Oliver* was only 5 years old when his parents abandoned him. Alone, he managed to survive on a simple diet of beans and corn.
When he was 12 he married his wife and was adopted into a community of indigenous people with whom he lived for many years.
A few years ago, Oliver, his wife, and 15 other people were lawfully given a sizable stretch of land that would become a small town where they could settle.
The land had previously been owned by a revolutionary group that was armed and violent. When Oliver became the leader of this small town, he quickly learned that this revolutionary group was not going to let go of the land easily.
Late one summer evening, nearly 200 armed revolutionaries invaded this small community. They fired live ammunition and set most of the village on fire. Two men were left for dead, and Oliver’s adult son was maliciously knocked unconscious during the raid. He only narrowly escaped being consumed by the flames when a family member came back to save him.
This traumatic event left a mark on Oliver’s soul. He found himself turning inward to contemplate suffering, purpose, and hope. Oliver found the questions overwhelming and reached out to his sister, Ava*, for help.
Ava is a member of a church community established by an East-West missionary. She began to share the gospel with her brother and encourage his spiritual growth. Soon, Oliver and his entire family professed faith in Christ.
He knew that the message of unrelenting hope found in Jesus Christ needed to be shared. Now Oliver faithfully spreads the gospel message in his community and continues to grow deeper into his relationship with Jesus Christ.
*Names changed for security reasons.