Testimony of André

Hi, my name is André. I grew up in a traditional Christian home much like many other people in South Africa. My parents were typically conservative, serious church going people, but this didn’t encourage me to find Jesus. I grew up resenting the restrictions on my life and felt very sure that I was missing out. My own insecurities and growing rebellion was soon to throw my life into chaos. On completion of school I suddenly had freedom and money and thought I could find happiness by breaking out of my conservative past and by becoming ‘the bad boy’. Night after night I became drunk and by day I was ‘stoned’ or hung over. I was failing at university as I didn’t have the discipline to do sufficient studying to pass. My life had become a prison of depression and fear – sometimes I did not leave my room for a week, constantly smoking marijuana and hoping that tomorrow I would somehow change. I had become a total recluse, too afraid to attempt anything to get myself out of the mess I was in. Somehow I convinced myself the only way out was to steal. I remember lonely fearful days, prowling around looking for where I could steal wallets. I broke into many  cars  just  hoping I  would find  more than the pack of smokes I could see lying on the passenger seat. I started breaking into houses of some of my former friends’ parents and somehow became bolder and bolder with each new criminal act. Eventually I was apprehended by the police in 2000 (aged 22) and spent two weeks in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing. At this point my family decided to pay bail for me. My road to recovery from then on has not been a fast one, but it has been real and filled with miracles. At first I went to a drug rehabilitation centre that did nothing more than make me a “non-using druggie” as in my heart I was still the same guy. Through friends of my parents I came to a Christian ministry on a farm, called Alôn Fellowship. By now I realized that my life was in a mess and in very serious need of help. I gave my life to Jesus three days before my court hearings. I was facing two charges of housebreaking and theft and one of auto theft - I was looking at a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment. Due to my desperate situation I called upon Jesus and He gave me peace that He would look after me and make a way for me. I still expected to go to prison for what I had done, but somehow the courts had mercy on me and they threw out all three cases with the warning that “this is your last chance”. I am still on this “last chance”. God has set me free from the darkness of the past and brought me into a new life. As I am writing this testimony I know Jesus has given me a crown of beauty for ashes, a sound mind and a heart full of love, hope and peace. God is the One who is healing and restoring me. Everyday I am thankful for the relationship I can have with Him and my family here at Alôn – He has given me the best, not just a second chance!