Yiye Avila was a Puerto Rican evangelist and writer who was widely regarded as the Latino Billy Graham. He was known for his charismatic preaching and his prophetic messages about the imminent coming of Christ. He influenced millions of people in Latin America and beyond with his ministry, which spanned over five decades. But how did Yiye Avila die? What was the cause of his death? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.
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Yiye Avila’s 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 chose 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 Summer Olympics, but his dreams were shattered when he was diagnosed with chronic arthritis, which limited his mobility and caused him intense pain.
He turned to God and began to pray for healing. He claimed that he received a divine revelation through the reading and study of the Bible, where he received healing from Jesus Christ. From that moment on, he dedicated his life to evangelism.
Yiye Avila’s Evangelical Ministry
Yiye Avila’s ministry began in the early 1960s, when he was inspired by the television sermons of the American evangelist Oral Roberts. He started to preach in his own home, then in churches, stadiums, and crusades across Puerto Rico and other countries. He founded the Ministerio Cristo Viene (Christ is Coming Ministry) and the Cadena del Milagro (Miracle Network), which broadcasted his programs on radio and television.
He was known for his fiery and passionate preaching style, which often included miracles, healings, and prophecies. He emphasized the need for repentance, holiness, and faith in preparation for the second coming of Christ. He also denounced the evils of the world, such as sin, idolatry, and false doctrines. He was a staunch defender of the Christian faith and the Jewish people, and he supported the state of Israel.
He wrote over 70 books and pamphlets on various topics, such as prayer, fasting, spiritual warfare, and the end times. He also composed and sang Christian songs, some of which became popular hymns in the Hispanic evangelical community.
He traveled to over 100 countries and preached to millions of people, many of whom converted to Christianity or experienced spiritual renewal. He was considered one of the most influential Protestant preachers of the Spanish language and one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal movement in Latin America.
Yiye Avila’s Death and Legacy
Yiye Avila’s health began to decline in his later years. In 2009, he 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.
On June 28, 2013, Yiye Avila died from cardiac arrest at the age of 87. His death was mourned by hundreds of thousands of people, who gathered in his hometown and in other places to pay their respects and honor his memory. His funeral service was a celebration of his life and ministry, and his coffin was covered with the flags of Puerto Rico and Israel.
Yiye Avila left behind a legacy of faith, love, and hope. He inspired generations of Christians to seek God and to live according to his will. He also left behind a vast collection of books, songs, and messages that continue to edify and challenge the church today. He was a man of God who fulfilled his calling and finished his race.
According to Wikipedia, he was also the father of three daughters, Noemi, Doris Myrna, and Carmen Ilia, two of whom preceded him in death. He was also the grandfather of several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who inherited his spiritual heritage.
Yiye Avila cause of death was a natural one, but his life was a supernatural one. He was a man who lived for God and died for God. He was a man who can be described as the Latino Billy Graham. He was Yiye Avila.
