Why is it that the teachings of the Messiah are the last place that people choose to go for help? Why do they try many other belief systems before they will consider the life changing teachings of the Son of the God, Jesus Christ? One person has said, “It is a damning indictment on our generation, that we will tolerate just about anything except Christianity.” These are puzzling questions, until we realise that Satan exists and what Satan is trying to do in this world. We seldom come to this realisation until we ourselves have had a change of heart. The following personal testimonies open our eyes as to how change can occur.
A local pastor has a wonderful story to tell of the change in his life and consequently his marriage after giving over his life to Jesus Christ. We also have another pastor, Alan, who visits the assembly on a regular basis whose own testimony is extraordinary. Here is Alan’s brief testimony.
“I grew up in a broken family in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Although my parents loved each other, their marriage did not last because of various issues within their lives and families. Mum remarried when I was about 3-4 years old.
We had a Catholic background but we moved into a Christian Outreach Centre church when I was 9 years old which was the same time I gave my life to God. But I turned away from God at about 10-11 years old.
Our church had a guest speaker from America and she wanted to pray for all the kids. Mum made me go up the front to be prayed for. Walking out of church that night, I said out loud to God, ‘I don’t want what you have got for me. I want to do what I want to do.’
I was very rebellious, negative, angry and violent. I also struggled with depression, etc. At age 12, I said out loud to myself, ‘One day I am going to kill someone, just to see what it feels like!’ Only completing half of year 10 was not the best move. I got into drugs, drinking, vandalism and minor crime.
At 17 years old, I joined the Army Reserves to learn more about violence, etc, but after about ten months I called it quits because my drug habit was requiring more time from me.
In 1992, age 18, my co-offender and I killed a man in cold blood while he was asleep. I was arrested and charged with murder. The murder charge was dropped to manslaughter at the end of the trial. I was sentenced to 12 years, with a recommendation for parole after 8 years. I escaped from prison on December 23, 1993, but was caught two hours later and sentenced to an extra 9 months.
After 6 years in jail with more drugs, riots, escaping, nearly killing two other men in jail, plus a whole lot more horrible stuff along the way, I finally surrendered to God! I was sitting in a mate’s cell; he was a Christian and he wrote Christian poetry.
He asked if he could read his latest poem to me to see what I thought. As he read it out, I felt God speaking straight into my heart saying, ‘Allan, you are at that crossroad again in your life; choose life or choose death; but choose life’.
Sitting there in that moment of reflection I thought to myself, ‘If I don’t choose life today, am I going to be dead tomorrow, or am I going to have to wait another 13 years or so to get back to this crossroad’. So, with tears in my eyes and a repentant heart, I chose life and I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. I was then counseled by a qualified Christian councelor seven days a week for twenty-two months; he led me back to the ways of God.
After just over 8 years in jail, I was released at 1:49 pm on July 12, 2000. I started Bible College that same week and studied for almost one year before starting my first job. Over the next few years I held several different jobs including a managerial role in a Coffee Club café, Subway waiter, sales and labouring.
I moved to Brisbane in January 2003 where I met my wife to be and married her in September 2003. Since then I have owned and run several businesses; internet retail, two different cafés and a handyman business. We also have 2 kids now.
Since being released, I have spoken and given my Testimony on many occasions at churches, youth groups, concerts, a youth detention centre, secular business events and street ministries. My Testimony has also been recorded on DVD, CD and radio.
We always went to a great Holy Spirit filled church and I was also involved in the ministries of other churches. I ran a Bible study each week at a halfway house and occasionally went out with their street van ministry.
I then felt God calling me to study at a well-recognised and accredited Bible College completing a Bachelor of Ministries. Upon completing my Bachelor of Ministries and receiving my full accreditation to be a Pastor under the Australian Christian Churches, I am now very blessed to be the Senior Pastor of a great country church. Praise God.”
This page could be filled with testimony after testimony from people who have discovered that there IS a God and that He loves them.
The following videos give graphic accounts of people “finding the God” through His Son, Jesus Christ.