Sometimes I wish I had a great story about how I became a Christian. Sometimes I wish I lived a super bad life totally in darkness. Sometimes I wish I had a great story to explain how I was brought out of that darkness and into the Light. But I have come to release that I do have a story and this story is unique and personal because it is my story.
My Story:
I was brought up in a family that did not attend church and no one in my family whether close or distant attending church. My great-grandmother was the only God fearing person in my family which to this day I am so thankful for. I was born and for the first 5 years of my life I did and acted like any other infant would; mostly crying, and soiling my pants. My sister was born in my fifth year which, little did I know would change my life forever!
My sister was born on the 3/3/87 in Campbelltown Hospital and it so happened that another child was born on this very same day in the same city in the same Hospital in the same maternity ward not only in the same maternity ward but in the bed next to each other! at the same time as my Mother and Kirra. Heath Hartman, born to Kent and Nancy Hartman were missionaries living in Australia working at a church called the SouthWest Church of Christ. While Nancy was in the maternity ward she made conversation with my Mother and invited my Mother to attend a ladies Bible Study. My Mother attended these Bible Studies and a few years later was baptised.
So my mother was going to church now which meant I was dragged along. I would not say I was very pleased with this because Sunday morning TV was great!! But I went along. My Father at this stage would not go to church but stayed home and would pick me up when Bible Class finished.
So the years went by and I would attend Forth Friday Focus! which was a time we could hang out with kids my age. I liked this time and I began to grow a fondness with this people.
When i was twelve we hosted two guys from the states Jason Whaley and Noel Green who stayed with us for 1 month while helping the church. God truly sends people to us when we need them. My father was baptised within three weeks of these two guys being with us! So the entire family was going to church.
One year later disaster struck! My Father and Mother divorced. And if you have ever been asked by your Mother who do you want to live with you know how much pain this causes and if you have not been in this situation count your many blessings! So I decided to live with my Father so for 15 years it was pretty much me and Him. My Father and I have the closest relationship a Father and Son can have and I love him with all my heart. We both attended church and really grew together and became strong leaders of the church.
I used to play Baseball and I was a good player and I had a very hard decision to make. I could have continued to play Baseball and would probably be a professional player by now, but i made the decision that Church and Sunday’s where too important to give up so I gave up playing representative Baseball for my state (NSW). I am so happy that I made this decision.
When I was about fifteen a group of AIM workers came over to work with the church. And during this time I was baptised. I am so thankful to God to have so many older Christians that I could hang out with during my walk with God. And I do not know where I would be or what type of person I would be if it was not for those people in my life. Friendship and Love within Gods Family is so important!! and something I seek out and promote!
I think personal stories are a very powerful tool when talking with people about God. What is your story?
Andrew, thanks for sharing your story. Sometimes I remind myself of your story, but forget some of the details. I’m so glad you put your story on here . . . well, at least the beginning of your story.
The neat thing I think is that your story and my story are woven into God’s grand story. It’s a better story than “America” or “Australia” or even “Andi” or “Jason”, but I am so thankful that we can be in God’s story of salvation and redemption.
Anyway, what a blessing to remember your story. You’ve had quite an influence on my life. Here I am married to an Australian and moving to Australia with a team to help people find their stories in God’s. It’s all because of God, but partly because of you.