How a Fan and Her Father Found the Faith
Wed., Jul. 29. 2009 7:54am EDT
We received this awesome, encouraging email recently and just had to share it with you:For years I have been deciding on writing a letter to you guys about the amazing thing you have done, but every time I'd sit down, I would cry and be unable to write. Here is my story. I cannot thank you enough. I say that with all of my heart. What you have given me is memories I will treasure forever.
In 2003/2004, my father and I were close, but the reason was we were father and daughter. I started getting older and losing my way. My father was not a Christian, but we heard about your band coming to New Life Ministries and thought about having a father-daughter date night. It was our first, and we hated church -- always too political, too snobby -- but we randomly decided to go. We were nervous; we felt we were the only non-Christians there, so we sat in the back.
After the concert, we were on fire, just amazed. My father loved every minute of it. My mom, who is a Christian, was thrilled when he brought home a CD and played it every day for the next 4-5 years. That day made a bond between my father and me that stuck with us until October 14, 2006. My father had gotten two brain aneurisms, and although he pulled through the surgery, the night he was going to get out of the ER, he passed away. That night, he openly accepted Jesus.
You gave my father and me the most wonderful relationship I could ever have. Your one concert sparked something amazing, and although my daddy has passed away, he lives on in five of us. Four of my beautiful siblings are well with Jesus, as is my mom. I am still growing. To this day, we listen to your music, cry and laugh and remember the times when at 11 p.m. on a school night your music would be going through the house.
So thank you, thank you for everything. I know now there is God and He plays a part in my family's life. I am thrilled to say we will be at your concert July 19 in Binghamton NY, and it will be such an honor for me and my family. We have been talking about it for months on end.
Clarissa Kalagian-Reynolds
Binghamton NY We're happy to report that we got to meet Clarissa after that concert, and she wrote this follow-up email about the experience.It made my year, and I am still smiling. Thank you so much for praying for me. It meant the world to me. I really needed it.
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