Pic: Keegan Pillay
Keegan Pillay is in his forties and has overcome many challenges in life. He used to associate with notorious criminals, was involved in drug smuggling, and engaged in street fights from a young age. He enjoyed the image of being a 'bad boy' and embraced his nickname, 'Lucifer'. He worked hard to uphold this persona and showed no mercy to others. At the age of 14, he was imprisoned for attempted murder.
“In 2015, I hit a turning point in my life”, He said. “My health was deteriorating, and I felt like I had lost control. Despite being raised in the Hindu faith, I found myself crying out to the Lord Jesus for help when I hit rock bottom. At that time, I was homeless and continued down a path of self-destruction”.
16 October 2015 will always be an extraordinary day for Keegan. That day, his brother loaded him into his car and took him to the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal, to start with its CYPSA restoration programme. The day marks the beginning of his new life, even though he was suffering from the withdrawal symptoms of heroin. At the mission, Keegan was treated with love for the first time. He also found the Lord and has followed Him faithfully ever since.
“In my life, I have never experienced anything like this,” Keegan says. “The respect and acceptance I received from strangers were unprecedented for me. These people did not know me but welcomed and accepted me unconditionally. I don’t know of another place in the whole world where an addict is taken in so unconditionally and without any payment for the restoration programme. When I asked how much it would cost, I was told that Jesus had already paid for me on the cross.”
His turbulent childhood had prepared him for a lifestyle of crime, but about ten years ago, he chose to leave that life behind. He is now a responsible and skilled farm worker at Emseni Farm, making a valuable contribution to ensuring food security for others. His consistent work brings him joy and enables him to care for his ageing mother.
Read more such inspiring stories in our sister publication, Devoted, by following the link, https://wwwdevotedmag.co.za
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