“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 MennoniteWrestling with infant baptism, adult baptism, and what Scripture actually saysThe dangers of drugs, deception, and dabbling in darknessThe moment in Germany that changed everythingHow identity, rebellion, and human nature haven’t changed in 6,000 yearsWhy being made in the image of God still matters todayThe struggle to mature spiritually — and why some truths only hit us decades laterThis 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.