GLOW Street Team

How God Has Worked in Our Lives

Ester Lopez: It is hard to tell how it’s all happened until now. It’s like the wind, you don't know where it comes from or where it goes, but you can see its effects. That's how God has worked inside of me. God wanted me to give my life to Him at a very early age. I know this because I have strong memories of those moments. At the age of 10 I finally realized, by His Spirit, that I needed Him to save me from my sins so I gave Him full permission to enter my heart and make me into a sanctuary for Him pure and holy. I no longer wanted sin. As an effect of this decision, the guilt of my unforgiven sins was lifted and I received a peace and a relief that I was forgiven. The day I was baptized, October 26, 1997, I publicly told the world that I belong to God and that I want to follow Jesus exclusively. Since then, I have sought to share Him with others at school, work, neighborhood, and church. I've left home for further training as a medical missionary, and have gone to various countries where I have been called to teach others about the complete gospel message of salvation and healing Jesus offers. Now, I am back in California seeking His will for my future steps. Jesus said "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. All I want is to be a true disciple of Jesus who is willing to go all the way with Him, and not to let any thing, or person, though dear to my heart, come between my soul and the Saviour and doing His will. He's been so good to me as undeserving as I am, and the "strength of my heart" Psalm 73:26. May it be that as Jesus left all for me, I would also leave all for Him. Amen.

Meagan Rodriguez: I was born an Adventist and from a very young age I had a tender heart for the Lord and a deep desire to do His will.  When I became a teenager however, I made some poor choices in associations and gradually I began lowering my Christian standards.  Later, a very dear relative was diagnosed with terminal cancer and soon after he passed away.  Having had a very close relationship with him I was devastated.  I couldn’t understand why the Lord would allow this to happen to someone who had served Him and loved Him with all his heart.  I allowed the devil to sow seeds of bitterness and rebellion in my heart against God.  I came to feel that He was an unfair dictator who looked on us as His "subjects" rather than His children; One who would let people suffer and die without compassion or care.  In anger I rejected everything that I once believed.  The next three years were spent chasing after the world and its pleasures, but all this brought me was more anger, misery and discontentment.  Finally I hit rock bottom.  I couldn’t stand the way my life was anymore.  It seemed that no matter what I did my life would never get anywhere.  Slowly, oh so slowly, through attending different religious events and seeing the examples of my family and other godly youth, the Lord began drawing me back to Him.  It was during this time that I attended my very first GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ).  I was eighteen years old.  Here God finally broke completely through the walls around my heart.  At midnight on a cold January night I surrendered my life completely and fully back to the Lord!  Praise His name!!  It has been three years now since then and by the grace of God I have never turned back from that commitment.  Although I still stumble and fall, Christ gives me the grace and determination to keep striving.  “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23).  I pray that as you read our testimonies, you will be encouraged to continue pressing forward in that blessed walk.  Truly there is no greater joy than that which is found in total surrender and submission to our blessed Saviour!

Juan Arias: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, USA. I grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist church. I never had a personal relationship with God until I was so filled with sin that I saw that I needed a Savior. I was lost. I was involved in drinking, smoking weed, ditching, tagging, and several other sins. I found Christ one night after having partied. I felt so alone and confused. The world didn't seem right.

I felt that my pursuit for happiness would hit dead ends even though I was doing what I wanted. I found no salvation in myself. I was beginning to think about the existence of God. I started searching for Him. I got on my knees and prayed with my whole heart for Him to manifest himself to me. He required the surrender of my life. I let go. I was instantly transformed into a brand new creature with no addictions, no bad habits. No one recognized who I was because the change was so drastic. People were praying for me! My conversion occurred on a chilly winter January night in 2001. God is so good!

Danny Rodriguez: I was born and raised in El Salvador 'til the age of 10. I have 4 wonderful sisters, that unfortunately live far from me :( I've been an Adventist since 1997 but I've only been growing in Present Truth since 2005. I'm very well involved in my local church and I have to say that I love Pathfinders, hay-stacks, potlucks & the "red books". I camp at least 7 times a year, I love being in nature. Two ministries that have helped in my spiritual walk, would be, "Finish the Work" & "Make it PLain". I'm also involved in a ministry called "SDA Street Team" where our goal is to take the 3 Angel's Message to those who are in the streets.