Jet Ride to Hell...Journey to Freedom: 1,000 Hamburger Days (Freedom From Bondage) - Softcover

Hairabedian, David C; Hart, Elaine; Hairabedian, Joanna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1533561303 ISBN 13: 9781533561305

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

A riveting storyline that includes a sting operation carried out by 20-armed federal agents on the tarmac of a South Florida runway, and the tales of a prisoner living inside America’s maximum security prison, Leavenworth Penitentiary – this autobiography will captivate you from start to finish.Arrested With a Stolen JetIt was 9:05 in the morning. The sun was shining as our crew drove the silver Mercedes to meet the pilot of the Cessna Citation II jet taxiing toward us on the tarmac of the executive airfield in Florida.Something seemed off, but it was too late for the four of us to abort the mission.We were committed.The door of the plane opened and off stepped the pilot I’d met with two days earlier at a Kansas City hotel room. He had agreed, for a price, to deliver a jet that was on our laundry list of planes we were stealing from the United States and delivering to the Colombians in South America.This was our second plane in a month. The pick-up place was Boca Raton, the delivery location, Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where the plane would be repainted in a hanger, data plates changed and then used in the cocaine trafficking world by the Cali Cartel.Later I would discover two things: Boca Raton is translated, Mouth of the Rat, and a big rat was among us.I pulled a bag filled with cash from our vehicle and stepped onto the plane to meet the pilot to hand over partial payment. The rest would be delivered once the plane was safely in the air. My pilot entered behind me in preparation to take the captain’s seat.In a matter of seconds, 20 plus federal agents descended on us from all four sides, in unmarked vehicles and running on foot, all with weapons.The next thing I knew a chrome 45 caliber pistol was pointed in my face while the agent was yelling, “Get your hands up, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!”Everything was happening so fast. My head was spinning. My hands automatically went up in the air to display the international sign of surrender.As I quickly assessed the roof situation it revealed two snipers with beads drawn on our other two crew members seated in the car.I was ordered to put my hands on the wing of the plane. Everyone else was forced to the ground.As I looked into the morning sunshine streaming down on my face I realized I was going to jail.This would not be an orange juice morning in South Florida. Rather, this was the beginning of, My Journey to Freedom...David is a critically acclaimed author, speaker, and lead pastor. His autobiography “Jet Ride to Hell, Journey to Freedom” tells of his incredible transformation story – one that exemplifies God’s beautiful plan of redemption and grace. David was a convicted felon, where he spent 20 years in federal prison for stealing multi-million dollar jet aircraft for the Colombian drug cartel. However, a life’s path that seemed to have stamped a one-way ticket to hell was dramatically changed by a mother’s prayer and a faithful God.11.5 font sizeFor more about the author visit www.DavidHairabedian.com or www.VirtualChurchMedia.com

About this title

From the Author

"Guilty as charged!"

Those words used to haunt me, but this is no longer the case. I heard them loud and clear from the judge, and they were meant for me. I didn't 'pass go' and I didn't collect $200. This was not a Monopoly game, this was the feds who play for keeps, and I was headed to jail for 20 years without parole.

How did I go so far down the road of darkness that led me to steal jets for the Colombian Cartel?

Considering how I was raised, what possessed me to do the things I did?

It could be said that we've all been prisoners in one form or another: Whether it's a physical prison, spiritual prison, emotional prison, relational prison, mental prison or even a religious prison. Bondage can come in many forms, whether incarcerated or free.  For some, it is less apparent than others. As you read this, you may secretly be wearing the Shackles of Shame. Another may be successful in their jobs, but are privately held captive on their computers in the Lockdown of Lust. Another could be stuck for years in the Underground of Unforgiveness, held Captive by Condemnation, trapped in the Dungeon of Depression or even bound in the Bastille of Bitterness. Whether it's the Penitentiary of Pride, the Handcuffs of Hatred, or something else you alone can name, there is hope and freedom.

Although I made many mistakes along the way, I am humbled and encouraged to have learned first-hand that God chooses to use each of us, in spite of past, our habits, and even our strongholds. I think of Jacob, Joseph, and David in the Bible, all who had many rough edges, yet God used them mightily. There is hope and freedom for us all.

Out of dozens and dozens of amazing moments where I've been privileged to see God honored, in this work I've attempted to include only those the Holy Spirit highlighted, to tell a true story of my rebellion and redemption, and the miraculous journey for both myself and others into God's glorious freedom. I chose to write the book in short vignettes to highlight what God was doing to bring freedom to me as well as those I encountered both on the outside and those behind prison bars.

The recidivism rate in prison (returning to prison after being released) is over 80%. Spending almost 20 years behind bars and being moved from facility to facility seven times, I have endeavored to represent some of the things God was doing at each location that captured men's hearts. Often pursuing Him is the one thing that keeps prisoners from returning. Whether I was behind bars as a free man in Christ, or out of prison, also as a free man in Christ, I saw God going after my heart and always after others. God has a miraculous life of freedom for each of us, and He wants to use us wherever we are for His glory.

Although some in the body of Christ do not believe in or rarely experience miracles, I was taught by my mother that "God said it, and that makes it final". I believe that healings, visitations, hearing God, and all that I read in God's Word is meant to be "normal" abundant life in God, and that is the journey I've experienced. My reason for writing this book is to help inspire you to take your own Journey to Freedom.

David C. Hairabedian

From the Inside Flap

Arrested with a Stolen JetIt was 9:05 in the morning. The sun was shining as our crew drove the silver Mercedes to meet the pilot of the Cessna Citation II jet taxiing toward us on the tarmac ofthe executive airfield in Florida. 
Something seemed off, but it was too late for the four of us to abort the mission.
We were committed. 
The door ofthe plane opened and off stepped the pilot I'd met with two days earlier at aKansas City hotel room. He had agreed, for a price, to deliver a jet that wason our laundry list of planes we were stealing from the United States and delivering to the Colombians in South America. 
This was our second plane in a month. The pick-up place was Boca Raton, the delivery location, Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where the plane would be repainted in a hanger, data plates changed and then used in the cocaine trafficking world by the Cali Cartel.
Later I would discover two things:  Boca Raton is translated, Mouth of the Rat, and abig rat was among us.
I pulled a bag filled with cash from our vehicle and stepped onto the plane to meet the pilot to hand over partial payment. The rest would be delivered once the plane was safely in the air. My pilot entered behind me in preparation to take the captain's seat.
In a matter of seconds, 20 plus federal agents descended on us from all four sides, in unmarked vehicles, running on foot, and all with weapons. 
The next thing I knew a chrome 45 caliber pistol was pointed in my face while the agent was yelling, "Get your hands up, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!"  
Everything was happening so fast. My head was spinning. My hands automatically went up in the air to display the international sign of surrender. 
As I quickly assessed the roof situation it revealed two snipers with beads drawn on our other two crew members seated in the car. 
I was ordered to put my hands on the wing of the plane. Everyone else was forced to the ground.  
As I looked into the morning sunshine streaming down on my face I realized I was going to jail.  This would not be an orange juice morning in South Florida. Rather, this was the beginning of, My Journey to Freedom...
 

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1533561303
• ISBN 13: 9781533561305
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 392