A teenage boy in Brazil has a new family and new faith, thanks to CMS mission partners Andy and Rose Roberts and their colleagues at My Father’s House.

Born to a mother in a mental health institution, Rafael grew up with his grandmother in Olinda, an area known for violence and poverty.

As a pre-teen, Rafael joined a local gang and started sniffing solvents and stealing. One day, after a gang fight, a death warrant was issued for Rafael. He fled to the streets, where he was picked up and sent to My Father’s House, a Christian-run haven for vulnerable boys.

After a few weeks, Rafael gave himself to Jesus. He kicked the glue habit and enrolled in school.

“We knew we couldn’t send him back to his grandma, because his former gang was still a threat. So we began to search for more of his family,” said Andy.

They found one of Rafael’s uncles, who is married with two young  children. They wanted to take Rafael in, but the couple were unemployed and their house was tiny.

Andy’s team found a larger house with a shop for the family to run. They  arranged for business training for Rafael’s uncle and for Rafael to visit the family on weekends.

Soon Rafael was ready to move in full-time. “He’s doing well. He helps  look after his cousins, goes to school and helps at the store,” said Andy.

“Praise God for transforming this whole family!”



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Published: 10:29 AM Monday, January 30, 2012  |  297 views
Last updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
See other stories in these categories: News: Mission partners, Youth work, MISSION UPDATE, Latin America