Read articles chronicling Apostle Platt's past and his redemption as written by The Charlotte Observer newspaper:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/13/3977081/life-and-times-of-a-former-charlotte.html#.UwkRHPco7X4

SCROLL DOWN TO READ BELTON PLATT'S "LIFE STORY"

Belton Platt's Life Story:

Pastor Belton Platt was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.  At the age of five, Pastor Platt saw his father attempt to murder his mother by stabbing her numerous times.  This was a turning point in his life.  Belton became very protective over those he loved and he vowed never to allow someone to hurt another person he loved.  Belton also lived for the day when he would be old enough to blow his Father's brains out for what he had done to his mother.  Having this type of anger and hurt inside, Belton became quick tempered and violent.  Whenever he felt threatened, he met violence with violence.

As a teenager, Belton excelled in sports (basketball and baseball).  He was also in the Boy Scouts of America where he became a Life Scout, earning some 25 merit badges and all twelve skill awards.  Belton had an opportunity to become one of the youngest African Ameircans in the nation to receive his Eagle Scout award but he became distracted with sports and girls.  Deep within, Belton had a dream to one day become an attorney, but somehow this would change.

Growing up in the projects, it was common for young African American youth to have children at young ages.  Belton had his first child at the age of sixteen.  At the age of eighteen, his child's mother put in an application with the Charlotte Housing Authority for an apartment in public housing.  Belton started a janitorial service and did pretty well at it, making a living for himself and his family.  Belton moved his family into a townhouse in a middle class community and was content with where he was in life.  But something happened that would forever change Belton's life.

One day Belton's child's mother received a letter from the Charlotte Housing Authority offering her an apartment at a place called Piedmont Courts - one of the worst housing projects in the City of Charlotte.  Piedmont Courts was a community where drug dealing, robbery, murder, etc., were common.  Most people who wanted to buy drugs in North Carolina came to Piedmont Courts.  When Belton found out that his child's mother had been offered a place to live in Piedmont Courts, Belton immediately told her that his child would never grow up in the projects like he did.  He told her not to accept that apartment.

Later in the week, Belton saw his biological father and told him about the letter his child's mother had received from the Charlotte Housing Authority and that he told her not to accept it.  Belton's father told him not to allow her to give up that apartment.  He told Belton to keep his townhouse and move his child's mother and child to Piedmont Court for only a couple of months in order to get the apartment.  He promised Belton if he would do that, he would be a millionaire in a year's time.

Belton did what his father asked him to do and soon Belton became one of the major drug dealers in the Piedmont Court housing projects.  After moving there, Belton's father taught him how to buy and sell drugs.  Belton had entered another world - one that he had to learn to adjust to quickly.  Belton eventually controlled most of the drug trade in Piedmont Court.  This created enemies for Belton because he was not from the neighborhood.  He was an outsider who moved into the heighborhood and took over the drug market.

There was another major drug dealer in the area who envied Belton's drug organization.  This individual, Louis Samuel, plotted along with other individuals who worked for him, to murder Belton and destroy his drug network in Charlotte.  In November of 1985, Samuel and his crew waited for Belton to come to Piedmont Courts.  Being informed the night before, Belton formed a plan to counteract Samuel's plot.  Upon arriving at Piedmont Court, Belton was met by Samuel pointing a .357 and a 44 magnum at Belton, threatening to murder him.

Belton asked Samuel to put down the weapons because a lot of people would be hurt, and he invited him to a brawl without guns.  Samuel refused.  Belton managed to step off into an apartment and a few minutes later Belton heard a gunshot and a woman screaming that Charles Locke had shot Belton's brother, Gordon.  Belton ran out of the house but when he arrived at the scene, he found that his brother had not been shot but that Locke had shot at his brother's feet to threaten him not to come any closer.  Someone had contacted Belton's brother and informed him that Samuel and his gang were plotting to murder Belton.  Belton's brother had only come to check on his brother.

A few minutes later Samuel attacked Belton by strking him.  Belton immediately struck back and a fight broke out.  Belton defeated Samuel and began to say to the crowd that had gathered, "Why are you afraid of this man?  He's a coward."  Samuel had tormented the neighborhood with violence and people were terrified of him.  Belton put him into open shame that day by defeating him.  This embarrassed Samuel so he continued to come at Belton.  Belton's friend December got between tmem and said to Samuel, "It's over.  Let it go."  Then, out of nowhere, Locke appeared in front of them and said to December, "Nigga, what do you have to do with it?" and shot December point blank range with a 357 magnum.

This started 'the 1985 Piedmont Court Shootout' where seven people were shot.  All the major newspapers and television networks covered the incident.  Belton was charged with seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and felony riot.  Belton was tried and found guilty of five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and one count of felony riot.  He was sentenced to 35 years in State prison.  A year later Belton won his appeal and was released from State prison.  Two years later Belton was charged and convicted in Federal court of conspiracy to distribute with the distribution of cocaine and stealing and converting to use government property.  He was sentenced to 24 years in Federal prison.  Belton spent 21-1/2 years in Federal prison.

During Belton's incarceration, the Lord used him to mentor and pastor men from across this nation and from other parts of the world.  God used Belton to raise up an army of men who are walking in their five-fold ministerial giftings and callings.  Many men whom Belton pastored and mentored in prison are now out of prison serving the Lord and are pastors, elders, deacons, business owners, and leaders in their communities and cities.  Belton also wrote seven books during his incarceration, including Ministry of a Husband.  This book has blessed many marriages and families acros sthe nation.  Men from across the country have been blessed by Belton's book.  In March of 2010, Belton was invited to Ohio to have his first Ministry of the Husband Men's Conference at the Dayton Convention Center.  Belton Platt walks in an apostolic anointing and travels the country ministering in churches to the Body of Christ.