Love causes Roberto to do an about-face

When we first met Roberto*, he was a man with a bleak outlook on life and had no use for God. “How can God be good when bad things happen to good people?” “I am a good person and do good things, and if there is a God, he will let me into heaven.” This is what we heard as we met with him and his family regularly for meals.

For more than three years we have met with Roberto. In the last six months there has been a noticeable change in how he responds to what we say and how we react. In all the meetings that we have had, we have never once condemned him or what he thought. We continued to eat with him and his family and show grace. During our discussions, we continually responded with Scripture to explain how we approach difficult issues. Over time he was able to not only hear our explanations, but see how we put into practice what we believed.

His wife and daughter were in the hospital for more than a week, and Melody and I were able to care for Roberto’s son so that he could go to work and visit his wife and daughter in the hospital. We fed them meals and we showed love that they did not receive from their own families. It was a turning point in his life.

When his own family had let him down in a time of need, Roberto experienced the love that a church family can give. Since this event, he has read the entire Gospel of John! We are still having lunch with them on a regular basis and we study the Bible together. Through the grace of Christ, we have seen Roberto do an about face!

* not his real name

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