Stories of Transformation: God’s Purposes Prevail

   Stories of Transformation is a series of blog posts highlighting some of the unbelievable changes we have seen in the lives of some of our youth and neighbors. To read other stories of transformation, read: Wholehearted Surrender (Abel), From Death to Life (Denis), Jesus, My Firm Foundation (Rosita), and The Difference a Dad Makes (Carlos). Today, I want to share Emerson’s story.

   Emerson started coming to the church a little over a year ago as we started working with ex-gang members and street kids in Nuevo Amanecer (read the full story here: Riots, Gangs, The Church & Redemption). The riots between police and gang members in July 2010 opened the door for our church to minister to gang members and kids hanging out on the streets in the neighboring barrio of Nuevo Amanecer. We were able to do discipleship in their homes and evangelistic outreaches in the streets and parks (pictured right with Jovanny and Emerson at one of our park outreaches in Nuevo Amanecer in January 2011).

   Emerson wasn’t a gang member, but he did have a background of violence. He was one of the kids who was constantly loitering on the street corners fighting with other teenage guys. He had a reputation as a street fighter.
   However, in the midst of the outreaches he began to build friendships with some of the youth from our church. He felt accepted and loved by them. He slowly began attending youth events and bible studies at the church. Soon he was coming to the church almost every day. In the beginning his motivation for coming to the youth was based more on his friendships and the beauty of our youth girls than it was on any real desire for the Lord. Emerson spent months attending the church regularly, but never fully giving his heart and life to the Lord. He wanted to enjoy fellowship with the Lord and with other believers, but he still wanted to hang on to parts of his past life as well.

   Then tragedy struck…

   Last April when Anthony drowned (read the full-story here: drowning. and closure.), Emerson was greatly affected. He had built a close friendship with Anthony (Anthony and Emerson pictured below left at our youth retreat in March 2011). Emerson was also the last person to have a hold of Anthony before his death. Emerson tried to save his friend and nearly lost his own life doing so. He had a hold of Anthony until another wave came and carried Anthony beyond Emerson’s reach. Emerson was eventually pulled out of the water by a drunken fisherman. By the time he was pulled out, he was unconscious and foaming at the mouth. He came dangerously close to sacrificing his own life trying to save his friend.
   His actions were heroic, yet his heart was plagued by guilt. He felt guilty that he wasn’t able to save Anthony. He felt guilty for surviving when his friend hadn’t. For months he was tormented by this guilt during the day and nightmares at night. Somewhere in the midst of this struggle, the Lord began to speak to Emerson’s heart. Emerson began to be convinced that the Lord had saved his life for a purpose. Emerson began to see the Lord’s sovereignty in the midst of tragedy.

   The Lord saved Emerson. The Lord has great purpose for Emerson’s life. As he began to believe that the Lord had purpose for his life, then Emerson began to seek after the Lord wholeheartedly. This pursuit has changed his life. (Emerson and I pictured right doing our “Anthony pose” in April 2011)

   Emerson has now given his life and heart completely to the Lord. His heart is filled with joy that he didn’t have before. He desires to see other youth find the life that he has found in the Lord. He is constantly sharing the Lord with his friends from school and bringing them to the church with him.
    Emerson also has a passion and heart for worship. He feels so alive as he worships the Lord. He has a heart to lead worship in the church; to bring others into the presence of the living God. He has begun to step into ministry helping lead worship during our church services. It is beautiful to see him walking in the Lord’s purposes for his life (Emerson pictured left singing a worship special in church February 2012)!
   Emerson now knows that the Lord’s purposes prevail in every situation, even in the most tragic of circumstances. Although Anthony’s death was incredibly painful for Emerson, the Lord has brought him into so much new life through the midst of this death. The Lord has placed Emerson’s feet on firm footing. He has given Emerson life, peace, and purpose.