Lonely from his mother’s death, Luis needs a renewed reason to live.

Luis Hernández, just 18, was known in Santa Ana for his quiet demeanor and distant gaze. Since the death of his mother two years earlier, Luis had sunk into a deep depression. Grief hovered over him like a heavy cloud, causing him to withdraw from friends and family. Long days he spent shut inside his room, devoid of meaning or motivation, sinking ever deeper into despair.

Increasingly concerned for Luis, his father, Don Pedro, desperately sought a way to help him; but no therapist or counselor seemed able to ease Luis’s sorrow. When Don Pedro heard of a Seventh-day Adventist evangelistic campaign nearby, he decided to attend and take Luis. How he prayed that something might reach his son’s heart and bring him out of the darkness that enveloped his life! He sensed that these meetings might be the last opportunity.

The campaign began with contagious energy. An open field near the village center had been set up with chairs, a screen and sound equipment, drawing more than a hundred people from nearby communities. Music and youthful voices floated across the field, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and hope. Enthusiasm and joy marked the young people’s faces.

The evening opened with a special theme song, gentle yet powerful, titled “There Is Still Hope”:

There is still hope for you.
Come to Jesus, He wants to receive you.
Bring Him your burdens, your pain;
He wants to give you salvation.
There is still hope for you.
Come to Jesus, He gave His life for you.
Trust, don’t doubt anymore;
He wants to give you freedom,
There is still hope.

As the chorus rang out, a spark of hope touched Luis’s heart. Then the preacher got up and spoke passionately about God’s unconditional love and the new life available through Jesus Christ. His words reached into Luis’s sorrow, reminding him of his mother’s faith and the comfort he himself had once found in God. The song and message stayed in Luis’s thoughts long after he returned home. Though confused, he longed to know more. He resolved to keep attending the meetings.

One evening, after hearing “There Is Still Hope” once more, Luis approached the pastor and asked for prayer. With tears, he shared his battle with depression, grief and emptiness. The pastor listened with compassion, prayed over him and promised his continued support.

In the weeks that followed, Luis’s sadness began to lift, replaced by peace and renewed strength. Faith grew deep roots in his heart, and he discovered in Christ a source of comfort and purpose. The Bible workers started visiting Luis to study God’s Word with him, and each new study filled a void inside. Even the topics of the Sabbath and prophecy spoke of Christ’s love and support for him. The truth about death was difficult to hear, but Luis could see God’s wisdom and love in laying his mother to rest in the grave, awaiting the soon return of Jesus. Near the end of the Bible studies, Luis chose baptism, committing his life fully to God. In the waters of a nearby river, his burdens washed away, replaced by joy and peace.

Luis has become active in the local church, helping with sound and video equipment. He often shares his personal story to encourage others that hope is always within reach. “In the Adventist church, I have found not only a community of faith, but also a renewed reason to live,” Luis says. “This message showed me how even in our darkest moments, God’s light can pierce through with redemption and lasting hope!”

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Location
Honduras

Author
Told by Luis Hernández to Elmer Aguilar, a district pastor in Olancho, Honduras.

How You Can Help
Pray for Luis and his father Don Pedro as they grow in grace and learn to witness for their faith.

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 237
Kirksville, MO 63501

To give securely online, visit: 
www.missionspro.org/donate