Who on earth AM I ?!...
IN THE BEGINNING...
My name is Antonio Alexander Bingert a.k.a. "Nio". I was born
23 October 1983 in Toms River Community Medical Center. My
parents and I lived in our home town in Manahawkin,
NJ, where I lived my entire childhood until coming of age.
Growing up was pretty normal. My parents, like all real parents
do, loved me well and provided all I needed. If it wasn't for
them, clearly I would not be alive. I thank God for them.
Granted, no parents are perfect, and neither am I with MY
children. But we all do the best we can. My father was very
intelligent and incredibly gifted in multiple vocations, and my
mother a fantastic homemaker, a sweet woman by ANY
standards. We lived a relatively good life, myparents and I. It
had its ups and downs, and it's been worth it.I pray in time that
my dad (the one parent still living) can forgive me for being
foolish from time to time. My mom passed away November 16th,
2005, so naturally, I miss her. One day, and soon, I will go to be
with her in heaven with Jesus, not by my right behaviour,
but by the grace of God and Jesus' blood.
THE TRIALS
Life was life, just as it was for anyone. It had its challenges and champions, its trials and triumphs, its lusts and its loves, its ups and downs, and so on so forth. I dealt with my old demons, including thievery, dishonor, lust, anger, materialism, idolatry, some immorality, lies, and on and on. I sometimes wanted to blame others, but in the end, I knew that I had to deal with the old nature and reckon with myself that I have been delivered in Christ. I knew the sinful slump I was in, and needed a Savior, THE Savior, Jesus Christ Himself. I could not EARN my way to heaven by my good deeds or right behaviour. I was dead in my transgressions, but now I am alive forever more with my God, Jesus. I have been through so many stresses and trials and troubles. But, by God's grace, I made it out alive. I have experienced homelessness (only on a minor level) during my later life, temptations, bullying (as a young child in school), rejection, and much trepidation. But God has been there always from beginning to end, and has never once left me alone. I so love Him for that. The devil tried to kill me 7 diferent major times, but failed EVERY TIME to do so, because God stepped in to stop it. Now, as my journey with God progresses further down the road, I find more and more just how much I truly need Him every hour of every day. I am so weak, but He is strong. When I am tempted to throw in the towel and quit, He is strong on my behalf and sees me through. In every storm, the atmosphere seems bleak, grey, and hopeless. The rain pours, the waves roar, the shore is torn, but then there is peace for a while... real rest... that's the eye in the middle of the storm. God is merciful and shines light on us, even in the middle of what may feel like hell. Then the rain and thunder come back for a bit to finish trying us. Then, before we realize it, after many tears, angry moments, heartaches, and failures, the storm is finally gone - for a time. We then hopefully learn from the storms so we can more thoroughly be prepared for the next one. The key is that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
NEW LIFE
When I was 7 years old, my mother had led me to the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Since then, I have read the Bible and talked to Him. I didn't really understand, however, the stipulations of following Jesus, so after a while, I stopped reading the Bible for some time. At age 15, a friend, Taylor, invited me to Manahawkin Baptist Church. So, I went. I was also invited to King of Kings Community Church by a lady friend, Kane, when we were 16. I went, granted not for ALL the right reasons, but I did end up staying with the youth group, anyway. I had been going to both the above churches for a while, then chose King of Kings Community Church as my final home church choice. I grew in the Lord and began talking to the Lord every day, devoting to Jesus in prayer, singing and reading the Word. I still devote to the Lord daily like always. Nowadays, I don't buy the churchfolk hype. I hate religion, but love Jesus. I find a lot of what goes on in churches is distasteful and even stomach-curdling. I march to the beat of a different drum. I don't like following band-wagon false Christian religion that goes to church on Sundays then on about hellion lifestyles the other six days of the week. I have seen too much of that within the church and even partook of it myself. But, nowadays, though I don't always get it right the first few times, I do the best with what God has given me and always seek to please Him. I know that I am a new creation in Christ. The old man I was is gone and the new one has come. Hallelujah and God is SO worthy. I am grateful to be alive today.
THE DEVIL SAID, "KILL HIM!" (X6). BUT GOD SAID, "NO!"
Six different times in my life, the devil tried to whack me: (1) I caught a case of hypoglycemia, flu and a bit of mono. But the Lord told my mother to tell me to "get up and walk", literally! And of course, being the people-person I was (and still am), I got excited when she told me we were going to see family later on that afternoon, felt hidden energy reenter my body and so I got up and walked with mama to the "Wawa" convenient store, with the exhuberance of a prisoner just let out off on parole; being sick makes you feel confined. Later on, of course, we visited family. I felt deathly ill, but God said, "No!" (2) At the same age, 12 years old, I fell out of a tree from ten feet up, RIGHT onto my HEAD, no less! I got up, looked on the ground and noticed an old wooden board with rusty nails sticking straight up, barely INCHES away from where I lay when I fell. Talk about IMPAILMENT dangers! I walked off without a scratch by the grace of God. I should have perished. But God said, "No!" (3) I was hit by a pickup truck which was going way over the residential speed limit as it rounded the bend from the next street over. The only thing that stopped the tire from rotating right over my head and killing me was one of the bike peddles. (4) If THAT wasn't enough, I also got my head slammed onto the asphalt. If I didn't have my helmet, the impact would definitely have cracked my skull open spilling my brains out. All that knowledge... what a waste THAT would have been (it's okay to laugh; just being a little funny). I certainly should have died during THAT one. But God said, "No!" (5) Later on, during my time in Iraq as an Army soldier, my buddy Drew Smith a.k.a. "Smitty" and I were two stories up in a guard tower serving as watchmen at the perimeter wall. We were actually talking Jesus, when all of a sudden: "BOOOOOM"! A rocket propelled grenade landed 25 meters right in front of our tower. It sent intense explosive sound waves and shrapnel raining against our tower. I yelled at Smitty: "GET DOWN, NOW!" He didn't have to be told twice. We BOTH got down, and I filled out a S.P.O.T. report of the incident. Thank the Lord the rocket was a dud. If it had gone off in full detonation, we both would be dead. It would have been too close to spare our lives. Abaddon tried to take me. But, yet again, God said, "No!" (6) Then, years later, one particular night, The Hobbit III: Battle of the Five Armies was just out in theatres. I was coming from my friend Colt's house and a lady, even though I had the right away straight through the green light, unexpectedly swerved prematurely right in front of me, causing me to smash into her right rear quarter. Airbag went, "POP!" and smoke was everywhere. The car, as per design, shut itself off, and there I sat thanking God I was still alive. That incident made me think about how I could better please Jesus and treat others. The devil tried to smash me into smitherines, but GOD SAID "NO!" Funny thing was, I was at total peace in my heart, and even got a chance to evangelize the people with whom I had the accident. God uses ALL things for His glory and purpose. We as a Church need to remember that when we are experiencing trials so that we see the bigger picture and so that our faith will not get derailed - off track.
What conclusion can be drawn from the above anicdotes, then? Why is a foolish man like me STILL alive?! Because of Jeremiah 29.11: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, but to give you a hope and a future.' "Also, "Do the work of an evangelist." "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength." "Love your neighbor as yourself." Hey! You don't have to tell ME twice! Like Isaiah's 6th chapter states, " 'Here I am, Lord. Send ME!' " Beloved, I am READY! Guillotines or not, I will not stop following Jesus, telling people about Him OR loving people until after the Coming of the Lord AND the gathering together of us Jesus-followers in the air (2 seperate events, by the way; that's why the word "AND" is there).
THE ARMY
On 27 January 2001 I joined the Army National Guard at age 17. I graduated Army Basic Training that summer, then finished out high school and completed Advanced Individual Training for 31P (Microwave Radio Systems Operator & Maintainer) as well as Airborne School. So, you can say I was a soldier that jumped out of C130 aircraft once a month that liked to communicate!
I have been to South Korea (2003-2004), Fort Bragg NC (2004-2007), Iraq (OIF III, 2004-2005), Kuwait (2004: 2 weeks), Qatar (2005: 6 days) and through Germany and Japan. I exited time and service from the Army 2 September 2007 and went Guard again the very next day.
ALTERNATE VENTURES
I tried college twice, but each time, as I was ready to begin classes, life circumstances suddenly got in the way.
I auditioned for Americas Next Top Models and made it, but never got to do any jobs due to life. I auditioned for Broadway once, for a show called "Lion King". I did an independent film called MYBA at Drexel University PA. I was also an extra in One Tree Hill episode 507 "In Da Club". I did "Mame" with our gang, and back in high school I did "The Secret Garden" directed by Jim McCabe.
TEEN CHALLENGE
In May 2009, after a few girlfriends and a fiance, I ditched it all, as per the Holy Spirit's unction and a suggestion from a King of Kings Community Church worship leader, I went into Teen Challenge - New Haven CT / Brockton MA - not for addiction, but for ministry training and some heart healing. After 15 months as a resident and 2 weeks as a staff intern, I left. A couple, whom I had met a year earlier, Scott and Jenny, paid for me to get out to International House Of Prayer in Kansas City MO in 2010. A year prior to that, while still in TC, the Holy Spirit spoke out of my own mouth and prophesied that I would (1) go out west, (2) live on a farm (3) in a trailor (4) with Christian brothers (5) and work with IHOP. It all came to pass! Of course, more has happened supernaturally than I can detail in this here context!
PROPHECY FULFILLED
Well, come about September 8th, I left Teen Challenge and arrived 3 days later at IHOP on the 12th of September 2010. I had no place to live. I stayed that night temporarily with a friend of Joshua Trent's. The next evening, I went to the IHOP Global Prayer Room on Redbridge Road where I was dropped off. Amazingly, despite the antsy man that I was, I was able to sit in that prayer room for 5 hours straight reading the Word, praying and singing! I was just soaking in the presence of the Holy Ghost the entire time. I had nothing else to do and nowhere to go, as it was. So, I might as well have stayed put. That evening, I went to an IHOP service at Forerunner Christian Fellowship sanctuary (FCF). At the end, I went up for prayer. Two saints, Steve and Randal, prayed for me for a place to live. Then, it dawned on them that I was to stay with them: (1) out West (2) on their farm (3) in there trailor (4) as Christian brethren and (5) work with IHOP... sound familiar?! Sounds like prophecy fulfilled to me! So, that's how it all happened.
THE FARM, THE FATHER'S HOUSE, THE FUTURE
I lived on Troque Farm with the two aforementioned brethren for 8 months. What a time of my life! The farm was big, peaceful and just serenely beautiful. I spent a lot of time out there with Yahweh (Hebrew name for God; also "YHVH", or "I AM"). After those 8 months, I moved into "The Father's House" with 11 other gentlemen. We were what I call the "Twelve" (pun intended). It was there that I had numerous dreams and visions of the very last days of the earth: tornados, nuclear bombs and the temple of God in heaven.
BREAKING GROUND
I ended up discovering IHOP's "Hope City" inner city ministry prayer room in downtown Kansas City MO. I first found out about it on the 24th of December 2010. Soon, in February 2011, I felt the unction to move into an abandoned house for three days. On the third day, Daniel Ricketts, the director of "Hope City" music department, got me into the Hope City Intensive, a new intensive that started when I and 11 others arrived on a February morning to begin as the first wave (Alpha wave) that ever went through that intensive. It was developing as the months went on. Two people cofounded it: Tommy Paras Manay and Pamela Michelle de Bourg. The members of my class were Caleb Lindley, Elizabeth Lindley, Will "Wizdom" Kim, Joseph "ViZion" Afholter, Christine Norman, Natalie Garcia, David "Handz" Sohn, Imber Mack, Kchay McGowan, Tommy Manay (HCI founder) and the last and greatest - Pamela de Bourg herself (HCI founder, who was eventually to be my wife). Every one of them were (and still are) epically awesome human beings. For all those who have moved on to other seasons in life, I will miss them. I love you all for REAL!
ADVICE, ACTION, AFFECTION, AWESOMENESS AND ABSURDITY
While in HCI, I fell in love my Pamela de Bourg-Bingert. We were fast friends. I had begun liking her more and more as those 9 months in HCI flew by. She had noticed I liked a lot of ladies, but couldn't decide which one to pick! (lol). So, she advised me to just go ahead and pick one. I followed her advice. The very next day, I picked HER!! What a lovely woman! So sweet and just GORGEOUS. I loved the heck out of that woman (and I still do to this day; after all, I am MARRIED to her, aren't I?...). On 25 September 2011, I took her to the Shiloh Retreat Center and asked her to marry me on that beautiful memorable evening. She said, "Yes." So, we ended up leaving that internship. We lived back on that old Troque Farm with Steve and Randal for 2 weeks, then God said that we were done with that season. We moved to New York together to live with her family on 9 October 2011. We were married by Reverend Doctor Gregory Johnson at 3pm on the 7th of July 2012. The following should make you giggle:
2377 are the last four digits of my phone number, and 2012 is the year we married. Read this carefully - 2 people got married at 3pm on the 7th day of the 7th month, we had been living in Binghamton NY for 20 months by the time we DID marry, then eventually we moved to Tulsa OK arriving on the 12th day of August! Do you see the phenominally prophetic number patterns here?! How awesome and wonderfully absurd is THAT!
DECISIONS...
After 2 years of hard work making end's meet, my wife mentioned that I should utilize my GI Bill benefits for college. So, after some thought and toying with a few ideas for colleges, she said, "ORU". So, I applied and made it in. They liked my 3.2 High School GPA and ORU entrance essays!
A DEGREE
August the 9th we left to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma where Oral Roberts University is (ORU). I began pursuing my degree in Christian Ministry & Leadership (local church pastor) and a minor in Worship Leadership. I am still currently there as a senior.
OVERHAULED, CALLED, AND BALD!
God has been intensely working on my heart and mind to heal me, instruct me, and train me through the Fire of Trial to refine me and form the 18-inch connection between my head and my heart. I felt the burden to evangelize the lost when I was about 16 years old. To this day, I have led 70+ people to the Lord including men, women and children. I have been evangelizing since I was a kid. I love it! I will ALWAYS evangelize. My heart cannot go unburdened for even a single day in regard to the fact that every second, at least one person dies without Jesus Christ, and then falls into Hell. I cannot allow that trend to continue. Why should I? It's God's heart! After I had spent time at IHOP, to this day I carry a desire to carry God's gospel, music, Houses of Prayer and Word to the uttermost bounds of the earth. My wife and I will also minister to married couples, in the near future, cast out multitudes of demons, lead people through deliverance, heal people via the music and acting arts, and much more that God has for us. The greatest dream of my life is this: I see stadiums filled with Holy Ghost-hungry people, people looking for answers, and for a Savior (Jesus Christ); I see myself as that future revivalist preaching the living Word of God and leading 100s of millions of souls to the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Everlasting Father, Amen. And by the way...I'm bald!...HAHAHAaa!...
THE INVITATION
Join us, Beloved, and together we will pull lost souls from Hell before they even get there and crush the devil's throat for good!
Let's shake the Bride awake!
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come'!" - Jesus Christ [Revelation 22.7 NKJV]
"Don't be testy or moany... be a testimony." - Antonio Bingert a.k.a. "Papa Nio"
P.S. - the wife's testimony is pending... her's is better than mine (I only said that because I love her...)