Therence Louis, from Dope Dealer to Saved
Thus
far this has to be my favorite interview because he is someone dear to
me. I got a chance to sit down with my not so little brother for his
first official interview, I say first because I know it won't be his
last. This interview hit me hard because as his big sister, sleeping in
the room next door to him, I never noticed the depth of his pain. I
watched him struggle emotionally, physically and spiritually and to
watch him flourish into this man of God is truly a blessing. The one
that people doubted because of his outer appearance or lack of decision,
your neighborhood dope dealer and "pot-head," God still saw him worthy
enough to do His works. Therence's testimony just goes to show that God
isn't looking for perfect people, He isn't looking for someone who isn't
without sin to do His works. We were already predestined, despite our
choices, despite how far we walk away from Him, He still wants us. He
still knows our name. Wow, how beautiful is that? I felt like his
testimony needed to be heard because he came out of a path that not
everyone gets to come out of.
Therence: In
high school, I backslid from church and got introduced to weed and
started smoking, I also got introduced to girls. I started dating a girl
when I was 15 years old and the same year that I was about to turn 17,
she got pregnant and had an abortion without me knowing. Emotionally
that traumatized me and I just didn't really care about love anymore or
trusted anyone. That's when I went into the streets full throttle
because I just didn't care anymore. I had a small job but I was still
hustling at the same time. At a point, I was making more money hustling
and I eventually got fired from my job, so I just started hustling full
time. I was dealing from the age of 16 to 22.
Therence: In 2015, my homeboy died in a car accident. I kept getting into situations in the streets; almost getting arrested, getting into car accidents back to back but, it's like God was protecting me. Two of my homeboys got shot and right before they got shot I was there with them but, it's like something told me to leave and shortly after I found out that they got shot. I was getting high every single day and it was just getting really tiring, every day it was the same thing over and over. I knew the change had to come within me and I had to make that decision myself first.
On how he stepped back into the church
Therence: I had a dream one night that you asked me to go to church with you and we were in the car on our way to church. The next morning you texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to this youth service that Christian Life Center was having. Just like the dream I had the night before, we were in the car going to church. I went there and one of the youth leaders took me in spiritually.
I remember this day so vividly; I was at work and the Holy Spirit said to me, "ask him to go with you." I said to myself, "he's just going to say no like he always does but okay." Surprisingly he said, "okay." After that, I remember sending him a long text about how he's not "cursed" and that he just needs to stand firm in prayer because under God's umbrella the enemy cannot touch us. Lord, thank you for using me to bring your son back to You but even more so, thank you for putting it in his heart to say, "yes."
August of 2017, Therence decided to give his life to Christ and got baptized. He goes on to explain how that was a personal decision that he knew he had to make in order to get right with God. He further explains that he felt like God was calling him down this path because he was having prophetic dreams and visions. I asked him does he ever feel like he made this commitment too young or like he's not ready for this and how he pushes through those feelings?
Therence: I
still feel like that. Especially when you see all of your peers living
life wild and they're living life how they want to but, everything is
still good for them and it's like us, we're just over here struggling
with life. You know, I tell God sometimes, "dang, I'm tryna do good by
you. There are people out there that don't even believe in You but,
everything is good for them." I just surround myself with people that
are also believers so when I start to feel like that, I can call a
brother or a sister and they'll pray with me.
L.J: Where did Shalom Avion come from and what is it?
Therence: My mom convinced me to go to Haiti with her and we went to this church called, Shalom and on our way there in the airplane, the word "avion" came to me and avyon in Creole means "airplane." So, that's where that came from and I just kept it. The meaning behind the logo is spiritual; the bison represents the old testament where we had to give animal sacrifices to cover our sins. The fish with the hands represents the new testament where Jesus Christ died for our sins, He is the eternal sacrifice. So, Shalom Avion is more than a clothing line, it's a brand.
On why he chose a clothing line and where he wants to go with it
Therence:
I already had the vision of starting a brand but, what made me take the
leap of faith was one day at Encounter, I told God, "I'm here, tell me
what you want me to do." After we walked out of the group prayer, this
elderly lady walked up to me and said, "well, what's your story? The
best-dressed fella in the room." I told her, "wow, that's crazy that you
said that because I was thinking of starting something," and she said,
"well, I don't know you but you look very color coordinated and I think
you can do it." So for me, that was God using her to push me to start a
clothing line. I eventually want to go to third world countries and feed
and cloth the needy because this isn't mine, this is all God's, for me,
this is my way of giving back to Him.
L.J: What advice would you give to someone that feels lost and doesn't feel like God can use them?
Therence: At the end of the day know your intentions because God knows your heart. Don't go too hard on yourself and don't think that you're not good enough for God because if you go through the Bible, Paul before he was Saul, used to kill Christians and God still used him. So, God is really just looking at your heart.
I believe that we must pour into the young people that are doing something positive so that they won't go back to the lifestyle that they are comfortable with. You can support a young entrepreneur and shop at Shalom Avion through here: https://shalomavion.com/
L.J: Take me back to the life that you came from. How did you get there?
L.J: What was that pivotal point in your life where you told yourself, "I can't continue living this life?"
Therence: In 2015, my homeboy died in a car accident. I kept getting into situations in the streets; almost getting arrested, getting into car accidents back to back but, it's like God was protecting me. Two of my homeboys got shot and right before they got shot I was there with them but, it's like something told me to leave and shortly after I found out that they got shot. I was getting high every single day and it was just getting really tiring, every day it was the same thing over and over. I knew the change had to come within me and I had to make that decision myself first.
On how he stepped back into the church
Therence: I had a dream one night that you asked me to go to church with you and we were in the car on our way to church. The next morning you texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to this youth service that Christian Life Center was having. Just like the dream I had the night before, we were in the car going to church. I went there and one of the youth leaders took me in spiritually.
I remember this day so vividly; I was at work and the Holy Spirit said to me, "ask him to go with you." I said to myself, "he's just going to say no like he always does but okay." Surprisingly he said, "okay." After that, I remember sending him a long text about how he's not "cursed" and that he just needs to stand firm in prayer because under God's umbrella the enemy cannot touch us. Lord, thank you for using me to bring your son back to You but even more so, thank you for putting it in his heart to say, "yes."
August of 2017, Therence decided to give his life to Christ and got baptized. He goes on to explain how that was a personal decision that he knew he had to make in order to get right with God. He further explains that he felt like God was calling him down this path because he was having prophetic dreams and visions. I asked him does he ever feel like he made this commitment too young or like he's not ready for this and how he pushes through those feelings?
Therence: I
still feel like that. Especially when you see all of your peers living
life wild and they're living life how they want to but, everything is
still good for them and it's like us, we're just over here struggling
with life. You know, I tell God sometimes, "dang, I'm tryna do good by
you. There are people out there that don't even believe in You but,
everything is good for them." I just surround myself with people that
are also believers so when I start to feel like that, I can call a
brother or a sister and they'll pray with me.
L.J: Do you ever look back sometimes or miss the life you were used to?
Therence: I
do sometimes, 'cause like I said, I was very comfortable back then.
Versus now, I'm uncomfortable and I'm living in the unknown. I was
living in the unknown before but, now I'm just walking by faith. So,
yeah sometimes I do look back but I know what that life comes with so I
just have to trust God and the plans that He has for me.
L.J: Where did Shalom Avion come from and what is it?
Therence: My mom convinced me to go to Haiti with her and we went to this church called, Shalom and on our way there in the airplane, the word "avion" came to me and avyon in Creole means "airplane." So, that's where that came from and I just kept it. The meaning behind the logo is spiritual; the bison represents the old testament where we had to give animal sacrifices to cover our sins. The fish with the hands represents the new testament where Jesus Christ died for our sins, He is the eternal sacrifice. So, Shalom Avion is more than a clothing line, it's a brand.
On why he chose a clothing line and where he wants to go with it
L.J: What advice would you give to someone that feels lost and doesn't feel like God can use them?
Therence: At the end of the day know your intentions because God knows your heart. Don't go too hard on yourself and don't think that you're not good enough for God because if you go through the Bible, Paul before he was Saul, used to kill Christians and God still used him. So, God is really just looking at your heart.
I believe that we must pour into the young people that are doing something positive so that they won't go back to the lifestyle that they are comfortable with. You can support a young entrepreneur and shop at Shalom Avion through here: https://shalomavion.com/
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