Meet Osvaldo

His Faith Transformed His Family

In a quiet corner of Paraguay, Osvaldo was a 12 year-old living in the shadows of his father’s alcohol addiction. Yet in the midst of all the strife that comes with addiction, he was not alone; Osvaldo found refuge at an Awana club. The games, friends and attention of adults who sincerely cared about his wellbeing gave him something to look forward to every week.

But Awana was more than a social connection.

It was where Osvaldo learned about the Lord from leaders who took the time to get to know him and who cared about his faith. As he dove into Awana programs and Scripture, His relationship with God took on new life and momentum — and so did the transformation within his family as Osvaldo shared the Gospel with his parents. Once stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction, his father was able to eventually find his way out by following the same light his son had followed: Jesus Christ.

“My family was lost. My dad was drinking a lot, and now he is changing. He comes to church every week. I thank the Lord because He has made this change in my family.”

Osvaldo has experienced God’s grace firsthand, and because he so strongly feels every child should have a chance to know Jesus the way he did, he shares his story. As a leader in his Awana club and an assistant in his school’s tutoring program, his impact on his community still continues to unfold in new ways. Osvaldo beams with confidence when he says, “I came to Awana to get to know Jesus, and now I am participating as a leader and helping other children to also know Him.”

Regular, intentional child discipleship has the power to form lasting faith in children and their families. Through biblical programs and Christ-centered community, Osvaldo is sharing God’s hope with the people around him so they know they don’t have to live in the shadows of sin any longer, either.