The Most Important Thing Cont'd (Pg 7)

Watching Lew Wallace's Magnificent Story of The Christ, Ben Hur, Lead To This Man's Salvation...

Greg's testimony is exciting as he found Christ as a result of watching the 1959 movie of General Lew Wallace's book, Ben Hur, with the lead role played by Charlton Heston.  What few people realise is that Lew Wallace's whole reason for writing this great story was to bear testimony to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The story bears stirring testimony to these events and is a lasting testimony to the grace and power of the risen Christ.  I remember reading the book myself, long before I had seen the movie, and reading long into the night as I read on, unable to put it down until arriving at the unforgettable and miraculous climax.  

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From: Greg Sonnenschein
Sent: Tuesday, 4 September 2001 05:34
To: johnbenc@hnpl.net
Subject: My Story

Dear John,
I have enjoyed our correspondence.  We too are Christians.  I was saved at the ripe old age of 21, not having been raised in a Christian home or church.  God placed many people in my life as a witness for Christ, but I ignored most of them.  Having been addicted to television and movies since a young age (not anymore), I was watching Ben Hur alone at my grandma's house.  When the movie ended, I was on my knees asking Jesus to forgive me and to be my Lord.  God slapped me with a movie.  My wife was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ at an early age.  She has played the piano in church since the age of twelve.  That is where we met, at her church when I was visiting.  We have been married for seven years and have four children.  We have an Old Testament family except for my name, and I just tell everyone that it's ok because I was named after the first pope.  That certainly gets a look from the Protestants!
I am an operating room nurse and my wife is a homemaker.  Currently I am studying for a Bachelor's degree in Biblical studies by correspondence.  Actually I am creeping through it.  I know this is what God wants me to do but it is spiritually frightening.  We feel that God has called us to prepare for pastoral or missionary service.  I say "we" because as you know a pastor cannot be a very good one without a good wife.  We will continue on this path and go where God leads (I pray).
As a young Christian (I suppose I still am, I'm 33ys) I could find no one to disciple and teach me, so the most Godly influences and advice I could find were from books.  (Discipleship I believe is still very weak in this part of the country).  The greatest human influences in my life have been William Chalmer's Burns, David Brainard, Francis Schaffer, R.C. Sproul, Martin Luther, D.L. Moody, John Calvin, and soon I'm gearing up to see what Jonathan Edwards has to say.  I was very pleased that you shared some of your history with me and even more pleased to learn of your commitment and service to Christ. It's been a great pleasure corresponding with you and I hope to again in the future. 

Greg