Some people might not see this as a testimony of God's grace but to my family this is a testimony of a wonderful event – though it has a sad ending.

My parents were divorced when we were small and we grew up with a stepfather. Home was not what it was supposed to be so my brother became rebellious at an early stage in his life. It grew worse and he started using liquor and drugs. Eventually he spend more time in Rehab than at home. This caused friction in our home which in turn made him worse.

Those parents who experienced drug abuse will know that it is like hell, for the family as well as for the person himself. My brother lost control and it became impossible to overcome the heroin addiction, no matter how hard he tried.

Early 2006 my brother had a vision of himself in hell. He turned to God and tried hard to change his habits. It went well for a while but unfortunately he fell again. In June 2007 my step father died unexpectedly and my brother became the man of the house. He stood by my mother and grew a very close relationship with her. After having more visions he gave his heart to Christ and we got baptised. At this stage he was not using drugs for more than a year.

The change was remarkable. He was a new person, spending time in the word and talking hours at a time about God. Al he wanted to do is to tell others about Christ and how to be saved. This was wonderful for us as a family. We prayed for years and God saved him. He started writing a book to tell his story to others.

Sadly he never finished the book. After coming to Christ he was still tempted as the enemy was seeking to destroy him. This temptation became to big on 01 February 2008. We might never know what happened that day but my brother died because of an overdose.

This has been a great loss to us, but I thank God that my brother came to Him before he died. Imagine where he would have been today if he did not accept Jesus Christ. We are comforted in the knowing that God's grace is sufficient and that God saved him and has now delivered him.

I praise God for my brother. I have now surrendered completely to God because of him. And I thank God for the love and grace he gave my brother. Gods grace is indescribable Thank you- Jesus.

I needed to tell this as my brother wanted the world to know that God loves you – no matter how big a sinner you are. God can and wants to set you free.

Leani Pretorius

Received from : Johan Terblanche, Christ Alone Ministries