Pete was a 25-year-old man who told me he had a problem. He had become a follower of Jesus a few years ago, but then, “all of a sudden,” he said, “my faith just died out.” He told me, “I’ve stopped reading the Word, and I’ve stopped going to church. It all seemed to happen one day. What should I do?”

I told Pete to look at the book of Acts, where we see how the new believers sustained their faith. It’s a great model to follow. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”

The first thing Pete needed to do was to pray, asking the Lord for forgiveness and for the strength to follow Him.

Second, he needed to have a daily walk with God, reading the Bible and spending time in prayer.

I also encouraged Pete to find a group of men to meet with for fellowship and accountability, in addition to attending a Bible-believing church.

I tell you, I meet many people like Pete who have similar stories of falling away from the faith. Many wonder if God would ever take them back, and they feel so guilty. You and I need to be the voice of truth, reminding them that Jesus has already paid the price on the cross.

So let’s be prepared to gently encourage them back into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

One of my four sons, Andrew, rebelled for years. Many people prayed for Andrew, including friends of mine in Portland, Oregon, whom I meet with once a month. All these guys faithfully prayed for Andrew for 15 years.

Then, at age 27, Andrew finally repented and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. My friends were so excited! They wanted to meet him and throw a party for him, so they invited Andrew to our group.

When Andrew arrived, he was overwhelmed with emotion. He realized these men had prayed earnestly for his salvation — without ever seeing his face. As it says in the book of James, “The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.”

Today, Andrew travels all over the world, sharing the story of how God redeemed his life. Because of his own conversion, thousands are making decisions to follow Jesus Christ when he tells them the message of God’s Good News. Isn’t it exciting to think how one changed life can impact so many others?

As you pray for your loved ones, don’t give up! Imagine how many people may come to Christ through their conversions. The ripple effect of your witness today, will go beyond your wildest hopes and prayers!

Steve McQueen was a famous movie star in the 50s. He was also a crazy guy, a womanizer, a wild man in Hollywood. One day, years ago, Billy Graham told me that Steve McQueen called him up. He said, Mr. Graham, I’m dying of cancer and I don’t know God. Please come and talk with me. So Billy went to see him.

When Mr. Graham arrived, he said that Steve was just skin and bones. Steve told Billy, I’ve had three wives and I’ve fooled around with many women. I’ve been unfaithful. I’ve been a drunk. Can God forgive me?

Billy Graham explained Romans 10:9 to him: If you believe in your heart, and confess Jesus Christ with your lips, He comes into your life. He’ll forgive you and give you eternal life. Then Mr. Graham led Steve in a prayer to open his heart to Jesus Christ. A few days later, Steve died.

What an impact his story must have had on the entertainment world! I’m sure Steve McQueen is the last person many people imagined would convert to Christianity. But God is able to do “immeasurably more than anything we can ask or imagine.”

So don’t give up on the person in your life who seems the furthest from the Lord. God can touch anyone’s heart, and He wants to use you and me in the process! Let God use you to win a soul for Him.

This week we’ve been looking at the importance of repentance when it comes to sharing our faith. Psalm 51 is a beautiful psalm by King David that depicts what true repentance looks like. It reveals a person with a broken and contrite spirit. And what’s the result of this type of repentance? Evangelism!

David ends the Psalm by saying: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” Remember, David has already confessed his sin, he’s pointed the finger only at himself; he’s pleaded for forgiveness. Now, he looks forward to the future. David’s thinking, Lord, you’ve done something amazing for me. Now I will help others turn back to you.

You know, a truly forgiven person wants other people to know God the way they know him. Once you’ve been forgiven and set free, you almost can’t help but tell everyone around you about God’s amazing grace. You’ll want others to experience that same forgiveness and freedom.

Do you love the lost and want them in the kingdom of God? When you’ve been repentant and your conscience is clear and you’re singing again, you too will say, ’Lord, I’ll help sinners turn back to you.’ It’s a prayer God longs to hear!