Out of respect for privacy, I am just including a first initial, but the rest of their stories have not been changed.
M. was the biggest surprise. He is an older gentleman and we have known him and his wife for several years. Both were dedicated pagans, and respected in the pagan community for close to 20 years. He was the acting priest for a local circle and a volunteer who led pagan worship services at several nearby prisons and helped get one pagan group recognized within the state prison system. We hadn't seen each other in close to a year because we live far away, so my husband decided to stop by for a visit to catch up when we were down his way. Imagine my surprise when he started witnessing to us and telling us how he had come to Christ, and was now saved and a faithful member of a local church. He was one of 3 people I knew who I considered the "least likely" to accept Christ several years ago, and have been praying for every since.
G. was another person on that list. He was a very vocal atheist, opposed to the idea of Christianity and especailly to the church. His mother had little money when he was growing up and she would often send what she had to televangelists who taught the prosperity gospel, which meant her children did without and she eventually lost her home. He blamed God for not providing for her as the TV preachers had promised He would, and later blamed the preachers and the church for misleading her. G's wife attended church with their children but he wouldn't go, and sometimes mocked her for believing such "foolishness". After seeing his his wife handled some crises in her life by depending on God, and at the urging of his son, he started attending church and was saved after finally hearing the true Gospel.
R. is the long-term live-in boyfriend of family member. They have been living together for close to 10 years, and he has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for much of that time. He was a good provider and good to his girlfriend and her children most of the time, but could have violent mood swings and miss work when he was drinking or using to much drugs, and eventually progressed to using and selling crack cocaine. She kicked him out of her home when the mood swings and heavy drug use became a big problem, because she was afraid of losing her children and he finally agreed to enter another rehab program. He could not afford it on his own, but was accepted into a residential treatment program that was supported by a local church. The program included daily Bible studies and required church attendance, plus accountability and follow-up programs through a local church after he completed the residency. He has been "clean" for over two years, has been living in his own home and faithfully attending church since returning, and is active in the local church and in a mentor program for at-risk youth. He is now engaged to his long-term girlfriend, and she attends church with him and her 4 children.
J. is another family member who is very close to my husband. He has had a rough, turbulent life, especially over the past few years. He sort of went "off the deep end" after his wife left him and pushed everyone away, including his own son. He had lost his job due to his drinking, yet was was spending $20-30 a day on beer and couldn't find a job because he couldn't stay sober long enough to drive around to put in applications. He had also struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. When an ex-girlfriend of his called and told my husband he had called and asked her to take care of his dogs and was nowhere to be found, we expected the worst. His trailer was locked and his truck was there, so my husband was looking around for a body, worrying that he had committed suicide or something else. A few days, and several worried phone calls later, J. called him from the hospital. He had decided to "get right with God" and started going to church, but he was getting so sick from alcohol withdrawal he'd had to have somebody drive him to the hospital until the worst had passed. He is back home now, and I don't know the whole situation, but from what my husband has said his whole outlook has changed.
These are just a few of the amazing changes that God has worked in the lives of people around me in just the past few years, so I am learning never to doubt His saving power or to consider anyone "too far gone". Whoever that "unsaveable" person in your life is, God may have better plans for them yet. Never give up hope, and never stop lifting them up in prayer.
Originally posted on 8/25/11
