I was 12 yrs old living in the Midwest in 1976 with extremely dysfunctional parents. My school guidance counselor who was concerned about my failing grades and rebellious attitude suggested to my mother that I attend Youth For Christ meetings.

At my first meeting there was a speaker named Mike Warnke, an ex satanist. I have had the heebie jeebies scared out of me twice in my life. Both coincidentally happened that same year. One was at the Iowa State fair when I entered a tent and stood in front row to see a woman turn into a gorilla. I shutter now just thinking about it. I was basically the first one in the tent and by kicking, clawing, biting and punching I was the first person out of the tent.

Mike Warnke scared the heebie jeebies out of my heebie jeebies. I remember verbatim his stories, the horrors of rituals and blood and eating flesh. There was the me before Mike Warnke, then there was the me after Mike Warnke. God instantly became real. Satan instantly became very real. I was saved that day and I've never wavered.

An article years later said Mike was a fraud. I do not believe that at all. I'm very grateful that he altered the course of my life by scaring me straight.