Second Chance
Danger on the street marks a turning point in a young man’s life.
My name is Ever Adiel Santos Sarmiento, and I am 33 years old. I was born and raised in Sabá, Honduras.
During my adolescence and youth, my parents were leaders at Bella Vista, our local church. I too was highly active in youth ministry and evangelism. I helped the pastor in different youth events, and eventually the church appointed me to be the youth director. However, a sister from the church approached me one day to talk. She wanted the position that I had. I could see that she longed for it and thought that she would do a better job. I relinquished my leadership position to her, and immediately felt upset, then discouraged. I knew that the enemy was working to keep me away from God, but I didn’t resist. I began to lose interest in the church and attended only occasionally. My lack of connection with God took its toll on me.
The time I used to dedicate to church I now wasted with people who misled me. “I’m just having fun with friends,” I justified myself. Time passed, and their influence gradually plunged me into vices that led me farther from the God I used to love.
I started living a disorderly life where alcohol and drugs, like cocaine and marijuana, began to consume my time and thoughts. My parents repeatedly warned me about my situation and bad habits, but I felt bound by my addictions and had very little strength to change myself. My situation worsened every day. On many occasions, I faced serious problems because of my lifestyle. People under the influence of alcohol threatened to take my life. Over and over again, God took care of me and somehow got me out of the danger. His plans weren’t over for me yet.
Sister Lidia Mendoza from the Bella Vista church often reached out to me with a message to “return to the ways of the Lord.” She also warned me of perilous consequences to my lifestyle. On several occasions, she dreamed that my life was in danger and that if I did not get out of my current living situation, I might not emerge from it alive. Meanwhile, my parents never stopped praying and encouraging me to come back to the church. But with each invitation, I felt resentment well up inside as I remembered the conversation that caused me to step down from youth leadership. The anger in my heart, made it easy to tell my parents “no.” If God didn’t do something drastic, I was bound for destruction.
Allowing a serious accident in my life was God’s way of saving me. One day, I was involved in a motorcycle crash where I suffered from multiple fractures and found myself bedridden. In moments of the severest pain, I felt that I was going to perish. Waves of discouragement washed over me. Thoughts raced through my mind, such as: “See what you have done to yourself,” and “You might as well end your life because this is what you deserve.” Later, I recognized these suggestions came from the devil.
During this low part of my life, I wondered if I should pray to the Lord. I thought of asking for His help but hesitated because of my immoral lifestyle. Finally, I asked the Lord to intervene in my life if He had a special purpose for me.
God answered my prayer! I healed from the accident with the feeling that it was a new beginning. I wanted to become involved in youth ministry again, just as I used to be, so I began to attend social events and Pathfinder promotions. The Holy Spirit worked on my heart until my lifestyle had to follow. I felt motivated to attend church and then I began to make decisions to get away from the streets, the drugs, and the alcohol. My parents were very happy for the change, and I felt the blessing of not only honoring my parents, but also honoring God with my decisions.
Not long ago, the church held an evangelistic campaign in the Sabá district, which I attended every night. I felt like the Lord was making a direct call to my heart to leave the world and follow Him, and I made the decision to give myself to Him once again. My parents jumped for joy, and the church received me with open arms!
The path may not be easy, but I am not going to leave the ways of the Lord again. I am currently involved in youth ministry as a master guide in the church’s Pathfinder club. I am trying to learn how to preach and play musical instruments so that I can praise the Lord and share the gospel with others through preaching and music. I beg the Lord to use me according to His purpose, because now I am willing to serve Him all my life.
I thank God because He gave me this second chance. There are many who do not have this privilege given to them. In His abundant mercy, I was able to find grace in His eyes, and I want to motivate the youth not to allow the enemy to control their lives. There is no greater security than to know that one’s life is in accordance with God’s will!
Location
Honduras
Author
Told by Ever Adiel Santos Sarmiento to Marcos Mendoza, a district pastor in La Ceiba, Honduras.
How You Can Help
Pray for Ever as he begins his new life connected with Christ and as he witnesses for Jesus to his former friends.
Pray for the radio and television programs in Honduras to continue reaching people who otherwise might never hear the truth!
Give to broadcast the Three Angels’ Messages in the Catholic country of Honduras by sending your donation marked “Honduras” to:
Mission Projects International
PO Box 151
Inchelium, WA 99138
To give securely online, visit:
www.missionspro.org/donate