The Testimony of Carlos Garfias
How I Became a Believer
Ibelieve that our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again to bring us new life in Him. When I was a teenager, I made poor decisions that led me into drug addiction and a street life with no future. I was broken, filled with resentment from painful life experiences that hardened my heart. I was violent and didn’t care who I hurt or damaged because of my selfish mindset. I ended up in juvenile hall several times and even in county jail once I turned of age.
During my time on probation, under surveillance and monitoring, I managed to get a job — and that’s where I met a man of God. This older gentleman became a mentor and role model to me, constantly feeding me the Word of God. One day, after being released from juvenile hall, he approached me at work and asked if I wanted to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. At that point, I was exhausted from my lifestyle, so I decided to give it a chance — and it changed my life.
My Spiritual Battles and Struggles
I received the Lord as a few brothers prayed over me and spoke in tongues. I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me, and in that moment, I accepted our Lord Jesus Christ.
After accepting Jesus, I felt His Spirit, but I also battled the enemy who tried to hold me back from growing in faith. I started going to church, reading my Bible, and hungered for change and revelation from God. However, the enemy attacked me in different ways. One of those ways was through the church I attended — the lead pastor made poor choices and committed malicious acts that hardened my heart and caused me to stop going to church.
For 20 years, I stayed away from church. I still believed in God and in Jesus, but I had lost fellowship — the very thing God so deeply loves. I developed resentment toward churches and pastors, and I stopped engaging with the Word of God.
During my time away, I fell back into drinking, drug use, and adultery — completely turning away from God. Over those 20 years, I attempted suicide three times, but each time I survived, knowing deep down that God was protecting me. I suffered from depression, unstable relationships, and was never able to build a family.
How The Lord Called Me Back
Then, in 2023, my nephew was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident that left him in a coma. That moment changed my entire family’s life — and mine. I thought to myself, “Here I am thinking about taking my life, while my 23-year-old nephew is fighting for his.” I felt like a wretched man, and God came to mind. I realized that only a miracle from Jesus Christ could save my nephew, so I went to a church to pray for him.
It had been 20 years since I’d set foot in a church, but this time I wasn’t there for myself — I was there to pray for someone else’s miracle. In that moment, I realized that God wanted me back. He wanted to change my life again, and He spoke to my heart: “We have unfinished work.”
I surrendered completely to Jesus, giving Him my life and my heart. Today, I attend church every Sunday, participate in men’s groups, and fellowship with brothers in Christ whom I love deeply. I now serve in church by connecting with new members — something that brings me great joy. It fills my heart to help new souls find the life, the truth, and the way through Jesus Christ.
What I Can Learn From Scripture
Sometimes it’s not just us who need help and healing — others do, too. That’s why we must be disciples and servants, leading by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Final Thoughts
Life will always be a battle, but with our Lord Jesus Christ, we are victorious and no longer victims. Jesus has already defeated the enemy. We are blessed to be loved and to live under the grace of God. His love is there for you to receive — take it! God loves us so much. We are special to Him, and He is not ashamed of who we were. He has plans for all of us; all we must do is accept our Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and follow His Word!