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Rev. Ronald M. and Mrs. Claudia G.
Pinkerton are founders of Reclaimed Ministries, Inc. and the Nite Lite
Gospel House in Bath, New York. Ron was raised in Rochester, NY and Claudia in
Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1991 God miraculously joined the two of them together
after life long struggles with addiction, criminal behavior, domestic
violence and more. Ron and Claudia are available throughout the U.S.
for church services, concert events, speaking engagements and other special
functions.
Ron was raised
by an
alcoholic father and emotionally disturbed mother that was circled around
fighting and abuse. He often states that "black eyes and bruises
were normal when I was growing up". He quickly became part of the dysfunction
by acting out in fits of rage, temper tantrums, and other
uncontrollable behaviors. As he grew, his behaviors escalated into alcohol, substance abuse and criminal activities which resulted in 11 years of
incarcerations in reform schools, jails and rehabilitation facilities. Ron
married at 17 years old due to his girlfriend's unexpected pregnancy. The
relationship immediately became abusive with drunken episodes resulting in
fits of rage and other forms of abuse. Three children resulted from this
union. Ron later relinquished all
parental rights and signed over adoption papers. He married again within a year
to a woman that he met in a rehabilitation program. Recovering
from seven years of heroine addiction, she had led a life of
prostitution in order to support her habit. This marriage quickly failed as
well and
Ron was in pursuit and married his third wife. She was 11 years his
senior and again he found himself on the road to divorce. In 1979 Ron
had hit bottom. His alcoholism had reached a chronic state, drinking daily
from morning to night. He was homeless, broke and empty inside.
Suicide seemed to be the only answer. In a last ditch effort he cried out to
God and asked for help. He says, " I wept like a baby and
pleaded,
Jesus if you are who the Bible says you are, then come into my heart and
change me or take me out of this misery because I just can't go on like this any
longer". He was instantaneously delivered from his addiction and has not had
a drink of alcohol or drug since that time. He likes to tell folks that the
cigarettes went a little later, as did the foul language and other negative
behaviors, and that he is still in the cleaning up process of his life.
"God is not done with me yet", Ron says, " We are all in a continual
state of personal growth in Jesus Christ".
Claudia was raise
in a military family with her four
siblings in Tulsa, Oklahoma by her mother after her father who had struggled
with alcoholism abandoned the family. During a military assignment overseas
they contracted polio off the island of Honshu in Japan which
left her mother quadriplegic and in a wheel chair. Claudia's
childhood memories were engulfed in poverty, bitterness, abuse
and trauma. She left home at the age of 17 and married her childhood
sweetheart with the sole purpose of getting away from home. Shortly after
their marriage her husband became physically abusive, many times leaving her
bruised and beaten for seemingly no reason except to release his
uncontrolled anger and cruelty
upon her. After her daughter was born and her husband turned his rage on
her, Claudia left the marriage and moved to Dallas, Texas. She quickly met her
perspective new husband and fell in love. They were married and she became
pregnant with her first born son. The marriage was similar to the first with
domineering and abusive behavior toward herself and her children. Once again
Claudia left the relationship seeking security the only way she new how, and
that was to meet and find her next husband. She was married again within a
year and once more was destined for failure. The marriage quickly fell apart
and Claudia turned toward alcohol and drugs to help her cope with the
insecurities and fears of raising her two children alone. She was scared and confused
and again sought a man to fix her crumbling world. Through a series of
events she found herself in Albuquerque, NM where she met and married her
forth husband. Today she says, "I didn't marry husbands, I took hostages. I
did the only thing that I knew to do in order to survive". Her
alcohol and drug abuse soon became out of control and her world began to fall apart
around her. She and her husband separated and she yet moved in with another
man and became pregnant with her third child. "I came to a point where
suicide was the only means of escape. I took a 357 magnum and put it to my
head. God spoke to me that night! He said I had no right to take my life"
God slowly began the process of restoration in Claudia's life that night.
She has been abstinent from alcohol and drugs since July of 1984 and today
is used as a powerful tool of the Lord working with women of all walks of
life and speaking
at churches and other Christian gatherings large and small.
Ron and Claudia have been
married in a constructive Christian union since October 7, 1991. They are
accomplished musicians and singers and have completed several Christian
albums. Ron has been published in Guidepost and Readers Digest magazines and
they are both considered by many to be authorities on issues of addiction, domestic
violence, divorce recovery, child abuse and more. Ron and Claudia Pinkerton
are truly modern day miracles and living testimonies of God's power to
restore broken lives. They are well sought after for concert events, church
functions and speaking engagements as they boldly proclaim the message
of restoration and healing power through Jesus Christ.
If you are interested in having Ron and Claudia speak and sing at your
church or other special event contact Reclaimed Ministries, Inc. at (607)
664-1373 or e-mail NLGH@juno.com. |
