I was born in Fort Worth, Texas. I was raised in a Christian home, and am the younger of two siblings. I remember being in Sunday School and church services from an early age. As I reached my teenage years, my focus began to change. Seeking acceptance among friends, I fell prey to peer pressure.

At the age of 13, I ran away from home, began to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, do drugs, and get into trouble with the law. My teenage years revolved around getting high and partying. Eventually, I dropped out of high school so I could sell drugs to support my habit and gain the admiration of my friends. On October 31, 1986, I was arrested for delivery of a controlled substance. I sold methamphetamines to an undercover agent, which led to a two-year sentence.

In 1988, I met and married my wife, Kim. We were later blessed with a beautiful daughter, Tiffanie. I worked hard to provide a stable home for my family. In June of 1996, our second daughter, Mariyah, was born. Due to some birth defects, my wife’s career was immediately put on hold. Medical expenses and bills soon overwhelmed us.

I stood at a crossroad and failed to rely on God. I contacted some old friends to discuss selling drugs to make extra money. I began to make over two thousand dollars a week. I soon returned to my drug addiction and lost my focus.

In 1999, I was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. My wife and I were both arrested. Thirteen months later, I was convicted of two accounts of possession and sentenced to seven years. I thought my life had come to an end. But God had other plans. He brought me to a point of total surrender. My wife stopped doing drugs and, seven months after my incarceration, my son, David was born. I could actually see God working in my family. My heart definitely had been irreversibly changed. I stopped using foul language, I became responsible for my actions and I began making amends with family and friends. I was released in 2006.

Through letters and visits, my marriage has been restored. I now have a new outlook on life. With the friends and the accountability at Mercy Heart my entire family in growing in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy Heart has been such a blessing to me, not just in another program I have to do to meet parole requirements. It has become a family in the Body of Christ.

Brother in Christ,

Mike Tice

I was raised in a middle class family who believes in God and I chose early in life not to follow this belief. Consequently, I found myself addicted to drugs, stealing from my friends and family, writing bad checks, running prostitutes and other sordid activities. This landed me in Tarrant County Jail on the way to TDCJ.

While in jail, I met a couple of Christian men who brought the Word to us on a regular basis. Five rehabs and two psychiatric units did not work so I decided to accept Jesus as my Savior! Since then, God has guided me and delivered me from drug addiction and given us real freedom.

God, through Glenview Baptist and Mercy Heart, helped my wife and me get on track by mentoring us as we grew. God saved and restored us through His church.

We are now volunteer leaders in Mississippi and Alabama working with an international prison ministry. In the last 3+ years I have shared my testimony while flying model airplanes in over 200 prisons in eight different states and Washington DC. We live modestly, but our house and cars are paid for and we are debt free. We have truly been blessed. Choosing to accept Jesus has proven to us that “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!”

Jim and Fredia Harris

www.infinityenterprises.net