I became a Christian at 12yrs old indirectly through a Christian youth camp. I remember the day vividly ........ I spent the whole camp thinking people were 'bible bashing religious nutters' and vowed never to return. It was overkill and I was soooo over it! Yes, I attended Church before, but this was full on... fanatical....and I was so glad to be going home....
Mum greeted me with a myriad of instructions, one being - sort your washing. As I was sifting through my clothes and I pulled out a booklet. The night before camp ended the speaker was blabbing on about something (I really wasnt listening at all) and my friend went up and grabbed something which she gave to me and I promptly put in my pocket never to think about it....till now....
It was 'Steps to God' and explained in detail the salvation message. I sat there thinking 'yeah, it makes sense, thats what I believe already.' Then it had a prayer at the back and I prayed it - - instantly I felt something......I didnt know what it was, but now I know it was Jesus.
So....fast forward through the details I have put in all my other posts on this forum (if you havent read my other posts - shame on you! haha, just kidding, but you can read em if you want they are on page 2 at the moment...prob page 3 soon lol )
So here I am a Christian! My conversion wasnt mind blowingly awesome, infact, I had NO IDEA what I had done! Growth didnt really begin till 3 yrs later at youth group.
I was the only Christian in my family at that time. My Mum was brought up going to Church and she took us to Church till I was 8, then she stopped going. My Dad believed in the 'man upstairs' but that is as far as it went. However my sister became a Christian not long after I did.
I prayed and prayed and prayed for my parents...... years passed......
I admit to getting angry at God because nothing was happening. Mum understood Christianity but Dad didnt. Sometimes he would get angry about it which disappointed me because I wanted nothing more than to see him find Jesus....though, the likelihood of that happening seemed almost impossible. Dad was firm on what he thought was right and wrong and I think he thought that my sister and I were somewhat fanatical about it all.
Mum on the other hand was open, but not open enough to come to Church, even if I did ask her to go numerous times. I could share my faith with Mum, but it felt like it was not making any difference to her. Embarassingly, I got whimsical in praying for my parents, I guess I got disallusioned.
In 1997 my Mum was invited along with her athiest sister (my Aunty who is now dying of Cancer and still not a Christian but I keep praying...) to an Alpha course. I never expected Mum to go but she did! My Aunty dropped out and Mum kept going, then she began to go back to Church! She then began attending a weekly Bible study and surprised herself with how much she was enjoying it...I was shocked and happy that finally the Holy Spirit was working and he brought her back into a relationship with Jesus.
Meanwhile, Dad was still as hard as ever. Then sickness hit him. In 2001 Dad had to go for a quadruple heart bypass operation. I was worried for Dad, and while he didnt show it, Dad was worried too. Mums home group leader came to visit before the Operation and asked Dad if she could pray for him and he agreed! The operation went well but the recovery was long.
One day a man from my church rang for Dad. He asked him if he would do an Alpha course. I honestly thought Dad would turn him down flat but instead he agreed! The next few weeks began a process of change! Dad gave his heart to the Lord in 2002. 2003 saw me commissioned to be a missionary to the Pacific Islands on the same day that Dad got baptised!! I cried. I never thought I would see the day!
I remember praying all those years ago...God, if I have to die in order that my parents find you, then so be it. I was so desperate for them to find the freedom I had in Christ. I got discouraged but in the end Gods timing is perfect.
Its still amazing that Dad 'preaches' to me...lol....I cant help but laugh because the once hardened Dad of old is not there! I now walk in on Mum doing her quiet times.....I cant believe the change!
Having said that, it has taken many many years. I had been praying and hoping for over 15 years. I guess the lesson in this for me is...NEVER GIVE UP....PUSH - and if you dont know what PUSH means = pray until something happens!
If you are reading this feeling discouraged because your family dont know Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord - take heart. Jesus hears, he cares and he will provide opportunities for them to come to know him.
For my sister and I - we were too close to our parents to be central influence. It took a mutual friend from Church to build that bridge for both of them, so start praying for your loved ones to build more and more friendships with Christians and above all, pray, pray, pray, pray. God IS FAITHFUL and he will do it!
Mum greeted me with a myriad of instructions, one being - sort your washing. As I was sifting through my clothes and I pulled out a booklet. The night before camp ended the speaker was blabbing on about something (I really wasnt listening at all) and my friend went up and grabbed something which she gave to me and I promptly put in my pocket never to think about it....till now....
It was 'Steps to God' and explained in detail the salvation message. I sat there thinking 'yeah, it makes sense, thats what I believe already.' Then it had a prayer at the back and I prayed it - - instantly I felt something......I didnt know what it was, but now I know it was Jesus.
So....fast forward through the details I have put in all my other posts on this forum (if you havent read my other posts - shame on you! haha, just kidding, but you can read em if you want they are on page 2 at the moment...prob page 3 soon lol )
So here I am a Christian! My conversion wasnt mind blowingly awesome, infact, I had NO IDEA what I had done! Growth didnt really begin till 3 yrs later at youth group.
I was the only Christian in my family at that time. My Mum was brought up going to Church and she took us to Church till I was 8, then she stopped going. My Dad believed in the 'man upstairs' but that is as far as it went. However my sister became a Christian not long after I did.
I prayed and prayed and prayed for my parents...... years passed......
I admit to getting angry at God because nothing was happening. Mum understood Christianity but Dad didnt. Sometimes he would get angry about it which disappointed me because I wanted nothing more than to see him find Jesus....though, the likelihood of that happening seemed almost impossible. Dad was firm on what he thought was right and wrong and I think he thought that my sister and I were somewhat fanatical about it all.
Mum on the other hand was open, but not open enough to come to Church, even if I did ask her to go numerous times. I could share my faith with Mum, but it felt like it was not making any difference to her. Embarassingly, I got whimsical in praying for my parents, I guess I got disallusioned.
In 1997 my Mum was invited along with her athiest sister (my Aunty who is now dying of Cancer and still not a Christian but I keep praying...) to an Alpha course. I never expected Mum to go but she did! My Aunty dropped out and Mum kept going, then she began to go back to Church! She then began attending a weekly Bible study and surprised herself with how much she was enjoying it...I was shocked and happy that finally the Holy Spirit was working and he brought her back into a relationship with Jesus.
Meanwhile, Dad was still as hard as ever. Then sickness hit him. In 2001 Dad had to go for a quadruple heart bypass operation. I was worried for Dad, and while he didnt show it, Dad was worried too. Mums home group leader came to visit before the Operation and asked Dad if she could pray for him and he agreed! The operation went well but the recovery was long.
One day a man from my church rang for Dad. He asked him if he would do an Alpha course. I honestly thought Dad would turn him down flat but instead he agreed! The next few weeks began a process of change! Dad gave his heart to the Lord in 2002. 2003 saw me commissioned to be a missionary to the Pacific Islands on the same day that Dad got baptised!! I cried. I never thought I would see the day!
I remember praying all those years ago...God, if I have to die in order that my parents find you, then so be it. I was so desperate for them to find the freedom I had in Christ. I got discouraged but in the end Gods timing is perfect.
Its still amazing that Dad 'preaches' to me...lol....I cant help but laugh because the once hardened Dad of old is not there! I now walk in on Mum doing her quiet times.....I cant believe the change!
Having said that, it has taken many many years. I had been praying and hoping for over 15 years. I guess the lesson in this for me is...NEVER GIVE UP....PUSH - and if you dont know what PUSH means = pray until something happens!
If you are reading this feeling discouraged because your family dont know Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord - take heart. Jesus hears, he cares and he will provide opportunities for them to come to know him.
For my sister and I - we were too close to our parents to be central influence. It took a mutual friend from Church to build that bridge for both of them, so start praying for your loved ones to build more and more friendships with Christians and above all, pray, pray, pray, pray. God IS FAITHFUL and he will do it!
