|
|
|
|
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — “Mywhen I was two years old and after that, I used to accompany them to church. I carried on doing this until I was 11 years old. And then I decided that I was not going to go to church any more.
“The first thing I did after giving up church was to learn how to drink. Then I went down the road of drugs. I smoked marijuana, I snorted cocaine, I drank mushroom tea, and I even drank beer mixed with medicines name is Márcio Ribeiro de Paiva. I come from an evangelical home. My parents became Christians from the chemist’s shop. I became an addict.
Sank deeper
“With every day that passed, I sank deeper down. I no longer got any pleasure out of life. Twice I tried to stop using drugs completely but I was hooked. I woke up thinking about drugs and I went to sleep thinking about them. Finally, I gave up struggling and slipped back into my habit.
“Being under the influence of drugs was my normal state. I could see no solution for the problem. I felt sad, lonely, depressed and empty inside. I had no peace or joy.
Strength
“I could not bear to talk to my parents because the world they lived in was so different from mine. I went home only to eat or to sleep. Sometimes I wondered how long it could last. I wanted to change things but I did not have the strength.
“One day somebody gave me a copy of the New Testament. I began to read it and whenever I did I began to cry. The words I read moved me and I began to ask myself if they might not be the answer to my problems. The more I read the Scriptures, the more hope I gained.
Solutions
“One day, my mother invited me to go to church with her. I agreed and gradually began to follow the Lord Jesus. As I did so, I began to find solutions to the problems which had dogged me for so long. Eventually I managed to free myself from drugs.
“Today I am a married man. I have a wonderful daughter and, through the infinite grace of God, I have taken on responsibilities in my church. I live in Catalão, in Goiás, and with God’s help, I should like to become a qualified pastor.” (WR 349/21 - 03.00) [PHOTOS]