How Jesus Rescued Me From Torture – Yurii, Ukraine
Feb 1, 2017 1928
How Jesus Rescued Me From Torture – Yurii, Ukraine
When I was young I often looked for trouble. As it turned out, at the age of 18 I had a baby son. This created a dysfunctional family, but somehow we stayed together for 5 years. At that time I wanted adventure. I stole things, but money did not make me happy. I also used drugs, and convinced others to start using them as well.
I was put into prison when I was 25, and sentenced to 15 years for a serious crime. I liked music, so by any means possible, I wanted to create a music group. Instead, because of my constant quarrels with other inmates and the administration, I was forbidden to go into the music room at all. That’s why I began attending the library where I unwittingly started reading the Bible and spiritual literature. I started going to sermons in the prison and soon I was baptised. But the truth was that I was not sincere. I only did it to help me get out of prison sooner.
Yurii has always loved music.
And then something happened that changed my life. Police officers accused me of a double murder. This meant they could sentence me to life imprisonment, and even give me the death penalty. They took me to another city and tortured me to get a confession.
After one particularly brutal session of interrogation I was so desperate to forget everything that I opened a Bible that I somehow had with me. By chance, I opened it up to Psalm 50 and found the amazing words in verse 15: “I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me”. After reading that verse I understood that I would be delivered, and that after it, I would tell others, giving praise to God.
The thirteenth day of interrogation was coming. I had been so worried the previous nights. Whenever I heard any noise, I would become afraid that they had come for me. However, that night I calmly waited for God’s miracle. In the interrogation room the next day, I said, simply and sincerely, “I understand that you have the right to suspect me. But before you start examining me, I want to tell you that I am not guilty. But if you intend to keep going, I understand.” Then there was silence. The senior officer gave an order to take me back to the prison cell.
I was taken back to Poltava prison. However, I didn’t give praise to God. Instead, I told everyone how cool I was and how I didn’t crack under pressure. In fact, I had been almost broken. When my behavior became too violent, I was put into a special unit for violent prisoners for 15 days. While I was there, I would tell the other prisoners about Jesus. But when the period was over and I returned to my prison cell, I became proud again. It was when I was put into the special unit for the second time that I promised God to tell how He had delivered me.
For the next eight years I preached Jesus Christ. During that time, God gave me a wife and we were married in prison. I was still a prisoner when we had a baby son. God also allowed me to organise a music group.
In 2012, I was discharged early. Now, I am even part of the church worship team. I also assist the GNU supported pastor who evangelises in the prison where I served time. His promise to me came true, and today I thank God for the opportunity to help others. – Yurii (Edited by Ella Rodionoff)
Yurii and his band. He never imagined that he would be leading worship in a church!
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