With all his siblings in gangs, it was almost a certainty that Raul*, now 11, would follow in their footsteps.

“At 9 years old, I started doing drugs and got into a gang,” Raul says. “I stole. I got into street fights.”

After being arrested and sent to a children’s shelter, he was introduced to God’s Word. Thanks to the generosity of American Bible Society’s financial partners, Raul received his first Bible and began participating in a Bible-based trauma healing group.

He couldn’t have anticipated how necessary that healing group would be — for him and the other children at the shelter who’d lived such difficult lives. One night their shelter was set on fire. Some children were burned, and they had to be moved to a new home. But this traumatic event also offered an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord.

Raul’s life has been transformed. “It feels good to learn the Bible,” Raul shares. “I like the story of Joseph because of what God did for him. I want God to change my life.”

God’s Word is helping heal hearts and give children hope for a better life throughout Central America, where so many children are experiencing trauma. We are grateful to our financial partners for helping to make this healing possible!

*Name changed to protect privacy.