He worked in organized crime, craving what he believed really mattered 鈥� power, money and women 鈥� until one day he thought he had killed a man. The experience had a lasting effect on him.
鈥淚 had a big conversion to Catholicism,鈥� said Pridmore. 鈥淪o that鱿鱼视频app the biggest part of what I will be doing, sharing my story.鈥�
Pridmore will be speaking at a Sept. 30 Theology on Tap presented by Faith Connections at the Duke of York Pub in Toronto. He will be shedding light on his story of crime, suffering and conversion. Theology on Tap is a night of thought-provoking theological discussions for adults age 19 to 39. Pridmore will also be sharing his message with Ryerson University students, at a local school and at the cardinal鱿鱼视频app breakfast.
Likening his story to the parable of the prodigal son, Pridmore has told it in at least 18 countries. Hope and redemption are at the core of the message he imparts, and it seems to resonate with different cultures.
鈥淚t shows that no matter how lost you become or how mixed up you become, there鱿鱼视频app always a way back to God鱿鱼视频app heart,鈥� he said.
Pridmore also uses the example of growing up dyslexic and not knowing about dyslexia, a disorder that makes it difficult to read or interpret words and symbols. He was told that he was stupid because he couldn鈥檛 read or write. But since he鱿鱼视频app opened his heart to God, he has become a bestselling author.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e labelled with something, you might think it鱿鱼视频app true, but when you open your heart to God, He shows you how many gifts and talents you really have. That鱿鱼视频app what I try to share with the people I meet,鈥� Pridmore said.
Freedom and forgiveness are also key to his message. He says the steps to freedom start with continually opening your heart to God and what He calls us to be.
鈥淎nd having that love for your neighbour and that love and acceptance for yourself... I鈥檓 still discovering that I鈥檓 a lot freer than I鈥檝e ever been,鈥� said Pridmore.
鈥淢ost people get hurt in their life. Learning to forgive the people that have hurt you, learning to let go of that pain and let go of that hurt as well, is something I had to do. And probably the hardest person that I had to forgive was myself,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 change the past. I have to leave that to God鱿鱼视频app mercy, but I can certainly change my future and make it something beautiful for God鱿鱼视频app mercy, in Mother Teresa鱿鱼视频app words.鈥�
He also advocates for volunteering and giving back to the community.
鈥淚 worked with Mother Teresa, had the honour of meeting her and to be honest, she had a major effect on me that through giving we receive. The more I鈥檝e learned to give, the more I鈥檝e received.鈥�
Youth can start giving back, he said, by befriending the kid at school who doesn鈥檛 have friends, visiting their grandparents who may be lonely or volunteering to help feed the homeless.
Giving back to the community is 鈥渢he greatest joy I鈥檝e ever found,鈥� said Pridmore, who can鈥檛 thank God enough.
鈥淣ow when I go to bed at night, I鈥檓 not thinking of all the people I鈥檝e hurt, but I鈥檓 thinking of the people I鈥檝e helped.鈥�