HOPE INJECTION: Your one-minute dose of transformation news
August 11, 2009
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO: THE BOY WHO GREW UP IN PRISON, BUT CAME OUT A LIBERATOR.
HOPE IS LIKE THE CRACK IN A MASSIVE DOOR that allows us to see beyond life-draining circumstances. Read on and take hold of it.
Martin went to prison at two years of age! As unbelievable as it sounds, it happened when his mother was sentenced for stabbing to death the husband who had physically, sexually and emotionally abused her without mercy. Consequently, Martin went with her.
For the next ten years he literally grew up in prison. Hard-core criminals became his family, murderers and drug dealers his uncles. At age 12 he was released, but couldn't adapt to life in the foreign, outside world.
In order to be "sent home" he would commit crimes, but as their severity increased so too did his sentences. By 17 he had killed and was serving a 10 year sentence. Soon, he became the most powerful resident of El Cereso, Ciudad Juarez' largest jail, where he ran an entrenched crime network.
He was hopeless of change and therefore imparted hopelessness to others.
One night, when about to cave in to the urge to commit suicide, he heard the voice of God in his dark cell. "I can help you, son", God said through a crack in the massive door. Martin believed the voice and began his journey to freedom. Today he is a free, law-abiding man, faithful husband and doting father of four - two of which are adopted - who runs not one, but three rehab centers. In fact, he is so good at it that the government is turning over to him the prison where he lived as a child to be used by Transformed to Transform - the organization he founded to bring hope to other inmates.
Martin is not afraid of death. He spends every evening in the darkest and most violent parts of Juarez ministering to drug addicts and dealers. He literally stands between life and death for many of them. Last week he rescued a drug user/dealer bleeding to death with five bullets in his body and nursed him back to life. He even interceded before those bent on finishing him off.
Last week there were 8 murders in just three hours in Ciudad Juarez, mostly the result of turf wars (The city has had 1035 murders in the last seven months). When asked if he is afraid of getting shot, his reply is a paraphrase of Psalm 91: "As long as I don't get out from under God's wings, no evil can touch me".
If God can turn a criminal into a saint and use him to change others, how much can He do for you right now! Don't let the massive door of hopelessness block you from what He has in store. Look through the crack of hope and believe Him.