An Easter Sunday Invite and Transformed Lives

Let me introduce you to Jay Jay and Alex.

God began to change their lives on Easter Sunday of 2024 when they attended church at the invitation of Alex’s parents.

Last Sunday, Jay Jay was baptized, and Alex rejoined our church.  That day was the culmination of a year-long journey in their lives, and years of prayer on the part of others.

Alex grew up in our church and wandered from the Lord in the years following high school.  Through a complex series of events Alex’s parents became the guardians for her daughter while Alex pursued the educational goals necessary to provide for her family of two. She got her nursing degree and eventually because a nurse practitioner.

While at work, Alex met Jay Jay.  Jay had a rough background.  It included time in juvenile detention as a minor and many years in prison as an adult because of crimes associated with gang activity. When Jay Jay was released from prison, he sought to turn his life around and began working at a care facility.  It was there that he met Alex and they began dating.

Last Easter Sunday Jay Jay and Alex attended services with Alex’s parents and the Holy Spirit began to get hold of Jay Jay’s heart.  He told Alex that he wanted to come back, and while somewhat surprised, she agreed.

A few months later, they married.

In her testimony for church membership, Alex described how she lived in rebellion against God and her parents and how she has repented and wants to be restored to the church body.  Jay Jay described how he came to trust Christ as his Savior this year and publicly proclaimed his desire to live a life that is obedient to Jesus Christ.

One of the many things that touched Jay Jay’s heart over the last year was when he sat in on family devotions with his mother and father-in-law and his stepdaughter.  Their habit was to read the Bible, sing, and pray together in her room before she went to bed each night. Seeing that loving family bond in Christ melted his heart.  He had never experienced anything like in the home environment he knew as a child.  He knew this was something he desperately wanted.

Over the years, I have witnessed the countenances of people change as they surrender to the Lord and the work of the Spirit.  The angry rebellious countenance gives way to peace and gentleness.  I see that in the faces of Jay Jay and Alex.

Jay Jay has tattoos all over his body and head that are the vestiges of the life he lived before knowing Christ.  Pointing to his head he says, “These are who I used to be, they are not who I am.”

On the day that he was baptized, his arresting officer from years ago, came to witness the event. Afterwards, our associate pastor asked the officer how often he sees this kind of life-change.  “Well, never.” he replied.

He then said.  “You need to understand that there was a time when Jay Jay was the most wanted criminal in the State of Arizona.”  He now works with the police, speaking to police officers groups and others.

The most powerful testimony of the goodness and grace of God is a transformed life.  God is in the life transforming business.

Don’t forget to invite people for Easter Sunday.  You might be surprised to see where things end up a year from now!

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For the audio version of this article, sere here: An Easter Sunday Invite and Transformed Lives