Vitaliano Marrero Vitaliano hated having a house church next door. He decided that when the songs of the saints floated up to his window, he would turn his radio full volume to rock music. That will teach them, he thought. If I disturb their meetings, they’ll find another place to meet, and I won’t have … [Click to read more …]
Vitaliano Marrero Vitaliano had it made. As an officer in the Cuban military, he had a steady job that carried with it a certain amount of respect. He and his wife, Migdalia, had two small children and lived in a modest home. Things were going well, and he had no interest in God or religion. … [Click to read more …]
Told to Enoch Iglesias by Victor Vergara I was born into a very poor family in a little town north of Medellín, Colombia. Our poverty carved out a hard life for us. Our town has no adequate water supply, no electricity, no telephone. Our houses are made of mud pressed over bamboo poles, for we … [Click to read more …]
Ismael Serrano As the girls hurried on through the night, they passed three young men. They didn’t look up when the boys pointed fingers at them and made crude remarks, but kept walking as quickly as they could. Then they became aware that someone was following them. It must be one of the three boys, … [Click to read more …]
Ismael Serrano Medellín is a large city in the heart of Colombia. While the city has a reputation as the drug capital of the world, it is also known for its beauty, and its citizens are known for their hard work and love of learning. Colombia Adventist University (Corporacion Universitaria Adventista, UNAC) is located in … [Click to read more …]
Juan Caicedo Solis The demons in Mirella struggled against the family members who took her to the Adventist church. During the struggle Mirella fainted. When the family tried to carry her limp body through the church door, they could feel a powerful force pushing them away. Inside the church the congregation prayed while deacons tried … [Click to read more …]
Juan Caicedo Solis When 13-year-old Heidy Moreno and her cousin, Mirella began questioning their mothers’ rules, Heidy’s mother decided to stop their rebelliousness before it got out of hand. She took Heidy to a spirit medium-a witch. The medium claimed that Heidy had a bad spirit. “I see a gold feather over your head,” the … [Click to read more …]
Jacques Cesaire As teens my friends and I enjoyed the pleasures of the world. We partied and drank, but I was not satisfied. I was searching for something meaningful, but didn’t know what it was or where to find it. Often when we were away from the crowd, our conversation drifted toward religious topics. Frequently … [Click to read more …]
Ivan and Raveta grew up in the traditional church in Macedonia. After their marriage, Raveta continued attending church occasionally, though Ivan didn’t. When the Bible became available in the Macedonian language, Raveta bought a copy. But she didn’t read it; she put it on a shelf and forgot it. Years later Ivan, a lawyer, had … [Click to read more …]
Muka [moo-KAH] is the third wife of a Himba headman living in northern Namibia. While some Himba children have gone to school, few who remain in the settlements can read or write. They pass their history and culture to their children during story times around a fire in the evening. For more than 15 years … [Click to read more …]
