Today, while talking to a dear lady and friend of mine, I was once again reminded of one of my main motivations for starting up Abogar International Ministries. While some may assume that I came from a nice family with money and am now just trying to feel good by doing some kind of social service kind of ministry, the truth is that I came out of immense abuse, neglect, and depravity and yet now have a life of hope that inspires others to live lives of hope too.
Coming out of poverty, depravity, intentional deprivation, and abuse beyond most people’s imaginations, many in society would have excused me for ending up ‘homeless, a druggie, a drunk, a bum, a waste and drain of society.’ This is not so far fetched, since a very large majority of the homeless in the U.S. have actually aged out of foster care and grew up in broken homes. However, because of the powerful presence of God in my life and a determination to see the beauty and positive in life, I have not only come out of poverty, brokenness, and foster care but I have come out running (if I may toot my own horn)!
Today my friend reminded me again of the fact that I have a great testimony and life of hope, to inspire many of these children to choose something better than what society tells them they will be! While many in our comfortable American life pursue fame, fortune, and fantastical lives… the greatest paycheck I could ever envision receiving or pursuing would be the paycheck of the knowledge that my life is impacting and changing the lives of these orphaned children and street children. It wont be easy, and it wont happen quickly, but just as I have been persistent and consistent in life so too will I be persistent and consistent to see these children’s lives changed. My goal is that when I pass from this earth I may be confident that I have at least impacted one child’s life to become a life of hope to others! This would be the greatest paycheck or dream I could ever pursue! And I AM pursuing it!
