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Louis Moreno’s Testimony (UGM Graduate)

By June 25, 2024November 19th, 2024No Comments

In November 2022, Louis was brought from sleeping in a bush in a church parking lot to the doorstep of our Mission. After a couple of weeks as a guest in our shelter, Louis grew interested in our 10-month New Life Program. He knew he needed help that food and shelter alone couldn’t provide, that he was his own biggest obstacle, and that he needed a completely transformed life. Shortly after hearing the gospel of grace and of the savior who saves sinners, Louis repented and trusted Christ for his salvation.

During his time in the Program, Louis served as a kitchen helper. He was also a studious learner in his academic requirements and remained a teachable target for his chaplains to invest in. He grew into a stable, gentle, and humble man, and graduated in September of 2023. This is not the end of the story though. In many ways, it was only beginning.

Many hurdles and obstacles still needed to be overcome for Louis to begin life. He had no license; multiple DUIs, traffic tickets, and unpaid court fines that were holding up his ability to get his license back. He had no job, no car, no money saved up, no family to look to for help, no bank account, bad credit, and work experience primarily in jobs he couldn’t work in again. He was in a car accident before coming to the Mission that left him physically and mentally impaired and still, he had a plate in his head, from when he was younger. The conversations he needed to have with court clerks, financial institutions, and government agencies, plus the computer skills required to create stability these days, were lacking.

Louis was a young Christian with a lifetime’s worth of daunting consequences from living life the way he did. He had Christ now! Praise God! Louis needed some shepherding and aftercare as he stepped into this new life by faith. He started pursuing community at his local church, building relationships with some godly men, who gave him work and odd jobs. Louis began saving up, paying off court fines, and eventually got his license released. He continued looking for work and finally landed a job in February 2024 as a local warehouse worker. He saved up money while catching public transit and getting rides to his job, enough to finally purchase his own car.

Louis at the Redemption House

Today, Louis is a contributing member of society who is paying his taxes and not depending on government assistance for food or medical help. Most of his fines are paid off or on a payment plan, he is staying current with. He is a licensed and insured driver with his own car, has a bank account, and is building his credit through being financially responsible. The most exciting thing for us as a Gospel Mission is that Louis has become a baptized member at his church. He loves to fellowship, his weekly small group, and attending church early every week for their Sunday discipleship class. Louis sees the bush he was sleeping in just a few years ago every Sunday now and is reminded of God’s goodness towards him.

Louis has taken advantage of the gracious care from the Mission by positioning himself financially to move out of the Redemption House and into his own place. He is so grateful and excited to tell people about the kindness of God that leads some to repent, and the mercy of God displayed to him through the Mission.

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