Jamie and Masae Balagia
In 1988, I was an undercover VICE
officer with the Austin Police
Department and like everyone I knew - I was lost
and hell bound. The one thing I did have
working for me was a praying Momma. In
May, I checked in to an alcohol and drug
treatment center, not to get sober but just so I
could breath. I was under investigation by
my own department for using drugs while off
duty. If I had known that I would leave
that place with sobriety and a desire to stop drinking
I would have never gone there. I was and am an
alcoholic.
One night another patient, Steve, asked me if I would do him a favor. I said sure and we went to his room. He told me he was a "back sliding" Baptist and that he wanted me to pray with him since whenever two or more are gathered together Jesus would be there. I immediately thought to myself "well that means there's only one gathered" since I wasn't a Christian but I said I would pray with him. I figured we would say an Our Father (all old football players know that one) and go play some cards.
Steve grabbed my hands and we knelt to pray and both of those actions were very strange and uncomfortable to me. Steve asked God to forgive him of a multitude of sins and then he started talking to Jesus like they were old friends and he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior again. I had never personally heard a prayer like that and with such rawness and openness. As Steve prayed my heart melted at the thought that someone could talk to God like that and that God would actually be someone's best friend. I had been ignoring God for so long and I knew that my life was out of control. I was so dirty with sin and so sick of who I had become that I asked Steve if I could say that prayer, too. He said "you're not a Christian?" and when I said no he led me to the Lord while he grinned ear to ear. What a wonderful night for the Kingdom when a prodigal son comes home and he's bringing a chief sinner in tow.
Steve told me I needed to start reading my Bible. I had received a Bible a few days earlier during a visit from my best friend's parents and had tossed it in the bottom draw of the dresser in my room. I got that Bible and read it all night long and I haven't stopped reading it since. The next morning I told my personal counselor that I had good news. I told her I wanted to get sober because I had become a Christian the night before. I had to explain that I had been lying about getting sober up to that point but I was ready to give God my best and I knew He wanted me sober.
That was twenty one years ago this May and I have been sober ever since. God has given me a new life, a new career, my godly wife - Masae, a beautiful family, a Bible study in our home every Wednesday night and a fantastic Church with two great Pastors. All because in His infinite mercy and grace he led a lost soul to glory with the help of a cocaine addict. What an awesome God we serve, a God with perfect timing and love that is abounding and ever flowing. If Steve could lead me to Christ just think who you might be able to reach with His message of salvation. What are you waiting on?