Charles's Testimony

What is your personal testimony? How did you come to Christ?

When I was younger, my sister, mom, dad and I used to go to church. I remember that the church was in Gardena, CA. Then one day, my dad's mom died; I was a kid at the time (1968 or 69). Suddenly, he went berserk, and drank very heavily. His whole lifestyle changed after the death of his mom. He went to his friend's house and started drinking various alcohol - I don't recall drugs being used. One time, we moved somewhere in L.A. Later on, he continued to drink heavily. One time, I love listening to different music tapes, and I went into his room to find tapes to listen to. He came home one time from work, and he noticed that some of his tapes were missing. He asked, "Who's been in my room messing with my stuff?"
"I did because I wanted to listen to some music tapes." All of a sudden, his anger aroused in a rage and he picked me up, and (I was only about 5 or 6 years old) threw me against the wall real hard. He came into the living room and violently got a belt and its buckle, and threw something at me too, with a stick and hit me real hard. I don't know what happened from there.
Another time, I was in a car with my dad some time after that and I got this really bad stuttering problem. I was scared of my dad! Every time he came home from work, I was so nervous and stuttering that I couldn't talk. Another time in the car with my dad on the freeway, and he was saying some things to me, I was in the passenger side, and I didn't know the car door was open, and I pulled the handle hatch and pulled it on accident. I opened up the door and fell out of the car. I don't remember what happened. Was I dead or unconscious. During this time, my mom was telling me that I was in the hospital, and said that I fell down the stairs.
Marriage between my mom and dad was so bad; we noticed that he hits my mom too. That's when my three younger sisters started crying. They got a divorce because it was so bad.
My mom found another guy, and his name was Walter, and living in Watts at the time. This was after the divorce, and most of my sisters and me lived there. Walter nicer guy then my dad. So he died a year later from to much alcohol. So my mom another boyfriend named Lewis. The same problem happened all over again - he's a drinker. One time in Watts, Lewis, my mom and her sister and I got together. There was talking, drinking, and my aunt (Karen) also made me fearful - because of the drinking. All of a sudden, she blew up at me. That's when I ran away from home for the first time. I got really so tired of the drinking in my family, and the way they yelled at me!
I ran to this park over there by Central, and I stayed the whole day there, probably a weekend because different bands were performing there. My family wondered, "Where's Moee at?" One evening I saw Lewis and my mom pulled up in a truck at the park and found me. I was crying because I got really scared of what was going on. I was about 10 years old in the 5th grade.
Later on ( a year or two later), my mom decided to live with Lewis in Compton. He had a 2-bedroom place in a residential area. I don't Lewis was as violent as my dad was, but he did have the drinking problem like my dad. I remember one time when he went to his friend's house and started drinking. He came home out of the blue, and he started yelling at my mom, at me. I was playing Atari with my sisters. He hit my mom, and I said, "Dad, you can't be doing this!" He responded, "Shut up, Charlie." I forgot what I said to him, maybe "Accusing me of things that I did not do. You can't be doing this to my mom."
Early on the second time I ran away in Watts. It happened at night this time and I was at a store where I ran. I came back the next morning and slept on the porch. Back to Compton, I told him off. Then my stepdad said to me, "Charles, if you don't stop right now. I have a gun in my house." I was scared, big time! I ran out of the house, and I said, "You can't be doing this." I ran to the park nearby, and I stayed there all night. I came back the next morning.
I remember one time there at Lewis’ house having a party. Suddenly, my biological dad came to the whole family and disrupted our good time! All of the sudden, he was fighting one of my uncles, Ronny (mom's brother). And all my uncles tried to pin him down to stop him. They told me to leave. He finally left when they threatened to call the cops. My dad was that crazy.
Now, it came to the point where my sister and I were saying, "I think we need to move from here." We had already been convincing her to move. She had started drinking too. Lewis would always come home drunk and started yelling. They decided to move to another part of Compton away from Lewis - they were separated. At our new place I was playing tennis at the time on a tennis court with my friend Richard, Venus and Serena's dad. He was teaching me how to play tennis, and I was on the high school tennis team. One time, I was playing tennis and all of a sudden a guy with a gun started shooting, so I ran outside of the tennis court, just before I dunk low, I heard a whistle of air flew by my ear, sounded like a bullet and it was a bullet. I stayed away until it was safe. So I continued playing tennis. I rode my bike back home after being on the tennis court all day. Then I saw Lewis at our new place! When he first saw me, the first thing he said to me was, "F---- you!"
"Why are you saying this to me for? I didn't do anything." I started doing to my room, and I repeated what he said back to him. He came charging towards me; put his arm around my neck to try to choke me. I had my racket in my hand and I tried to hit him off me. I then got to my room and locked myself in until he left. Somebody came in and talked to me, and I told them that I was really scared. My relative told Lewis to leave. He finally went back home.
The next morning, since my mom still had some of his stuff (tv, radio) in her room. We had all the windows closed, and he came demanding his stuff back as he was outside of our home. We all had something in our hands - one sister with a baseball bat, and I had a tennis racket. He was right by the door. He got so furious, he broke the window by the door, and we really got scared. I ran back to my room and climbed through the window at the back of the house. I was outside listening to his conversation with my mom. I was outside waiting. I was peeking at the window and waited for him to leave. He finally got his stuff from my mom and then he left.

I remember also working graveyard shift (1987) in Long Beach at the Naval shipyard at the Commissary through a program I was in after graduating from Bellflower High School in 1983. I was Special Ed most of my life - mild retardation - because of everything that I went through, including speech classes and my stuttering. That program helped me to get a job. One night, our job started at 10pm and over at 6am in the morning, and I didn't have the car at the time, so I took the bus to get to work. I was walking down Butler to Alondra, and then to Long Beach Blvd to get the bus to work. All of a sudden as I was walking (1985 or 86), and two black guys came up behind me with guns. But I didn't see the weapon, but it felt like a gun in my back. They literally said, "Give me your watch ... walkman ... necklace ... wallet."
"Go ahead and take it!" They jerked the necklace off my neck. One other guy says, "Should I kill him."
"As long as the cop isn't around." But they did let me go.
I came home and told my mom about the story. I told her that I need to find another job. She got really scared. I told my boss that I had to quit. Later on about 1986, I got another job at Taco Bell. So one day in 1987 I moved to my grandfather’s house. He was a minister of a church called Missionary Baptist Church in the city of Compton. Later on he asked me, do you want to get saved? And I said yes! I’m so tired of the way I am living my life. So I went there to get ready to get Baptize and saved. I remember they were praying for me and then getting Baptize in the pool inside the church. But I don’t recall accepting Jesus as personal savior in my heart. So all this time up to 1998, I thought I was saved. But I wasn’t saved. So God knew I needed Him. So my salvation came at the time in August 30, 1998, me and my wife went to the Harvest Crusade in Anaheim, CA. at the Edison Stadium. We were the Follow-up counselors for the Harvest Crusade. It was a great turn-out. The whole stadium was packed. So Greg Laurie started a alter call telling the people, if you want eternal life with Jesus, come down on this field! So my wife and I along with the people started coming on to the field. Once we were on the field, Greg started talking about the sinner’s prayer and we started to pray. I started asking the Lord I’m am a sinner please come into my heart and cleanse and save me. Shape me to be more like you so I started to weep and really started to feel this over whelming of joy of the Lord in me. So I was going around the field saying, I feel a big anointing on this field, I never felt this way before. And now I know I accepted Jesus is my personal savior. Later on in August 26, 2001, my wife and I got baptized together at a park in Bellflower, CA with our church congregation. And the Lord started opening lots of doors for us to have an opportunity to minister to others. So now we are filled with the holy spirit of the Lord.


Describe your Christian walk today? How do you keep close to God? What are your church or ministry responsibilities?

Throughout the years I have participated in many varied roles/projects, such as; video person, helper for Lifeguard Food Ministry, piano player, singer, leader of praise & worship, etc. Loving our neighbors and being there for them in need. Of course, reading the Word, prayer, attending church, and fellowship with other Christians are a solid base. As the Word says, 'line upon line, precept upon precept', I feel especially since becoming Spirit-filled in '98 growth has occurred for spiritual warfare, listening to the Holy Spirit, and increased revelation/knowledge of the power of God.

Do you have favorite verses, Bible passages or biblical characters? What impact have they made on you?

My favorite bible passages are 1 Samuel 17 through 2 Samuel 24. I admire David because he put up a good fight. He knew the Holy Spirit was with him and God offered him anything he wanted he chose wisdom to lead God's people. Also, God's presence and protection, yet point to a better future and hope to come. I can stand on the promises of God!

What kind of personal & spiritual goals do you have? Where do you see yourself in the next year? In 5 years?

To be the example of Jesus! To grow in the fruits of His Holy Spirit and strive toward becoming a light to the world. To stir up the gifts/callings God placed in me. To fulfill His love and wisdom spoken over me and run the race with diligence and wisdom. I want to participate in professional band to share God’s love through music around the globe. I want to serve God with my whole heart. My goal is to reach people for Christ.

How would you describe your appearance? (ie physique, distinguishing features, fashion, etc.)

I’m 5'7", medium build with brown eyes and black hair. Sometimes my hair is curly. I also ware glasses. I am healthy and fit. I like to dress casual or dressy (whatever the situation calls for).
What is your personality like? What are your character traits? (ie funny, serious, laid back, orderly, etc.)

I’m converse easily with most people with a combination of talker/listener. I am outgoing, like to be around people, try new things, and travel. This has made me more adaptable and flexible with people and situations/environments. Most people say I smile and laugh act funny a lot and I have an accent like I’m from the Islands. Integrity, humor, loving and caring.

What forms of entertainment do you enjoy? What are your favorite movies, actors, music, T.V. shows, etc.

I like different types of music (Christian praise & worship, rock, pop, classical and all types of music). Enjoy plays, concerts, movies. Mostly like comedy and action. Such as (movies): like Twister and any type of weather movies, Talking Animals movies like, Babe, Dogs and Cats, etc, Forrest Gump, Space movies like Asteroids, Star Wars, etc, and Christian movies like Left Behind and others.

What are your interests, hobbies & activities? Are you involved in any clubs or organizations?

My hobbies are studying weather, playing the piano, bike riding, traveling, learning more about computers, shooting weather videos with my camcorder and taking weather photos with my digital camera, and video games.

How do you spend your day? What is your job? What are your family responsibilities?

I always first start my day in prayer and in God’s Word. Everyday is a new challenge for me. God closes and open new doors each time in our lives, even we thought certain door is going to open. We don’t know which door God will open. Especially, the last year since I have become a professional keyboard player a first time ever in a professional band. This is an exciting opportunity to work and witness across the USA and the world though our music. We play Christian and positive music to help our community. And of course, I do spend my rest time with the Lord on break or at home. When I’m at home I spend time with my wife being a Godly husband. When we have a chance we go to append times with our families and friends.

Describe how life was growing up. Where did you live? How was your family life? What schools/colleges did you attend?

There were many challenges and difficulties growing up. Perhaps, that's why I came to the Lord. It’s a very long testimony to share on this site. But if you really want to know my life testimony, e-mail me lets get to know each other for a while and then we can exchange phone numbers then maybe I will tell you over the phone. All in all, these experiences have made me who I am today, and may be used as a testimony to others. I have lived mostly in LA County California. I went to Perry Junior High School and Gardena High School in Gardena, CA. Graduated in Bellflower High School and took a course in computers in Cerritos Collage in Norwalk, CA

What kind of relationship are you looking for? What character traits are you looking for? What would be your ideal place to meet?

Me and my wife is looking for a Christian married couple friend that have no kids that is a weather enthusiasts that’s love storms like we do. Hopefully they live near us near LA or Orange Counties. Especially tornado chasing. My wife love tornados, lightening and lots of rain. She would like to use this as a witness of God’s creation. We also want this couple to be an on-fire, Spirit-filled Christians as well.

Anything else you would like to add? Any last words?

Matthew 5:13 Believers Are Salt and Light.
You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put is under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Be an example to others! God Bless... The Williams Worship