Damian's Testimony

When I first met Damian he had been out of prison only a few months. Here is a little of his story.

Damian Cruz had been a quiet but wild young man who wanted to be popular especially with the girls. He was one of the few young men in his village with a car. His father was French and an alcoholic and died one night in a drunken stupor in the middle of the road. Damian never attended school. His mother is Zapotec and they lived in a remote village off the coast near Huatulco. About twenty years ago he was ambushed and shot at in a drug raid. He was a drug runner. He was left for dead. But God had a different journey for this talented man. Shortly after this he found Christ.

He was then brought to trial and put in prison for ten years. God sent a missionary to ministry in that prison in Pochutla, Oaxaca and this missionary began to see the potential and hunger for God in Damian. I'm not sure how Damian learned to read but with all this time on his hands he began to devour the Word of God with the missionary. After about four years this missionary commissioned Damian as pastor of the prison ministry. Under his pastorate God began to use him in many ways there. He had the privilege of baptizing over 124 inmates that he had won to Christ in that prison. One of the inmates was a young man, Jésus, from San Agustin. Jesus now attends our mission on the beach with his family.

When Damian left the prison he became a fisherman to support his family. Armando had ministered to Damian and one day recommended him when I needed to rent a boat for visitors who came down from the states. Then when Pastor Armando decided he was returning to live in Mexico City he gave me the name of two who he recommended to take his place. After prayer and interviews we chose Damian. Or let's say God chose Pastor Damian. This man is true blue. A real man of God.

He still has his mission in the prison where he has trained another inmate to serve as pastor. Then he started a Bible study with another couple in La Cruzacita. This congregation has grown over the last couple of years and they have ministered to those who after being released from the prison, are trying to reenter society. Una Esperanza is his newest vision and adventure for Christ.