My name is Connie Reid. I have a LIFE CHANGING STORY to share. I was born prematurely, causing my brain cells to be under developed. As I got older, I continued to act out of control & my problems increased .I became further removed from others in society, causing me much loneliness and pain. As these pains grew, I became more angry and rebellious, causing me to act out more seriously as I grew older.  Through the years I started garbage can fires and even bigger ones.  One of the results was a five-year prison term for second-degree arson, spending my time between isolation in “the hole”, what I called HELL. Then to the mental hospital, then back to general population in the prison. 

There were some 17-suicide attempts and a continual hating of myself, and a deeper hopelessness.  I remember the time I ran my hand through a glass casing, hoping for a severed artery, then death, but they were able to do reconstructive surgery and not only save my hand, but also my life. There were several times that I OD’d on drugs and times that I slashed my wrist.  I even shot up insulin and I’m not even a diabetic.  That caused me to go into cardiac arrest and have extremely low blood sugar.  There were times I would throw myself down stairwells and off embankments and do anything to abuse myself.  I truly hated myself. I also ran my car off a bridge with me in it, and another time I jumped from a different bridge & the Coast Guard was there to pull me out.  Then there was the time I attempted to run my car into the freeway divider, but I ended up in a head-on collision.  This resulted in the death of the mother I collided with.  The accident caused me to need five immediate surgeries and nine more later.  It was a very hard struggle for me to realize that I was the cause of taking someone’s life when I was actually trying to end my own.  So at this point, I decided to reach out to God for prayer and deliverance.  God’s grace protected me through many years, but I had to make a decision to seek HIM.  Somehow, even then I knew that God was in control.  I originally was charged with a felony  manslaughter and received a 14-year sentence, then the judge changed it to a misdemeanor carrying a one-year sentence for negligent homicide.  I did my time in the Harris County hospital unit of the jail, due to the injuries I sustained in the auto accident.  My life at this point was in the beginning stages of healing.  I did only 10 weeks and then they released me.

I began to heal, but it was a start of a long process.  No matter how I tried to end it, God was there, “carrying me”.  HE had something waiting for me.  ABUNDANT LIFE!  The Lord has carried me and healed me in so many ways.  I went through mental illness, memory loss and painful emotional trauma.  Some of the things my brain went through during this time were a series of 14 electrical shock treatments, several different types of psychiatric medications over a period of 20 years. I should have no mind left after experiencing all of this, but I am able to do and remember many things. It is obvious to me and to those who love me that HE indeed did save me for a purpose.  I praise HIM daily that HE had HIS hand on my life.  I indeed, walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but HE was with me and saw me through them all. HE is all of my life, not just a portion. I am in full time ministry in Texas, & have ministered at the Portland Rescue Mission, YWAM, women’s shelters, & Hope For Homeless Youth. I thank HIM daily for my life and I love the LORD with all my heart.  I’ve known Mel for over 12 years and he is always a blessing to all, especially me.

Thank you in Christ’s name, Connie