From Goodfella to God fella

Michael Franzese's life as a mobster earned him headlines around the nation, the nickname "Prince of the Mafia" from Tom Brokaw and an immortalizing portrayal in the movie "Goodfellas."

The sins of organized crime made Franzese famous.

But it also dammed his soul.

That is until the New York mobster left the Colombo crime family and began working for a new boss: God.

Today Franzese travels the nation telling his story of redemption, telling people that no matter how dark their life may be, God is always there patiently waiting to deliver peace, acceptance and renewal.

On Feb. 5 he will bring that message of hope to Yuma. Franzese has been invited appear as a guest speaker during the annual Yuma Area Prayer Breakfast at the Yuma Civic Center. (See inset for more information.)

Vanity Fair magazine called Franzese "one of the biggest money earners the mob had since Al Capone." He was also the youngest person on Fortune magazine's survey of the "Fifty Biggest Mafia Bosses."

"As a sworn member of La Cosa Nostra, I knowingly took an oath, a blood covenant, that obligated me to live my life in conflict with both the laws of God and of man," Franzese says. "Although the Lord Jesus was known to me, at the time I chose to give authority over my life to the boss of the Colombo crime family."

In his autobiography, "Blood Covenant," Franzese tells how he survived three major racketeering indictments, five criminal trials, seven years in prison and a Mafia death sentence.

Franzese's story has become quite well known. He has appeared on the "700 Club," "48 Hours," "Nightline" and "The Today Show." He has also been featured in Life Magazine and Sports Illustrated.

In preparation for his visit to Yuma, the former mobster recently granted the Yuma Sun an interview. The following are Franzese's thoughts on his past, the experience of being born again and his current mission of spreading hope to others:

YUMA SUN: We hear about the allure of power and money when a person is involved with organized crime. Describe how it feels in your soul when living the life of a mobster.

FRANZESE: Naturally, I can only speak for myself when evaluating a person's inner feelings. I was quite uncomfortable at times with some of the matters a mob guy had to deal with. I often struggled with many aspects of the life that were distasteful to me.
However, I did not show it outwardly. That would have been considered a sign of weakness. At times, I stepped outside of the person I really was, put my inner feelings aside and dealt with the matters at hand as a mob guy in my position was expected to. I was in a position of leadership - mob leadership - and had to maintain that persona.
Ultimately, I believe God knew my heart and that's why he extended his grace and allowed me to change the course of my life and survive as I have.

YUMA SUN: What was your relationship with God during those years?

FRANZESE: Other than believing in his existence, I didn't really have a relationship with God, didn't rely on him, really didn't hold myself accountable to him. Amazingly, I learned later on that even when I didn't want God, he still wanted me.

YUMA SUN: How do people working within organized crime morally justify their actions?

FRANZESE: When we take a blood oath and are "born again" into La Cosa Nostra, we agree to abide by the rules of the life. We agree that if we violate those rules, we will pay the consequences, or administer the consequences to another should he violate the rules.

Because the life is "allegedly" built on respect and honor, and La Cosa Nostra is a really a subculture of society, we create our own morality and feel that our actions are justified if we act in accordance with mob rules and policy. Mobsters live under a Machiavellian philosophy that says "the ends justifies the means," if the ends do not violate mob policy or law.

YUMA SUN: What is the most frightening or morally troubling memory from your time in organized crime?

FRANZESE: Unfortunately there are many troubling memories from the 17 years I spent in the life. The most frightening might have been of the night I was summoned to a "sit down" that I was almost certain would end in my death.
Another was of a night I spent in a prison cell and believed my situation was absolutely hopeless and that I had lost everything and everyone dear to me. Through that experience, I learned that hopelessness is by far the most painful and frightening emotion of all.

YUMA SUN: What sparked your decision to leave organized crime and finally turn to God?

FRANZESE: I met a young Christian woman I fell very much in love with. She really loved the Lord and was no doubt the catalyst through which God eventually would save me. Camille is my wife of 25 years.

YUMA SUN: Please talk about God's power to reclaim the seemingly most lost soul.

FRANZESE: I like to say that I have experienced the long arm of the law in my life, having been indicted five times for various crimes and eventually spending eight years in prison. However, I have experienced the even longer arm of the Lord, who can reach into the heart of even the worst sinner and change him from the inside out.
I was a hardened mobster. I had no intention of changing my life. I can offer no excuses for choosing to be in the life. I believe, however, that God knew my heart, had a different plan and purpose for my life and would offer me the opportunity to place my trust in Jesus.

YUMA SUN: You often quote this passage from the Bible: "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him." Please describe the safety you feel now, being in God's hands.

FRANZESE: There can be no greater comfort in life than knowing that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has my back throughout all my struggles. I have survived 17 years as a mobster, five major indictments, four criminal trials, eight years in prison and a mob death sentence that until this day has not been removed.
Everyone from the media to prosecutors to the FBI and my own mother predicted my death. To believe it's a coincidence that I am alive and free and hopefully fulfilling God's purpose in my life is extremely naive.

YUMA SUN: Do you feel burdened with the label "former mobster"?

FRANZESE: I am not proud of the label. I don't wear it as a badge of honor because as a mobster I led a sinful life. At times I have felt the burden of the baggage being a former mobster carries. I still do. But it comes with the territory. I can't complain about it because I am alive and free and blessed for being both.

YUMA SUN: Please describe the joy you feel working in your new calling.

FRANZESE: Wow! Knowing that sharing what the Lord has done in my life with others is impacting hearts for Jesus and providing encouragement to so many in need is the most satisfying and fulfilling calling I could ever imagine fulfilling. There is nothing else I would rather be doing in my life than encouraging people and leading them to the Lord. And coming from a guy who has led a pretty full life, that says a lot.
People need to know that with God all things are possible. That he is truly an awesome God and will do amazing things in their lives if they allow him to.

Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.