Hidden in a Crack House: A Christian spending many years of chaos, bondage, and fear before manifestation into Sonship

By Robertl L. Shepherd

I knew that I would write this book for many years, but I did not know when I would write it. The Spirit of God touched my heart and started me writing it tonight in May of 2024, I knew it would take great effort and that it would be a hard task for me to write such a book, but the Spirit of God informed me tonight would not, the book would be d

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors' Tranquility Press
• Release date: May 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9781964362403

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INTRODUCTION

I knew that I would write this book for many years, but I did not know when I would write it.

The Spirit of God touched my heart and started me writing it tonight in May of 2024…

I knew it would take great effort and that it would be a hard task for me to write such a book, but the Spirit of God informed me tonight—it would not…

This book would be dictated by HIS Spirit!!!

For many years, I was embarrassed and ashamed, as an ordained Elder preaching the Gospel in the Church, while dipping in sin.

I felt that many Believers knew of my defeated lifestyle but remained silent…

I truly loved God, but I was attempting to perform HIS work by my own power and might.

During this period, Christ led me to write the prophetic book: BY MY SPIRIT.

‘When I desired to do good, evil was always present with me."

I was held captive as a Christian POW, because I didn’t know, being filled with the Spirit; how to submit—and yield to the Holy Ghost within me…

I know that there are other men and women out there who are: HIDDEN IN A CRACK HOUSE.

I pray my testimony in this book will enlighten THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE STRUGGLING in the House of God TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, and who are held captive by the Devil as Prisoners Of War… "be set free to walk in your Holy Calling as Sons and Daughters of the KING—being led and guided solely BY HIS SPIRIT."

CHAPTER ONE

Joining the Pentecostal Temple COGIC Church in Marked Tree, Arkansas in 1982

In the book, (Power Of Love), I recorded how, at age 25, I first encountered the Devil in 1980; while living in South Bend, Indiana.

After serving 4 years in the US Airforce and immediately going home to Marked Tree, Arkansas, spending 3 months with my mother down south—I went to South Bend, Indiana and stayed for 3 Years.

Now I was returning home to Marked Tree—to my mother’s country cooking, motherly advice, and warm, inviting smile…

As a young man, I enjoyed being home daily—pampered by my mother.

But I felt something was missing in my life after I joined Pentecostal Temple Church in Marked Tree, Arkansas, under a young Pastor and his wife, David and Patricia Corns.

My mother used to come and hear her son sing in the men’s choir at the Temple…

I felt proud—but one of the men in the choir would often look at me when I was off-key.

Those were beautiful days; spent at the Pentecostal Temple…

One day, my eyes spotted a young lady at Pentecostal Temple, leading a song in the Women’s Choir.

We spent a lot of time together and fell in love with one another. We became engaged.

She would visit me often, over my mother’s house and I would often visit her mother and family.

It seemed as though we were a match made in Heaven—but it didn’t last…

I remained faithful at the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ…

One Sunday, the Holy Spirit instructed me to cast my eyes to the right; where there was sitting a young lady who had just graduated from Arkansas State University:

It was my future wife, Tammara Taylor Ames.

She would soon become Tammara Shepherd!!!

CHAPTER TWO

Ordained as a Minister in COGIC in 1983

I served faithfully as a member of the Pentecostal Temple.

One day, I approached Pastor David Corns and informed him that God had called me to preach.

God had informed me as a 17-year-old teenager that I would preach the Gospel someday.

But now, as a 26-year-old man, I accepted this calling to preach by informing my Pastor and the Church.

I served faithfully at the Church—cleaning and working in the YPWW and other teaching ministries.

One day, I was on a ladder working on something on the ceiling; and suddenly I fell from the ladder.

I didn’t want to go to the doctor because I knew God could and would heal me—But my Pastor and other Elders coerced me to go.

I went to the Doctor and the Doctor informed me I had fractured some ribs—I took pills and returned to duty; knowing that God is a Healer of fractured ribs.

In 1983, I was appointed a minister in the COGIC Church.

CHAPTER THREE

In 1986, ordained as an Elder in the Marked Tree COGIC Church

I married Tammara Taylor Ames in 1983.

She had come back to her home church; Pentecostal Temple, in Marked Tree, after attending ASU in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

I fell in love with her simplicity, intellect, demeanor, smile, and personality and married her on October 1, 1983.

I was faithful and loyal to her, and she was faithful and devoted to me.

I was working as a Service Tech at Sears in Memphis on Appliances.

She also worked at the Dollar General Store in Marked Tree as the manager after finishing college.

We lived in an old wood house on Railroad Street after two friends (Tommy Burns and Michael Scott) had faithfully and tirelessly helped us clean up and prepare for habitation.

We didn’t have much money, being Newlyweds.

But my wife and I would let visiting preachers come to our home to stay when they visited Pentecostal Temple COGIC.

We always had Bible