John Levendecker of the SOAR AVE MARIA YOUTH CONFERENCE gave our Youth Group a private talk on Friendship with a Drug User and Judgement, sharing with us his amazing personal testimony.
John converted to Catholicism in 1999 after a very prodigal lifestyle. Watching his father die in front of him at 12 years old lead him to search for fulfillment in all the wrong places- drugs, alcohol, unchastity. It is from this place of brokenness that he shared with us what Christ has done in his life. (from avemariayouthconference.org) He was a drug user in his teen and young adult years, almost died, and had a conversion to the Catholic faith. He shared his story of his life, his drug use and his conversion.
Here are some notes of advice from the talk he gave:
- Aristotle stated that a Friend “Wills the good”
- Drugs can’t will my Good
- You Can’t hang out with kids that use drugs
- You Can’t go in a car with kids that use drugs
- They can LIE that they don’t have illegal drugs on them or in their car and then if police stop them, you too will be arrested.
- You Can pray with him, talk with the person on the phone
- You can’t JUDGE a Person’s Heart
- You CAN Judge their ACTIONS
- A person using drugs can’t return a REAL Friendship
- You are Not mature enough to handle people into drugs
- You hang out in a Bar shop, you’re going to get your hair cut
- Married men don’t hang out in a Brothel
- You’re in a pizza shop, you’re going to eat pizza
- These People don’t want help UNTIL “THEY” Want Help
- You Can share HOPE
- You Have to be more discerning
- They have to suffer Consequences
- Be Honest with the Person asking you “Does that kid do drugs?”
- Yes? No, I am NOT going to COVER for You, that’s not a Friend
- In Marriage, Drugs – an impediment for marriage and grounds for an Annulment
