3. MY FAITH
- MY FAITH
I was born and raised in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. Like most people back then I only knew the catholic teaching. We were very conservative. there was no drinking, smoking, dancing or use of bad language. The dirties word we used was “Dummy”. We practiced our religion as much as possible. When the priest told us to fast, we fasted. When told to pray the rosary so many times a week, we did exactly that etc. One day when I was 6 years old, I heard that protestants had a book called “Bible” and the Catholic Church told every catholic that anyone that would read it or even look at it would go to hell. Well, from then on, I didn’t want to ever see a Bible. I always had the desire to serve my God as a missionary to baptize as many people as possible so they could be saved or be a priest in a local Church.
Time went by and when I was 18, I either wanted to be a professional actor, get married and live a normal life or be a priest. My older brother Arturo was living in Waukesha, WI at that time and had come to know the Lord through the witness of some missionary candidates while he was drunk on the streets. The Lord used him to invite me to visit him as he was attending the New Tribes Mission Bible Institute. While there, the Lord also used other Christians for me to understand the Gospel.
The missionary candidates told me that when somebody is saved the Holy Spirit changes lives and helps them in their Christian lives. I desired to put them to the test. I went to visit a future missionary couple at 2:00 a.m. The doors to the building were not locked because back in the 60’s was still safer. I knocked at their door and the head of the household greeted me and asked me to come in. I heard his wife ask: Who is it honey? At that time, I wanted to at least catch the wife making faces or some kind of gestures indicating her discontent. I turned facing the front door as the man was closing the door. Then I lifted my right arm and acted as if I was going to scratch my nose to use the amethyst stone on my gold ring as a reflection and see the wife’s reaction. But they both gave me a real warm welcome. I took it that the Holy Spirit did change lives. After all they didn’t get upset at me for knocking at their door at late hours. Believe it or not (Well, you need to believe it) that really encouraged me to read the Scriptures more. Later on, I saw my need of the Savior Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful to the Lord for the greatest gift of Salvation. He knew that in Aguascalientes I was not going to hear the Gospel. He knew exactly what I needed to do and how many people were to be involved in my life. He used my brother to take me to Waukesha where the New Tribes bible Institute was at. It was there where I came to know the Lord and then where I started my training to be a missionary and serve my God the way I know Him now.
They used simple and clear passages to help me see my wretched condition without Christ. Juan 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Juan 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Romanos 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
I now have a Ministry for 50 years, a wonderful wife, kids and grandchildren.
Praise God!!! My prayer is that all my Kids, grandkids and all my descendants incuding Carlos and his family may come to know Christ as Savior and always look to the Lord as they grow in Him.
