“Javier and I met in our fourth-grade piano class. We were friendly acquaintances throughout our school years, but in 2017 everything changed. Both of us were coming out of serious relationships (with children) and difficult seasons when we reconnected on social media. We decided to meet for a date to catch up, and it went so well! Neither of us wanted it to end. The next weekend, Javier invited me to an Easter service at Gateway. I hesitated at first because I had been distant from God for a long time, but I said yes. As we walked in together, I took a deep breath and knew right away ... this is home. Soon we joined a Gateway Group that was studying ‘Exposing the Tools of the Enemy.’ Our lives totally changed! We learned to recognize spiritual attacks and declare God’s truth over those areas where the enemy had lied to us. The group taught us how to come together against the enemy, rather than against each other. Javier and I had some battles that nearly led to breaking up, and our group stood by us with prayer and support through those hard times. During one meeting last year, Javier got down on one knee and proposed! Of course I said yes, and we were married in September 2018! In fact, our group was so essential to our lives that our group leaders were the best man and matron of honor in our wedding. Since coming to Gateway, we’ve rededicated our lives to the Lord and were baptized together with our youngest son. Our older son and daughter love Gateway Students and love volunteering at church too! We have made so many amazing friends and found continued support through Gateway. We are proof that if you keep your eyes on God, blessings will follow.” Isabel, Javier, and their children attend the Grand Prairie Campus.
May 9, 2019