I realized what had just happened, what could have happened if God wasn’t here with me.

It appeared, at the time, that Goncalves’ witness made a great impression on Camacho:

I believe I touched him with what I said.  I really hope I planted a little seed in his heart.

He left Ms. Goncalves apologizing and empty-handed.

Unfortunately, Israel Camacho, 37,  of Coral Springs did not take to heart the information that Ms. Goncalves was trying to share with him.  Just two hours later, he was arrested on charges of robbing a Payless Shoe Store at gunpoint.

Police say Camacho put a handgun in a shoebox and forced the clerk to give him cash from the register. On his way out the door, Camacho said to his victims, “God bless you.”

Detectives say Camacho is a “serial robber”.  They arrested him two days after these 2 incidents.

Camacho, has been in and out of Florida jails since 1998, served 18 months in prison six years ago, for forging documents and grand theft.

He’s also being held in Broward County Jail for failure to pay child support.

Camacho’s actions in no way diminish the bravery and testimony of Ms. Goncalves. When you witness to a person to Christ, whether they accept Him or not is their personal decision.

But you know what the great news is?  Jesus saves.  Let’s take a look at the interesting case of Stephen Baldwin.  

The youngest of the Baldwin brothers acting family, Stephen has appeared in over 65 films and dozens of television roles.  According to Stephen:

growing up Baldwin was like the Brady Bunch on a whole bunch of espresso.

In his early days as an actor and model in New York, he earned a reputation as a wild man.

Alec Baldwin says:

He was one of the great playboy nightlife people in the annals of Manhattan nightlife  He was like having a panther for a pet. He was just this exotic animal who was so beautiful and everyone loved him.

According to Stephen:

I never really did anything too bad.    didn’t commit any crimes that anyone was able to…convict.

Stephen soon became an integral part of the New York acting community. He met the girl of his dreams, Kennya, on a Manhattan bus.

I said, I just met the girl I’m going to marry and she’s gonna have our kids.  And what we never could have known then that we understand now is that it was all part of God’s plan.

He married Kennya and they now have two young daughters, but he also encountered another risk of the show business culture – an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

 His pastor, John Carter, says:

He had a lot of stuff in his life that was messing him up and even though he had fame and he’s a handsome guy…he had a beautiful wife…all the things that everybody thinks you gotta have…he still wasn’t happy inside.

Kennya issued an ultimatum:

(I told him) I needed somebody who was going to be straight and who was not going to be lying to me and…living a double life.  I realized it wasn’t working and it wasn’t okay.

Stephen entered a 12-step program and has been sober for 16 years. He recognizes now that God had plans for the two of them.

Looking back in retrospect – (it was) all totally the hand of God orchestrating a series of events and scenarios that would lead to who I am today.

The Baldwins moved out west to Arizona and Stephen landed a role on a television series called The Young Riders. Long days on the set, combined with the demands of a young family, compelled them to hire a Brazilian housekeeper named Agousta. The woman, an outspoken and joyous Christian, told Kennya (in Portuguese) that she was definitely NOT there simply to clean their house.

As Stephen tells it:

So my wife comes to me and says ‘uh, you know, honey, I was talking to Agousta and she says that someone in her church in Brazil said she should come to America and work for a couple who will become born-again Christians and be involved in Christian ministry. What do you think of that?’

He was far from thrilled:

I mean, you know, I was dialing 9-1-1.

Kennya was curious about her housekeeper’s faith.

Agousta would always talk about Jesus and I said to her ‘I want to know about this Jesus. Who is this Jesus?’ I dealt with my hang-ups, with my fears, with my arrogance, my pride. There was so much in me that God showed me I had to change.

At first, Stephen really did not know what to think as his wife began her new walk in Christ.

I was cool with it, and at some point it registered in me somewhere that it was genuine.  Something was changing in her, and it was real. Then 9-11 happened.

It was a day and an event where, for me, the impossible became possible.

Very soon after 9-11, Stephen Baldwin dedicated his life to Christ.

When I decided to become a Christian, it was a full-on, gloves-off, throw-down, kick-boxing match between me and God.

Since Stephen became a Christian, it’s been quite an adventure, with memorable events along the way, ranging from the creation (with Kevin Palau) of the Livin It action sports ministry to White House prayer sessions to the National Republican Convention. His first film for PalauFest Productions – Livin It – became one of the most successful action sports DVD’s ever produced in the genre: the sequel, Livin It L.A., is set for release in mid-2006. He’s developing printed outreach tools as well, from graphic novels to testimony anthologies to his own autobiography.

Coming from an outspoken family better known for their liberal views, he’s at peace with his brothers and rock solid in his purpose:

My whole family, including my brothers, from a spiritual perspective has been very supportive of me.  Now, when my faith-based motivations led me to support the re-election of the president at the Republican National Convention….let’s just say the boys were a little concerned.

Stephen Baldwin has found his purpose in his relationship with the action sports athletes and their legions of young fans and followers that are an integral part of his Livin It films and national tours:

I really feel that these are the people that God has called me to relate to.  The Livin It skateboarders and BMX’ers are hard core, but God has gifted them to communicate the Good News, especially to kids.

Who I am today, and I hope this doesn’t sound too hokey, I am the guy that I couldn’t become on my own. I couldn’t become the man that I wanted to until I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I am in no way perfect but I’m a far better husband and father. I’m a person who understands what their purpose is.

The Bible says God creates us, first and foremost, to do what? To love Him first, to seek His will and serve Him. This is a point of time in my life that is so far beyond the word ‘best’ that I couldn’t even use words to describe it.

What a great testimony. 

I once asked my brother-in-Christ, Robert, who served our country as Marine, what he would tell someone seeking to know Him.  He said with a smile on his face:

I would tell them to read the Gospel of John.  And if they have any questions when they’re done, read it again.

Makes sense to me.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Sources:  bible.com, abcnews.go.com, miamiherald.com, powertochange.com