God's Project was birthed in the heart of my son, Samuel Maldonado, Jr. in 2010 after he gave his heart to the Lord. Sammy Boy SOS - as he was known by friends and loved ones was born in Rochester, NY in 1989. Growing up, Sammy loved sports, especially basketball and as he got older, he also developed a passion for cars. Sammy was super-friendly, he was a popular kid in school, was loved by neighborhood children, liked to crack up jokes all the time, would get a kick-out of playing spades with his cousins, had a thing for music and loved food! As funny as Sammy was, he was also a sickly child as he suffered from chronic asthma and severe allergies. He was in the hospital all the time but his nurses loved him because when his asthma mask was on, he would scream that he was Michelangelo Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle! This was minor compared to the fact that he went through abandoned child syndrome when his dad and I divorced. As with most children at the age of 5, this affected him greatly but thankfully it did not stop him from loving and developing a solid relationship with his father as he became a teenager. As a young adolescent though he saw many of his friends and family members go through a lot of hardships -- some going to jail, others becoming addicts, and some homeless. He was entangled in a world that he didn't like, he too became caught up in the street life but he knew inside of him that there was a way out, that he would get "out the hood" one day. While he endured set backs on a personal level, he would visit church ocassionally throuhgout the years but it wasn't until February 28, 2010 that he attended Faith Temple, a multicultural church in Brighton, NY and after hearing the message, he felt that his time to make a pact with God had come. The Pastor's message was about a man named Samuel, just like my son, and he felt a personal connection -- he knew in his heart that his life would change dramatically from that point forward. He sure was in his first love! Sammy did not have any shame in sharing the gospel of truth to anyone that he came across. He had such a burning fire that he wanted all his friends and family members to know that God was the only way, the truth and the life! Sammy's heart was stirred to not only share and testify about his personal encounter but he decided to begin using the giftings and talents to expand God's kingdom on earth. Music did this for him - it was a great avenue for him to express the joy and hope that he found! God became the Father to the fatherless. I was so proud of my son! My prayers were also answered. I had seen all he had gone through despite his funny and loving personality -- I knew he was hurting inside and needed to be freed from a lifestyle of hustle and bustle. The CD, God's Project took shape, meaning and form during the year Sammy gave his heart to the Lord. My son lived an energetic life up to the age of 21. Some things I will not understand as a mother, the pain is to hard to bear but I do know that "all things work for good for those who love the Lord." Samuel Maldonado, Jr. was taken abruptly from us by an act of violence in May of 2011. During his wake and funeral, I was most impacted to learn of the many lives Sammy had touched because of his testimony; he certainly walked the talk. So many youth had come to know Jesus and many others gave their heart to Him during the bereavement days. I learned of how he had prayed for people in the middle of shopping centers and restaurants, how we would drive down the hood and prayed for drug addicts to turn their hearts to God; how he had donated clothes to children in Irak, how he had worked selflessly in community beautification projects, how he had taken homeless friends into his residence, clothed and fed them, how he had developed healthy relationships with leaders, pastors and people of positive influence. My son belonged to God. This CD, God's Project, is a living example of Sammy Boy SOS's life as he shares in his own heartfelt words, a "Lil' Bit" of his testimony. My prayer is that youth and people in hard places would listen to his stories and realize that there is hope, that Jesus is the answer and that regardless of whatever situation, the best decision ever is to be a follower of Christ. Sammy desired to travel all over the world and do concerts with his music so that people from all backgrounds would turn to God. I believe you will agree with me that at the age of 21, Sammy had purpose and destiny was fulfilled ... through his Christiam hip-hop style and rap music, a legacy has been left for the world to experience. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13) Margarita "Baby" Gotay Sammy's Mom Written by Raquel Serrano.