"Oh, no need to apologize," Oliver says, and he means it. "This is not an easy world in which to find faith, much less keep it." It's an admission that's not without some pain, but it's even more foolish to deny it.

"God gave us all free will; we can control our lives - and sometimes that is the worst thing we could do. In following Him, we reap a great reward."

Oliver looks around at the farm that's become his home. "Though, if that reward were easy to see - well. Everyone would follow His path. Faith would be irrelevant. Free will also."

"As for why horrible things can happen to good, decent people...." Oliver breathes in deeply. Yeah, this is one of the tricky ones. "God's grace can be found in this world. God's justice, as well. And...sometimes it cannot. God's true judgment does not happen in this life."

Make it a speech. Intellectualize it. That's the way to win the converts!