Riley's Story
I was raised in a family who knew God, and at the age of 8 years, I gave my heart to Him. During my late teen years I drifted away from trying to live a righteous life and began doing things my way.
The ways of the world seemed better than pleasing God. I continued to go to worship on Sunday's, and even after I married, I made sure my children were in church. There was no outward reflection that I knew the Lord. My relationship with God had become a well-kept secret, hiding in the closet, jumping out on Sundays and back in on Mondays.
In the spring of 1990, things changed. I was in Atlanta, Georgia at Emory Hospital and my brother was dying in desperate need of a liver transplant. My brother's condition was critical, and his body was frail. Just before the surgery, I talked to the doctor. I was told that my brother may not make it through 22 hour surgery and his only hope was to pray for him. Except for praying for a blessing before a meal, it had been 25 years since I talked to God.
Outside, alone in the back of my father's van, I cried out to God to save my brother's life. It was at that moment that I totally submitted my life to the Lord and committed to do the things that pleased God. I don't believe God made my brother ill for me to get myself right with him, but it took that tragic incident to make me realize that I need Him first and foremost in my life.
I committed from that day forward to live a God-focused life. Not a day goes by that I do not talk with God and praise His Holy Name.
God saved my brother's life that day and gave me a new life worth living. Because of God's mercy and grace, he has allowed me to be involved in things I never imagined.
Starting in 1997, with a trip to Uganda, Africa, my love for "helping the hopeless" was birthed in my heart. In April 2004, in obedience to God, I "gave away" a prosperous transportation business in Atlanta and answered a full time call from God for the country of India. All praise and glory to God.