| Career criminal's transformed life |
 Career criminal’s transformed lifeSteve Cattell was addicted to crime. Brought up in care, he grew into an angry young man who craved the adrenalin buzz of his crimes and their material ‘rewards’ – money, clothes, holidays, jewellery, women. He was more ‘at home’ in prison than outside. He spent twenty five years in and out of prison, much in solitary confinement. He used his wife and children and the system to make his life easier and his sentences lighter. Can such a man change? Turn his back on his former life and start afresh. For Steve the answer is yes, but only by faith in Jesus Christ. Hear Steve tell his story at www.tranformed.org.uk/lives/stevecattell. It’s been eight years now since Steve made his decision to follow Jesus. His best friend, a heroin addict, had become a Christian and was desperate for Steve to hear the Good News* of Jesus that he had received. So Steve visited a church, taking in the stained glass windows and cross, he asked <‘God, if you can change my friend Paul’s life, why can’t you change mine?’ Steve thought at first that nothing had happened but as the weeks passed, he found his attitude to his wife and children changing. ‘For the first time in forty years I felt love and emotion as a father would for his children.’ Steve was on bail facing more time inside. Imagine his surprise when the judge, on hearing of Steve’s new desire to change his life, gave him a suspended sentence. Steve was now set on his journey with God. Again he went to church. ‘God,’ he said, ‘I don’t know if you exist. But if you do, just thank you for giving me my family, giving me my life back, love, emotion and a new start.’ Steve made a commitment to following Jesus. He was baptised and attended church. But he felt lonely. His new brothers and sisters in Christ didn’t know how to relate to a reformed criminal and he no longer associated with his old friends. ‘I broke down’, he remembers. ‘God, how can I work for you? I feel rejected and unloved. And God really spoke to me and said, “And so was My Son rejected. But you will have every door opened and I will walk beside you every step of the way.”’ Within months, Steve was back in prison but this time as a visitor with Offenders Anonymous, sharing his story of hope. That work has grown and is now linked to America and Canada, following a 12 Step programme that had been set up similar to AA. Steve is now found as often in colleges and universities as in prisons. Alongside psychologist and the police, Steve tells his story sometimes with remarkable results. He does three or four hundred talks a year around the country. His first experience at a north London college was memorable. His straight talking immediately got the students’ and the teachers’ attention. ‘I done Sky News Live and that was the most terrifying moment, going out to millions of people. But this classroom, I’d got kids with hoods on; they are swearing. I thought, “What’s going on here!”’ The university students are a different challenge. They represent the leaders of tomorrow. ‘I’m no academic! They’re doing criminology, forensics, politics… I say to them all, I do pray that they’d recognise that ex-offenders have a role to play within the prison system.’ God has more work for Steve to do both ‘inside’ and out. He is an active supporter of Transformed Ministries for ex-offenders. ‘It’s great when prisoners give their lives to the Lord inside but when the gate opens, the devil welcomes them home. That’s why I support Transformed, who offer non-judgement support and advice.’ To find out more about Transformed ministry and meetings see the website www.transformed.org.uk *The Good News Jesus said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…’ Luke Chapter 4 verse 18 |
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