As a young boy, Daniel lived in the shadow of his father’s addiction. He would cower in fear when his father came home, dreading the inevitable anger and abuse.
The dangerous neighborhood Danial grew up in.
Daniel’s home was in Soacha Cundinamarca, a Colombian neighborhood plagued by drug use, robberies, and homicides. The dangers of the streets mirrored the terror he faced at home. When his mother would confront Daniel’s father about the drugs and time he spent away, he would react in violence. “He would hit her until she was bruised and bleeding, then he would leave,” Daniel recalls. “He even threatened to kill us.”
At school, Daniel began to spiral down a dark path under the influence of his classmates. He began stealing cell phones and even using drugs. His teachers tried to warn his mother, but Daniel remained completely defiant: “I didn’t pay attention to anyone, and every day I would be worse than the day before.”
Daniel was influenced to begin stealing and using drugs.
Sick of the cycle of abuse, his mother eventually gathered the courage to escape from Daniel’s father. She took Daniel and his brother and fled for safety. Although they escaped the mistreatment of Daniel’s father, they now struggled with poverty and faced unbearable hunger.
Some days, Daniel went without food; and when he went to school, he continued to follow his friends into a life of crime. Daniel began to feel trapped in his actions:
“I felt like there was no solution and I lost all hope.”
Daniel felt trapped in a hopeless cycle.
Despite the darkness Daniel was facing; a glimmer of hope appeared at his new school. A teacher invited Daniel to participate in OneHope’s Lead Today program. Through the program, Daniel began to learn about Jesus Christ. He was amazed to see how Jesus led others, challenging them to be better as they followed His teachings.
Daniel receiving the Lead Today book that began his transformation.
“Everything changed when I started to follow Jesus Christ,” Daniel shares.
As he began to embrace faith, Daniel abandoned his old friends and harmful habits. Instead of stealing and using drugs, he began to pray and read scripture. The changes in his life were profound. His family grew close again, and Daniel watched in awe as God met their needs of food, shelter, and clothing.
The lessons from Lead Today helped Daniel completely transform his past behaviors. He became a peacemaker at his school; no longer following bad influences but instead leading others to solve their conflicts and follow a better path.
Daniel and his family reunited in hope.
“Today, I have found hope in God, because he loves me, and he has changed my life.”
Daniel’s faith continues to grow, and his relationship with his mother has strengthened as they walk this journey together. He completed his study internship and earned a technical degree, equipping him with new skills to pursue his future with purpose. Now, Daniel is using his talents to create digital content, sharing the message of God’s love through social media and video production.
Daniel’s story is a powerful reminder that God not only heals brokenness but also transforms lives, equipping them to share His hope with the world.
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