MARK NELSON
“My transformation took place during a prayer vigil around my hospital bed on Easter Sunday, 2008, where I lay in a coma dying of AIDS”
I was raised in the church by faith-filled, prayerful parents. However, through multiple unwanted events and pride, the enemy took control of my life at an early age. This led to a 10-year addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and unwanted homosexual feelings. In 1998, I was introduced to the gay community while attending college. By 2000, I was fully immersed in gay culture and actively involved with several LGBTQ activist groups. Five years later, I had an experience of God where I was deeply convicted by Him but would continue to stay in a monogamous same-sex relationship for three more years. I attended a local gay church during this time and still felt controlled by my desires and full of confusion.
My transformation took place during a prayer vigil around my hospital bed on Easter Sunday, 2008, where I lay in a coma dying of AIDS. Prayerful people led by my Mom and Dad began to speak life over my body, meditating on Bible passages and boldly proclaiming the promises found in the Bible. I actually died at one point with my praying father watching the resuscitation efforts. I experienced death as my soul separated from my physical body, and I floated above the room and saw medical personnel working vigorously to bring me back. I quickly transitioned into God’s judgment where I faced a piercing light. God showed me my sins in different scenes that were grounded in sexual sin, pride and rebellion. I was then thrown into complete darkness, where I experienced hell and its unbearable heat, head-splitting cries for help, and unending physical torment. I cried out in repentance, “Jesus!” Then I heard His voice, “I’m here.” In an instant my soul re-entered my physical body, and I witnessed, what I’ll describe as, the wind of the Holy Spirit enter my ICU room and remove all satanic influence in an instant. The atmosphere changed from darkness to light and chaos to peace. It was no coincidence this day was Resurrection Sunday. I experienced that there is power in the Cross of Jesus.The shed blood of Jesus became real to my life. From that moment forward, my body began to heal and my failing organs were restored. I walked out of the hospital with a new life in Christ.
In May 2008, while in rehabilitation, God spoke to me and said, “You will marry Beth,” my longtime friend. I did so that next November and we remain married today. Marriage has allowed me to experience masculinity through being her husband while becoming a part of her family of three sons, and five grandsons. The word of God is my primary resource for overcoming all things. I presently serve the Lord in full-time ministry.
Transformation Ministries Alliance: tmacorp.org