June 3, 2025

I’m sitting on stage with Ed Silvoso, where we’re about to start a Q&A session on how a family can function as an Ekklesia. As I scan the stage and Ed’s position, I notice he has new leather shoes on, and decide to start with a light observation to kick things off. “Wow, those are cool shoes!” I say. Ed grins. “Thank you! Ruth bought them for me as a birthday present. I think I like them better than the ones I wore to the Italian church,” he says. I know the story he’s referring to and laugh out loud. “Ed, do you want to share that story with the audience?” I ask.

Barely able to contain his smile, Ed launches into the story:  “One day, back when Ruth and I were engaged, we decided to take a day trip to a little town nearby. After weeks of ministry interspersed with friends, relatives, and church members giving us advice (solicited or otherwise) for the upcoming wedding, we wanted to spend some quality time together. Normally, I’m a conservative dresser. But since this was a special occasion, I decided to try something more flamboyant. I put on a shiny pair of pants, a shirt with multicolored stripes, and very flashy shoes. After dressing, I went to pick up Ruth, and we headed off to the town. 

“Upon arriving, we strolled the sunny streets and followed the enticing aroma of coffee to a cafe where we could relax. On the way, we passed a house that caught our attention. The house looked the same as all the others on that rustic street, but one thing set it apart: Christian music was coming from inside! “Listen! We should see who is making that music,” Ruth said eagerly. I cautiously tried the front door, which was unlocked, and Ruth and I peeked inside. The room was filled with people worshipping. The singers, an accordion, a guitar, and a trumpet all harmonized in a beautiful sound. 

“Ruth and I hesitated on the threshold. Suddenly, a man and a woman ran up to us, welcomed us like old friends, and then whisked Ruth to one side of the room and me to the other. I observed the people around me and realized that this was a very traditional, conservative congregation of mostly older Italians who were very serious about protocol. Everyone in the group was dressed very formally: the men had dark suits and ties and the women wore dresses and veils. And there I was, looking like I was ready for a night on the town! I blushed almost as bright as the stripes on my shirt and wished I could blend in like a chameleon. 

“Suddenly, the music stopped and a man with an enormous, dark mustache stood up and fixed the congregation with a piercing gaze. I imagined him looking out on that somber-colored group and seeing me standing out, like a strawberry in a field. Suddenly, the man looked me right in the eyes! In a booming voice that mixed Italian and Spanish, the man said to me: “Fratello Silvoso, tene una parola de Dio?” (“Brother Silvoso, do you have a word from God?”) I gasped. How did he know my name? And what should I say? Swaying slightly, I stood up and said: “Sir, I’m afraid I’m not dressed properly to address the congregation.” The man held me with his unwavering gaze, and his voice was severe as he said: “Do you have a word, or don’t you?”

“I’d been taught by my pastor to always be ready to speak, so I knew I would have something to say. It appeared that the man wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I nodded and slowly walked to the front of the room. “I hope my outfit won’t blind the people in the front row,” I thought. I shared my message to the crowd, hoping that God would bring some good out of this moment. After I finished speaking, I left the stage and was surrounded by dozens of people. Although I’d thought they’d looked severe when I first saw them, I found out that they were very friendly, kind, and grateful for the word that I’d shared. But there remained one thing I didn’t understand. “How did you know my name?” I asked the man with the mustache. “God told us about you,” he said. “He said you would come and help us lead an evangelistic crusade.” Although I was caught off guard to hear this, I agreed, and a few weeks later, we put on an extremely fruitful evangelistic crusade with this church. That was how Ruth and I entered into pastoral ministry. Through this strange encounter, the stage was set for the rest of our lives.” 

As I think about this story, I’m amazed at how God arranges the path of our lives. Our destiny may come in unexpected ways, but we can rest easy knowing that we serve a good God who is arranging all things for good. Today, let’s open our hearts to God’s plans and invite Him to divinely interrupt and change our plans for His glory!

-Eutychus

(Parts of this story were adapted from Anointed for Romance by Ed Silvoso.)