Raul's Story

Yet, of course, we never forget the one. Those individual, changed-life stories. I'm excited to share with you one of my favorites: Raul Vargas from Costa Rica . . .  

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Raul was 21 years old when he attended our campaign in San José, Costa Rica. This was back in the 1970s. He lived in a household of poverty, sadness, and problems. Not one of his family members knew Jesus Christ. But one day, walking home from work, he read an advertisement for one of our festivals. Something in his heart told him he had to be there.

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“As I sat listening to the message,” Raul remembers, “all I could think was, ‘Luis, someone told you about my life! Who told you? How do you know these things?’”

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As Dad gave the invitation, Raul gave his heart to the Lord. The campaign lasted three weeks.  Raul was there each and every night. He quickly got involved in a church and started to be discipled.

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God began to open doors for Raul. He received a good job and began to work his way out of poverty. He started testifying about Christ wherever he was given the opportunity.  His family quickly followed in his faith—all 70+ of them.

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Three years later, Vargas had started his first church. He focused on discipleship and teaching and worked diligently to raise up new believers in godly service. Today, Pastor Vargas is still working just as diligently. The church has grown to be 10,000 strong, one of the largest in the nation. And they have planted dozens of churches in multiple nations.  Changed lives that go on to change lives! That’s what we live for. Let's keep participating in God's mission, and let's keep doing this together!