FROM DEATH TO LIFE

The Testimony of Pastor Tom Donovan

When you look at my life today, you see a Calvary Chapel pastor, Bible teacher, missionary, international businessman, husband, and father.

But that is not where my story began.

I grew up in a violent home surrounded by drugs, crime, and severe alcoholism. I was introduced to drugs and alcohol when I was only nine years old. By junior high school, I was drinking, smoking marijuana, taking acid and mescaline, and using cocaine.

By thirteen, I was already in serious trouble with school and the law. For the next eleven years, my life became a revolving door of addiction, courtrooms, A.A., N.A., crime, and incarceration.

I dropped out of school in the ninth grade.

I wasn't preparing for a future.

I was destroying one.

The Night My Life Should Have Ended

In October 1999, shortly after being released from the Nassau County Correctional Facility, I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico, attempting to purchase ten pounds of marijuana and restart a drug distribution operation.

I thought I was going there to rebuild my criminal business.

God knew my old life was about to come to an end.

The drug deal went horribly wrong.

I was surrounded by a group of men, struck across the face with a handgun, and brutally beaten with guns, bats, rocks, and pipes.

Somehow, I escaped.

Covered in blood and barely conscious, I eventually ended up in an ambulance.

Then everything went black.

I was pronounced DEAD ON ARRIVAL at the hospital.

DOA.

That should have been the end of Tom Donovan's story.

But Jesus Christ wasn't finished.

Exactly Forty Days

My injuries were catastrophic.

I underwent four brain surgeries. Approximately one-third of my brain was removed. My vocal cords were severed, and I fell into a coma.

Days became weeks.

People prayed.

Church members held prayer vigils.

And then came day forty.

After exactly forty days in a coma, I opened my eyes.

And what came out of my mouth?

THANK YOU JESUS!

THANK YOU JESUS!

The man who had been pronounced dead was alive.

Doctors said I would never walk or talk normally again.

But doctors did not have the final word over my life.

Jesus did.

God Even Used Prison to Restore Me

After leaving the hospital and rehabilitation, my old legal problems were still waiting for me in New York. I had to turn myself in and eventually returned to incarceration.

But God did something incredible.

The prison system that had represented so much failure in my life became part of my restoration.

I learned to walk again in prison.

I learned to talk again in prison.

God didn't merely restore me to the man I had been.

He began making me into a man I had never been.

From Prison to the Word of God

After my release, I began seriously pursuing Jesus Christ and studying His Word.

I went to Calvary Chapel of Hope in Amityville, New York, where I sat under Pastor Claude Stauffer and learned the Bible. Later, under Pastor Kevin Henesy at Calvary Chapel Island of Grace, I became involved in outreach and missions.

Then God began sending me places I never imagined going.

The man who once traveled to move drugs began traveling to move Bibles.

The man who once lived for himself began traveling to preach Jesus Christ.

Eventually, missions brought me to Uganda, where I met Pamela, who became my wife, and God blessed us with our family.

And there, God continued doing what only God could do.

And Today... Look What Jesus Has Done

Today, I am a Calvary Chapel pastor who has been given the privilege of teaching God's Word and serving His people.

God led us to establish Freedom Chapel Fellowship, and what began as a step of faith is growing into something much larger than I ever could have imagined.

Today, Freedom Chapel Fellowship has three Freedom Chapel Kids Clubs reaching approximately 1,000 attendees every week.

We have two Freedom Chapel churches, with a third church now in development.

We have established a Freedom Chapel primary school, and our vision is eventually to establish a school connected with each Freedom Chapel location, helping children receive an education while being taught and discipled in Jesus Christ.

And we are preparing to establish a School of Ministry so that believers can be equipped in the Word of God, trained for ministry, discipled, and sent out to serve Christ.

But God didn't stop with traditional church ministry.

He took the very business abilities that I once used for selfish purposes and redirected them for His Kingdom.

I founded Him First Media Group, a Christian marketing agency built to help churches, ministries, Christian organizations, and businesses reach people more effectively.

Then came Lordsbook, a Christian social media platform dedicated to Jesus Christ—His preaching, His teaching, Christian encouragement, discipleship, prayer, testimony, and Christian community.

Think about the contrast.

I once used business to help distribute drugs.

Today, I use business to help distribute the Gospel

I once traveled looking for drugs.

Today, I travel preaching Jesus Christ.

I once lived in and out of prison.

Today, I pastor churches.

I dropped out of school in the ninth grade.

Today, we're building schools and preparing a School of Ministry.

I once destroyed lives through the things I participated in.

Today, God has given me the privilege of helping build ministries designed to teach His Word and reach thousands of people with Jesus Christ.

That isn't self-improvement.

That is redemption.

The Potter Wasn't Finished With the Clay

Jeremiah 18 describes God as the Potter and us as the clay.

That is my life.

I was broken clay.

Violence damaged me.

Addiction damaged me.

Crime damaged me.

My own sin damaged me.

Eventually, even my physical brain and body were broken.

But the Potter never lost control of the clay.

God took what looked ruined and reshaped it.

He took a prisoner and made him a pastor.

He took an addict and made him a Bible teacher.

He took a ninth-grade dropout and made him an international businessman.

He took a man involved in the drug business and gave him a Christian marketing agency.

He took a man whose voice was supposed to be gone and gave him a platform to preach, teach, and encourage people in Jesus Christ.

And He took a man who once lived only for himself and gave him the privilege of helping build churches, children's ministries, schools, a School of Ministry, businesses, and a Christian social platform dedicated to Jesus.

The glory does not belong to the clay.

THE GLORY BELONGS TO THE POTTER.

Romans 8:28 — The Story of My Life

Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I don't simply quote that Scripture.

I have lived it.

God took the violence.

The addiction.

The drugs.

The prison cells.

The failures.

The brain injury.

The four surgeries.

The forty-day coma.

And somehow, through His grace and sovereignty, He worked all of it together and brought me to where I am today.

So don't tell me someone is too broken for Jesus.

I know better.

Don't tell me the addict can't become the pastor.

I know better.

Don't tell me the prisoner can't become the preacher.

I know better.

Don't tell me the ninth-grade dropout can't become a businessman, build schools, or teach the Bible.

I know better.

Don't tell me God can't take the worst chapters of someone's life and use them as part of an incredible testimony.

I KNOW BETTER.

Because I know where I came from.

And I know Who brought me here.

I was pronounced dead.

Jesus gave me life.

I couldn't walk.

Jesus raised me up.

My vocal cords were severed.

Jesus gave me back my voice.

And today, I use that voice to preach Him, teach His Word, and encourage others to follow Jesus Christ.

My testimony is not:

Look what Tom Donovan built.

My testimony is:

LOOK WHAT JESUS DID!

And after everything God has brought me through, my heart still comes back to the same words that came out of my mouth when I woke up after forty days:

THANK YOU JESUS!

All the glory belongs to Him.

— Pastor Tom Donovan

Bosco and Prossy dedicated their children today @ freedom Chapel Fellowship.

praise The Lord.

God, through the holy spirit, is refining me every day like precious gold. Putting me in the fire to remove the slag. Eventually turning me pure.

**TESTIMONY TUESDAY**

Today is Testimony Tuesday—share what God is doing in your life!

Every Tuesday, we invite everyone in the Lordsbook community to visit the Testify page and share a genuine personal testimony.

This is not a prayer request or simply a Scripture post. We want to hear about something God has done—or is doing—in your life.

Has God answered a prayer, opened a door, provided for a need, restored a relationship, strengthened your faith, brought healing, or carried you through a difficult season?

Your testimony gives glory to God and may be exactly the encouragement someone else needs today.

Share your testimony on the Lordsbook Testify page:

Let the Lordsbook community celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness with you!

My goal is to one day be by Jesus’ side … until that day comes, I plan to walk every step He leads me with knowing He is also behind me should I trip and fall on my journey knowing He will help me back to my feet and dust me off to continue my journey. Romans 1:16 is my favorite verse.

I had planned to go to Atlanta this weekend. I ended up not going.....turns out my brother needs a place to stay so now Im able to help him.

HEALING

I just want to thank God in advance for the life of my mother. Yes,she’s still struggling with fluid in her lungs and difficulty breathing, and the doctors are still asking for oxygen. I honestly don’t know where the money for the oxygen will come from anymore as the person who promised to help me turned on me at the very last minute, when I was already at my breaking point. But I still choose to thank God because I know he’s working in silence. I don’t know how He is going to do it, but I know He will make a way. I believe He is working behind the scenes, even when I can’t see it. I believe He will provide the oxygen, sustain my mother, and bring her back to good health.
So I’m thanking God now, before I see the answer. I believe that this will not end in tears. I believe I will come back with a testimony of healing and provision.

FROM BROKENNESS TO REDEMPTION

My Testimony

For nearly 20 years, I lived far from the life God was calling me to. I fought addiction, experienced abuse, struggled with lust and sexual sin, made choices I deeply regret, damaged relationships, endured a rocky marriage, divorce, a painful custody battle, incarceration, financial hardship, poor physical health, and seasons where I felt like I had lost everything—again and again. One of the deepest wounds I have carried is the loss of my son, and there were seasons when the weight of grief and everything else became almost impossible to bear; I survived some incredibly dark moments that I never thought I would make it through. I also faced significant mental-health struggles, but I refuse to let my past define me. I am not my addictions, my trauma, my grief, my mistakes, my circumstances, my diagnoses, or my darkest seasons—Christ is my identity. Eventually, I realized that I couldn’t save myself. My good works, religion, relationships, money, or anything else could never erase my sin. I needed Jesus. I came to understand that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, and that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9 Being born again didn’t make me perfect, but it changed the direction of my life. I began turning away from the things that were destroying me and turning toward Christ. I still have struggles, but sin is no longer something I want to make peace with. Today, I know I am anointed by God, called to serve Him, and completely surrendered to Christ. I eat, sleep, and breathe Christ. My heart is consumed with knowing Him, following Him, and sharing His Gospel. I have been at rock bottom, I have lost almost everything, and I have had to start over more times than I can count—but when everything else was gone, Jesus was still there. I don’t know exactly where this journey will lead, but I am genuinely excited to see where the Holy Spirit takes me next. And now I want to say this to anyone reading my testimony: Jesus Christ is calling you too. You don’t have to earn your way to God. You don’t have to become perfect first. You don’t have to clean up your life before you come to Him. Come to Jesus as you are—but don’t stay as you are. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and sin separates us from Him. But God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins. He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, defeating sin and death. That is the Gospel. Salvation is found in Christ alone. If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, today can be the day you turn to Him. Repent of your sins. Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Believe that He died for your sins and rose from the grave. Put your faith in Him—not in your works, your religion, your past, or yourself. Call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved. Don’t wait until you have everything figured out. Don’t wait until tomorrow. None of us is promised tomorrow. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is not merely an addition to your life—He is the Savior you desperately need. If you’re broken, He can redeem you. If you’re lost, He can lead you home. If you’re ashamed, His grace is greater. If you’re bound by sin, He can set you free. There is forgiveness at the cross, mercy for the repentant, and new life in Christ. I know because I am living proof of what His grace can do. My past is not my identity; Jesus is. I am saved by grace, reborn in Christ, redeemed from my past, and committed to spending whatever life I have left pointing people toward the One who saved me. If you don’t know Jesus, seek Him. Call on Him. Surrender to Him. Repent and believe the Gospel. Your life may be broken, but it is not beyond the reach of the Savior. Jesus still saves. Jesus still forgives. Jesus still transforms. And Jesus is still calling. Not toward me. Toward Jesus Christ.

-Grace G.

JESUS IS HEALING MY DAD FROM KIDNEY FAILURE! my dad went from 20% to 25% functioning in his kidneys! that does NOT happen, unless you're God! so very grateful! thank you Jesus!️

THE LORD JESUS TOOK MY CANCER!!! I AM FREE! NO MORE SURGERIES. NO RADIATION TREATMENTS! NO MORE DRS! I FELT HIM take it from my body!!! I WORSHIP HIM!!! I EXALT HIM!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!

Praise God .
I'm thanking God this morning for my life and my family and most expecially for adding another one year in the life of my Brothers Wife .

please join me in Wishing her your goodwill today. She is a mother of Two kids a boy and a girl and also she is currently an expertant mother.
I give God all the glory for her life.

HAPPY Birthday Mummy Amor and Mummy Shine.

This is a Testimony from one of my New Convert. She was Born and brought up in Muslim Family by Muslim Parents. As she grew up and started traveling and mingling with different types of people with a different religion, suddenly both of us meet. And that was the beginning of her New life in Christ. God uses me to transform her from being a Muslim to a Christian.

You will agree with me that it's not really an easy task to convert a typical Muslim to a Born again Christian.
but God did it. I became very close to her and made her to understand that she is leaving in a darkness. I followed her up day in and day night. and finally, God Arrested her. I invited her to my church, Living Faith Church, Winners Chapel . She gave her life to Christ and she has been Baptized. She have changed her name from Sadaat, to Joy.
To God Be They Glory.

This is her Testimony.

Hallelujah! Jesus has conquered! Hallelujah! Satan is defeated!
I once walked in the shadows of fear, bound by the chains of the enemy. Doubt whispered in my ears, guilt weighed heavy on my chest, and the darkness tried to convince me that I was finished—that my past defined me, that my struggles would never end, that Satan had the final word.
But then Jesus stepped in.
The same Jesus who walked out of the grave, the same Jesus who crushed the head of the serpent, the same Jesus who declared on the cross, “It is finished!”—He looked at me and said, “You are mine.”
In one moment of surrender, the power of the blood of Jesus broke every chain. The accusations fell silent. The strongholds crumbled. The enemy who once roared like a lion was forced to flee at the name of Jesus.
I am living proof that the grave could not hold Him, and therefore it cannot hold me.
I am living proof that the cross was not a defeat—it was the ultimate victory.
I am living proof that Satan’s reign is temporary, but the Kingdom of God is everlasting.
So I stand today and declare with every breath in my body:
Jesus has conquered!
Satan is defeated!
I am free!
Hallelujah! What the enemy meant for my destruction, God turned into my testimony. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in me. And if He did it for me, He can do it for you.
Victory belongs to Jesus—and through Him, victory belongs to us!
I'm free. I was Sadaat before but now I'm Sister Joy. I have seen the light

A girl got my books on Amazon, read them and was healed of PTSD, Schizophrenia and Hallucinations.

God is gracious

TESTIMONY OF GOD’S GOODNESS AT AYAC 2026 NEXT LEVEL .

I want to sincerely testify TESTIMONY OF GOD’S GOODNESS AT AYAC 2026 NEXT LEVEL

I want to sincerely testify of the goodness, faithfulness, and mighty works of God since the beginning of the AYAC 2026 Next Level Convention.
Indeed, God has shown Himself strong and faithful throughout this great gathering. We have witnessed miracles, breakthroughs, restoration, divine encounters, and testimonies that can only be attributed to the mighty hand of God.

The powerful Word sessions from all the Ministers have been a tremendous blessing. Every message, teaching, exhortation, and prophetic declaration has brought light, direction, encouragement, and renewed strength to our lives. God has used His servants to speak directly to our hearts and position us for the next level He has prepared for us.

We are also deeply grateful for the prophetic blessings and declarations released by God’s Servant, Bishop David Oyedepo. We believe these words are not ordinary words but prophetic seeds that will produce testimonies, breakthroughs, and lasting transformation in the lives of many.
Lord, we return all the glory to You. What You have started through AYAC 2026 Next Level, may You perfect it in our lives. Let every prophetic word become a living testimony, and let every seed of faith produce abundant fruits.

AYAC 2026 NEXT LEVEL — TO GOD ALONE BE ALL THE GLORY

Indeed, Jesus is Lord, and He never fails!of the goodness, faithfulness, and mighty works of God since the beginning of the AYAC 2026 Next Level Convention.

Indeed, God has shown Himself strong and faithful throughout this great gathering. We have witnessed miracles, breakthroughs, restoration, divine encounters, and testimonies that can only be attributed to the mighty hand of God.

The powerful Word sessions from all the Ministers have been a tremendous blessing. Every message, teaching, exhortation, and prophetic declaration has brought light, direction, encouragement, and renewed strength to our lives. God has used His servants to speak directly to our hearts and position us for the next level He has prepared for us.

We are also deeply grateful for the prophetic blessings and declarations released by God’s Servant, Bishop David Oyedepo. We believe these words are not ordinary words but prophetic seeds that will produce testimonies, breakthroughs, and lasting transformation in the lives of many.
Lord, we return all the glory to You. What You have started through AYAC 2026 Next Level, may You perfect it in our lives. Let every prophetic word become a living testimony, and let every seed of faith produce abundant fruits.

AYAC 2026 NEXT LEVEL — TO GOD ALONE BE ALL THE GLORY!
Indeed, Jesus is Lord, and He never fails!
Testifyer: Mr. Bethel
Live From Canaan land. Faith Tabernacle Church Live Faith Church, Winners chapel Lagos Nigeria

part of my testimony
I know its kinda long

I know the devil doesn't want me to write this and I might get attacked for it but Jesus compelled me to.

just want to give thanks to God and praise the Lord from all my heart. Im living proof that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. Where before I once lived a life of sin and darkness. I was stuck in the world of addiction. I was stuck in mental illness and because of it hated myself and a good portion of the time I hated others as well. I was suicidal full of bitterness and rage. I was mean especially when I drank alcohol or had been up for days on meth. I was selfish but I desperately wanted things to be different. Since I was trapped or felt trapped I blamed God or atleast felt God dealt me a bad hand. Sometimes I would try to be a Christian but I was still stuck and not only stuck I was still clueless on what to do or how to get a grip on myself. I tried to pray I tried going to church I tried everything but I still found myself running back to drugs and alcohol time and again. I would make progress and then flop right back into the muck and mud. I wanted to live and serve God but I was too afraid of the uncertainty. What if I was rejected laughed at or treated worse by people worse then when I was a selfish lonely scared drunk and addicted? What if I wasn't called. I know now everyone is called but I thought maybe I was unqualified and that I would somehow mess it up. These are the lies of the devil. Not only was I afraid of the idea of being a servant I was afraid the devil would attack me harder the same way he did Job and since my life was already bad enough I was afraid of it getting worse which I know things can always get worse. I knew I had good intentions to serve God and I knew that getting the Holy Ghost and serving God was my destiny but I was afraid people would only see my failures. I ran from serving God but I still kept a bible and for the most part kept my faith to myself. I was just like a scruffy
mouse, (with a mouse suit and breifcase containing a bible) that would get curious about life in the normal world and every once in awhile id venture out but one bad look, sarcastic remark, joke about my mouse suit or a bad day and I would scurry right back into the dark. I was afraid to fully step into the light and live for God. The light might expose my fears and failures and then in shame I would never be able to escape from the darkness again. I was an addict an alcoholic I thrived in the dark anyways. Its quite, easy to hide, and no one bothered me. I could smoke my mouse pipe in peace and drink my beer. Except God. He was with me in the dark. Most of the time. The demons were too I was starting to get use to their presence. If i wasnt able to hang with God atleast the demons could keep me company. Sometimes the demons would get too overwhelming id cry out to God in desperation.
Why is this happening. I would hear voices saying I was in the end times God wants to use me. This would give me hope. God was really still there trying to reach me while the demons were trying to destroy any hope I had left
See before I went on a 2 year meth binge
When things would get out of control I could just run to God and that would ease my troubled mind enough to get through the storm. For the longest time it worked. But from the meth Eventually my rebellion would bring me further from God and faith and closer to the devil demons and evil. And when things got so dark and the feeling of hopelessness and complete separation from God as if God didnt even exist anymore thats when I knew I had gone to far. Even the demons presence was gone. No more voices no demonic activity nothing It was like God and the demons never existed I felt confused drained of all hope. Atleast when it was just the demons I had some company. Ever since that dreadful day may 12 2026 when I woke up in my tent- (i had been living homeless) and felt my faith had died I knew I had to make a change and I had to make one fast. I had to make a choice either die alone without God in the dark or step into faith with God into the light. Both choices weren't going to be easy. I decided if God wasnt going to enable me in the darkness anymore id go into the light because that is were he normally dwells. Im still early in my recovery three months sober and things have gone way better thanks to good people a good program and more importantly help from God and I know how bad things can get how quick things can flip but im just trusting God in faith. staying humble and learning to live with acceptance gratitude and forgiveness.

in 2021 my husband moved to the United States and I was supposed to join him later on, but 2 years ago our marriage ended when it became clear that he wasn't interested in the marriage anymore. this threw me in to depression. the thought of starting life all over again with no money no leverage what so ever was scary. l lost myself and kept asking if I was ever going to be ok. but in the midst of the storm, Jesus came through for me. I found hope in his word and learned to lean on his mercy and love. little by little I could pick up the broken pieces of my life. I also found joy while leading the church in his presence through worship. now I have unimaginable peace and joy. I am able to forgive myself and my ex husband for everything and now I'm in a better place. God is so Good my life is a testament that God still fixes the broken and gives beauty for ashes.

It’s all because of you It’s all because of your grace That I’m still standing here right now It’s all because of you It’s all because of your love That I’m still standing.

I could have missed my way I could have fallen on the way side But you are always there To help me I could have missed my way I could have fallen on the way sideBut you always help me.

Lord I’m amazed By how you’ve shown me mercy Chineke Mo Thank you for your mercy.

Thank You Jesus For Your Mercy .

I testify the Goodness of God over my and my family. I thank God for Bringing me into this new week in good health with much blessings .
and I'm reaching out to all my friends and familes around the world that this new week shall be a week of divine favour, open doors, breakthroughs, restoration, and uncommon blessings for everyone.
What seemed impossible shall become possible. Where there was delay, there shall be speed. Where there was disappointment, there shall be celebration. Where there was lack, God shall provide abundantly.

I declare that no weapon formed against everyone here and my loved ones shall prosper. Every step we take this week shall be ordered by God, and His grace shall speak for us in places where our voices cannot reach.
This week, we shall have reasons to say: “Look what the Lord has done!”
I enter this week with you with faith, I walk in victory, you shall walk in victory and we all shall return with a testimony.

Happy and blessed new week to you, your family, and everyone around the world.
In this week we shall sing a new song.
see what the Lord has done, hallelujah have you seen what the Lord has done, what I have been praying for, has come to pass, have you seen what the Lord Has done .
That shall be our Testimony this week.
Amen .

Today’s Sunday service was truly powerful, refreshing, and deeply blessed. I am grateful to God for His presence, His Word, the worship, the prayers, and the fellowship with His people.

I came into God’s presence with expectations, and I am leaving with renewed strength, greater faith, peace, and fresh hope. Indeed, there is nothing like being in the presence of the Lord.

May the blessings, testimonies, and joy we received today remain with us throughout this week. May God continue to guide our steps, strengthen our families, and make His face shine upon us.

Happy Sunday, everyone!
To God alone be all the glory! Hallelujah!
Mr. Bethel
Testifyer