Turning a New Leaf in Freeport, N.Y.

For quite some time, Mary Vetere and her husband, Joseph, had felt an urgency to pray for their community of Freeport, N.Y., and more specifically, for their neighbors.

“My hope and my prayer for my neighborhood is that they all know the Lord. I feel in my heart a strong urgency…that to get [life] right, we need Jesus,” Mary said.

When they heard about My Hope, they were truly excited, because they thought it would be a great tool to reach the people in their neighborhood. So they decided to host a screening of “The Cross” at their house.

As neighbors filed into the Veteres’ home—filled with refreshments and background music from Joseph’s guitar—there was excitement and cheerfulness in the air.

However, when “The Cross” began playing on the Veteres’ TV, the guests grew quiet and all eyes were on the program.

There were at least a couple of neighbors who recommitted their lives to Christ as a result of the message contained on that DVD.

“When I see Billy Graham, I know what he’s talking about. I have been there,” said one neighbor. “After watching it and listening to the message of ‘The Cross,’ it really touched my life, and I recommitted [my life] to the Lord. As I was crying, God was cleaning me.”

Another neighbor does not think she will ever be the same after hearing this message: “I feel like this is a historic moment in my life. It was just awesome. I also believe this is impacting the whole world tonight!”

Mary is thrilled about the spiritual fruit from that evening at her home and she is hopeful—and prayerful—about the future.

“This is not the end. It is just the beginning of something wonderful,” she said. “I believe that this is the beginning of many occasions like this. And I thank God that we could be a part of it.”