Searching for a Deeper Meaning in Life

Andrew - Valencia, Spain

Well my story goes like this… I was pretty much brought up with religion and was taken to church along with my brothers and sisters by my parents every Sunday. Of course like many young people I found church boring and I certainly would never have called myself a good Catholic. I was a catholic in name only. I always believed in God and I even used to talk to Him quite often, but mainly about things I needed. I just did not know where He really was and what He wanted from me.

I remember from about the age of 19 going to church on a Sunday evening on my own (without my parents) mainly as this was a much shorter service than the one in the morning. I was perfectly ‘happy' with my life as I had all the things that most young guys of my age wanted; job, car, girlfriend, friends and little bit of money (still lived with parents). Had anybody asked me at that stage if I would like to become a ‘born again' Christian I would have run a mile. I actually had no idea what a ‘born again Christian' really meant. It just sounded strange and very religious.

I had not long started a new job in 1985 when I was first introduced to someone whom I was told was a ‘born again Christian.' I immediately thought she would be some kind of ‘bible thumping' religious fanatic so I was cautious from the beginning. The girl was German and had just moved to Scotland. I was amazed by the fact she had come here mainly to ‘preach the Gospel' to us Scots. To my surprise however, she never actually preached to me, nor did she ram the bible down my throat.

She did make an impression on me by the ‘life' which she seemed to constantly exude. She was genuinely full of joy and life and was always so positive about everything. I found myself drawn to want to get to know about what made her so happy all the time. I was so ignorant about the bible and did not have a clue what it was about. This girl passed on many personal testimonies and stories about what God had done in her life. I was very moved by what she told me. I found myself wanting to know answers to my own life. If (as I was shown from the bible) one day I must stand before God and give an account of my life, I asked myself; what would happen to me when my time came?

Looking back she basically caused me to start seeking and ask myself (and others) if God really did exist and if He did, what did I have to do? She explained how her little sister had been healed after prayer; she told me how God had answered her prayers and she shared many miraculous testimonies with me that she had seen or experienced.

I was tired of the usual things in life. Although I was ‘happy' with life I wondered what would happen in the future? There was surely more to life and going to the pub and getting drunk at parties (and the usual things). So I became more convicted and started reading the bible with a more sincere and hungering attitude. Before long I knew I had to make a decision and I did decide to change my life – the bible calls this REPENTANCE.

So on the 1st Aug 1986 I went on my knees to ask God for the Holy Spirit after being prayed for by the laying on of hands (ACTS 8:18), I was baptized by full immersion (MARK 16:16; JOHN 3:5, etc…). I was also filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke instantly in a new language which the bible calls ‘other tongues' (ACTS 2:4). It is the best decision that I have ever made and I now have a real relationship with God!

It is now almost 22 years since my conversion. It would fill many pages to tell you what I have experienced in my time in the Lord, but all I can say is that I am eternally grateful for Salvation and very grateful to the lovely, happy girl who preached the Word to me (she now lives in Australia and I think often of her and her family. I thank God that she was used by God to show me ‘The Word of LIFE,' which led me to Christ and Salvation).

My Family:

As time went on, I met my lovely wife, Sandra in the church (married June ‘94) and we have been blessed with four healthy children; John (Born June 2001), Jordan (Born July 2003), Anna (Born May 2005) & Joel (Born August 2007). God willing, in June 2008 we will be moving to Spain as missionaries to serve the Lord and set up the work over there. The Lord has given us a vision for the work there and we are very much looking forward to this challenge. There is not much time left to tell people about the Word of God and Salvation, but we are willingly going out as commanded by God in His Word…

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. - MARK 16:15,16.

Andrew & family – Summer 2007