The Power of a Pastor's Invitation

When a pastor extends an invitation to church to someone who believes that the church would judge them, it is powerful! Sindy shares how her life has been changed because of a simple invitation to return to church.

My name is Sindy. I am 23 years old. I live in Los Naranjos, Honduras, a very quiet and beautiful place surrounded by nature.

I was raised Catholic and attended mass and church programs. I really liked learning about God and reading the Bible. 

But when I got a boyfriend and was influenced by friends at age 15, I stopped attending church.

My boyfriend was not a Christian and was 11 years older than me. But I was in love. We started to live together when I was young, immature and only 17. I knew nothing about managing a home, and I did not understand him well. We had many problems! 

We moved in together, and I soon became pregnant.

I felt desperate, like I was going crazy. I often cried bitterly at night. 

One day, the boys' father agreed to pay child support on the condition that I be a stay-at-home mother, which I agreed to do. He also helped me move to new home, which happened to be next to Los Naranjos Christian Church.

During services on Sundays and Thursdays, I’d sit in my living room and listen to the sermons through the window. Pastor Alexis’ messages were clear and easy to understand.

I didn’t feel that I should attend church, though, because I wasn’t married, and I didn’t want any misunderstandings with the church.

Yet, Pastor Alexis encouraged me to come, and his wife Ebelina started to reach out to me too.

I am learning a lot about God and am reading my Bible again. And I am learning to instruct my kids in God’s ways. God has blessed me by surrounding me with sincere people. He has provided what is necessary for my home. I have learned to have faith and visualize a better future.

There are still many things to change in my life. My greatest wish is for the boys’ father to draw close to God so that we can formalize our relationship to serve God together.

In my prayer time, I ask God to forgive my sins, to help me ask for forgiveness from those who I have harmed, to forgive those who have harmed me, and to remove my arrogance.

I know that I need to continue learning who God is and learn more about His word. I know that God, little by little, will help me do it.