Lucky Te Koha was a prominent leader of an infamous crime gang in New Zealand. His was a life of extreme violence, crime, drugs and prostitution. Lucky was known across New Zealand prisons. His nickname was ‘Famous’ - and you didn’t mess with him.
But five years ago, everything changed when a local church pastor invited him to church. At first Lucky hated it. But then God met him when the local cop - and a member of the church - prayed for him. Today Lucky is a pastor, leading gang members and others in a pathway of healing and reconciliation through trauma workshops, speaking at police conferences and training churches. We have virtually nothing in common except perhaps the most important thing - believing in the importance of listening and following the Holy Spirit!
On this episode Lucky shares his breathtaking story, including:
His dissatisfaction with life: As he approached 50, Lucky was outwardly “successful” making big money in crime syndicates, owning a large house and luxury cars. There was a lot of drugs and women - life was a “full time party.”
"I had everything, but I had nothing.”
Finding camaraderie in boys' homes and gangs: “they were the only people who wanted me.” After being raised in a home where violence alcoholism and sexual abuse was the norm, here was a brotherhood where everyone was just like him.
Being invited to the local church by the “stalker” pastor who kept showing up unexpectedly when he was in town. Lucky’s innate inability to lie meant that he was cornered into accepting the pastor's invitation every time. Lucky tells of his first two visits - how much he hated everything about church - the music, the sermon and all those church people who "kept looking at him and wanting to give him a hug."
The day everything changed. After being inadvertently found in church the day after he was arrested, Lucky spotted the very cop who had arrested him! Dave offered to pray for him and Lucky literally felt his old heart being squeezed out and replaced by something new.
God said, “I’m giving you a new heart. Your heart was too cold and too hard. Now you will feel empathy for people like you never have before.”
Lucky’s vision and calling with a new ministry called Kingdom Brotherhood. This is largely a men’s ministry that involves helping others deal with their emotional wounds and trauma. In this, Lucky leads the way by sharing from his own story. He tells of how confession, vulnerability and honesty can open up the way for healing. Lucky’s vision came directly from God, to “raise up an army” of righteous and fearless leaders.
"I thought I’d just be cooking the sausages. Now I run a trauma program with the gangs, because I’m an 'expert on trauma' - I’ve had every trauma you can think of!”
The story of how a whole chapter of the Black Power gang surrendered their life to Jesus and were baptised.
The continued journey of healing and freedom in his own life. Lucky shares how God spoke to him when he prayed for healing for his eyes: “Why would I heal your eyes when you watch so much rubbish?” When Lucky responded to the Holy Spirit and stopped watching violent videos on YouTube, his eyes were healed instantly.
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