Ellie first came to one of our schools as a kindergarten student. Her family has been a part of the school since it first opened, however they are not believers. Their one concern with Manantial was that it was a Christian school, yet they still allowed their daughter to attend. Over the past 6 years, Ellie had heard the Gospel countless times, but it wasn’t until she was sitting in her 5th grade class listening to her teacher share the Gospel that something had clicked. She raised her hand in class and told her teacher that she knew without a doubt that the Gospel was true and she longed to be saved. After some inquiring, her teacher could see that knew the Gospel, that she loved the Lord and desired to give her life to Him. Ellie then prayed with her teacher, confessing her sin and professing salvation in Jesus. She then was eager to go home and share with her parents what Christ had done. They were supportive and proud, despite them not being believers themselves. As Ellie continued to come to school, teachers immediately saw fruit and transformation in her life and others have got to witness ways that God has been using her to be a light to her family.
**This student’s name has been altered for their protection and privacy.**

Sarah and Gina have both attended Manantial since kindergarten. For years they have heard the gospel each day in the classroom, but the reality of what Christ had done for them did not take root until this year. Their teacher was reading Psalm 23, sharing with them that God’s desire is for us to rest and trust in Him. She explained that they cannot do anything to earn their salvation, but need to trust the Lord to fight all of their battles and lead their entire lives. They then had the gospel presented to them again, ending with the opportunity to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and repent and turn from their sins. Sarah and Gina, sitting on opposite sides of the rooms, both shot their hands up proclaiming that their hearts desire was to fully surrender their lives to Christ. Their teacher took the time to sit with each student individually, open the Bible, and count the cost of their decision and what it truly means. Seeing that Christ had given both of them genuine hearts in understanding, their teacher prayed and celebrated with them for their newness in Christ! Since then, they have read the Bible every Thursday morning before school with their teacher, guiding them further in what a life surrendered to Christ fully looks like.

Belen has been attending Manantial for about 8 years, and both Belen and her brother are a part of a healthy local church in town. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to hear the gospel many times in her classes. Her teachers have planted seeds in her heart and have been praying for Belen for years since she started attending the school. Recently, two of our foreign missionaries started a discipleship group for the middle school students on Thursday mornings. Belen expressed interest, and made the effort to attend to the group. On the first day she attended, the lesson was on surrender. No one can become a true disciple of Jesus unless they have first surrendered their life to Christ. It was during this lesson that Belen realized that she had never given her life to Jesus. Belen went up to her teacher and asked if she would meet and pray with her. As the teacher shared the gospel, Belen’s eyes were opened to the Gospel and she prayed and accepted Christ. Belen has continued to attend the discipleship group and has grown so much in her walk with the Lord. Belen has since become more involved in church and continues to be discipled by her teachers.

“More stories coming soon!”