Fully Forgiven
When Carlos's life turned upside down, you were there for him.
Carlos* started working as a security guard at Tesoros de Dios, one of your Resonate ministry partners in Nicaragua, during the same month that you sent Resonate missionary Vinnie Adams to the country to serve with Tesoros.
Carlos is easy to like.
“Carlos has a very gentle and happy spirit. He's always smiling. He's very polite, kind, and thoughtful. He’s always asking how my family is doing,” said Vinnie.
But then Carlos’s life turned upside down. His wife left him, and he was left to raise their one-year-old son alone. Shortly afterward, a large tree branch fell on Carlos’s small, tin-sided house. The roof collapsed.
Already heartbroken and overwhelmed, this was too much for Carlos to carry on his own—but, thanks to your generous giving, he didn’t have to bear the burden alone.
Questioning Faith
“I reached out to some of you to see if we could purchase the supplies to fix his roof, and we had the full amount covered within hours of that request,” said Vinnie.
Vinnie rallied a team to help fix Carlos’s roof, and now his home is safe and secure again. But that’s not all God wanted to do in Carlos’s life.
It was clear that the Spirit was doing a work in him. I think it was helpful for him to talk through his questions and concerns . . . as we reassured him of Christ's complete forgiveness and of the glory of being part of God’s family.
The loss and challenging circumstances Carlos was experiencing left him with a lot of questions, and he started meeting with Vinnie and one of their colleagues.
“He knew that Jesus was good and that it would be good to have Jesus in his life,” said Vinnie. “But . . . in his former place of employment, he had witnessed and participated in some terrible things. He wasn't sure that Jesus could fully forgive him.”
Finding Hope in Jesus
Because you send missionaries through Resonate, Vinnie was able to meet with Carlos. Vinnie gave Carlos a Bible, and by the following week he had already read the entire book of John and half of Matthew! Week after week, Vinnie continued to study the Bible with Carlos, listen to his questions and concerns, and share the truths of Scripture.
“It was clear that the Spirit was doing a work in him,” said Vinnie. “I think it was helpful for him to talk through his questions and concerns . . . as we reassured him of Christ's complete forgiveness and of the glory of being part of God’s family.”
I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and King. He has made me feel his presence. Today he has decided to make me his son.
One day Carlos prayed to receive Jesus’ mercy and grace!
“Brother, I have good news,” Carlos told Vinnie. “I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and King. He has made me feel his presence. Today he has decided to make me his son.”
Thank you for sending missionaries through Resonate! You help to make it possible for missionaries like Vinnie to support people like Carlos who are longing for the hope that only Jesus can provide!
*Name changed to protect identity