“I felt strong when they told me that Jesus loves me,”
states Delfin Villegas. The first time he felt like this was in 2002, when a
pastor came to his house and showed him the Bible.
Although his wife was Christian, Delfin was not. He
was an alcoholic, like many men in his culture. But at the moment when a group
of Christians told him that Jesus loves him, “God touched my heart.” That
moment started a long journey that took him not only into the church, but also into
church planting. Using the material provided by Multiplication NetworkMinistries, church leaders taught Delfin and others how to become church
planters in the rural villages of the Amazonian rainforest of Ecuador.
He has worked as a church planter for eight years. We
see the fruit of his labor not only in the expanded worship area, but also in
the hearts of the people God touches through him. Alcoholism and marital
infidelity are prevalent among the people. Many families are dysfunctional.
Delfin meets insurmountable challenges with undaunted courage. He visits
families in their homes to tell the parents how families should live. He
invites them to become part of the church for the church can help. He is living
proof.
The father of three, Delfin introduced to us his wife,
Janelle, and two of their three children, Elvis and Ingrid. The oldest,
Wellington, is 17 and in school this morning. As Delfin looks at his family and
his extended family gathered with him today, we know he is sincere when he
tells us, “I look for Christ in the heart.”
We distribute Bibles to the children and listen to them
sing, and know that God touched their hearts as He touched Delfin’s. As we bid
farewell, we know God used Multiplication Network Ministries to build a new
outpost of His Kingdom in the Amazonian rainforest.
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