Yiye Avila was a Puerto Rican evangelist and writer who was widely regarded as the Latino Billy Graham. He was known for his passionate preaching and prophetic ministry that reached millions of people around the world. He died on June 28, 2013, at the age of 87, from cardiac arrest. In this article, we will explore the life and legacy of Yiye Avila, as well as the circumstances of his death.
Early Life and Career
Yiye Avila was born on September 11, 1925, in Camuy, Puerto Rico. His parents, Pablo Avila and Herminia Portalatin, were both Sephardic Jewish schoolteachers who had converted to Christianity. Yiye Avila followed in their footsteps and became a devout Christian from a young age.
He enrolled at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences and completed his pre-medical studies. He planned to study medicine, but he decided to return to his hometown and teach chemistry and biology at the local high school for 22 years.
He was also a talented athlete and a bodybuilding champion. He won the Mr. Puerto Rico title in 1952 and the second runner-up for the Mr. North America title in 1953. He was training for the 1956 Olympic Games, but he was diagnosed with chronic arthritis that prevented him from competing. He suffered from intense pain and limited mobility, which led him to seek God for healing.
Conversion and Ministry
According to his official Facebook page, Yiye Avila converted to Christianity while watching a television sermon by the late evangelist Oral Roberts in the early 1960s. He felt a divine call to dedicate his life and work to evangelism. He went to his bedroom and prayed, asking Jesus to heal him and use him for his glory. He claimed that he received a miraculous healing and a divine revelation through the study of the Bible.
He started to preach the gospel in his hometown, and soon he was invited to speak at churches and crusades across Puerto Rico and Latin America. He founded the Ministerio Cristo Viene (Christ is Coming Ministry) and the Cadena del Milagro (Miracle Network), which broadcast his messages through radio, television, and the internet. He also wrote several books and pamphlets on topics such as prayer, fasting, faith, prophecy, and the end times.
He was considered one of the most influential Protestant preachers of the Spanish language. He was often compared to Billy Graham, the American evangelist who was his friend and mentor. He traveled to over 100 countries and filled stadiums with thousands of people who came to hear his fiery and fervent sermons. He was known for his humility, integrity, and zeal for God.
Death and Legacy
In 2009, Yiye Avila suffered a debilitating stroke that limited his speech capabilities and forced him to retire from public preaching. He spent his last years in his home in Camuy, surrounded by his family and friends. He continued to pray and study the Bible, and occasionally recorded short messages for his followers.
On June 28, 2013, Yiye Avila died in his sleep from cardiac arrest, according to El Vocero. He was 87 years old. His death was mourned by millions of Christians and non-Christians alike, who expressed their gratitude and admiration for his life and ministry. His funeral was held on June 30, 2013, in Camuy, where hundreds of people gathered to pay their final respects. His daughter, Doris Avila, said that his death was the cause for a “party in heaven”, according to The Christian Post.
Yiye Avila left behind a legacy of faith, hope, and love that inspired generations of believers and seekers. He was a pioneer of evangelicalism in Latin America and beyond, and a faithful servant of God who proclaimed the gospel with power and conviction. He will be remembered as the Latino Billy Graham, who touched the lives of countless people with his message of salvation and healing.
