My name Alejandro Martinez I’m twenty-nine years old. The Picture you see me in is me working with an organization called “Paws for Life”. This organization allows inmates like myself to give back to the community.
I have been in prison for now 11 years. I grew up without a father and my mother tried her very best to help me but I listed to the “Street” rather than my mother’s advice. I was a living in a criminal lifestyle as a careless and reckless and dangerous kid. I had turned to gangs to find a sense of myself, love, acceptance, self-worth, and empowerment. Being in immature and impulsive I committed a lot of crimes out of resentment and anger, I got deeper involved in the gang life. My aim was to become the most dangerous gang member to build a reputation for myself on the streets. In doing this I believed that I was going to gain the love from those who I want to be accepted and respected and feared by. I grew with a callous heart and my affiliation with gangs fueled by anger and hurt towards myself and my family. This destructive lifestyle I chose let me to commit to assault and a murder wrongly killing another gang member. A month after I turn 18 years old, I was arrested tried and convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crimes I committed.
My mother told me many times that she was praying to God for me and I would come to Jesus. One-time alone mi my cell I got down on my knees and ask God to forgive me. I have faced many challenges and tests but the Lord God has help me through them all. I regularly attend the services of Claudia and Dr. Emerick who are volunteer chaplains at the prison where I’m housed. I know I have a long way to grow but thank God for their faithful service and bringing the word of God to myself and the other men who attend. They faithfully come every Sunday and they instill hope and faith in me and others that have turned our lives around. I am very grateful for Claudia and Dr. Emerick’s obedience responding to Gods call ministering to us who are in prison in many different areas of our lives. Please share my testimony with other people so they might see that Jesus Christ is the only way.