My Faith Over the Years

by Carla Flores, Kids Ministry Director

The first time I came to Mission Adelante, I was just 15 years old. I began by attending Teens Adelante and later began attending Mission Adelante church. Let me tell you a funny story about my first time at MA church. I grew up Catholic and every Sunday for mass, my mom had us dress up. So, when Daniel, my partner invited me to church, I got dressed up. I don’t remember getting too fancy but I wore an orange button up shirt and a skirt. When I arrived, I felt welcome but VERY overdressed. 😂 Jarrett greeted me by saying, “Hey Carla, you look elegant.” I looked down embarrassed, only to realize that Jarrett was wearing shorts and sandals! It was my first time seeing a pastor dress so casually, especially minutes before the service began. This event really shaped the way I began to see my relationship with Jesus for the first time. At this time in my life, it was revolutionary for me to think I could be comfortable with God.

Over the course of the next 3 years, I continued to attend Teens Adelante and house church from time to time. This is where I believe a little seed of faith was first planted in my heart. Volunteers like Jessie Chastain and Jordan Lemmon, invested in me, got to know me, and most importantly allowed me to share my inner thoughts about God and faith with them. They weren’t afraid to hear me out and trust me even though I had A LOT of questions (I still do). Sometimes they had the right answers but other times we shared a mutual confusion. In my opinion, sharing that confusion was the best. I felt like I didn’t need to have all the answers and honestly, thank God I didn’t. This was the time in my life where I felt that my relationship with God was just beginning and I felt as if I had just met a new friend: excited and just a little apprehensive.

The little seed that those awesome volunteers had so carefully planted, began to grow. I trusted God and felt His presence in my life. Then in 2018, my partner, Daniel received an offer to join the staff at Mission Adelante as an apprentice. I felt so overjoyed for him and we began to thank God. We praised Him for His provision and all the good things He was doing. In the midst of our prayer, I remember saying, “God, this is such a good opportunity for Daniel, please bring something similar into my life.” At that time, I was working as an accountant at a lending agency and going to school full time. My job was draining and I longed to work at a place where my skills could really be used. Three months later, I received a call from Jarrett. They were looking for a communication apprentice who enjoyed writing and Jarrett’s daughter, Caroline, had mentioned me! I immediately accepted and thanked Caroline. This was the first time, I felt the power of prayer and experienced God listening to me.

During my apprenticeship, my faith grew stronger and stronger. I learned so much from Yanelis, Gissell, and other members of the MA staff. I read the Bible for fun for the first time and learned how to have devotional time with God. I fell in love with worshipping God and loved to show Him praise through music. Not only did my faith grow but so did my compassion for others, my love for people from all places, and my motivation to bring others to Jesus.

Now, I’m back at Mission Adelante and it feels as if I had never left. The staff is my family and I love them as if they were. My faith is stronger than it has ever been and I am ready to choose to be baptized (I have been baptized twice before but that is a story for next time, friends). I see and hear God in everything I do, in times of trouble I search for Him, and in times of joy I thank Him. He is my protector, my healer, my restorer, my guidance, my everything! My love for God is so immense and to think it all began with a little seed planted by some truly special volunteers here at Mission Adelante.