My Testimony

By:  Alfred Woods

            I am currently serving a 30-years-to-life sentence for 1^st degree murder.  Wow!  Yes, I know, I can’t wrap my mind around it either, but here I am.  How did this happen?  I thought you might ask that or wonder, but first allow me to give you a little glimpse into my life. 

            I grew up in Detroit, Michigan.  Home of the big three—Ford, G.M. and Chrysler Motor Companies.  Also, it is where Motown Records began.  Ask your parents or grandparents about these things or Google them. 

            I was raised in a two-parent home for the most part.  My biological father took off when I was about six years old, and my mom remarried when I was nine years old.  I grew up in a Christian home.  We went to church and I even sang in the choir. 

            When I was about 11 years old, I started to rebel.  I started having sex with girls 16 or 17 years old.  I also used to sneak and drink alcohol.  I ran away from home a few times because I didn’t want to face the discipline of my parents.  I started to sell drugs around the age of 20.  I was married and a had a little boy; and at the first bit of danger or trouble, I ran.

            I ran all the way to California, leaving my wife and young son all alone to fend for themselves.  Yes, I was selfish.  All I cared about was me, myself, and I.  You know you can turn your back on life only so much; and sooner or later, life will turn its back on you.  And that’s where my real story begins.

            I was so lost and alone.  Although I came from a big family, I had no one.  No one wanted to be bothered with me or my problems.  I found myself 3,000 miles away from home and homeless.  So, I met some people who took me in.  I wound up having another child, a little girl this time.  I got a job and went back to school.  I became a male nurse, don’t laugh, I was very good at it.  I graduated the Class Valedictorian, which means I was the best in my class over all the women and men. 

            Things got a little rough for me, so I did what I do best, I ran.  I started to date different women and living with them.  I started selling drugs and using alcohol with the one I lived with. Well one night while partying with my baby’s mama, I went over to my girlfriend’s home where I lived at the time.  I got into a fight with a guy and I took his life.  That’s when life as I knew it ended; and instead of waiting for the police, I ran all the way back to Detroit, Michigan.  I would spend the next 22 years running and living in fear.  I was always looking over my shoulder to see if someone was following me or would this be the day the police would catch me. 

            That day finally came on April 2012.  The U.S. Marshal arrested me and brought me back to California to stand trial.  It took a jury less than 30 minutes to find me guilty of 1^st degree murder.  A few months later, I was sentenced to 30-years-to-life.  I was 51 years old.  I just celebrated my 59^th birthday on August 18^th. 

            On April 27, 2012, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I may never get out of prison; but one thing’s for certain, I would rather spend the rest of my life in prison with Jesus as my Savior than to be free without Him.

            Now, I left a lot out about what happened in and out of prison and about the wrong choices I made.  I’ve been shot in the face, shot at, almost broke my neck from being drunk.  I’ve eaten out of garbage cans and slept in the streets.  I have seen men stabbed and men beaten within an inch of their lives.  I heard men being hurt.  Look, I’m sure you feel you’re tough, a real bad ass; but trust me, there is always someone badder, believe me!  I pray you never have to find out.  This is not a place you want to come. 

            Now, how do you prevent this from happening?  A change of heart.  Start by loving others, and if you need someone to help you, call on Christ Jesus.  He is always right there!

May God keep you and bless you.

Alfred Woods

BE SATISFIED WITH ME

 EVERYONE LONGS TO GIVE THEMSELVES COMPLETELY TO SOMEONE –

TO HAVE A DEEP SOUL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER –

TO BE LOVED THOROUGHLY AND EXCLUSIVELY.

BUT GOD, TO A CHRISTIAN SAYS,

“NO, NOT UNTIL YOU ARE SATISFIED, FULFILLED AND CONTENT

WITH BEING LOVED BY ME ALONE –

WITH GIVING YOURSELF TOTALLY AND UNRESERVEDLY TO ME –

WITH HAVING AN INTENSELY PERSONAL AND UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP

WITH ME ALONE,

DISCOVERING THAT ONLY IN ME IS YOUR SATISFACTION TO BE FOUND,

WILL YOU BE CAPABLE OF THE PERFECT HUMAN RELATIONSHIP

THAT I HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU.

YOU WILL NEVER BE UNITED WITH ANOTHER THE WAY I HAVE PLANNED,

UNTIL YOU ARE UNITED WITH ME ALONE –

EXCLUSIVE OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE,

EXCLUSIVE OF ANY OTHER DESIRES OR LONGINGS.

I WANT YOU TO STOP PLANNING,

STOP WISHING,

AND ALLOW ME TO GIVE YOU THE MOST THRILLING PLAN EXISTING –

ONE THAT YOU CANNOT IMAGINE.

PLEASE ALLOW ME TO BRING IT TO YOU.

YOU JUST KEEP WATCHING ME, EXPECTING THE GREATEST THINGS.

KEEP EXPERIENCING THE SATISFACTION THAT I AM.

KEEP LISTENING AND LEARNING THE THINGS I TELL YOU.

YOU JUST WAIT.  THAT’S ALL.

DON’T BE ANXIOUS, DON’T WORRY,

DON’T LOOK TO THE THINGS YOU THINK YOU WANT.

YOU JUST KEEP LOOKING OFF AND AWAY UP TO ME,

OR YOU’LL MISS WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU,

AND THEN, WHEN YOU’RE READY,

I’LL SURPRISE YOU WITH A LOVE FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN

ANY YOU COULD DREAM OF.

YOU SEE, UNTIL YOU ARE READY AND UNTIL

THE ONE I HAVE FOR YOU IS READY, (I AM WORKING EVEN AT THIS

MOMENT TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU READY AT THE SAME TIME)

UNTIL YOU ARE BOTH SATISFIED EXCLUSIVELY WITH ME

AND THE LIFE I PREPARED FOR YOU,

YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE THAT IS

EXEMPLIFIED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ME.

AND THIS IS THE PERFECT LOVE;

AND, DEAR ONE, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS MOST WONDERFUL LOVE.

I WANT YOU TO SEE IN THE FLESH A PICTURE OF YOUR            

RELATIONSHIP WITH ME,

AND TO ENJOY MATERIALLY AND CONCRETELY

THE EVERLASTING UNION OF BEAUTY, PERFECTION, AND LOVE,

THAT I OFFER YOU WITH MYSELF.

KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU COMPLETELY.

I AM GOD, JESUS CHRIST THE LORD.

BELIEVE IT AND BE SATISFIED.