Skip to content
how lord saved my chr family

How the Lord saved my “Christian” family

by Luke Hinton

There are many Scriptures that describe the spontaneous nature of Christian conversion. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this reality: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:1, 4-5, ESV). Existentially, not every saint experiences salvation this dramatically but conversion remains a miracle of unmerited grace by the living God. The following is a testimony of how God unexpectedly and incredibly saved both my father and wife.

Both my dad and my wife had been professing believers for decades. However, God showed His grace to them both on the same night, May 29, 2011. It was Memorial Day weekend, and we—my wife, my son, and I—went to Princeton, Kentucky to visit my parents. The weekend was awesome: my parents enjoyed their six-month-old grandson, we relaxed in their idyllic setting, and my sister was home from college. Sunday arrived, and the sermon that day was biblically poignant—the pastor preached about the glory of Christ and need for sinners to be reconciled to God by the cross.

That afternoon my sister went into work, and the rest of us had great fellowship and relaxation. My sister called home after work because she had locked her keys in her car. My dad decided to bring her a spare set, and I volunteered to go with him. As we were pulling away from the house at night my dad voiced that he had something to tell me. He paused and asserted that he should have told me a long time ago. At this point I was growing anxious and curious; I had absolutely no idea what he was going to say. He said, “I don’t think I am a Christian.” Immediately, I was filled with nervousness and fear, but I prayed in my heart that God would give me the words to speak. My dad relayed that he had made a profession at fourteen but that he had never submitted to Jesus as Lord. He lived in years of open wickedness and concupiscence. Although my dad read the Bible, he did so for academic purposes. For example, when he prayed he did so selfishly, thinking it would make him a better Christian and therefore God would get him into medical school. We went through the gospel. I started with the righteousness and holiness of God the Creator, then discussed our personal sin against this awesome God and the eternal damnation that we deserve. Finally, I came to the good news: God, out of His love, sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to die in the place of sinners taking the wrath of God for them, and to rise from the dead and be the Lord and Savior for those who trust in Him. My dad said that he believed the gospel, and he realized that he had never submitted to Jesus as Lord. After about an hour of driving and going through Scripture, we arrived home and prayed. My dad repented and submitted in faith to Jesus Christ!

When we walked inside, my dad said, “Do I look different?” My wife, sister (who had beat us home), and step-mom stared and tried to figure out what he meant. My dad said that he was a new creation and that God had saved him. He began to testify in a way I had never heard him speak before; he proclaimed Jesus as Savior and Lord. My step-mom was amazed and glorified God for this event. Some time later, Kendall (my wife) and I spoke to Gail (my step-mom); we spoke about God’s grace, but Kendall spoke with uneasiness. She said that while my dad was talking she had examined her own life. I waited for Gail to leave so I could encourage Kendall alone. When that time came, before I could direct the conversation, Kendall testified that as my dad spoke she realized that her life was like my dad’s. She was a professing Christian for years, but now she was born again and believed in Jesus Christ. I was utterly shocked! Kendall told me that she had been examining and doubting her salvation for months, and God used my dad’s testimony to save her that night. For the past couple months Kendall had been fearful—morbidly so—of leaving the house with our son; she thinks now that it was because she was fearful of dying and going to hell.

The next morning, as we gathered for breakfast, Kendall asked, “Do I look different?” The rest of the family surveyed her inquisitively until she proclaimed that God saved her last night. My parents were amazed at God’s grace and timing. Since that weekend, I have seen a Spirit-produced change in both my dad and wife. With Kendall, she has such a desire to read God’s Word and commune with Him in prayer. Also, she is quick to reconcile and believe the gospel; she truly trusts the Triune God.

There are several important lessons the Lord has taught me through this experience as a believer. First, God is wise, sovereign and gracious! He saves sinners through His Son. And yes, He still does it in His own timing (Rom. 11:25-36). Second, because of God’s sovereignty and love, continue to pray for your lost family and friends. I was not even praying for my dad and wife to be converted because they professed Christ. How much more will God work through the prayers of His saints (Rom. 10:1; 2 Cor. 1:11; Phil. 1:19)? Third, when this took place, my first response was not so much praise as it was doubt and fear. I have dealt with introspection and doubt concerning my own conversion, and I looked inward instead of trusting and thanking Jesus. God has graciously released me from doubt and revived me through the salvation of my family. If you struggle with doubt and morbid introspection, look to Jesus Christ and rest in Him. Our assurance is found in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus (Rom. 3:21-4:25).

Praise the Lord for his amazing grace in saving sinners.


Luke Hinton is an M.Div. student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married Kendall and they have one son, Pax.

Advertisment
Back to Top