I grew up as a Catholic - more by inheritance than by practice. In my teenage years, I came to the conclusion that Jesus was a real historical person and that the Bible was certainly a historical document. However, I did not believe in God, nor did I believe anything supernatural existed. In that sense, I had adopted a materialist worldview.

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Tragically losing my father at the age of seven, experiencing hardship, and growing up in rough environments had a profound impact on me. Over time, the direction of my life led me to prison.

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It was in a prison cell that my journey of faith truly began.

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While on remand, locked in my cell, I received an unexpected letter. I did not recognise the handwriting on the envelope. Naturally, I was intrigued to discover who had sent it.

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As I began reading, I recognised the sender’s name, a man from my local area who had once been a hardened criminal. Years earlier, he had found Christ in a prison cell. That encounter transformed his life. He became a born-again Christian, turned away from crime, began ministering to his  socio-economically deprived local community, and eventually became a church pastor.

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His letter was filled with kindness and encouragement, expressions of care that were hard to find in hostile and unforgiving nature of a prison environment.  He asked if he could visit me in prison, alongside one of his Christian brothers, another man who had also turned from a worldly life to Christ.

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In the letter, the words “Jesus loves you” felt unfamiliar to me. I was not used to being told I was loved, even though demonstrations of love had been present throughout my life. Yet, my longing for a solution to my dire situation, and my inquisitive nature moved me to reach back toward the hand extended into the pit to help me.

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These men visited me regularly. They prayed for me and supported me in many practical ways, yet they never forced Christianity upon me. Over the years in prison, I began engaging more with the faith, praying regularly, reading the Bible and other Christian literature, attending chapel, and taking part in faith-based discussions.

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Still, my journey was not straightforward. Many of my thoughts, beliefs, values, and behaviours remained negative, destructive, and contrary to Christianity. I was in a deep internal struggle - what Scripture describes as the battle between the flesh and the spirit. With one foot in and one foot out, I wrestled through doubt, resistance, and old patterns of thinking and behaviour.

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Through prayer, resilience, and persistence, I continued fighting that battle. Over time, I became fully convinced in my heart that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. It was the persistence of God in my sinful life, my heart's convictions when thinking and behaving in ways contrary to him; and the safety, strength, reassurance, and piece God the father provided me that had disappeared at the age of 7 when tragically loosing my Dad. God's strength, grace, and mercy blessed me in ways I was not worthy of, and still am not to this day. Nonetheless, It is the goodness of God that inspires me to grow and live out my life as a Christian. 

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Today, I am the man I am and the continue to become so because of Jesus Christ - praise the Lord!

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