Forward

"Dr. Gage and I grew up together on the tough. dangerous, drug soaked streets of Houston. Texas. We have been close friends for over thirty years. Barbara, his lovely wife and I were in school together. His second son is named after me. Freddie led me to Christ. The tragic end of each life recorded in All My Friends Are Dead is true. These young men were friends of mine. Freddie Gage has probably preached to more underworld personalities than any preacher in America, I have seen him bail them out of jail, keep them in his home, feed, clothe, and go to court with them. I have also seen him pray, plead, and weep with them. I have been with him when he has walked into grief stricken homes to bear the sad news of the senseless drug death or prostitution murder or shotgun slaughter of a son or daughter. He has stood before huge cross sections of dissipated, drug controlled audiences at funerals to make a final plea for them to give their lives to Christ.

If I had not attended a Freddie Gage Church revival on August 7, 1952, it is very likely that my story might be among those recorded in, All My Friends Are Dead. The book is powerful and honest, It is destined to become one of the great "life changing" books of this decade. I pray it will get into the hands of every inmate, drug user, prostitute and teenager in America. All My Friends Are Dead should. by all means, be read by every parent. The stories are history, but still being lived out daily in cities across this country. In the concrete jungles of large metropolitan areas, in quiet, sophisticated urban communities embryos of these tragedies are alive. The only possibility for a changed life is Jesus Christ. From experience I have learned that for a life to turn around there must be an internal change. People will not change from the outside in, only from the inside out. Values, priorities, goals, attitudes all must change before there can be a change in lifestyle. Only Christ can perform the miracle of internal transformation.

This is the message Freddie Gage has preached in churches, football stadiums, under tents, in open air meetings, prisons, and jails. This is the message of All My Friends Are Dead -- Only Christ can change the human heart. Time can run out! A person's ticket can be punched! However, while there is life, there is hope of new life in Christ!"

Paul Carlin
Houston, Texas

“On Sunday when Freddie Gage preached his sermon, All My Friends Are Dead I feel we had the greatest single service ever for First Southern. The joy, love, and conviction I felt in that service is the kind of spirit that will continue to make us grow in quality and in quantity. Freddie Gage has maintained the integrity of his calling. He lives what he preaches. I know of no one more sold out to bring men to Jesus than Freddie Gage. I am thankful always for his life. He has been a blessing and enrichment to my ministry."

Dr. Bailey Smith
Former Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church
Del City, Oklahoma