Prior Michael Bullard of the Priory of St Gabriel welcomed a new Companion At Arms into their ranks. Fernando Villanueva, originally from Southern California was recently accepted into the Order. CAA Villanueva says, “I am a husband to a beautiful wife who loves the Lord and father to a beautiful son who is learning to love the Lord as well.
Sharing his faith journey, he says “I strayed far from God. I was into satanic practices in my early twenties. I was truly lost. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was playing with things that the Lord protects us from, The enemy.”
Thankfully, things changed. “One night I realized the kind of hate the things I praised and worshipped have for me. It made me realize that if something can be that bad there must be something that is the opposite. True goodness and love. My curiosity grew and I began reading some books, the book of Buddha, almost started reading the quaran. Something drew me to buy the Holy Bible and give that a shot. I began in Genesis. When I read the story of God creating the universe, I believed it and I found it odd that I believed it. So one night after doing some reading and talking to my wife about how I’ve been feeling and what the Bible says.”
He continues, “I remembered a movie I watched with my parents as a young boy, the Passion of the Christ. I told my wife I believe what I was reading truly and we decided to check out the movie, thinking maybe we needed a reminder or that the movie would just inspire us to do some more reading. Well during the movie my wife and I cried like we had never cried before. The guilt and shame I felt was unbearable. I knew I had messed up bad. The movie ends and we both could not speak. I felt a guilt and shame and sorrow I had never felt before in my life. I had realized what my God Jesus Christ had done for me. A wretched sinner. Someone who worshipped the same enemy that tempted our Lord. The time came to put my son to sleep and as I was rocking him to sleep in my arms I spoke the words “ I believe you my Lord, I know you died for my sins and I’m so sorry” I’ll never forget it. I felt the arms of God hug me. I felt him forgive me, I felt his grace and his mercy and love. I broke down with my son in my arms and KNEW God Himself was in that room with me and my boy.
“Since then I’ve had an intimate relationship with my Lord Jesus. The next day my wife saw something was different about me and she couldn’t even look at me the whole day. I told her what happened and what I felt and she surrendered and gave her life to the Lord the next day. Since then I have felt an urge in my heart to serve Gods people. I was security at my first church. I’ve always felt like the Lord can use me as one of his sheep dogs to protect His sheep. As things progressed I knew I wanted something more for my family.”
Villanueva is all too familiar with the realities of the world and the fallen nature. “California began passing laws that would take your child away for “misgendering” them. I was not going to raise my son in that lost state. Public school wasn’t even an option. Many and many kids around my family are raised by parents who don’t believe in Jesus or follow Him. So I prayed and n God willed it for me to get my family out of California. Years go by and by the grace of God I land my dream job that I am currently at right now. That job transferred me here to Texas where I now live in Waco. I’d say almost everyone I’ve met so far lives the Lord and are surrounded by believers. This made my passion to serve the Lord and His people grow more.”
Recently he learned about the Order. “I’ve always heard about the Templars, both rumors because of the Freemasons and also the true history. I saw them as Gods sheep dogs. I wanted that, and here I am brothers and sisters looking to become a sheep dog for the Lord in something that has so much history, with warriors that look to further Gods kingdom. I am here to serve Gods people and be a part of something so rich in history!”
