Dear PiFO Supporter,
Over the last couple of months, I have been sending you essays from our students on how the Paid in Full Oregon/Corban University college degree program has been affecting their lives and the lives of their family members. Here is a testimonial essay from Keith Davis:
“Judge Tom Kohl and members of PiFO,
First, I want to thank all of you for a blessing that is beyond words. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to get an education of this caliber while in prison. This opportunity is the perfect example of God’s hand at work.
To explain, my religious experience started when I was a child going to church with my parents. When I was about eight, they said they weren’t going to go any more, but that I could still go if I chose. As I was only eight years old, I certainly wasn’t going to go alone so I stopped going. I still believed in the existence of God, but I proceeded to listen to the deceiver for the remainder of life, making bad decisions along the way. It wasn’t all bad as I did have three wonderful and successful children and influenced many others through coaching sports over the years. However, my worst decisions caught up with me, and I thought that the deceiver had won as off to prison I went.
Much to my surprise I came to accept Christ as my savior thanks to one of my first cellmates. This started the renewal of my journey along the path. My mother cried when I told her that I had come back to Jesus. I even started reading the Bible for the first time in my life. I had no idea that there was such a powerful message contained within those pages. I even started going to a Bible study group and began daily prayer.
Then along came the opportunity for this Corban University program. The first time I applied I didn’t get in as my essay didn’t qualify. This was not surprising as it had been thirty years since I had been in school. The next year I tried again, praying only for His will in the matter, feeling that this season I was ready. This time I was accepted and haven’t looked back.
Even though I had started with God in my life, I then left Him. I believe that He has used all my poor decisions to get me where I needed to be. To finally accept His plan for me. I firmly believe that I was meant to be here in this moment in time, receiving this education, to be a disciple for God. Thanks to God’s plan, He has brought all of you into my life so that we can do His will on earth.
With blessings in Christ,
Keith Davis”
Once again, I am so impressed with another student in our program. Please pray for Keith’s continued growth in Christ.
Ever grateful,
Tom Kohl
Executive Director and Founder
503-799-0342
PS…next week we start our annual computer campaign. I look forward to see how God will once again bless our students with His generosity.