Perry Lawson had no idea of the impact telling his story would have. He’s the member of Beautiful Savior, Las Vegas, Nev., featured in the video presentation viewed in congregations across the synod as part of the Year of Jubilee offering, which is designated toward eliminating the synod’s debt.

Since December, when most congregations viewed the presentation, Beautiful Savior has received dozens of e-mails from around the country in support of Lawson and his family. His pastor, Matt Guse, has forwarded many of them on to Lawson. “I did not really expect that kind of reaction from people outside our congregation,” Lawson says. “I just thought that was really kind of neat to see.”

In the video, Lawson tells how as a rock musician he lived apart from God and struggled with drug abuse most of his adult life. He didn’t come to faith until he was in his forties when he began attending Beautiful Savior, a WELS mission congregation. After hearing the Word, Lawson shared it with his parents—they both were led to believe and were baptized shortly before their deaths.

In many of the e-mails, other WELS members have encouraged Lawson and have offered prayers for him in his new walk of faith. Others have shared how hearing Lawson’s story has encouraged them in their own situations. Some tell heartbreaking stories of their own children who have fallen away from faith or of their own parents who—despite their best efforts—have yet to come to believe in Jesus. Lawson says. “When I read those letters coming in and people encouraging me, it just reminds me that the Lord is not going to leave us. He’s not going to forsake us, even in troubled times.”

The video presentation has brought unexpected blessings for Beautiful Savior as well.

Already what Lawson lovingly refers to as “hug-oriented,” the church has been brought even closer after seeing his story. While still a relatively small congregation with less than 200 members, many were unaware of Lawson’s history. Guse says there wasn’t a dry eye in the house the Sunday he showed it in church.

“It just boosted the care and concern and compassion for one another because it made people realize that we don’t always know people’s backgrounds or where people came from or what they went through,” says Guse. “As a family in Christ, maybe we ought to take the time to find out.”

As a result of the flow of e-mails from all regions of the country, Lawson says he now has a better understanding of just what it means to be part of a larger synod. “It was just really kind of neat and overwhelming for me. I thought it was really wonderful to see how we’re all tied together with one another.”