The emptiness in Joel’s* heart took him to the brink of a nervous breakdown. He ground his teeth daily, spoke roughly, and cursed anyone who crossed his path.
He turned to drugs, but eventually, his illegal lifestyle caught up with him. After a chase from the police, Joel was caught and arrested in the restricted country where he lives. The police ordered him to go to court in three months to receive his sentence.
Joel contacted seven lawyers to help him argue his case, but not one would help him. They all said he could not avoid the punishment. This stress was enough to tip Joel over the edge. No one could approach him except his mother. He couldn’t sleep at night and was unable to eat. His vision began to deteriorate, and he felt a nervous twitch in his stomach.
One day, Joel’s sister placed a New Testament near him. Joel picked it up and started to read it. In fact, he devoured it! He read the New Testament five times in one week. Miraculously he found that he was able to relax. He stopped grinding his teeth. The twitching sensation in his stomach was gone for the first time in 15 years. His impaired vision improved. Joel wondered if it was all a dream. As he continued pondering this new peace and reading the New Testament, he came to faith in Christ.
The court date arrived, and his mother went with him. She had to stay outside, but Joel was at peace. He knew he was not alone. The fellow in front of Joel had committed a similar offense to his, and the harsh, angry judge handed him a heavy sentence. Joel’s turn was next. He stepped up to the judge with a peaceful expression. The judge looked down at the case. He looked at Joel. After a long silence, he said, “Once a year I pardon one person. You are that person.” Joel was free to go!
Now Joel participates in evangelism. He has been freed of the bondage of sin and wants others to experience the same freedom.
*Getting God’s Word into the hands of people, especially in closed and restricted countries with limited access, is a high priority for CAM. We endeavor to develop long-term relationships with contacts and verify their work to the extent possible. However, independent verification is often limited, which creates a certain amount of financial risk.
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