John McGarry

Life for me went wrong at a very young age, running the streets of South Phoenix.  I was in and out of trouble all the time.  I was in a detention center in the third grade.  My life consisted of foster homes and reformatories after that. My mother was a drunk who shacked up with or married all the convicts she ever met. Bikers, drunks, dope dealers you name it. I never knew my biological father. In 1970 I moved to Alaska to live with my mom and her newest husband. Drugs were easily available as was alcohol. I used every type of drug and alcohol I could get my hands on. By the mid seventies I had a severe drug problem. I ran with bikers, drunks, dope addicts you name it. By the early eighties I was riding with an infamous motor cycle club. Life was nothing but sex, drugs, Harleys, and a lot of violence. In 1987 I moved back to Phoenix. My Cocaine habit was so severe I could no longer afford it. I made methamphetamines to trade for cocaine. It wasn’t long before I was a methamphetamine addict. That went on for more than a decade. In 1998 I moved to Cheyenne. The first week I was here I met Wes Kelley. This man told me of a God that was forgiving. I always heard of a God that was going to get me for every thing I had ever done. He told me of a kind loving God. I had only been told of a cruel punishing god that was out to get me. Wes Kelley told me of Jesus Christ dying just for me. He told me of the grace and mercy of God. To make a long story short Wes led my wife, kids, and I to Christ. Father’s day this year, Wes was called home to the Lord. The hole in my heart is too deep to ever be filled. My best friend is no longer with me. I do know we will be together again some day. My life and my family’s life will never be the same. We are all Christians today because of Wes Kelley. Today I have a wonderful ministry in the nursing homes. I do daily visitations. I do three sermons a week. I take communion to over 80 people a month. I share my testimony with youth groups, jails, juvenile detention centers , prisons and nursing homes / assisted living facilities.  I am also involved in a motor cycle ministry. I am the president of the seed of Abraham motor cycle club in Wyoming. This has been a way for me to reach out to those who are living my old life style. I have been able reach a few. I know Christ is trying to get people into heaven. Not keep them out. If he will take me, he will take any one. There isn’t a commandment I haven’t broken. I know I was the worst of the worst. This is just a small portion of my life. I thank God for Wes Kelley. Most of all I thank God for Jesus Christ.  God bless you and yours.     <><      John