The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Hit Man

10-year-old Daniel is growing up in a town in southern Mexico known for its drug cartels and murder rate.   Here gang members brag about their violent acts on social media.   

“I saw a young man with a gun and a hood over his face.  When I saw him I thought I wanted to be like him,” said Daniel.

That’s when Daniel decided what he wanted to be when he grew up.

“I wanted to be become a hit man,” he declared. “The guns, the money and the cars grabbed my attention.  With money you can buy whatever you want. I would buy a truck.”

Daniel was also struggling to stay in school.     

“The teacher was always mad at him. She said he was not learning. I didn’t know what to do,” Daniel’s mother Cecilia told CBN.  

If Daniel dropped out, he would become an easy target for the cartels, who recruit and pay kids to work for them.

“I said son, you cannot be like those gang members,” added Cecilia.  “They kill people.  And you will die a horrible death.”

That’s when Cecelia signed Daniel up for an after school program at a church near their home.  There he got help with homework, and watched episodes of CBN’s Superbook.

“I saw in the Genesis story where the angels are fighting.  One angel threw another angel down and he turned into Satan,” said Daniel.  “I learned that Satan is evil and God is good.”

Daniel watched other Superbook episodes.  

“I learned that Jesus gave his life to forgive our sins,” he said

One day Daniel prayed with the teacher to become a Christian.

“I asked God to help me be a good boy,” he said. “I do not want to be a hit man any more. I want to be a pastor and help other kids.”

It’s been more than a year since Daniel prayed to become a Christian.  His life has changed.  He is now an A student and telling other kids about Jesus too.  

“Thanks to all the people who sent Superbook to us. You are very good people and very kind to us,” he said.