1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins (Ephesians 2:1). Bonus Reading: Ephesians 2:2-10

David Berkowitz was sentenced to consecutive life sentences for killing six people and wounding numerous others in New York City. Known as "Son of Sam," he terrorized the city for months until his capture in 1977.

Berkowitz confessed to the crimes to avoid the death penalty. Though up for parole several times, he has consistently been denied freedom.

For many, this seems a fitting end to a madman's life—dying a slow death in jail haunted by his past crimes.

But that's not the end.

In 1987, an inmate talked to Berkowitz about Christ. He gave Berkowitz a Bible.

According to Berkowitz, the book changed his life: "Everything seemed to hit me at once. The guilt from what I did … the disgust at what I had become. … I got down on my knees and began to cry out. … I asked Jesus to forgive me. … A peace flooded over me. … I knew that my life, somehow, was going to be different."

Berkowitz now has CDs and videos of his conversion available through Focus on the Family. He has appeared on Dr. D. James Kennedy's TV show, and he has endorsements from Chuck Colson.

—Mark Herringshow & Jennifer Schuchmann in Six Prayers God Always Answers

My Response: Why might I find it hard to accept that someone like David Berkowitz could be a genuine Christian?

Thought to Apply: Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.—John Newton (British clergyman and former slave-ship captain)

Adapted from Prayer Power (Tyndale, 2008)

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Dear Father, help me to know that in you there is no condemnation and nothing can ever separate me from your love.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help