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Aug 19, 2004
Miguel: From Maniac to Missionary
Miguel Angel Aquino was an example to everyone in his town. An example of how to totally ruin your life! If there was anything evil or despicable happening, Miguel was sure to be involved in it.
Both of Miguel’s parents were alcoholics. By the age of 12, he began using drugs & alcohol. Miguel grew marijuana so that he could pay for the cocaine, heroin & liquor he became addicted to. He slept on the streets.
Miguel reaped a wretched harvest from his life of sin. He contracted tuberculosis. He was shot while being pursued by the police. Although they shot him twice in the left leg & once in the back, he escaped by diving into the Paraná River.
Did this make Miguel turn from sin? No. In fact, it just made him worse. He & a friend cut their hands & mingled their blood, trying to make a pact with the Devil in order to get power.
But, Miguel’s addictions were catching up with him. He realized they were killing him & making him go mad. So, he began attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Soon a friend invited him to a church service across the border in Brazil. Miguel was searching for answers, so he went.
At that service he finally found the answer to his problems. He realized that he could never fix himself, let alone please a righteous & just God. During the chorus of “I Found a Friend in Jesus,” Miguel trusted Christ as his personal Savior!
Although he was instantly saved from his sins, Miguel’s body still suffered from the results of sin. Never the less, God was merciful to him. With much prayer & fasting, Miguel overcame his alcoholism. Although Satan tortured his mind, Miguel finally found peace resting in the Lord. God also healed him of tuberculosis. After suffering a stroke that paralyzed his left side, the Lord restored most of his former ability.
Even though Miguel was born-again 29 years ago, he still can’t stop praising his Lord! He goes around full of joy & literally with a song on his lips. Now Miguel is a missionary to the rural people of the Chaco region of northwestern Paraguay. Working with a Brazilian missionary, he has helped plant a church there among those needy people.
Miguel’s testimony beautifully illustrates the love & mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord literally raised up Miguel from being a maniac sold out to drugs & alcohol, to being a missionary sold out to His master!
Posted by David Pryor in Religion, Testimonies | Permalink
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