The Young Believers

The above children are the five young believers in the mission school.  

     Erica is a second generation student. Her father went to the school. Her father became a believer during his time in the school, and is currently a treasurer in our church, and is working as a propane deliverer and is the volunteer fire chief in the community. Her mother came to the mission to volunteer there. They married and both served together at the mission for several years during which Erica was born. Erica was baptized last summer and is growing stronger in her Christian faith. 

     Ashanti has been a Christian for just under a year. She was baptized this summer. She comes to from a broken home. Her parents live in the same house but aren't married and both drink extensively. They have four children together of whom Ashanti is the oldest. At 11 years old she has the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. Her mother has begun coming to church regularly and hopefully her daughter will show the light of Jesus to her. Ashanti has shown a great determination to stick with her faith. She has shown great faith already.

     Shawna is a recent addition to the Torreon community. Her family moved down here from Iowa just this summer. Shortly after relocating she expressed a desire to be saved, and was baptized along with the other three this summer. Her father was a staff member several years ago. After volunteering here he went back to Iowa. He married and had three children. After the third was born his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Several months later Shawna's mother died. Later Shawna's father remarried and recently has added two more children to their family. Shawna is growing in her Christian faith and is maturing into a godly woman.

     Kenneth became a Christian at the same time as Ashanti and was baptized along with her. He is also a second generation student. His father went to the mission when he was young. His parents are not believers and he can be found attending church alone. He has three younger siblings and is frequently caring for them. I am personally his Christian mentor. I have been given the responsibility of guiding him in his faith. I have been working with him and have seen him grow. He has the potential to be a great light in one of the darkest areas of the community.

     Elijah became a Christian along with Kenneth and Ashanti and was baptized with the others. He is adopted. He lives with his adopted mother. His sister is a current staff member. He is a very outgoing person and one of the most popular boys in the school. He will need a lot of guidance and mentoring in his Christian faith. However, he has shown get promise in becoming a great pillar of the community.

     One Sunday a staff member approached me and asked if I would like to help with a discipleship class for these students. It would be a class where they would be strengthened, encouraged, and built up. They would be able to learn, ask questions, and laugh. We have the class once a month and have had two so far. I would like the class to be a time of growth for the students. They need help and the staff and I are giving them that.
     Erica. Ashanti. Shawna. Kenneth. Elijah. They are the beaming lights of the school. They are growing into godly men and women, and hopefully will continue on the path they are walking.