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Former Gang Member Transformed by Gospel, Now Leads a Church

  • Veronica Neffinger

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  • Updated Mar 09, 2017

A former gang member from Chicago had an encounter with the Lord that transformed his life, and now he leads a church when he used to lead a gang.

The Christian Institute reports on the incredible salvation story of David Washington. Washington became involved in drugs, drug dealing, and a gang when he was in his teens. He even became the leader of his gang.

But one day the law caught up with him. He was arrested for armed robbery and unlawful use of a weapon and was facing a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

It was then that Washington was hit with the truth of what he had done with his life.

“I had this experience of looking at myself in the mirror and saying, ‘You threw your whole life away for nothing.’”

He didn’t believe in God, but in that moment of despair, he cried out to God for help. Miraculously, in court the next day, the judge dismissed one of the charges and only sentenced Washington to one year under house arrest.

Washington knew that God must have intervened.

“I was convinced God was real after that,” he said. “And once convinced, there was no turning back. I gave God everything I had.”

This was the turning point for Washington. He “never went back to doing drugs” and he now ministers to the same people with whom he used to be in a gang.

“I began to go to the same people I used to lead and tell them, ‘I gave my life to Christ. This is real. I’m pleading with you to come out of this.’”

Washington also went to school and earned a degree in divinity. He works in his community as a youth and prison minister.

 

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: March 9, 2017