I was born in Monrovia, CA. I have two brothers, Rick and Steve. My father was a jockey. After I was born, we moved to San Yasidro. My dad had developed a drug and alcohol habit. I was 6 when my mom and dad got divorced. Mom re-married. Her new husband spent a lot of time with me teaching me to fish, how to handle a fire arm and to hunt.
I started drinking and smoking pot at age 12. I went into adulthood selling drugs to support my habit. I decided I needed a change. I visited my brother in the mountains in Northern California, but soon I was back into the same lifestyle. While living there I got a job at a precision sheet metal shop. Gary Justice was my boss. He was different from all the other guys. He did not use bad language, or drink. He was always encouraging. One Monday I went to work hung over from drinking the night before. We had a lot of work to get done and Gary needed me to be on task. He took me to lunch and shared how he had been living his life just like me until he met Jesus Christ. Gary said I was going to Hell if I continued in this lifestyle. On the way back to work, we saw Gary’s pastor fishing off the dock. Gary introduced me to his pastor, Allen Mezger. Allen invited me to an afternoon bible study. I told him I only got a half hour for lunch and I was busy after work. Gary offered to pay me if the bible went past my lunch hour. I was afraid I would lose my job if I said no, so I went to the bible study. The lunches at Pastor Allen’s were great. Slowly it started to make sense. While on the road to go fishing, I pulled down the visor to shade my eyes. Some pictures fell down They were pictures of people getting baptized. We spent that fishing trip talking about why we need to be baptized. I accepted Christ at alter call and shortly afterwards I was baptized.
After moving to Idaho I would go to CDA Bible church when times were tough. I became friends with Bill Moore. Bill always challenged me about what I was doing. It was his counsel that got me through the tough times. After 9 years of marriage I became divorced.
I met and married Kitty. We have two daughters. One evening after drinking too much wine, I went to bed. I woke up hearing a voice asking “Are you Arlin Bassett?” I looked around and no one was there. I always said I would never be like my dad. Barry Eichelberger called the next morning and asked me to help him. I shared with Barry about what had happened and that I was sure God was telling me to stop using alcohol. I told Barry I was scared because I had tried to quit in the past and always failed. Barry said he would hold me accountable if I would let him. I said yes, that was 6 years ago last May.
The Lord Jesus Christ has set me free from my addiction. I feel it was my wife’s prayers that caused God’s voice to speak to me that night. Thank you for allowing me to do ministry at Hayden Lake Friends Church.
Brian Bassett