My Testimony

My name is Joe Hildebrandt Sr. and I am the oldest of 9 children, my Dad was a Catholic Deacon and my Mom was a Eucharistic minister as well as a Sunday school teacher. I was educated in Catholic schools all but for my senior year in high school, so as you can imagine, growing up in our house, we had constant exposure to God.

Up until the time I was 16 years old, my dream was to be a Franciscan Priest, I felt that was a good way to honor God, and not have to deal with the daily grind of a "regular" job. However, like most guys my mind started to turn to the fairer sex and I was crazy for girls, I couldn’t get them out of mind.

At age 17,  I enlisted in the Air Force and entered the service in July of 1981, I had a great time and met some really wonderful people from all over the world. During my time in the service, I forgot about God and was totally into having "fun". In 1984 I was sent to Germany where  "wine, women, and song" ruled my life. There was nothing I wouldn’t do in the name of "fun", my hobby was "trouble" and I lived on the edge, feeling invincible and having everything I ever wanted, life was good!

When I returned home after the service in 1986, I was spending much of my time with my best buddy Rick, and his wife, I was lost when they moved to Florida, but quickly resumed drowning myself in a sea of beer each day, smoking 3 packs of cigarettes, and stealing anything that was in my grasp. I soon started selling the stolen goods, never ever feeling any remorse. I was Robin Hood, or so I thought.

In 1993 I got married to a nice girl because everyone thought that I should, I soon found myself in despair raising 2 kids who were not mine, and so I planned to leave my marriage, but in 1995 I was told that I had a baby on the way. Being so selfish, I was not happy about this, and was resolved to a life that was nothing like I had planned.

In 1996 I was a Dad to my little JoJo who seemed to progress slowly, at the time he was 1 year old I gave up smoking and drinking, feeling that I had to start being responsible to him and my family. We then moved up to Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, and that is where a friend kept telling me to join her at church. After many requests, I finally decided I would go and my life has never been the same. That August morning I surrendered to Jesus and gave him my heart. My sons were saved as well!

My Dad was so happy and I gave him tapes of the services  which blessed him a lot, during this time, little JoJo was diagnosed as being mildly retarded, and my wife left me with the 3 boys, I kept the faith and turned to God who met my every need and we have been so blessed. My best pal Rick came up from Florida and took me to a Promise Keepers conference, and at that time we discussed his ministry, and at that conference, this ministry was started.

I teamed up with Rev. Marty Grifone and joined his ministry as well, Crossover Anytime ministries is a  dynamic ministry that has helped me to advance in my faith, as well as boldness as an evangelist. I have been on radio as well as TV numerous times witnessing about the Good News and was ordained as a Minister through the International Rescue Missions.

The road has not been easy, the god of this world has been trying to beat me and throw things in my path, trying to get me back, but God has been so good, I had the boldness to ask my Dad if he was "saved" on New Years Eve Day, 2001. He reassured me that things were good between himself and God, and that he in fact gave his heart to Jesus many years back.  32 days after that call, my Dad was with Jesus, I thank God for the boldness to ask my Dad if he was saved, and it is with that same boldness, I now ask you, are things right between you and God, if you died tonight, do you have that same reassurance that my Dad had, if not you need to repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

Satan knows his days are short, and he is pulling out all the stops, there is no way he can ever beat Jesus Christ so he will do the next best thing, keep you away from knowing the love of Jesus and the salvation that His blood has bought for you.  Turn from your sin at once, and begin to experience the love and peace that only comes from this relationship with Jesus Christ. I am so glad that I did, and I know you will as well!

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