Hugo: An Orphan Turning His Life Around
Hugo is a young man who grew up in the worst of circumstances. His parents threw him out of the house at a very young age. His home, if it could be called that, was filled with conflict and the worst type of neglect you could possibly imagine. Most children who grow up in these homes end up following the same downward spiral of their parents and raising their own children to do the same. It’s the same repeating cycle of self-destruction passed down from generation to generation.
On occasion, there’s a child that will awaken to their inner conscience—God planted—and flee for their lives. That’s Hugo. Getting kicked out of his home was emotionally traumatic. Life on the streets can be especially dangerous for children and young adults. Fortunately, Hugo ended up at The 127 ministry for a short period of time. It was hard on him, and he didn’t stay long, but seeds were planted. In fact, Jesus tells many stories about seeds. They grow when no one is looking and occasionally take root in fallow soil—a human heart far away from God.
The seeds planted in his heart were still there when Hugo left our ministry. They continued to take root as he made mistakes and ended up in prison for two years. It’s no mystery however, that gospel seeds draw their life-transforming power from the eternal Kingdom of God. Miraculously, Hugo awakened to the gospel while in prison and vowed to return to the ones who originally planted the seeds for help and guidance.
Praise God, Hugo is part of our ministry again.
We need to acknowledge a reality here. While there are many government programs for kids like Hugo, they often fall through the cracks, onto the streets, and ultimately fill our prisons. Many of the institutions care less about these kids than the profit they can suck out of a broken system. Hugo was one of these throw-away kids, destined to be ignored by society and forgotten by most, a life on the streets, recruited by gangs, wrestling with lifetime addictions, in-and-out of the revolving prison doors.
The authorities contacted us and asked if we could help Hugo. “Yes” came easy for us. Bottom line, I understand kids like Hugo. I was one. But for the grace of God, I would not be alive. Today, my wife and I obey a wonderful calling from God. He chose us to intervene in the lives of orphans, one-by-one, for as long as we live as pilgrims on this earth.
Here’s a little backstory for our audience. Our ministry, outside of HNewsWire, is called The 127 Faith Foundation. It’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that my wife and I set up to answer the call of the New Testament Book of James, chapter 1, verse 27:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Our heart’s desire for The 127 is to be Christ-centered, pure, faultless, and to look after distressed orphans. The “look after” part of the verse is perhaps the most challenging, but it’s also the most rewarding.
We could spend our whole lives ranting and raving about how bad the world is becoming, but we live to make a difference. As a wise man once said, “Don’t shout at the darkness, light a candle.” You see best when you see light. And Jesus said, “You...” my dear friends, “are the light of the world.
Did you know that you can participate in helping young people like Hugo? You may not have the opportunity to do what we do each day. However, you can help our ministry with the funds to purchase food and clothing, supplies and shelter. Always remember, helping those who help others is an equally high calling. Every cent you give to The 127 supports orphans like Hugo. Nothing goes anywhere else.
God bless you!!!
Stevieray Hansen
Founder, The 127 Foundation
Give to Make a Difference!
Any gift large or small will impact the life of a young person who has aged out of the foster care system. These kids turn to us because we are an alternative to life on the streets or in prison. We come to you because you care about their struggle to survive and their hope to reach a dream.
Friend
Your gift of $50 per month will provide food and necessary hygiene supplies.
Advocate
Your gift of $100 per month will additionally provide clothing and educational expenses.
Benefactor
Your gift of $250 per month will offset the expenses of providing a living space.
Champion
Your gift of $500 per month will help with relocation to a new city and employment.