Pred and Fabiola Thorat have served as missionaries on different continents — he from India to Colombia, she from Mexico to Belgium — and on their 15th wedding anniversary, a billboard outside Marble Falls drew them into Belóved Gallery. Standing before Akiane Kramarik’s Prince of Peace, a profound peace came over them. In our #iam_beloved story of faith, the Thorats share why, for them, the gallery is not an art experience but an encounter. Watch their story below, then read it in their own words.
“It is not an art gallery experience, but an encounter with the One Himself, Jesus Christ.”
— Pred Thorat
Pred and Fabiola Thorat met on a mission field and have spent their lives carrying faith across the world — Pred from India to Colombia, Fabiola from Mexico to Belgium. Celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in Marble Falls, they noticed a billboard on the side of the road and decided to stop in at Belóved Gallery. When they first saw Prince of Peace, a profound peace came over their hearts, and they left with the assurance that everything would be all right. For Pred, who grew up hearing how people of every background encountered Jesus in dreams and visions, the painting put a face to the One the world is seeking. Their #iam_beloved story is a reminder that the gallery is less an exhibit than an encounter.
Pred: My name is Pred. Fabiola: And my name is Fabiola. Pred: I was born and raised in India and was a missionary to Colombia, South America. Fabiola: And I was born and raised in Mexico and was a missionary in Brussels, Belgium.
We met on a mission field and have been married for 15 years. On our 15th wedding anniversary, we were here in Marble Falls celebrating the occasion. On our way here, we saw a huge billboard on the side of the road and decided to pay a visit. When we first saw the Prince of Peace, a profound peace came over our hearts. We both felt loved in His presence and left with the assurance that everything will be all right.
Pred: Growing up in India, I heard countless stories — not just of Christians, but also of Hindus, Buddhists, and even Muslims — who encountered a man named Jesus, either in a dream or a vision, but most often a face-to-face encounter with Christ Himself. The Prince of Peace painting put a face to the man the world is seeking. It is not an art gallery experience, but an encounter with the One Himself, Jesus Christ.
