The Word of God is filled with examples that proclaim God is a restorer of broken lives and relationships. Time and again, God restored Israel who had been broken by fear and sin, and had abandoned the Lord. Here is one story of God’s redemptive love at work in the city of Rome. To his family, Giuseppe* was mean and abusive. He left his wife and three small children without any financial support or home. The mother moved the family to France for 15 years. When they returned to Italy, one of the daughters, Carla, became a Christian. But she was filled with anger and bitterness toward her father. God began to deal with her heart and slowly she made the decision to forgive him. They did not have a strong relationship, living in different cities of Italy, but occasionally kept in touch.

Giuseppe had developed a blood condition which required him to have blood transfusions every few months. Quite suddenly, these treatments proved ineffective and he was hospitalized. The hospital where he lived was not equipped to deal with his condition so he was transferred to Rome. Since he had been so abusive which alienated most of his family, only Carla came to see him and care for him at the clinic. While there, she told him she forgave him for all the years of abuse and cruelty and shared with him that God loved him.

Meanwhile, Giuseppe’s condition worsened. The doctors discovered that his body could no longer produce white blood cells and his spleen became very swollen and protruded. Carla asked a friend if she knew of an evangelical pastor who would come and “pray with power” and was given the name of Bob and Lynne Rose, AGWM personnel and pastor of the International Church of Rome.

The Roses relate, “When we went to the hospital, Giuseppe was not able to talk above a guttural whisper. Bob read Psalm 34:4 and explained to him how much God loved him and could deliver him from his fears and bring restoration to his broken life. He asked Giuseppe if he wanted to pray. With desperation in his eyes, he replied ‘Yes’! and though he strained to speak, he repeated a prayer of repentance and salvation word for word. God’s presence filled the room and there was such a sweet visitation from the Lord as Giuseppe asked Jesus to be his Savior.

“After our visit, Carla said her father was filled with peace. Six days later, Giuseppe passed away in his sleep, at rest and restored with the promise of an eternal home prepared for him in Heaven!”

*Name has been changed.

The Word of God is filled with examples that proclaim God is a restorer of broken lives and relationships.  Time and again, God restored Israel who had been broken by fear and sin, and had abandoned the Lord.  Here is one story of God’s redemptive love at work in the city of Rome.

To his family, Giuseppe* was mean and abusive.  He left his wife and three small children without any financial support or home.  The mother moved the family to France for 15 years.  When they returned to Italy, one of the daughters, Carla, became a Christian.  But she was filled with anger and bitterness toward her father.  God began to deal with her heart and slowly she made the decision to forgive him.  They did not have a strong relationship, living in different cities of Italy, but occasionally kept in touch.

Giuseppe had developed a blood condition which required him to have blood transfusions every few months.  Quite suddenly, these treatments proved ineffective and he was hospitalized.  The hospital where he lived was not equipped to deal with his condition so he was transferred to Rome.  Since he had been so abusive which alienated most of his family, only Carla came to see him and care for him at the clinic.  While there, she told him she forgave him for all the years of abuse and cruelty and shared with him that God loved him.

Meanwhile, Giuseppe’s condition worsened.  The doctors discovered that his body could no longer produce white blood cells and his spleen became very swollen and protruded.  Carla asked a friend if she knew of an evangelical pastor who would come and “pray with power” and was given the name of Bob and Lynne Rose, AGWM personnel and pastor of the International Church of Rome. 

The Roses relate, “When we went to the hospital, Giuseppe was not able to talk above a guttural whisper.  Bob read Psalm 34:4 and explained to him how much God loved him and could deliver him from his fears and bring restoration to his broken life.  He asked Giuseppe if he wanted to pray.  With desperation in his eyes, he replied ‘Yes’! and though he strained to speak, he repeated a prayer of repentance and salvation word for word.  God’s presence filled the room and there was such a sweet visitation from the Lord as Giuseppe asked Jesus to be his Savior.

“After our visit, Carla said her father was filled with peace.  Six days later, Giuseppe passed away in his sleep, at rest and restored with the promise of an eternal home prepared for him in Heaven!”

*Name has been changed.