Hector Vega\u2019s journey to faith began in the most unlikely place: Rikers Island Prison. One night, correction officers rushed in. An inmate named Jose Vega had committed suicide. Due to a mix-up, prison staff mistakenly identified Hector as the deceased and notified his family. For several days, while the prison was on lockdown, Hector\u2019s family believed he was dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on this, Hector said, \u201cThere\u2019s something powerfully symbolic in how I was \u2018dead\u2019 but not yet buried. Looking back on this moment in my life, I believe God was beginning to show me that although I was physically alive, I was spiritually lifeless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raised in Hell\u2019s Kitchen, New York, Hector struggled with feelings of inadequacy. To fit in, he began drinking at 11, then moved to marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Multiple prison sentences followed. A turning point came through his girlfriend Michelle, who, frustrated by his addiction and aware he wasn\u2019t ready for fatherhood, turned to God and prayed for his deliverance. She encouraged Hector to attend a Christian recovery program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hector recalls, \u201cI also started feeling deep remorse and shame over the pain I had caused people in my family, especially my mom and dad. So, I started attending prison chapel services. From there I started reading the Word of God, and gradually it got a tight hold on my heart.\u201d He clung to passages like Psalms 27 and 91, and Galatians 5:1\u201313, which speaks of freedom in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the support of mentors, Hector surrendered his life to Christ. Since then, he has served as executive director of a homeless shelter and addiction-recovery program, and since 2009, as pastor of East Harlem Fellowship. Married to Michelle for 30 years, they have raised four children. Hector now travels globally, sharing, \u201cWhen the world had labeled me an addict and a career criminal, his love and mercy overwhelmed me\u2026 I was made in his image and worthy of being presented as a trophy of his grace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax_ctp_audience":[],"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[165],"tax_ctp_format":[171],"tax_ctp_illustration_types":[],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[140],"tax_ctp_tags":[3375,3380,3404,3448,3477,3517,3558,3592,3689,3830,3897,4010,4011,4088,4089,4537,4541,4782,4787,4877,5139,5283],"tax_ctp_topics":[],"class_list":["post-65491","sermon-illustrations","type-sermon-illustrations","status-publish","hentry","tax_publications-ct-pastors","tax_ctp_tags-acknowledging-god","tax_ctp_tags-addiction","tax_ctp_tags-alcohol","tax_ctp_tags-assurance-of-salvation","tax_ctp_tags-behavior","tax_ctp_tags-born-again","tax_ctp_tags-changing-lives","tax_ctp_tags-christian-life","tax_ctp_tags-conversion","tax_ctp_tags-drugs","tax_ctp_tags-evangelism","tax_ctp_tags-forgiveness","tax_ctp_tags-forgiveness-of-christ","tax_ctp_tags-grace","tax_ctp_tags-grace-of-god","tax_ctp_tags-new-birth","tax_ctp_tags-new-life","tax_ctp_tags-redemption","tax_ctp_tags-regeneration","tax_ctp_tags-salvation","tax_ctp_tags-testimony","tax_ctp_tags-witness"],"acf":{"scripture_references":[{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null}]},"yoast_head":"\n