"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was 
bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our 
peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are 
healed". (Isaiah 53:5)   

I RECEIVED A HEALING MIRACLE FROM JESUS CHRIST

MY DAD WAS A POWERFUL SHAMAN MEDICINE MAN - OUR FAMILY WAS SURROUNDED BY EVIL SPIRITS

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always believed in God and His Son, Jesus. I thank my mother Emelia Auger, and her brother, Ben Auger, for this Godly heritage. My dad, on the other hand, was a different story. My dad’s name was Albert Auger and he was a very powerful Shaman or medicine man.

I still remember a ceremony he performed when I was just ten. Hunting had been bad around our village so this ceremony was performed to remedy the hunting problem.

MY DAD A SHAMAN MEDICINE MAN WOULD CALL THE EVIL SPIRITS - I WAS ALWAYS FULL OF FEAR

He put a ceremonial rattle on the floor after turning out all the lights in our cabin. Singing in the deep baritone of the Woodland Cree, he began to call the spirits of animals and our ancestors.

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 explains about this type of ceremony. The ancient people of Biblical times had the same type of religions as we native American people. (Look at the ancient Egyptians for example). That is why God warned His people, the ancient Israelis, to not have anything to do with these types of ceremonies. The ancient European druids were also a Shaman type of religion. Europe exploded with prosperity and knowledge with the introduction of Christianity. NJV Matthew 11:15, “He who has ears, let him hear”. Getting back to my life story.

I HEARD MANIFESTATIONS OF ANIMAL SPIRITS ALL AROUND ME - I WAS SURROUNDED WITH EVIL SPIRITS

That night in dad’s cabin I heard manifestations of animal spirits all around me. I heard bears, wolves and animals of all kinds. I even heard a horse stamping its feet in front of me. (My dad’s familiar spirit was a white horse, by the way). I also heard the ceremonial rattle bouncing off the four corners of our house, faster and faster.

Eventually the rattle somehow squeezed through the ventilation hole of our wood burning stove and shot up the stovepipe. The sound of it faded as it flew off into parts unknown. After awhile the rattle returned the same way it left. It rattled furiously as it spoke to my dad. My dad kept saying “Yes, yes” in acknowledgement as the rattle spoke to him.

I HAD TREMENDOUS FEAR EARLY IN LIFE FROM THESE EVIL SPIRITS THAT CONTROLLED BY FAMILY'S LIFE

I sensed tremendous fear early on in life because of these evil spirits that controlled every aspect of my family’s life. My dad was tormented for years by these evil spirits. We spoke very little of these spirits because of demonic fear. (NIV Mark 5:7 “He shouted at the top of his voice, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the most High God?’ Swear to God that you won’t torture me”!)

My dad moved our family to Calling Lake, AB from Sandy Lake, AB after the death of my grandfather Augustine Auger, who happened to be an even more powerful sorcerer than my daD.

WHEN I BECAME A TEENAGER I WANTED TO LEAVE THE EVIL SPIRITS AND FEAR BEHIND ME

By the time I reached my teens I wanted desperately to leave the old ways and fears behind. I developed an interest in music listening to the music programs I heard on dad’s AM radio. I eventually saved enough to buy myself a guitar. I developed my own unique style of playing and singing.

I started performing at dances and people seemed to enjoy my singing. I then heard of a talent contest at a nearby town, so I signed up never expecting to win, since I would be competing against trained musicians. The audience exploded into thunderous applause and cheers after my performance. 

I won first prize and beat out all those trained musicians. I was flabbergasted. I was always the only native in these contests it seemed and in all the contests, I always won first prize. I even came first in the talent contests in the city. I even got to perform on television. Unheard of for any native in the 60’s.

At this time I began living common law with my girlfriend. Not long afterwards, we had our first child, Fred Matthew. I realized I couldn’t make a living with music, so I started driving trucks. I took my new family into the city of Edmonton, not realizing that this decision would cost me my wife, my children and almost my soul.

I PULLED OUT A FLASK OF WHISKEY AND TOLD MY WIFE "This is my God."  I'VE REGRETTED THOSE WORDS EVER SINCE

My wife and I began partying on the weekends, thinking there was nothing wrong with it. Unfortunately the drinking was tearing my family apart. A dear missionary woman who was teaching my children about Jesus at this time told me I needed God in my life. I pulled a flask of whiskey out of my pocket and told her, “This is my god”. I’ve regretted saying those words ever since.

ALCOHOL ABUSE CAUSED MY CHILDREN TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME

The children were eventually taken away, because of our alcohol abuse and then my precious wife passed away. I became a full blown alcoholic, a wino, I even smoked marijuana, but I didn’t like it much. I sang and played guitar for drinks. The effects of alcohol had blasted my family and my life to pieces.

I LOST EVERY AND FELL IN TOTAL DESPAIR - I LOST MY FAMILY AND MY HOME AND SLEPT IN TRAIN BOX CARS OR BROKEN DOWN VEHICLES

I had lost everything and I was in despair. I spent many years sleeping in boxcars (hence my nickname, Boxcar Eddy), and in old broken down vehicles. Once, while hitchhiking to another town, I came across some native children at a truck stop. I was reminded of my own lost little ones. I asked if their parents would mind if I hitched a ride with them to the next town. The parents agreed and made room for me in the vehicle.

What I didn’t know at the time was that these dear people were Christians, on their way to a revival camp meeting. They invited me to stay with them and attend the camp meeting. 

So I did. The hosting family of the meeting welcomed me and fed me. After supper I listened to the wonderful testimonies, and people told of what Jesus had done in their lives. 

I planned staying only a little while so I could sneak to the local tavern for a night of drinking. By the time I looked at my watch I was amazed it was already 10 PM. But the testimonies and preaching were so interesting that I wanted to stay. So I decided I’d go to the bar just before closing. The music, testimonies and preaching were so lively.

I FELT AN INCREDIBLE PEACE AMONG THE CHRISTIANS THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE

There was an incredible peace among these Christians that I had never seen before, not even at my dad’s Indian ceremonies. I had soon lost all track of time. The next time I checked my watch it was 1 AM, too late to get a drink at the bar. But for the first time in my life, I didn’t care that I didn’t get a drink. God began dealing with me that night.

My children (now teenagers) began drifting back to the village of Calling Lake. The years of foster home living had not been good for my eldest son Fred Matthew. He looked tired and haggard even though he was only sixteen years old. I knew then that I needed to change my lifestyle if I was to be a good role model to him and his five brothers and sisters. I knew that only God, through faith in Jesus, could make that possible.

I began to pray that God would send me a good Christian woman, who never drank, smoked or started fights. Incredibly though, God sent a feisty, drinking, brawler into my life. Dorothy came from a village in Ontario. Despite her problems at the time, she shared the same hunger for a better life through Jesus like I did. 

I BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD NEVER ACCEPT A REPROBATE LIKE ME - I BELIEVED MY PAST SINS WOULD NOT BE FORGIVEN

Unfortunately I had this notion in my head that God would never accept a reprobate like me. I truly believed that all my past sins would prevent me from becoming a Christian. I didn’t think God would want anything to do with me yet I knew in my heart of hearts only Jesus could change me somehow. I believe others are experiencing the same sense of hopelessness as I was.

This is why I’m a great believer in Christians proclaiming their testimonies of Jesus, and what He had done for them. If they would talk about what they did before Jesus found them, it is not exalting Satan, as some of my misguided fellow ministers have implied. Their testimony and the transformation of life through Jesus is in fact, an exaltation of Jesus and the Christ of faith. NIV John 12:32, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself”. So shout your testimony from the housetops and watch the sinners flock to the altar.

Fortunately, God sent an old drinking buddy of mine to point me to the cross. William Beaver, former alcoholic turned man of God, came to my village of Calling Lake. I’d known William for years and I knew he could drink the best of us under the table. But something had happened to William. Jesus saved his life, family and soul. It was then that I realized that if God could do this for brother William, He could do it for me. It was through William’s testimony of his hopelessness, despair and illness because of alcohol and transformation by faith in Jesus Christ, that the Spirit of God began to put hope in my heart for the first time in my life.

WILLIAM TOLD ME THAT JESUS WOULD FORGIVE ALL MY SINS OF THE PAST AND WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN

William explained that Jesus would forgive me all my sins of the past if only I would accept Him into my life. NIV Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well".

I FOUND JESUS AND SUDDENLY I FELT PEACE AND JOY IN MY HEART AND SOUL - I HAD NEVER FELT PEACE AND JOY BEFORE

The hopelessness of alcoholism and the fear of torment of Indian religion hadn’t saved any souls. My new wife, Dorothy, and I came to Jesus January 3, 1979 in the House of Refuge Mission in Edmonton. Peace and joy came into my heart and soul that night. I knew beyond a doubt that Jesus truly forgave me for ALL my past sins. Jesus also saved my children who are grown up now, all except for one. But we believe Eddy Jr. will one day come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as well.

GOD TRANSFORMED MY LIFE AND HE CAN TRANSFORM YOU LIFE TOO

God can transform your life, if you will just let Him into your life. Ask Jesus into your heart and your life where you are right now. He is always listening for the prayers of the lost sinners. Jesus said in John 6:37, “...he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out”. Call on Him today and watch what happens!