Drugs controlled my life for 10 years starting from the age of 20. I lost all interest in work, quit my job and just indulged in partying and consuming different kinds of drugs. For those 10 years I lived a miserable life. Every day my first waking thought was to find money to feed the addiction. I came from a poor family; my grandmother and mother had to go out to work every day to support our family. Because of my addiction, I would ask them for money or even steal their money to satisfy my drug addiction. I would also borrow money from loan sharks. By 2007, being completely broke, I decided to peddle drugs. I got caught in no time and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane. I had thought prison life would change me, but my heart remained hardened. I continued to be involved in gangs and other illegal activities. At that time, I asked myself, “Why can’t I turn over a new leaf, even after being locked up in prison?” There was a void in my heart that nothing could fill. Hopelessness overwhelmed me.
A year before I was due to be released, I was doing exercises in the yard one day when the speaker blared overhead: “Christian counselling standby.” A voice inside my heart asked me to go. It felt strange; I did not know how to describe it. Nevertheless, I obeyed the voice and queued up to go to the counselling room. I had not registered for the session, but God opened three gates from the yard to the counselling room for me. Each of these gates usually had a warden but that day, there was no warden at all three gates. During the worship session, my heart felt very warm. I know now it was the Holy Spirit. From that point on, I never stopped attending the counselling sessions in prison.
So I began my journey of faith, praying and reading the Bible. In my quiet time with God, He had pointed me to 2 Timothy 2:22: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” I started to ponder in my heart and seek God; yes Lord, I know I need to flee the evil desires but where should I go after my release to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace? One month before my release, a Prison Fellowship staff recommended that I go to The Hiding Place after hearing how God had spoken to me through this Bible verse. After praying to God, I had peace that He wanted me to be there.
On 12 November 2011, after my release, I followed God’s calling and checked in to The Hiding Place. The 12-month programme changed my entire life. I was touched by the love, care and concern of the brothers. I’ve never experienced love like this before; it is like a big family. God’s love overwhelmed me and He qualifies the unqualified.
… because of the tender mercy of our God,
Luke 1: 78-79
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Read also: A Wesley Prison Ministry Family Christmas Outreach: We love because Christ first loved us
