Local book “Secret Life of a Fool” spurs testimony mail

By Andrew Palau,
Luis Palau Minstries
Beaverton, OregonJust over a year ago, The Secret Life of a Fool, Andrew Palau’s gripping testimony, was released. In this short time, we’ve been so blessed to hear so many stories of how this book has touched lives with the compelling, redeeming love of Christ. Here are just a few:

Clara*

My name is Clara. I’m 26 years old, and even though I grew up in church I never really applied it to my life. I had no fear of the Lord and did whatever I wanted. I eventually fell into the trap of the enemy and became addicted to the party life. I did go to church and believed I was a Christian, but my weekends were spent getting drunk and partying. Eventually I began to use cocaine. I felt it was harder and harder to walk away from all that. I began to feel convicted, but my desire to do drugs was always stronger. I didn’t believe I would ever get in trouble with the law or even lose my life for living so recklessly.

One morning on my way to work, I heard Andrew Palau share his testimony on KKLA. He talked about his book, and I knew I had to buy it. I read it cover-to-cover and learned God has mercy on all of us no matter how far we’ve walked away from Him. I realized I was choosing to live a destructive life, and God wasn’t always going to bail me out. I begged Him for forgiveness and asked Him from the bottom of my heart to break these chains of addiction that bound me. From one day to the next, God got rid of my desire to drink and snort coke. I moved back in with my parents and began working for my church. I said goodbye to 98% of my friends since they fueled my bad habits. Now I couldn’t be happier. My life is truly exciting. Every day is a new day with God. I got baptized this July, and I really feel like a new creation.

The Secret Life of a Fool was like reading about my life. And I am very grateful for it. Thank you, Andrew Palau, for sharing your testimony. I hope many other lives are changed through it.

Kris*

[Kris was serving a five-year sentence in an Iowa prison when he committed his life to Christ. In a letter to Andrew Palau, he shared the story of how a bad decision to smoke marijuana landed him back in jail just five days before he was to graduate from a treatment program and gain parole…]

So here I am back in prison, full of anger and frustration, waiting to serve out my sentence. When I got back into the real world, I let my prayer life dwindle. I set my Bible aside and a void began to form once again. A void that allowed the devil to seek out the doubt in my faith and strike me with the temptation my mortal heart desired. I have just come to this conclusion while reading your book, The Secret Life of a Fool. I picked it up this morning, and I am now on page 125. I got through the fifth paragraph of the section “My Rubbish Faith”, set down the book, and began writing this letter. I don’t really know why, but that’s what I suddenly felt compelled to do.

This paragraph that I just mentioned marked the fourth time I set down the book for a minute because I almost felt like I was reading my own story. I feel much less alone hearing your story and your struggle with the faith. The inspiration and hope I feel while reading this book provides me fellowship while I’m alone and encouragement when I need it the most. I’ve read many stories of faith from many inspirational men, but I was able to relate to yours like none I’ve read before.

Shannon and Dan*

Last Easter your Dad, Luis, spoke at our church. We got our son, Alex*, to come with us to the service.  During the alter call, Alex raised his hand. He was raised in a Christian home but had strayed from the Lord and chose to go back to life on the streets after that service.

Next came the service in June when you spoke. My husband and I were broken after many years of pain regarding our son. We stayed after the service to have you autograph a copy of your book The Secret Life of a Fool. You didn’t know it, but we could barely speak, we were so broken by pain. You took the time to pray with us and signed our Alex’s book with a scripture and a message from you.
The very next day, Alex called me and asked if he could come home. He left the drug lifestyle behind. God allowed me and my husband to restore a strained relationship with our son. We would take daily walks and talk about God. He has graduated from the first three-month program and is doing awesome! He is studying God’s Word, and we can tell he is a changed person. Praise the Lord!

We are so grateful to you and your ministry. Your transparency really helped us as parents too. Alex took your book with him, and he’s read it a couple of times now.  After praying with us, you asked us to let you know when the praise report came. You said, “Let it be sooner rather than later” in your prayer. God answered our prayers, and He used you in a mighty way to bring that all about. You will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you for your faithfulness to God. Love and blessings.

 

*These individuals’ names have been changed to protect their privacy. The content of these letters has been edited for length.