YIYE AVILA DIES AT 88 YEARS

Veteran Latin Evangelist  Yiye Avila went to be with the Lord as he quietly passed away in his sleep at age 88.Yiye Avila (José Joaquin Avila born 1929 in Camuy, Puerto Rico), is one of the most respected evangelists in Latin America and a former Mr. Universe as well. Avila went to college at "La Universidad Interamericana De Puerto Rico" in San German, to study to become a teacher. One of the requisites was to take a class about the Bible. He returned to Camuy after graduating and began teaching at the high school level, but he also began playing baseball in the double A level and winning Mr. Puerto Rico as a bodybuilder in 1952. He would later win the title of Mr. Universe. While training for the Olympic Games of 1956, Avila suffered terrible pain and was diagnosed with chronic arthritis by his doctors. This prevented him from participating in any further sporting events. The pain was so intense that Avila could not do everyday chores. As consequence of his health problem Avila began praying and seeking divine intervention in his situation. His conversion to evangelism came after watching a TV show conducted by a north American preacher. In 1967 Ávila retired from the magistery after 21 years as a teacher and began to concentrate on his work as a Christian instead. He became a preacher, and in 1972, he formed his "Escuadron Relampago Cristo Viene" in a small room in his house. Eventually his ministry grew too large for that small room and a new facility had to be built somewhere else in Camuy to accommodate all of the attending public. Avila's preaching network eventually kept on growing and has now reached all of Latin America as well as Europe and the United States.