2023-11-14 23:40:10
Finding freedom in Jesus Christ was something that saved Vinícius Gonçalves Pires’s life not only on a spiritual level, but also on a physical level, here on Earth. After remaining imprisoned in darkness for years, having developed suicidal thoughts, drug addiction and demonic oppression, the ex-gay finally achieved God’s grace.
In an interview with Guiame, Vinícius, who currently works as a nurse, said that from a young age he began to suffer psychological abuse, something that led to feminine stereotypes.
“I suffered psychological violence by women who dressed me as a woman and ordered me to imitate Xuxa, Madonna and Angélica,” he said, revealing that his homosexual attraction was noticed at the age of 12.
Before that, however, from the age of eight, Vinícius began to frequent Candomblé terreiros. He remained in the African-based religion until he was 15 years old, when he decided to indulge in homosexual practices, as well as the use of marijuana.
First try
Until he became ex-gay, Vinícius went through several struggles, remaining with drugs and homosexual practices until he was 29 years old. During this period, he said he also started using cocaine, in addition to marijuana and alcohol. It was at that moment that the young man decided to ask for help for the first time.
“I decided to seek help at a recovery center at the age of 29, when my morality, family and social life were compromised by the consequences of drug use. My health was also compromised as I became a carrier of HIV as a result of homosexual practice and all the immorality and promiscuity that I experienced in an unprotected way,” he said.
Like most drug addicts, Vinícius had ups and downs, which made him plunge into a state of frustration with himself. Spiritual oppression came to the surface with all its force through evil possessions, with the aim of killing him.
According to Vinícius, who is now 42 years old, the possessions were violent, as one was “due to an injury with glass and another due to being thrown against the side of a moving train. As a result, he suffered head trauma and a fractured right arm. But God, for loving me and having a plan of redemption and salvation, delivered me.”
Release
The sequence of frustrations combined with oppression and drug addiction made Vinícius think about taking his own life, which occurred during the early hours of the morning at his parents’ house.
At the time, he hesitated when he remembered that years ago he had imagined that he would convert to Jesus Christ, and then be free from his slavery. As he prepared to commit suicide, memories came to his mind, just like God’s providences.
“A question came to mind: ‘Why not trust God to change your story and transform your life, as you’ve been saying for years that He would do?’. And, in fact, for eight years before this moment I had been convinced and said that one day I would convert and that Jesus would free me from homosexuality and drug addiction. So my answer to that question was, ‘Yes. I’m going to trust God.’”
Fortunately, Vinícius’s correct decision saved him from death. On the same occasion, he said he returned to his room and opened the Bible, reading the first verse that appeared to him, which was Psalm 40. Based on this passage, he said a prayer of confession of his sins and surrender to Jesus.
“I was led by the Holy Spirit to a therapeutic community, where I was taught the rudiments of the Christian faith. After having my identity and affiliation established and affirmed in God, I learned to walk in newness of life, stripping away the old man and abandoning habits and practices,” he said.
Currently an ex-gay, ex-addict and ex-oppressed person, Vinícius uses his testimony to bring hope to other lives. His trajectory shows that all it took was one decision, but also the help of capable, welcoming and patient people, for his life to change radically.
“I will never again be defined by what I feel or don’t feel. My identity is based on who God says I am: a man and a beloved son. I overcame my bad desires, developed new habits and had my entire story changed by the action of the Holy Spirit in me”, he says.
“False freedom imprisons, so you are also free to decide to renounce a false identity, renounce drugs and renounce homosexuality,” concludes.
#exgay #testifies #salvation #Christ