Once drifting without direction, Carlos encountered Christ through loss and legacy and learned to walk in faith.
Carlos’ Testimony (25 years old)
What was your life like before knowing Christ?
Before Christ, I was really lost. I was very disobedient. I used to hang out more with my unbelieving friends and my life was completely different. I was lost in my sins and wrongdoings.
When I was about ten years old, my parents became evangelical Christians. They started going to church and I had to go with them because if not I would get scolded. I didn’t understand why I went to church and I never paid attention.
When I was about 13, my Sunday school teacher shared the plan of salvation with me and that’s when I accepted Jesus Christ. After that, I finally had a purpose for going to church. I started understanding things better. It wasn’t just going for the sake of going, it was a process, a change over time.
How did your family or community react when you decided to follow Jesus?
My family was very happy because they had also accepted Jesus. The community or neighbors didn’t really react badly where I am now. But my parents suffered in the past when they first accepted Christ.
My mom told me that when she accepted Christ as a young girl, her own father was against it. He even threatened her. But she didn’t care and went to church anyway. She saw a miracle too, because she was very sick with a high fever and they prayed for her, and she got better. Over time, even my grandfather accepted the Gospel.
All of that story influenced my life too. If God hadn’t saved my mom and if my mom hadn’t endured my grandfather’s violence, I might be still lost today. There’s a legacy of faith and suffering that brought us to where we are now.
How did your life begin to change when you started following Christ? How have you seen God working in your life?
A big test for me was the death of my father when I was 14. It was very hard, but I could see God’s hand at work. I knew my dad was with Christ, and that God would be with me and never leave me alone.
Even with other family difficulties and losses, God has strengthened our hearts and helped us keep going, drawing us closer to Him every day.
Which people or experiences have encouraged or supported you in your walk with Christ?
Many people influenced me in my youth and adolescence. Men from the church stepped up and were there for me as I grew. One deacon would always take me to church activities, and even if we didn’t always understand his lessons at first, his example and actions shaped us.
Later, I attended the discipleship Bible study with Natalie and that helped me stay committed despite trials. All these moments and people shaped my life. Now, I teach in the discipleship Bible study and also help with the children’s Sunday school. It’s not easy, but I read God’s Word
