God broke it all open. Three years ago, Dennis Bianchette’s heart broke open after hearing the gospel. Tears streamed down his face. For 60 years Dennis thought he had it all together. He was brought up in a traditional Catholic family. He thought he was saved. He knew about Jesus. What he was beginning to understand is he never knew Jesus.
“I felt holier than thou,” Dennis described himself before hearing the gospel. “My mom knew how to read in Latin, and we had the crucifix. We were taught St Jospeh and the blessed Mary. We were a traditional Catholic family. I thought I was saved. Now, I know I was the worst of the worst of Catholics.”
The grace of God through Jesus gave Dennis understanding. He saw for the first time the severity of his sin and his need for a Savior. Every Sunday he came back to church, new seeds were planted. He began to read the Bible. Each time, it felt like refreshing water was being poured over those seeds. Truth opened his eyes more and not just in him. It was happening in his family too.
“Thank God not just me but my whole family,” Dennis exclaimed. “My wife said since our transformation, just think of how you had and would have acted to people before. All of us, since 2023, have risen from where we were. It was my kids who pulled the wool out of my eyes. They invited me to Citylight, and the light went on. There were low places where we shouldn’t have been to now, my daughter comes to church with her Bible and brings people. And my son is involved. My wife too. Knowing where I came from and where I was, God used Citylight to pull me out. It was as if the sun was breaking through the clouds. The ray warming me up. My marriage ... My wife and I are more connected to God together. There is a consciousness between us, as one singularity. It’s straight from Heaven above. It’s learning, but together.”
The last three years have been a whole new path for Dennis. Several battles have taken place in his heart, but God has given Dennis victory. For instance, Dennis knew he wasn’t perfect. Before Jesus, it didn’t bother him. After Jesus, it really bothered him. But as Christians we are not called to perfection. Dennis wondered how and what does a man do to battle sin and flesh? God opened Dennis’ eyes to the gift of confession and forgiveness.
“I’m not perfect and even as a Catholic I didn’t do this,” Dennis described the daily habit of confession. “I now know to call out the sin as soon as I have an impure thought. Or when I say something that is wrong, to rebuke it and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Repentance is one of the things I never did before. I now ask for repentance daily and all throughout the day. One thing I’ve learned from some of the authors and preachers I follow is to protect your mind. To guard your emotions. I’m quick to anger and I say things in anger. I must walk day by day with God. The true God. Not what I had been taught or what is in my mind. You don’t go to confession with a man. You call no one Father but He who is in heaven. You can tell the priest your sins, but did you ask Father God?”
One other change is Dennis’ desire to share the Good News with others. Dennis said,
“I find myself talking more and more to people about Jesus. It’s easier than ever before. Because of the path He has put me on I want to share it with others. Those are His words not mine.”
God also led Dennis to do something he never thought of or considered. Last week at the West location, Dennis and his family all got baptized.
“My daughter brought it up that she wanted to get baptized,” Dennis shared with joy. “We went to the baptism class and my son said he wanted to too. My wife wanted to do it also but in August. After the meeting, I talked to Sam (pastor at the West location) about it and he said all of you got to do it together. When we got home that day, I told my wife what Sam said, and she said okay. Now I know it wouldn’t have been the same if she waited. All four of us, together, took the plunge of faith. God is our Savior and King. My daughter had five of her college friends there. Some close friends were there. Even one of the daughters of our friends. You plant a seed in others by something said, and God waters. To see God working. It just keeps multiplying.”
