Alex was born in Colombia, but his life and future were sadly disrupted by narcos. He found himself growing up in the U.S. after his father was murdered. It’s no shock that such a traumatic childhood replaced aspirations for the American Dream with anger, crime, and prison. Nearing the end of his prison sentence he was surprised to learn that he wasn’t a U.S. citizen. Deportation meant a different kind of prison, one in a country he didn’t remember around a people who couldn’t have felt more foreign. 

God introduced me to my new friend back in February when he was scared and destitute. His story was flavored with the sort of redemption that only God could cook up. We wanted a taste of that redemption, so we started investing in Alex as a family and church community. Transformation is slow and messy, especially when our normal means are disrupted by pandemic. Nonetheless, God has graciously given us moments of heartfelt breakthrough with Alex. Clothing, housing, and food beautifully came together. But they were followed by even more meaningful moments of trust, community, and repentance. He’s even living with another church member who was in his shoes ten years ago and who can mentor him through this hard season. God is good.

Easter Sunday was one such encouragement. Listening through YouTube from internet “borrowed” from a nearby shop to his rented room, Alex felt the weight of new life in Christ from our Acts 9 sermon. “I’m tired. I want life. I want God to change everything.” “You said new life in Christ means a new family. Thanks for being my new family.” We may be on lockdown, but our God isn’t. Nothing will stop his mind-blowing mission to extend new life in Christ to people like you and me and Alex. 

Please pray for Alex. He was overjoyed for me to use his real name and share his story of new life in Christ. But you should know that we’re not the only members of his new family. You are, too. Thank you for investing in this ministry to the nations and the next generation! We couldn’t do it without you.