Illinois—Willy Ramos, also known as "The Ghetto Preacher," brought a message of hope to the Hinsdale Church during the Youth Week of Prayer, Apr. 2–5.

From the first evening when Ramos spoke, people of all ages listened. He emphasized that a person's "mess can become your message, your tests can become your testimony, and your misery can become your ministry."

"There was happiness and joyfulness spread throughout our church we have not seen in years," said Ole Mercado, director of the Hinsdale Adventist Trailblazers Pathfinders. "The Hinsdale Adventist Church will never be the same. History was made in this church. The words from Willy filled us completely. He is certainly an effective tool from the Lord."

Born in the Chicago area but raised in South Florida, Ramos has pursued many avenues of entertainment. A member of a gang from an early age, Ramos said that he was "ultimately rescued by a Jewish Carpenter named Jesus." After dropping a loaded gun that he planned to end his life with, Ramos received his answer to a prayer that he called his last. He understood that he was a prodigal son returning to the fold.

Though not formally trained as a minister, Ramos has now devoted his life to prayer and preaching the gospel. He is a popular speaker at youth events across the country. Ramos recounted his life-changing experience, and was amazed that eight years later, here he was, preaching in the upscale community of Hinsdale.

Through ghetto-style poetry, sermons and a touch of humor, Ramos' true desire is to share his testimony, conviction and knowledge about the one true God to all people. His "ghetto version" of "Jesus Loves Me" was a crowd favorite.

Ramos said, "The Christian life is a lot like a gang initiation—we must go through many hardships before entering the Kingdom of Heaven."

"We talk more on the phone, than to the Throne," and "Satan can knock you down, but can't knock you out," are samples of his memorable statements, interspersed with numerous Bible texts and quotes from Ellen G. White.

Originally scheduled to preach to a mostly youth audience in the Hinsdale Adventist Academy (HAA) gymnasium Sabbath morning, schedules were changed at the last minute to give the entire Hinsdale congregation the opportunity to hear Ramos' message at the main worship service.

The series culminated on Sabbath evening with nine baptisms (including several rebaptisms), welcoming individuals into membership to the Hinsdale, Downers Grove and Aurora Hispanic churches. It was one of the largest baptism events in recent church history.

"I liked Willy's stories about how God gives us many chances in life," said Priscilla Vasquez, 11, who was baptized at the end of the meetings. "The way he spoke brought me closer and closer to God."

Her sister, Larisa, 12, who was also baptized, agreed. "Willy spoke in a way that was easy for kids to understand. His life story is amazing," she said.

Jackie Bobek, an eighth-grade student at HAA, was one of the nine individuals baptized at the end of the series. She had been studying the Bible with Kenneth Parker, pastor, but hadn't yet set a date for baptism. She was "deeply touched" by the sermon Ramos preached on Sabbath morning and said, "If someone's message could affect me that much, I wanted to be baptized that very evening by him." Jackie's brother, James, was also baptized.

"This was an awakening for the church. I saw kids give their lives to Christ, and it was amazing," said Mercado.

Mercado reported that Ramos was "so energized after the baptisms, he hadn't slept at all when I came to pick him up at 3 a.m. Sunday to take him back to the airport."

Ramos said, "God was surely in Hinsdale. You cannot deny that Grace was in this house of the Lord."

Several of Ramos' presentations are available to download at the Hinsdale Church website. Go to www.hsdac.com and click on "Streaming Video" to view selections from Apr. 3–5. DVDs are also available for purchase.

Lisa Ziegele, correspondent, Hinsdale Adventist Church