Joseph grew up in San Diego feeling like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Being adopted, he wrestled with feelings of abandonment, believing he wasn’t enough for his biological parents. This shame followed him everywhere, making it hard to trust others, even the family who loved him deeply. He bottled it all up, carrying the pain alone. Freshman year, football became his escape—an outlet to release anger and avoid the silence at home. But distractions only went so far, and life felt like a series of missteps, each leaving him more disconnected.

Then, during sophomore year, something shifted. While running track, Joseph met Josh, a teammate whose joy seemed unshakable. Intrigued, Joseph asked him one day, “Can you take me to church?” That simple question marked the turning point. Josh faithfully brought Joseph to church every Sunday, becoming the first person Joseph could truly open up to. Through Josh’s friendship and the message of God’s love, Joseph began to see himself differently—not as abandoned, but as chosen. As he learned about Jesus’ sacrifice, he realized the depth of God’s love for him, and for the first time, hope broke through the darkness.