Rocky Fondren - Founder & Pastor of Shiloh Ministries

I first give God glory and honor for what He alone has done to save me and deliver me from 23 years of enslavement to drugs. In 1968, at the age of 17 I began using drugs in High School. I was involved with others doing the same and we where labeled the “Psychedelic Generation”. I was raised in a Christian home and was loved by both my parents therefore; I have no excuse for the path that I chose.

I experimented with marijuana, LSD, and barbiturates. In 1971 I was drafted into the U.S. Army. It was an honor to have served my country during those difficult times our country was going through. It was during this time I was introduced to heroin. After finishing my tour (with honor) in the army I spent the next 17 years using alcohol, heroin, and cocaine. I tried 7 different secular drug institutions. I was prescribed Valium and anti-depressants for my mental torment and methadone for my Heroin addiction.

In 1991 I finally surrendered to God by entering Canaan Land Ministries, a one year Christian recovery program in Alabama. It was at Canaan Land that I received Jesus as LORD & Savior. For the first time God’s Word became revelation to me by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He also gave me purpose for life. God spoke to my heart and told me to testify of His love to others enslaved in abusive lifestyles. I graduated from Canaan Land with success.

In 1993 I joined Mercy Ships for three years as an ocean going missionary. I was assigned to work in the engine room. It was a time of refining in my life as the Lord purged out years of bitterness, selfishness, faultfinding, and anger. God used the uncomfortable (the smell of diesel, and seasickness) environment of a ships engine room to develop character and intimacy with Him. I asked God for a Christian wife. I met my wife to be, Debbie the first year with Mercy Ships. God had sent me His best and we were joined in marriage in 1998. There was much more preparation for the both of us.

In 1996 I went on staff at Maranatha Church in Mont Belvieu, Texas. I performed many different jobs at Maranatha Church and proved my loyalty to God in becoming an armor bearer to my pastor. God was training me to be a servant leader. After four years I was released with my pastor’s blessings to pioneer Shiloh Ministries in the year 2000.

My life has been dramatically changed by God’s divine intervention. The LORD has added so many blessings to my life to value and steward. God is love and He is real. Do not miss out on the best gift ever given to mankind, “Jesus Christ” (“the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10). Life is a matter of choices. Choose the abundant life with God or a life of insignificance. God desires to give you joy unspeakable. I praise God for His faithfulness in response to my cry for help.

Debbie Fondren

Coming from a broken home as an eight year old, Debbie knows the effects of what substance abuse, gambling, immorality, and irresponsibility and reckless behavior can do to a family. Searching for significance, Debbie came up empty every time when looking unto man and the World’s System of doing things. Broken relationships, selfishness, people pleasing, and “THE PERFORMANCE TRAP” has all been a part of Debbie’s past personal life. Loss and tragedy in 1992 catapulted her to cry out to God. “DEEP CALLS UNTO DEEP.” Through the horrific devastation and destruction, God answered and took her ash heap of a life and brought her out into an amazing journey of the God Kind of Faith and total Surrender to Jesus as Lord over every detail of her life. A heart for the secret places with God and for His Kingdom to be advanced through Intercession, and Discipleship, She works right alongside her husband, Rocky at Shiloh Ministries and “calls those things that are not as if they are” (Romans 4:17). Debbie is an eye witness on a daily basis to the goodness and the mercy of God. Truly thankful and by God’s Amazing Grace she is living out everyday Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

David Walls Sr. - Teacher & Assistant Director

After being discharged from the Navy in 1969, David pursued a college education in general education and finally in the construction trades for the Petro-Chemical Industry.  After living a very unfulfilled life as well as a reckless lifestyle and trying to raise a family, he realized that without God in his life he was empty.  He had a broken marriage and was living a life of misery.  In 1983 he made the decision to try God one more time and this time to really seek His help.  So in 1984 he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This really turned his life around and for the first time in his life he felt a true purpose for his life.  In 1986 he meet his wife Laura.  They were married in 1987 and have been married for 25 years. They have raised 3 children and have 3 grandchildren.  During their marriage in the early years they desired to pursue an education, this time in Theology.  It was very difficult but the Lord told David very clearly to “Go To School”. David and Laura both attended night schools for almost 5 years until they found Central Christian University. It was here they received a Bachelors’ Degree in Theology and continued their Post Graduate studies in Theology. In 1997 David was privileged to teach for and set up church schools for the University.  He was awarded an honorary doctorate and continued to work for them until the spring of 1998.  This gave David some very valuable experience that he would use later in his ministry. After leaving Central Christian the Lord sent David and Laura on several different assignments, helping Pastors of different churches to set up educational programs for their individual needs.  They continued this until 2000 at which time the Lord told them to take a rest. They did and during that time experienced a family tragedy, which caused David to re-evaluate what God would have him to do.  After several months of prayer and seeking the mind of God, the Holy Spirit sent him to Shiloh Ministries to assist Pastor Rocky and Sister Debbie.  At first David thought God wanted him as a guest speaker for a day or two, but of course that was 11 years ago.  Of all the experiences in his life, David testifies that Shiloh is the most fulfilling of all.  Here David has witnessed the miracles of God.  He has not only seen men restored, but their minds made new by the impartation of God’s healing Word (Ps. 107:20). David has also been used by God to help the men in seeing their families restored. It is here at Shiloh where David’s vast storehouse of knowledge is being used by God to impart revelation of the Word of God to every student. Shiloh Ministries is blessed to have an anointed servant teacher such as David Walls.

Cliff Brast is from Sealy TX. He started using alcohol when he was 12 years old. As Cliff grew older he started experimenting with marijuana. In the early 1980’s Cliff got married and had two sons (Chris and Thomas and a stepdaughter April). He accomplished some rewarding things and had a good job in the oilfield, but this was also the beginning place of his addiction to crystal meth and cocaine. As his life spiraled out of control Cliff began to take inventory of his life, but did not know where to turn. After loosing everything (marriage, children, job & house), he began to seek deliverance from his addictions. He met a man who helped him get into a Christian rehab in Houston. It was a four-month program. He completed it and went through their discipleship program. It was during this time he met his second wife. They were active in attending Church, but Cliff was miserable in trying to mask his addiction. During all this drama in his life they had a son named Benjamin but his addiction produced another failed marriage. Again he was led to another Christian rehab. Cliff did well for a while then failed again in overcoming his addiction. This time he became homeless and lived on the streets and in Houston crack houses. Again he called on his friend to help him with a place and a job. During his struggles with drugs, God brought a wonderful woman named Melissa into his life, to be his wife. It was during this time the Lord planted Cliff and Melissa at All Around Cowboy Church in Sealy TX. It was here, that two wonderful people named Sonny & Gloria Rice who were the pastors of All Around Cowboy Church would mentor them. After being married for 3 months and continuing in his addiction, Pastor Sonny told Cliff of a place called Shiloh Ministries. Cliff came to Shiloh and graduated with success in June 07. After graduation Cliff returned to his wife, Melissa and their home Church. They became faithful members and developed into servant leaders at All Around Cowboy Church. After four years of mentoring in their home Church they were asked to pray about returning to Shiloh to serve on Staff. After much prayer Cliff & Melissa returned to Shiloh. It is here that Cliff demonstrates his gratitude by testifying that God reconciles and restores man, so his destiny can be fulfilled. Cliff is grateful for the opportunity to mentor men into becoming a man that “worships God in Spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24).

Adam Parker - Resident Counselor

Adam Parker came to Shiloh when he was 18 years of age. He had never taken drugs or drank alcohol. He knows however first hand the devastation that a family faces when Father and Mother are involved with these substances. Adam being of a young age saw the destruction in his own family. BUT GOD had HIS Hand on Adam and placed him in a home of God- Fearing care givers. Adam was so full of anger that he often displayed outburst of his anger to those that were trying to help him. His un-resolved issues of inner pain could have developed into the use of drugs, alcohol, violence, and all sorts of lawlessness. BUT GOD intervened in this young man’s life. Adam is most thankful that the Lord directed his steps to Shiloh. He had harbored much anger and pain through the years that needed to be resolved. Adam has embraced healing in his heart and forgiveness toward his parents, and thankfulness toward those who had given him a place of care and safety. God has healed his inner turmoil. He is now full of joy and has great peace. The addiction that destroyed his family unit has been rendered void by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Adam is now demonstrating God’s un-conditional Love to the men of Shiloh. “And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:23)

Jarrod Oakley - Resident Counselor

Jarrod is an over-comer. He has by GRACE overcome obstacles hurled into his path by the enemy of his soul. Although raised in Church and brought up knowing about God, in his young adulthood experimented with drugs and alcohol. Jarrod was subjected to a horrific ordeal of being awakened at knifepoint and kidnapped at 3am from his home. Experiencing fear, torture, and overpowered by his captor he miraculously got away. Still held in the prison of fear for months, Drugs and alcohol was Jarrod's false security. Finally his captor was found, identified, tried, and sentenced to prison. Jarrod knew in his heart his true help was only found IN Christ. He needed healing and deliverance. Jarrod came to Shiloh a broken man. He took hold of the power of forgiveness for himself and also for the one who had done him harm. Jarrod is an over-comer by Faith. He refuses to let un-forgiveness, offense and fear hold him in captivity. He leads by example and manifests The Power of an over-comer. 1 John 5:4 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world, This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.’