By Wendy Starkey. Photo by Win Grant.
I met with Valter Sorrentino one Wednesday night in FBC’s “Connection Café.” While we watched families come and go in the bustle of church activities, Valter shared with me how God was working in his life. Before we met, I was expecting lots of clear, concrete responses to my questions about where God was calling him. After all, he was called by God, right? As Valter talked, I was reminded that God’s call does not always include a complete picture.
Valter and his wife, Sandra (who is on the FBC custodial staff and volunteers with the three-year-old choir), are from Brazil. Valter volunteered in a prison ministry there for five years. Because of this work, others encouraged him to go into full time ministry. It took him five years to follow that direction, as well as work up the courage to tell his family.
During this time, Valter began dating Sandra. When they realized they both had a desire to come to the United States, they decided it was such a big move that each of them needed to pray before proceeding. Valter and Sandra eventually discovered they were in unity about the decision. And with Sandra’s family ties in the Richmond area and a Baptist seminary here, another part of God’s plan became apparent.
Valter and Sandra moved to the United States and were married at Second Baptist Church on October 14, 2006. While looking for a church home, they visited First Baptist and met Roberta Damon, a former missionary to Brazil. This connection made the Sorrentinos feel warmly welcomed and at home.
Valter is still in the midst of his studies, considering a dual degree with Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). While studying, he also works two days each week at Bon Air Baptist on the custodial staff.
In listening to Valter’s story, I realized I could relate to his journey. There was not a Damascus road experience. There were many steps in the process – the calling into the ministry, the meeting of his wife, the mutual desire to move to the United States, and the family in Richmond. It is as if God were playing “connect the dots.” God put out the dots, but Valter takes the steps to link them together.
God does not always give us the whole picture but just enough so we will follow, and after that just a little more. Like Valter, it is up to us to connect the God-given dots in our lives. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).
Wendy Starkey is married to Shawn Starkey and the mother of two smart and beautiful girls – Mahaley and Anna Carr. She is the daughter of Jim and Gail Markham. Wendy is a member of the Sessions Sunday school class and teaches the infant class at Bible Study Fellowship (BSF – a non-denominational, international Bible study).
The members of Sacred Seeds challenged one another to ponder during Christmas this question: If Jesus were standing in front of you, what birthday present would you give Him? They extended this question and an invitation to celebrate His birthday on January 8 to other classes.
Charles Luger, a member of Foundations Sunday school class, found Jesus’ birthday wish list in Matthew 25:31-46. (“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”) The Foundations Class gathered thousands of cans of food in the name of Jesus to serve those who are hungry – the “Jesuses in disguise.” On Sunday morning, Jan 8, Sacred Seeds joined the Foundations class and a few other classes in a Sunday mini-mission to offload four pallets of these canned foods into FBC’s food pantry on Marshall Street. Charles shares: “When you consider what He did for us, we find it desirable in our hearts to honor and thank Him by doing what He asks of us. And the fact that it tied in with the Birthday Celebration for Jesus was certainly perfect timing. We simply got Him some birthday gifts He asked for!”
Hanna Zhu grew up an atheist in China and became a Christian in 2002 while studying at Illinois State University. She joined FBC in 2008. A student at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Hanna started the Sacred Seeds class in October 2011 as part of her internship in the Formation ministry. She will receive a Master of Divinity degree in May 2012. Hanna enjoys swimming, watching tennis matches, and reading.
First Things First 