By Eddie Broussard
The names in this article have been changed for reasons of security.
I glanced at my phone and noticed a flurry of WhatsApp texts about our friends in Trompeta, Mexico. The town was under siege by drug cartels. The killing and shooting were so rampant that citizens were ordered to hide in “safe places.”
How does the Gospel grow in such threatening circumstances? How do ordinary people develop the faith, hope and love to persevere in such adverse situations? How can they experience joy and peace in the midst of it?
The Apostle Paul wrote: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6). According to Paul, the Gospel’s impact came from the Colossians’ faith, love and hope. These virtues resulted from hearing, understanding, and believing the Gospel (Colossians 1:5).
Recently in Mexico, I met a man named Jairo, who was with my good friend and Navigator leader, Pablo. Jairo’s life story humbled me.
Raised in a poor area of Trompeta, Jairo and his brothers often had to scavenge for food. As an adult, people described him as violent and rude, someone who mistreated his wife and children—generational traits inherited from his family background.
Through family connections, Pablo and his wife, Lucinda, began reading the Bible with some of Jairo’s relatives. He watched from the sidelines, avoiding the Bible studies. But one day, Jairo came into the front room of the house during a group study. He was too embarrassed to leave, so he sat and listened. God shook Jairo’s heart as he heard that Jesus died for him and would save him from his sins, if he would believe in Christ.
He started attending weekly Bible studies and came to understand “God’s grace in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6). Jairo saw that Jesus bore on the cross his violent past, his mistreatment of his wife and family, and all the other sins that had caused him shame. Jairo eventually stepped into God’s grace, the place where God bestows His love on us, not because of who we are or what we’ve done, but because we believe in Jesus and what He has done.
Jairo’s life changed dramatically. He read the Word voraciously and obeyed what it said, which is the mark of true love for God (John 14:15). Despite his humble means, he began to be contagiously generous. The power of the Gospel began to bear fruit through Pablo in Jairo’s life. But it didn’t stop there!
Jairo told me about his brother, Victor, who had been a strong, violent and intimidating man. For 20 years Victor worked as a paid assassin, mostly for the drug cartels. But as a result of Pablo’s persistent invitations, he eventually agreed to come to Bible studies.
Victor walked into the first study and slammed his loaded pistol on the table. Everyone jumped. They all understood his message: Don’t mess with me! Jairo diffused the situation and convinced Victor to holster his weapon under his coat.
After several weeks in the studies, Victor also began to understand “the grace of God in all its truth.” He, like Jairo, placed his faith in Jesus. His profound decision to follow Christ, however, would place him in danger. Trying to escape a web of dangerous working relationships would put his life at risk.
Victor boldly put his life in God’s hands, trusting Him daily for safety. God has protected him! And today the Gospel is advancing among Victor’s family and friends.
Recently, while Pablo was walking down the street, he looked up and saw Victor coming toward him. Pablo felt a wave of fear as Victor reached into his coat. Victor pulled out his Bible and said to Pablo, “This is the weapon I carry now!”
Eddie Broussard is an international vice president of The Navigators.
