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I was building my own business following a 20-year career as a corporate banker when a severe illness took control of my life. The disease nearly destroyed my life and my family, leaving us financially ruined. I wondered why this was happening. We continued to struggle as my health began to recover.
As soon as I was able, I poured myself into my work spending countless 80-hour weeks trying to recapture the lost time and salvage my business. My life was absorbed in work and left no time for family or anyone else. Through the sickness and my obsession to recover as a bread-winner, my wife and daughter, Denise and Sarah, stood by me lovingly. Instead of complaining about me not having time for them, they invited me to join them in going to church, something for which I did not think I had time. Their gentle persistence paid dividends after months of effort. The first Sunday of March, 2003, I went to church with them. The icy apprehension and uneasiness I felt quickly melted under the warmth of acceptance I discovered. I met people who had been praying for me for months at the request of my family. They made it clear to me that I really mattered to God and to the people at Lovers Lane Church. What a wonderful feeling!
Later that day, I was off to work as usual but I had to stop for gas. A man about my age approached me asking for money. I said no, my usual answer but he persisted. Again, I said no and began an explanation. Sternly but softly, he said, "Well, would you just slow down and talk to me." Shocked, yet not afraid, I said yes. With a backpack and suitcase, I assumed he had all his possessions with him. "I'm Robert", he said. He stuttered a bit, but we talked for over 30 minutes, about family reunions, moms, parties, baseball, beach sandcastles, waves, likes, dislikes, and so on. He talked a lot about home, his mom and dad. I sensed something moving in me and through me as I comforted him and encouraged him to call his mom who loved him very much.
With tears in his eyes and barely able to speak, he asked, "Would you pray with me?" I agreed without hesitation and he reached out and took my hands. We closed our eyes and he prayed out loud. Following his prayer, I asked God to watch over our moms and guide Robert and me closer to Him. He opened his red, wet eyes, and with all the strength he could muster, Robert said, "Thank you." As he smiled and walked away, I knew my life had been changed. God spoke to me through Robert, opening my heart to the power of prayer and how it had affected my physical and spiritual healing.
Lovers Lane Church and Robert helped me
understand that I mattered to God and you do, too. At Lovers Lane, people
are willing to pray for you and with you even if you are a stranger, even
if you are like me, running too fast to feel God's tender loving care.
I invite you to visit Lovers Lane and find
the same warm acceptance that I did. I know you will, because you really
matter.
