God wrote the story. We're just sharing it.
Emmanuel, which means God is with us, was whispered by the Most Holy Spirit, in a 7x10 cold and moldy prison cell, in the depths of complete and total solitary confinement, to a desperate prisoner when he needed it the most.
Julian was in solitary confinement for months and months on end, under unimaginable conditions, not even knowing if he would ever get out. On this one particular night, about 18 months in (which is mind-boggling to even write about), he was having one of the worst days and nights in there — absolutely everything seemed to go wrong; emotionally, physically, and spiritually. After having a profound conversion (reversion) to the faith, Julian started praying and reading the Holy Bible more often.
On this day, his neck and whole entire right side were hurting and numb from sleeping on a metal bunk with a very thin mattress (glorified yoga mat) and no pillow. Tension headache, stomach ache from the amazing prison food, stress of fighting his case, and on top of all of that a faith crisis.
So he did what he was usually led to do: to pray and read the Holy Bible. However, on this day, it was as if God was completely absent. He prayed for hours, but to no avail. All the way until midnight, when he tried to lay down and get some rest — but his heart was palpitating out of his chest. No rest yet.
Julian clung to his rosary for dear life, and prayed just to see the sun come up. More adoration, more psalms, more prayer until about 3 AM. That's the last time he remembers looking at the time. He ended up falling asleep with the rosary wrapped around his right hand.
EMMANUEL
“God is with us”
The whisper
When he woke up — thanks be to God — feeling a tiny bit better, he sat down to read a psalm before breakfast, and noticed three egg-shaped bruises that were down his left forearm. The bruises were already a yellowish greenish color. At first, he didn't think much of it.
Then, as clear as day, he heard a voice in the bottom of his soul saying “EMMANUEL… EMMANUEL… Emmanuel” over and over.
Shocked at first, he looked around. No one at the door, and clearly no one else in the cell with him. “What's Emmanuel and why?”
He started searching the Scriptures and discovered that Emmanuel means “God is with us”.
When Julian needed it the most, after a desperate night of prayer, God whispered to his heart: “Emmanuel” — I am with you.
This was the humble beginning of Emmanuel A.D. Little did he know at this time, in the year of our Lord 2022 (A.D.), that this would be the beginning of something beautiful, and that God Himself was writing the story.
Why “A.D.”
A.D. was inspired by another inmate whom Julian had the pleasure of meeting in federal prison. This person would always say “in the year of our Lord 2026”.
It got him thinking — when did we stop writing BC / AD after the date? Secularization has silently removed this in a direct attack on our faith. Just like they seek to remove CHRIST out of CHRISTmas.
Growing up, he used to think that AD meant “after death”, but it's actually Latin for “ANNO DOMINI”, which means “in the Year of Our Lord”.
Isn't it fascinating that every single time we write or say the date, we are saying “it's been 2026 years, 8 months, and 12 days since the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (for example)! Our very own calendar is a testimony to the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise God. (No wonder they removed it!)
Please help us in this mission
Write AD after the date again — and consider saying “in the year of Our Lord 2026”.
After witnessing first-hand what happens in prisons, and after much prayer, Julian was convicted to do whatever he can to help prisoners and share that same HOPE that he personally received from our loving Creator and Redeemer.
Thus, by the grace of God, Emmanuel AD was born.
God wrote the story. We're just sharing it.
Please help us reach these prisoners with the hope of EMMANUEL — comforting them that God is ALWAYS with us.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9
Ready to be part of the story?
The next chapter is a letter with your name on it.