Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Lynn and her husband have taken these words very seriously. Their good works are evident to all who know them and as a result, many thanks have been directed heavenward to the glory of their Father in heaven.

 

 Many people come to faith in Christ as a result of circumstances or situations in life that cause them to hit bottom and force them to look up to God for help. There is nothing wrong with coming to a place of faith in Jesus this way but many people are of the mistaken impression that people ONLY turn to Jesus because they are driven to ‘religion’ through desperation.

 

   Lynn describes her childhood as having been ‘happy’. She had a happy home, good friends and a solid upbringing. Her family regularly attended church but they went more as a matter of family tradition than any real faith or connection to God. While she faithfully attended church and church events with her family, and endeavored to live a good life, she felt something was missing and longed for a deeper connection with God. She wasn’t content to just go through the motions. She wanted to really know if God was real or not.

 

 She recalls how some of her childhood friends tried to tell her that there was more to following Jesus than just going to church. She listened but she was not sure what they were trying to show her. She did know however, that she was dissatisfied with her faith and she was hungry to have more of what God had to offer in her life.

 

   She had one friend who had been reaching out to her and sharing the gospel. Lynn had been asking her very difficult questions, which she found, were beyond her ability or at least her confidence level to answer. She knew the answers but found it difficult to logically and systematically articulate what was in her heart. One day, her friend suggested that she read a book by Josh McDowell called ‘Evidence That Demands a Verdict’. He had been an avowed skeptic who as a scholar had set out on a mission to find evidence to prove Christianity was nothing but a myth and that Jesus was just a man IF he ever existed at all. To his utter shock and amazement, his systematic analysis of Christianity had the exact opposite impact in his life. He not only became a believer, but has dedicated his whole life from that point to the proclamation of the truth of Jesus, The Bible and Gospel message he once sought to destroy!

 

   In her own words here is how she explains what happened to her as a result. “ I bought the book and read every word. It took a week or so and I was being convinced of the truth as I read. I finished it lying in bed one night, closed the book and prayed to Jesus to fix what was broken and help me serve him. That was in 1983 and I have never been the same.

 

   Shortly after that, I met my husband Kevin and we now have three kids. Though the good times and bad God has always been faithful. We’ve had some great adventures and met some amazing people all because we have chosen to follow Jesus.”

 

 Lynn and Kevin have served in their church in a variety of ways but most notable over the past few years in youth ministry. They have a great desire to see the youth strengthened and built-up in their faith and understanding of the person as well as the message of Jesus.

 

   Lynn believes that one of the most effective ways of accomplishing these things is by exposing kids to ministry. She says that merely ‘hearing about Jesus and the power of God’ is not enough. They need to have opportunity to experience the life changing power of God in an up close and personal way. Lynn and Kevin have been instrumental in organizing and leading Youth mission trips, including work in cooperation with their church’s with Aboriginal ministry in the Australian Outback. (One of the kids who accompanied them on a trip to the outback has graduated from high school and is currently in Australia now in a missionary training program and will soon be going to Thailand for further training and hands-on service.)

 

   She has a passion to communicate to young people that God is a God of order. There is structure and design throughout the world around us. The physical world is structured and order and it is also true that the spiritual world, which the same God also designed, has structure and order. She also goes one step more-She believes that as followers of Jesus, our lives should also reflect structure and order. She therefore is effective in ministering and giving counsel to young people whose lives are unstructured and messed up.

 

   She has many scripture verses that she holds in her heart as being particularly important to her but she is quick to cite two in particular, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1Peter 3:15) and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

 

   Lynn is a great example as a mom, a wife and an amazing servant of the gospel in her church. She came to faith in Jesus because a friend reached out to her and loved her enough to risk rejection and tell her that simply ‘going to church’ was not enough. When Lynn’s questions were beyond her ability to answer, she did not give-up. She instead referred her to resources that could help where she felt inadequate to do so.

 

  

   If you are a skeptical person who has serious doubts or questions that hinder your ability to believe, Lynn’s story can give you hope to know that these doubts and questions CAN be answered. Lynn has two science-based master’s degrees and another science based bachelors degree. She is not an intellectual ‘pushover’. She believes because the evidence made sense to her because she seriously looked into it with a desire to know the truth.

 

   If you are a friend of someone like Lynn, reach out to him or her and don’t be intimidated by their doubts or questions. The creator of the universe knows enough about science to handle their questions! I suggest you keep praying for the Lord to prepare their heart to receive the gospel. (The entrance of thy word giveth light O Lord.) Then go out and get some of the many good resources available to answer the person’s questions. (Not everyone is as motivated as Lynn was to go out and purchase the suggested materials on their own.)

 

   This web site has a number of recommended links to other sites with many answers that people may have about Jesus, The Bible and Christianity. Josh McDowell’s book ‘Evidence that Demands a Verdict’ is still very good and there is now a second addition with even more Evidence that Demands a Verdict. C.S. Lewis’ book ‘Mere Christianity’ is a classic that has helped many skeptical and seriously seeking people through the obstacles hindering their ability to believe.

Check out the "Ya but..." and "why is there oil in Alaska" sections for more.