Please click here to access Frederico's spiritual autobiography on video.
One day, someone sent an email to the entire congregation telling them of my past ...which was not anything to be proud of. Within it was a detailed description of how I contributed to the loss of my marriage. The email described many of my faults and failures.
It was worse than being stripped naked in front the whole church! This happened on a Friday evening, to the best of my knowledge (I was not copied on the email). That Saturday, I went to southside Richmond to continue some work we had started the Saturday before. When I got there, P.J. Rhyne just wrapped her arms around me, cried, and told me she loved me. I had no idea what was going on! She explained that a letter had been sent out to the church about me and that it was not kind. I felt embarrassed, rejected, and ashamed in spite of P.J.'s reaction. The next morning, I was suppose to set up the worship equipment and chairs for service at 9:30am. I got there extra early so that I could finish my duty and leave before anyone could show up. However, I didn't finish in time and people started to come in. I had been 'outed.' What were they going to say? They now knew the horrible person I was. I was afraid.
What was their response? They wrapped their arms around me, cried, and told me I was loved and it didn't matter what my past or present was. They loved me. For the first time, I had really felt forgiven by God. I had heard it many times from David Perkins both personally and at the pulpit. I had read it over and over again in the bible. ...but it wasn't until the All Souls members gave me unconditional love that the concept of God's forgiveness and God's unconditional love really registered in my heart. This one act transformed my life in a way that is indescribable. It put me on the road to recovery and onto a meaningful, purposeful, God-filled life. My hope is that one day, the person who wrote that email comes to All Souls so that we can wrap our arms around her and tell her that we love her unconditionally - regardless of what she has done. That way, she too can feel the transformative love of Christ that I have in our community. Thanks to God and to All Souls for this priceless gift.
-Frederico Garza