By Daniel Flores
God is continuously at work in the lives of his people. He opens the doors of hearts that have long been closed and welcomes back to him others who have spent their lives running from him.
Beatrice, a seventeen-year-old mother of two small children, is a living testimony of how the power of God’s love can transform the heart of even the most damaged life. Much of Beatrice’s young life had been characterized by years of addiction struggles when she met Pastor Daniel Flores, senior pastor at Iglesia de Dios, in San Antonio, Texas. She and her mother attended a small-group meeting at his home, and during the meeting, they were invited to attend worship at the church the following Sunday. Beatrice’s mother was excited to attend, but Beatrice let Pastor Flores know that she “already had her religion and didn’t need to come to church.” However, both Beatrice and her mother were in church that next week and listened attentively to the sermon.
It was during that sermon that Beatrice began to finally open her heart enough to let God in, and when she did, the floodgates were opened. The words of the Pastor Flores’s sermon moved her so much that she began to tremble and cry uncontrollably. At the close of the service, she left quickly, not giving anyone a chance to talk with her. She returned the next Sunday, this time, eager to hear the important message that Pastor Flores was waiting to share with her. She continued attending services for the next several weeks and finally realized what it meant to truly be a Christian. She invited God to make his home in her heart, and from that point on, her life has been transformed.
The addictions that had plagued Beatrice for so long were gone overnight. And although she praised God, she was also confused at how something that had affected her so totally could be removed so quickly. As she talked with Pastor Flores, she began to understand that it was not of her doing, that is was only by God’s grace that she had been delivered from these struggles. “This is a blessing of God,” Pastor Flores explained, “and it is not necessary for you to do anything more, because you have been set free and you are a new woman in Jesus Christ. Jesus has set you free!” And Beatrice took yet another step as she claimed this victory when she made her confession of faith and was baptized by Pastor Flores on June 20, 2008.
Beatrice has changed dramatically. She is now an active member of Iglesia de Dios, and participates in activities whenever the church doors are open. Pastor Flores rejoices with her as she continues to grow in her faith and gives praise and glory to God for delivering her from her former life.