How One Prayer Led Me to True Faith and Lasting Change

Pastor Jeff Schreve shares the powerful story of his spiritual journey, beginning with his upbringing in a Catholic home. Growing up as the fifth of six children, Jeff attended church and served as an altar boy, gaining knowledge about Jesus and faith. However, despite this religious background, his understanding of Jesus remained intellectual, rather than personal. In his high school years, his parents stopped requiring church attendance, and Jeff, uninterested in religion, gladly stopped going. His faith remained a distant concept until an unexpected encounter during his senior year.

The pivotal moment came when Jeff began dating a girl named Pam, who posed a question that would change his life forever: "Are you saved?" Initially confused by the question, Jeff dismissed it, relying on his Catholic upbringing. Pam, determined to introduce him to the message of salvation, invited him to a Young Life meeting. Although Jeff didn’t relate to the first speaker, a former drug addict, he returned to the meeting because of his interest in Pam. The second speaker, a man who shared his love for sports and personal struggles, struck a chord with Jeff. At the end of the meeting, Jeff raised his hand, unsure of what it meant but sensing something was happening in his heart.

That night, alone in his bedroom, Jeff experienced a profound moment of conviction. He felt the Lord speaking to him, revealing that his reliance on good works was insufficient for salvation. With little understanding of the full gospel, Jeff knelt and prayed a simple yet heartfelt prayer: “Jesus, would you save me?” In that moment, his life began to change. Jeff describes Christianity as an "inside job," explaining that salvation and transformation begin in the heart, and from there, they manifest outwardly. Over time, others began to notice a difference in him. Now, many years later, at almost 63 years old, Jeff confidently declares that he belongs to Jesus and will for all eternity, grateful for the life-changing power of the gospel.