What happens when a child called a "mistake" grows up to lead a movement?

The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast

CandyRock

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Talk Radio

4.8 • 3.4K Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What happens when a child called a "mistake" grows up to lead a movement serving 65,000 kids? Can a letter really change a life? For Jonathan, it did. This week on the Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, Jonathan shares the full story about how one heartfelt note from his sponsor became a turning point in his life. Raised in poverty and without the support of his father, Jonathan discovered hope not through material things, but through the love of Christ and a local church empowered by Compassion International. In this powerful full conversation, Jonathan opens up about how his life transformed—through education, relationship, and ultimately, forgiveness. From tearful reconciliation with his father to now serving 65,000 children through Compassion’s work in the Dominican Republic, his story is a moving testimony of what can happen when someone chooses to care. We’re better together. And this season, we’re doing something as a community to make a difference in the world. Go to Candace.com and click where it says “Compassion” to see how you can sponsor a child today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	So she said here, keep on preaching.
0:02.1	That is wonderful.
0:03.9	That's words of encouragement.
0:05.4	That from wanting to be part of again,
0:08.7	now I wanted to be a preacher.
0:11.0	Wow.
0:11.9	That's why the local church helped me to see hope,
0:15.8	to have hope.
0:25.4	Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together.
0:28.3	Welcome to the Candace Cameron Burray podcast.
0:31.1	You know this podcast isn't about me.
0:32.8	I have made it for you.
0:36.5	And today's guest has a story full of surprises.
0:44.6	Jonathan Almonte's first language is Spanish, and he lives in the Dominican Republic with his wife Carrie and their two boys.
0:53.4	He's a business and ministry leader and a professional speaker, but his life could have been very, very different.
0:54.5	Come join us.
1:02.3	Jonathan, hi. Welcome to the podcast.
1:05.0	Thank you, Candins. Really excited to be here.
1:10.0	Thank you. I'm so happy to have you. Where should we start? I know you're married. You have two young boys.
1:11.3	What was your childhood like growing up? That's a great. That's a great question.
1:17.7	I will reflect while we talk in some of the aspects of poverty that we don't normally see.
1:25.6	If people see poverty as the lack of things, like lack of clothes, food, material things,
	...

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