My name is Keith, and I greet you in the name of Jesus.  I was asked to furnish my testimony, in the hope that it may encourage someone to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, or to strengthen someone already in the faith.

I have been incarcerated since October of 1989 and have to serve at least two more years.  I first accepted Christ in June of 1985, I didn't take my  commitment seriously enough.  I prayed occasionally and read the  Bible less frequently.

My wife, also a Christian, would ask me once in a while if I prayed lately, or if I was reading the Bible.   I would become angry at her and tell her to leave me alone.  Thinking back, I believe that God was warning me through her, but I didn't heed these warnings.

In the summer of 1988 I attended a series of Tent Revival meetings sponsored by the church that I was attending at the time.  A guest evangelist singled me  out and he said "Don't look back.  Those who look back go back."  Again, I didn't hear the clear warning.  Maybe I wasn't meant to?  Anyhow, I found myself getting arrested because I looked back and went back to my sinful ways.

During my first night at County Jail, as I was locked in my cell and laying on my bunk, I clearly heard these words -"Where are you going to run to now?  There's no more places to hide."  I rededicated my life to Christ that night, and I haven't looked back yet.

I was in County Jail for two months before being sent to State Prison.  During those two months, I read the Bible straight through two and a half times.  God allowed me to bring eight fellow inmates into accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior.

It wasn't over.  While in prison I found a book on forgiveness.  I read it and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me there were people I needed to forgive and people that I needed to seek forgiveness from.

My parents were separated when I was very young and my mother physically and emotionally abused me until I was fourteen.  Subconsciously I developed a deep hatreds for her.  I wrote to her and told her that I forgave her for what she did to me.  I also asked her to forgive me for hating her.  Through the love of God our relationship has never been better.  She is the only one who has not abandoned me during the incarceration.  Everyone else I knew, including my wife and son, are gone.

During this same time I also forgave my father for abandoning me when I needed him the most.  I also sought forgiveness from victims and from family for hurting them through all this misery.  When I was finished I felt pretty good, but then the Holy Spirit told me that I was not yet through, that there was one more person I needed to forgive --  myself.

I have been happy in my walk with Christ, but it has not been a perfect journey.  There have been obstacles, roadblocks and complete washouts, but I have not abandoned my faith.   I've had to  endure persecution, the loss of my wife and son, the abandonment of my so called friends and the deaths of several Christian brothers, but through it all, God is still there.

He will not leave us nor forsake us.  His lamp is always lit and it will guide us through our journey if we will only keep our eyes upon him.  Believe in your faith in Christ.  It is real and no matter what your life may bring you, Jesus is infinitely better and He will see you through.

In closing I would like to ask that you pray for me, as I will pray for you.  I get lonely at times, so I would appreciate some pen pals.  I will answer all letters and maybe help you with any problems that you may be going through.  God bless and may His love be with you always.

Keith Fitzgerald  90T0833
Bare Hill Correctional Facility
Caller Box #20
Cady Road
Malone, NY  12953