Introduction.
This is Anthony. He regularly attended our Sunday services for almost two years. He led worship in all the services. He proved to be a warrior for Jesus and led many on the prison yard and in his cell block to Jesus. He was released from custody in March of this year and is currently living at a half-way house in Los Angeles. He also goes to skid-row and preaches to people who are homeless the love of God.
At the age of 26 he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His parole date would have been in 2042. He served 13 years of a 35 years to life sentence. Dr. Emerick wrote letters of support to the Governor for his commutation of his sentence which was granted and later we wrote another letter of support to the Board of Parole. And in March of this year, he received parole and was released from prison.
Testimony.
My name is Anthony Martinez, and I was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for attempted murder of an individual.
I was born and raised in Inglewood, California. My life consisted of drug dealing and gangs. My father left my mother when I was five years old, I never saw him again. My mother raised four children, including myself on her own. I didn’t realize that my mother was going through so much and now I understand that she is the strongest woman in the world to me. When I was growing up, I wasn’t taught about who Jesus was what he accomplished on the cross for me. Instead, my brother and all his friends showed me and at 8 years of I began to commit criminal acts. An at 14 years of age I became a gang member with a criminal mindset to sell drugs, guns, fight, and instill fear upon other people through violence. From a very young age I dedicated my life to evil because the devil had me believing that this is what life is all about and this is who I was a gang member. I started to realize more that the sins I committed were tearing me apart. I was 26 years old but yet so weary I couldn’t understand why. I was always living in fear of my life and do this. I carried a gun everywhere I went because I did not feel protected or at peace. How many felt happy when I was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and being with different women. But those no longer satisfied me even though I kept chasing them. When I tried to get more money to buy new things, that’s really never lasted.
In my neighborhood, we are always at war with certain rival gangs, and my consistent violet relay retaliations only field the anger and hate in my heart. My pride and reckless way of thinking caused me to even go against my own friends. A couple of months later, or shot at a party and almost lost my life. During my recovery, and after I isolated myself, and became more and more reckless. I later started to develop nightmares that I was being killed, and I would wake up gasping for air because I couldn’t breathe. Life was just getting too heavy for me and I was tired of the load of the different things that I did that I knew were sinful. I really didn’t pray much and I didn’t know who God was, but I got down on my knees one day and told God I was tired of living my life like this. My daughter was seven years old and my girlfriend is pregnant with my second daughter, so I asked God for help. Then I went back to my destructive and reckless lifestyle. Two weeks later was arrested for attempted murder, and later sentenced to life in prison. The first time I really heard about the gospel was in my fourth year of my sentence. The Lord used His word to touch my heart in a very powerful way. When I heard the gospel, I know it was the truth. I knew God was knocking on my heart to let him in, but I still ran from his love, because I still wanted to live my life for myself.
When I was in Calipatria State Prison, one of my friends left the gang and gave his life to. Jesus invited me to a two-day church service call Kairos I declined but the next day he said the participation form to Michelle anyway, I told him I wasn’t going to sign it, but for some reason I did that she got move me to go because that today serious. I heard God’s voice clearly telling me what are you waiting for?
The reason for that question was because I didn’t budge when they called people to receive Jesus at the end of the service. I went back to my cell uncomfortably. The whole night I couldn’t sleep. I knew in my heart my life belongs to God, and not to the gang. The feeling I had to give my life to Christ Was very powerful, but it scared me because I never lived my life outside of the gang. The next day I went to the last service they called an altar call again. I sat there with my heart racing in my chest. The pastor looked around, trying to find courage to stand up. I took a few more minutes to try to calm down but eventually, I just bounce up out of my chair, walk straight to the pastor ‘s arms, and he gave me a long, confirming hug, and congratulated my decision to receive Jesus that day.
Leaving my gang was not easy. I was persecuted by those who I considered the closest to me. However, God is faithful and He protected me the hate and gave me through the heat and gave me strength to continue. From that day forward, God will continue really his wisdom, and I pursued growth in the knowledge of his word, and understanding his will for my life. My purpose on this earth is to share the hope that is in me to those who are still living that destructive gang style that I want to keep my life to. I now share the gospel of Jesus Christ and I had freed me from your deceptive way of thinking I know I am now a man of wisdom who leads my family in the ways of the lord I thank God for my deliverance.
I also thank God for Dr. Emerick and his wife, Claudia, who have consistently for the last two years served as Volunteer Chaplains at the Lancaster State Prison. Every Sunday faithfully coming to teach the word of God for two services which consist of about 100 men strengthening their soul and helping then witness to others. They distribute Christian literature and Bibles Study material for the men to grow in the word of God. I see through their sacrifice in love what true commitment and discipleship is all about.
Don’t forget about those who are in custody because they have lived a very traumatic life. They need to hear about the love of God.
It’s Never Too Late!