A few years ago, I had a very powerful organized crime leader’s son get saved during one of my meetings. If I mentioned his father’s name, you’d probably know him. He was in a major crime ring.
So anyway, during one of my meetings this guy—this crime leader’s son—gets saved, gloriously saved by Jesus.
After he had said the sinner’s prayer, he came up to me and told me who he was. He was crying and patting me on the back saying, “I love you. Understand what I mean, man? I love you.”
He was so sincere but really dramatic. He stared right in my eyes as he spoke to me and it made me kind of nervous. “Okay man, I love you too,” I said, “Praise God!”
He really was so blessed.
I left that town and traveled the rest of that year preaching the Gospel. During that time, I didn’t think too much about the Mafia leader’s son. But the next year I was scheduled to preach again in that area of New Jersey.
D‘eja Vu—All Over Again
This time, the son’s father came to see me. He drove up to the front doors of the church in a big black limousine. The doors flew open and out stepped the father and a few other men—all of them dressed in suits.
From the window in the church office, it looked like a scene from a Mafia movie!
The man walked right through the church doors and into the church office where I was waiting before the service. He looked at me and, in a raspy New York accent, said, “I want to tell you something, Reverend. I want to thank you for what you did for my son. You understand?”
“Listen sir, I didn’t do anything,” I said. “You know, your son gave his life to Jesus. I just happened to be preaching that night and God blessed him.”
“Yeah,” he said, “but he got off of drugs. Man, this kid’s been nothing but trouble. I just want to say thank you.”
I nodded my acceptance as he continued, “But, uh, my boss wants to talk to you.”
Now his boss was I guess what you’d call the main man. He talked in a really raspy voice, sort of like the main guy in the Godfather movie.
I was stunned as he said, “I want to tell you something. You did a favor for my associate’s son and, uh, if you need anything you let me know. I’ll help you out.”
I could hardly believe all this as I answered, “Uh, I don’t need anything.”
“Well, let me say this, Reverend. We can do things you can’t do. You understand?”
“Ummm,” I said, “Well sir, I did nothing. Jesus Christ came in this man’s life and saved his soul.”
He waved his hand and casually said, “Whatever. But let me just say this. If you call me, I can do some things for you that very few people can do. I appreciate what you did for my associate’s son and thank you very much.”
He shook my hand as I said, “You’re welcome.”
Lights, Camera, Action?
He and his men left. They walked right out the front doors, climbed into the limousine and sped off. I was shocked. It was almost kind of funny to me. I stood there smiling because I felt like I’d just stepped out of a Mafia movie. It was great!
Well, as the devil would have it, about two weeks later I found out that some church leaders were talking ugly about me.
So, when I heard about what ‘was going down,’ I really felt like placing a call to my new Mafia friend. Then, in my best Marlon Brando imitation I wanted to say, “I want to tell you something. I want you to get some responsible people here. I want you to send them over to these people, see? Don’t kill ’em…just break their legs, knock a few arms off. Take care of the situation and tell them, ‘Don’t mess with Jess.'”
Well, that’s what I felt like doing! And you know, I believe if I would have called them they would not have had a problem with that.
But I can’t do that! Why? Because that’s terrorism! Hollywood has glamorized crime. They glamorize its leaders and make them into heroes.
God Is Not Like That
It’s a sad thing, but I see many people today who live the same way with God. They say they believe God is good, but secretly they still harbor those old religious ideas that God could hit them with a catastrophe or disease at any moment.
God isn’t a terrorist. He isn’t part of the Mafia.
He’s good. Really good. And He’s waiting on you to trust Him completely. Are you ready to do that? Are you ready to have hope? To use your faith? To see the impossible become possible with God?
This isn’t hype, you know. Faith in God is real. Faith in God can change a dull, miserable life into an adventure! There’s nothing like trusting God to get your blood pumping.
If you’ve stepped out in faith before, then you’ll know what I mean. It’s exciting to have a good attitude and really know that God will come through! It’s exciting to move into action and see His plan come to pass in your life.
Even more exciting than a Mafia movie!
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Jesse Duplantis, minister of the Gospel, motivational speaker, television personality, and best-selling author, has been in full-time ministry since 1976 and is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, located in the Greater New Orleans area of south Louisiana in the United States of America. With over four decades of sharing his unique blend of humor and faith around the world, generations of believers have been inspired by his messages and countless numbers have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior through his ministry.
Known for his unflinching, status-quo-breaking messages and humorous take on experiences in the life of the believer, Jesse continues to draw large audiences of believers through social media, television, and meetings held around the world. With speaking engagements booked years in advance, Jesse Duplantis continues to keep an intense traveling schedule, flying throughout the United States and the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With no booking agents pursuing meetings for him and no set fees imposed upon churches for speaking engagements, Jesse chooses his outreach meetings based on the same two criteria he always has: invitations that come in and prayer over each one. This uncommon way of scheduling in today’s world means Jesse’s many followers may find him speaking in some of the largest churches and venues in America and the world, as well as a great many small and growing congregations, too. No church is too big or small for the Holy Spirit, as he says.
Side by side with his wife Cathy Duplantis, the co-founder and chief of staff of Jesse Duplantis Ministries and the senior pastor of Covenant Church in Destrehan, Louisiana, Jesse continues to fulfill his life’s calling by daily taking up the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Through social media, television broadcasts, books, and other ministry products, as well as through many evangelistic meetings, the JDM website, the JDM app, and Voice of the Covenant magazine, Jesse Duplantis continues to see growth in his ministry and expand each year while maintaining his roots. Jesus is the center of his life. The salvation of lost people and the growth of believers is the purpose of his ministry. And for both he and his wife, every day is another day to “Reach People and Change Lives, One Soul at a Time.”