Although already successful in this life, a man learns what he needs for life everlasting.

Ethan Foulkes didn't grow up believing in Jesus. He didn't even grow up believing in God—with an upper or lowercase g. Raised in an atheist home in Massachusetts, however, "two of my very good friends were Christian, so I attended church quite a few times," he says. "Everyone was always friendly and welcoming, which probably helped me keep an open mind." For a long time, he then considered himself agnostic.

"Even though God was missing in my life, I don't think I really knew it. Both my parents are amazing, loving people. My family remains very close and is very important to me," he says. "They gave me all the tools to succeed in life."

And succeed in life, he has. Nine years ago, Ethan started playing poker online. "Poker is a highly complex, strategic game, much like chess or backgammon," he says. He studied it for fun and soon realized the game's popularity had grown. "After watching the people play, I knew I was already better than most of them," he says. "I spent one more full year at my day job while building up my bankroll, putting aside living expenses, and paying off all my debts before quitting."

Since that time he has had a lot of success with poker. He was able to support himself on poker. "I'm very thankful for it. I've never come anywhere near being broke," he says. When he moved to Las Vegas five years ago, "I thought a change would be good. I never saw any of my friends because I worked when they slept and vice versa," he says. "Plus, I was sick of not knowing anyone else who did what I did."

Coming to faith

In 2007, his life was in for another change when his girlfriend, Amanda, took him to an Easter service at Water of Life in Las Vegas. She was raised Lutheran, and "it was important to her, so it was important to me to give it a chance," he says.

When you've gone your whole life without church, the transition isn't easy. "It was pretty overwhelming at first," he admits. "Amanda was very patient with me, which helped immensely. There was so much to learn, and I wasn't sure I'd ever get it all." The members were welcoming, which helped too. "I kept having positive experiences. Watching how other families benefited from the church definitely made me realize I want my kids to be raised Christian," he says.

They continued to attend and—engaged by now—asked Matt Vogt, pastor at Water of Life, to perform their wedding. "They are both wonderful, friendly, generous people," says Vogt, "but I had to ask a hard question: 'Are you living together?' " The look on their faces gave it away even before Amanda replied, "I knew you were going to ask that." Vogt talked over the options and asked them to get back to him.