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By Cheri Cauthon* |
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Alex
Velazquez Jr. had to go to prison to be set free. |
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Everyone
who enters and exits goes through "the room." For some, the room means
life behind bars; for others, freedom. Alex Velazquez Jr. walked into prison
— and unimaginable freedom. |
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The moment
Velazquez stepped into Receiving and Discharging, he was conscious of other
inmates’ eyes following him as he was processed. One man offered him shampoo
and slippers. Warned by his lawyer not to take handouts, Velazquez refused.
The man insisted, so Velazquez sized up this possible opponent. He
reluctantly took the gifts. |
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The inmate
asked Velazquez to meet him after chow to walk the prison track. He knew the
track posed greater risk of being jumped by inmate gangs, but he wanted to
face his fear. He met the inmate and for 15 minutes had a normal
conversation. Then Velazquez’s new friend stopped and faced him. |
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Outside
the room |
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Growing up
in |
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As his
addiction worsened, drugs took his paycheck. Selling cocaine was the quick
answer to his money problems. Within five years, Velazquez had gone from a
teen experimenting with pot to dealing. He established himself as a |
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"I
didn’t want to be the person I was," Velazquez says. "I had everything
on the outside, yet I was empty." Velazquez called out to God. The money
and drugs continued to flow, but God heard Velazquez’s cry. |
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The
authorities were tapping his phones, staking out his home, doing undercover
work. In 1987, federal agents broke down Velazquez’s door. On |
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An open
door |
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"Alex,
I’m a Christian. Would you come to a fellowship service tonight?" the inmate
from the room said. Velazquez no longer feared being jumped or set up. He
knew God had heard his cry. He attended chapel later that evening and
immediately felt the presence of God. He ran to the altar. "I was
weeping," Velazquez says. "I knew I wanted to come home to my
Father." |
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From the
first day, prison was the scene for God’s plan. Spirit-filled prison
chaplains Mike Reighard and Manuel Cordero discipled Velazquez for more than
two years. God restored his marriage. He learned to read and received his
GED. |
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Released
on parole one year early, Velazquez went in a new direction. God provided for
him and his wife, Amelia, to attend |
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In little
more than a year, the church has grown to almost 100 children and adults and
completed a building project. The church logo proclaims: "A place of refuge
for hurting people." |
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Prison
ministry will always be a priority for Velazquez and his congregation. Some
members hold monthly services at Delaware County Prison, Gratesford Maximum
Prison and New Life Youth Facility. "Prison ministry is important to me,
because prison is what God used to break me," Velazquez says.
"Inmates are people who have made mistakes and are in need of the
Savior. If we show them the love of Jesus Christ, we will break down
walls." Velazquez now counsels families who are back together after one
of their members was released from prison. |
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*Cheri
Cauthon is an Assemblies of God missionary associate in |
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