Michelle started attending our church about a year ago with her two little girls.  She told me her husband was kind of “Anti Christian”.  I met her husband, Greg, last Easter and tried to befriend him.  We started praying for Greg’s salvation.  As I got to know Greg he shared with me that he grew up Catholic and that he saw some things that seemed very hypocritical to him that really turned him off to Christianity.  The last straw was when they were going to get married.  The priest was kind of grumpy and during their preparations he said that they had to sign a covenant that they would bring their children up in the Catholic faith.  At that Greg said “No Way!"  They were married by a marriage celebrant in a park.

About three years ago Michelle was saved in another church.  I began to explain to Greg the difference between being religious and a real relationship with Christ.  He could see it clearly.  He came to our Sunday School Christmas Program which is one of the biggest things we do during the year.  Every Sunday after that, much to our surprise, he came to church.  He read a couple of the tracts that we keep on a table in the foyer.  One Tuesday in early January I met him for breakfast.  He told me that he was going to make his commitment that night.  I encouraged him and prayed for him.  I rang the next night to see how he got on.  He said, "Yes Pastor I did it!"  Wanting to find out just what he had done I met him for breakfast again.  I told him how important it was to get off to the right start in salvation and then asked him to tell me about his commitment.  After he told me I had no doubt that God had drawn this man to Himself in a very special way.  We start a discipleship course this week! Praise God it is a very real relationship and not empty, mechanical religion!

Randy Perkins, Australia