5 Reflections on My Mom’s Conversion

You’ll not be surprised that I’m still rejoicing over my mom’s recent conversion. I hope some of these further reflections will help you if you’re still waiting for a family member to follow Christ or a prodigal child to come home:

1. It was the combined prayers of God’s people that brought Mom to Christ. For decades now, I’ve asked every conference I’ve led, every class I’ve taught, every church to which I preached, and every group of nationals I’ve trained around the world to be in prayer for my mom. I did the same for my dad, who turned to Christ at age 71. God works through the prayers of His people, and something just happens when we pray together. 
2. We’re just the mouthpiece for the gospel. My brother is a pastor, and I’m a pastor-professor. Both of us had talked to Mom over the years, but neither of us was present when Mom turned to the Lord. She wasn’t with us, and she wasn’t in a church building. It didn’t happen at the end of a worship service. God just turned her heart to Him in repentance and faith—and He alone gets the glory! 
3. It’s deeply humbling to walk beside your parents when they’re baby believers. Pam and I gave my dad his first Bible (a GIANT print version), and he devoured it during his last few years of life. Just months before Mom became a believer, we bought her a devotional book written by Tony Dungy (my mom’s a big NFL fan)—and now it’s fascinating to hear her faith questions as she gets grounded. It’s quite a privilege to help your parents walk in new faith. 
4. None of us can adequately describe God’s work of grace in a life. I make my living preaching, teaching, and writing. I think I communicate decently, and I agonize over the choice of every word I write. Now, though, nothing I can say or write can capture the change in my mom’s life. I’ve tried, but the words never seem adequate. Miracles have a way of taking our words away, you know. . . . . 
5. Too many of us have gotten over our stories. I see God’s peace on my mom’s face. I hear the joy of others as they rejoice at her salvation. It’s all exciting – but then I look around at so many believers who show no joy, who exhibit little peace, and who seldom speak about Jesus. Somehow, we’ve lost our fire—and the faith-filled exuberance of young believers puts the rest of us to shame. Some years ago, I wrote the simple group-study book, Nobodies for Jesus: 14 Days toward a Great Commission Lifestyle, to help us get fascinated with Jesus again. Maybe my mom’s story is another step in that direction!