Georghe is originally from Romania and has always been an out-going and kind personality. He grew up in a Pentecostal Christian home not far from Bucharest. During the communist years in his country, things turned very corrupt, with Georghe finding his way to success through corrupt money-making schemes. After many years and many 'ups and downs', he was arrested and put behind bars in 2005.
AGWM personnel, Ken Barickman, a prison chaplain in Belgium, came to know him in the Forest prison in 2006. He was always smiling, happy, and ever willing to talk and to listen to the message of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. But whenever Barickman would ask, "Georghe, are you ready now to put your full trust in Jesus' work on the cross for you, to turn your heart and life over to Him?" He would always say, "No, I'm not ready yet. I need to think about it more."
Georghe was later transferred to St. Gilles prison where Barickman visited him more; then on to Ittre prison where his visits continued. Georghe must have thought, "Man, this guy is everywhere! I can't escape his always asking me if I am ready to ask Jesus into my life." In fact, however, Barickman stopped asking him, knowing that after a point, continually saying "no" to Christ can harden the heart. So, he just kept on visiting him and in time, befriended him. Finally, in Ittre prison, he tired of his life in confinement, and thought of suicide. Barickman talked him out of that, and then Georghe decided to go into an isolation cell on a hunger strike until either they gave him work or they would transfer him to another prison. After 2 months in isolation, he was transferred to the psychiatric wing of the Forest prison where Barickman visited him again. After he was found to be of a sound mind, he was given a job in the kitchen and was put in a regular worker's cell.
On a recent day, Georghe was off from work and was alone in his cell, so Barickman shared the passages from Luke 16 and Matthew 16 where Jesus speaks about what it really means to follow Him..."For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" This question and its logic really spoke to him, and Georghe said, "Always before, I was carrying baggage from my past life along with me, and I never wanted to give it up. But now, all that baggage has been stripped away. I see clearly now, and I'm not held back to make a right decision this time. He was now ready to invite Christ into his life. They got down on their knees and prayed a prayer of repentance. They rejoiced together.
When Barickman returned home from prison, he shared what happened with his wife Marianne. She asked, "What time did this happen. He replied that it was between 3 and 3:30 in the afternoon. Marianne said, "That's when I took 45 minutes to pray for you." Prayer works! And, that's team work!
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