Michael Leehan - Ascent from Darkness: How Satans Soldier Became Gods Warrior

PRAISE FOR
ASCENT FROM DARKNESS

Gods power to transform a life never ceases to amaze me. Michael Leehans gripping story from darkness to light will move you, challenge you, inspire you, and change you.

CRAIG GROESCHEL
SENIOR PASTOR, LIFECHURCH.TV AUTHOR,THE CHRISTIAN ATHEIST

Through the years I have been privileged to hear the amazing stories of people the Lord has set free from all manner of bondage, but none are more compelling than the story of Gods power as demonstrated through the life of Michael Leehan. Because I have found freedom from my own bondage, and because I found great encouragement in the midst of my own struggle for freedom through reading the stories of other overcomers, I highly recommend Ascent from Darkness to you.

DENNIS JERNIGAN
WORSHIP LEADER AND SONGWRITER, YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL
AUTHOR, GIANT KILLERS

Truth is better than fiction, as the saying goes, and thats an understatement in regards to Michaels story. I can honestly say what you will read here will open your eyes not only to a reality our general public knows very little about, but also to the Glory of God in the life of a modern day Saul of Tarsus/Paul! Well done, Michael! Your past doesnt hold a candle to your present.

ALICE WELLINGTON, PHD
PSYCHOLOGIST

Mikes story will make you weep and laugh, set you free, and transform your soul! You have to read it now!

CHRIS SPRADLIN
PASTOR, EUZOA, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
COFOUNDER, EPICPARENT.TV

Ascent from Darkness is the most compelling story of Gods power over evil you will read. I know this because I have personally witnessed Michaels transformation from death to life. This book will build your faith and grow your love not for a man, but for a God who still chases after those who are lost.

CHRIS BEALL
OKC CAMPUS PASTOR, LIFECHURCH.TV

I believe this man is a modern day Paul. His story has changed the way I see the power of God. I have been given the opportunity to spend three days a week having coffee with the guy and would consider him to be one of my closest friends. I have watched God do so much in his life in such a short time. If this book doesnt help you see the reality of the spiritual realm, then I am not sure what will. I pray that the spirit of God will speak to you and open you up in a whole new way to what God wants to do with your life.

KETRIC NEWELL
YOUTH PASTOR, CROSSPOINT.TV

ASCENT
FROM
DARK
NESS

ASCENT
FROM
DARK
NESS

HOW SATANS SOLDIER
BECAME GODS WARRIOR

A TRUE STORY

MICHAEL LEEHAN

2011 by Michael Leehan

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

This story is based on true events, but certain names, persons, characters, places, and dates have been changed so that the persons and characters portrayed bear no resemblance to persons actually living or dead.

Page design by Mark L. Mabry

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Leehan, Michael, 1956-

Ascent from darkness : how Satans soldier became Gods warrior : a true story / Michael Leehan.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-8499-4703-2 (trade paper)

1. Leehan, Michael, 1956- 2. Christian converts--United States--Biography. 3. Satanism. I. Title.

BV4935.L365A3 2011

248.246092--dc22

[B]

2011016008

Printed in the United States of America

11 12 13 14 QG 5 4 3 2 1

To those who struggle and strive to get
through each day in a world that seems
detached and broken

CONTENTS

A scent from Darkness was not an easy book to write, especially since it is my first. Countless hours and months sitting in a chair, on a beach, in a park, or in one of the many other places to write this book was not something I would have ever thought I could do, especially with my personality and aversion to sitting still. If not for the professionals who came into my life to help guide me through the process, Ascent from Darkness would have never come to fruition.

It is with a humble and grateful heart that I thank Brian Sanders, David Reiner, Debbie Wickwire, and Jennifer Stair for their expertise and godly guidance and prayers during the arduous task of completing this book. I want to also thank Chang and staff at All About Cha Stylish Tea and Coffee for allowing me to sit in their booths for months on end, writing.

With tearful eyes, I want to thank God for His Son and pursuit of me, for His love of me. I give Him this book and my life. Without His guidance and direction in this project and in the lives of everyone involved, Ascent from Darkness would not have been possible.

Marisa Ann, Kristin Nicole, Jason David, my three wonderful children; thank you for the love you have for your father. Thank you for your endurance and support.

E verything stated in this book is true. Im not going to lie or stretch the truth in order to impress you. I do not desire to make my experiences seem better or worse than they actually were. My goal is to tell the truth about my dark and torturous journey into satanism and how the Lord spared me from a tragic ending. All I can do is testify to His work during this process.

I am not a biblical scholar, a seminary graduate, or a professional writer. I am not an expert on any denomination, cult, or religion. I am a person who has placed his faith in Jesus Christ and His promises for all believers. I am a flawed man who has seen Gods marvelous light and, by His grace and mercy, has literally been given a second chance at life. Im simply here to share my story of what God did for me and continues to do in my life.

Undoubtedly, many will question the spiritual issues raised in a book that discusses satanism. Thats to be expected. But let me be clear about this: I am now a child of the Most High God. My faith in Jesus Christ isnt open for debate.

Ascent from Darkness addresses issues pertaining to hopelessness, depression, mental illness, spiritual warfare, incarceration, addictions, and many other struggles with which you or someone else you may know may be afflicted. My intent in writing this book is to shed Gods light into these dark circumstances and to give hope to those who feel hopeless.

I pray that this book will help set captives free through the light of our wonderful and loving God.

CHAPTER 1
THE EARLY YEARS

For we are Gods handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.