I was just reminded of a story I haven’t written about before, one that’s too good not to share. A few years ago, our pastor (who’s battling pancreatic cancer) brought his friend Richard from California to our church. The two were getting ready to go on a mission trip (more on that tomorrow). But I’ll never forget Richard’s story of how he came to faith in his 50s. Here’s how he tells it:

My wife insisted on bringing our 5-year-old to church and I insisted in coming along to protect him from the Christians, their hypocrisy, their nonsense...

Then he talks about going through a really tough time emotionally, a down period that had lasted two years. The story picks up:

The short version is that I met a Pastor who cared; [Bob’s note: Pastor Dave!] he asked if I would meet him for coffee and as he listened, I explained to him my painful situation. He asked if I had prayed about it. I explained that I had way too much integrity to pray to a god that I knew did not exist. He told me, “I’m certain that He won’t mind.“

I decided to do an experiment (since this god wouldn’t mind) and try a simple prayer, asking for my anxiety and sadness to be removed. That night I prayed, “God, I want you to take away my sadness, my fear,” and for the very first time in over two years, that next morning I woke up and I was so much better; again, the very first time in over two years of total misery.

I decided to try it again that next night and the following morning, once again, I had improved that much more. I was freaking out! I continued to pray, and God answered my prayers, over and over again. I owe my life to the freedom that Pastor gave me that day, to pray to a god I knew didn’t exist.

I love Pastor Dave’s response to “I won’t pray to a god I know doesn’t exist.” Dave said, “He won’t mind!”

Of course, Richard has become an ardent believer and an effective evangelist, and he has even written a short Bible study to help others become effective evangelists. There’s more to the story, how God called Richard to a very specific place and ministry. Stay tuned.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19.10, ESV)

One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9.25, ESV)