If Ed could narrow his struggles down, they would be anger and feeling unworthy to be called a son of God.
For much of his life, anger simmered beneath the surface. He buried emotions instead of expressing them. He tried to handle everything alone. Over time, those buried feelings festered.
Alongside anger came shame over past decisions. When those thoughts surface, he describes it as allowing the enemy to whisper, “You’re not worthy. Look what you’ve done.” It is a daily battle that he now consistently brings to the Lord.
Ed was saved at 16, but after a decision that led to a 20 year prison sentence, he truly began to understand how present God had always been.
Prison gave him time. He read through the entire Bible at least twice. During that season, God exposed selfishness in his heart and began reshaping him from the inside out.
He survived a severe factory accident at age 20 that nearly cost him part of his leg. Years later, he survived a double brain aneurysm while incarcerated. Doctors told him most people either die or live with permanent disabilities. He experienced neither.
He believes God still has work for him to do.
The day after his release in November 2020, he walked into First Christian Church on a Celebrate Recovery night. He found acceptance, accountability, and a church home.
Principle 1 of Celebrate Recovery became foundational: Realize I’m not God. Admit I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.
For a man raised to rely only on himself, surrendering control was not easy. But it changed everything.
Today, Ed serves without expecting anything in return. He trusts God with his anger, his finances, and his future. His message to newcomers is simple:
Don’t give up. Trust God. Keep coming back.