Unfulfilled

I did not grow up in a Christian home but rather under the roof of a drunken father. As a rebellious young teen. I found myself a drunkard from an early age. Drinking helped me squandered career opportunities in the Victoria Police and in nursing and a lot of other jobs. It seemed every path I took left me empty. Booze, money, friends and the world’s pleasure never met the empty yearning in my heart. I just knew something was missing in my life. I was seeking answers to life’s meaning and purpose. Surely there had to be more than eat, drink, work, sleep and just die?

The awakening

At the invitation of a friend I went to a little church meeting. Until this time church was for weddings funerals and more free booze. To my amazement and with a great sense of guilt and shame I heard two of life’s greatest truths for the first time that I actually recall listening.

1. I am a sinner and my life reveals what I am by what I do or do not do.

2. Despite my sinful life God loved me and sent His Son, Jesus Christ and he willingly died in my place that I might be forgiven.

It is hard to put into words the joy and peace that filled my heart when I trusted Christ as my Saviour. It was February 18, 1979. In August of that year I believed God had a whole direction for my life and I surrendered to go to Bible College to prepare for whatever He wanted me to do. I quit my job at the Morwell open cut coal mine and went to Melbourne. It was hard, much harder than I imagined it would be. I’m a school dropout and had never ‘studied’ seriously before.

In Bible College l met my future wife, Sharon. Before my final year, we married. Sharon had graduated and worked while I prepared for and prayed much for the ministry God would direct us into. During the last term of study, we accepted a call from Sharon’s home church in North Queensland (NQ) to take on a pastoral ministry in Cardwell NQ. Almost 2 years later we stepped out in the ministry of evangelism. God has opened doors all around Australia and many other countries to preach the Gospel and teach the Word of God.

Fulfillment

In 2004, we left NQ and relocated to Melbourne where we became active members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Bayswater and we continue still in the evangelism ministry. I have found life’s good greatest joy in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and rejoice to share the life changing message of the Gospel with people from all walks of life. The something that was missing was really Someone- the Lord Jesus Christ.

My life verse is Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11.