The pandemic changed the lives of millions of people. For many, it was a time of uncertainty, fear, and isolation. But for others, it became an opportunity to reconnect with God. That was the case for a listener of Radio Nuevo Tiempo in Ecuador, who today shares how a radio broadcast marked a turning point in his life. Nuevo Tiempo is the Spanish Christian television and radio station owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America.

Armando Almeida had his first encounter with faith as a child, thanks to a neighbor who insisted on taking him to church. However, academics, friendships, and responsibilities gradually took the place spirituality once held.

“When I was a child, a neighbor would talk to my mother and ask her permission to take me to church. Today I understand that a seed was planted in my heart at that time,” he recalled.

That seed lay dormant for years. It was during the pandemic, when the world seemed to stand still, that God knocked on the door of Almeida's heart again.

“I always say that the pandemic was a turning point. Just when I most needed someone to tell me about God, I found Radio Nuevo Tiempo,” he recounted.

As Almeida listened to the programming, he felt that each message described the way he was living. The reflections, advice, and teachings seemed directed specifically at him. At the end of one of the broadcasts, he heard a simple invitation to visit a nearby church; all he had to do was search for it online. Motivated by that call, he decided to attend.

“I looked for a church near my house and started attending. One day, I had the opportunity to witness a baptism. It was wonderful. I felt that I, too, needed to surrender my life to God,” he said.

From that moment on, Almeida began to transform his life. He not only strengthened his relationship with God but also began paying closer attention to his health and daily habits.

“I started to understand that taking care of my body is also part of honoring God. I learned about healthy eating and realized that many things I considered normal weren't the best for my well-being,” he explained.

The biblical convictions Almeida acquired gave him the strength to face social pressures he had previously accepted without question. He especially remembers a family celebration where, despite the insistence of his loved ones, he decided to stand firm in his principles and not partake in alcohol.

“I hadn’t been baptized yet, but I already understood that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. That night, everyone insisted I drink alcohol, but I said no. I felt like I had won a battle,” he said.

Looking back, Almeida recognizes the vast difference between his former life and his current one. “I lived as if God didn’t exist. The seed was there, but I had turned away. Today I can say that, through radio, my life was transformed.” His experience has made him a living testament to the impact media can have when used to share hope.

“I recommend Radio Nuevo Tiempo because it was through this station that I came to know God. For me, Nuevo Tiempo is an instrument that God uses so that his children can find him,” Almeida concluded.

The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site.