Transcript
Jake Each
This is tell us your story and I'm here with Lance Greco. We're going to take some time and get to know different people in our church this way. So Lance is a member of our church and a connection group leader. So tell us a little bit about yourself.
Lance Greco
Ok. Well I am Lance Greco.
Jake Each
I covered that one.
Lance Greco
Yeah. Yeah.
Jake Each
Something new.
Lance Greco
I'm married to Lisa for 30 years. We have three children Calista is 22 Gabriel's 19 Asa just turned 16 and yes he has his driver's license. So we came to Veritas about three years ago and you know that's kind of that's kind of who I am. Yeah.
Jake Each
What do you do for a living.
Lance Greco
What I do. I'm a retirement planner investment planner. Just a few blocks from church.
Jake Each
Awesome. So we're getting right to it. We want to learn a little bit about each other and specifically how did you become a follower of Jesus.
Lance Greco
Ok. Well a little bit of background to that. I grew up in the Catholic Church St. Matthew's right up First Avenue.
Jake Each
So you're local, this is your hometown.
Lance Greco
Yeah. Yep. Grew up in Cedar Rapids. I was a Jaguar then I was a Regis Royal. And then as I like to say when I got to college I went to the church of St. mattress — father sheets presiding. I slept in. And so I I believed there was a god. And but I wasn't trusting him for anything. I moved to Chicago for after college and then out to Colorado Springs God's country. So sure enough I met a young woman there who — Had the dating ministry. No I'm kidding. I was. I thought we were dating but I. But she was she was so different that you know I had to ask her. Wow you you're just different — What's different about you and she shared Jesus with me and then she took me to her church village seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs. And I know that was the day I can't tell you the date but that I believe the Holy Spirit indwelled me because the next day I called the church and I said I need to know what is a Christian whether or not I am one and if not how can I become one. I don't think you need.
Jake Each
By the way we love those phone calls. If you'd like to make those keep those coming. It's like a lob to a pastor.
Lance Greco
So. So they — I wanted to speak to the preacher who preached that day, it was powerful, but they — he wasn't there and they hooked me up with the youth pastor who happened to be doing a Bible study on Romans. And he said Why don't you just — He shared the gospel with me, I think he could see I was confused, and he invited me to his study on Romans which met every Wednesday morning. So I'm 26 years old at this point, and I know God's working in my life because I would not be getting up at 6:00 a.m. to go to a Bible study. I went to the study on Romans, and as we worked our way through Romans — it just became clear you know as we're seeing as we're going through Romans 8 it's just so clear. And for someone who thought I could work my way there, lots of rules, lots of boxes to check off, you know Romans laid it all out and showed the folly of that. So in my own little rented house there in Colorado Springs I told God I wanted to trust him but I needed to know he was real. And then through a series of mostly involving the Bible things in the Bible that I just — I mean the Bible came alive to me things that were I saw in the Bible were you know just really relating to my life in that in that time and God to show me that though that the Bible wasn't just a history book that it was from for me and for now. And was just a lot of affirmations a lot of sin just falling away you know — that you don't — know if you like hanging out in bars all the time you know you like it and all of a sudden I didn't like it. He made changes in my life that I couldn't have made — I wouldn't have made on my own. So I was thankful for that affirmation because a pastor said to me because I was waiting for a feeling you know I don't feel different. He said you've made the decision just live it out and gonna honor that. And he sure did.
Jake Each
So what is being a Christian — being a follower of Jesus meant for you now.
Lance Greco
What's it like — How is it impacted my life?
Jake Each
Yeah. What does it mean for you right now to follow Jesus?
Lance Greco
Well it's it's your lens. I mean it shapes everything you do shapes what you think about shapes every decision that's facing you. You know spend time in the word, learning you know God so graciously has given us his words so we can know, we don’t have to wonder what he wants us to do. You know it's in there. And more time you spend there the better you understand what you know how he wants us to live. And so that's just a part of who I am and — I often wonder what my life would look like you know if I — you know that was so that was back in nineteen eighty six, and here we are two thousand twenty and I just often wonder what would my life look like if I did not know Jesus and I I could be pretty confident it would be a real real mess. So I'm thankful. That doesn't mean that I haven't had a lot of failings. A lot of trials most trials of my own making. But out — external trials and God has been faithful through you know through all of it through all of it.
Jake Each
Lance and I have been in connection group together in the past and I've got to know your story a little bit. It's exciting to see how God has worked in your life and to see your love for Jesus is just super encouraging. So hopefully you know Lance a little bit better now if you see him on a Sunday morning come give him a hug. Or don’t.
Lance Greco
That’s up to you. I'll take the hug. You know it's OK.
Jake Each
All right. We're thankful for you Lance.
Lance Greco
Thanks.