From Religion to Relationship

Ozzie’s Story

Though raised Catholic, I felt I was missing something. God took me through a roller coaster of events. After graduating from high school, I worked full-time and went to night school. I applied to the electric utility company and studied electrical engineering. No revelation—just worked for an electric company and loved math and science.

At the age of 25, I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart, but after seven years, we divorced. My first realization was that my commitment to a person and being a good Catholic did not seem to matter. God, where are You? Why me, God? I have been a GOOD Catholic—going to church weekly, participating in youth groups—yet a failure occurred in my life.

As you may know, a divorce is hard on Catholics. I felt empty inside and like a failure. But… I can be cleansed by annulling my marriage. I applied for the annulment, and bingo, the marriage was annulled. It was as if it never existed. Inside my soul, being told the marriage never existed in the eyes of God made no sense and felt wrong. But I was cleansed… or was I?

Life went on, and I married again through the Catholic Church. We had three children, two boys and a girl: Gabriel, Daniel, and Daniela.

But what hit hard was Daniel. At eight months of pregnancy, my wife and I went to visit the doctor. It was confirmed that Daniel had passed, and we still had to deliver him. We were sent home and prepared for his birth the next day. We went to the hospital knowing that we would not be coming home with him.

I'll never forget when he was born; it remains in my inner being. He came out perfect. No missing parts, all intact. For a moment, I recall whispering, "God, he is alive, he is alive." Then reality hit. There was no breath in Daniel, no movement. His head tilted back, his body breathless and limp. Daniel, gone to the Lord before his birth.

Have you ever held a woman's belly with a child and felt that child's movement? So awesome, so beautiful, yet tragic. It made me realize that until birth, you never know what you are going to get. Maybe a child with special needs, one that God takes home, or, for me, the hardest possibility—one who does not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Painful… I weep for those children, boys, girls, men, and women. My soul seeks them, for we are called to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Well, Daniela was born after—a God-send. Did you pay attention to the name, Daniela? Yes… Daniel with an "a" at the end.

What I did not tell you was that right after Daniel's passing, my wife had scheduled a procedure to prevent us from having any more children. It was going to be two boys. But what man plans, God laughs at. You see, God had another plan. For whatever reason, I don't know why, but my desire was always to have four children… oh well.

My next roller coaster—a second divorce. After nine years of marriage, I was divorced again. The Catholic in me was disappointed. I failed and, once again, felt unclean. I was not getting an annulment. I was married and had children, plus there was a high likelihood the annulment would not be approved. So unclean I would stay.

Where are Your blessings, God? Why me?

We had gone through so much counseling—multiple counselors and a priest. I poured my heart out to this priest, but after many sessions, the marriage failed. And the priest? He left the priesthood. You see, he too was going through his own ordeals, and I realized that priests are also imperfect, aren't they?

In 2007, my journey to discover the missing pieces behind my failures and feelings of uncleanness began. I searched and searched, and God led me to a Baptist church where I found the missing piece.

You see, I was a weekly churchgoer, a Eucharistic minister (assisting in the distribution of the Eucharist during Mass), an altar boy, and I had a strong desire to be a priest to bring people to Christ. But my relationship with Christ was missing. Why? Because actions and performance will not get me to Him or make me clean enough.

What I found was that worshiping Him, reading His Word, and having a daily relationship with Christ would bring me where He wanted me to be. Above all, knowing that His grace cleansed me from my sin. Yes, my uncleanness was not going to be cleaned by doing things, but by getting to know the One who did it for me.

Knowing God deeply through His Word, Christian community, worship, and prayer will not stop problems from coming, but it will change how you face them. My "Why God, why me?" has become, "Okay God, where do You want me now, and how can I grow from this?"

I have had many miracles occur in my life, but one that is evident is God removing my pride (still a work in progress). After 41 years working at the utility company, I recall praying to God about many different needs—but not work.

You see, nothing could hurt me now. I had been there 41 years, managing people and on top of the world. All because of me. I got this, God. I am an electrical engineer, I earned a master's degree in operations, and nothing can go wrong. I got this, God.

Until 2022.

I had just turned 60, and the company retired me.

You see, my pride—the "I" in me—thought it was greater than the God who gave it all to me. He was so gracious to me. I bent my knees and asked for His forgiveness. I knew then, as I know now, that I am in His hands. All that I have is His—all of it.

Within two weeks, He blessed me with a job, and four years later He led me here. I would have never been in Hobbs if it were not for God. Though I am here for only a moment, in these few months I have grown deeper in Him than ever before. Freedom has become my church here, and I am blessed to meet God's family. For I am not alone, and we are called to community.

Yes, I married again. I have been married for 12 years to Ana Brito. She and I dated after my first divorce. We were engaged and broke it off—another story.

After my second divorce and her first, we reconnected. She has been my rock.

During my job loss, I was given a bonus just before it happened. I told her we needed to keep all of it so we could survive and provide for our family. She looked at me and gave me words of wisdom.

She said, "Ozzie, you have never failed to tithe to the Lord, and you are not stopping now."

It hit me. Trust in the Lord, not in me.

I tithed. He provided.

My wife and I have had many disagreements. Having a blended family brings challenges. But one thing we know: we are committed to each other. You see, we made a commitment in marriage that through good times and bad, sickness or lack of wealth, we would stay together.

Though we had each made vows before with others, God was not at the center of those marriages. In this one, He is.

I share this because I know many marriages are broken. I need you to know that you need to trust in God. Believe that this too shall pass. Never stop believing that He will show up, especially when things seem impossible.

Men, step up and bring your children to church. Lead in prayer, worship, reading His Word, and serving God's community.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40.

Wives, help us lead. Don't stop believing in your husband. Pray that he turns to Christ, and know that we too battle the flesh.

I challenge everyone to read Romans 8 slowly and with intention. We are to live spiritually, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. Let our minds be governed by the Spirit.

Remember how I desired to have four children? Well, God gave me five: Gabriel, Daniel, Daniela, Andrew (stepson), and Elizabeth (stepdaughter).

Your part? Pray for them. Pray that Jesus Christ places people in their lives who bring them closer to Him and help them become leaders for His cause. Chase the one and leave the ninety-nine behind, Lord—chase my children daily. Give them hearts that will accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I left the desire to be a Catholic priest because I desired to have a family and did not understand the celibate life. I know some are called not to marry, but that was not me.

At the time, I did not know or understand that becoming a pastor was an option. I realized that bringing people to Christ was not only the work of a Catholic priest, but part of the Great Commission given to all believers.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19.

That has been my gift—the desire to bring people to Christ.

I have led and served in children's ministry since 2009 at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach County, Florida. To be honest, I miss those kids. I served as a pastor to first through fourth graders. You know it is your calling when you can honestly say, "I love this ministry."

One of my most humbling moments is when a man or woman, once a child I pastored, comes to me and thanks me—thanks me for helping lead them to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to see the fruit of what You can do.

I also led a men's group that is still active today. They pray for me, and I pray for them. These are warriors who, no matter what, will be there for each other at all times. Pay attention—at all times includes the good and the bad, not just the bad.

Finally, I leave you with this: Do you know what you have here? Don't take for granted what God has provided in Hobbs.

Pastor Cameron and Sarah Veazey are called to lead Freedom. They are led by the Holy Spirit, and you are part of it. I have gotten to know Pastor Cameron, and God is leading him and his wife to impact this region with the loving message of Jesus Christ.

We are called to pray for them, serve alongside them, and above all, join them in leading others toward Christ and making Heaven full.

I look forward to a packed church. We have empty seats—let's help fill them.

Blessings to all.