Taken from here



Ex-Satanist finds God

Pastor to share unique story during visit to Lapeer church

By JENNIFER DECKER
Staff Reporter

LAPEER -- A demonstrator of the healing power of God and an ex-Satanist, the Rev. Tracy Stewart of Sword and Shield Ministries will bring her message to Faith Christian Family Church March 13-16.
Advertisement

Stewart, comes to Lapeer from South Carolina, where she pastors with her husband, James, at Destiny Praise Center in Sumter.

Tracy is known for inspiring passion in people in reaching across all barriers of age, gender, race, denomination, and economic status.

She has ministered with Oral Roberts, and Benny Hinn. Her ministry extends across the United States and through Canada and Mexico where she demonstrates the healing power of God.

But it hasn't always been that way for her. Tracy had her own demons to overcome. She is one of six children who were raised by an alcoholic mother and abandoned by a father.

"Her background was so painful and comes with baggage," Tracy said. "Mom was in a mental institution and started crying out to God and was impacted strongly by the power of the Lord. I had been on drugs and alcohol and could not deny that my mom had (triumphed). She went from being a monster to a whole person."

Around that time, Tracy became involved in a coven of witches for about 18 months.

J"I didn't believe in anything. I had a perverted image of God -- that He was in pain," she said. "I was drawn in. They believed there was more to life than pain. They made me believe in myself. Christians never came to my house. I was 14.

"The whole idea was I went through ceremonies and gave my life to Satan. They did animal offerings. You're drawn in. It was cultish, but it wasn't about Satan being evil."

Tracy recalled that time of her life by telephone from South Carolina and said she's not surprised she survived. "I wasn't anymore lost than someone who doesn't know Jesus. I was looking for something. I found love in the coven and value. These people were extremely sincere," she said. "When I received Jesus -- that was the first time I felt clean as a little girl...He's a good God and I didn't know it. I promise you I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't found God."

Shortly after that, her mother left the mental institution having found God. Tracy went to live with her, along with some drug-addicted friends who had been touched by the Lord. It was then that Tracy also found God.

"These kids were so involved with God. We were set free from addiction," she said.

Stewart will minister at Faith Christian at 8 p.m. March 13 for ages 18 to 30; 6 p.m. March 14; 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 15; and 7 p.m. March 16. Free will offerings will be received for her at each service.

This will be Stewart's sixth or seventh time at Faith Christian.

"I go out into the community and people wonder when Tracy's coming again," said Faith Christian's co-pastor Diana Menzing. "She's very funny. You will laugh so hard you'll be crying because God is touching you so deeply. One thing is she's non-denominational."

For more information, call (810) 667-0075.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com