I was meetin' with some friends, ah, a couple of weeks ago. I guess, a week ago now. And, uh, these guys were bound up. They've been in the rock'n'roll industry all their lives. And they were on tour. Right now, it's a big rock group. And I was gettin' ready to have breakfast with these guys. I wanted there to be a witness to them. And so, I prayed and I said, 'Lord, I pray that You'll raise up a witness, here, because I've talked to these guys several times before and they really haven't responded.' So, I went down to the hotel, it's a luxury hotel that they were stayin' in. And, they called me that mornin' and said, 'Would you come and have breakfast?' And I said, 'Yes, yeah, I'll head on down.' So I went down and met them for breakfast.
And all these long-haired guys, they were out there sittin' in the restaurant. And they were gettin' ready to hop a jet to, I think, San Antonio Texas, or somewhere. And when I walked in, you know, the guys were in sunglasses. And they were, you know, kinda fried from the night before. And I sat down at the table. And the waiter came over. He was an African American, very articulate, very nice lookin', clean lookin' man, probably around 48-50 years old. He came up to the table and he started joking with the rock'n'roll guys from this band. Again, it's a famous group. And he said, 'Parley vous, Francais?' And they looked at him, kinda like, frogs at a flashlight, like, duh! And then he started joking again. He said, 'Well, habla español, mís hermanos?' And they didn't respond. 'No, we just speak English, you know.' And this waiter was dressed with a white formal shirt on, black tie, black formal slacks. He had a towel or whatever over his arm. And he was bein' very articulate. And he showed that he spoke a little French, he spoke a little Spanish. I could tell he had been educated. And he said, 'What would you gentlemen have?'
Then he looked at me and he said, 'Jeff Fenholt.' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'What are you doing here? I thought you weren't in this rock stuff anymore?' And I said, 'Well, to tell you the truth. I'm down here and I'm with my friends. I used to be in a group with this one guy here. You know, I'm witnessin' to my buddies.' And he said, 'Oh yeah, You guys are the band that played at the big outdoor festival last night,' They said, 'Yeah.' And he said, 'Well, Jeff Fenholt, I want to thank you for coming down to the homeless mission in this city six months ago.' It was the city homeless shelter. And he said, 'I was there that night. And it was a wonderful night.' And I said, 'Oh.'
I knew that I had been on television two days before I went to the rescue mission. And I had announced on television that I was gonna be there. And I had asked people to come from around town, and from around that part of the country or city or whatever you want. And to bring food and stuffed animals for kids and stuff down to the homeless shelter. And the night that I was there, we had over 500 homeless, I think, I mean we are guessin'. But they just packed everywhere in city rescue mission there in Oklahoma City. And, there were two neurosurgeons, who came out, who are now friends of mine. And there was another doctor, who came out. But a lot of people, a guy that owns Hobby Lobby, he came out. So, a lot of people who are doin' very well, heard me on television, and came and brought stuff.
And when I saw this waiter, and as good as he looked, and articulate and everything else, clear-eyed, I said, 'Oh, man, that was nice of you to come down and help us down there at the mission, at the rescue mission.' And he looked at me and he said, 'NO. I was a resident there.' And everybody in the band just looked at him, like raccoons lookin' at truck headlights. And I said, 'You were a resident there?' And he said, 'Yes. I was on drugs; I was on alcohol. I lost my wife; I lost my children. I lost my home; I lost my job. I lost everything that was dear to me. I went on a suicidal binge to kill myself. I wound up down at the homeless mission, downtown, in Oklahoma City. I gave my heart to Jesus. But I was struggling. And that night you came down. One of your doctor friends [I believe it was Vic Tisdall, Dr. Tisdall] He laid hands on me, and prayed for me. My life has changed. Here I am now, I am not on drugs; I'm not on alcohol. I don't need them anymore. I'm walking with the Lord Jesus Christ. I've resisted the devil [if you will] and the devil has fled from me. I am free.' He who the Son sets free, is free indeed. And he said, 'I have a job now; I have an apartment now. I really appreciate you, Jeff. I want to buy you guys breakfast.'
And so, we argued. I said, 'No, you don't have to buy us breakfast.' He said, 'I got a job. I'm doing good. The Lord would be pleased with me buying you breakfast, you guys.' So, he bought breakfast. We left him one heck of a tip, I'll tell you that, way more than covered breakfast. But, I didn't even have to witness. I didn't have to say a word. And one of the guys in the band, this heavy metal band, heavy rock band anyway, looked at me. And he said, 'You know, if you dropped dead tomorrow, you could say that something good has come of your life. That must make you feel awefully good.' I said, 'You're right. It does make me feel good to be able to be apart of somethin' that is actually helpin' others, and that is the Blood of Jesus. I've been washed in the blood of Jesus and I'm sharin' about the Lord.'
The Word of God says, Submit yourself, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7. I want you to pray and give your life to God. Totally submit to the Lord. Whatever you're dealin' with; whatever you're goin' through; give it to God. Here's a song I wrote with Craig Goldy of Dio: Turning Of The Tide [659k .wav file, 30 sec]. Revelation 12:11, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their Testimonies.... Praise you, Jesus. There's a turnin' of the tide comin' your way. By the blood of Jesus, they overcame the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto death. Meanin' they weren't afraid anymore. Fear was gone. You can be fearless; you can be bold; through the blood, through the power of Jesus Christ. Praise you, Lord Jesus. Praise you, Lord Jesus. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved. Proverbs 18:10. Give your life to your strong tower. And I'm gonna tell you somethin'. Write to us; let us know what's goin' on in your life. I love hearin' from you. I love gettin' your letters. We've gotten so many good letters of people who the Lord has set free. I just got one right before I left to fly out here to Nashville. They handed me one from someone that was suicidal and the Lord set her free after I was able to pray for her on the phone. I praise God for you. I praise God that he is blessin' you. And I pray that you will submit to God, resist the devil, and watch him flee from you.
My Deepest Love,
Jeff
Studio, Trinity Music City, Hendersonville Tennessee, August 27, 1998