He recollects his past: "When I was a child our family was quite friendly: father, mother and six brothers. We weren't poor but were comfortably off. Unfortunately my dad died when I was 11. It was an awful tragedy for our family. My mom remained alone with six kids and as she was weak-willed she started to drink alcohol to damp down the pain. Nobody cared of us anymore; we became "street" kids and did what we wished. At the age of 14 I was registered as a criminal in the police office because I stole some bread and other provision from the shop as I always was hungry. Street life influenced us badly that's why since that time I got acquainted with the criminal life. First I got into prison at the age of 15. Then I was condemned to the three year term in the prison. The teachers in the teen colony have no influence on young criminals and can't change them. It's impossible unless you have a self-motivation. While in the prison I gained even more of negative experience. Couple of days at large...and a crime again. It went on and on, year by year. I got my criminal "education" in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr and L'viv. The lifeline between 15 and 40 I had spent behind bars and barbed wire...until I met my God.

My brother Sergiy also lived a life of a criminal, was in prisons. But for almost 8 years he is a believer. He also repented in prison in L'viv and now is married, has a ministry in church and two kids.

When I came to Christ I realized with my heart that He is alive. I didn't know that church and my brother were praying for me.

But even then God was working in my heart. I don't know why but in prison I was alone in a single prison ward. My heart became fiercer and I hated everybody. But despite this I was looking for a way out, though not in God. In the prison I was about to lose my mind. I didn't have hope anymore. I didn't know where to find help. Finally I just felt on my knees and cried to God: "God, if You are there please help me." And I saw His miracle- I was moved from a single ward to a regular prison."

There Borys was invited to a church. This was his first Sunday spent in the church where he knew every prisoner. A lot of them gave their lives to Jesus and got baptized. And those who were already released were free to come and visit their friends in church prison. Their testimonies influenced the lives of the rest greatly.

Baptism of Borys in prison

"Then I felt on my knees and gave my life to God. I quitted smoking, though I was strongly addicted since childhood. I stopped cursing and cheating people. The 22nd of July 2006 is the happiest day of my life. The following Sunday I didn't go to church - I ran. I am free though I am still imprisoned. God started to work in my heart. After that I had been in jail for 5 years, but those years were the blessed once for me. Since I met God I forgot that I am a prisoner, I didn't think about that. The rest prisoners were really suspicious and couldn't believe I was changed. But I really was. I stopped playing gambling games, cheating and was really glad to walk in Christ. What a happiness it was to feel His blessings in prison" says Borys.

"My brother Sergiy had been bringing parcels to me and I accepted them as a sign of God's love as I knew that God loves believers.

After my repentance I had the only treasure - my Bible. I had been reading God's Word during nights and days and grew spiritually. People were teasing me in prison but I didn't care it was so captivating to read the Bible. And day after day I became more amazed. I used to boast and was proud of it while God taught me to be humble and this is where wisdom is.

And here I am - released and free.

It was long ago I was in the city. Everything had changed a lot and L'viv is hard to recognize, so beautiful. But I am happy that I was changed as well and can enjoy life. I am truly happy as all my grief I left there behind bars. Every time I was released I used to get into trouble right after I got into the streets. Police were the bitterest enemies to me I thought they spoil my life. Now I love everybody equally and live in the light of God's peace and His grace is filling me. Sometimes everything is not so easy and I need to try harder. For some time I lived in the church building, was taught to work, I am not hungry, have clothes to wear, work with my brother and earn my living honestly.

Now I want to warn those who live a useless life against the mistakes I made. I wish they didn't waste their lives as I did. "

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This story comes from the New Life Church in L'viv in the Ukraine