Guest Blog by: Amado Lobatos
I was born in Mexico and smuggled into the United States in 1976. My father worked for many years in Wyoming as a farm hand. It was a very difficult place to be in that I was always embarrassed to be an illegal Mexican farmhand. After all, I didn’t choose to come into this country. The thing that helped with our struggle is that our family was honored to have some godly farmers that took the time to love us and help us to become a part of this awesome country.
They showed us the love of God through good deeds but also through teaching us the Word of God. At the age of ten, I heard the Gospel presented to me in such a way that I couldn’t turn it down. I was informed that God, the creator of the world, sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and that he had a desire to adopt me as His son. I asked the Lord to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my life in my bedroom that night after hearing the gospel. I was discipled by some Godly men who helped me become serious about my time in His word. At age 15, while reading Revelation, I received my call to ministry. It was from Revelation 3:15 & 16. I sensed that the Lord was telling me that he wanted me to go in the ministry.
I argued with God for three days because I couldn’t fathom why God would want an illegal Mexican farmhand to be his servant. On the third day, I conceded to His call and became so excited that I often preached to the cows and corn and in my tractor. When it was time to be trained for the ministry, I was in a very difficult situation.
I wanted to go to college but did not have legal status here in the United States. I was encouraged to apply to the Moody Bible Institute even though I was not legal. My pastor informed me that God would provide a way. So, I applied. It was at that time that Wyoming Senators Alan Simpson and Malcom Wallop were working on a bill that would legalize all illegal aliens that were working in an agricultural environment.
The bill passed and I was given full amnesty and received my social security number two weeks before I received my acceptance letter from the Moody Bible Institute. When I finished my schooling I went to work for a ministry that helped abused and abandoned children. In 1995 I married my college sweetheart and a year later we were given an opportunity to join the staff of a new church that was going to be opening. We helped start Westbrook Christian Church in 1996 and remained involved with them until December of 2009.
I can’t imagine where I would be today if the Immigration Reform & Control Act in 1986 was not put into action. I will forever be grateful to the many wonderful people who worked so hard to make it happen. My personal vision is to help people fall in love with Jesus Christ.
My deepest passion is that I will stand in the presence of my Lord and receive a “well done, good and faithful” and that as God’s chosen I did everything possible to be sure that all those that He put in my charge receive the same from Him.
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