“From Scoundrel to Shepherd: The 1975 Turning Point — A Conversation with Pastor Mike Hesterman”

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Crusade With Me! Dave sits down with a lifelong friend — Pastor Mike Hesterman — to revisit a 30‑year friendship and a 50‑year faith journey.

Pastor Mike opens up about his early life as a self‑described scoundrel, his years of rebellion, his time in the Army during a racially tense and dangerous season, and the night in 1975 when he was forced to confront the question: “If I died tonight… where would I go?”

What follows is a raw, honest, and moving conversation about:

• Growing up between two strong traditions — Lutheran and Mennonite
• Wrestling with infant baptism, adult baptism, and what Scripture actually says
• The dangers of drugs, deception, and dabbling in darkness
• The moment in Germany that changed everything
• How identity, rebellion, and human nature haven’t changed in 6,000 years
• Why being made in the image of God still matters today
• The struggle to mature spiritually — and why some truths only hit us decades later

This episode is rich with wisdom, humility, humor, and the kind of honesty only two old friends can share. A must‑listen for anyone wrestling with faith, identity, or the long road of transformation.