Ex-Gang Leader Now Preaching Time In Prison Changed Founder Of God Is Not Dead Ministries

Wilson Carreras, better known as “Brother Wilson,” swept into town six months ago to share his message of hope with gang members in the Yakima Valley.

The tattooed New Yorker said he once ruled 800 gang members on the streets of that city. Now he runs God Is Not Dead Ministries and tries to show gang members they, too, can change their lives.

“After having been a leader of gangs, into drugs and violence, I was always on a high. But when Jesus got ahold of me, something happened on the inside,” said Carreras, who is of Puerto Rican descent.

“You know how society projects that once you’re messed, you’ll be a mess-up for the rest of your life. But God doesn’t make a judgment.”

Carreras, 38, was in prison when he found religion. When he was paroled, he decided to reach out to others.

“God sent me,” he said. “I’m not preaching religion. I’m not preaching a denomination. I’m proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.”

The ultimate goal of God Is Not Dead Ministries, Carreras said, is to establish a permanent church and an outreach center for gang members. But for now, he and his followers will continue their services four days a week at the Pix Theater in Toppenish and three days a week at a borrowed church in Yakima.

So far, 30 gang members have pledged themselves to Carreras’ ministry. Whether they stay out of trouble depends on the community, he said.

“If there are no facilities, it’s easy to fall back in the trend,” Carreras said in a recent interview.

“They need a place where they can come and get involved with programs. They need encouragement and counseling, which is why we are asking pastors from all around the (Yakima) Valley to help us get them involved in constructive things. Otherwise Satan will come back.”

Carreras’ background enables him to reach out to gang members as many others cannot, said the Rev. Tim Fauth of the Church of God 7th Day of Toppenish.

“First of all, he is an ex-gangster,” Fauth said. “He was what they are, or what most of them couldn’t even aspire to. He’s the ex-leader of a huge gang. He knows how to talk to them in their own language. It makes them stop and listen.”

At a recent weeknight service, more than 150 people packed into the small theater. A banner, emblazoned with”God Is Not Dead,” formed the backdrop for a four-piece band that started the service with mellow gospel music.

Carreras led his worshipers through a charismatic and dramatic sermon.

As he preached each line in Spanish, his brother, Edwin Carreras, translated it to English with equal fervor. Line by line, back and forth, the two men carried their audience.

Midway through his delivery, Carreras called the large crowd onto the theater floor. He moved among them, asking newcomers to accept Jesus Christ.

An 18-year-old gang member fell to his knees, crying that he wanted to accept Jesus.

“I really want to change,” said the teenager, who asked not to be identified because of gang tensions. “I am a gang member. I’ve found someone who has a greater love for me. He opens up. He understands where we are coming from.”