A note from Eric Metaxas' early spiritual mentor

Yesterday, Eric Metaxas, who was sharing a dais with President and Mrs. Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, among others, gave a stirring speech at the annual National Day of Prayer (see Emily Belz’s report and a video clip of his remarks). At one point during his speech, Metaxas shared how Ed Tuttle influenced him and led him to the Lord after his agnostic days at Yale. Mr. Tuttle wrote to WORLD this morning to share his remembrances of that time and has graciously allowed us to share his note with you all:

Dear WORLD:

After reading many of the comments to Emily Belz’s article about Eric’s address at the National Prayer Breakfast, it is obvious that Eric moved many people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. But on a personal level, I was moved to tears to see the impact God allows us to have for His Kingdom in ways we could never imagine.

I’m the Episcopalian* Eric mentioned who gave him a copy of The Cost of Discipleship. I never set out to convert Eric. I can probably count on one hand the number of people I have led to Christ. I love to teach and disciple people, yet when I evangelize, the words dribble down my chin and drop to the floor. In fact, in those early days I probably drove more people away from the Lord than toward Him! I was simply there as a friend to answer a young man’s questions and pray for his dying uncle.

I am humbled and grateful to have been a key person at that point in Eric’s quest for truth. And I am continually blessed by Eric’s humility and gratitude, as he still sees it fitting and important to mention a now 54-year-old graphic designer, quietly working out of his home, as the man who helped set him on a course for his life and in God’s Kingdom.

Thank you all for the work you do in shining the light of God’s character on the daily events that shape our world. You have a greater impact than you know.

Ed Tuttle

*Side note: I started as a Catholic seminarian, found Christ in the Episcopal Church 28 years ago, learned to worship freely in a non-denominational congregation, and am now joyfully serving in a healthy, vibrant Baptist fellowship where it is not unusual for three generations in the same family to be members. The journey never ends!