William, a changed man
Some people say that God doesn’t do miracles any more. If they spent a little time with William he might persuade them otherwise.
William spent 20 years—more than half of his life—in a grim, hopeless prison in Cuba, all due to a heroin addiction. Always compelled to feed his dependency, he committed many robberies. Eventually he was caught, convicted, and incarcerated.
It was William’s mother, perhaps, who suffered the most as a result of her son’s poor choices. One day, however, she received a visit from a Heaven’s Family-supported prison chaplain. He gave her comfort and the gospel. That day she gave her life to the Lord.
She interceded for William night and day. She would also visit him at the prison, telling him the Good News and hoping that he, too, would surrender his life to the Lord. Hardened by sin, William rejected all his mother’s pleas.
Everything changed for William when he discovered that he was HIV-positive because of his intravenous drug habit. Prison authorities transferred him to a separate HIV unit, and his health quickly declined. Alone and feeling desperate, he remembered his mother’s words about God’s gracious offer of forgiveness. William finally got down on his knees and cried out, “God, please change my life.” The Lord responded immediately, delivering William from his drug addiction. He became a new person, and in his heart he became a free man.
But William’s body was still in prison, where it was wasting away because of HIV. To make matters worse, he became a target of persecution from the other inmates and guards because of his new faith in the Lord. He desperately needed someone to help him take a stand in his new life.
About this time a very determined prison chaplain named Francisco received, after many petitions, access to the HIV unit. Several years earlier the Lord had called Francisco by way of Psalm 79:11: “May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.” Francisco met and began to disciple William. Together they prayed for William’s health, and again God faithfully responded, completely healing him!
A year-and-a-half later, William became a totally free man—body, soul and spirit. Today he is very active in his local church, serving his pastor and his fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. William joins Francisco to minister the gospel during his regular visits to the prison HIV unit. And miracles are multiplying. The guards who once ridiculed William now give him favor to preach and teach about Jesus Christ. And because of William’s testimony, many HIV inmates are coming to the Lord!
William with Francisco, the Heaven’s Family-supported chaplain that is mentoring him
