A Miraculous Conversion
Casey Diaz* grew up in Los Angeles with an alcoholic father and a mother who worked two jobs and was seldom at home. Soon Casey began roaming the streets where the Rockwood Street Locos welcomed him to their gang. To prove he was tough enough to belong, he had to kill, so he shot his first victim at age 11. Soon he discovered it was easy for him to kill.
When his gang wasn't fighting or murdering, they were robbing. Every year until he was 18, Casey spent at least a part of that year in prison. At age 18 he was placed in solitary confinement for 12 years.
After a few years in solitary, a small African American woman began coming by his cell once a month and telling him that she was praying for him. She told him Jesus loved him and would forgive him no matter what he had done. It meant nothing to him.
One day he looked at the wall in his cell and saw a movie playing about his life. In fact, he saw his entire life story played out--his childhood and life with the gang. He thought maybe his grasp upon reality was slipping. Then he saw a bearded man with long hair carrying a cross. Casey knew the man was looking at him even though he couldn't see his face.
Next, rough looking men were nailing him to the cross and raising him between two other men on crosses. The bearded man looked at Casey, and said, "I'm doing this for you." Then Casey heard the sound of breath leaving the man. Casey recognized that sound and knew he died.
Casey knew this was Almighty God, and he fell on his knees weeping. One by one his past sins came to him, and as they came, he repented. And each time he repented, he felt a weight had lifted. Soon he knew something had happened; he was different.
Then God said, "Ask for a chaplain." So he did although he didn't know what a chaplain was. A chaplain came and Casey told him his story.. When the chaplain read about Jesus hanging on the cross, they were both crying.
To Casey's surprise, in a few days, the warden took him out of solitary. He later began leading Bible studies, and an incredible number of gang leaders and prisoners came to Christ.
Miraculously, Casey was released early. He is now married, father of three children, and a teaching pastor in his church.
Dear Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself in answer to prayer to those who do not seek you.
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32).
