By Joseph J. Pfister
I sat in my car in front of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Rain
was coming down, the wind was blowing, and I was sick of my life.
I had just driven from a three-day gambling binge in Atlantic City
where I lost more than $5,000 and maxed out my credit cards trying
to recoup my losses that now had surpassed $300,000 in more than
five years. If I wasn’t at the casinos, I was sports gambling
with a bookie or at one of the three racetracks in my state of Delaware.
I
was an addict.
My past flashed before me while I got up enough nerve to climb
the bridge’s walkway and jump the 500 feet into the Delaware
River. I once was, I thought, a decent sort, until my marriage broke
up and I began womanizing, drinking and betting on anything, anywhere.
I am a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. I had started
an organization called Operation Patriotism, where the nation’s
Air National Guard initiated speakers bureaus and programs for schoolchildren
to promote good faith between youth and the military during the
Vietnam War. I spoke in 22 states; on radio and television; and
before 90 schools, colleges, civic organizations, military units,
prisons and even the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. I had
appeared on television and later had my own show and won numerous
awards including Citizen of the Year in Delaware, Sergeant of the
Year in the Air Force and shared the top National Freedom Foundation’s
highest award with John Wayne. My works on patriotism were entered
into the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate.
Back then I had a purpose in life. That’s when my four
children had respect for me. Now I had become an addicted sleaze
whose every waking thought was consumed with evil deeds and evil
thoughts.
I took a swig of the highball I had carried out of the Resorts
Hotel and Casino, opened the door and started walking toward the
bridge. A state trooper came by at that moment and yelled, "Car
trouble?"
I said, "No, sir, just getting some air."
I climbed back in my blue Sprint and drove over the bridge into
Delaware and to my condominium where I spent a lot of lonely hours
contemplating all my failures. It was 4 a.m. on a Sunday more than
11 years ago, and I drank some more booze to help me sleep.
About 3 p.m., the phone rang. It was Jim, an old friend who always
wanted me to go to church with him. He would say the same thing,
"I prayed for you this morning, Joe." He invited me to
go with him that night to hear a guest speaker.
I consented, figuring he would treat me to a hamburger after church.
His church was a Pentecostal church, and every seat was filled.
The visiting speaker gave an eloquent sermon and then started speaking
about individuals in the audience who were hurting spiritually,
physically and emotionally. A long line formed across the platform,
and the pastor stood in front of each. Several fell backward.
My friend explained, "Joe, the Holy Spirit is here and those
people are being slain in His Spirit. Come on, let’s go up."
I waited until there were only a few left. I was curious. I thought
these people were paid to collapse.
When I went up, the pastor came in front of me and asked, "What
can God do for you, my son?"
I blurted out something about my asthma. He raised his hand, closed
his eyes and began to pray. I suddenly felt peace come over me and
the next instant I was lying in Jim’s arms. Did he push me
down? I wondered, as I glanced around and saw I was the only one
left on the platform.
"No, Joe," Jim said, laughing. "He never touched
you."
"How long have I been lying here?" I asked.
"Oh, about eight minutes," Jim said as he helped me to
my feet.
The next day I made an appointment to see the pastor and told him
my life story. He quoted 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new." From that day I began
to walk in Christ’s path. The day before I almost took my life.
If my friend hadn’t called, if I wasn’t hungry, if the
visiting pastor had not grabbed my interest … I might be dead
today.
I now read the Bible every day. I surround myself with devout Christians.
I usher at my church and narrate the plays and special presentations.
I write articles for the newspaper to promote our ministries. Recently
I helped instigate the start of a radio program for our church.
And on the Fourth of July Sunday this year I addressed the congregation
about my views of God, country and the flag.
But my favorite ministry is being helped and helping men in HonorBound
men’s ministries. Weekly we meet to counsel, pray and love
each other so we can be better husbands, fathers and godly examples.
I don’t want to give anyone the impression that I have reached
perfection. I have not. I still have to pray daily for God’s
help and be vigilant in struggling with my past addiction, but my
life has changed completely from the habitual, compulsive, destructive
person I was to one who wants to follow our Lord with every ounce
of energy I have. I am now married to a wonderful Christian. I thank
my church and the members there. I am truly blessed and forever
thankful to Jesus my Savior.
Joseph J. Pfister, 67, Chief Master Sergeant,
Ret., USAF, is a member of First Assembly of God in Elkton, Md.,
where Alan Bosmeny is pastor. Joe says, "If revealing my sordid
past can help people walk in the light of Christ, then I’m
glad to do it." Before joining the Air Force, he was a pitcher
in the farm systems of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
