The Unsung Hero Campaign has been up and running and been an extreme blessing to my team and myself this entire month. We have had numerous connections and multiple meetings with all kinds of kingdom workers. But one of the connections I felt most strongly about came when I didn’t even know we were having an Unsung Heroes meeting! We had traveled to the big capital city of Managua to get more information about a ministry partnership with the head of a large organization. After this meeting we were to have lunch and hang out with an old friend of one of our squad leaders. I had turned my brain off to Unsung Heroes and was actually hoping there would be WIFI at the restaurant, which to my dismay at the point but ultimately my blessing, there was no WIFI so I had to actually start listening to the conversation in front of me. As I heard this young man begin to pour his heart out I immediately was overwhelmed with this sense of excitement- this guy is the real deal! This is what we are looking for! And he spoke directly about things that had been on my heart lately. It was such a God moment in every way! I was super encouraged by this entire visit.
Michael, the director of the Isaiah Ministry (based on Isaiah 58:9-11), is an incredible man of God with a deep passion to see hearts and lives radically changed by the power of God. Along with the founder, Patricia, they run a ministry that has seen 44 kids obtain sponsorship that allows them to go to school, get clothes, and be fed 2 meals a day. They also have 4 adopted families. The kids come there every day for their meals and also get tutored with their schoolwork in addition to time spent on bible study and in worship. This ministry all began with Patricia taking in a handful of boys into her home to feed them and make sure they did their homework. Michael noticed this and decided she needed help, the Lord told him that he would be the one to help, and now see the marvelous things the Lord has done through their obedience! And they accomplish all these things through God’s provision because they are only supported by 1 church and then individual donors. Michael recalls a great story of God’s abundance through an old friend of his that he had not even been in touch with in a while making a huge $10,000 donation out of the blue that allowed them to build on and make more room at their ministry. The Lord always provides! They have seen countless people accept Christ, upwards of 80 people get healed including a young girl who had been hit by a car and a man walk again that had been in a wheelchair, along with numerous other stories of things only God could do! This is truly one of the most incredible stories I have ever get the pleasure of hearing.
Micheal came to know the Lord about 7 years ago after reaching his breaking point at the end of a bad relationship. His family had recently gotten saved and he witnessed the change that took place in them. He began reading up on different religions, and while reading the Word of God he felt God’s love tangibly be poured out on him and it was then he accepted Christ. He left his administrative job for a calling in ministry. Now Michael’s biggest dream is to see the Holy Spirit move in his neighborhood and the kids get saved. He also has a heart to see the young girls understand their worth and what godly love should look like. He prays to serve his staff well by discipling them and break through the effects of religious legalism here. He would say that communication is the biggest challenge here as many Nicaraguans come from broken families and/or legalistic backgrounds and therefore there are a lot of sensitivies and it is hard to build trust. It is his vision to see God bring restoration, reconciliation, and peace throughout his neighborhood and in the lives of those he meets. Furthermore, to see those he minsters to understand God’s grace and walk in that freedom from sin. Stay tuned to read about a testimony of what God is doing through the Isaish Ministry!
