Lucas, from São José dos Campos, once had everything he thought he wanted: a good job, a respected cultural collective, and a stable life with his wife. But inside, he was far from God, carrying deep anger toward the church.

One day, a simple video stopped him in his tracks. “It was a group of people walking into a fast food place, saying things like, ‘Your life has value,’ ‘You are not your disappointments.’ That impacted me so much. It was exactly what I wanted to do too,” he remembered.

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Life carried on, but when the pandemic hit, everything collapsed—his job, his marriage, the rap group he loved, and all sense of stability. Pain turned into depression, and any trace of faith seemed gone. In the middle of that darkness, alone in his house, Lucas whispered a desperate prayer through tears: “I asked God to show me something, some light, because my life didn’t make sense anymore.”

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Not long after, he ran into the same guy from the video—Isaac, a Steiger missionary. That unexpected meeting sparked a glimmer of hope. Lucas began attending events, writing music again, and opening his heart to discipleship.

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At Nomadz, Steiger’s creative missions conference, everything clicked. “When I found this mission, I also found purpose,” he shared. But the road wasn’t easy. “I didn’t want to live anymore. I was in such a dark season—struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, no sense of meaning,” he explained.

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It was then that God used the Steiger São José dos Campos team, who were sharing Jesus with young people in the squat where Lucas lived. “They welcomed me like family. They listened to me, showed me that God cared, and invited me to take steps of faith. That’s where I started to hope again.”

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Lucas began participating in the local Steiger community, joining activities at the Community House, informal Bible studies, and eventually connecting with a local church. Slowly, transformation took root.

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In 2023, he was invited to the Steiger Missions School (SMS). It seemed impossible financially, but Lucas took a step of faith. Those weeks in Germany reignited his passion—especially for music—and gave him fresh vision for the future.

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But coming home brought new battles. Depression returned. He lost two close friends. “I started therapy, went to a psychiatrist, and really began taking care of myself. It was such a hard season. I stepped back from the team for a while, but I kept reaching for God.”

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Over the next year and a half, God brought healing and stability. Lucas moved to São Paulo and unexpectedly joined a friend to start a music studio. Today, they produce recordings, videos, and creative projects that carry a message of hope.

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Now, Lucas’s health is restored, and his faith is strong. He’s back on mission with the Steiger São Paulo team, determined to reach young people who feel as lost as he once did. “If God could give me purpose when I didn’t believe in anything anymore, then He can find others just like He found me.”

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