Morgan Castillo
My name is Morgan Castillo, I’ve been apart of InnerCity Action going on four years now. Before InnerCity Action, I was a heroin addict, homeless, angry, and a slave to a criminal lifestyle! By the time I was 18, I was already serving a prison sentence; I burnt every bridge I had. It got to the point where I would do whatever it took to get high, broke into houses, and robbed people left and right. I destroyed anything that came into my path, relationships, friendships, and most of all myself. My mom believed one day that she would get the call that she’d have to go to the morgue and identify my body or that I would be behind bars for the rest of my life. I knew God was real my whole life but I’d never had an encounter, I knew of who He supposedly was but hadn’t had the experience of meeting this so called God and His son named Jesus. While in jail, a man came to see me; I knew he was from my moms church and that he was there for one reason and one reason only, to share the gospel. As soon as I sat down, this man told me his life story and the whole time I’m sitting there I was thinking to myself: “what is this guy getting at,” then I began to realize that he had the same problems I had.
He told me that Jesus loves me, and that everything I’ve ever done could be forgiven and thrown into the sea of forgetfulness. At first, I thought it was too good to be true, but I decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and savior that day. Before he left he challenged me to go back to my cell and get real with God, being someone that never turned one down, I accepted! I went back to my cell and as soon as the door closed it seemed as if my life flashed before my eyes as some of the most horrific moments were revealed. Even when I thought I was alone I saw Jesus right next to me through it all. I got down on my knees and completely surrendered my life to Christ. Upon my release from jail, I joined InnerCity Action a week later where the true journey began. I’m grateful I’m able to stand in a place to be used by God on a daily basis, and truly believe through my obedience to Christ my family will be saved. I’m blessed that I’m surrounded by men and women of God that are a true example of what a relationship with Jesus is supposed to look like. By walking in true humility and love, I began to learn not to just talk about it but to let my actions speak louder than words. My ultimate goal is to see lives transformed by the power and glory of God, that people would come in one way and leave a totally new creation, I truly believe it takes one encounter with God to change everything. This world is looking for an answer, and His name is Jesus Christ! I want to be used by God as an instrument, to bring him glory, whatever it takes, and whatever it costs for the kingdom of God. Even on the days where it’s a challenge to continue to go and keep my head up, I remember where I came from and what God has delivered me from. So send me, I’ll go.