What happens when bad choices and "small sins" spiral into life-altering consequences?

Martin Onken's raw testimony reveals how a single decision at age 16 to "sin a little" led to decades of deception and a double life that impacted countless people.

Born to Dutch-Indonesian parents who survived Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, Martin's childhood was marked by emotional disconnection and a desperate search for love. 

Finding temporary solace in Catholicism, he developed a relationship with God that provided the affection his family life lacked. But everything changed when teenage Martin convinced himself that balancing sins with good deeds would keep him spiritually "in the black."

This distorted thinking created the perfect foundation for addiction and self-deception.

From a toxic first relationship to eventually becoming an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while secretly maintaining a 30-year extramarital relationship, Martin shares the painful progression of his choices with unflinching honesty.

The most powerful revelation from this first half of Martin's story isn't the depth of his deception, but the persistence of God's love.

Despite deliberately turning away from divine guidance and ignoring multiple opportunities to change course, Martin testifies that "Heavenly Father will not give up on you, no matter what you have done."

For anyone who feels beyond redemption or trapped by their own choices, Martin's journey offers a glimpse of hope.

His testimony stands as both warning about the danger of small compromises and promise that divine love remains constant, even in our darkest moments.

Join us next week for the conclusion of Martin's remarkable story of repentance, healing, and finding his way back.

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To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/8IvvCcAoGWc

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