“Last spring, our two short-term workers were, Shane and Clay, recent graduates of the University of Virginia and committed members of the Chi Alpha group there. They were the first young men who had come to work with us for 6 months at Raíces (our student ministry center), and lived in the small apartment right on top of our center. They reached out to Spanish young men through the neighborhood and the University, and soon they had a large group of friends coming to watch soccer games and practice English together.

Shawn and Deborah Galyen, AGWM personnel reaching out to the university students in Granada, Spain, share this testimony of God drawing students into relationship through Jesus Christ.  

“Last spring, our two short-term workers were, Shane and Clay, recent graduates of the University of Virginia and committed members of the Chi Alpha group there.  They were the first young men who had come to work with us for 6 months at Raíces (our student ministry center), and lived in the small apartment right on top of our center.  They reached out to Spanish young men through the neighborhood and the University, and soon they had a large group of friends coming to watch soccer games and practice English together.  

One of these young men, Jose (name changed for privacy), responded positively when Shane and Clay turned their conversations toward Christ.  The American young men shared their testimonies and talked about the work of Christ and what it means to follow God.  Jose became a good friend, and when Shane and Clay returned to the States in June, they made sure he knew that other American friends (new grads from UVA) would be arriving in September, ready to fill the gap and continue the conversation.  Shane and Clay used Skype to connect the young people coming in September with the friends they had made in Granada.  They also introduced Jose to friends at our local Spanish church.  

Jose stayed connected over the summer, getting to know our Spanish Christian volunteers from the local church.  In the fall, when the Raíces center started up and new workers arrived, Jose was ready  to jump in and find out more about Christ, attending both Raíces Bible studies and small groups at church.  One evening at church he prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior, and since then has been eagerly involved in the Christian community and growing in his knowledge of Christ.  He and other Spanish young men are getting to know the Lord through the work of the young people at Raíces.  These young Christians, American and Spanish volunteers, are committed to sharing the love of Christ through their lives and their testimonies. “