Stories

Watch and read stories of hope, forgiveness, and purpose in Jesus Christ.

Garbage To Grace: The Story of Michael Ramirez de Aguilas

8/3/2024

Michael grew up in the Garbage Dumps of Mexico City, the places where garbage from all over the city is brought to be sorted, removing anything of value, including cardboard, glass, paper and plastics. When Michael was 15, he moved with his Stepdad and his Mom, to “Los Pepes” which means “The Garbage Men”. This is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Mexico City. It is run by a Mexican Mafia who keep the people who live there, hopeless and without any real future. Michael soon met his wife and at 15, they were married and they raised two girls and a boy in Los Pepes. Michael became an alcoholic and as the Mafia made changes at Los Pepes, he lost income. He turned to sniffing glue, the cheapest form of intoxication for relief. He would often disappear from his family and the pepenedoran community for weeks at a time, straining his marriage. His wife divorced him and his children didn’t want anything to do with him. At this point, Michael said, “I wanted to end my life.” A devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017, which brought a nearby church, La Zona and Pathway Global Partners, Misael & Yola Cruz,to Los Pepes. They delivered food, clothing, water, tents and occasional rides for showers at the La Zona church building nearby. Michael’s Mother began following Jesus through this contact and ministry and she began praying for Michael. About 9 months ago, Michael says he had a dream where he saw many people praying for him. He said, “It was the voice of God”. Even though the first time he came to church at La Zona, he was drunk, he continued to come and began to share in the small group following the sermon each week where he met Alfonso, who began walking alongside him. Alfonso, also a recovering alcoholic, kept walking with Michael, continuing to invite him back and reminding him how much God loes him. Just a few months ago, Michael was baptized and continues to grow as a follower of Jesus. This past week, Michael was a key to the success of the Summer Club that LaZona Church led for 40+ children in Los Pepes. Michael knows these children and the challenges they face. He has reconciled with his children and two of his grandchildren joined him at the Summer Club. Michael is thankful to Jesus for bringing Alfonzo and the ministry of LaZona into his life. He now has real hope and a future and he wants to bring those same things into the lives of the people who live in Los Pepes.

HVAC Update for the Westink Campus

7/13/2024

As many of you know, our Westlink Campus building has been serving our Pathway Family for over 20 years. But, as with all things that age gracefully, it was time for a much-needed upgrade—our HVAC system. For quite some time, our amazing facilities team has been doing everything they could to keep the old system running. They’ve patched, repaired, and coaxed it along, but the time finally came to replace it. And last month, thanks to your generous giving, we installed a brand-new HVAC system. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Replacing the AC isn’t exactly the most glamorous project.” And you’re right. It’s not something we can see, but let me tell you—it’s something we feel and our guests feel. Your faithful giving made this possible. It’s an investment that goes beyond mere comfort; it’s an investment in our ability to gather, worship, and grow together as a community. This new HVAC system is a testament to your commitment to making our church a welcoming and inviting place for everyone to come and hear the God news of Jesus for the next 20 years. This investment isn’t flashy but it is about the long term of people coming to know Jesus and growing as his followers. We are so grateful that through you God has supplied this need. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Indeed, through your generosity, God has provided for our needs and blessed us with this essential upgrade. So, on behalf of the entire church leadership and our facilities team, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you. Thank you for your generosity, for your trust, and for believing in the mission and future of our church. Your support enables us to continue our work, not just in the visible, exciting projects, but also in these vital, behind-the-scenes improvements that make such a big difference.

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