Aakeem Woodard

Trapped Inside Myself Aakeem Woodard

Many people today live their lives trapped inside themselves. The streets became my refuge, as my home was caught up in the Jehovah's Witness dogma and became my hell. I was tried and convicted - as an adult for armed robbery and murder - at the age of sixteen and was sentenced to life in prison. While in prison, I became the leader of a group of Muslims and began teaching an extreme form of Islam called Salalfiyya. I believed in jihad and wanted to fight all infidels in order to get to heaven. Hatred burned at my core, but God's love was more powerful than anger or hate. God reached down into me and unlocked the door of my heart and freed me from myself. On my road to Damascus, Jesus spoke to me words that would change my life forever.