Joel's Testimony
Joel Trimble grew up on Canandaigua Lake in western New York State. Life with his adopted parents was idyllic until they assumed the management of a hotel. Joel's parents left him to live and finish the school year alone while they moved to manage the Naples Hotel.
Abandoned and on his own, young Joel left home to hitchhike around the US. Joel's traveling turned to running from the police as he became involved with bad friends.
One night Joel, high on LSD and caught in a torrential downpour, cried out to God. The next day Joel tried to hitchhike to Colorado. Still high he was on the wrong road; or so he thought.
On I-75 between Toledo and Detroit the lost hippie was a sorry sight - shoeless and soaking wet. A Volkswagen pulled off the road and Joel got in. The three people in the car shone with Christ's love. Joel was amazed at their smiles. They asked Joel, "Did you know that Jesus loves you? Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart? "
John, Suzie, and Carol led Joel in a sinners prayer. God's presence filled the car. When Joel shut his eyes to pray he was hallucinating from the drugs when he opened his eyes he was completely straight! Jesus Christ healed him as he asked for forgiveness. Joel's new life in Christ began at that momen.
Joel spent the summer in Detroit with his new Christian friends. When he returned to NY he turned himself in to police for things he had done before he was saved. He served some time in jail and a youthful offender facility. Upon his release Joel hitchhiked to Florida and slept on the Fort Lauderdale beach. Again Joel was picked up hitchhiking by a Christian. This time he found a home in a Christian rehab and bible school program. There Joel spent eighteen months studying the Bible and preparing for ministry.
World Ministry Outreach had a small mission in Port au Prince Haiti. When the mission motorcycle needed repair Joel went to Haiti for a two week visit to repair it. While there Joel was sharing his testimony of Christ's transforming love in his life. God spoke to him, "The way I changed you I will change Haitian lives through you."
Not long after that the World Ministry Outreach mission in Haiti disbanded. Joel returned on his own and lived in mud huts for two years in L'Estere in the La Tibonite river valley and San Rafael in the Plateau Central. During that time Joel contracted typhoid and hepatitis and almost died. Today Joel Trimble produces Haiti's most popular TV show with 2 million viewers daily. Not one word of all His promises has failed!
