How does one sum up the trajectory-shifting influence a single gospel-focused mentor can have on your life? How does one sum up a mentor whose aim is to point you to Christ, the one through whom the entire universe was spoken into existence, the one through whom redemption came and the entire cosmos would one day be made right again?
How does one sum up a person who points others to Christ through the scriptures, the content of which was articulated over the ages by modern giants of the faith, resting on the shoulders of other giants of the faith through church history, going all the way back to the Apostles? How does one sum up a man whose aim was to bring you the gospel, not merely for salvation, but growth in the faith? It is indeed an inestimable gift, a rare jewel.
I can remember my conversion at the age of five so very well. It was a Sunday evening worship service. It’s remarkable, as I look back at how God revealed Himself so clearly – His infinite love for me. I was both in a state of bliss and crying at the same time. He revealed how He chose me, yes me, to be His own from all eternity; always in His love – I would never be without Him. I believed in His death on the cross for me personally, Catherine, and His resurrection and ascension into Heaven to be with His Father. I came to these revelations by the intense drawing of the Holy Spirit. He knew the difficulties that lay ahead in my life. Through all of the abuse and mental problems I never doubted my security of salvation or His infinite love for me. I did question, but never doubted that this was His eternal plan for me.
We have been blessed with yet a second healthy baby boy, Asher Reid Westerfield! He was born on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 10:13 am. He is 6 lbs, 8 oz. and 19″ long. We have received an unbelievable grace. My heart is overjoyed both with a wonderful wife who bore the burden of carrying the little guy, and the now two sons I’ve been blessed with. So exciting! I pray 1) for His grace to fall on them, that 2) they would be born again and brought to new life by the Spirit’s power, in order that 3) they may live lives for His glory and not their own, which will fade like a mist. He is their (and our) only hope of life now and for eternity. Only by His work and not our doing. Praise God for baby Asher!
