NextStep Ministries Las Vegas

Hello all my name is Anthony and that beautiful woman in the picture is my wife Dawn,

Dawn and I were homeless living in a desert addicted to crystal meth and cocaine, we would fight and fight and fight most of the time it would get physical, I would abuse Dawn mentally and emotionally I am still in awe today when I think about the fact that she stayed with me through it all. It is obvious to me today that God had a plan for us and now I see it. Dawn and I have been together for almost seven years five of those years we spent living in a tent in a desert off and on. We spent every waking moment either high or trying to get high. It was a visious circle that we both thought would never end. We had both been doing drugs for the majority of our lives I use to say when I was born the DR. must of stamped me in the butt with a two joint a day requirement, the meth and cocaine just came with it as a bonus, I would steal from places like wal mart, albertsons and other places just to feed my habit I even taught Dawn how to do it. Then about three years ago Dawn and I started to go to this park to get a meal on tues. thurs. and sat. We would go and be real polite, I would sit there with a bible open and Walter would be teaching out of John and I would be looking at Ephesians or something trying my hardest not to pay attention. After a while though I started to feel conviction about the things I was doing with my life so I stop going for a while and forced Dawn from going also. Then after about six months or so something drew me back to the park I don't know what it was but I felt that we had to go back. Then on April 7th of 2009 Walter was teaching and I started to feel something in my heart that i knew I had to do, so I looked over to Dawn and said "are you ready" and without her having to ask what, she said yes we both felt it at the same time so we asked to be prayed with and after that things stated to change my desires went from doing drugs to reading my bible I would wake up in the morning and instead of grabing my bong I would grab my bible.I started to jonze for the word of God instead of drugs, the best part was I started to see things diffrently than I was use to seeing them. Now my wife and I both sit on the Board of Directors of NextStep Ministries I am also a associate pastor of a small church, I am married to wonderful woman whom I love dearly, God has blessed more than I can ask for, now while my family doesn't exactaly understand what is going on with me they are happy about the change in my life and our relationship has improved. Giving in to God calling on my heart was the best decision I ever made. One scripture that sticks out in mind while I am typing this is (Ephesians2:4-5) 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Thank you for reading and may the Lord Bless you,

Anthony Ordish