The Visit that Changed Our Lives - Wholly Loved - April 28
The Visit that Changed Our Lives
By Kristi Woods
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Cor. 9:19, 22
Several years ago, an unexpected visit to a small town church changed my husband’s and my life. We had moved from the city to a small, slow-paced town, often driving past a brick, country church. Something about the structure caught our attention.
The pastor, Dan, traditionally welcomed newcomers, greeting them with a hearty handshake at the church’s door and at their home the following week. Tony and I were no exception.
One of the first questions Dan asked us was, “If you were to die tonight, where would you go? Would you go to heaven or hell?”
My mouth hung open and eyebrows scrunched as I pondered his words. I labeled myself a Christian, but my typical answer of “because I’m a good person” failed to suffice. I knew about Jesus but hadn’t turned to Him for salvation.
Dan and his wife spent time with my husband and me. They took every opportunity to talk with us about Jesus. They invited us into their lives, and we invited them into ours. As a result, I eventually asked Jesus to forgive my sins and save me. My husband did as well.
As Paul became “all things to all people”, so had our pastor and his wife, Lois. They befriended us in hopes that Tony and I would be saved from the fires of hell. They became our mentors for the sake of Christ, and Dan even accompanied us on half-price sundae night—all to ensure we were heaven bound.
How about you? Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins? If so, are you willing to become like Paul—a slave to others—in order to win as many as possible?
Kristi Woods, a Wholly Loved Ministriesteam member and former pew sitter, longs to see women transform from Sunday pew sitters to Monday through Sunday worshipers. Kristi, a writer and speaker, blogs regularly and offers faith-building tools for walking deeper with God at www.KristiWoods.net. She contributes monthly at iBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com and is published in various Chicken Soup for the Soul publications. Kristi, her husband, and their three children survived a nomadic, military lifestyle, and have set roots in Oklahoma. Connect with Kristi at KristiWoods.net.
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