Prophetess Maribel Cintron, also known as Broken to Peace, is a woman mightily used of God. And I know this because several times, God has used her to speak to me and get me out of things the enemy had put on the way to derail me.
She is living proof that God can use anyone and anything for His glory. Only He could have taken a woman, who was in rags, gangs, and drugs and placed her on the pulpit to proclaim the gospel. Maribel Cintron left home at the age of 12, went through hell in an abusive relationship that almost took her life. At the age of 15, she was already pregnant and living on the streets. Before her 19th birthday, she was a mother of three boys. Sisters, get ready to be inspired. Every part of her story will leave you in awe of the God we serve.
Tell me a little about yourself. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Were your parents Christians? When and how did you become a Christian? We want to hear your salvation story.
My name Is Maribel Cintron, and I was born in Bronx NY on August 29th, 1980. My father, who worked in the NYSE, felt it would be best that my younger siblings and I be moved to Pennsylvania where we could grow up in a different environment. I have learned that when the enemy knows purpose, he tries to destroy and alter an individual in their earlier stages of life to deter them from their purpose. But I also learned that no matter how far off a person may veer from purpose, when God deposits it, no devil, no enemy, no abuse, no trauma; no one can stop Gods purpose.
At the time, my mom had backslid when I was in my toddler years, and my father did not believe in God at all. Therefore I did not have the teachings of God in my life. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know him at all. But how great is our God that he knows us since we were in the womb of our mother? (NIV: Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”)
There is power in testimonies and mine is one that will show that our God is beyond a religious ideology. My son at the time was only three years old. It was his birthday, and I had just come home from school. My mother was watching my son at that time. I remember him asking me for candy, and the first thing I found was a jawbreaker which I handed to him. At one point, I had requested my son to get his shoes because we were on our way to Chuck E Cheese. He got so excited in the process that he swallowed the jawbreaker and began to choke. At first, I thought that I could pat him on his back, and the candy would come out, but no luck. My aunt who was a nurse at the time began the Heimlich maneuver on him. It failed. My son began to turn red, then blue then his whole body turned black. I recall my Aunt saying, “He’s dead.” “I lost him.” At that point, I remember going blank and all voices in that room just faded. My brother was calling 911, but I heard no volume to his words. My aunt was holding my son’s limp body in her arms and had her back turned to me. All I could see with his small hands that had turned black. My mom was in the kitchen washing dishes oblivious to what was happening. I began to curse and yell for my mom to help me. You see, at this point of the story of my life, my mother and I did not have a relationship. I left the house at the age of 12 and went through hell with an abusive relationship that almost took my life. At the age of 15, I was already pregnant living on the streets. Before I could turn 19, I already had my three boys. My mom was always willing to help me when I would show up with my kids to leave them with her so they would not suffer my consequences of disobedience. I did not have a great relationship with my mom. Not because she was a bad mother but because I felt like I could do better for myself than she could. At this point of the story, my mother was back in the ways of the Lord. She had faith in the God that I didn’t know. I recall as if was today, my mother silently walk towards my son’s body. He was already dead, but I still found myself begging my mom to help. She had no reaction. No fear. All the noises around me silence and God allowed me to focus on her mouth. At that point, my mother looked up, and I read the words that came out of her mouth. “Lord, in your hands I put him.” Before she could finish that prayer, the jawbreaker shot out of my son’s mouth and all of a sudden I heard a great gasp of air! I heard life come back into my son! I could not believe it! God just gave my son another chance at life and gave me a chance to witness him! I took my son from my Aunt’s hands and ran outside with him on the grass as he looked at me confused with blood coming out of his nose and mouth. The ambulance came and told me that because he lacked so much oxygen to the brain for such a long time, he would be possibly brain dead. God had the last word. The doctors could not explain the miracle. The scans came back normal with no problems.
I got home, and I told my mother to take me to her church. She said that service was not until the following day. I went to church accompanied by her and did not even wait till the preaching. I went up and gave my whole life to Christ!
Apart from your salvation, what is your biggest testimony of God’s faithfulness?
God has always provided me with all I need. Not all I want. All I need.
When and how did you get called into ministry?
I would not say called per say. He placed these gifts in me early in my walk which led to miracles. For example, God gave me a vision of a girl in a coma. I had no idea who this girl was. God led me to the hospital she was, amongst reports, families, and friends of the interested party, God allowed the mom to choose me to go back and pray for her and God woke her up from the coma after being under for two weeks.
How has this call into ministry impacted on your life?
In the church that I gave my life to God, the First Lady spoke a prophetic word over my life about the albums I was going to record, the prophetic word I was going to walk in and the healings that were going to occur in the ministry. God then began to open doors without me knocking.
What is the most rewarding thing you have done thus far and why it was rewarding?
The most rewarding thing is that God took a woman, who was in rags, gangs, drugs and a world of loneliness, and place her on the pulpit because he saw me fit. He knew that in my test there was a powerful testimony.
What challenge or challenges have you overcome and how?
Anointing attracts attacks. I get that. I understood that from reading the word and learning that every powerful minister came from the desert. The Holy Spirit is with me, and therefore he fights. The enemy has tried over and over again, and it has catapulted me to where I am. My enemies are necessary.
What challenge has been the most difficult for you?
When one is in the public eye, the world tries to find a way to diminish character. I have been a part of so many stories and lies that I should have a library dedicated to me. I have had to restrain myself from speaking out in defense of my character, but God speaks louder, and so I have overcome that desire by submitting me more to him and seeing him fulfill his promise to fight for me.
How did this challenge impact your life and ministry?
For those who lack spiritual discernment, they have been easily swayed by the voice of man rather than the testimony of the Holy Spirit and therefore have turned their backs and tried to close doors. The funny thing is that they did me a favor. I prefer not to stand on the altar of hypocrisy and people driven by gossip rather than the real gospel.
In hindsight, what would you do differently?
I cannot do anything. It is part of the territory. If Jesus was defamed, believe me when I tell you I am no different.
What advice do you have for others who are going through a similar challenge?
Trust in God’s promises to fight for you. Trust that vengeance is his. Don’t feed into it because the enemy wants you to defend yourself so that It looks as if God is not doing his part. Just let God be God. Your enemies are necessary so that when God prepares the table, it will be before them.
What advice would you give to anyone who may be discouraged by a challenge?
Challenges are meant to make you stronger. If you’re breathing, if you overcame, if you’re still standing know that there is still purpose. God did not bring you this far to leave you. You may be dragging, but you’re still moving. God will show up when you show down!
Have you ever experienced a season or seasons of loneliness and how did you handle it?
All the time. A Prophet lives a lonely life naturally. It requires solitude to hear God. There were many times that I felt like God was not moving fast enough or speaking loud enough. It is in our human nature. But I thank God for those silent nights. Had God given me what I wanted, I would not be here.
When and how did you begin Broken to Peace?
The answer is in the name. Everything I went through was necessary to find the peace that only God gives.
How and why did you choose the name?
The Holy Spirit gave it to me. Spoke it audibly.
In what ways has the ministry brought you victory in your personal life?
It has shown those that followed me in the world that if God could change me, he can change them. Victory is not necessarily what one accomplishes but how one can impact a life without words.
What else would you like people to know about you?
I am still a work in progress.
What are you most grateful to God for helping you to do?
He has helped me submit to Him all the habits of life that came with my past.
How has God received the Glory through your life?
For his glory, our ministry has been of power, miracles, healing, Prophetic, liberation, etc. When God has placed me on an altar, it has been to bring him Glory, and he has in the past nine years.
What is your highest aim in Kingdom work?
I have no aim. I am trusting God has that level set aside for me.
What can followers of your ministry expect from you in the months and years to come?
God has allowed me to compose together with my best friend and ministry partner, my new album. I have been silent in the past two years because I had to allow God to bring order to my home. Therefore, I was not traveling as much. But in that waiting season, God has taken me through different levels and teachings. Now, he tells me it is time to reposition myself. He has been opening doors all over again to minister in the Philippines, radio interviews, woman’s conferences, and to work on my new book. He also has given me the privilege to work with allowing my story to cross the U.S borders to get to each and everyone who is reading.
Where can people get more information about you and your achievements?
People can just find me under Broken to Peace or Maribel Cintron on every social media outlet including YouTube. If anyone has an interest in inviting our ministry to bring for a word or song, my email is also available for invitations edifynewsletter@gmail.com. I do not charge to minister God’s word.
