Love Like a Brother
“Joe and I grew up together in Oak Cliff. We’ve known each other for over thirty years, since we were nine. He spent countless nights with my family—playing games, sharing meals, and simply doing life together. I was raised in a Christian home, with a grandfather who was a minister, and my parents wanted to protect us from the negative influences of our neighborhood.
“Even though Joe didn’t share my family’s beliefs, my parents welcomed him in, trusting God would use our friendship to impact his life and lead him to Christ. To reassure them further, the Lord gave my aunt a dream that my father had another son named Joe—a sign of God’s relentless love pursuing my friend. When I reflect on those years, it wasn’t like we were constantly saying, ‘Joe, you need to get saved.’ We just tried to live by example and love him for who he was. We planted seeds and trusted God with the results.
“I drifted from my faith as a teenager, but when I was twenty, I gave my life back to the Lord, and Joe saw the transformation—big changes in my lifestyle. As I grew in my faith and pursued ministry, I often encouraged Joe: ‘The Lord has given you the gift of influence. You’re a leader, and one day you’ll lead people to the Lord.’ At the time, he wasn’t ready. So instead of pressuring him, my family and I simply loved him, prayed for him, and treated him like one of our own.”
From War & Pain to a Softened Heart
“God continued working in Joe’s life, especially during his time in the military. My friend experienced the realities of war and emotional pain. He shared, ‘To cope, I built what I call armor around my heart. I shut down emotionally and became numb because that was the only way I could keep going.’ But strategically, God placed other believers in Joe’s life. They challenged him and shared their faith, and something began to shift. He started reading the Bible and began to see God differently. Joe said, ‘The armor started coming off, and my heart began to soften.’ He believed Jesus was his Savior.
“Out of the blue, Joe texted me and said he wanted to go to church and give his life to the Lord. My family and I had been praying for thirty years, so I was shocked. I remember thinking, Wow! Where did this come from? Yet it was clear God had been moving in his heart. Our prayers were answered.”
From Armor to Peace: A Journey to Baptism
“Joe began reading the Bible and growing in his faith. His transformation was undeniable. I discussed the gospel with him and told him that baptism was his next step in obedience. He understood and simply said, ‘As long as you help me—I want to do it.’ He asked me to baptize him, which made the moment incredibly meaningful.
“Surrounded by my family—who had loved and prayed for Joe for years—I baptized Joe and witnessed his public declaration of faith. In that moment, I could sense the depth of what God had done in his life. It was a miracle. Joe shared later, ‘When I was baptized, it felt like God removed the armor from my heart and filled me with peace. For the first time, I understood God’s love.’ He had a sense of purpose and faith he’d never known before.
“Looking back, this story is about more than one moment of salvation. It’s about never giving up on people. We planted seeds, others watered them, and God brought the growth. God aligned circumstances and relationships to draw Joe to Himself. The experience strengthened my faith and reminded me that when we trust God’s timing and continue loving others well, He can do the impossible. Prayer works!”
–Andrew, part of Gateway family
Additional Resources
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