send me some information on how to become a Christian.”

—Jeremiah, Denver, Colorado

“. . . I thought my life was over, but then I gained faith. Now I’m going to be given another chance at life, so I better do what’s right and start changing my life around as of today . . . The past is the past!”

—Travis, Stockton, California

“You guys really touched my heart. I think that my sin is so hard to let go because I feel that once I let it go, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But since I’ve opened up to hear what you guys had to offer, I understand. Thank you for coming and speaking to us.”

—Frankelly, Goshen, New York

"I feel so bad because of what I’ve done. I have destroyed someone’s life. That night after your concert, I thought about all the guilt I have and how much I wish I had never done it. I couldn’t sleep all night because of my guilt. I just want you guys to pray for me and also pray for my victim.” Ryan Circleville, Ohio “I enjoyed your concert the other day, and it changed me a lot...... The reason I went was not for the word of God but for the music and the girls. But as I was thinking during that time, your words were seeping through me, to the point it made me cry. I was struggling and so deeply confused about if I wanted to live in the dark or the light. At the time I picked the dark because I was stuck in a ditch, but you guys showed me how to get out of that place. Thanks.”

—Nicholas, Circleville, Ohio

"My father uses drugs and lives on the street, and my mother passed away when I was four. I’ve lived without a mother for sixteen years, and I’ve felt sad most of my life as I’ve moved back and forth between my father and foster care. It’s crazy in life with no one to care. I live in fear always. But I was so blessed when you all came and shared what is in your hearts. I felt my spirit with God. Thank you!”

—Charles, Massillon, Ohio

“... it’s crazy to know there’s other guys around my age that are willing to express the Lord’s name in different ways... I think y’all are great. Keep doing what you’re doing... I wish I could take back those dark sins I have done because they got me nowhere... Please don’t think I’m a bad person. I’m a sinner like everyone is, but God loves us and will forgive us. He’s a mighty God!”

—Sean, Hanover, Virginia

“I was moved by the performance that you did here. . . My parents abandoned me when I was young. Since then I have been in and out of foster homes and group homes. Now I have turned my life over to God and asked Him for forgiveness of my sins. . . Is there anyone who would write me like a pen pal?”

—Justin, Nashville, Tennessee

“I started to develop a severe anger problem . . . which resulted in several holes in my wall. At the age of 14, I made a huge mistake and laid a hand on my mother. This startled me and showed me what a monster I had become. How can I get on the right track?”

—Robert, Okeechobee, Florida

“. . . I want to have God in my life but I don’t know how . . . I feel down sometimes, like I can’t do anything. . . I believe you can help me find the Lord. . .” Jeremy Memphis, Tennessee “I was really touched by one of your songs. It is called HIDE. I can’t tell you how much that song pertains to me. I would like for y’all to write me and give me some words of advice to get to know God . . . and can you give me some motivation to not give up? . . . It’s people like you who help us turn our lives around.”

—Aaron, Memphis, Tennessee

“The day you came was my 18th birthday. I think that’s the reason why God had you come. I say that because I believed in God and everything, but I’ve never stuck with what I said I was going to do..... I think it should be time for me to change, but I feel that I’m not ready to give a lot of things up. What I’m mainly trying to ask is do you know a way I could find a way to have self-control? The place I live and the people I’m around think fighting is normal. But I have a feeling it’s eventually going to get me into more trouble.”

—Mike, Wilmington, Delaware

"I’ve thought about your powerful words, and I really took it to heart. Those words made me realize that God truly loves me. The song “The Real Me” touched me because I don’t like people to see the real me. I suffer from low self-esteem problems ...... and I grew up with a lot of anger. Thank you so much.”

—Naomi, Auburn, New York