My personal Testimony – By Tyrone Garay

Raised in Hollywood California, in a single mother family moved to the San Fernando valley to escape the local gang activities that my older and younger siblings were involved in.  When we moved away the only thing that changed was location.  Our family continued in the lifestyle of drugs and gang activity.

At the age of 10 I was already introduced to Cocaine and in 7^th grade I dropped my first hit of acid. Liked it so much that I began to sell the drugs in Junior High.  During my Junior High school days I was addicted to many types of Drugs. As I entered high school my life was sure on the path of becoming another statistic of a drug addict that died prematurely.

During my eleventh grade year I was kicked out of the L.A. City School District for multiple accounts of supplying an under cover narcotic officer with Acid and Hashish.  I was part of the largest drug raid in the valley that year.  I had no idea that the girl I was dating was a 24 year old narcotic police officer.  After spending time in juvenile hall for my crimes, I was committed to do good and be a normal student; well that lasted 2 weeks and I was back on the drug trail ruining my life and others.

I was placed in a Special School for multiple offenders, which did me no good, because my teachers became my best customers.

One teacher traded grades for drugs and it enabled me to have the opportunity to finish the last half of the year in a regular high school. The first 2 weeks of high school was showing the signs of the same pattern.  Then one old friend I bumped into in the hall way during the changing of classes, said  “what’s up Tyrone?”  I shouted “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll!”.  Finally, my chance to advertise my new business ventures.  He responded clearly, “I don’t do drugs anymore, I’m “Born Again, I’m serving Jesus”.  Being the distant seasonal catholic, I was convicted to the core.  For the next days I literally ran from him.

From that point on, God seemed to be everywhere, on TV, the Radio Stations, and strangers witnessing to me.  Every time I tried to run from God I ran into Him.  I even began to pray to God for forgiveness. My prayers were like this… “Lord please forgive me for pinching that guys deal, when I sold him the drugs, please forgive me for cutting the cocaine today with baking soda. “

One day coming out of a restaurant, there stood 2 young men from Praise Chapel Sun Valley, with tracts in their hand.  As they began to approach me I cussed them out and told them I’m already religious.  “Prayed every night” as I walked away mocking them, one shouted out. “Where are you going to go when you die?”  That did it!

The torment began… dreams and anxiety of what could have been from the dangerous drug deals, remembrance of situations that could have easily taken my life.  I could not sleep and I did not want to be alone.  I knew that if I died, Heaven would not be my destination.

The old friend from high school finally cornered me in the hallway at school, and said I really need to talk to you. Out of respect I followed him to the Military Recruiting office on the school campus. I thought He was going have me talk to a recruiting officer, instead he began to show me a map of the middle east and explained to me the miracle of the 6 day war, in how God preserved Israel, proving we are in the last days.  What was crazy about this, my old friend was a member of Praise Chapel Sun Valley as well.

God knew my interest in the future and the mysteries of future events, I was so interested that I went home that day, got dressed and attended the 2^nd semi-annual Praise Chapel Conference in Paramount Elementary School in 1984, which was 50 miles away.  I did not know what that preacher was talking about, way over my head.  It was a Friday night, something about planting churches and pioneering, blah blah blah.  Then this other big guy belted out some weird language and everyone went silent.  I was not used to this, and in my mind I was ready to leave, this place is not the catholic I’m familiar with! But when it came to the Alter call for salvation, it was clear that I was not saved. As I bowed my head and raised my hand I thought everyone else did.  Well to my surprise I was the only one that night.  I was led in the sinners prayer by an ex-gang member from Florencia.

That time at the alter I felt something leave my body, it was like a burden that I was carrying for many years had rolled off.  The next morning, I had no desire for the normal intake of my drug regiment.  Confused by this sudden change, it was made clear to me at the first service I attended in Sun Valley Praise Chapel. I was shown the scripture 2 Corin. 5:17, “If any man be in Christ he is a New creation, and old things are passed away, and all things are become new.

My sinful record or resume was cleared, I was now a New Creation, from the inside out.  The next week I was out with a band of brothers passing out tracts and open air preaching on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

A youth revival began to form at our High School, as we conducted outdoor Bible Studies on the middle quad.  We had over 100 students singing and praising God openly every day.  My grades went up, and the only time I got suspended after my conversion was for not pushing drugs, but pushing Jesus.  I was suspended for open air preaching in the cafeteria.  They later concluded that they could not penalize me for preaching, but for standing on the tables.

So here I am, 26 years later, a pastor of 20 years, traveling the world, preaching the gospel, planting churches.  This could not be done without this wonderful Fellowship that I am a part of, which instilled vision and purpose into my life.

This Family of Fellowships has given me the opportunity to answer the call of God.

Thank you Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship for believing in me.

Tyrone Garay

Child of God