Each year Ernie and Carol Mason hold a large evangelistic outreach celebrating the Argentine holiday called Children's Day. It’s a holiday similar to Mother’s or Father’s Day but with many special events and gift giveaways for children. Children are held in very high regard in Argentina; parents will do almost anything for them. Because of this, Children’s Day events are a major outreach for churches. Before they even had a church building, the Masons held their Children’s Day event outside in the neighborhood basketball court. At the event, they can have 250 to 300 present!
In 2001, Daniel brought his children to their celebration. God touched his heart with the simple children's gospel songs, because he had been raised in a Christian home. He had been saved as a child but at age 18 walked away from the Lord and the legalistic lifestyle he grew up with. He remembers when he was out in the nightclubs, his mother’s words would come to mind along with Bible verses. During this period in his life, Daniel married an unbeliever. But once he began raising his family, he became a devoted father. Through his children, the Lord was drawing Daniel back.
After the Children's Day event, Daniel and his children started attending regularly. Once the Masons had built their church building in their young missions work, the Lord also began rebuilding Daniel’s life. Now, Daniel is one of the Masons’ most faithful, growing leaders in the church, but his wife is still unsaved. Pray the Lord would reach her and she would respond!