Firm Foundations
By Steve Bartel
Finishing high school and stepping out into the adult world can be daunting, especially if your first steps in life hadn’t started well. That’s why our hearts are always glad when a young person raised by us in Formando Vidas tells us they’ve decided to begin adulthood with a firm foundation in God. They long to continue being discipled, but more deeply than before, even hearing God’s voice for their future.
They can do this at a Discipleship Training School (DTS), investing six months of their lives in learning to “know God and make Him known.” This helps them tremendously as they leave their childhoods behind.
Last year Julian (age 19) finished high school as valedictorian of his class. What an accomplishment for a young man who lived his earliest years surviving day to day in the worst ghetto of Bogota! Now Julian dreams of becoming a Christian Psychologist. By volunteering full time as the teacher for a Formando Vidas’ ministry boy who needs individual attention, Julian received valuable experience. He did wonders with the child! But before he starts his university studies, Julian wants to have his foundation firm in God. A couple of weeks ago he left for Argentina to attend a DTS, stepping out in faith and putting God first in his life. He had saved some personal earnings, a donor helped, and the DTS leadership is willing to trust God with him for the rest.
Jenny is also a recent high school graduate. She lived in a Formando Vidas’ ministry home full time with her three siblings for ten years while her mother got her life in order. Then, for four years, Jenny lived with mom during school days and stayed in her ministry home during weekends and vacations. Her mother and recent stepfather became Christians and now earn an honest living selling snacks on the streets. When Jenny also expressed her desire to have a firm foundation for her future, knowing her heavenly Father in a way she could never trust in her biological father, everyone pitched in. Jenny and her family saved enough money to pay half of her airfare to Chile! (This is an incredible feat for people who live day to day)! Formando Vidas’ staff raised the other half. So with nothing in her pockets or bank she stepped out in faith and started the school in Chile. It has not been easy as the actual school fees are US $1500.00, but Jenny is learning that God is her Provider.
This coming January, three more of our young adults will be leaving our Formando Vidas’ nest to do either a DTS, further Youth With A Mission training, or university. They join almost half a dozen other young people who grew up with us and are already studying and preparing for their future.
It is because of youth like these that we’ve started a scholarship fund. We need your help! Please pray about becoming a regular “gifter” to the scholarship fund. Be a part of transforming lives and help these youth have a firm foundation. You can give through pay pal or send a check; just put “scholarship fund” on the payment.
One more true story: Doris.
Twenty years ago, Doris was one of the first pre-schoolers at Light and Life, our ministry school. Her background was horrible; her future bleak. She lived occasionally with her mother or a sister until, by God’s grace, she finished high school. She then came to live with some Formando Vidas volunteers as God worked deeper in her life. Today Doris has finished her DTS in Chile and is now a student at a Youth With A Mission counseling school there. She is receiving Father’s healing, and, long term, she wants to help kids who come from dysfunctional families like hers. Because of her triumph over her past, Doris has the moral authority to do so. Yet governments require university degrees. Doris’ training will take years of her life, and cost much.
These young people, and others we haven’t even mentioned, are willing to make the effort. They’ve already broken the cycles of generations past of the curses and destruction their parents and ancestors lived. They have been transformed. But they can go even much further! Not only will their lives be changed… they will change others.
Thank you for considering our scholarship fund!
