On our first day in Latin America, we attended church and I invited Richard—a 13-year-old boy—to sit with me through the service. Together we followed along with the pastor’s sermon using my Spanish-English Bible.
I also shared my testimony with the church, including how I was abandoned by my biological father and adopted by my stepfather. Then I said goodbye to Richard and our team left for ministry.
Little did I know that the first house we would visit after lunch that day would be Richard’s!
As I shared the gospel and my testimony with Richard, his sister, mother, and grandmother, his mom shared that Richard was abandoned by his father—much like I was. Richard’s hurt and shame over being abandoned was clear as he ran out of the house.
When I left his family’s home, he was outside. I hugged him and gave him a high-five. For the next few days, Richard constantly hung out around the church, and I always acknowledged him.
At the mid-week church service the pastor asked me to preach. I began by telling my testimony again and shared that though my early father rejected me, I was an adopted child of God. Then I invited anyone in the church to receive forgiveness of sins and adoption by God for the first time.
I was shocked at whose hands were raised at my invitation … Richard and his grandmother both gave their hearts to the Lord that night.