Damião is a father of three who grew up with Christian parents, though he didn’t follow Jesus in his own life. Like many young men living in Moamba, Mozambique, he needed a way to financially support himself.
He notes, “I jumped the fence to South Africa and started to run a small business in Nelspruit.” A few months ago, he came home to Moamba to visit his family. Then, the pandemic hit, and he had no way to get back to South Africa.
While staying with his parents, a Bible League-trained Christian visited Damião’s father. The pastor brought Project Philip Bible studies in Portuguese and Tsonga and encouraged the family to study God’s Word together. Damião says, “As my father is old, I had to be the study group leader in the family, even though I didn’t consider myself a Christian.” The pastor continued to visit the family to help them through the Bible study.
At first, Damião was hesitant about the study. He explains, “To be honest, in the beginning, I only joined the Project Philip Bible study in honor of my parents.”
But during the Bible study and prayer time, he became more captivated. God’s Word touched his soul as he read Matthew 11:28: “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.” He remembered his many sufferings, struggles, and sins. He knew he had done wrong things. He asked God to help him not do them again.
Damião recalls, “I prayed in tears and surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.” Today, he knows his life is different. He says, “Now, I am saying with all my heart, ‘I find my rest in Jesus. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new (2 Corinthians 5:17)!’ Project Philip has been my way to Jesus.”
