When a minister asked the name of a newborn son, the mother responded that she was going to call her son Marvellous, praising God for how He has helped her family through many struggles. Marvellous, the youngest of four children, grew up in a part of Central Africa where Christians are persecuted for their faith.
Marvellous' family had to run for their lives to escape this religious conflict. As they tried to escape by bus together, Marvellous was separated from his family at the sound of gunfire. He ended up in an orphanage until he was able to be reunited with his family.
Settling in a new area and finding it difficult to secure work, Marvellous' parents couldn't afford to send their children to school. But at age 8, Marvellous received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift while at church.
He was elated to receive school supplies in his shoebox gift, calling it an answer to prayer to help him start school. He loved to write and draw, so the notebooks, pens, and pencils he received in his gift gave him an opportunity to put this love to practice.
One of the items from his shoebox that always reminds Marvellous of God's love is a letter included in the shoebox by those who had packed it. It said, "No matter where you are, just know that God loves you no matter what you are going through in life." He has clung to the promise of God's love ever since.
Participants can go to www.samaritanspurse.org to preregister for the Project Leader Workshop.
From Mark Fudge
