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Brian Greenaway’s autobiographical sequel to his first book Hell’s Angel tells how he found the faith and strength to conquer the monster within and continues his life story of transformation from Hell's Angel to God's messenger.
From a selfish life consumed entirely by drugs, crime and violence, Brian Greenaway's transformed life is now a mission focused on the life changing restoration of others.
His life as Hell's Angel gang leader, violent criminal and his shock prison cell encounter with the living God is graphically retold thorugh his own powerful words in his powerful new book The Monster Within.
I held out my arms... "Change my life. Make my life worth living."
With a criminal record from the age of 12, by 1973 Brian Greenaway was the unopposed leader of a Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. Driven by drugs and violence his out-of-control life and the two near fatal stabbings swept him to the gates of HM Prison Dartmoor and a four-year stretch inside.
The book that rocked his world
In prison, someone gave Brian a copy of Run, Baby Run. He recognised the book’s story of vicious New York gangs, identifying with gang leader Nicky Cruz's life of self-destruction. The parallel with Brian’s own life and its inevitable outcome was shockingly clear. But the book’s real power, that rocked Brian’s world, was Nicky Cruz life changing with the Jesus of the little yellow Bible placed in his cell.
"Instantly I felt all the rottenness and poison inside me leave."
"I opened it," says Brian, "and began to read: 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me which does not bear fruit, he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, so that it may produce more fruit."
"While I was reading, I felt something overwhelming, as if God were there in my cell. I continued to read. 'Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it remain in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me.” If I wanted my life to be fruitful, I had to become part of Jesus."
From prisoner to prison chaplain
Lying on his bunk Brian recalls holding out his arms and shouting to God, "Change my life. Make my life worth living." For Brian it was as all the rotten-ness and the poison inside him left and the love of God streamed in. For the first time in his life Brian Greenaway experienced the pure love of God… and burst into tears.
Since that day, Brian continues to go in and out of Britain’s prisons – but this time as a chaplain to he needs of other prisoners. Using his own experience he is well placed to help others find the faith and strength to turn their own lives around.
Lifechanging stories that change lives
"Personally," says Brian, "I don't care why a man is in prison or if they don’t want to listen to me. It is not easy to find a man who is willing and wants to talk about making changes to his life." Yet in over the 28 years of prison ministry, Brian has helped many to come to Christ.
With many life changing stories from those 28 fruitful years, The Monster Within is the sequel to Brian’s autobiographical Hell’s Angel. The new book contains much of the biographical material relating to his own life changing encounter and conversion.
For prison missions and youth groups
Brian's entire conversion story can be found and followed in this second book without having read the first. As part of Brian’s continuing ministry to prisons and prisoners, 20,000 copies of The Monster Within books and its companion The Monster Within DVD version – presenting the book in seven 20 minute sessions, will be given away free to young offenders in prisons around the UK.
With its attention grabbing cover design the book and DVD are likely to have an impact on young people and may prove an engaging focus for discussion or study groups. Both formats of Brain Greenaway’s latest title, are available to pre-order now at Eden.co.uk.
Author snapshot: Brian Greenaway
Former Hell’s Angel Brian Greenaway works with the Wandsworth Prison chaplaincy and as a counsellor in High Down prison. He and his wife Jennie take occasional services at Maidstone and Coldingly Prisons. His ongoing ministry is to make contact with prisoners, build constructive relationships and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
The Monster Within: the not-so-trivial files
Supporting Brian in his new book is established writer, Andrea Robinson. Andrea helped Gram Seed put his life changing experience into words with his books One Step Beyond and its sequel It Must Be Love. Brian’s and Gram’s books tell the personal stories of how a new found faith helped them survive prison, change their mindsets and turn around their lives.
