My name is Andrés, and I was once a commander in the FARC guerrilla forces. For years, my life was consumed by violence and a war-torn existence in the jungles surrounding San Vicente del Caguán. I believed in our cause, and I was blinded by the hatred I held towards those I considered my enemies.
In 2025, when the peace process seemed to be finally taking root, I reluctantly participated in a reconciliation meeting organized by a local church in Caquetá. I remember sitting in that circle, surrounded by people whose lives I had once tried to destroy. I felt out of place, like a wolf in a flock of sheep.
That day, a woman I had never seen before approached me. Her eyes held a peace I couldn't comprehend, and she said, 'Andrés, Jesus forgave me much, and He can forgive you too.' Her words pierced through my hardened heart. I had been denying my own need for forgiveness, but her sincerity left me no place to hide.
Over the next few months, I returned to those meetings out of curiosity and a hint of desperation. A pastor named Juan became my mentor, sharing stories of Jesus' love that I had never heard before. Slowly, the message of grace began to soften me. One day, as I was reading the Bible for the first time, I came across Luke 15—the story of the Prodigal Son. I broke down in tears at the thought of a Father running to embrace his lost child.
In early 2026, I finally surrendered my life to Jesus. Kneeling on the dusty floor of the church, I prayed, 'Lord, I'm lost and broken, but if You can use someone like me, I give You my life.' It was like a weight I had been carrying for decades was lifted.
Today, my life is radically different. I now live in Florencia, where I work with a local ministry dedicated to helping former combatants reintegrate into society. My days are filled with sharing the message of reconciliation and forgiveness that transformed me. I often tell others, 'If Jesus can change a heart like mine, He can change anyone.'
I have apologized to many of those I hurt, including that woman who first spoke to me about Jesus. Her name is María, and she has become a dear sister in Christ. We work together, bridging divides that once seemed impossible to cross. God has replaced the bitterness of my past with hope and a future. Each day, I thank Jesus for giving me a new purpose and for teaching me that true peace comes from Him alone.
