Jesus my Savior: Marly Castillo
Daughter
Born and raised in Mexico, Martha (Marly) Castillo grew up in loving, faith-filled home. Faith had always been integral to her family life, though she acknowledges that her practice of faith was more rooted in tradition than personal conviction. It wasn’t until her mother registered her for a retreat in high school that she experienced a personal encounter with Christ. From then on, she joined youth groups and focused on developing a personal relationship with Jesus.
“A Distant Country”
Marly sees herself as an active, independent woman, which prompted her to relocate to a distant city at age 19 for her college education, despite her mother's concerns about its reputation for being unsafe. Marly, therefore, left behind all that she knew and loved, including her faith, and decided to live a different lifestyle.
Losing Everything
She focused on securing employment and financial stability, landing a modeling job with a wealthy businessman. When she rejected his attempt to take advantage of her, he sent her away to the airpot, where disguised police officers kidnapped her after she got out of the airport. Despite being sprayed with chemicals and left for dead, she gained the strength to seek help, ultimately reuniting with her family back home.
Homecoming
At home, Marly struggled with impaired vision from the chemical spray and developed a fear of the outdoors. Wearing the same coat she had during her abduction provided her with a sense of protection. She didn’t know, but the Lord was orchestrating her healing journey. She initially found a job involving outdoor driving and interaction, then secured another position working with men, which helped restore her perception of men's beauty. Eventually, she met her future husband, and after marrying and moving to the United States, she struggled with PTSD and shame about her past while awaiting citizenship, unable to work, drive, and leave her house.
Restored Identity as Daughter
An old friend from Marly's youth group invited her to help lead a Kairos retreat in her new city. Days before the event, the scheduled speaker cancelled, and Marly was asked to give the talk on "Jesus my Savior." This preparation marked her profound return to faith. She realized Jesus truly saved her in that moment when she was fighting for her life. His call to return and discover His heart's depth was clear. The skills she used training models and supervising in architecture now served her in guiding young adults to share God's love. Through this, her identity as a beloved daughter was gently restored.
The Power of Testimony
What Marly teaches us about the transformative power of sharing one’s story is the revelation of God’s providential plan and faithfulness. We become witnesses of God’s mercy and compassion and through our own vulnerability, we invite others into relationship with Jesus. In John 4, we witness the woman at the well sharing her story with others, which leads to their own conversions: “Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, 'He told me everything I have done.'" Moreover, in the Acts 2, Peter preached of what he had witnessed with the resurrection, leading to the conversion of 3,000. Marly demonstrates that we too can help lead others to Christ by our witness and willingness to speak of what the Lord has done in our life!
Share Your Story
Marly’s preparation to share her testimony at the retreat is what led to her conversion. We also see with the woman at the well and Peter that simply just telling someone about transformative things that the Lord has done comes a long way.
Don’t be afraid to grab a piece of paper and begin writing about how God has changed you. Ask yourself, “is there someone in my life that I can share my story with?” The Holy Spirit can help reveal certain individuals in your life who may need to hear what you have to say. You don’t need a wild narrative to have a testimony, you only need conviction that He changes everything.
