EDMOND, Okla. -- A Satan worshiper for three decades, Michael Leehan's descent into darkness started early in childhood. He began to rebel against religion when he was just 6 years old, defacing spiritual figurines around his house.
Leehan said, "I just broke off the heads and thought, that's not for me. And I buried the statues in the backyard."
By his late teens, Leehan's life had spiraled out of control.
He endured drug and alcohol abuse, a failed marriage, even a brief stay in jail.
And so, Mike Leehan began his dangerous dance with the devil.
Longtime friend and Daybreak Community Church Pastor, Bob Parrish, said, "He had chosen to walk with the adversary of God, Satan"
One of Mike's favorite diabolical pastimes was secretly distributing satanic literature. He'd place the dark material in church pew pockets and children's playgrounds in hopes of manipulating what he called "vulnerable and weak-minded Christians."
In his twisted mind, it was spiritual murder.
Leehan said, "It was just a fun thing to do. I enjoyed it. That's how twisted my mind had gotten. In hopes that someone would open a satanic bible and be drawn to it because we are drawn to the darkness."
About four years ago, Leehan remembers voices in his head, instructing him to murder Life Church Pastor Craig Groeschel.
Leehan claims, "One night in a prayer meeting with the adversary, he said ‘take him out.' I remember that night well and I remember saying ‘No problem.’ And I stalked Craig for over a year."
He spent a year crafting his scheme, attending Life Church religiously to chart security and plan an escape route.
Satan's assassin said, "I just had 20 bullets or so and I just marked the first one as his. I filled the clip and put that as the first bullet."
But Jan. 13, 2008, the day of the scheduled assassination, the self-proclaimed devil worshiper couldn't pull the trigger.
Something had happened to Michael Leehan during his endless hours stalking the church leader.
Through the foyer speakers right above Mike's head, God's word penetrated his sinister soul.
Leehan said, "All of the sudden I'm hearing something different. It's not the dark, dirty thoughts I had in my head. It piqued my curiosity, pierced my heart.”
And just like that, Jesus foiled the devil's plot.
Weeks later, Mike Leehan returned to Life Church.
But this time, he was armed with a bible, not a gun.
Camps Pastor Chris Beall was shocked at the spiritual and physical transformation.
"I didn't recognize him physically. I saw him in the lobby and did not recognize him. His eyes were different. I was just bizarre."
The man who once plotted to kill the pastor had been set free.
Mike Leehan now worships from the front row every weekend!
Longtime friend Boe Parrish said, "A lot of people walk in the darkness, different shades of darkness. And to see a man so blinded, so deceived, and so far into the darkness come to light, it gave me hope that no one is beyond reach."
What was meant for evil, God will use for good.
Mike Leehan believes he is living proof of a living God.
Leehan has written a book to chronicle his journey from light to dark.
"Ascent From Darkness" is available at most major book stores.
