The Courage to Succeed: A True American Dream. -Book Series, Chapter 3

 

Chapter 3

My Father's Journey

"The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith." – Rev. Billy Graham.

I vividly remember the shift in my father’s life when I was around 5 years old. It was 1987, the last time I saw him drunk on the porch of our home. I didn’t understand what was happening at the time, but something inside him changed not long after. The man I had known, with all his flaws and struggles, was suddenly not the same. One of my earliest memories of this transformation was when he took me to an evangelical church. I was captivated by the lively music, the heartfelt prayers, and the congregation's fervor. It starkly contrasted the solemn rituals of Catholic masses I had attended before.

Years later, I understood that this marked the beginning of his spiritual journey to faith in Jesus Christ—a journey that would profoundly shape his life and mine.

My father was born in Corozal, Sucre, Colombia, steeped in a Roman Catholic tradition. As a boy, he served as an altar server and grew up immersed in Catholic practices, teachings, and celebrations. His early education at the Escuela Normal in Corozal set him on a path to becoming an educator, and for many years, he taught in schools across the Sucre Department. His life seemed structured and predictable from the outside, but a more profound spiritual calling awaited him.

As an educator, he was assigned to a school in Chalán, Sucre, a small, rural town where life presented unforeseen challenges. While there, he fell gravely ill. His condition baffled local doctors, and traditional remedies failed to bring relief. During this critical time, a former classmate, Milka, mentioned her family’s evangelical church and suggested he attend a service for healing. Out of desperation, he agreed.

The pastors prayed over him at the church, and he experienced what he described as a miraculous deliverance. He later told me that he believed he had been under a witchcraft spell—a not uncommon belief in some parts of Colombia. The physical healing he experienced was undeniable, but what stayed with him even more deeply was the spiritual awakening that followed. He began to speak passionately about having a relationship with a savior, emphasizing the importance of personal connection over rituals and traditions.

Almost immediately, he quit smoking and drinking—habits that had been deeply ingrained in his life. This transformation didn’t happen overnight; there were moments of struggle and doubt. However, my father’s newfound faith in Jesus Christ gave him a sense of purpose and peace he had never known before.

This shift didn’t sever his connection to his Catholic roots entirely. Initially, he grappled with worshipping God directly, without intermediaries like priests or saints. These practices had been foundational to his upbringing, and abandoning them felt like letting go of a part of himself. Yet, as he delved deeper into the Bible, he began to embrace three key truths of the Christian faith:

1. There is only one mediator between God and humanity—Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
2. Salvation comes through no other name but Jesus (Acts 4:12).
3. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:3-6).

Though he adopted these beliefs, my father never dismissed the Virgin Mary or the saints entirely. He taught me that they deserve honor and respect for their roles in the faith, but worship belongs to God alone. He viewed it as a miracle that God had called him into pastoral work, where he could share these truths with others.

As my father embraced his calling, my mother remained devoted to Catholicism. Raised in a Catholic private school, she even considered becoming a nun at one point. Naturally, I was brought up in a Catholic environment, attending a school where we prayed the rosary daily and honored the Virgin Mary. Yet, my father’s teachings about the Bible and worshiping God alone resonated deeply with me from an early age.

I remember participating in school prayers, reciting the Hail Mary and other Catholic devotions while silently praying to my Heavenly Father. Even as a child, I felt strongly convinced that my relationship with God was personal and direct, a belief my father had instilled in me.

His testimony of transformation became the foundation of my own faith journey. Watching him overcome his struggles and dedicate his life to God inspired me to develop my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship has been my anchor through life’s challenges, guiding my values, decisions, and understanding of the world.

Looking back, I see how my father’s spiritual awakening changed him and set the course for my life. His devotion to God taught me resilience, faith, and the power of grace. I carry this legacy daily andto pass on to it others through my words and actiondeeds

I am deeply grateful for my father's guidance and the foundation in education on Christian values. His testimony is not just a story of transformation; it is the foundation on which my faith journey began. His unwavering devotion to God helped me develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that continues to define who I am today. This relationship has guided me through life's challenges, giving me strength and comfort in times of need and shaping my values and decisions.