Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - He Spoke to Me

Hopeless

I left the church when I was 27. I partied, did my share of drugs, and drank. I got divorced. I was a mess and working in a job I didn't like, with no hope for the future. I had once even considered jumping off a highway bridge into oncoming traffic.

Searching

There was a turning point in my life. I had quit smoking pot and cigarettes, and started running to lose weight. As a store manager at a large optical chain, my chance to run was 4:30 a.m. I would watch the sunrise most mornings on my runs, and would talk to my deceased dad. One of my older brothers was dying of cancer, and had given me his Bible. I started running with a man about my same age. As we got to know each other, we would talk about our lives, our families, and our God; I started searching.

My youngest daughter became pregnant at 19. They found a pastor willing to marry them, but he wanted to meet their parents. So, reluctantly, off I went to the church. When this pastor gave his sermon, he reached into my heart and spoke directly to me! I found a home, was baptized, and have become very involved in God's work.

Through God's Eyes

I switched jobs and manage a high-end optical boutique. The woman I work for doesn't believe in Jesus, and the young girl that works here doesn't think there is even a God. He has led me here to be a witness for Him. About two months ago a customer came into the store to have glasses made. When I looked at his name on the prescription, my heart skipped a beat. Seventeen years ago this man had sexually assaulted my oldest daughter. Then, a good friend and I wanted to go to this guy's house to at the least give him a beating, if not kill him; my wife talked me out of it. So now here we are, I take a deep breath and go about my business. I don't hate him after all. We talk, laugh, and shake hands when he leaves.

When I told my coworkers who he was, they were amazed I could be so calm and not want to hit him. I explained that as a Christian, I need to look at everyone as if I am looking through God's eyes. When this fellow's glasses were finished, the store owner wouldn't notify him until it was my day off so that I didn't have to deal with him again. God had other plans and had him come in the following day, when I was working alone. I again went about my business with him and shook his hand when it was time for him to leave. Once I hated, now I love.

Joe B., 55