the words spoken by Elizabeth Cruz on November 30th, 2011 at the beginning of her lecture at the “Life Skills Program – Personal Development” class which is held by Life Achievement Services
at Life Tabernacle Church in Elkhart. The class included teenage boys’ 16-18 years old, from Bashor Children’s Home and the Elkhart community.
Starting the class was one of our regular special speakers Sonny Cruz. Sonny is a young loving father of three wonderful children, full of life and love. But life for Sonny was not always that way. Sonny who feels a strong calling and burden to minister to youth was at one time a troubled youth himself.
Sonny gave his testimony to these young men about his past and how he got mixed up with the wrong crowd and drugs. He became addicted and the results of those addictions began affecting his personality and the way he treated people including his own family.
Elizabeth (Sonny’s Mother) and her husband had no idea why Sonny began treating them so poorly. And it was quite some time before his addiction was revealed to them. They finally began to speak together as a family about his problem and Sonny asked for help. Elizabeth set up a phone call so that Sonny could begin drug rehabilitation, but Sonny had to be the one to ask for the help. On the other line was the clinic and it was time for Sonny to get on the line, but he would not take the phone from Elizabeth. Then there was a second time, they spoke as a family, and Sonny asked for help again. His parents set up another phone call with the clinic, Sonny would not take the phone again.
Frustration, hurt, anger and other emotions will never stop a loving Mother from the devotion and prayer for her child. Elizabeth mentioned the hurt she endured when Sonny introduced her and his Father to someone saying how wonderful of parents they were, and how much respect he had for them. Those words were hollow, not in his right mind, Sonny treated his parent’s with very little respect and honor.
And now a third time, Sonny and his parents spoke about getting help again. This time Elizabeth warned him, “if you don’t take the phone this time, don’t ask for help again.” Sonny took the phone, this time he checked himself into rehabilitation.
Sonny attributes his deliverance from drugs to the God who loves him and never gave up on him, and to Godly, loving and prayerful parents who never gave up on him. Rehabilitation was a necessity for him, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” This was a way to keep him away from the things that the flesh could not bear. And sonny found a way of escape.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Elizabeth Cruz implored these young men to not be silent. Her words and emotions were beheld as she pounded the table in front of one of the young men saying, “Silence is a Killer.” There is help, if you ask. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Sonny ended their oration by singing and playing his guitar to a song he wrote.
His talent shines, but the sheer emotion he pours into his love for the Lord and his music shines forth much greater. He and his Mother had captured these young men’s undivided attention, and their hearts. This night the gospel was brought to life.
Scripture references (all KJV); Rom 13:14, 1 Cor 10:13, James 4:2
Sonny Cruz is available for speaking engagements, Call Pastor Mark Johnson (Life Tabernacle Church) at 574-293-9332.
Daniel Criss
President / Founder
Life Achievement Services
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