The two men have infectious smiles and radiate joy. They eagerly open their arms to hug strangers and laugh as if they’ve never experienced pain. They have. They have endured some of the most excruciating pain a person can deal with—surviving one of the deadliest shootings in the United States to date.
But just over two years ago, Angel Colon and Luis Ruiz were shot in the Pulse massacre, an attack carried out on a gay nightclub in Orlando. Colon became the face of the survivors, appearing on the cover of The Advocate as the representative for person of the year. Both have been interviewed by international outlets about the persecution of the LGBT community.
“It was the most horrific day of my life, but at the same time, it was a blessing in disguise,” Colon says in a podcast interview recorded at the Charisma Conference.
But now, the duo is covered in the blood of Jesus. They call themselves “overcomers,” as they’ve broken away from their sin to experience the unconditional love, peace and freedom of a relationship with Christ.
They are leading “Freedom Marches” across the country, with potential overseas, to show culture that homosexuality is not an identity someone must settle for.
Watch the video to see Colon’s and Ruiz’s testimonies and how the Lord has given them a platform to make His name known.
