LCMS World Mission Blog

“The year was 1975 when I met Janis for the first time through my then-husband’s job. We became fast friends. Her mom had been Jewish and her dad was Catholic. Throughout the years of marriage, kids, moving, divorce, and other changes, I would periodically send her Christian materials. She said nothing to me about them at the time, so I did not know she was not pleased about this.

“Fast forward to 2007. She began asking me questions-simple ones that I could answer and provide Bible verses to uphold what I said. It went like that for awhile. Sometime in 2008, she was going through some rough emotional and spiritual issues, again asking me questions. This time, there were those I didn’t feel qualified to answer in a way that was needed, so I called my now-retired pastor, Rev. Robert P. Wolff of Chino, Calif., telling him about this and asking him if he would see her. Well, of course he was most pleased to do so and we went to talk with him.“Needless to say, it was very gut-wrenching for her but also a time of learning and ultimately, knowing God’s peace. That’s when she told me her original feelings from earlier times about receiving the Christian materials-I had no clue, but it wouldn’t have stopped me. Now, she comes to church with me when she can and has received Christ as her Lord and Savior for which I am so grateful! There is nothing like the peace of Christ when everything else around you seems to be falling apart at the time. It’s a gift that nobody can take away; praise God!”

Valerie shared this story on the Ablaze! Web site at www.lcms.org/ablaze.