Little boys love to run and play. Uriel wanted to be like the other boys, but he couldn’t run--he could barely even walk! Let's hear how Uriel's life was transformed by God.
“You can find pictures for this story”
Little boys love to run and play. Uriel wanted to be like the other boys, but he couldn’t run--he could barely even walk!
Growing up in Mexico, Uriel had been sick since he was a little boy. It seemed like nothing was working right. He had hyperthyroidism and a brain tumor--and now, even walking was hard. These health complications had affected his life in drastic ways.
When he was 11 years old, the doctor decided that Uriel needed a surgery to remove the brain tumor and to fix his legs.
Uriel’s grandmother believed in the power of prayer and convinced his mom that they needed to go to prayer meeting at the church the night before the surgery.
The next morning the doctor checked Uriel’s legs one last time before the surgery. He was shocked to discover that Uriel’s legs were completely fine! Then the doctor ordered a brain scan and the tumor was gone! God had healed Uriel! Now he could run and play soccer with the other kids.
After this miracle, Uriel and his mom gave their hearts to Jesus and joined an Adventist church. Uriel even gave Bible studies and preached. Five people were baptized because of his Bible studies.
“I want people everywhere to know that nothing is impossible for God,” Uriel says.
God is definitely doing the impossible for Uriel and others who live in the Inter-American region, which spans from Mexico in the north to Guyana in the south. In the past five years, God has used church workers and lay members to plant nearly 3,000 new Seventh-day Adventist churches in this vast territory.
The church has also started at least 11 Urban Centers of Influence in the region. These centers follow Christ’s example of mingling with people and meeting their physical and spiritual needs. For example, a lay member established a center in Guatemala to rehabilitate and bring hope to people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. Many have overcome addiction by seeking treatment at the center and getting to know Jesus, and 1,500 have been baptized.
Three other countries in the region have established Centers of Influence to minister to immigrants from a specific Asian ethnic group. Church members mingle with them and share the love of Jesus by teaching Spanish classes, playing ping pong, counseling, and offering Bible studies. In fact, a church was planted especially for this ethnic community.
As God’s work goes forward with power in the Inter-American region, we see that truly nothing is impossible for God. When church members pray together and share the gospel, miracles happen and lives are changed. Just ask Uriel. Thank you for your prayers and financial support of the mission offering around the world.
