ADAM

I WAS 19 when I became a Christian. Prior to this I really felt little need for serious religion. I wasn’t a ‘bad person’ - or so I thought; I was a pretty normal Aussie bloke just wanting to go out with my mates, have some fun at the expense of others and generally enjoy myself. I knew there was more for my life but I really didn’t care too much about it. In 1999, I came to a small youth group with a mate in Emu Plains one Friday night and, to tell you the truth, it was pretty damn boring. We just sat around and pretended to be interested in the Bible and hear a few stories. But something got my attention (besides the girls, which was definitely a contributing factor) that night which I realize now was God - and I just had to keep coming. It was a matter of weeks before I found myself at the front of a meeting making a decision to be a Christian and follow Jesus Christ as my friend and saviour. Within 12 months I’d gone from the pub scene to running a Bible study with a whole bunch of smart-mouthed teenage boys, pretending I knew what I was talking about and that I was actually more mature than them (I think they saw through it on the first night). I found myself totally fascinated with God and just wanted to know everything I could about Him. I went from living to satisfy myself to wanting to run every activity at church and just help as many people as I could. It was pretty obvious to everyone that God was taking hold of me and within another 12 months I was running the same youth group that two years before I had come to meet girls and cause trouble. (Ironically, now I would gladly take on any guy with the same agenda!) It's now nearly 8 years, and every day I am just more and more consumed by this Jesus who took me and gave a purpose for life. I’ve since done bible college and just can’t get enough of this life I have. I’ve found my incredible wife since coming here and just couldn’t imagine my future outside of this whole scene.

MIKE

M Y NAME is Michael Patterson. I have been a Christian for the past four years. During this time I have been married, started a new career as an electrician, bought a property, and have been living a happy, contented life. Sounds great, doesn't it. Well it is, but unfortunately my past doesn't reflect my life as it is today. My life before I accepted Jesus into my life was complete self destruction and chaos. I come from a life of drunkeness and drugs. I used to think this would make me happy. Nothing could be further from the truth. As the years went by, my life was plummeting down to new lows - even to the extent of going to jail. I was in a complete mess. I had no career or money, and was in a relationship which I was hot happy with. But deep down inside I knew life was not meant to be like this. After coming out of jail, I managed to get a job selling phones, and the manager was a Christian. He told me about the great news of Jesus, and that's where I accepted him. I can say that Jesus has changed my life, and made all things new. I understand what it's like to be reborn, as my old life has passed away. I am a completely changed and new person, and it all started at the ripe young age of 33, when I cried out to Jesus. I now attend regularly at Riverlands Christian Church, Penrith, and have met many awsome new friends. Our church focuses on getting closer to God, and people. All teachings are biblical and passion-filled. It's an awsome church. Now, I am pretty much a part of the furniture. Jesus changed my life. If you let him, he will change yours.

CHRIS

O N AUGUST 4, 1992, I cried out to God. I had previously been married and divorced twice and for the five years prior to 1992, had been single and living the “good life”. That night I realised something was missing, I was alone. I had not been to church or even opened a bible for 35 years so God would have been within his rights to ignore my plea. But that's not God - even when you don’t know him, he knows you. Only four days later I was introduced to Robyn, and six months later we were married. On the February 20, 2008, we will celebrate 15 years of marriage. In my first marriage I was told by doctors I could never father a child. However, 21 months after Robyn and I were married, our daughter Kate was born. In our 15 years together Robyn and I, like most other families, have faced many hurdles, not the least being my heart attacks in 1996 and 1997 and major eye surgery in 2006 and 2007 - which, if unsuccessful, could have resulted in me being totally blind. We have been constantly reminded of God's healing powers, both physically and emotionally. Though all this, our marriage has remained rock solid. What has made this time so different? God answered my cries when he bought me Robyn and Kate. I now realise that an integral part of any successful marriage or relationship is knowing God, having God in your family, and doing what you can do for God and his Church. Someone once said, “The family that prays together, stays together”. Sounds like good advice to me. It's been true for me. What about you?

TO COME

M ORE to come.

TO COME

M ORE to come.