The Power of a Letter…..

Meet Julianna and Gabrielle Lupacchino…..

I met them this morning at a United Methodist Camp just outside of Savannah.  There, in the midst of the Southern moss and marsh grass, they told me their story.  It is a long and powerful one, but one that was enabled in many ways, by a simple letter.  During of time of change, disruption, and hard circumstances, they began to wander away from their church.  Their youth director simply wrote them a letter, checking on them, inviting them back.  He didn’t even remember writing it.  Gabrielle (on the right) keeps it in her Bible.  They say that letter brought them back to the church, where they then attended a Youth Conference in Daytona and were then discipled at a local Starbucks by another youth member.  Today they are leaders in their youth program.

The Power of Love…..

Meet Lorie Williams…..

Lorrie was going through a time of marital struggles and employment changes.  Her husband was struggling with many different things.  Despite his mistakes, this local church, Conyers United Methodist Church, welcomed him in and “loved on him…”.  She came from a very different church background and figured that if they could love him, she could stay.  She has been at the church ever since, and looking for what the Lord has next in store for her.

The Power of Love (Part II)…

Meet Robert Moore…..

Robert came to the church with a life time restraining order against him by his ex-wife, a prison record, and a lifetime of addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol.  When I met with him, he pulled out a pile of cards that his church had sent to him, like treasures from a box.  His church had loved him in the midst of it all and he discovered the healing power of Jesus in this suburban Atlanta congregation.  Today, he leads several ministries in this church and is the chaplain at the local prison. 

There is much more to tell…..more to follow!