Many of you will remember Rene Steevenson, one of the boys from our Regency Children’s Home. He came to us via BPM in 2018 after he had run away from an abusive situation. Steevenson was initially a rebellious student, but we saw a total transformation in his life after Jesus radically saved him. You can read his story here.

On a recent team trip, we had the privilege of seeing Steevenson’s transformation in action. One of his strongest traits has always been his leadership capacity. He has a gift for inspiring others to join him in whatever he’s doing, and when he first came to us, this looked like being the ring-leader of trouble around the compound. You could tell he had influence with the other kids from the beginning, but the more amazing thing is that God completely reversed the direction of that influence. By changing Steevenson’s heart, God shifted social dynamics in the Children’s Homes themselves.

Now, Steevenson is at Poyis’s right hand in various areas of ministry. He is the first to step in and do whatever Pas needs, and it’s evident how much he loves the Lord. His relationships with Poyis, our staff, and the other kids have been transformed as well. Coming from the streets, most of our children initially view us as a means of survival. They approach relationships in terms of what’s to be gained, and it takes some relearning to start building genuine connections with people. Steevenson has made that leap. He’s invested in the church—even playing drums in the worship band—and his heart is for the community around him.

One of the things we’re especially excited about is how Steevenson’s artistic talent has flourished over the last few years. He painted two murals on the south side of the school building, and he also sketched a portrait of one of our volunteers (Cody, an artist himself) on the last team trip in real time. Steevenson and Cody are planning to paint a couple more murals together on the next trip, as well as teaching an art class for the other kids to join in. This has always been our hope for the children in our Homes—that we would see them step into the gifts God’s given them and then share those gifts with others.

It’s amazing to see the way Christ has transformed Steevenson’s life. No preaching, no church ministry can accomplish the radical change that occurs as the Holy Spirit gets hold of a person’s heart. The Lord is truly faithful.

If you’re looking for a way to get involved, consider sponsoring a child this year. Even a small gift can make a big difference. For more information, visit Sponsor a Child.