Shelly Recio was in turmoil.  “To have proof of your partner being unfaithful is like someone died and your ideology or your thoughts or your perspective of who you were or what you guys were made of completely crumbles before you. And it's like, ‘oh, this will never be the same again’.”  Noel and Shelly Recio had been dating for eight years when they gave their lives to Christ in 2013. Shortly after, they tied the knot. Embracing their new faith, the couple poured their hearts into church ministry, confident it would lay a foundation for their love. Noel recalls, “The church felt like Heaven. It really felt like an escape from the street life that I had grew up living.”  And Shelly adds, “I wanted someone that loved God more than he would love me. And I saw all of those fruits.”

Two years later they had their first child. The celebration, however, was short lived as Shelly battled postpartum depression. In the few months that followed, their marriage began to fracture. Shelly recalls, “It felt like my whole world flipped upside down. I didn't even know how I was gonna take a shower. She was colicky, so she would cry a lot. I was sleepless and I had no idea how I could even attend to my husband or even think about going back to work. That was a complete nightmare, and I felt very isolated and depressed.” While Shelly suffered, Noel says, “I felt powerless. I really wanted to help her as best as I could as a husband. I thought that the deeper I dive into ministry, the closer I got to the solution. I neglected my marital duty. I neglected my duty at home. And the energy and the resources that I should have used at home I was invested in the ministry at the church.” During this vulnerable time, a woman at church expressed her attraction to Noel, offering affirmation he craved. Noel recalls, “I started to feel like I was wanted, like somebody looked at me with desire. This woman made me feel as if I was a champion.” It was then, an off-and-on affair began. Eventually, Shelly’s intuition, sparked by a dream, led her to discover texts between Noel and the other woman. Shelly says, “Here I am. I feel burdened. I feel alone. I feel isolated. Part of me felt like it's time to let go or give up. And then there was a part of me that felt like, no, you fight for your marriage, God is gonna restore you guys. Initially, Shelly kept her discovery a secret, to see where the relationship would go. Then, her depression subsided, and was replaced by a cold, indifference towards Noel. Finally, a few months after finding the texts she confronted him. Noel recalls, “My thought process was, is it over? Can it be fixed?  It's crazy to say this, but I never stopped loving my wife, even though I was doing all the things that I was doing.” Shelly thought,  “I'm already confused. I'm already broken. I'm already lost. And I decided just to step forward and say ‘whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen and if I end up leaving, I end up leaving’. And God told me to ‘be still. He doesn't need you to nag him, he just needs a friend’.”

The couple began opening up about their thoughts and feelings. Meanwhile, the off-and-on affair continued. Eventually, consumed with guilt, Noel left church and went back to his old ways. Noel remembers, “Drinking and doing drugs helped me numb the pain and the pain brought so much desperation that I could not process my thoughts. I was afraid I would lose my family every day of that affair.” Through this time Shelly says, “So many times I was ready, I was ready to pack up and go. I said, ‘No more. God, you could figure it out later if it's your petition. But I'm getting out of this house’. And that's not what God wanted for me.” The sporadic affair had lasted two years before Noel found the resolve to cut all ties with the woman. Repenting for his sins, he recommitted his life and love to shelly, his family, and God. Noel says, “When God forgave me, I felt like I got my integrity back. I felt like I wasn't a broken man. It wasn't damaged goods that when God restored me and forgave me, I felt like I could finally become whole again.” Again, Shelly turned to God, this time asking Him to help her forgive, trust, and love her husband once again. She recalls asking God, “Am I holding onto bitterness and hate and resentment for all that he did?’ And God said, ‘absolutely’. So I started to take all these different leaps and really like move forward to being more gentle, like having physical touch and being present with one another. We started going on dates again. We continue our nighttime conversations and that's where my heart started to get soft again.”

The couple rebuilt their marriage over the next two years, finding strength through their faith in Jesus Christ. Shelly recalls, “When I saw Him restore my marriage, I said, ‘there is literally nothing impossible for God’. Part of being a Christian is to forgive. And when you encounter that moment, Jesus is expecting us, just like He did with us, to be loving, to be merciful, to provide for that person if it's in your ability to do so. So, I got to do that for my husband.” While Noel says, “I feel like me and my wife can fight against anything. We were in love before, but we didn't know what our love could handle.” Noel and Shelly’s story is a testament to God’s power to heal. By surrendering their struggles, they saw ashes turn to beauty. Shelly says, “Sometimes we run away from the pain, but God says, lean into it so you can see what I'm gonna do. And that's where you see His miracles happen.” Noel believes, “God is so good that He can extend His goodness into the bad and brokenness and still use it for good. He did it for my marriage. He can do it for anyone.”
 

Special Acknowledgement: Story lead courtesy of Delafe Testimonies

If you've got a testimony you want to share to DeLafe Testimonies, click the LINK!

“I had a rotator cuff injury on my job,” says Henrietta. “I could feel this tear in my shoulder. So I went a couple of days and it was hurting and hurting and I went to the doctor, they sent me to the doctor. Then we decided I needed surgery. So I had surgery on it and went through therapy and everything. So it was better, but as time progressed it would hurt me so bad that I had to go back to the doctor. So at this time I did go back, he had given me a shot in my shoulder but it didn’t work, it didn’t work this time. I suffered about two weeks with that shoulder. And one morning I turned on the 700 Club and Gordon gave a word of knowledge about the rotator cuff.”

Gordon Robertson said, “There’s someone, you have problems with your right shoulder in, it’s a variety of things damage from an injury, damage to the ligaments, damage to the joint, damage to the nerve in Jesus name be healed and be restored.”

“And I knew that He was speaking to me cause I was praying and asking God to heal me,” says Henrietta. “He said do something I couldn’t do and at that moment I couldn’t lift that arm by its self but I took my left arm and I did it, I lifted it as well as I could get it that day. You know the enemy tried to come in and tell me that I wasn’t healed. I said, ‘Oh no, I’m healed.’ All through out that day I just would lift my arm and I would raise it as far as I could and in about three or four days I could lift my arm totally all the way up and I was just praising God for what he had done for me. My shoulder is totally healed. No problem, no hurt or anything I am totally healed and I praise and I thank God for my healing every day. And today I’m lifting it all the way up praising God and telling everywhere I go what God has done for me.”

For Art and Diana Torres, life together began with the promise of prosperity. As a dual-income household, they earned a comfortable living. But beneath the surface, financial strain quietly took root. Month after month, they found themselves walking a financial tightrope.

“We had a stack of credit cards,” Art recalls. “It was like, ‘This one’s maxed out, use that one.’ Then the bill collectors started calling. We were in a fog. We were lost.”

At the height of their struggle, a friend invited them to church. What started as a visit soon became a turning point. As their faith deepened, so did their understanding of biblical principles—especially tithing and generosity.

“At first, I was apprehensive,” Art admits. “Giving 10% of our income? I thought, ‘How are we going to pay our bills if we do that? We’re already in debt.’ But I realized—these are things that aren't impossible for God.”

What followed was nothing short of transformational. “I started getting raises at work,” he says. “The Lord started stabilizing everything we were doing.”

As their financial outlook improved, Art and Diana began giving to the 700 Club. For them, it wasn’t just about money—it was about making a tangible difference.

“I believe in the mission of CBN and helping others,” Art shares. “Providing medical care for children, like a little boy with a cleft palate—suddenly he looks normal. He looks good.”

He continues: “People without access to clean water now have clear water—and they won’t get sick anymore. You see CBN there, drilling wells, opening clinics. That’s what the Great Commission is all about.”

Even after Diana’s passing, Art remained committed to giving. In fact, he increased his giving in her honor—a testament to their shared legacy of faith and compassion.

“I upgraded to 700 Club Gold because the Lord increased my income,” he says. “I would encourage others to give to CBN, because you can actually see what they’re doing. It’s tangible. It’s good. It’s going to a purpose that matters.”

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and we invite you to join in blessing others with your giving to CBN! Your faithful giving brings hope to the hopeless and the truth of God’s Word to millions of homes through The 700 Club! Help bring the love of Christ to the world when you become a CBN partner today! 

In the picturesque island of Bali, a young girl named Prilli lives with her parents and sister. Despite the beauty of her surroundings, Prilli's early years were marked by a lack of religious guidance and a challenging home environment. Her parents, who never attended church, did not provide her with a meaningful introduction to faith. Additionally, Prilli often felt a deep sadness as she watched her father struggle with alcohol addiction.

One fateful day, Prilli was invited to attend Sunday School. It was here that she discovered the joy of learning Bible stories through Superbook, a captivating animated series that brings the stories of the Bible to life. Among the many episodes, one story touched Prilli's heart profoundly: "He Is Risen!", which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Prilli was deeply moved by the story of Jesus' sacrifice. She felt a profound sadness for Jesus, who endured such suffering out of love for humanity. This story taught her about God's immense love, and she began to believe that this love extended to her father as well. Inspired by this newfound faith, Prilli started praying for her father to stop drinking.

Her prayers were not in vain. Demonstrating remarkable courage for a six-year-old, Prilli approached her father and asked him to quit drinking. Her faith and determination bore sweet fruit—her father stopped drinking. This transformation did not stop there. Prilli's faith and love for God inspired her to invite both her parents to attend church with her. 

Now, Prilli is not only a child who loves God, but she also embodies the courage of faith. She has successfully brought her family closer to God, sharing His Word and love with them. Reflecting on her journey, Prilli says, "When I watched the story of Jesus being crucified, I felt sad for Jesus. He wanted to love us and forgive our sins. So I prayed that my dad would stop drinking and that he could come to church with me and listen to the words of Jesus."

Prilli's story is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the impact of Superbook. Through the engaging and heartfelt stories of the Bible, children like Prilli are connecting with the Word of God and experiencing profound changes in their lives.

Prilli's journey is just one example of how Superbook is making a difference around the world. By supporting this mission, you can help bring hope and transformation to even more children and families. Whether by donating to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below, sharing this story, or accessing Superbook resources for your own family, your support can extend the reach of this powerful ministry. 

Together, we can continue to spread the love and teachings of Jesus, one story at a time. Join us in this mission and be a part of the global impact of CBN Animation’s Superbook.

Give to Superbook