I was born in Melbourne (home of the AFL) and was brought up as a Roman Catholic. I went to Catholic schools up to year 5 and I remember learning about the great stories of the Bible and Jesus' miracles and that He died on the cross for my sins. However none of this really meant that much to me back then, it was just a subject at school.
In 1969 my family moved to the Snowy Mountains and it was then that I left the Catholic school system. The "religion" I learned then began to fade in spite of the best efforts of scripture teachers over the next few years. For example I remember having discussions with a student Priest when I was in year 10 at Arthur Phillip High in Parramatta about how Man was the product of evolution and not a created being! Scripture didn't continue through years 11 & 12 and I became more and more convinced that evolution was it.
In 1977 I began work as an apprentice auto electrician. Another apprentice there was the son of the Minister at St James Anglican Church at Whalan and I remember having a few shots at him about going to church. However we did become friends and he invited me to his home and we knocked about together quite a bit. It was during this time that I met a girl who was going to his church. I went out with her for a couple of years and went to church with her but it was more under sufferance than anything else. I was invited to the Billy Graham crusade to hear the Gospel, but there was no way I would go.
After we and I split up something curious happened. I found myself still going to church and to now also to the fellowship group. I also went on a house party (talk about being led by The Spirit!!).
It was during the studies, from Deuteronomy, that I saw that people really believed what the Bible said. This awakened distant memories of what I learned at school and over the next few months I became convinced of the truth of the Bible, the helplessness of my sinful nature, the saving grace of Jesus' death and resurrection, and even began to call myself a Christian! Who says miracles don't happen?
Now, as I look back over my life, I can see how God has guided me even when I had rejected Him. I can see how seeds planted long before can come to bear fruit when watered by the ministry of ordinary people simply showing God's love to others.