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My name is Jeff Harshbarger and I am with Refuge Ministries. I look forward to getting to know you. I have posted my testimony. God is faithful!

[What advise would you give to those who have someone they care about involved in Paganism:]

How to Witness to Pagans
 

"What advise would you give to those who have someone they care about involved in Paganism:

First of all, don’t "go after them" and try to show them where they are wrong. You don’t want it to be an "I’m right, your wrong" situation. There is a reason that they believe what they do, and we need to respect that.

I firmly believe that if you have a close relationship with Christ, that it will show up in your day to day living. You may not even notice, but others will. We need to be living examples. We need to be authentic in Christ.

Those who walk the left hand path are usually incredible judges of character. It is sometimes a dangerous journey, and their life often depends on the ability to spot a fake. You are not perfect, and all of us are human, but don’t be a hypocrite.

For most of my life I refused to even consider Christianity because of the many hypocrites that I saw. I have seen hypocrites of all flavors. Some that acted as if they had an interest in me, but really only wanted to make themselves look pious by showing concern. Others sought me out to tell me just how wrong I was for my pagan beliefs, but yet their own beliefs were shallow at best. There are other examples that I could use, but what I’m saying is don’t act out of pride because you see yourself above those poor Pagans. Many of them put Christians to shame in their constant pursuit of a stronger spirituality.

The only time they will hear us, is when we speak out of genuine love and humility. But even before they will hear us, they will be watching our lives to see if we are authentic.

Prayer is our greatest tool. People have approached me and asked what they can do to reach someone they care about. When I responded, "pray for them", I have been met with the response of "oh, is that all."

Is that all? What greater work could we ever do than to carry someone to the throne of Almighty God and intercede on their behalf. Through prayer, we get to be a part of the amazing work that God wants to do.

We need to pray that God will show those we love, that they have a need for Him. People are so good at hiding, especially from themselves. Sometimes we are frustrated when a need is so obvious to us, but the other person is completely unaware of it. But we have to remember that it may not be possible for them to see the need, and only God can show it to them.

The first time that I became aware of my own need will always stick in my memory. I was preparing to take part in a ceremonial ritual, concentrating on the task at hand, when God spoke to me. I did not know that it was God at the time, and I don’t even know that it was an audible voice, but I heard it very clearly. "Your life doesn’t have to be this way." I stood for a moment in shock, and then I was overwhelmed by a profound sense of emptiness. I quickly regained my composure, but I remained shaken by the experience. It was so unexpected, and it made me start to think about who and what I was. Because of that experience, I have no doubt that God can break through to a person’s heart.

If your loved one does begin asking questions, give them time. When your entire life has been based on a certain belief system, you are not going to change overnight. The issues that I faced were so deeply ingrained in me, that it was excruciating trying to sort it all out. Be patient, and keep praying.

There were many times when my first Christian friends had no idea how to address some of the issues that I raised. Sometimes you don’t have an answer for certain questions because you have never faced that particular situation in your own life. Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know right off-hand, but take the time to find an answer. Honesty is better than a know-it-all attitude. If needed, seek out a trusted spiritual leader, such as a pastor, who may be able to provide more information. But never simply pass the person off to someone else. Stay involved in their life, and keep building the relationship.

Finally, I would remind you not to focus so much on someone else, that you lose sight of your own relationship with God. Without that close intimacy with Christ, you will not be able to provide the example and support that your loved one needs."

Annie Fintan
Refuge Ministries

 
I was an eclectic or self-styled Satanist. In other words, if it worked, I used it. I started out basically a philosophical Satanist; LaVeyan Satanism. But, I found out that there was a 'power' or demons were available, thus I began to pursue traditional Satanism, while holding on to what worked from LaVey; his self-centered philosophies.
I ended up being possessed by demons because I gave myself over to them in exchange for their 'power'. After coming to Jesus Christ, I was delivered from the demons. Here is my testimony........

After four years in satanism, I was miserable. I had seen everything that Satan had to offer, and still I was miserable. I decided that the only thing left to do, as a "respectable satanist," was to kill myself. But before I even checked into the motel, I knew that something or someone might cause me to lose my nerve. For company and courage, I took along a bottle of whiskey and a bag of marijuana. I put the rifle to my head but somehow I could not pull the trigger. I knew that the rifle worked, but I just could not pull the trigger. Disgusted with myself, I tried again the next night. On a September night in 1981, I tried to hang myself. I put the rope over a rafter in the garage, and kicked the chair out from under me. I landed on the floor with the rope still tied to the rafter. "What a failure," I thought, " I can't even kill myself."

The story of my involvement in satanism is so classic that it's almost cliche'. I was a lonely young man from a dysfunctional family. My father was an alcoholic. Things at home got worse until finally, my parents divorced. I was looking for a place to belong. I was looking for people who would pay attention to me and give me acceptance. I was looking for love, but I was caught in the middle of a violent house that left me feeling hopeless and frightened. In response, I started looking to the supernatural for courage and for some mystic power over my early existence. I was ripe for such an experience, and for a long time I had been interested in magic and other aspect of the paranormal. Even as a young boy, I knew that there was a spirit realm, and that there had to be a way to tap into it.

My first contact with satanism came when in 1978; a snowstorm took my hometown by suprise. I was a 17 year old high school senior, and was working in a local store during the storm. I was just beginning to wonder how I would get home that night, when the store's assistant manager, a young man of just 18, invited me to stay at his apartment, just a short walk away. This young man seemed to have everything that I had ever wanted. Prestige, power, he gave every indication that he was in control of his life and acted much older than his 18 years. That night, he told me the source of his strength. I was fascinated. He showed me the magic notions and occult objects, which he had accumulated. I was convinced. Later that night, we performed a ceremony, and I gave my life to Satan.

After I graduated from high school, my "teacher" and I moved away to attened college. The two of us attempted to begin our own satanic coven. Our coven was to consist of thirteen disciples but we were only able to recruit six, all of them males. The six of us shared a house, where we conducted what I call "freelance" satanic rituals, creating and improvising ceremonies freely. Coven activities included casting spells and desecrating Bibles and any other Christian articles that we could get our hands on. During this time I was in contact with demons on a regular basis, though not with Satan himself. Demons were powerful underlings, that were at my beckon call...or so I thought. Eventually the frightening and distasteful parts of satanism overshadowed the thrilling parts. I began to worry about where the coven might be headed. I knew that I could not participate in the next step.... I knew that there were lines that even I would not cross. I wanted out.

I thought at the time, that the only thing left to do was to kill myself. To my dismay, I failed. I know now that only Divine intervention could have saved me from both the gun and the noose. After returning home, I tried to drink myself into oblivion, but found that the taste of beer turned my stomach. So instead, I lit a cigarette to calm my nerves...but it burned my lips! So finally, I, the satanist priest in the making, went to my room, lay in my bed and began to cry. I will never in my life forget what happened next. It was late at night. The rest of the coven was out partying so the house was empty. Out of the silence I heard a voice from beside my bed that said "Get Out!" I stopped crying and looked around the room expecting the presence of a demon. This was no demon. The voice moved to the foot of my bed and said again. "Get Out!" I remember being so shaken at the command that I immediately obeyed. I crawled out of the nearest window in my bedroom and onto the driveway...and into the presence of God. My knees went weak and I fell on my face, there was no mistaking Who this was. Looking up at the sky I pleaded, "Jesus, just make my life okay."

I have come a long way from those days in satanism. I still believe in a spiritual reality. I believe in both demons and angels, evil and good. I have simply traded darkness for light. The Lord Jesus Christ has helped me through complete recovery. I have been married now for 18 years. My wife Liz and I live in S.C. With God's help I have earned a M.A. in Pastoral Counseling and have launched Refuge Ministries. Together, we instruct others about the dangers of the Occult, New Age beliefs and other false teachings. We don't just work with former satanists; I know how it feels to be a lonely and confused person, driven to despair. We are here for who ever the Lord would send.