Gerry and Lynn's world was shattered when they lost their son in December 2011. In their grief, and through the encouragement of Christian friends, they tried going to church. There they received a warm welcome and the offer of a listening ear.
Gerry and Lynn attended a Christianity Explored course and while Lynn came to faith, Gerry was resistant. He confessed to being quite aggressive and sarcastic during the sessions. However, a few weeks later, while packing for a family trip, Gerry decided to bring a Bible. One afternoon, he started reading the Gospel of Mark. It felt as if God was speaking directly to him, answering his deepest questions. That day, Gerry gave his life to the Lord and became a Christian too.
Life changed for Gerry and Lynn and they began serving in church and being involved in the church community. For Gerry, this changed how he approached his work too. Working in the tourist industry, he interacted with people daily. He found he could weave his faith into conversations, whether by mentioning a mission trip to Cambodia, the church's running group or their trip to Barcelona for a half marathon These snippets sometimes sparked deeper discussions about faith and church activities.
When Gerry was diagnosed with terminal cancer, his faith and relationship with Jesus was a source of comfort. He also felt an increased sense of urgency for people to know Jesus personally. Feeling this burden, he shared his story with his church family. He told of his reliance on God as an encouragement for those who attend church, but haven't yet committed to faith, to make the decision to follow Jesus and trust him.