When my wife and I met Donna, she was an 18-year-old single mom with two children. As we talked with her, we found out she had grown up going to church. But Donna ended up on a destructive path when she hit her teenage years. When we asked why, Donna said she was molested multiple times as a child, and her mother abandoned her when she was 13.

Donna eventually got into the wrong crowd in school, getting involved with boyfriends, alcohol, and drugs. Yet, deep down she knew that it wasn’t right.

It was heartbreaking to hear Donna’s story. No one should have to endure what she had gone through!

We shared with Donna that Jesus Christ not only will forgive her sins, He’ll also help her to forget the incest, the rape, and the hurt. We shared this beautiful verse with her from Hebrews 9: “The blood of Christ will cleanse your conscience from evil works so that you can serve the living and true God.” Donna said that’s what she was looking for. We rejoiced as she surrendered her life to Jesus!

Do you know a struggling teenage mom? Instead of judging her, try reaching out to her. Offer to watch her baby so she can have a break. Ask if you can bring her a meal, or treat her to coffee. Your simple act of kindness can be a powerful example to her of Christ’s amazing love.

Most people I know want to live the fullest, most enriching life possible. In fact, that’s the kind of life God wants for us, too! But how do we achieve that kind of life?

I believe that the more effort we put toward reaching our generation with the Good News, the more fulfilled we become. What greater adventure can there be than helping someone take the step of faith to believe in Jesus Christ?

Now, you may be thinking, “Sure, Luis… easy for you to say. But I’ve tried sharing my faith and nothing seems to happen!”

It’s true – many times, we won’t see the results of our witnessing until years later. But what God notices is our willingness to persevere, to stick with it, and to try again.

St. Paul says in Philippians 3: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead; I press on toward the goal to win the prize…”

So let’s bury those insecurities, or what I call “chickenitis.” Let’s press on and continue sharing the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ with our world.

As you focus on the spiritual condition of others, you’re fulfilling the greatest calling on your life. And God will show you the fruit of your faithfulness. There’s nothing more exciting than that!

There are a lot of good things in life, especially as a Christian — wouldn’t you agree? And there’s nothing wrong with those good things. But there is more to life, much more, than just the blessings of following Jesus. There’s a greater potential – a “best” life that God has for each one of us.

“So Luis,” you may ask, “how do I begin to experience this type of life?” That life comes when we realize that we’re not only here to enjoy God’s gifts and blessings. We’re also here to be a part of God’s exciting rescue plan for the human race!

To live this life, you must allow Jesus to be involved and infused into every part of your life. This happens by staying close to Him on a daily basis, reading His Word, and letting His power work through you. You have to know Christ in a deep, personal way in order to speak convincingly about Him to others.

Philemon 6 says to be “active in sharing your faith so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

If you want to experience the kind of life that God has intended for you to live, jump into His plan. Let Him use you in the great adventure of saving souls – there’s nothing better!

My wife and I know a woman in England, named Emma. She felt God asking her to befriend an elderly neighbor, who was a widower. It wasn’t easy, because this old man was pretty arrogant and rude. Apparently, no one liked him. But at one point he became sick, so Emma visited him in the hospital. Over time, this belligerent man was softened by Emma’s kindness.

One day, Emma shared with him about her relationship with Jesus Christ. Then she asked if he would like to receive Jesus, by faith, into his life. Without hesitation he said, “Yes!” That 84-year-old man died shortly after his conversion, but now he’s in heaven!

It certainly wasn’t comfortable for Emma to reach out to that elderly man. But God called her out of her comfort zone, and she obeyed. Imagine what would have happened if Emma hadn’t followed God’s leading. That man probably would have died without knowing Jesus Christ.

In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus told His followers to first, love God “with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and then, “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Is there a widow in your neighborhood, or community, whom you could befriend? It often takes so little to show them Christ’s love. And yet, as Emma can testify, your simple act of kindness can have eternal results!