Testimony of Conversion and Call to Ministry

When I was seventeen years old, I started attending a Christian church. I wasn’t there with any intention of getting to know the Lord, but was rather motivated by the desire to change my way of living. I just wanted to exchange my disorderly way of living for a different one.

I believe the Lord used that time to give; since I was very young, I experienced all kinds of sins and perversion. I can assure you: I did not know the Lord. I attended church, oh yes, but I was living a life of hypocrisy the entire time.

The church I was attending suffered a split, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to walk away from the Lord. I left, and during the two years I spent apart from the Lord, I lived the worst days of my life. Despite the fact that I lived in open rebellion, the Gospel remained the Gospel, and that accused my conscience of everything.

Then, one day, my life just collapsed.

A situation, one I won’t go into, shattered my dreams. I had no hope, and was utterly broken. My own sin had led me to ruin, and in the midst of that situation, I found the hand of grace and love of my Savior rescuing me from a swamp of my own making.

I remember it well: I was in my room, and I begged the Lord to save me. It was like a cry of desperation from my soul for forgiveness. I needed mercy, and it was there that the Lord made me understand that the answer to my problems wasn’t just a matter of giving up things, friendships, habits, and implementing new disciplines. I needed to change the condition of my heart.

I was lonely, empty, and void of purpose, but for the first time in my life, I was able to embrace Christ by faith, and asked for His forgiveness and grace for my life. Although I did not understand the Gospel very well, I experienced inexplicable joy. I felt forgiven, and filled with hope. My heart was changed, and just like the Apostle Paul after his conversion, I wanted to preach the Gospel to the whole world.

Everyone just had to know what Christ had done in my life!

I preached to my friends and family; telling them what God had done for me. My heart was transformed, and I had a deep desire to serve the Lord. My heart was full of gratitude for what God had done for me in sending Christ to die on a cross. I wanted to reciprocate.

I wanted to repay my Lord in some way… I could offer him my life, youth, strength, and time.

I remember the words of the prophet, Isaiah, echoing in my heart: “Here I am, send me!” In His grace about eleven years ago, the Lord allowed for my desire to become

a reality. I first worked as a youth and worship leader, but later, the Lord allowed me to teach the congregation as a whole, and I acted as the pastor’s support.

I conducted marriages, led youth camps, and the Lord even allowed me to teach a group of pastors at a Bible institute. This time was especially helpful at helping me understand the need for preparation and equipping of a church.

Two and a half years ago, I traveled with my family to Santo Domingo to be a part of the pastoral school directed by Jorge Rodriquez and Taylor Walls. There was a firm emphasis placed on seeking and studying theological and doctrinal tools necessary to be a man of God.

At the end of my learning at the pastoral school, the Lord has allowed me to begin my pastoral ministry at Iglesia Biblica Remanente. I want to give my life to the service of my believed Christ, and to the service of my brothers and sister in faith. I only pray that the Lord may be my help and strength in this stage of life.

Though everything may fall apart, Jesus will be by my side, guiding and sustaining me til my last breath of mortal life.

Soli Deo Gloria.