Praise Report: Pastor Brings Arsonist Teen to Christ
“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous men who need no repentance,” (Luke 15:7).
A South Carolina pastor encountered some devastating news when his church’s vans were set on fire. As The Roys Report shared, Kiah Graves, the pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Pauline, South Carolina made the decision to visit the young man, Brandon Greene, who set the vans on fire when he was arrested.
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WYFF noted that Graves said, “We really felt compelled to share the love of Christ with Brandon.”
“Although his actions were wrong and harmful in the fact that we might have to buy new vans, we didn’t hate him,” Graves continued.
Sharing the message of the gospel with the teen was clearly powerful for both Pastor Graves and for Greene as Greene ended up giving his life to Jesus Christ.
“He gave his life to Christ in there, repented of his sins, and wants to be baptized. But none of that would have happened, I don’t think, if everybody wasn’t on the same page of, yes, let’s catch him, make sure we get that squared away, but also don’t leave him by himself,” Graves said.
The church’s vans were needed to go on a mission trip to Kentucky. However, the church provided an update that replacements were found for the occasion.
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This encounter is a perfect example of how God still desires to take the broken things in our lives, to take the ashes, and turn them into something beautiful.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
