Father's ProXY: Welcome back. This is the father's proxy where we are pro X, Y. We're your host. I'm Brian. This is Jamie Z. Uh, today we got a special guest. is Derek Baker. is an electrician by trade. Uh, he's going to be giving us his testimony to powerful testimony, very, very, uh, powerful testimony. That's funny because I heard it and you weren't there, but this was at miles birthday. And was like, dude, you need to hear his testimony. Like it is good. And I have heard it at a separate time than you. So now this first time that we get to hear it together. So it's pretty awesome. little recap of the last episode, we talked about Nimrod and how he tried to build a tower ⁓ and they up their language and now that's why they do a bunch of babbling around there in the Babylonian. It was the first introduction self-idolatry at its finest. And ⁓ it just goes to show as humans were flawed and without Jesus... We're lost. We're lost. That's it. That's as far as we go without Jesus. So with that, ⁓ let Derek kick it off and start his testimony. Hey guys. I said, Derek Baker. Derek, are you, so, ⁓ real quick, Derek, are you from Texas? You from Oklahoma. Where are from? I'm originally from Oklahoma. ⁓ actually on Northern border, almost to Kansas, ⁓ born and raised there, ⁓ born in Stillwater. Yeah, little hard to talk in the business. Born and raised there. Went to church ⁓ a kid, know, parents took us there and went through youth group, everything like that. But had a little rough patch. Went down to Oklahoma City with, it's called the IEC, International Electrical Cooperation. They used to And then that's ⁓ not your root beer, it's alcohol. It's like a root beer, but they had a Mountain Dew one. They still might, but I've never had it ever since then. But I had a 12 pack of that as well, so 42 beers, quite a bit. big guy but I was pushing 360 pounds could I ask you what were you feeling or how what what kind of emotions were you going through at that time it was like what was triggering because I mean you you that that's a lot of alcohol and no judgment I'm just I want and so was sitting there spinning it on my finger somehow the safety got ⁓ ⁓ when i was spinning it, ⁓ off. in trajectory i was sitting there spinning it on my right hand when it went off, it hit my jaw. and I'm actually missing about an inch and a half, two inches of my jaw that had to put medically induced steel in there, which that's good now, I guess. So metal detectors are a problem. Going through the metal detectors, I have to tell them, because I've only been on airplane three or four times. Because when we were younger, we drove everywhere. I had three conversations with him. The very first one was right as it happened and I was in a actual coma for nine days. or coworker found you? Yeah, he was one of my best friends. How long were you there before he found you? Before they found me, I don't really know. think I remember... This is after you got shot And so you're crawling around yeah have a kind of like CSI, you know, they come in after you like they like find everything and then they clean it like a commercial cleaning. They had to have that done. They had to throw all the... and they came this was about 9 o'clock, 9 on Sunday. Like I had started ⁓ drinking ⁓ at They... do you physical therapy after two weeks they woke me up ⁓ and did start doing physical therapy and stuff but he you were going to sow my fields you're going to out ⁓ and bring them me ⁓ I don't I say often but I do So when you heard God What I guess how did he speak to you and and how did his voice sound like? It was dark or not dark. Low low. Now when you first heard his voice did you immediately recognize it as God or like what happened? Almost like a whisper So but when did you recognize it was God I guess like in the first conversation wow wow told you it's powerful man did he did he say because i'm just i'm intrigued by it but did he say like i'm yaway i'm god or he just said he said i am i am that's what he said he said i am that like it gives me chills. It gives me chills every time too. Every time I talk about it. So it just makes me think. Sorry to cut you off, but John, it was 8 58 where he says before Abraham was I am he dealt the Pharisees and then in Moses and Exodus where he sent you. I am. Yeah, that's great. I am. That's it's anyway. Go on. Derrick, how are you? I said, I'm good, Lord. Thank you. he said, the second time, he said, you have about a week. And then the last time, he goes, you're to wake up and go sow my fields. ⁓ So when he was speaking to you, were you cognizant of the time? I know you said it's like a fog, but you aware of where you were ⁓ any of that? was just... You weren't feeling overwhelmed, being in his presence? ⁓ was definitely overwhelmed because I was like, this is... I mean, you it was just crazy. I guess I like those little details. Did you have like a feeling of peace when he was talking to you? that was also another question I was going to ask. Like, did you feel at peace? I was just at peace. I was like, OK, this is how it should, you this is how I should feel. It's they, I didn't have time really because he said, you know, I'm going to keep you here for a while. But and then when I woke up, it was three weeks. Yeah, but. Yeah, no, I didn't ever have time. parents did say sometimes, which I kind of have a feeling that every time that he was talking to me, I would move my hand. Like showing the signs of Yeah, signs of Not like, ⁓ you know, let's... But I think that's what it was. Yeah. So far as like people in the hospital when they were there, you talk to anybody from your family and did they say you were talking or say anything or anything like that? They that actually had to put mittens on my hands because I was trying to pull the stuff out of my... I had a trachea and a... liquid that to feed me stuff and like I was trying to pull those out and they had to put mittens on my hands sometimes even like ⁓ me ⁓ I was trying to ⁓ up and you know like said back when the paramedics ⁓ me said I thought it was my ⁓ alarm going and I thought it time to go to work so I was trying to get my phone and you know try to get up and they had to pushed me down basically. Wow. Wow. That's it's just an incredible story to think about. as you were walk us through after you after third time you spoke because you you did say three times right he spoke to you three times which is if you don't know anything about the Bible just read it because there's a bunch of threes in there. And that to me is another just incredible thing that he spoke to you three different. He's symbolic in his own way. is. And that is, that's, it's, awesome to just know that it's, it's all true. It's all real. ⁓ And got a living example right here. But so as soon as you come to and like you're back, us through like ⁓ you're like coming to like, what was the first thoughts in your mind? as you like realize where you're at and what's going on, what are the first thoughts going through your head? That was, well, I don't actually like, they stepped me down from my ⁓ had to relearn ⁓ when was actually up they they would wheel me around I kind started walking but not really at OU Medical they had to me to Jim Thorpe physical therapy hospital ⁓ and Oklahoma City I had to everything writing eating, being able to use the restroom, everything. How hard was that being a man? It's almost like you were reborn. Yeah, it really was. ⁓ But how hard is that being a man that's, you know, pretty independent, you got your own place, you're you're doing your own thing. And now you literally have to rely on everyone else and mainly God, because he just said, you're not going anywhere. walk us through how that was for you. Cause I know that it's difficult for men to have to say, look, I'm not in control. And you, you went from being in complete control of yourself to like, can't control anything. It was a little hard. And especially at first, cause even as a man and myself, I can say I am stubborn. mean, most guys, you know, guys, we are stubborn in so many ways. stuff like that it was it was hard but physical therapy hospital or it was like hamburger but it was really soft and stuff like that. how long were you in the physical therapy hospital like is that the Jim Thorpe place? Yeah the Jim Thorpe it was like two and a half or three months. So all in all you were in the hospital three and a half months or more. Oh yeah at least three and a So I got a question how was your relationship with God when you were in your drinking phase compared to now. Were you even having conversations with him? I have ⁓ conversations. would when I was drinking it was I'd up there and like I said I was raised I in God. I mean, I have a my confirmation verse is a tattoo. Wow. Here we go. Because I went to Lutheran. I went to a Lutheran church and I'm going to give my testimony tonight. And that was literally my confirmation was Psalm 23. One. I never understood it, but it was the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. I chose that because I didn't want him. I'm going to show. I'm to show Jamie my tattoo as well and it's it's it's it's kind of funny. for those of you can't see it's Psalms twenty-three one right? Yes. It is Psalms twenty-three one. I had to have. good. And That's that's pretty awesome that it's Psalms 23 and then yours is Psalms 23 and then mine like Jamie had asked me a few days ago he had texted me and just out of the blue is like what are your favorite Bible verses and one of the ones that I said was Psalms 23 like the whole thing. Speaking of which we're going to actually going to read it right quick for you. You know I chose that because it's like I didn't want him but now I realized the verse goes deeper it's I don't want him I need him. and and I read the verse every day. Every day I read the whole Psalm. It's one of my favorites because it's very deep for not being as long as it is. it's, Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. That's verse one. He makes me lying down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. So he's telling you to rest right there. That's that's his sign for Saying hey, I'm gonna put you you need to have the Sabbath and keep it holy That's a whole nother thing, but we'll talk about that at some point He me in path. He restores my soul He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake cuz you know He's righteous and because without him we wouldn't be righteous Says even though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, which you were there I fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff. They comfort me that is telling you also about discipline and how you have to be with Him because even though this discipline and sowing and doing the things that God tells you and following Him He gives you comfort in all these things. And then the next verse, verse five is one of my favorites. It says you prepare a table before me in the presence, in the presence of my enemies. That means like, he's not going to take you out of, he's not going to take a harm away from you, but he's going to keep the harm. Like he's not going to put you into a situation where you're going to hurt, but he is going to put you in the areas that are uncomfortable. And you're not going to necessarily love it. And we just heard a sermon on this, but not going to necessarily be in your comfort zone. But he says, Hey, I'm going with you. So it's kind of like David and Goliath, right? He sends David out to fight Goliath fight Goliath, but Goliath's already defeated because of God. And so was it comfortable to go fight a nine foot guy? Probably not. But guess what? I'm with you in the presence ⁓ the enemies. And then it says you anoint my head with oil by cup overflows. So the anointing of the head, and I've talked about it before, but with sheep, what they would do is they would take the shepherd would take the sheep and then they would pour oil on its head. And the reason they did this is because the flies. which would be like sin in our life. The flies are right there and they're irritating the sheep so bad that it drives the sheep mad and they'll bang their head. They'll hurt themselves, if not kill themselves from the sin that's in our life. But when the oil, the oil what it does is it keeps the flies away. So it doesn't mean that the flies disappear and they don't exist anymore. Nope, they still exist. But... what that says is is that sounds like the oil is Jesus it is and he's going to keep that away from you so it's the sin is still out there but it's not going to be in front of you you're not going to have to deal with it when you have Jesus because Jesus is going to take care of that and lastly it says surely goodness and mercy so follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever because we're promised eternity through him And so it's just beautiful that you brought, both of you guys brought that up. that being said, Derek, ⁓ after you got out the hospital, what was it like? I mean, what were you doing? Okay, well, let me backtrack. how long did it take you to get back to where you're functioning normally like eating doing things on your own where you didn't need somebody right there constantly with you That was still about another year, six months at the least. I got out of Jim Thorpe, I have my driver's license obviously. When got back to Ponca, I had to everybody drive me around. ⁓ Eventually, the next thing I did, I actually got my driver's license back. even after Jim Thorpe, I to do physical therapy still for I about more months. So yeah, in all... But yeah, then I got with the ⁓ union met my wife.

Derek Baker: a job back down here in Bonham and that's where we're at now.

Father's ProXY: Man, that's pretty incredible. So.

Derek Baker: man, that's pretty incredible. ⁓ So. were basically on death's God rescued you. ⁓ now it's, how do you feel him now? That you've had the conversation and he restored your life and maybe it was challenging, but how do you feel about him now? Now that there's no drinking, there's no depression, there's no issues. Well, we're going to have issues, but the things of the past. I love him more every day. ⁓ I thank him every day. ⁓ I wake up and can go to work. Yeah, you might complain about work or, you know, something like that. But I thank him every day that I'm up and walking. that's, I mean, just a simple thing is walking. And to be thankful for all the things that we have is, I mean, that's what he calls us to do, but that's what we should be doing because none of this is, it's all a gift ⁓ that we get from God. So, Derek, thank you.

Father's ProXY: thank him every day that I've been walking. that's, I mean, just a simple thing is walking. and to be thankful for all the things that we have is, I mean, that's what he calls us to do, but that's what we should be doing because none of this is all a gift that we get from God. So Derek, thank you for your story. Thank you for telling us about that.

Derek Baker: for your story. Thank you for telling us about that.

Father's ProXY: Guys, if you are listening to this, come tell your story.

Derek Baker: Guys, if you ⁓ are listening to this, come tell story. ⁓ We're out to you. We're challenging you men ⁓ come tell your story. ⁓ Reach out to us the Father's Proxy ⁓ on or on, ⁓ reach out to us Father's on Facebook or shoot an email ⁓ at the Father's, ⁓ so father'sproxyatgmail.com and let's hear your

Father's ProXY: We're reaching out to you. We're challenging you men to come tell your story. ⁓ out to us for Father's Proxy ⁓ gm or on ⁓ out to this Father's Proxy on Facebook or shoot us an email ⁓ the Father's ⁓ proxy at gmail.com and let's hear your story because like Derek here He's being called back being an electrician and guess what? There's a lot of guys in the trades ⁓ ⁓ what I think is that God wants you to go into these rough and

Derek Baker: Because like Derek here, he's being called back to being an electrician. And guess what? There's a lot of guys in the trades. And me, what I think is that God wants you to go into these rough and tough guys that say, I got this. Derek was one of those guys. I got this. I'm gonna get back up. I'm going to work, right? I just had half my jaw removed from a nine millimeter casing, but I'm fine. That's the mentality, but.

Father's ProXY: guys that say I got this. Derek was one of those guys I got this I'm gonna get back up I'm going to work right I just had half my jaw removed from a nine millimeter casing but I'm fine that's that's the mentality but you know he wasn't fine until he met with God right once God took over he's fine because it's it's God who saved you so I think that's one of the biggest reasons in my

Derek Baker: He wasn't fine until he met with God, right? And once God took over, he's fine. Because it's God who saved you, right? So I think that's one of the biggest reasons in my thought just listening to you. Again, I don't know, it's God's will. The confirmation verse blew my mind. I mean, that's all God. ⁓ Who orchestrated that? He God. Exactly. So that's main point is ⁓ God is, he more than what we know. We don't know, because I guarantee you, When did this happen to you? old were you? Oh, I'm trying to... It's 2026. I was 21. 21 is about five years ago. So you're talking about five years ago. I'm 32. Oh, 32. It's 2026. This was... I love what saying. No, it was about 15 years ago. 15 years ago. Okay. So this happened 15 years ago.

Father's ProXY: was 21. So about five years ago. So you're talking about five years ago. Oh, 15 years ago. So this happened like ago. who would have thought, would you have ever thought that you would have been shot in the face by yourself? That you would make it through that? you would somehow be

Derek Baker: ago. And who would have thought, would you have ever thought that you would have been shot in the face by yourself and that you would make it through that and that you would somehow be sharing your story like this before? I mean, when you were going to your Lutheran church, I mean, is that something that crossed your mind? No, never at all. That's exactly right. It would have never crossed my mind, the stuff that's happened.

Father's ProXY: sharing your story like this before? I mean, you have wondered if your in church? I mean, that's something that crossed your mind. No. That's exactly right. It would have never crossed my mind if stuff had happened. my life right there, that's how good God is. He sees things that we don't ever see. you got to thank him for every situation. boils down

Derek Baker: in my life or I bet in your life, Jamie, but that's how good God is. And he sees things that we don't ever see. So you gotta thank him for every situation that you're he bowls down to he loved us when we didn't even love ourselves, like we had no love in us, but we thought, oh, our way's right. And it's like, no, he is the way, the truth, and the life. Yeah, at

Father's ProXY: to he loved us when we didn't even love ourselves. Like we had no love in us, but we thought, oh, our way is right. It's like, you know, he is the way the truth is. At 100%, John 4, 10, 6, Jesus is the way and the truth is the That's one of my other ones. I love it.

Derek Baker: 100%, John 14, six, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. That's one of my other ones. I love it. Guys, thank you for listening.

Father's ProXY: guys thank you for listening come back next week we're gonna have we're gonna be in I think we're gonna be talking about Abram it's gonna be our next one so there's a lot going on with that it may be possible with episodes to get through that one so guys come see us at 7th of May it is a wonderful place the Holy Spirit is filling this building seven days a week

Derek Baker: Come back next week. We're gonna have We're gonna be in I think we're gonna be talking about Abraham Abraham is gonna be our next one. So There's lots going on with that. It may be multiple episodes to get through that one. So Guys come see us at seventh in Maine. It is is a wonderful place. The Holy Spirit is filled in this building seven days a week

Father's ProXY: Come see us, have services on Sunday, start at 9 a.m. and then we have a live at 10 a.m. so if can't make the first one, make the second one and if you can't make either one of them.

Derek Baker: Come see us, we have services on Sunday. They start at nine a.m. and then we have an 11, 15 a.m. So if you can't make the first one, make the second one. And if you can't make either one of those, we got it online for you. We live stream it, 7MBC on YouTube. Check us out, you're gonna love it. Listen to it. The Holy Spirit is talking to you. I promise you, this is the place to be. Come as you are, exactly how you are. It does not matter what's going on in your life, show up.

Father's ProXY: got it online for you. We live stream it at 7MBC on YouTube. Check this out. You're going to love it. Listen to it. The Holy Spirit is talking to you. I promise you, this is the place to be. Come as you are, exactly how you are. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life. Show up. I promise you, God will do amazing things for you. Bring your kids to Awanas. They're going to love it. It's Wednesday night. It will begin at 5.15. Awanas starts at 5.45 and ends at 7.20 PM.

Derek Baker: and I promise you God will do amazing things for you. Bring your kids to Iwanis. They're gonna love it. Wednesday night, meal begins at 5.15, Iwanis starts at 5.45 and ends at 7.20 p.m. ⁓ It's a great place for them. then parents, mean there's other stuff for you too. Youth, ⁓ you got kids that are youth age, they got youth group, they've got ⁓ a romance class at night. They've got so many things from little bitty tiny baby to...

Father's ProXY: It's a great place for them. then parents, mean, there's stuff for you too. Youth, if you've got kids that are youth-aged, they've got youth firms, they've got a romance class at night, they've got so many things. Little bitty, tiny babies, old and crepit. We can get it all, and everybody's welcome. Last but not least, we have a conference. We're gonna video conference, we're gonna be video host. It's gonna be 1613 Men's Conference. It is July 17th.

Derek Baker: Olden the crepit we can get it all and everybody's welcome Last but not least we have a conference. We're gonna video conference. We're gonna be a video host It's gonna be the 1613 men's conference It is July 17th and 18 2026 speakers include Joe B Martin Brian Dawkins Nick Friedis and many more It's gonna be an awesome time you guys come check it out We'll have some sign up stuff on our website for 7th and main

Father's ProXY: Speakers including Joby Martin, Brian Hock, and Nick Reedus anymore. It's going to be an awesome time. guys can check it out. We'll have some sign up stuff on our website for September 18th. You'll just click on it and then sign up there and register to 1-200-1.5-1.5 and it'll available to you. Guys, again, thank you. This is Father's Proxy where we are.

Derek Baker: You'll just click on it and then sign up there and register once we have that up and available to you. Guys, again, thank you. This is Father's Proxy where we are.

Father's ProXY: This is Father's Proxy where we

Derek Baker: This is Father's Proxy where we

Father's ProXY: are led by the Holy Spirit.

Derek Baker: are Pro X, Y, Light Bible and Holy Spirit.