Miracle Stories from Around the World

Dear Lord,

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the countless times You welcomed us home with open arms. Thank You for never giving up on us, for loving us beyond measure, and for being a Father who waits eagerly for His children to return. This Christmas season, may we reflect Your love to others and share the hope of salvation with those who long to come home. Amen.

Dear Friend,

The holiday season is a time of coming home – home to family, home to love, and for many, home to faith. But have you ever felt “stuck,” unsure of how to move forward, feeling as though you’ve wandered too far from the path? As a pastor, I have encountered many people who feel lost, their lives burdened with challenges – whether it’s a struggling career, fractured relationships, or personal battles that seem too difficult to overcome. These moments of crisis often reveal a deeper spiritual struggle, a search for something greater, for a place to belong, for a way back home.

The story of the prodigal son, as told in Luke 15, beautifully captures this truth. The prodigal son took his inheritance, left home, and wasted everything on reckless living. But when he hit rock bottom, he remembered his father’s love and decided to return home, hoping for mercy. There, he found his father waiting for him with open arms, offering forgiveness. It’s a story of coming back home even when we feel unworthy.

This message of hope and redemption is at the core of what we do at Hope Channel International. We are spreading the gospel to every nation, every tribe, every tongue, and every people, sharing the good news that no matter how far we’ve wandered, God is always ready to welcome us back.

As a global Hope Channel team, we are sharing this message in over 80 countries, including the Philippines, inviting people from all backgrounds to find hope and belonging. I’m excited to share with you a powerful story from our Hope Channel South Philippines team that demonstrates how God’s love can transform even the most unlikely lives.

Second Chance for Arquel

Arquel Acle’s life was far from what God intended. He worked as a club bouncer, dealt drugs, and controlled the lives of 18 girls as their pimp. He was trapped in a cycle of exploitation, violence, and addiction that he had come to accept as normal. Night after night, he walked a path of darkness, entangled in a life void of hope.

He had heard about Seventh-day Adventism, but had no respect for it, dismissing Adventists as naive for what he saw as their “restrictive” lifestyle. Despite his animosity toward the church, Arquel still believed in God and prayed in his own way. 

Then everything changed. One day, Arquel fell seriously ill, and while lying in his hospital bed, he faced a cold reality. For the first time, he began to question his life choices and the direction he was headed. In desperation, he prayed, “Lord, if you really love me, help me to get rid of my vices.” When he returned home, he found himself feeling lost yet searching for something more, though he didn’t know what.

One day, while flipping through radio stations, bored of his usual rock music, he came across a Christian song on Hope Channel South Philippines. The song stirred something deep within him, breaking down his defenses. As he listened, he felt a wave of emotion, and tears began to flow. He thought to himself, “Why is it so hard for me to change when I know there is a God?” 

From that moment, he couldn’t stop listening. The music and sermons spoke directly to his heart, calling him to a better life. Still, he struggled. At times, he would quickly turn off the music whenever friends visited, afraid of what they might think if they saw him listening to Christian content.

Despite this hesitation, he couldn’t resist the gentle pull that kept drawing him back to the message of hope. He often walked by the local Seventh-day Adventist Church, feeling both curious and hesitant. Secretly, he prayed, “If this is the true church, please help me be part of them.” One day, he was invited inside. It was a moment that felt like an answer to his prayer. Eager to turn away from his past, Arquel began attending Bible studies. He learned about God’s love, forgiveness, and the second chance that had been waiting for him all along. Eventually, he was baptized, leaving his old life behind.

Today, Arquel serves as a deacon in the very church he once despised. When he reflects on his past, he feels a mix of emotions, both gratitude for God’s mercy and humility at the journey that brought him here. Now, he urges his friends to turn to God as well, reminding them, “Serve the Lord because He is about to return so that we can go to His kingdom in heaven.”

Like the prodigal son, Arquel returned to his Father’s home and found love, forgiveness, and eternal hope.

Join Us in Sharing the Message of Homecoming

At Hope Channel, we believe in the power of God’s love to welcome people home, just as Arquel experienced. I’ve witnessed firsthand how God’s love transforms lives when people return to Him – healing their emotions, addictions, perspectives, and priorities. This is the heart of our mission: to share the good news of a loving Father who is always ready to welcome His children back home.

As we enter this Christmas season, a time when many of us are coming home to family and loved ones, we are reminded of those who feel lost, longing for a place to belong. Our 2030 vision is to reach 1 billion people with the message of eternal hope, inviting them to come home to God’s love. This season, I invite you to choose a project from our gift catalog that stirs your heart. Maybe you’ll feel called to support online Bible studies, expand Arabic programming to reach seekers in the Middle East, or fund children’s programming to bring the message of Jesus to young hearts. Scan the QR code or visit hopechannelinternational.org/giftcatalog to explore the gift catalog and give the gift of hope this season.

In His service,

Vyacheslav Demyan
President of Hope Channel International

P.S. Your support is essential in helping us share the message of hope with the world. Please consider choosing a project from our gift catalog today to help us bring hope to 1 billion people by 2030.