A Tasmanian mother (name withheld by request) learned that her son had got a girl pregnant, but he would not tell her who. She, though, yearned for a grandchild to give her love to.

“There was no thought in my head as I bent over the hand-basin cleaning my teeth and, not audibly, but so clearly, a name was dropped into my head from above and I knew instantly and without a shadow of doubt that person was carrying my son’s child…. Who else could know for certain that a conception had taken place during that brief union except the Creator?

My husband saw our son and said he had better see me. We sat at the kitchen table and I said I knew her name and told him – his mouth just fell open in amazement and shock – how could I possibly have known?

In very difficult circumstances, my son took me to the hospital and I met the mother (it was very awkward) and then saw the baby son. Although I expected to feel nothing, love just poured out of me for this little babe.

The mother’s name had been given to me exactly – her Christian name and surname –she had no middle name.”

We see God’s love in this tricky situation. Although her son married someone else, this Tasmanian grandmother has been able to give the child and mother the love and care they may have missed out on otherwise.

            This Tasmanian mother’s testimony illustrates that:

1. God knows and loves unmarried mothers, knows their names, and cares about them and their babies.

2. God knows everything that goes on and nothing is actually hidden from Him.

4. God can arrange supportive relationships for mothers and children, whether married or not. 
5. God hears the prayers and pleas of grandparents. 

 

 Karen Paull when a schoolgirl in Australia

I went on my first camp away from my parents when I was ~10 years old, with my Sunday School.

On the Sunday morning, a little service was held and I remember still – over 50 years later – that the lay preacher chose the John 10 message about Jesus being the gate and good shepherd for the sheep! An altar call was given near the end of the service. I very much wanted to go forward, but no one else did and I was shy.

Later, I found the preacher and told him I wanted to accept Jesus into my life as my Saviour. I followed him in prayer, with no expectations of what may happen.

Suddenly, I was walking above the clouds (I had never flown by then, but now I can tell you that they looked the same) and there was a man slightly behind me over my left shoulder who emanated an indescribable love, joy and peace. I assumed this was Jesus from my Sunday School upbringing.

Suddenly, I was back from this extraordinary place – but highly excited by the experience – which I assumed for many years was a ‘normal’ conversion experience.

That day of my conversion, I went and told everyone I could find that they should also accept Jesus – and there was quite a line of them!

When I told my parents about it, they weren’t pleased, as they didn’t have an active faith and it was like the atmosphere in the car froze at that time.

God knew that I would be the only Christian in my family as I grew up. He supported me and would come near when I prayed and sometimes as I read my Bible.

The heavenly experience has been bedrock for my faith journey since then, as He planned it to be. I know there is a wonderful afterlife in the company of God, who is perfect love – experientially!!

Having served in the Church for many years, I became ordained as a Christian Minister 8 years ago, still wanting other people to experience the God who loves them. I mainly minister beyond the church community as a Community Chaplain.

Karen’s testimony illustrates that:

 1. God knows us and our circumstances intimately, and plans ahead for us.

 2. Various experiences with God become strong points in our lives that we can look back to, especially when things do not seem to be going right.

 3. .God supports us when in difficult situations.

4. God’s presence emanates an indescribable love, joy and peace.

 

 

Vic and Maria Onions in Victoria, Australia.

We were pastoring in country Victoria.

One year we had holidays in Melbourne at the same time as the Australian Open Tennis would be on. Vic loved tennis and arranged for our son Philip, who went to Uni in Melbourne, to purchase a ticket for him to go and see the Australian Open tennis for one day during the event.

Vic really looked forward to actually being at the tennis. He would often take the ticket out of his wallet just to look at it.

In the end, he came under conviction that he had his heart set too much on watching the tennis.

So, one Sunday, preaching on a topic relating to idolatry, in front of the whole congregation, he tore up the ticket. A lady in the congregation called out “the Lord will bless you for that!”

On our holiday in Melbourne, we were visiting with some South African friends. A young friend of the family, whose Dad worked at TV channel 7 and was involved in the tennis coverage, walked in and asked “Would anyone like to go to the tennis?” He had three tickets to give away, so not only Vic but also Philip and Noel (South African friend) were able to go and see a match after all! How exciting!

Where would their tickets be for such a prestigious event? Most likely off to the side.

To their surprise, the tickets were for seats in the first row directly behind the players – prime seats. The Prime Minister Bob Hawke was also watching the tennis that day and sat in the first row behind the players on the opposite side of the court, but had the afternoon sun in his eyes! God’s blessing had all the details covered!

The match was between two highly ranked players late in the tournament, so it was a much better match than Vic would have seen had he kept the original ticket.

This whole account is a reminder that although some may think it was ridiculous, that God looks on the heart and cares about our desires, even the small things.

Maria’s testimony illustrates that:

1. God honours and blesses those who honour Him.

2. God can arrange a blessing in unexpected and unusual ways.

3. God’s blessing can be above and beyond anything we can have thought of.

4. God cares for His children in very specific ways. 

 

John Nayna in Australia

John had been a successful businessman in Malawi, Africa, before migrating to Melbourne, Australia, in 1983. 

John soon found that there was a shortage of opportunity in his line of profession. 1983 was a very difficult year – high unemployment rate and high interest rates made it impossible for him to find suitable employment. John prayed for a future opening.

Needing to do something to earn money to support his family, he took the lowly position of a factory labourer in a large factory that manufactured aluminium doors and windows, even sweeping floors. He decided that if this was the job God had provided for him, he would do it with a smile and to the best of his ability – even when sweeping the floors.

John’s hard work and cheerful disposition caught the owner’s eye, who often stopped to have a chat.

 Quite soon, the owner asked John if he could work in the sales department of the company since he had heard from the factory workers that John had sales experience. John said he could. This began a series of steps up the ladder for John.

When the owner decided to sell his various businesses and retire, he made it very easy for John to take over the factory that manufactured aluminium windows. In just three years, John owned it outright, debt free. He now has his two sons working in the business.

Today, John is financially secure and spends his time developing God’s Kingdom, not only in Australia but overseas – Africa – India – the Philippines. 

John’s testimony shows that:

1. God honours Christians who adopt a cheerful, positive, faith-filled approach to life.

2. God has the capacity to open up an amazing future for Christians whose hearts are right.

3. God is capable of raising anyone to higher levels of authority, as typified by Joseph, David and Daniel in scripture – and John Nayna in our day. All had a deep, positive faith in God and cared little for the wealth that came their way. God remained central to their lives.
4.  God plans for us can provide, at times, more than we ask or even think. Sadly, tragically sometimes, money and the fame that has come to some Christians has ruined their lives and often their ministries. But this does not need to happen. Christians can instead use His provision to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

 

Jackie Bishop in Burundi, East Africa

We lived in rural Burundi, Central Africa, with our 3 young children. For some years we had a doctor nearby, but then he went to another part of the country.

Our eldest daughter became quite unwell one day. We prayed for her, and again when Geoff came home for a coffee break. Rebecca was not improving and we were quite concerned. We prayed again, and decided that should there be no improvement by lunch time, we would all get in the car and drive to a doctor about two and a half hours away on difficult roads.

Just before lunch time I heard a vehicle coming in to our driveway. It was our own mission doctor who had been to a meeting in the north of the country and was on his way home south. He had wondered whether he should stop and visit us, or just continue on his journey home. He chose to stop and have a cup of tea! What a blessing he was that day. and how God cares and answers those who call out to him!

Jackie’s Testimony shows that: 

1. God promises to hear us when we pray. He does not promise to answer in the way we expect or think He should.

2. God, the Creator who sustains the universe, orchestrates events, meetings and circumstances, to bring about his purposes.
3. God is our protector. As we continually commit our lives to him, we can trust that nothing can happen to us or our loved ones without His permission.

4. God cares for us and our children.

5. God can organise the right person to come to help us. 

 

Ivan and Eunette, brother and sister, in Rhodesia

I was concerned after my conversion for my sister Eunette and my brother Arnold.

Eunette was a case in point about sowing and reaping. Brenda and I shared the gospel with her a number of times (sowing). Having done lessons on gospel presentation at the church, I knew I had shared it very clearly. “It’s OK Ivan,” she would say patronisingly. “Arnold (our brother) and I had a similar religious phase and even read our Bibles for a while. We grew out of it in time.”

We often prayed for Eunette.

Some months later she came to visit us, bubbling over with excitement – she had just become a Christian herself! A lady she knew spoke to her over a cup of tea and at last she could see clearly what was involved, and she had given her life over into the hands of Christ. We were delighted, but I was also a little mortified. What had this lady said that had broken through Eunette’s barriers? Eunette told us – and there was nothing new that I had not told her several times already!

The lady over tea was the one who reaps, but it was God who had been working deep inside Eunette’s life during the interim who had grown the increase. Incidentally, Eunette became a wonderful witness to God’s love and work and a number of unbelievers became Christians because of her ministry to them.

This testimony shows that: 

1. God’s scripture is reliable and that 1Corinthians 3:6-9 is true: that one Christian may plant the seed of the gospel and another water that seed, but it is God who makes it grow to fruition.

2. God can reach members of our family providing we tell them about Jesus and also pray — both are important.

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