Bernard Carvalho Jr., mayor of Kauai, Hawaii, has always considered himself a Christian. However, he was compelled to reevaluate his faith when a reporter asked him, "Are you born again?"
The reporter spoke with Carvalho to discuss an upcoming men's conference, which would be held at church. The mayor answered that he is and explained, "That's how I was brought up."
But when the article came out, the reporter wrote that even though Carvalho is a spiritual guy, he was not born again. It was then that Carvalho decided to learn more what "born again" really means.
"That's what started my journey," he told the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Carvalho researched about it on the web and encountered the website called PeaceWithGod.net, which is part of BGEA's Internet evangelism ministry.
The more he read stories of born again Christians, the more he realised that he never had an actual relationship with Jesus. Carvalho finally understood that the faith of his grandmother was not enough to save him, because he had to make a personal decision to follow Christ.
When Carvalho finally did, his life changed for the better because now he knows he can turn to God for anything at any time.
The mayor came face to face with the reporter who inspired his journey to Christ again last February. He was talking to a crowd in Honolulu and said, "You all know me as Mayor Carvalho. But do you have a personal relationship with me? That's what it is. It's a personal relationship with God. It took me all this time to realise that's what it is to be a born-again Christian."
Carvalho pointed out to the reporter and called him the muse for his message that day, because if it were not for his question, he would have gone on with his life without seeking a genuine relationship with God.
The mayor said his faith is now stronger than ever and he finally understands "how important it is to stay faithful [to Christ]," especially as a community leader.
"The decisions that we make have to have spiritual guidance," he said.
