Robert Thomas’s testimony is one of resilience and real faith. Recently, he celebrated his 60th birthday, surrounded by family and friends, but what resonated with those in attendance and with those who have been touched by his story was how God reached him, restored his faith, and retells His glory through him. After almost losing his life 30 years ago, due to drug-related violence, celebrating 60 brings gratitude and reflection.

As he looks back on the man he was at 30, Mr Thomas sees the contrast more clearly now that he has turned 60. Time and grace have given him perspective on who he was, what he has endured, and how life looks from this new season.

It’s a quiet kind of reflection, marked not by regret but by gratitude for the lessons that shaped him along the way. He said: “It is night and day — straight like that. At 29, I was living in a crack house. My diet was cocaine. I was robbing people, selling ‘wammy’ — that was my life.”

Mr Thomas continued: “My life today is what God promised me. He gave me this scripture, Jeremiah 29:11 — ‘I know the plans I have for you.’

“When I heard that, it confirmed everything. I remember I went to a ministry called His House, and all they had was Jesus. They told me, ‘Robert, all we have is Jesus.’ And that’s when I made the decision — I chose to live for Jesus.”

Looking back three decades later, Mr Thomas shares what that moment means to him now, and what kept him sustained and anchored in that decision. “What has kept me all these years is that I stopped just reading the Word — I started doing the Word. My faith grew when I began applying it to my life.”

The same faith that reshaped his life would soon be tested beyond what he could imagine. As Mr Thomas recounted the days he endured two back-to-back strokes, his eyes welled with tears — not from pain, but from the miracle that carried him through.

“Two years ago, I had two strokes — early in the morning, around 2 or 3, while preparing newspapers for delivery,” he said. “However, I was healed by the Word of God. I said, ‘Thank you, Lord, that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Thank you, Lord, that greater is He that is in me than he that’s in the world. Thank you, Lord, that by Jesus’s stripes I am healed.”

He continued: “And when I spoke that, He gave me a song. I started singing, To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God — honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen. I just kept singing that song. My faith is in the Word, my hope is in Jesus. My Advil is Jesus. Once I spoke God’s Word over that situation, I knew I was straight. He said, ‘Worship Me’ and that’s what I did.

“I wasn’t healed right away, but the Word was already spoken — so I just kept doing what I had to do.”

While out on his motorcycle delivering newspapers, Mr Thomas suffered his second stroke when he got involved in a single-vehicle crash.

“When I got back to my bike, God gave me another song — it came straight out of Psalm 24, the last few verses. As I was singing that song, I was weeping, but it was a victory. I came off that hill in victory — that was my second stroke right there — but victory was mine coming off that hill, hallelujah, because the King of Glory came in. Amen. That was a powerful moment in my life.”

With two significant life-threatening situations within the span of 30 years, Mr Thomas understands the significance of living life and sharing what fuels his life. He shares his wisdom from life experiences with his two sons and many men whom he ministers to through daily life and prison ministries.

When asked how his struggles shape the way he mentors his sons, Mr Thomas shared: “That one was interesting — my wife had to help me there. I was using my mama’s script, and it wasn’t the sharpest. I had boys, and in my mind boys had to be strong and hard. I didn’t want anybody bullying my sons. But God showed me I needed to deal with them in love. So I gave them back to God. I said, ‘Lord, these are Your sons.’

“I dedicated both of them to Him — laid them at His feet and His altar, that He would have His way with their lives. I pray for them every day that He meets all their needs according to His riches and glory. And now, we’ve got a good relationship. Thank God.”

With one of his sons also in ministry, Mr Thomas’s testimony not only touched the men he produced but also the men he has encountered.

When asked how his approach to ministry has evolved from when he first surrendered to God 30 years ago until now, Mr Thomas said: “I like to give back to where I came from — that’s important to me. I just share with people what God has done for me. The Word says, ‘We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.’ That’s what I have — a testimony — and I have to share it because a lot of my guys are gone.”

He added: “I share the Word of God because where I was to where I am now, it opens people’s eyes. That’s what God told me to do — share Him. I remember from Sunday school, the song Go Tell It on the Mountain, Over the Hills and Everywhere. That’s what I’m doing now — telling the world that Jesus Christ is born, that He is Lord. I have to do that.”

As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Mr Thomas what legacy he hopes to leave behind — not just for his sons or those in ministry, but for the men and community he has long served. His response carried the same sincerity and conviction that have marked his journey of faith.

“God said, ‘Let your light shine before men.’ And that’s not happening enough today. People need to see those who came from hopeless situations rise in the name of Jesus. They need to see people who can speak the Word of God.”

He continued: “My encouragement to Bermuda is this — a man once told me, ‘Always look towards the light so your shadows fall behind you.’ Be not just a hearer of the Word, but also a doer, and be true to yourself.

“I used to lie to myself. I had to learn to look in the mirror. A lot of us need to do that — look in the mirror and admit, ‘This isn’t working.’ That’s where change starts. I had to seek the Lord to straighten me out.

“Whatever you need, start by being honest with yourself. Tell yourself, ‘It’s not working — I’ve got to make a change.’ Change begins with you. Nobody can change you but you — well, God can change you, but you’ve got to want it. I learnt that through experience. Be honest with yourself and God will handle the rest.”