At the age of fifteen I rebelled and stopped attending church. I ran away from home, started smoking and basically gave my parents hell for the following three to four years.
When I left school I ended up in the wrong crowd and started taking drugs and drinking heavily.
During this time God still had His hands on me. Even at one time my parents had a friend of mine who was a Christian board at our house and he invited me to his church. Picture this; I am going to a Spirit filled church (for the first time), wearing black jeans, black t-shirt, black jacket, black sneakers and dark sunglasses. I must have looked like one of the blues brothers but without the suit. I cannot remember what the actual message was about that night, but I do remember the message seeming to be directed fully at me and even when the altar call came I struggled but still refused to go forward.
The lifestyle of drugs continued until I met the girl who would later become my wife (Janette).
After meeting Janette I stopped taking drugs but continued drinking at parties and clubs. Over the next year we started going to church together, but we didn�t make any commitment and soon stopped attending. In February 1987 we were married and later that year Aaron was born. When Janette was pregnant with Adrienne we separated and stayed this way for sixteen months. During this time I went back to my old lifestyle and started taking drugs again. This life continued in secret even after we got back together. Keira was born in 1992 and shortly after we moved to the Central Coast. In June of 1994, Janette went to Queensland to visit her dad with the three kids while I stayed at home because of work commitments. One night I had a very heavy session of marijuana at a friends house and after I got home I couldn�t sleep. In fact, I thought I wasn�t going to make it through the night everything was spinning and a real sense of paranoia came upon me. While I was tossing and turning a thought came to me that just about terrified me. �What if Jesus returned tonight?� Although I didn�t know it was the Holy Spirit talking to me at the time, I knew I wasn�t ready and prayed harder than I had ever prayed before. It was only because of my Christian upbringing that I had this thought and even through all my years of rebellion I never truly doubted that God was real, but often, I would deny Him in front of friends because I didn�t want to appear to be uncool. I actually prayed that night for God to get me through the night and that I would never touch drugs again, what I did was bargain with God, I now know better, but God came to me where I was at, at the time. Eventually I drifted off to sleep. Although I still smoked, I never touched drugs again.
In September of the same year, I had decided to go on a �memorial bike ride�, which one of the Christian Motor cycle clubs held each year. This was held on the Fathers day weekend in memory of other riders who lost their lives over the previous year. The ride was to commence in Parramatta and also finish up there. As it was I was late and missed the ride but decided to hang around until the other riders got back to meet up with some friends. I had also arranged to meet another friend who was a Christian (Lachlan) afterward at his house. I had known Lachlan since year 3 at school and he had been a Christian for the previous 18 months. After the bike meeting I went to Lachlan�s place but he wasn�t home due to being called into work unexpectedly. All this was in God�s plans, as we will see later. I decided to visit another friend who lived about half an hour away. During the course of the day I ran out of smokes. On the way home, I decided to try Lachlan�s again, but didn�t buy any smokes knowing that Lachlan was a non-smoker.
This time he was home, and after some small talk, I shared with him what had happened three months previous when the wife and kids were in Queensland. Lachlan took the opportunity and asked, �What�s to stop you giving your life to Jesus now?�
Well the time had come. If I had some smokes on me I would have gone outside, lit one up and ummed and arred about it and would have probably decided no, not yet. As it was, God made sure that I had no smokes on me and there and then I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
I actually remember saying to God that �if I do this, I want You to make Yourself real to me� This is where God has NEVER let me down yet.
Anyway, on the way home I was kicking myself for not buying smokes, (I was riding a motor bike and often stopped at a lookout for a smoke break on the freeway) and even when I got home I realised that I had forgot to buy smo� and suddenly I realised that I no longer had the desire to smoke anymore. I told Janette that I no longer smoked and she gave some sarcastic remark about having no money and not to take it out on �me and the kids�, but it was three days before I told her of my commitment to Jesus. (I have to admit that if I didn�t have smokes on me I was quite irritable and the family would suffer for it, but God took all the cravings away � God is good)
The day after I surrendered my life to the Lord was a Sunday, but also Father�s Day and because of this I didn�t want to disappear and leave the family by going to church, so I stayed home, but in my letterbox that same afternoon was an invite to attend a church in Wyong.
The following week I attended this church and did so for the next month. The family came with me, but I have to admit that my wife only came to shut me up. (By her own admission she hated what had become of me. I had literally transformed from a foul-mouthed, bad tempered, smoking so and so to a born again Christian almost over night and she didn�t like it. Go figure huh?)
Anyway, as I was saying I attended this church for about a month but felt like I was not getting fed spiritually there. I was talking to an older lady in the local Christian bookshop about this and she said, �Why don�t you try the church that meets at a certain high school� The way in which she spoke I could tell that they did not hold her kind of service, but she was still open to recommending it which kind of blew me away.
The following week we attended this church and Oh what a difference. This was really lively in their music, Spirit filled and the way I which the Pastor resented the Word was nothing like I had ever experienced or expected. I still praise God for this church. The teaching was just phenomenal. I learnt that I could trust God, His Word (The Bible) and I also learnt how to pray as well as Biblical History. In fact, my whole Christian grounding could be attributed to this church and it�s openness to The Holy Spirit. I saw miracles and learnt to trust God in ALL aspects of my life there.
Getting back to the part about becoming a Christian and the affect on the family, the kids were excited about this transformation and would sit down to listen about Jesus, but Janette would only go to the bedroom and slam the door shut. For about three months I tried to do what I could to get Janette to accept Jesus or to even listen to me, and one day as I was praying I brought the situation to the Lord. I opened up my Bible randomly and looked straight to Acts 16:31. It said, �Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved�you and your household�. All I could do was say, �Ok Lord, it�s in Your hands�. From that time forth Janette started to turn around and become more open to Christ. She no longer came to church just to shut me up, and within another couple of months she too accepted Jesus.
Things went well and we were powering on for the Lord. At this time I was driving buses in Sydney and was not home very often because of the shifts I was doing. In February �96 I left the government buses because of the hours and in November we moved up to Nambucca Heads. We were there for 12 months but moved back to the Central Coast because I couldn�t find stable work. I drove buses again for around six months until I left so I could study through Rhema.
Things were going well and for the next 2 years we lived on my Austudy and family payments. Then the landlord decided to sell the house. We were paying $215 a week rent and the going rate for the house was $245 and the new owner was putting the rent up, so we decided to move. Janette wanted to move down to Eden and this is when things started to really turn sour.
Things started out ok, but we met a guy, who said that he was some kind of prophet, except that he was all over Janette like a rash. He was always around our place; we couldn�t have family time together because he was always there. If Janette got up from the lounge to go to the kitchen, he would follow her. I tried to put a curb to his visits (not stop them but to slow them down) but this fell on deaf ears on both of them.
Early in 2001 I started a counselling course, I had to go to Canberra for the long weekend and one night when I phoned home, Janette wasn�t home. She had a friend look after the kids as she was at Vern�s house. Now, Vern lived in a shack at the edge of a farm with no electricity � quite feral really, and she didn�t get home until around 1 o�clock the next morning. She tells me nothing happened, but I now have my doubts. Anyway, things didn�t get better and Vern continued to hang around. Not long after this we moved to Bega (about 45 km�s north of Eden) to be closer to our church. At the same time we started home schooling the kids and I also thought that was the end of Vern, but no. He moved to Bega. I told him straight that I didn�t want him coming over, but this too fell on deaf ears. (He would only come when I wasn�t around and try to leave before I got back) Well, one day after church, we had a few friends over when in walks Vern. He walks in, hovering over Janette and leaves about 10 mins later. One of our friends, Kelly says, �What the heck was that?� and Janette goes that was only Vern, nothing to worry about. Kelly said I would be very worried, he was all over you like a bad smell to which Janette replied really, I thought Geoff was just over reacting. Well, Janette went and spoke to the pastor�s wife, who is a trained counsellor, and they came to the conclusion that Vern was co-dependant on Janette. Janette, told Vern not to come around any more and shortly after Vern must have moved because we never saw him again.
Anyway, things were going well until John came onto the scene. John went to our church and was in the band. No problem at first but he too started coming over more and more. At this time I was driving school buses and was home between 9.30 and 2.30 during the days. It got to the stage that John was there all the time; I was having to do the dishes, hang out the washing and vacuum the floor because Janette was too busy talking to John. I put up with this to keep the peace, even though I did ask John to limit the visits. This resulted in Janette tearing strips off me. John�s visits really hit the nerve one morning, when I was heading off to work (at 6.30) and here was John walking up our driveway. I told him to head off home as everyone was still in bed, but when I got back at 9.30 he was there. This was around May in 2003. Janette went to the Hillsong conference that year and apparently missed a few sessions to spend time with John. About a month or so after Hillsong, she went out one day (to Kylies place) and never came home. I phoned her around 6.30 that evening as I had dinner ready and wanted to know if she was eating with us and she said she didn�t know what time she�d be back. That night the youth living next door were having a party and because of Janette not being home and the constant noise I couldn�t get to sleep. At around 3.30 in the morning I yelled out at the top of my voice to turn the music down which they did. Someone from the other side of the street yelled �Thank you�, which I kind of found funny. The next morning the kids and myself walked to church as Janette had the car and after the service I noticed our car across the road. Janette was nowhere to be seen, so I put the kids in the car and drove home. When I got inside, I noticed on the kitchen bench was a note and the engagement and wedding rings.
Needless to say, I was in a bit of a state, but I had to keep myself together for the kid�s sake. That night I went to the radio station to do my show, (I was presenting a Christian program once a week at the local community radio station) but didn�t do much talking at all. After the show I went to John's place to see if Janette was there as she wasn�t at Kylies, (Kylie told me she had left her house that morning) and John said no, but as I walked past the lounge room window, I saw Janette sitting on the lounge. It was all I could do to stop myself from forcing myself into the house, but I had to leave it and hopefully she would be back. (I really felt like decking John, but if I had have done anything I would have risked having any custody of the kids, knowing that if worse came to worse there may be a custody issue.)
About 2 weeks later, I came home from the afternoon school run and all the kids were unusually quiet (not that they are that noisy anyway) and Adrienne, I think, gave me a note. It was from Janette saying that she would not be back. She had also written a letter for each of the kids, gave them to Kylie, who knocked on the front door, handed the letters to whoever answered and walked away. Sorry, but this still makes me angry and hurts me at the same time. The kids were 2 hours without me around having to deal with this.
Heading back to the first week of separation, I was in Coles late on the Wednesday night doing the shopping. Late, because I didn�t want to leave the house for fear of Janette coming and grabbing the kids. Anyway, I was doing the shopping in a �zombie� type state, I can�t remember what I bought, only that the shopping cost over the $300 mark. I just went around and bought everything that I thought we might need � and then some. Well getting back to the story, I was in line to be served and there was an older gentleman in the line in front. He asked how I was going and I told him not so good and proceeded to explain it was my first shopping after my wife had left. What he said then totally blew me away. I know that this was a divine appointment. What he said was, �Yes, I have had several relationships that have not turned out, all you can do is keep on trusting God and keep in his Word.�
Now, Bega is the type of place where even though you might not know everyone, you normally have at least seen him or her around. I had never seen this person before, or ever seen him since. Talk about God intervening. It was at that point I knew that God had seen my predicament and that He really cared. Whether this person was human, an angel or even the Lord I don�t know, but I do know that God placed us together for that time.
During this time, my church were really supportive and tried to encourage me. They mentioned that they were believing for God to restore the marriage, but I knew God had already told me that this was it, that she wouldn�t be back. The pastor tried to say otherwise but I somehow knew God had given me this message. It was only about 6 weeks after she left that she fell pregnant. After the news of this the pastor realised that God truly had spoken to me.
As a result I really wanted out of Bega, because all through this God carried me (if you know of Roma Waterman�s song, I was carried, you can see it has significance to me). And I did want to get out of Bega.
I finished off 2003 driving the school buses and home schooling the kids on my own, but since my youngest daughter was due to start school in 2004, I decided that I would put the older kids in school and continue home schooling the younger ones. But first I wanted out of Bega. My two preferred choices were the Central Coast or Nambucca Heads. I felt God closing the doors for Nambucca almost immediately, so I thought it had to be the Central Coast. But gradually these doors were closing as well. I was not too impressed with this and told God so and that if He wanted me to stay He would have to make a way for the older kids to go to the Christian school in Bega and that I would make an offer to the school that they needed to accept. This was around late November. In December I made an appointment with the school bursar to discuss a fees discount. I told him my situation and he asked what I could afford. For the 2 kids that were going to go at full fees would have been just over $100 per week, I told him I could only afford $25. I was shocked to hear him say, no problem, and if you change your mind and want to place all six kids in we will keep the price the same and include the excursions in the fees. I think God wanted me to stay� Well, I still had no intention of putting the younger kids in, but before I knew it, they were all going. As it was, Aaron moved to Deniliquin to study, which fell through, and he was back in April and finished off his school certificate. Keira didn�t want to go to year six as she knew no one and her best friend was in year seven. As she was already doing mostly year six work home schooling and even some year seven, I got her in year 7 and she has been excelling since. Well, that was it for me, I thought I was stuck in Bega but having the kids I was blessed.
(Intermission time now)
In 2004 I went to the Hillsong conference with the kids. On the last night (Friday) I heard God say, �Go to Coffs Harbour on Sunday� I was already going to Nambucca Heads to visit my parents, but I didn�t want to go as I wanted to suss out the new pastor at Nambucca CLC. But God hounded me all Friday night, all day Saturday so in obedience I went to Coffs on Sunday. I had never been to any church in Coffs before, but I felt to go to Coffs CLC so that is where I went. I got there about 10 mins before the service started, and as soon as I sat down, I felt God say look around, I did and He said this will be you home church.
I didn�t know whether this would be in six months or six years or what, but I wasn�t going to complain. My first thought was how was I going to tell Janette I would be moving away with the kids, but I didn�t have to, she actually asked me when I was going, God is good. This was June, in around September God told me to start packing some boxes, so I packed the non-essentials and also started looking on the net for rentals. Fat chance, here I am in Bega paying $170 for a 4 bedroom house and in Coffs they are worth $280 up (mostly the $340 mark). I applied for a few houses only to keep getting knocked back but I kept looking anyway. In October Aaron moved in with his mother and I contacted the housing commission to change my requirements from a 4 bedroom to a 3 bedroom and to change my preferred location from Bega to Coffs Harbour. Late December God told me to give my 3 weeks notice and I complained that I didn�t have a house yet. Anyway, I did this thinking if worse came to worse (oh me of little faith) I can store my things at my parents place and we can stay there for a short while. I also booked a truck for two weeks time so that I could move the furniture, come back and then clean the house before getting the kids and moving. I gave my notice on a Friday and booked the truck for 2 Mondays later. The Monday following the notice I gave the real estate, I phoned a friend (Kathy) on the Central Coast and she straight away asked if I was moving. I said yes and she proceeded to tell me that I was in a dream she had two nights prior and that I was offered 2 houses, one private rental and a housing commission house.
On the Wednesday I had a phone call from the Housing Commission in Coffs. They were just updating their records and had a few questions they wanted to ask. The next day I had another call from them with the same excuse. They pretty much asked the same questions and when they were finished, told me they had a house available for me. (Have I said that God is good yet?) On the Monday, I loaded up the truck, spent Monday night at David and Kathy�s place on the Central Coast and headed off again on Tuesday. About half hour south of Nambucca, at Eungai I had a call on my mobile phone: �Hi, my name is Danny, I believe you�re looking for a house to rent, I have a house for rent out at Coramba�� That�s the dream come true, I am in the commission house as the rent was a lot cheaper and more convenient to town � mind you the house at Coramba and its 50 acres would have been nice, but 40 mins from church and town would have been to hard with youth groups, shopping etc.
We are now settled in Coffs Harbour, attending a fantastic church, and continuing to grow. As mentioned at the beginning of this testimony, I said that God has NEVER let me down. Well I continue to trust in His faithfulness and even though life happens and things don�t always turn out as expected, God has never let me down.
If you are reading this and don�t yet know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, all I can say is give Jesus a chance in your life. Give Jesus a chance. As you have read, becoming a Christian does not make your life without its problems, to the contrary Jesus actually promised this to no one. His promises were that we would be persecuted, attacked, mocked and ridiculed. But Jesus does promise that He would never leave us nor forsake us.
Going to church wont make you a Christian. Saying a prayer won�t make you a Christian (people in every religion pray) Even saying you are a Christian doesn�t mean you are one. Jesus said many shall come on that day and say Lord, Lord. And He shall say �depart from me, I never knew you� The definition of a Christian is one who loves The Lord with all his (or her) heart, soul, mind and strength.
The Bible teaches that God has provided salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was made to assume our flesh, die in our place, rise again from the dead, ascend to the Father, receive the place of power at God's right hand, and appear before God in the believer's behalf. He is to come again to consummate redemption. This work of God's Son was for the purpose of saving us from the guilt, the penalty, the power, and ultimately the presence of sin. Salvation was provided for those who believe in Christ and walk in his ways. Faith is the only condition to salvation, and it is the gift of God.
John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"
Today can be the day that you make the most important decision you make in this life. Where will you spend eternity? Jesus died so that your sins could be forgiven and you could live forever in heaven when this life is over. All you have to do is pray this simple prayer.
Come to Jesus, admit you have not lived your life for him and ask him for forgiveness and then ask Him to come into your life. After doing this find a church that teaches from the Bible and get involved in fellowshipping with other Christians.
PRAYER
"God, I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe in my heart, and confess with my lips, that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. Come into my heart Jesus. Take my life, I surrender it to you. From this moment on, I will live my life according to the Bible and serve you. Thank you for taking away my sins and giving me everlasting life. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen"
If you want to know more about this, or if you have given your life to Jesus as a result of this please send me an email I would love to pray for you and get to know you.
(Some names have been changed to protect the people�s identity)