Indiana

Bob McCullough is a big man with a tender heart. He tells the story of his journey back to Jesus with eyes swimming in tears.

Bob was raised an Adventist. At age 20, he met and married his sweetheart, Elaine. Since she was a member of another denomination, Bob converted to her religion.

After 43 years of marriage, his beloved Elaine was struck with a very serious form of cancer, which brought Bob to his knees. As Bob prayed for Elaine's healing, he became keenly aware of his years of unfaithfulness in honoring God with his tithe—a never-forgotten directive from God that weighed heavily on his heart for many years. Not wanting anything to hinder his prayers for his beloved wife, he made things right. Following several extensive surgeries, Elaine was sent home where Bob lovingly cared for her until her death on February 7.

In his loneliness, after his wife's death, Bob decided to go "hang out" with his Adventist family. "But you cannot just 'hang out' with these true practicing Adventists," he said with a smile, "because they pray and worship together constantly, and you can't help but get caught up in their close relationship with God."

On Resurrection Sabbath, Bob attended the LaPorte Adventist church with his sister. When the pastor, Wayne Morrison, invited those present to make a commitment to Jesus, Bob went forward and gave his heart to the Lord. "I look forward to going home to Heaven with Elaine when Jesus comes," he remarked.

Bob spent the next few weeks meeting with the pastor and studying with Dave Sanders. On Sabbath, June 23, he was baptized. "This is the beginning of a new journey for me," Bob said, "and I want nothing to distract me."

Mary Wadsworth-Cooke, LaPorte Church communication secretary