Episode Summary In this powerful Bonus Episode of The True North Lif3 Podcast, No Turning Back: Keeping the Constant, Luis Alfredo (Freddie) Hernandez reintroduces the heart, purpose, and spiritual foundation of the podcast ministry in what he calls: The Prelude/Prequel: No Turning Back: Keeping the Constant.
🎙️ BONUS EPISODE: No Turning Back — Keeping the Constant
The True North Lif3 Podcast | Christian Discipleship, Testimony & Spiritual Formation
After a nine-month sabbatical from publishing, this episode marks a return—not backward, but forward—through prayer, refinement, and divine repositioning. With over 15 years of radio broadcasting experience and more than three decades in Christian ministry, this episode is a deeply personal reflection on obedience, calling, and the refining fire of God.
This broadcast also serves as The Prequel to Episode Six, where Luis (Freddie), shares his testimony, God’s guidance, leadership, and placement through the years, revealing how the Lord continues to shape and burn away everything that does not align with Christ.
Christian discipleship and spiritual formation
Ministry calling, refinement, and perseverance
The Abiding Spirit of Christ and Resurrection Power
Eternal perspective and biblical hope beyond this life
Journaling as spiritual documentation and witness
Faith, obedience, and God’s fingerprints across a lifetime
Too often, ministries drift—crumbling under doctrine detached from the inner blessing believers have received: the abiding presence of Christ. This episode calls listeners back to the Constant—the unchanging power of the Holy Spirit that sustains, refines, and ultimately raises us to eternal life.
Luis reflects on Anne Frank’s Journal, written in hiding during the Nazi occupation—never intended for publication, yet preserved as a testimony that still speaks decades later. Not as a comparison of suffering, but as a reminder of the power of faithful documentation.
When believers journal their walk with Christ—prayers, struggles, obedience, and growth—it becomes more than reflection.
It becomes a living witness.
Within those pages, God’s fingerprints appear over time, revealing His faithfulness and purpose. One life, faithfully recorded, can outlive its moment.
(If you ever travel to Amsterdam, Anne Frank’s House stands today as a reminder that testimony endures.)
Episode Six – Keeping the Constant
The Big Three of discipleship will be fully detailed.
Episode Seven – The Living Epistle (Title Pending)
A deep dive into journaling, spiritual record-keeping, and well-known writers whose documented faith transformed lives.
This BONUS EPISODE is a call to seek God’s face, document your journey, and witness firsthand the evidence of His work in your life—both now and for eternity.
“All that we have been privileged to experience in this lifetime is a gift—
but it carries a purpose deposited into our very DNA by the One True Living God.”---------------------------
For this launch Bonus Episode, the 9-page Bonus Episode Notes are being shared as a gift to help you reflect, pray, and begin practicing The Big Three while documenting your walk with Christ.
These notes are available to all Patreon members, including those who join through the free membership option. There is no obligation to support the ministry financially in order to receive them. This offering is simply a way to walk alongside you and give you a taste of the spiritual formation direction this ministry is prayerfully developing.
In future episodes, additional discipleship resources and expanded materials will be made available through voluntary Patreon ministry membership tiers for those who feel led to support the work. This launch offering is shared freely, in love, as an invitation—not an expectation.
You can explore that option at patreon.com/9113bc
The True North Lif3 Podcast is a ministry of nine-eleven-three BC, where faith is strengthened, purpose is ignited, and believers are empowered to thrive in their walk with Christ.
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Before I drop this episode I need to share a prelude to this prequel. I have to be clear about my intentions so you can understand that my discipleship in Christ Jesus is not casual. It's not like slipping on some loafers. It's more like deadly serious like lacing up my combat boots and the reason behind it is because I'm gonna have to give an account for what I speak, what I teach, preach and all of this has to match up with what my life looks like. And your blood ain't having it, can't have that on my, on my hands, cannot.
I'm going to be judged harshly condemned and my soul is it risk if I play games with the gospel so first thing I'm here to reach the one not chase the masses neither do I chase the numbers my burden is for the person on the other side of this message and that's you through one man life came into this world and through 12 ordinary men the nations were reached I'm locked in on that one man Christ Jesus my Lord and savior and the one he came for and that's you he doesn't make mistakes when he calls when he draws you he does this on purpose he calls many into his flock but he deals with us on a one to one basis ohh no I don't care about numbers I care about you welcome to the true north life podcast with your host Freddie Hernandez second I'm not doing this for show my performance days died in 1997 when the Lord pulled me out of the tropical music scene out of that lifestyle out of New Jersey out of Brownsville Brooklyn and then 28 years later brought me back a new creation I want my life to be an open book transparency is me wearing my heart on my sleeve and sometimes sometimes to my own detriment however if my pass ever shows up to slap me right there in my face I've been redeemed I'm covered by the blood created anew in Christ Jesus so this prelude it's about you not the crowd not the many just you so please take this to heart and I pray you understand your past is your testimony not your chains in Christ you're no longer tied to the father of lies you are a son or daughter of the truth the word the life the way the Prince the Prince of peace the power of the resurrection the Lord of all creation who now lives in you and lives in me he never drags your forgiven past back in your face he throws it into the depths of the sea he washes Crimson sin whiter than snow he reaches into the mud the stench the mess and lifts you out for his glory and his calling This is why I want you to know that we're in this together not only am I here for you but God is here for us for you and I and he's on our side and he's in front of you behind you to your left to your right and most importantly he's inside of you and he's inside of me now lastly this is a journey of a lifetime it's more than a marathon more than climbing Mount Everest it's following Jesus and taking a very difficult Rd. a bumpy Rd. I can tell you this it's filled with miracles wonders relationships and experiences that only the one true living God can give and no human can compare that's what it means to live in Christ none of this is easy and yes there is always a cost a price to pay sometimes it may even cost you your very life you know there's a brother in the faith by the name of brother Andrew founder of open doors ministry who basically said this our mission is called open doors because we believe any door can be entered to proclaim Christ anywhere anytime if you're willing to go and if you're not worried about coming back and I want to repeat that he says if you're willing to go and if you're not worried about coming back you know that that's the spirit of the old hymn that says in essence I've decided to follow Jesus no turning back now this prelude is what this podcast is all about you it will always be about you I share my life as it's and open up a journal concerning my walk with Christ because in the end the Bible is where we look for our answers but it's our very lives that others will see it played out if you're listening to this and you've never experienced A regenerating power of Christ in your life reach out send me an e-mail at info at 9:11 bbc.org and I'll send you more information about how to walk with us and with him how to become part of his eternal flock and now the prequel to episode 6 keeping the constant you're listening to a ministry of 9/11 3 BC the true north life broadcast where faith is strengthened purpose is ignited and believers are empowered to thrive in their walk with Christ
I had to give you the prelude to this prequel because you needed to know what this ministry the true north life podcast is all about it's the same reason why I now give you my testimony before I publish episode 6 there's a backdrop that sheds light on God's hand and guidance in my life and the reason why I continue in ministry it's a testimony that stretches from bronzeville Brooklyn NY to Florida to the Middle East and back home again because sometimes believe it or not the words we get from God may not make sense at the moment you receive it until you've lived long enough to see them unfold in other words see them come to pass it's the reason why I took a nearly nine months sabbatical from publishing I wasn't on vacation I was on my face I had to sit with the Lord and let him rearrange my entire life my time my health my priorities my calling I realized there were three areas he kept putting his finger on the first one was the meat my daily time with him the second the temple how I steward this body that he gave me and lastly the ministry which is everything else and I'm talking about everything your life. And every area in your life that flows out of those two I just spoke to you about into real life those big three became the framework he used to put my life back in order no I'm not telling you it's perfect but you know I kind of got a handle on those three a little bit I'll unpack those in the next episode but for now this portion of my life the testimony you're about to hear had to be told first one last thing before getting into my testimony had I not kept up with my journal I don't think I would have been able to share what I'm sharing with you today journaling is of the utmost importance ever heard of the diary of a young girl or what it's called by it's referred to the diary of Anne Frank although that was a diary if you habitually write in your journal for instance keeping track of your prayers daily chores tasks jotting down how you deal with your concerns complaints pains and hurts I know chores and task is a little bit over the top but I'm telling you do it this way and that journaling is going to form from just a mere journal into observing and experiencing God's hand in your life as well as observing and experiencing God's hand in the lives of those you interact with and if you do a study on the word no in John chapter 17 verse 3 you'll then understand that your journal is your daily walk and talk with Christ on paper not Kitty who I believe was Anne Frank's imaginary friend now I'll expound more on this subject of journaling on episode 7 documenting walk with Christ or maybe titling it the crucial living epistle or your crucial living epistle but for now I pray that this testimony inspires you to keep a journal as well
segment 1 summer of 75 the first word
it's the summer of 1975 at Howard projects Brownsville Brooklyn NY same place I'm recording this podcast from right now and I was grounded for disobedience stuck inside hands on the kitchen window sill watching all the kids outside Johnny blasting 5 speed banana seat bikes Scully hopscotch red light green light it was all pure innocence and right there as I sit at the window watching all that innocence this would be I believe the first and only time I would hear the Lord's voice audibly within my spirit in my silence as I watched taking in the moment when it felt as though he was behind me he says do you see their innocence a time is coming when it will all wax cold and many violent acts will be committed now I didn't understand this then but the seed was planted when he spoke that day was a word about love growing cold and violence increasing just like Jesus said in Matthew 24 verse 12 because lawlessness will increase the love of many grow cold understand it nearly 3 decades later
segment 2 juvenile justice the word fulfilled
Fast forward to 2006 I'm working with the department of juvenile justice in Florida within a year I become a training officer for new highs and the violence among youth horrendous atrocious it was exactly what God warned me about in 75 gangs assaults MS13 bloods ***** South side Northside sodomizing murder it was it was chaos among the children innocents evaporating in the in the air was disappearing and quick story at at the at the center when I first started working there this young lady and one of the officers brought in a nine year old he's a cute kid how to teddy bear you look cute as I go toward the kid to bend down and you know and and speak to the kid she says hey hey hey hey hey hey keep away he just he just finished stabbing a kid with a pencil in his neck missing by centimeters his jugular with the pencil a nine year old of all things but you want to know all of this that was happening it was flowing up the chain to the state officials to leadership policies changed new regulations statutes initiatives were put in place to try to choke out the rising wave of youth violence in Duval County a place well on its way to being called the murder capital of the US and I remembered it just like it was yesterday and yet Jesus intervened the violence didn't disappear it was still there but that wave that big wave of murder and a bunch of other stuff the numbers dropped the murders went down and in my spirit at that time and at that moment it popped in it just I just remembered this is what the Lord spoke to me about at the kitchen window in 75 love growing cold violence violence among the children and God listen God God still restraining evil not because of programs not because of policy it was because Jesus restrained that evil the mystery of lawlessness is already at work only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way and then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with his breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming and you find that scripture in second thessalonians chapter 2 verses 7 and 8
segment 3 new covenant youth the tables and the prophecy
Jacksonville FL back at new covenant ministries at the same time God was showing me that darkness he was also showing me how light breaks in Rodney lowen and I the youth leaders we had an all-purpose building that became the youth ministry building the night before on our first teen service attendance was maybe I don't know 10 teens or less now the morning after we walked back in into the building looked around and Rodney said we need to put some of these tables up I turned scan the room my spouse from table to table and what came out of my mouth wasn't from me you don't see it Rodney we need more tables this place is about to explode well Needless to say several weeks later it did the room was filled with teens it was packed while Rodney ministered to the teens the teens building Mary Rachel and I we manned the radio station and had so many teams calling up even adults it was amazing the feeling wow it was fire Friday nights became a a haven for young people Jesus was moving in their lives that's that's what I understood in a deeper way the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy revelations chapter 19 verse 10 and the same Jesus who gives fivefold ministry gifts like apostles prophets evangelists pastors teaches was alive in US and in that room you see ephesians 4 1113 it'll give you some you know input on that it wasn't our charisma it wasn't our strategy it was all Christ transforming lives
segment 4 detention center ministry letters that still speak
back at the juvenile detention center I left Sunday Bible studies for the kids we opened the word in a place most people had written off and I still have letters they wrote me one joined the Navy one went to college out of state and I remember this one young kid who had a real rough relationship with his father he asked for prayer for reconciliation with his dad we prayed I interceded for them and I believe God worked in those families powerfully these young people took the Lord at his word they believed him and their lives began to change just like scripture says if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path Psalm 119 verse 105 it wasn't just the teens from the church check this out it was the teens in detention to the same Jesus same power same grace Jesus knows no barriers
segment 5 go back to New York of 15 year prophetic delay
then came one of the hardest words God gave me in the middle of all this ministry Jesus was leading me somewhere I didn't want to go one night during the service when we came to minister at our church the Lord spoke to me three times I'm going to bring you back to New York hmm I'm going to bring you back to New York what I'm going to bring you back to New York ohh I didn't want to go back to New York I was in tears I dropped to my knees in the middle of the praise and worship I told him crying sniffling like a baby you know I don't want to go back there but if I must I'll drink the cup I didn't want to leave Jacksonville I felt like Jesus in the garden of Fitzsimmons not my will but yours it took 15 years and nearly ten of those I spent in the Middle East and you know what was happening the Lord preparing me reading me for something new all of this before that prophecy came to pass habakkuk chapter 2 verse 3 the vision awaits its appointed time proverbs 16 nine man plans but the Lord directs his steps John chapter 3 verse 8 those born of the spirit all like the wind it blows where it wishes and you hear it sound that you do not know where it comes from or where it goes so it is with everyone born of the spirit John chapter 3 verse 8 you're listening to the true north life podcast with your host Freddie Hernandez
segment 6 bronzeville again refining in the hood
so here I am back in bronzeville back in the hood member at epiphany church keeping an eye on mom writing this testimony from my bedroom and this season Goodness this season has been rough financial strain unemployed and it's all because I can't leave my mom alone she's losing her memory what am I supposed to do put her in a nursing home that's a negative that's out of the question that's not an option all of that while trying to they planted in church listening to sirens fire trucks ambulances police the background noise the Brooklyn chaos and right in the middle of that epiphany calls a three day fast and a reading through the book of Esther you know my mind was all over the place at the time when the password had mentioned that and I'm going to tell you something I tried to dive into it as much as I could but I felt like I failed I I didn't fast like I knew I could I felt like I came up short but even in that the Lord kept reminding me greater is he who is in you than he who's in the world no weapon formed against you shall prosper even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil he who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the almighty if he is with you who can be against you we are more than conquerors through him who loved us for I'm sure that neither death nor life angels rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans chapter 8 verses 37 through 39 and through all of this I kept meeting up with him early AM hours I'm talking about Zero Dark 30 struggling sometimes I was like fighting the bed sheets and the pillow but I still kept talking to him I still kept pouring out my complaints my pain my tears and worries my concerns and I still kept journaling because this my sisters and my brothers is relationship this this isn't performance it's it's it's not it's not that bad because even in my failure through all of this he was still faithful
segment 7 the heavy hand of God's license plates and surrender
this part might sound strange wild but it's real if you ever felt the heavy hand of God you'll understand it's as David stated in psalms 32 verses 3 and 4 blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered as it is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit for when I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long for day and night your hand was heavy upon me in Psalm 38 two ohh Lord rebuke me not in your anger nor discipline me in your wrath for your arrows have sunk into me and your hand has come down on me you know the moment that I got hit in New York I felt a heaviness over me increasing and I was wondering what was going on because I I didn't know at the time every day in my heart I would think of other places I could be instead of here maybe Thailand the Philippines Puerto Rico Ecuador anywhere but bronzeville Brooklyn NY it wasn't until that DMV moment that moment I was liberated that I realized what it was I had to transfer my Tennessee plates to New York I walked into the DMV with a stack of documents and a notarized affidavit when the process was done the New York State plates were pulled out of a drawer handed to me and instantly the moment they touched the tips of my fingers the moment I hold them in my hands the heavy hand of God lifted off me I remembered that that same kind of way I felt years ago when pastor Gina at new covenant ministries prayed for me her fingers never touched my face yet there was a heat emitting from her holy hands what I can only describe as a heavy blanket of glory at that moment full upon me and went out into the presence of God for hours it when the heaviness lifted there was a cleansing it was a sort of purification and this this DMV moment felt like the lifting of that heaviness with the sudden cleansing and purification and you want to know how I knew what it was all about because it suddenly hit me I was truly begrudgingly accepting the mission and if and if and if refusing as as if refusing acceptance to be here in this place in the city in this hood and and I believe that I believe that that was the same reason why Jonah ended up in the wells belly as as I ended up in the in the courts hands God was telling me stop resisting stop fighting me except where I've sent you you're back in New York on purpose you're exactly where I want you to be where I need you to be from that moment something broke I was free truly even to this moment record this 32 verses 3 to 8 says his heavy hand his hand heavy and then his guidance if you read Jonah chapters one and two you can run but you will still end up in God's city and Hebrews 12/6 this those he loves he disciplines
Segment 8 Where you are is on purpose maybe
you're listening to this and you're in a place you don't want to be you're asking why am I here why this city why this job this family situation this church this season and honestly I've been asking those same questions there are ministries I want to serve at my home yeah I wait I I just wait I just I just wait on the Lord because Amy because once I immerse myself it's just on I mean it's just on and there's no stopping but in the meantime I care for my mom I deal with personal legal matters pray for the darkness of this neighborhood on beyond the principalities and understanding what the Lord is doing with my mere presence in the neighborhood I I would I I become this I become this beacon in the hearts of the dealers depends the pushes the pull the knee the broken the blind the hurt yeah yeah and I'm like really I mean you got it you got it you gotta really you really gotta put yourself in my shoes where I'm at like for real like I'm thinking like how's this going to happen you're going to have to do it and goodness gracious first thing that pops into my mind is this kind goes out not but by prayer and fasting I got a lot of work ahead of me these things I hold before the Lord all the while I remain on the vine waiting why why why why because I now know as I knew then and needed to be reminded now by my father I am not at epiphany by accident I am not in bronzeville by accident I am not in the season by accident and neither neither are you you know Jesus told the story of two sons one said yes to the father but never went to the field the other said no but later went and did the will of the father see Matthew 21 verses 28 through 31 the one who obeyed even after resisting was the one who truly did the father's will even Jesus in his simony prayed father if you're willing remove this cup from me because he knew was coming it's hot it's hot and nevertheless not my will but yours be done that's what he said Luke 22 verse 42 now obedience doesn't always feel good trust me I know it doesn't feel good sometimes it feels like dying like you want to crawl under a rock or something you know but God where you are on purpose obedient this is costly there's a price to pay but it's always I promise you it's always worth it always worth it verse 21 says this is the way walk in it Romans 828 all things work together for good in psalms 3723 the steps of a righteous man a woman are ordered by who by the law
Spot: Given to Christ and his spirit are for the purpose of building up believers in unity as his body and his ambassadors
Spot: you're listening to the true north life podcast with your host Freddie Hernandez
Segment 9 the word the wind and the refining fire the
Lord has been reminding me those who were born of the spirit are like the wind John chapter 3 verse 8 he blows what he wants he moves us where he wants and and The funny thing about it is we we really think we have a will like like we really do now don't get me wrong we do we do have a will but the truth is if we belong to Jesus we've given that will back to him and when we fight that we stay half obedient and fool miserable the heavy hand of God remember that the word of God has been my in this refining my meat with him has been my meat for the word of God is living and active sharper than any 2 edged sword piercing to the division of soul and of spirit of joints and of marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 and I believe it goes to 16 I just gave you this verse just so a minute ago and it's found in Isaiah that says you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walking it Isaiah 30 verse 21 and here's another beautiful verse because it's all part of that refinement that refining process and like a silversmith he keeps refining us in the fire until he sees his own image in the silver and you find that in Malachi chapter 3 verse 3 and in psalms 66 verse 10 and that's what this season has been for me it's been a season of refining of pruning and positioning and I'm still being refined as are you you are also being refined than three BC the true north life broadcast where faith is strengthened purpose is ignited and believers are empowered to thrive in their walk with Christ
Segment 10 the psalms the vine and keeping the Meet
there's a reason I keep going back to the psalms that's where I learned how to repent how to praise how to weep how to trust and and how to worship the psalms raised me they taught me to cry honestly to trust fully and surrender completely if you read Psalm 32 you'll find honesty and forgiveness if you read Psalm 51 there you're going to see repentance and cleansing if you read Psalm 24 and 15 you'll see who can ascend the hill of the Lord and if he reads on 27 you'll find yourself again in confident trust in God and Psalm one reading that one you're going to find a reason to the delighting in the law of the Lord you know Jesus said I am the vine you are the branches apart from me you can do nothing and that's John 15 verses one through 6 if we don't abide in him we dry up we get trampled and get thrown into the fire that's why I asked this question at the end you spend the 1st 15 to 30 minutes of your day sitting in silence before the Lord and I'm talking about beginning before you start your day off 15 to 30 minutes and I'm talking about before you read before you journey before you pray just being still clearing your mind and waiting on him be still and know that I am God Psalm 4610 and that stillness you're going to tap into that constant the eternal and changing abiding Christ in you who can rise up in you like Holy Ghost fire or rivers of living waters who can use you to to to do greater things than than than you could ever ever imagine see June 120 John 738 and John 1412 we'll consent his Angel before you and cause people to say like they said of Daniel and the Hebrew boys they have a different spirit in them who check out and see numbers 14 verse 24 in Daniel chapter 6 verse 3 this testimony that I've shared with you can ever Metallica
Final segment segue into episode 6
this testimony that I've shared with you had to come first just as much as I had to let you know what the podcast is all about and remember this is this is all about you and the reason being is because episode 6 is a continuation of this journey if if you've been fought on every side if you've been refined in the fire and you still continue to be refined if obedience has taken everything in you that episode 6 is for you keeping the constant it's about learning to stay anchored in the one who never changes even when everything else does everything could be falling apart all around you whether it's location finances health family or your will fighting God's will Jesus is eternal unchanging constant he's the same yesterday today and forevermore and this my sisters and my brothers is eternal life that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent John chapter 17 verse 3 and if you read Daniel 1132 the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action in other words they shall do great exploits another version greens that's where we're going next that's the journey we're stepping into may the Lord bless you and keep you may his face shine upon you may his peace go before you and may his presence be your constant today tomorrow and forever more in Jesus name Amen