I was leaning over my large drafting table and working on an insanely difficult homework project when a little act of kindness changed my life for eternity. Christine, a good friend from the time I started architecture school, leaned over my desk.

\"Wanna come to Soul Talk?\" she asked.

I tilted my head and looked at her. I could tell by her voice that extending the invitation to her Bible study group was hard for her to do. After all, I was notorious in my class. If there was a party, I was there. If there was drinking to be done, I was the first in line. If something bad happened in the studio, all eyes went to me.

I knew Christine liked church. I knew she didn\'t do the things I did. But for her to invite me to church? That crossed many boundaries.

\"Uh, OK,\" was all I said. 

Looking back on it now, I think I agreed to go so I wouldn\'t hurt her feelings. I expected to go to this \"Soul Talk\"  and do what I had done many times before -- refute these Jesus freaks for what they were -- self-righteous, lily-livered cowards who would wilt with the least bit of resistance. I even got a couple of my buddies to go with me. We were going to go meet \"Christine\'s Jesus friends.\"

The first night I declared to a group of about 40 people at the Soul Talk that it was my belief that Jesus was an enlightened extraterrestrial who came to earth to show us a better way. Much to my surprise, the group leader didn\'t wilt! He actually challenged me right back! I could not wait to get out of there.

The next week, my two buddies were nowhere to be found when it came time to go. I decided to go again but this time I was ready. I would not let that leader win again! So, when the topic of sex before marriage came up, I blurted out to a group of about 50 people that in my well-considered opinion, sex was an act of love. I proclaimed that we could love someone whether we are married to that person or not. 

\"There!\" I thought. \"Let\'s see what he does with that!\"

Well, he challenged me again. 

\"Well, why don\'t you marry her if you love her that much?\" he asked me.   

\"Well, why should I?\" I asked incredulously.

\"Well, why don\'t you?\" he shot right back.

\"Well, why should I?\" I asked again.

\"Bob, why don\'t you marry this woman?\"

\"Because I don\'t love her that much,\" I responded.

\"Then, according to God, you don\'t love her enough to have a sexual relationship with her,\" he said.

Immediately after the Bible study, Sheridan, the study leader, approached me.

\"Wow, this Bible sure makes you think,\" I said.

\"Why don\'t we get together and look at it together?\" he asked.

We did several personal Bible studies together and less than three months later I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

My life really changed when I became a Christian. It changed my view of God, of eternity and of relationships. It gave me a mission in life and provided answers to questions that I had always had like, \"Why am I here?\" and, \"What am I supposed to do on this earth?\"

To this day, I am still amazed at the power of one invitation.

Bob now serves as a full time minister for our church.

*If you would like to learn more about God\'s plan for your life or begin attending a local church, please email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

*If you are a member of the Los Angeles International Church of Christ and would like to share your testimony online, please email  \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  for details.