A BLACK HOMELESS MAN ENTERS A CHURCH IN NEED OF HELP, BUT WHAT HE FINDS IS MUCH GREATER

Marcos wasn’t always homeless, but he had been living on the streets for a long time, begging for alms, cold and hungry. One day, he decided to enter a church and found himself in a situation he never imagined.

Marcos wasn’t from that city. He came from far away and hadn’t seen his family in over 10 years. As a young man, he left his home with his four young children who lived with their mother and grandmother in a very poor community in another country.

There, they suffered from hunger, lacked running water, sewage, or even electricity. One day, a businessman appeared offering jobs to help the people, and he accepted, with hope that he would return after six months with enough money to help his family. Little did he know it was another country with a different language and that he would be enslaved.

He was taken to a warehouse with several other natives of his country, where he was only paid enough to eat, worked every day in a recycling warehouse, and had to endure heavy loads, many hours of hard work, and humiliation from the owners. Until the day he managed to escape. Since then, he had been living like this.

In the city center, there was a beautiful church where lively celebrations took place every Sunday with loud music and many smiles. Happiness was palpable and almost tangible. Marcos always passed by and felt a shiver at the peace and joy that moment brought him, but it was only a minute, even though he slowed his pace. One day, he even stopped and stood there, listening to beautiful words of encouragement, seeking faith, but he noticed that everyone was well-dressed and spoke differently from what he could speak, so he didn’t consider entering.

As usual, Marcos woke up with his faithful little dog licking his face. Another cold day had begun. He dismantled his cardboard bed and some old blankets and went to a faucet behind a diner on the same street where he always slept, where the sidewalk was wider and had a cover in front of a store, which prevented the rain from hitting him. Marcos washed his face and drank water from that faucet that saved his life every day and went out to beg for the kindness of those passing by on the busiest street after the beautiful church in the center.

On his way, passing in front of the church, there was a woman at the door humming. Marcos wondered, “How is this woman, at this hour of the morning, in this cold, so happy?” He continued to walk slowly, with his head tilted back, unable to take his eyes off that scene. When he reached his destination, he sat on the ground and put his cap in front of him, hoping someone would put some coins in it so he could have his first meal of the day.

Shortly after a few minutes, Samantha, his companion every morning on that sidewalk when asking for compassion, arrived. “Hello Marcos, today is colder than usual, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it will be harder for us to spend the whole day,” he said sadly, shivering, and he continued, “I think about going back to my piece of land. Even when I lived there, it was very miserable, but there wasn’t as much pain as I found here. I left there hoping to find something better for my children and ended up without money, without contact, and with no way to return. The shame of what I have become consumes me. My wife would not forgive me.”

Samantha, speechless, nodded in support.

Almost at nightfall, unable to earn his living and only with the lunch that an NGO offered him, he headed towards his belongings, which were in a more hidden alley. As he passed by the street of the church he admired so much, he heard a voice, “Hello sir, could I talk to you?”

When he looked back, it was the same woman who had caught his attention at the church door in the morning, Liam. He answered somewhat shyly, “Yes, ma’am.”

Liam was a disconcerting person. She looked into his eyes, smiled all the time, her movements filled the space, the opposite of everything Marcos was. Then Liam, with a sweet and charitable voice, said, “I see you almost every day passing by this street, looking and almost stopping in front of the church. The last day I saw you, I felt a strong desire to know why you don’t come in, since you look at it with such longing for what we have inside.” As he tried to respond, Liam continued without taking another breath, “Do you want to come in today? We would be very happy. Can I help you with something?”

He wanted to say he was hungry, but she continued, “Here we have many projects to help you. Come in, wait, the service will start soon.”

Speechless, Marcos just walked to the seat inside the church, sat down, took a deep breath, and thought, “What am I doing here? I want food.” Soon Liam arrived with some snacks.

“Are you hungry? Help yourself. Make yourself at home,” she said with a still strange smile for Marcos. He, totally uncomfortable and ashamed but very hungry, filled his hands and enjoyed that meal.

Many people started to arrive, and Liam was already busy with other tasks. Marcos was alone, looking at the ceiling which seemed so high, and the many lights confused him. That’s when a man passing by the aisle noticed him. He looked at Marcos with pity and a certain fear mixed with contempt.

Marcos looked at himself and remembered that the clothes he was wearing had patches, were dirty, his beard was longer than usual, and he hadn’t bathed in days. He felt so bad that he got up and tried to leave the place. As he walked through the huge corridors, looking for the exit, the praise began. The voices were so beautiful, there was so much peace in a song that he didn’t even realize he had sat down again. Looking at the young people singing, he imagined himself at home and dreamed of better days. The song lyrics touched his heart, an uncontrollable urge to cry mixed with a great courage to change his life.

When the praise moment passed, a young man took the microphone and began to speak such profound and beautiful things that in an hour, Marcos thought, “It seems like I know this voice.” Then he got up to try to see the young man’s face better. With only Marcos standing, everyone looked at him, some with disgust, others with pity, and a few with a desire to welcome and get to know him.

Then he felt like the worst person in the world, and everything got worse when the young man speaking at the pulpit looked at him, dropped the microphone, and ran away, leaving everyone scared and intrigued. The pastor took the microphone and said, “Welcome, sir. This is the house of God, and all his children are welcome. You seem to be an immigrant. I will send the team that takes care of such matters to meet you. Just wait in your place, please.”

But Marcos was already trembling and left before anyone from the team arrived. At the church door, Liam saw him leaving and shouted, “Hello, don’t go! What’s your name? I forgot to ask.”

Marcos quickened his pace and ran to his hiding place in the corner alley, where his dog was waiting for him, wagging its tail. Teddy jumped on his friend, and Marcos, petting him, spoke to him, “How was your day, Teddy? Did you get any food? Next time I’ll take you just so that woman doesn’t call me again to that church where the word and the praise are wonderful, but many people there don’t like people like me. And you’re stinking, they won’t want you either.

After lighting his fire to avoid suffering from the cold, he fell asleep on the ground, hugging Teddy. At dawn, Marcos did everything as usual, and after washing his face at the diner’s faucet, he decided that day he wouldn’t spend the day begging for alms but would think of a way to return to his country. He didn’t know whom to turn to and didn’t know where to start. He walked the streets aimlessly, praying to the God he had heard about in that church to help him.

At the end of the day, tired, he decided to go back, and as he sat with his dog on the sidewalk, he saw a well-dressed and very familiar young man coming towards him. It was the young man who gave the beautiful words at the church altar that day. With red eyes, as if he had been crying, he hugged Marcos and didn’t let go for a few minutes. Marcos pushed him away and said, “Don’t do that, young man. I’m stinking.

The young man smiled and replied, “It’s okay. I stink sometimes too.” And they both laughed. Marcos looked closely at the young man’s face and said, “I know you. You were at the church speaking beautiful words of courage, but you ran away when you saw me. And now I understand why.” He put his hands on the young man’s face and, crying, continued, “You’re my son, Felipe, whom I left at 10 years old, playing in the backyard without saying goodbye, afraid that you would convince me to stay. Forgive me, son. I just wanted to have a better life for you, to be proud of me. And with so many disappointments in this place, I ended up on the street, clinging to drugs and the thought that I had no right to have you.

Felipe, already sobbing from crying so much, said, “Father, I ran away because emotion took over me, and I didn’t know how to react. I did run, but it was towards you, and when I arrived, you were no longer there. Since that moment, I have been looking for you in these streets, and now I found you. I forgive you and understand you.”

Marcos beamed with happiness and didn’t let go of Felipe’s hand. Embraced, they talked about everything that had happened and how Felipe had come to be there.

“Father, my mother, my siblings, and I came to this country on a missionary project. My mother converted and became a woman of great faith. She studied and strengthened us. Today we are stable. I am graduated and have a good job with great expectations in my field. We searched for clues and suspected that you could be here, so we happily accepted our pastor’s proposal. Come on, I’ll take you home. We’re not living far from here.

Despite Marcos being very happy, the fear of seeing the rest of the family was great. He didn’t know if the others felt the same as Felipe, so he stood there, silent. Felipe, noticing, asked him, “What’s wrong, father? What’s troubling you?”

He replied, “I’ve been through a lot of discrimination. People have run away from me as if I were a criminal. They have humiliated me with horrible words. Your mother, as far as I remember, is a strong and determined woman. Your siblings grew up without a father. I’m afraid of what I might find there. But that’s all because the longing I feel won’t let me give up this moment.

“Then let’s go,” Felipe said, already dragging him by the arm towards the car.

Upon arriving at a large house with beautiful trees around it, he parked and asked Marcos to get out. At the door of the house, a woman appeared—long hair, youthful face, glowing skin. It was his wife, Rebecca. As he looked at the woman he had loved so much, he began to remember everything they had been through—the first kiss, the promises, and all the difficulties they faced. “She looks more beautiful than before,” he whispered to Felipe, and he felt in love all over again.

She hurried towards him, embraced him, but he didn’t feel that she held the same feelings for him, and he thought, “Maybe it’s because I’m dirty and bearded.”

Rebecca, kneeling on the ground in a form of gratitude, looked up to the sky and spoke out loud, “Thank God you’re okay. There were times when I thought you were dead, but I prayed so much for this moment to be possible, and God answered me.

He moved, cried. After a few minutes of crying and thanksgiving, Marcos, Felipe, and Rebecca lifted Rebecca off the ground, and the three entered the house hand-in-hand. In the living room, they found their three younger children—Lura, Matus, and Ivan. They all hugged, and the youngest, Ivan, asked Marcos, “Are you our father?”

He replied, “Yes, my love. You were only two years old when I had to leave.”

The boy looked suspicious and said again, “Okay, Mommy told us, but I think you need a bath immediately.” And everyone smiled again together.

Marcos took the best bath of his life—so warm, the bathroom was fragrant, and the towel seemed to be made of pure cotton. Soon after, he sat at the table, and the food smelled so good that he couldn’t wait for everyone to arrive and soon helped himself.

“Sorry, I haven’t had a meal all day,” he said, chewing on a succulent piece of meat.

Rebecca and Felipe, who were already at the table, smiled, and Rebecca replied, “It’s okay. Eat whatever you want.”

Marcos, now clean and well-fed, felt like a new man. The walls of that house, embracing him with so much affection and warmth, gave him a sense of belonging that he had long not experienced. He watched his family’s faces with a mixture of joy and nervousness, hoping that his return wouldn’t be a dream about to fade away.

Night came quickly, and with it, a series of questions and stories to share. Felipe, Rebecca, Lura, Matus, and Ivan were gathered in the living room, sitting around Marcos, eager to know more about his journey. Marcos, in turn, wanted to hear everything he had missed during his absence.

Felipe began to tell about the move to the new country and how they found strength in faith and the church community. Rebecca added stories about daily challenges and victories, highlighting the growth and education of the children. Lura, now a confident and determined young woman, talked about her dreams and achievements at school, while Matus, shy, spoke about his love for soccer. Ivan, the youngest and most curious, asked incessant questions about everything. Marcos listened attentively, his heart filling with pride and love.

When it was his turn to speak, he took a deep breath and began to tell his story from the day he left the family. He talked about the promise of a job, the harsh reality of slavery, the escape, and the years on the streets. Rebecca and the children listened with teary eyes, understanding the depth of the suffering Marcos had faced. Felipe, still emotional, held Marcos’s hand and said, “Father, you have gone through things none of us can imagine, but now you are here, and that’s what matters. Let’s rebuild everything together, day after day.”

In the following days, Marcos began to adapt to the new routine. First, he brought his dog to be with them, which delighted his youngest son. With the support of his family and the church community, he got new clothes, documents, and even a medical checkup to check his health. But more importantly, he found in every gesture of affection and understanding the strength to move forward.

Liam, the woman who approached him at the church, made a point of visiting him. She brought not only words of encouragement but also promised to help him find a job. Marcos felt grateful for every small action that brought him closer to a dignified and fulfilling life. Despite the many difficulties still to overcome, marcos’s faith and determination guided him. He began attending church with his family, finally feeling welcomed and part of that community. The smiles that once intimidated him now comforted him, and the words of faith renewed his hope.

One night during a service, Felipe asked for the floor. He went up to the pulpit, looked at the congregation, and began to speak about the importance of faith, forgiveness, and redemption. Marcos, sitting next to Rebecca, listened with a heart full of emotion. When Felipe finished, he called Marcos to the altar. With a choked voice, Felipe said, “This is my father, Marcos. He is an example of resilience and courage, and today, before all of you, I want to say that I forgive him and that we are ready to start a new journey together.

Marcos, moved, hugged Felipe. The congregation applauded, and many stood up to offer words of support and encouragement. It was a new beginning, a chance to rediscover the love and faith that time and circumstances had tried to erase. At that moment, Marcos realized that despite the difficulties, he had found a home—not just within the walls of the house he now inhabited, but in the hearts of those who loved and believed in him.

Life was just beginning, full of new possibilities and surprises. Marcos still had the great mission of winning back his wife and making up for lost time with his children, so he decided to dedicate himself entirely to that. Each day was a new opportunity to show Rebecca and the kids the man he had become and the love he still held for them.

First, he took care of his health, addressing his vices so he would never relapse. With faith and the help of his family, he was certain he was cured, but it was one day at a time, and every week he attended a church rehabilitation group where he felt stronger each day in the face of any temptation that could take him away from the chance to be happy with those he loved.

Marcos knew winning back Rebecca’s heart would require time and patience. He started with small gestures—helping with household chores, preparing breakfast, and listening attentively to her. Rebecca, in turn, seemed open, but there was still a wall between them, as time and distance had cooled the romantic feeling she had for him.

One evening, Marcos prepared a special dinner. He cooked Rebecca’s favorite dishes, decorated the table with candles and flowers, and played soft music in the background. When Rebecca entered the dining room, she was surprised and moved. “I remember all your favorite recipes,” Marcos said with a shy smile. “I want to show you that I still care and that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win back your heart.

Rebecca sat down, and the two of them dined in a comfortable silence, exchanging glances and smiles. At the end of the meal, Marcos gathered his courage and spoke, “Rebecca, I know I caused a lot of pain when I left. I thought I was doing what was best for our family, but I understand that the sacrifice I made had a high price for all of us. I’m here now, willing to rebuild our life together if you’ll allow me.”

Rebecca took Marcos’s hand and, with tears in her eyes, replied, “Marcos, the road will be long and difficult, but I’m willing to try. Let’s rebuild our family, one step at a time.”

Marcos also devoted himself to the children, trying to make up for lost time and build a solid relationship with each of them. He got involved in their activities and showed interest in their lives. Lara, the eldest daughter, was going through an important moment in school, about to choose a university. Marcos started helping her with her studies, offering support and advice about careers and futures.

“Dad, I’m thinking about studying medicine,” Lara said one night.

“That’s wonderful, Lara. You have incredible dedication. Let’s work together so you can achieve that dream.”

Matus, the soccer enthusiast, was delighted when Marcos accompanied him to practices and games. Marcos encouraged him, trained with him in the backyard, and shared stories about his own passion for the sport.

“Dad,

did you play soccer when you were young?” Matus asked.

“Yes, I loved it. Let’s train together, and maybe one day you can become a great player.”

Ivan, the youngest, loved listening to the stories Marcos told about his childhood and the adventures he had. They spent hours together, building sandcastles and exploring the park.

“Daddy, tell me another story,” Ivan would ask every night.

“Of course, my son. I will tell you the story of a man who, despite all the challenges, never gave up on his family.”

One day, while strolling through the park, Marcos and Felipe came across a group of missionaries offering help to homeless people. Marcos recognized some faces and decided to approach them.

“Excuse me,” he said, his voice trembling. “I used to live on the streets. Today, I am here thanks to a reunion with my family.”

The missionaries listened attentively, and one of them, an older man, asked, “How can we help more people like you, Marcos?”

Marcos thought for a moment and replied, “Offer more than just food and clothes. Offer hope. Listen to their stories and help them find their way back. Often, all we need is a second chance.”

Marcos decided that his new mission would be to help other homeless people find their way back to their families and a dignified life. With the support of the church and his family, he began working on community projects, sharing his story, and offering practical help. Samantha, the homeless woman who begged on the same sidewalk as Marcos, was the first to be blessed by the project, helping her return to her country and giving her all possible support. She was very grateful to Marcos.

Felipe, proud of his father, also got involved in the projects, using his position in the church to organize events and raise funds. Together, father and son became a powerful force in the community, bringing hope and transformation to many.

Over time, Marcos’s love and dedication began to melt away the remaining barriers in Rebecca’s heart. They began to walk together every morning, talking about the future and making plans for new family adventures. One evening, as they watched the sunset, Rebecca turned to Marcos and said, “You have shown me that true love can overcome any obstacle. I am ready to start again, for real. I love you.”

Marcos, with tears in his eyes, hugged Rebecca and whispered, “I promise I will never disappoint you again. Let’s build a wonderful future together. I love you.”

And so, with love, faith, and determination, Marcos was able to win back his family and find a greater purpose in his life. The journey was just beginning, full of new possibilities and challenges, but he knew that with his family by his side, he could face anything.