How God has changed my life

I had been seeking God’s guidance for some time. It was clear that I was at a crossroad in my life and was praying hard but was struggling to hear Him. When [the] Promise Keepers conference came to Tauranga, I was “too busy”. I was getting frustrated at not hearing from God. I received information about the Promise Keepers conference in Auckland but was “too busy”. In my devotion time on Wednesday morning, I read the scripture Jeremiah 6:16 – the theme verse for the Auckland conference, although I didn’t know it. In my devotion time on Friday morning, I read the verse again and then discovered it on the Promise Keepers information and thought “maybe this is
God's voice”. I did have a busy day planned but with one phone call I had a ticket, a ride and accommodation. By 2:00 pm all had fallen into place so I could attend. I need the GPS as a constant reminder that God speaks but sometimes I don’t listen. I am here asking for the Ancient Path and the good way.  Reni

I used to lie all the time and steal, but now I love my life and love God. It all happened when dad told me to read my Bible. (I really didn’t want to but I did). And I broke into tears. I realised that God died for me and that I would go to hell. I called my dad in and he prayed with me. I have loved God ever since.  Jasher

		The door was closed that morning. My wife hid herself in the bathroom while I went to work. She didn’t want to talk to me. A voice inside me told me she was leaving but I ignored it and left for work. Came home to a note saying the car is at the airport. I cried. God and I had a two week long encounter of Him and me. Much repentance and realising that I had carried things from my upbringing into my marriage. I forgave myself. I forgave my wife. My wife forgave me. We now have four kids, great marriage and used in key leadership in the church and business. God is good. Work with Him.  Darryn On my spiritual journey, God has been so gracious and in control even when I am not aware of it. Two times I escaped death. One time caught by rebels and held for two hours
but miraculously I was released. Second time, I was attacked by a mob who broke into my father's shop and cut me with machetes and stabbed me with knives, but was saved by unknown people and taken to hospital. After that experience I started to seek God, though my family was from a Protestant church (Evangelical). I came

across a young man who took me to several meetings and I was caught by a message preached about after death there is a judgement and if you have to be called before God to answer about your life on earth, what will you say? That challenged me until I surrendered totally my life to Jesus.  Toa Two days ago, being [in a] home invasion: One man [had] been drinking alcohol; smell through my home; robbing my home. All TVs, stereos and PS3, but the thing [that] hurts most is you can’t replace the sexually touching of my 6 year old girl – that hurts. That wasn’t going to stop me from getting to Promise
Keepers, plus [it was] my first time. Family OK. Trials on our way down. God made our path clear to get here. I am a Christian and go to Abundant Life Church. The hardest thing was me and my family prayed [for] the guy who robbed us.  Lance

When my son Bryce died aged 2½, I was a young man in my 20s. I was not a believer; however I did go occasionally to a Catholic Church with my wife. We had just had our second son who was only 10 weeks old when it happened. So here I am, standing alone looking down at his white casket in the ground. I made a decision then to understand Christianity, seek truth, there was either nothing - it was over, this was his lot - OR there was

		something. If there was something then I needed to know it. That was the start of my journey. Two years later I was baptised with my wife. Our entire family has now walked with the Lord for 25 years. The rest is history.  Paul I’ve been here three years in a row, this being my third year. The first year I came, I was a patched gang member, 13 years. Drug addict, alcoholic, very violent. Promise Keepers inspired me. [I] was in a relationship for 10 years with 4 children. Last year when I came, I was convicted [about] living in an unmarried relationship. Given up gang life, drugs and alcohol.
Got married on 10th June this year. Approached my neighbour on Tuesday this week, humbly. He pointed a gun at my head, gave me three seconds to leave and was supposed to pull the trigger. God saved me again. I prayed for God to open a door for forgiveness. The next day we shook hands. God is awesome.  Mohi

God has changed my life after eight years of methamphetamine abuse. Now I am helping other addicts in recovery and currently in my second year of a degree in counselling. Thank God. Amen.  Stu

God has always encouraged me to persist in prayer. For years I prayed for reconciliation with my daughter, who was into gothic and dark stuff. I prayed for divine appointments in her life. God is faithful – she is now engaged to a Christian man, born again and we are totally reconciled.  Warren

The last year has been the toughest battle of my life – as I sat here at Promise Keepers 2009, my marriage of six years was over! Faced with overwhelming uncertainty about my future both as a husband, a man, a father to our amazing son, 3 year old Luca, I didn’t have a clue as to which way to turn. Faced with options from non-Christian

support of how to fill my incredible void of rejection, loneliness and gut wrenching heartbreak – I chose to press into my faith and my relationship with my Father Lord. As I pressed into God he revealed more and more of Himself to me – His grace, compassion, love and forgiveness. He placed remarkable men in my life who have continued to encourage and mentor me through what I can only describe as the biggest storm of my life. Although my marriage was clearly in tatters, my wife and I remained good friends and focussed, loving parents. I have been blessed in many ways during the last year, as Jesus healed many other relationships in my life – namely that with my dad

and mum.  He has allowed me time and space to focus back into people, into their lives and what is happening with them and their lives.  I accept that I have made many mistakes as I have tried to take control of my life, listening to the pressures that this world has told me are important. I guess in a nutshell I have had a GPS as an ornament only – failing to plug it in, turn it on or want to hear the direction it wants to send me in – as I was determined that my way was the best.  In short, I sit here at Promise Keepers 2010, a year on, and as recently as one week ago I have hope for my marriage. It’s one step at a time – but my wife has commented on the change in me she now sees, is attracted to and would like to get to know. Tomorrow we will be spending the day together, just the two of us, starting with her coming to church (our church that she has stepped away from).  For me, it will be a day of listening and not too much talking!  Thank God that He is in the control seat – this is much too big for me!  Thanks Father. Amen.  Stephen

Working and playing in a band too much had a toll on my marriage and my wife and I separated. We have two children - at that time they were 6 & 10. When our son was born he lived with his Koro and Nan. My wife found God first and as He was changing her, so did I. But she didn’t want to reconcile our marriage. I hung onto God’s Word and never let Him go, praying for my marriage. After selling my business and give up the band, I started my new life with God. After one year my wife came and told me she loves me. Our son wanted to come home, so God brought our family together as a whole family again to worship Him. That was twelve years ago.  Brian

After praying in church one night for a son, my wife became pregnant and after 9 months I had a son whom I am very proud of, as we both attend Promise Keepers together. My wife gets a weekend off, which she enjoys.  David

The best thing that God did for me [was] 20 years ago when I gave my heart to Him. I was a real wreck spiritually, mentally, a walking lost man. Insecure, sleeping with anything. I had so many empty holes in my life. A total mess, a big loser. God just took me, He shook me, washed and cleansed me, He filled me, He forgave me. He showed me what true love was. He gave me a beautiful wife, 16 years now, with two wonderful children. He leads me and guides me. I am so thankful. That’s the best thing.  Marty

God gives you all you need. When I turned to Jesus and asked him for a wife he sent me a vision. Over the years I have taken faith in this vision during the difficult times in our marriage. Very recently we had a period of separation (for 2 weeks). I had revelation through prayer and came to the point where I laid down my pain and sorrow, I gave it all to Jesus, and felt TRUST IN THE LORD, for I can only change myself. Only God knows the hearts and minds of others. I felt God’s peace and agape love for my wife and I started to behave as a husband and father should. God had a plan and with wise counsel from our Pastor, we were reunited. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord. I know God will use me to bless other marriages. Amen.  Paul

God has given me the strength to be a rock for my wife who is on a breast cancer journey since 26 March 2009. And He is guiding us on our journey according to His plan. And that God is showing us, at such a challenging time, that he does care. I love my wife.  Tupara

After going through two years of drinking and partying hard and having the wandering eye [for] women, I came to a crossroad – where I went to a beach and had a quiet time with the Lord and asked Him to use me. Immediately He changed my life. I got into leading youth ministry, taught in youth at risk schools and worked with a team of leaders in... spiritual warfare. Through Youth Ministry I met my wife, and three kids later, I have been so blessed ever since God intervened in my life.  Ed

I was driving from my home in Kerikeri to Whangarei one early morning towing a trailer and running late for an auction I wanted to attend. Swerving in and out of traffic in a hurry, not paying too much attention. When I arrived at my destination, I was surprised to find a traffic cop stopped behind me. Thinking I was in trouble, I greeted the cop with a smile. He smiled back and said “Do you love your wife?” I replied “Yes, absolutely”. He then warned me to be more careful in future and wished me “God bless”.  Dave

My journey from death to new life. Life had always been wonderful for me – a loving wife and two beautiful children. Teacher by profession and also musician and artist. Loved my sport – God endowed me with these gifts. I was a sports fanatic and fitness was always the focal point in my life. I had just won an award in a poetry competition in the USA – returned to Auckland, back to school, when tragedy struck. School became a nightmare and my marriage was on the rocks. In October 2006, exactly four years ago, I came up with severe pains in my chest. My son took me to hospital that evening. The ECG test was not good – I was kept in hospital and spent the weekend – got bored – not knowing what was wrong. Monday an angiogram was performed where they discovered eight blocks in my heart. This came as a huge shock, I was physically fit – lean and physically active. The next thing I knew I was rushed by ambulance from Middlemore [Hospital] to Auckland Hospital. I was given the diagnosis – my heart was blocked at two places in the three major arteries. I needed a quadruple bypass. Surgery was performed Monday 7am. At 2pm they couldn’t close me – I was still bleeding. At 6:30pm same day I was placed in ICU. At 7:30 a nurse came and turned my life-support off – my blood pressure dropped to 40/20. My heart died and I lapsed into a coma for 7 days. Surgeons failed to revive me and suggested they pull the plug on me, but my wife and children said “NO! We will pray”. They insisted. Doctors’ prognosis was I’d be a paraplegic/suffer from pneumonia/kidney failure etc etc. On the seventh day (as God created the earth/heavens) I miraculously got up. I had not a single health problem as the prognosis decreed. In 2007 I joined Promise Keepers and thanked God for a new heart/life. I am four years at Promise Keepers and I am with the worship music team at Elim Church. I love God for giving me a new/second chance. I am repairing my marriage and serving God. I pray every day for healing. I’ve had my lows in the past where I contemplated suicide but God has been with me every step of the way. I am still singing with the Promise Keepers choir – praises to Him. He is my King/Saviour. I glorify Him!  Gerald

God has sent me to Promise Keepers to renew my walk with Him. It is time to start a new faith and reunite with my family and to my wife, the mother of my children. This is just the start of my spiritual journey. Thank you God/Jesus.  Kevin

Was being verbally abused at work. Kept asking God to show me how to live my life. Then one day the abuse got too much. I went to St Matthews in the city as I normally did, and told God I was going to give someone the bash and He wasn’t going to stop me. Went back to work, couldn’t find the guy. Started listening to Radio Rhema, and bang, Bernie Dymott started reading Romans chapter 12 about praying for your enemies and asking to forgive them. I NOW KNOW GOD EXISTS. Amen.  Neil

I wear the “I love my wife” shirt and I do love my wife. Judy had a massive stroke four years ago. She was given 48 hours to live. I prayed and believed God said no, not yet. Next morning, I told the doctors I disagreed and I was taking over nursing Judy. They said it’s not done. My reply was “Go rewrite the rules again because I am taking over now”. I nursed Judy 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Did this for five months in hospital. Took Judy home and I nurse Judy 24/7. I take one day a year off to come to Promise Keepers. Judy is completely paralysed and I need to do everything for her. Everything that we take for granted. We had a small business and when Judy had her stroke within 6 hours after praying I locked up the business to take care of Judy. We now only live on the pension and most of that is taken for Judy’s medication that is not covered by the health system. We praise God each day for our health and giving me the strength to take care of Judy as we believe God gave me this task. I wear my “I love my wife” T-shirts every day with honour to God.  Harry

Well, when I was in jail I didn’t have a father to raise me and I only met my mother when I was 14, and growing up my stepmother used to torture me as she really hated [me]. My father then disowned me for the sake of his marriage. I ended up in jail feeling alone and unworthy, so I tried to end my life, but at the same time I called out to God to help me. And I remember that when I first prayed to God I asked him just one question, and the question was “tell me the truth about the Bible”. I dedicated 3 years of soul searching, studying and praying while in jail to know the what the Bible meant, I went through a lot of trials and persecution, especially for being the youngest in my block in maximum security and also because I was constantly talking about Jesus. Finally after three years, as I was lying in bed pondering on God and what He was like, then by the grace of God, at that moment I understood the Bible, it was all about Jesus, He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. And when I understood it, I was filled with so much joy that all the pain, loneliness, abuse and neglect I had grown up in were gone! I was free, I felt free, I felt peace, I felt loved and I didn’t want to ever leave jail because I felt free. Ever since I understood that scripture, my life has changed. I’ve been out of jail seven months now, and was imprisoned 2006, 23 November. And I haven’t done any crime, I haven’t joined a gang, I haven’t touched any drugs, I haven’t hated those who have hurt me. Instead I have so much peace that all I want to do is love. I call God my Dad, since I’ve never had one in my life and I will never hold things back from Him because I love Him. But during my hard times, when I almost gave up, Jesus came to me in a dream and told me to be strong and faithful for He is coming soon, very soon.  Enoka

On September 4th, 1990 I was so low in my life and I was [so] confused and tired that I was sitting in the park ready to kill myself. But somehow I cried out to God to save me - and to my surprise He did. Since that day in 1990, my life has radically transformed. God has saved me of drugs, alcohol, pornography, cheating and womanising, lying, stealing, violence, back-stabbing and the list just goes on. I got married in 1992, have one daughter and three sons. I am a better husband and father because of God. I’m here [at Promise Keepers] with two of my sons and as a men’s ministry pastor with 37 men and sons from Kaitaia. I’m loving being part of my church, Abundant Life Centre.  Pops

God has made me a better man, husband and father. The best thing that has happened here at Promise Keepers is that my son committed himself to God publicly. Praise God for all He has done and all He is going to do with my life. Amen!!  Warren

A senior citizen’s gold card, lots of grey hair and a life full of experiences is not a guarantee to wisdom or knowledge – I’m living proof. Two months ago however, I finally realised this and did the smartest thing I have ever done in my life. I totally surrendered to God’s leading. From that time, God has been the leader and director of my life and as a result, my family’s also. He has been my GPS and will continue to be until He finally leads me home. It’s the only way to go.  Murray

I have been a Christian all my life and I was baptised two years ago. I believe the best thing that God has done for me is to come to Promise Keepers.  George

God found me my wife. Karen had gone forward at church for the first time and told us the moving story of how she had had a stroke, had not been able to feed the children and had gone to the front door in despair and found at the door a food parcel with a note – God asked me to bring you this. I was in tears and then I heard this voice “Go and give her a hug”. I had no hesitation and did so in front of everyone. We are now happily married and she has been making it possible that I will have the opportunity to spread God’s message through my art around the world. I put Christian messages in my paintings.  Brian

He led me to Promise Keepers Auckland 2007 – my spiritual walk to that point had become a shuffle, no longer on fire for Him, directionless. Not only did I find purpose and inspiration but I met my neighbour and the men from church. I found spiritual brothers and a new church and a new direction. And this year I am leading the biggest group our church has brought to Promise Keepers. Our God is a mighty God. I can do all in Him who strengthens me!  Dennis

He used my weakness of sexual lust to actually bring me into a relationship with a wonderful young girl of another race. She has been my beautiful wife for the last 37 years. Our marriage relationship is better now than ever and solidly founded on our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I daily thank God for the most beautiful wife in the world.  David

My life is full of accidents, literally – plane, car and boating accidents. I have survived each not only physically, but spiritually as well. I found the Lord, and this time it was no accident. Rey

God came into my life June 25 1977, literally saved me from committing suicide! As a street kid and drug dealer, I came to the end of myself at 19 years old. I had poisonous blood as a result of excessive drug abuse. I was sterile and had no fixed abode for several years. At 19 years old I had a contract on me - $5000 reward – DEAD.   I was sitting in Pigeon Park (Manners Mall, Wellington) and was simply considering how to do myself in. A young man (Cedric) came up to me and asked if I wanted a bed to sleep in. I went to Cedric’s place thinking free food, free place to sleep. Cedric gave me a bath, new clothes and food. I had the first sweetest sleep that night for many years. The following day Cedric asked if I wanted to go to church. There was no way I wanted to go but I had no reason not to. So I went to CLC with Cedric. He went into the auditorium where all the people were but I couldn’t go in. I was alone in the entrance area. Then God spoke to me in an audible voice. “Choose this day whom you will serve”. I replied, “Is this you God?” “Yes”, He replied. I then asked Jesus to come into my life and make me a new person. He did. Praise the Lord. I was made a new person inside and out. Three weeks later I had my blood tested – result: A OK. Perfect! Two years after I became [a] Christian, I had married and [my wife] gave birth to our first son!! I have since experienced many physical miracles in my life and many others. God has used me travelling around sharing his wonder to many overseas and around New Zealand. 2 Chronicles 7:14 [is] effective in my life every day and in others too.   Lawrence

It has been an amazing journey! Through all the struggles men have in the world, we as Christians are not exempt even with God! It is a huge challenge; I have struggled in my thinking of impure thoughts in my marriage – so much so, that I committed adultery. My wife, God bless her, was my strength in it all and has helped me in the process with God and encouraged me to attend Promise Keepers 2010. I was not wanting to, but felt I had to. God’s plan is to keep marriage holy. Every day is glory to Him, that I am still His child and still married 15 years now! Glory to His name – and without other men beside me to encourage and go through the healing, it would not be possible. Thank you Jesus and Promise Keepers!  PS - The easy way is to run away, but that’s what Satan wants. Praise God for marriage and giving me strength to persevere. Without Him, I am nothing! Listen to God, not to men – God has the answers!! I have been to Promise Keepers for the last 5 years – I find I can’t do without it, for the godly encouragement [that] it brings to me, so I can take it back to my family. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you!   Greg

The best God ever did for me was to save my life about 10 years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air and not being able to breathe. I couldn’t wake anyone in the house and found myself standing in my kitchen. I thought “this is it, I’m a goner”, and in a plea prayed, “God if you exist show yourself and help me and I will be a believer forever”. Almost instantly I felt myself being lifted off the ground towards the ceiling. When my head bumped the ceiling I stopped and it felt like a hand opening my mouth and pulling the blockage out of my throat. It released air and a loud 10 second burp, and I woke on the floor. Half an hour had passed and GOD HAD SAVED MY LIFE! How awesome is God!  Gavin

I came to Promise Keepers feeling frustrated in my marriage and with my family. At Promise Keepers I was reminded that I need to die to myself, be thankful for what God has given me and approach my life with an attitude of gratitude. Thanks to Promise Keepers for being able to raise specific messages to men about marriage and our spiritual journey.  Bruce

Promise Keepers has been instrumental in helping me through my “valleys” with my marriage failing and has helped me to be the man of integrity that I am and to prepare me for my future life in Him. Thank you Promise Keepers.   David

[The best thing God has done on your spiritual journey...]  His presence even when I am alone and unsure. He guided me and was there when my wife left me and my sons. He healed me and restored me and eventually guided me to meet and marry a wonderful woman. Through her, God has moulded me into a better man and I am now strong in Him and able [to] lead a men’s ministry in my church. God is now teaching me about His timing and how to be in the right place at the right time or to be where He wants me to be at a given time. This was illustrated four times in 2009 when my eldest son was diagnosed with leukaemia. The Lord had me learn a lot through this. I live in the North Island and my son is in Christchurch, yet each trip to see him has been perfectly timed for me to be able to deal with some issue in Christchurch – His timing... Even last weekend God has answered prayers. My son has wandered away from God but as parents my wife and I pray for the protection of all our children and grandchildren. God protected my son and his house during the earthquake. His house was 100% undamaged – nothing damaged, yet most of his suburb (Bexley) was severely damaged – it was the worst hit area in Christchurch. God had led my son to buy a house built on a clay bank rather than sand. God will do more. So far God has preserved his life and the leukaemia is retreating and [he] is now having his house protected. All he needs now is to turn back to God and for his Dad (me) to grow more in understanding etc.  David

I have recently been set free from depression and P.T.S.D that I had as a result of sexual abuse suffered as a child. My depression caused havoc in my marriage and as a result I relapsed back into drug and alcohol addiction. By God’s grace and through the power of confession and repentance, He has restored me and my marriage. I no longer have depression or P.T.S.D. I have been set free. Praise the Lord.  Al

I grew up in the Mormon Church and that is all I believed. I ruptured my left knee cap and there is no believing in restoration and physical healing. I met my (now) wife and [she] introduced me to Victory Christian Centre. Weston Carryer came to VCC and he called out my condition. I was pushed up to be prayed for. As stubborn as I was I went, and before you know it I was on the ground. Prior to that day I could not run, kneel or crawl or even bend my knee more than 90º. As I awoke, with tears in my eyes, I was kneeling. Checked at the hospital, I have a new knee cap, I’m crawling, running and playing sports again. I have been healed in Christ’s name and broken free from bondage and given my heart to God.  Taylor

[The best thing God has done on your spiritual journey...]  Turning my life 180º from death to life, but not just me, my close family, extended family and friends. Speaking to me to move my family from Wellington to Auckland and back, to feel surrendered and good about it, to give me purpose, guide me into serving – I never would have believed I would have time for all that God could have me do. There is no one best thing; it all adds up to freedom and life. I know where I am going and what to do on the journey. Serve Him - thank you Jesus. I’m just an average bloke but God is great.  Brian

Since handing my life over to our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, I have been blessed with a new start in life. I have been blessed with a fantastic church family, wonderful leadership team, who have been supportive and helpful in my walk with our Father.  Before my journey of change, I was a lost and bitter man. I had lost my relationship due to my disruptive actions. My ex-partner left with my two children and this split just tore me apart. I lost my father in 2001, my nephew in 2002, my aunty in 2004, my mum and aunty in 2007 and my children and relationship in 2008. My life was out of control and my thoughts were damaging to myself and others. That was until meeting my friend Rangi Clark, he gave me a hand up and not a hand-out. He supported me, fed me and gave me a roof over my head. On 27 September 2009, he took me to my first church meeting at Owen Street Elim Church, The Oasis. It was the grand opening of our church. My first service and the day I handed my life over to Jesus Christ. I was also the first of our congregation to hand my life over to our Lord on that day. And since that day, He has blessed me with new friends, a new family and a brand new start. And I thank my Lord for all he has given me and all he continues to give me. God bless you all, it works if we allow Him to work in us. Amen!  George

This is my fourth Promise Keepers Event and I have been walking with the Lord for as long as I can remember. Last year I took my eldest son to Promise Keepers in Tauranga and I had the pleasure of watching him go forth and give his life to God. This year, we have both returned bringing my second son and last night he went up and gave his life too. So the best thing for me on my journey has been to watch my sons start their own journeys.  Rob

Six years ago I came to Promise Keepers by myself. I had been born again two years. I have one brother, two sisters, mum and dad. My sisters were living their own lives, drinking, smoking etc. My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and at the time had tried to commit suicide [a] couple of times. One of my sisters was having problems with her boyfriend and he tried to take his life too. They at the time had two kids. My wife was not walking with God and [we] were not married [with] two kids.  2010 - My sisters are serving in the church, both are married, their husbands serve in the church. My brother is serving in the worship team. Promise Keepers 2010 - my dad, my brother, two brothers-in-law, my two boys, my brother-in-law’s son and his brother are standing next to me worshipping God. My wife and I just celebrated our fifth year wedding anniversary and my entire family are in the house, serving God. God is my miracle working God.  Francis

The best thing God has done for me is equipping me to be a husband and a father. God has placed me in a blended family to love a woman who has come out of a violent relationship, and raise a son who previously had no father. God has taken me, a man who is nothing, to be the head of this family and God consistently gives me the capacity to love this family and lead them on a path that promises eternal life.  Paul

He has brought me from a life of drugs, alcohol, violence and jail, into a life of peace, love and joy with a loving wife and children.  Dion

After a 20 year habit of porn, God has released me in a huge way. He has led me to pastoring my church and is constantly challenging me to lead. The story behind all this is long but amazing...   Ken

In 2007 four other men and I were in hospital all having a total knee replacement. I had plenty of prayer cover from three churches, the result being I was the only one that had no pain from the surgery whatsoever. Therefore [I] have been able to testify to God’s blessing.  Stu

The best thing that God has done for me is to come into my life here this weekend [at Promise Keepers]. After losing my possessions in a flood in Australia and my wife leaving me not long after, I found myself in New Zealand working a dairy farm with a Christian family. So I was asked by my boss if I wanted to come here. I said yes. Now with the Lord in my life I have found a new path to follow and am no longer stuck at the crossroads.  Colin

I had an accident back in 1989 where I was on a heart and lung [machine]. I had a prayer circle around my bed. The doctors said that they would turn it off two days after the accident. My mum and dad prayed and then asked if they can just turn it down. They did and hey, I’m here. I fought for my life, got back to where I am today. I cannot work but I have hand cycled from Foxton to Taupo - fundraised journey for brain injury and World Vision. That was God working in all of us, not knowing what will turn up [at] the next corner. God knows the way. My family and I are planning to cycle from top to bottom (Cape to Bluff) in November/December this year. We are leaving it up to God to help us with the safety and fundraising. My girls have trikes too and will cycle with me when they can...  Mark

Forty years ago I was born with congenital heart disease, if I was born a year earlier they would have been unable to save me. I had the best heart surgeon in this country and one of the best in the world, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes. A small church in Gisborne prayed that God would watch over me and keep me safe. To date, I have had five heart operations, over a million dollars spent on repairs to the heart. My Christian walk has had its twists and turns but God continues to hold my heart in His hand and lead me in His ways. Blessed be the name of the Lord.  Don

My journey has been and is a process which has started and has not been completed yet. In the past two years I have been though a lot of turmoil, as I went through some major medical stuff. At Promise Keepers on Friday night in Wellington, God fingered my turmoil and fragility. I went out for prayer and Pastor Brian France prayed for God’s peace to replace the turmoil. God then gave me a picture of being back in the operating theatre again. When there, he said there was nothing to be frightened of but to breathe in of His Spirit (like the anaesthetic mask which gives oxygen). Not only is there nothing to be afraid of, God brought to memory the first anaesthetic in scripture where he put Adam to sleep, then created Eve from Adam’s side for him. So God told me the process is nothing to fear. I just needed to relax in God, breathe in real deep and trust Him, knowing God would be working for my very best interests. The peace comes from having confidence in God’s purposes and working in me.  Alan

Two months ago my father had a bad stroke, at the age of 68. He went from being very active to wheelchair-bound. Growing up he was violent and abusive toward the family. He was also sexually deviant in some things. I inherited some of the negative traits as well as many good things. I never had a father/son relationship which was the most hurtful to me. I became a Christian 20 years ago and God cleaned my life up. However, I still saw my father as a person to be endured. I never called him dad as a kid or adult. He was just the “old man”. I never ever thought I would ever share Jesus with him or never really cared to. I had from time to time prayed for his salvation. Immediately after his stroke, my brother and I went to hospital and amid plenty of tears, we led my father to the Lord. Two months afterwards, he is open to prayer and his whole nature has totally changed. I go see him most days and when I do I always call him dad and have lots of hugs and he holds my hand with his good hand. The hospital staff love him and say he cheers them up, even though he can hardly talk. They say he has a wonderful smile. I wondered if they were talking about the same man. But I understand the grace of God is upon him and his nature has been supernaturally changed. The last days of his life will be one of a father/son relationship which I am enjoying. Praise God for what He has done. I will bring him to Promise Keepers next year.  Brent

[The best thing God has done on your spiritual journey...]  Finding my wife Pauline, [of] Irish ancestry, fire and zeal for God and righteousness. 39 years later, plus seven children, still going strong and keeping me and the families in order. Preaching up a storm [at] Women’s Aglow and looking after a historic house with 13 rooms. What could a man desire better, especially a man of God. This is my testimony. Praise God for GPS, right on.  Ivan

For many years I had a fear that my beautiful only son was going to die young. It was a constant agony in the pit of my stomach and affecting my life adversely. A good friend, Dave, encouraged me to go to Promise Keepers in Lower Hutt so of we went. During a break, while those who were coming to God were being spoken to, the rest of us went out for a cuppa. I chatted to a young lass who was serving and asked her if it was her first time at a Promise Keepers [Event] and she said it was her sixth time. I asked her if she had a best moment and she said yes, it was on the first night when all those who had given their lives to the Lord walked through the door, they were shining.
During the next day we had talks and singing and then a time of prayer. While we prayed I just dropped to the floor. My friends stopped me from injury, and as I regained my feet, I felt that all the angst and terror of losing my precious only son was completely gone from the pit of my stomach. God then spoke to me. He said I set the wheel in motion with a negative thought and the devil had helped me build on it, to a point where it was consuming me. God had lifted that burden off me forever and he told me so. After this session we went out for a cuppa. As I approached the girl I had spoken to the night before, she looked at me and excitedly asked me what had happened to me. I asked her why she had asked me and she replied, “because you are shining”.  Doug

My marriage and family life was on the rocks when the Lord reached out to me through my eldest daughter last year. She led me to a church and we have been every Sunday since. I have found tremendous fellowship amongst the community and that has progressed beyond sharing a coffee out the back after church, to going to others’ houses for ‘play dates’. Our three children have now been blessed and I am planning on being baptised. I work long hours driving, and spend a fair amount of the time listening to God’s Word on Rhema. This, combined with my daily readings and small group discussions, has had a profound effect on my life and my wife has started coming along to church regularly also. As Craig Vernall said today “Who would have said...?” I’m not from a Christian family, but my house is now proudly a Christian household. Thank you, Lord Jesus.  Daryl

Recently I left a gang and started going to church. At first I wanted to hit every man I saw that danced, cried or sang. I wanted to tell people they needed to harden up. I got invited to Promise Keepers, not knowing what it was about. I saw T-shirts like “I’m a man”, “I love my wife”. I saw grown men crying, sharing, and caring. This is a big step for me, but the first time in my life where you can be a man with emotion, passion, I think this has really helped me to soften up. I tried to deal with anger and aggression. I think God [is] pulling down walls so those things can go. Slowly I’m being renewed. Anthony

The Lord has set me free from addiction after 30 years as an alcoholic and heroin addict. He has shown me how to live for the first time, after I had got to the place where I felt I just wanted to die. I am now 12 months clean for the first time since I was 12 and am three quarters of the way through a course in social services with Wintec so that I can go out and help others still trapped in the darkness. Praise God! Greg

One thing God has done: Worked in the area of unforgiveness, where my dad killed our mum through alcohol and jealousy. [I] had to go to him and say “Dad, I need to come and tell you I forgive you. I know it was wrong, but for me to carry on with my walk with the Lord, I need to forgive you”. [I] led my dad into the sinner’s prayer giving his life to Jesus. Amen. [He] has passed on, knowing I will see him one day. Glory to God! Doug

The best thing God has done... Restored my relationship with my daughter, aged 23 now. I left my previous marriage 20 years ago, in acrimonious circumstances. Over the years Amy withdrew from contact with me. She went through rebellion in her teens, became promiscuous, started into drugs and gothic trends. I prayed daily for her, asking God to place godly people in her life – divine appointments. At 19 she met a young man who is a believer. God has worked in her since then, and we are now totally reconciled. “The years the locusts have stolen.” Warren

The best thing God has done for me on my spiritual journey is to persevere. Looking back my spiritual journey bears some similarities to Israel’s story. Periods of closeness and intimacy with God bringing wonderful blessings. Then periods when I allowed my relationship to grow cold and experienced trying times as a result. This was usually when I allowed the business and temptations of the world to limit the time I spent seeking and following God. Praise God that He has persevered with me through this and never allowed me to stray far enough to experience the potential effects of the consequences of my actions. I pray that He will keep me close and that I will draw near to Him so that I may not drift again. Luke

Without Promise Keepers I would never have had the deep conviction to be anything more than an average Christian bloke. Phil

Firstly that I was born into a churchgoing family. Would I have found God if I wasn’t? I simply do not know, and shudder to think of what I might be if I hadn’t been. Secondly, I thank God for the miracle of creation. It showed me there was a Creator before I realised exactly the full impact of the message of salvation, carried in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Life puts many people in our path who we disagree with. God has helped me love these people in a way that I could not in my own strength. My hate still tries to rise, but by God’s grace I find my love increasing and [He] helps me control the anger/hate. Neil

“I will never leave you or forsake you” – Jesus. On TV about 15 years ago, A Promise Keepers advert spoke directly to my heart. I needed to go to Promise Keepers. I have been going ever since to encourage me and those men around me. In 2000, God nudged me to go forward for prayer in Auckland during the break. A prayer team brother prayed for me. He said “You are going to have a horrible year but don’t worry, God will be with you”. In February 2001 I had a head-on car crash, both cars were written off. I had a head injury and broken arm (6 months). So with a failing business and health God has been at work. He healed my arm and chronic depression by medication and counselling. I had been fighting bi-polar for 26 years and [did] not know it. Now I am free. Praise the Lord. Jer 29:11-14.  Norman

One of the greatest things my Father has revealed to me is that He is a God of relationship not a God of rules. The more I know my Father the better I am - not the better I am the more I know Him. I was once a man who only cared about myself. I was physically and emotionally abusive to my partner and children. I was a drunk and a drug addict. But God has a purpose for my life. He has transformed my life. I now have a strong marriage and a great relationship with my kids. I am planted in a great church. I have discovered that the more I seek God and His presence the better father, husband and friend I am growing to be. I cannot achieve His righteousness through my own strength I can only achieve His righteousness by dwelling with Him and walking in His presence. I am a son of the Most High God, bought by the blood of Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Matt

It was when my aunty was dying. She only had about two days left. She was a Christian and she was at peace with God. I asked if she wanted anything and she said that she wanted some chocolates. It was a certain type of chocolate, I can’t remember the name, but I went and got them for her. I asked her which one she wanted and I gave it to her. Then I asked her what one was her favourite and she said the one with the squiggles on it, and at that time I had already eaten that one. I felt so stink so I prayed in my head that there would be another one in the packet and then I looked again at the box with the chocolates in it. My faith in the Lord had been changed forever, there was a chocolate with the squiggles on it and she was happy, and that was some of my spiritual journey. Sam (15)

God has given me a hope and a future in a seemingly lifeless world that had sucked me in and sucked the life out of me. The revelation that I have been completely redeemed and forgiven has been an awesome thing to learn and shown me that I am worth it. What Jesus did on the cross for me was not in vain and the ever-growing relationship that is developing with Him is overflowing into my family and friends and people around me. Jesus is King and He loves the world. Joshua

God has given me the most wonderful woman to be my wife, my “helpmeet” and mother of my 4 children. Libby has been such a blessing to me for 37 years. When I first met her... God was challenging me to commit my life back to Him. So I went to church thinking I might even pick up a girlfriend. There I saw her. A year or so later we fell in love after a prophetic word in a prayer meeting. I had half of it and she had the other, and later we realised that word was for us! She has loved me more than I deserve, doing stuff I can’t, accepting my small efforts to show my love for her as priceless jewels. She has been strong when I have been weak, especially with the kids. I thank God for her every day. I could write much more but one page won’t contain it. Her family has become mine. She is so loyal to me, our kids, our ministry – my ministry. She is the most beautiful gift I could ever have. I see God in her.  Bob

I had been a retired airline pilot for 7 years working on a farm when God gave me 11 or 12 messages confirming that I was to return to flying. On one occasion I was driving the tractor when I heard audibly “phone the airlines now”! Stopped the tractor and phoned the airlines. They needed my CV that day and were interviewing the following 2 weeks. I got my interview and the job I wanted. I had been going through the wrong exercises and would have missed out on the job but for the God message. That’s the only time I have heard God audibly.  Brian

About 16 or 17 years ago I was invited by two separate men to come to a men’s weekend retreat. Part of me resisted but another part of me knew I was meant to go, so I did. I nearly bailed after the first night but somehow the talks I had listened to spoke into my life and the things that were out of order, especially in my relationship with my wife and family. While there wasn’t a dramatic change immediately (I have been a lifelong churchgoer), I turned a corner in my spiritual journey. Before long we were involved in a much wider experience of church in the sense of prayer groups, praise and worship, Life in the Spirit seminars etc. Today I am involved in Men’s Ministry leadership, my wife is involved in Women’s Ministry and we share a music ministry together also. Most of all, it has drawn me closer to the Lord and His church. It has given me a very firm sense of direction in my life and the ultimate goal is always in view. Praise God! Mike

Out of nowhere, God gave me an amazing and unusual gift in order to help people in perhaps their greatest need. I was teaching at a secondary school and had a death in my rugby team on three consecutive years. God used me to reach the school, to help the kids come to terms with and deal with the tragedies. Out of this I discovered the ability of dealing with death – helping others in need, finding me at my best and able to help. I went on to taking funerals and eventually ministry training, and ordination to the priesthood. Strangely (in one way, but not in others), death and funerals are the basis of my ministry and I love being able to be God’s servant in this way. Geoff

In 2005 my partner had cheated on me with my best friend. She told me on my 22nd birthday, the day we had been together 5 years. As a result of this I ended up in prison, was sentenced to 5 years for aggravated robbery. This is where God intervened. I have been out of prison for a year now, clean from drugs and alcohol and just recently quit smoking. God has changed my life and I will worship Him the rest of my days. Michael

It was last Promise Keepers meeting that I made my first public confession. Until then I thought I was fine, I went to church etc, but then the first speaker of Friday night was used by God to let me know where I was on His scale.   Andrew

My name is Troy, I came from nowhere. God led me from my lifestyle of homelessness in Tauranga to Breakthrough Ministries which is a Christian program. Before that I had no hope. Didn’t care about nothing, no-one. Loneliness was what I was used to, didn’t care about no one, nothing, had nothing. Alcohol became my best friend. My parents don’t care, but I found God cared. Even when I felt abandoned He found me through the dark. I had been in and out of boys’ homes... pretty much in the system all my life, but in these last six months of finding God through my friends, from Life Church Tauranga, He has blessed me with my passion. I have been involved in our rap/hip hop/rock band Chosen Crew. My vision is to have someone with no hope say, your music, through God, helped me change my life. That now is cooler than any drugs, alcohol - it is the best buzz to me. Thank you God. I know what it is like to have nothing. To me it is not about winning anything. The best prize for me is knowing someone cares for me ’cause no-one did, but Jesus did. For that I am thankful. There is life in God. There is no life in jail. It took me 32 years to find out. Thank you God for saving me. Troy

God, through my wife, Daisy, inspired her to buy me my first Promise Keepers ticket five years ago. Coming to Promise Keepers for the first time back then transformed me to be a better husband to my wife, according to herself. I have attended Promise Keepers every year since then. It becomes my annual meeting with God. As a born again Christian since 1994, I struggled to have consistent Bible reading and praying time daily. After the first Promise Keepers, God helped me to start having daily devotion time. The second Promise Keepers, God touched me to reach out to other men in my church. The third Promise Keepers, I was inspired and spoken to by the Holy Spirit to serve by starting our very first English service in my church as a Mandarin (Chinese) church, after we had prayed for 20 years. God has used Promise Keepers in a mighty way to reach out to me and many other men like me. Praise and thank God for Promise Keepers. Ian

I had a bad motorcycle accident and my parents were told to come to the hospital as I had been in a coma for 6 days and my vital signs were giving out. Mum laid hands and prayed for me and I woke within an hour. I awoke blind and with brain damage. Ricky, who was travelling in Australia, felt a strong urging to come home and when he did, he found out I was in hospital. He helped me to come back to God in the past and we were good friends. He prayed for me and I saw blurry images. After a second prayer my eyesight returned. Years later I was travelling in Australia and went to a Four Square church and they were amazed when they found out my name as somebody had said to pray for me and nobody knew who I was. God had brought me to the very people who had prayed for me as just a name that came as a word of knowledge. I remember seeing my body lying on the hospital bed and the doctors and nurses working over me. They were amazed when I described the scene to them. Wayne

I was fortunate to be able to give my life to Christ in my late teens. My teen years were turbulent but I still went to youth group. I finally got fed up with my parents’ drinking. They told me if I didn’t like it then leave. So I did, but where to? I ended up boarding with the youth leader and his family. The love and care I received was something I had never experienced before. At a youth rally, an altar call was given. I remember them saying, we were all fools, so why not be a fool for Christ? That was me, I was a clown, a fool, so why not be a fool for Christ? I gave my life to Christ that night. That was a day before my 18th birthday. God gave me a peace I had never experienced before. God changed my outlook and my attitude. I changed my career to be a teacher. I married a beautiful woman who was a Christian. We have now been married 25 years and have four beautiful daughters who love God. We all attend and serve in our local church plus I am involved in Men’s Ministry. None of this would have been unless Christ had come into my life when I was 18. Terry

As a male it’s often easy to get involved in stuff that takes me away from the family and it’s good that this makes me think about my wife and my kids. I believe that God has blessed me with her and that I need to continually work on my marriage. It’s easy to take things for granted and leave the family things to her, but this shirt [PK “I Love My Wife” T-shirt] reminds me that I do love my wife, I do need to let her know that and I do need to show it. Sometimes I wear this just to let her know, other times I wear it because I need to remember myself. Other times it’s to let everyone else know. What about you bro – have you told your wife that you love her lately? Do you want to borrow my shirt or can I get one for you? They are available at the Promise Keepers Events. Ross

“Bringing me to my knees.” I was brought up in a middle class family in the UK. I was educated at a Christian boarding school and confirmed at 14. I married at 30 to a South African lady in South Africa where I lived for 12 years. Through my sin, she left me some 24 years later. During which time I went to an altar call in a Billy Graham concert and was water baptised. In neither case did I find God truly. I remarried and after 5 years my second wife walked out on me. I became depressed and then God took over.
How:
1. He put me in touch with Lee (who I hadn’t seen for 3 years) – during this time he had (unknowingly) been praying for me.
2. Lee gave me the Fireproof video and the very next day I received a phone call from a person who I didn’t know from Australia. This person asked me to watch, yes, Fireproof.
3. God asked me to repent, which I did to the whole church. Thereafter, my life changed – peace and joy entered into my soul, which I had never experienced before.
4. I can now make a difference. Before, all my efforts came mostly to nothing.
Watch this space. God is definitely good. Rod

One day I hit rock bottom. I had been dating a lot of women in my own strength. I decided to give up after being hurt each time. I ended up crying on the floor and told God, I give up, Lord. I would rather not date again unless God would find the right woman for me. Next thing I get a vision, then the words “check your email”. God found my wife for me and confirmed it by the completion of the vision by a third party. We are very much in love and starting to minister together. Trevor

God is an awesome God and has done a lot of things [for] me and my family. We immigrated to New Zealand from the RSA (South Africa). One week in New Zealand my wife had a threatened miscarriage with our third child. We didn’t even know she was pregnant. One year later she was pregnant again with our fourth child. That was last year. My wife was turning 40 and doctors predicted that the child had Downs Syndrome. They wanted to do all sorts of tests with the focus of possible abortion. We declined all tests and stood on our faith that God will give us a healthy child. My wife was constantly crying. On December 18 my dad passed away and the on the 31st my fourth child was born. I chose to stay for the birth and support of my wife and did not attend my dad’s funeral in South Africa. We almost lost the third child due to medical unexplained high protein content. Both number 3 & 4 were born healthy. No matter how hard Satan tried to take them, God protected them. Edward

Six months ago, my wife found out I was having an affair. After weeks and weeks of lies and denial I came clean about the affair and three others. I also came clean about my addiction to pornography. My wife gave me an option, I chose Jesus. After lots of prayer, tears and hard work, my wife and I are now walking together with Jesus for the first time in 7 years. The love and blessings Jesus has shown me just keeps amazing me. From His sacrifice on the cross to His daily blessings. He has truly turned my life around. I feel like a walking miracle. Now he has given me a hunger to learn more about Him, live like Him and become like Him. Although my wife and I have a long way to go with a lot of hard work ahead of us, with Jesus walking with us and guiding us, who can stand against us? It is my wife’s faith that has not only kept us together but it is because of her and her strength in Jesus I am now saved. Brendon

Before I gave my life to God, I was involved with gangs, various crimes and in a very violent relationship. This started from early childhood all the way to my adulthood. Only 3 years ago I had been in multiple life threatening accidents. 13 car crashes, a fall from a 60ft cliff, stabbed, run over and almost drowned twice. I had believed in God but never took that step to have that relationship with Him. After the sudden death of my mother I was shocked at how someone staunch and that I feared could suddenly die. The day I got the news of her death I had just been released from police custody. I went to her funeral. Later that year went swimming in Taranaki with my children. I had my friend’s children and heard them screaming. As my daughter and I approached them in the water at the beach, we suddenly dropped and [were] pulled out to sea. I couldn’t swim and my daughter was terrified. We were 1 km from the shore and I gave my daughter the boogie board to swim back. I found one of my friend’s kids bobbing up and down in the water. I grabbed her and held her up as the swells pushed us down. I was ready to give up and then some force pushed us towards the rocks. We were safe and had a cry. A few days later, I was lying in bed and a voice spoke to me, “How many times must I save you before you come to me?” That following Sunday I thought “just do it” and went to church. Over the years in my walk with God, great changes happened. I broke free from gangs and no longer had desire to commit crime. I was blessed with all 4 of my children into my care. I had been unemployed for 2 years and God blessed me too with a great job as a teacher. I got the opportunity to be a leader to my family and a role model for children. God broke down my walls of pride and gave me humility. It’s still a work in progress but great things are happening. Being consistent with my faith in God and relying on him to help me through rough times has healed a bad relationship with my teen daughter. Finally 3 weeks ago, she gave her heart to God. God has helped me to remain patient as I pestered Him for breakthrough with my daughter. So much He has done and so much more He will do as I allow Him to lead me and my family who all now have a love and desire for God. Mark

He has changed my life in ways that not even I myself could have ever done. He brought me from being a drug dealing methamphetamine addict which ruined my life. He brought me from total darkness into light and I am a totally different person today. I have love, peace and hope in my heart. My sins are forgiven and I am a new man and totally free! I am living proof that Jesus lives. David

Like the chap in the first video presentation, I have disability. I am 95% disabled. I have a full body muscle skeletal nervous system disorder. There were times in my life where I went through the “why me, God?” phase. But I also received the revelation that there is no point in being physically perfect if you are broken on the inside. I now get words from God for our church. He talks to me and guides me, I just have to listen to avoid doing silly things. God speaks daily. He gives me confidence and the ability to share with others to the glory of His Name. Chris

I get up and praise God sometimes at 6:00 o’clock in the morning with my dad at home. The best thing God has done for me is get me up with my dad at an early time in the morning to worship Him. Connor

The best thing that God has done for me is saved me from suicide. I grew up with a dad suffering from bi-polar, so hated my dad and found pornography and masturbation at the age of 7. I turned to a life of drugs, sex and alcohol and became deeply depressed. My girlfriend of 17 became pregnant and I wanted her to have an abortion. I cried out to a God who I did not believe in to help my situation. Well, He answered that cry! My girlfriend lost the baby. A friend of mine contacted me and invited me to church, still in my suicide-depressed state. I met the Lord, He healed my drug habit, my pornography addiction. I was able to work through my depressive behaviour, get counselling and was able to forgive my dad. [I] found a wife in that church and now have 2 kids and one on the way. All because I cried out to a God I did not believe in and yelled “help!”. Only God can turn around a life that was doomed for pain and destruction and death, and restore it into something beautiful. Thank you Father.  Bevan

He saved me from myself. I was sitting in a hayfield with a cocked 9mm in my mouth, because my life, marriage, everything had fallen apart. I noticed another man close by me picking “weeds”! Being disturbed by his presence, I never went through with the action and left the field. After meeting a lady who led me to Christ shortly after this, I realised that God had intervened. To this day, I believe that the other man might have been an angel because I don’t understand how he never saw me, and if he did, why he never said anything to try and stop me. Through God, my wife came to Christ, my marriage was healed and my life was given purpose again. Since then there are many other testimonies. Praise Jesus! Sean

“How can you still believe in God after what has happened to you?” - a question asked by a cancer patient in the old Napier Hospital when I was pastoral visiting there 27 years ago. I didn’t get the right of reply then, as a nurse pulled him into his room for treatment. But a few weeks later I did when his wife asked me to conduct his funeral. Everything within me wanted to shout “How can I not believe in the One who suffered and died for me?!” All this came about because my daughter (14) disappeared, believed to have been abducted and murdered and never found. I knew so much support from the Christian community through their love and prayers. Shortly after her disappearance, I found a number of people from all local churches gathered at our church, St Augustine’s Napier, to pray at 6:30 am, 6 days a week.
After several weeks with apparently no answer, I was granted a vision of a little girl on tiptoes reaching up to kiss the lips of a large face I believed to be God our Father.
From this I understood God saying to me that she was OK. He was looking after her. From that time onward I have lived in the assurance of God’s great love, even after hard times.
God is faithful
God is love
God is just
I believe that I have become more compassionate and understanding because of painful and difficult times. My faith has not waivered since I was baptised in the Holy Spirit nearly 40 years ago. Dan

Two months ago I went through a baptism of fire. I had lost everything that was important to me and wanted to give up. Today, after guidance from God, all that I had lost has been returned! Noel

Dawn & Samuel’s Story... Fri 13 August – “Hi, I have a husband attending [Christchurch GPS 2010] and he has never committed his life to Christ... I believe that God has put this in action... and pray that his heart will open to God’s voice and the love He has to give us. I believe this could be what I have dreamt of for our family for so long...” Mon 16 August – “My husband returned Sunday afternoon and I had been advised by a Christian friend to not do the usual women thing and bombard him with questions. He had agreed to go to Promise Keepers several months ago and when faced with the reality this past week and varied other commitments, he thought that he would not go this time.

I prayed to God that if this is right, He had to pull off a miracle. Well basically money was an issue, he has had no work for a while... On Thursday he had a phone call from our church treasurer and they had a cheque for him. First miracle. However in all the mix up he had not registered. He thought that this was a loophole to get out! Wrong - they got him registered.
So he left on Friday and I have to say that it was not on the best of terms either... After the Saturday session they had gone out to get dinner. On arriving late back to PK they found that time had run on about 20 mins. For some reason he had gravitated toward the middle door to the main room and found it locked, as it was for PK organisers. The rest of his party had gone to the first door, so he headed over to that door but it was locked. So, he had to go for the end door. He arrived to find himself stuck in a queue and he [didn’t know the] reason why. As they got closer to the stage he realised it was a call from the Pastor to come to Christ.
He said that he did not want to be there, but somehow there he was, and on Saturday the 14th of August he gave his life to Jesus.
He is very fragile and emotional today but for the first time in 13 years of marriage we are on the same page of the same book and there are now three of us in our marriage. Thank you Promise Keepers... [Today] for the first time we read and prayed together before coming to work. His first prayer was that he felt like a changed man and thanked God for everything in his life...”

Dawn’s husband Samuel responded by saying that the best thing God has done in his spiritual journey “has been coming to this PK meeting in Christchurch. It has opened my eyes and my heart to what was missing in my life. I have also made new friends and strengthened other friendships as well. It was all meant to be!” Dawn

2011 Update from Samuel

I accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour of my life at Promise Keepers in Christchurch last year. I repented of all my sins and received God’s forgiveness. When I returned home everything changed. My wife and I became closer and stronger in our marriage. Like my wife said, there was now a third person in our relationship and that was God. She fell in love with me all over again. All this affected our two children as well. They were seeing and feeling all this love between us and were curious and asking lots of questions. As a result we are a happier family. My wife and I bought my first Bible. I started reading every day. We also started going to church more regularly and taking a more active part. We also pray as a family regularly. Kids also say their prayers at night.

My wife and I also pray regularly as a couple nearly every day. We have also joined a Bible study group where about six families meet every Thursday night – share a meal and read the scriptures, discuss and pray.

Last January we also went to New Wine in Kaiapoi, Christchurch together as a family. I was baptised at Lake Ohau last October in front of most of the congregation of our church. I have been blessed in my business also! I am a professional self employed painter and I have not been out of work ever since I handed over my business to the Lord. I am trying my best to keep God as the centre of my life!! As I look back I only wish all this had happened earlier in my life! I have to remind myself that it is always in God’s time not mine! Samuel

By God’s grace I am here! As at the lowest time in my life, standing in front of a 44 ton B-train truck staring death in the face, somehow it swerved and missed me. God, having His hand on me, lifted me from the depths of despair and has taken me on a journey of healing, and to a place of strength in only Him! Oh, how I love Him forever and ever, amen and amen! Tom

Before getting active in the church and going to Promise Keepers I used to argue with my wife too much and she often said she was not loved. God touched me and through [the] Holy Spirit and resources (books) from Promise Keepers, I learnt that I need to confirm my love for my wife regularly and to take initiative when we argue to ask for forgiveness. Our relationship is now much stronger. Shane

I lost my job because I allowed myself to be caught up in an addiction to pornography. Over the past year God has delivered me and I have now made myself accountable to a group of guys. God has healed my relationship with my wife and graciously given me a new job. It is wonderful to be able to be transparent before my wife and also other guys. My God is an awesome God! John

He has given me the strength to stay committed to my marriage after a traumatic revelation that my wife had been unfaithful to me for over 3 years. We had been married for 23½ years. We have eight children and I had been so busy that I had forgotten to still be her buddy and that is what she had gone looking for. The other inevitably happened as a consequence of finding a buddy. The problem was it wasn’t me, to my eternal shame. “Bob”

Because of the amount of blessings which God has brought into my life there is no one best thing which can be identified for there are many. But I feel that I must share this one particular blessing, the instant removal of my seven year addiction to pornography, the night I invited Jesus into my life... Thanks to God I haven’t looked at pornography since that night, Praise Jesus. Bradley

The best thing that God has done for me on my spiritual journey... To witness through me to help my wife become a Christian. Also last year I came to Promise Keepers in Christchurch and found it to be the biggest growth in my personal and Christian life. There I confronted many issues, and while I still battle some, I enjoy a better walk with the Lord. My wife couldn't wait for me to come again this year. Chris

God has taken me from a bike gang member to Pastor in 15 years. My life has now become a journey for God... God has shown me how to be a better father, husband and friend to my family and others who cross my path... Thank you for redirecting me back to Jesus. Kevin

God has restored me to my wife and kids, revealed to me what I have to change and delivered me from drink and drugs. My wife and I recommitted our wedding vows last year 2009. Thank you Jesus! Wiki

The best thing that God has done for me on my spiritual journey... He took me out from jail. I accepted the Lord in my heart and He turned my life around. I used to smash people up but now I don’t do that anymore. George

Going to something which we had to pay for and having no money we set out anyway. A vehicle coming the other way stopped us and gave us a cheque for the exact amount. How could I not believe in God? Mike

I had drifted away for several years. I was away on a climbing trip when my companion was hurt just under the summit. He was flown off just as the mountain closed in. I started to descend back to the hut. The weather got worse, I knew I was going down and was unlikely to get off the mountain. I found some small measure of shelter behind a small rock and started praying. I then felt warm all over and around, and felt that I was not alone anymore. I then was guided right to the back of the hut. During this the cloud was so heavy I could not see the ground. Russell

One day I met a girl with really strong faith and that evening we talked about God and His power. I couldn’t sleep that night and I had the feeling to open my Bible (I had it for 17 years and never read it before). I finished Luke’s Gospel. After, I woke up and I felt changed of myself. Since that morning, I stopped my drinking addiction and smoking addiction and party addiction. My mind woke up and I changed my priorities of my life. In one week I had read the whole of the New Testament and I still felt hungry for God. On Sunday I [joined a] Salvation Army church and did not leave since. After 14 days I had been baptised in the name of Jesus (it was my thanks to the Lord). After a month and a half I became a Salvation Army soldier. I did not drink alcohol since, did not touch smokes since, did not stress since, and try to not follow my lust since. Thank God for His holy work. He helped me to be the guy I always wanted to be. Bless all of you Promise Keepers. Daniel

God empowered my wife to leave me due to my unfaithfulness over 32 years of marriage. My life in my eyes ended; I fell into a black pit. Life wasn’t worth living – for all concerned, I felt it best to end. I was in a men’s group at that time and unbeknown to me at our group meeting this particular week the leader shared about suicide. I was wild! The next week I went on a huge pity party until God started to speak... In short, God has allowed my life to be transformed and now, 5 years later, I’m back with my wife in a relationship more powerful that we ever had over the first 32 years of our marriage. Therefore the best thing God has done for me was to bring me to an end of myself, then take me one step at a time in transforming who I am to be the person who God wants me to be. Praise God. Malcolm

As a young fellow I believed I would be a bachelor like my uncle. I decided when I was young to give my life to sport and walked away from God in my late teenage years. It was the worst time of my life, lonely and dark. My parents and other people were praying for me and God used a group of devoted Christian girls to bring me back to church and God. Flatting with these Christian girls was a non-Christian girl who was saved about the same time I came back to God. Beforehand this non-Christian girl didn’t like me and vice versa. After her conversion and my conversion we miraculously started going out with each other. A few years later we were married which I never thought would happen. We are still more than happily married and have 4 beautiful children to show for it. I continue to thank God that He is the great matchmaker and makes the seemingly impossible, possible. Praise God. Owen

On December 5th at 11.30am I was working installing pipework in a paddock when I touched the overhead lines and received 22,000 volts through my left index finger and through my heart and out my left big toe. While being shocked I saw a white light, and then a plate-size picture of my wife and two children. Then I fell to the ground, thinking I was going to die, but I was still alive when I got to Christchurch hospital by the Westpac helicopter. I was in hospital for two weeks. While lying in bed I reflected what had happened to me and why. A retired pastor was in the bed next to me. I told him what I thought and he told me that God was there for me. So when I left hospital I knew that I needed to contact a church and get help for me and my family. I got the phone book out and looked up churches. [XX church] lit up really bright, so I called them. I have been baptised with my wife and children at the same time. I have joined a men’s group which has brought me to Promise Keepers. I have realised this is what I needed as the stories I have heard are the same as my story and life. It has changed my life today. I want to repent... My family life is in a bad way, but after today Promise Keepers has given me the strength to go home and put my life and family on the right track, and I will ask for forgiveness. Alf

The best thing that God has done for me on my spiritual journey... Coming to Promise Keepers. The first one in Christchurch with the theme “let the walls fall down” [1996 Break Down the Walls] had a huge impact on my life. It broke down the strongholds in my life in the husband and father role. I was already a good husband and dad but that weekend changed my life – now I am a more sensitive man. I was blind but now I see. From that change, a great delight was to have my 3 teenage sons come to Promise Keepers. I was too busy; one speaker that touched me was the pastor carpenter who cut back his church work hours to spend time with his builder son. I have just finished some house renovations with my second son, getting alongside him and teaching him – very fruitful. I have also helped my other sons [as] a way of getting alongside them. Allan

I have had a problem with pornography since I was about 12 years old. I was introduced to it by my father. At last year's Promise Keepers God touched me dramatically. I learnt I have a new DNA and my inheritance was no longer from my father on earth, but my father in heaven. I was a new creation. I ended up standing in front of the hall church (300+ people) and confessing my sin. You could have heard a pin drop. I am a new creation. My true relationship with my heavenly dad started a year ago even though I have known him for over 30 years. Wayne

My spiritual journey began two years ago. Up until then I was a school dropout, convicted criminal, living with a drug dealer. Out of sheer intrigue I decided I wanted to go to a church. Less than a month later, I was at the front of an altar, on my knees in tears, knowing for the first time in my life there was a God who loved me, died for me and was giving me eternal life. Wow! Two years later now and I’m married, studying, and hoping to become a Youth Pastor/missionary because there is nothing I love more than telling others the same good news that changed my life. Mike

As I was holding a knife to my wife’s throat, as she lay on the floor where I had pushed her down, I looked up to see my two-year-old daughter watching. I was instantly sobered, and realised dramatic change was necessary. Even though I was a Christian, I had not yet conquered my addictions and character flaws. From that day my journey began. With God’s help - through Promise Keepers, and together with other men from my church - 12 years later my marriage is healed, my relationships with my children are restored and my addictions conquered. Chris

About 3½ years ago, while travelling back from Queenstown with a friend, as we approached a corner an oncoming vehicle crossed the centre line and hit us head on, both vehicles travelling at about 100 km/ph. As the impending accident became apparent, time seemed to slow down and thoughts of death became prominent. Then a foreign voice in my head told me that my friend and myself will be fine and everyone will survive. All of a sudden I was calm, knowing that I’ll be fine. I am happy to say we were all fine, even the other driver after a short while in hospital. Then last year during Mike Griffiths’ talk at Promise Keepers, that voice I heard before spoke to me again and at that point I realised that it was God, and that I was a Christian in my head, but not in my heart. So that day I made that transition and have done so ever since. Christopher

I have lived in a Christian family and grown up in a church all my life. In 2006 our family went through a lot of struggle with my father breaking his back, this put a lot of strain on all of us as we were dairy farming. We found it hard but God brought us through. Within a year we went through another scare with seeing my father shot in a hunting accident, he survived, but it was a real scare. We found it hard and began to question and ask God WHY? Then last year my youngest brother was in a head-on collision with a car on his motorbike, he was injured so bad and we know God was watching over him because with the circumstances, he could have easily been killed. Through all of this we have become stronger and realised that He is watching over us and that we can’t take any day for granted and that every day is a gift from God and we need to live it to the full for Him. Curtis

God protected me in a car accident 8 years ago. Later I gave my life to the Lord, after 4 years of marriage, at a Family Life marriage conference that my wife and I attended after she had asked me for a divorce. I was baptised after my first Promise Keepers Event a couple of years later. We are now coming up to 15 years married with 6 kids that we home school. During that time we have had a few miracles happen - one being, one of my daughters being unharmed with no injury after I had accidently ran her over and getting out to see what was under the front wheel. She was 18 months old. More recently I was miraculously healed at a healing service. I had two herniated (ruptured) discs in my lower spine, crippling me for over a year. The doctors could do nothing, we nearly lost our contracting business and were close to being bankrupt. But God intervened and healed me, which I now testify to everyone I can, especially unbelievers. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for coming into my life. Amen. Greg

I grew up in a church with no real relationship with God. Went to university here in Dunedin. Started drinking and all the things that go along with it. Along the way I eventually got a teaching career, a wife and a daughter. When I moved back to Oamaru, there at the old church was an amazing group of spirit filled people, who were my age. This was something new. They pulled me in and slowly, very slowly, I engaged with the Holy Spirit. One day, driving through town, I started thanking God, I felt His anointing. My lust and drinking problems are gone. My family is awesome. Thank God. Phil

After 12 years of marriage, I got divorced. In that time I became a Christian after months of struggle as a single parent. I asked God for a wife. Then God told me in the Bible that I have two options - stay unmarried or marry my previous wife. I then led my wife to the Lord and after 1 year and 3 months, we got married again. We are married now for 11 years. The last 11 years was not perfect. Sometimes I had truckloads of excuses not to go on with the relationship, but with God between us and trusting Him we are at the best of our relationship ever. My message to every man and woman out there with problems in their marriage is, don’t look at excuses, look at what God can do for you and your wife. Sometimes I had the best excuses to stop the relationship, then God came and gave me wisdom to carry on. Gideon

God has always been with me but I am not always very obedient. Anyway, last year He got my attention in a dramatic way and showed me how much He loves me. On the 9th August, 1 week after Promise Keepers, while on a bike ride, I had a heart attack. When the ambulance was called it only took 10 minutes to get to me. Once in hospital I had an angiogram. The machine was in the process of breaking down but lasted long enough to process me. A week later, I had a triple bypass to fix 7 partial blockages and I was later told that my surgery was nearly cancelled. My recovery has proceeded very smoothly and I was and have been very aware of the prayers of people all over the world. Through this all God has given me His peace. I am not perfect, but God is continuing His work in me and I praise Him for that. Rob

Born and raised in a family of violence, drugs and alcohol. Started smoking at 8, drinking at 11. Joined my first gang at 14. I led a life of crime, drugs and violence that both put me inside jail cells and was also nearly beaten to death (literally). My GPS was punched in for destruction. Over the last 7 or 8 years, God has taught me a different way of living. I don’t always follow the route on my map, but with His grace, I always find my destination. Tai


Paul’s Story...

Things weren’t right in Paul’s home - mainly because things weren’t right in Paul’s heart. Deep down I knew it, and the neat thing: God was going to start speaking to me very clearly about where things were at. Looking back, I am blown away by how kind God was and how patient, and the truth was that He loved me too much to let me stay in the messed up place that I was in. I am SO grateful to Him for that...

I saw Promise Keepers advertised in Dunedin. So I went and took a couple of mates... Men speaking straight up to men. The message that really got me at that first conference was the “Love Your Wife” message. I was demanding that my wife loved me - not realising that her love toward me would be largely responsive...

I was deeply disturbed during and after that Promise Keepers conference. I double-checked the message and couldn’t find a way of avoiding it. Busted... I invited Jesus into the mess and so took step one of a journey I am still on.

[The Challenge 2003 Event] was about R.E.A.L. men. R for Reject Passivity. At this conference my apathy was challenged. I had a mindset that one day when I had paid off the mortgage and the children had left home I would serve God and be totally available then. I wrote things down, Action Points, things that I would do about it. Changes I would make.

Time went by and before I knew it we were down in Invercargill at the next conference. A whole year had gone by. After a message on “My sheep hear My voice” we broke into groups to talk about what God was saying to us and to pray with and for each other.

A red-haired bloke from Southland shared some stuff he reckoned God had asked him to do and how he hadn’t done it yet. I challenged him as to “he who knows the good thing that is his to do and does not do it is guilty of sin”. This awesome man (humble leader) recognised this as true, agreed with God (as in James). Clearly the Spirit of God was at work in his heart and his life as he confessed this as sin, and we grabbed hold of 1 John 1: 9 together - “Forgiven, cleansed from all unrighteousness”, receiving the righteousness of Christ - amazing stuff.

My turn... and suddenly, Holy Spirit-challenged by this man’s testimony/example right before me, I was compelled to share about how God had spoken to me at the R.E.A.L Event a year before and my new-found redhead friend used my own words to assist me to go all the way in response. I was busted, convicted straight up and we all wept before God as I too confessed my sin and committed myself to a “YES, LORD” journey (as long as I know it is You, I say “Yes, Lord”). Which I have been learning to walk in ever since...

A bunch of 4 bros and their big brother Jesus doing business. Father God loved it and we all knew it that day. This Event launched me into a whole new season/place in my life. Not all easy, but all of it raw and real - here I am God, use me. Learning to trust God... Discovering the capacity to hang on for dear life e.g. Romans 8:28 in the hard places, and even a Holy Spirit capacity to rejoice in those places sometimes - in ups and in downs... and discovering that the journey of the heart IS the journey.

Neil’s Story...

My name is Neil Williams. If you knew me a couple of years ago [Promise Keepers] is the last place you would ever expect to find me. I was such a rebel against everything that [my parents] tried to get me to do... I never even thought that God existed, and I just went out into my own life and went pretty much straight onto the highway to Hell.

I left home as soon as I could. I went into flatting with a woman, and alcohol and drugs occasionally. Each relationship would last about 3 years and then I’d go on to another one; every time I fell in love with somebody my heart would be broken and there was just all this lies and deceit [but] I was seeking out the truth...

I was working hard 7 days a week, and I started rowing for Invercargill. I was doing a lot of training and I got a hernia... I don’t know what happened in the operation, but I came out of it and [experienced ongoing health problems]... Years went by and I was going to the doctor to try and find out what was wrong and had CT scans... and overall my health was just getting worse and worse.

After about 12 years of this, I was getting to the end of myself. Through it all, I met my wife, and when I was about 39 years old, we got married. Then about 4 years ago, my health got that bad that the doctor put me off work. I only had iron levels of 4, and so I was struggling, out of work and had no energy whatsoever. My wife said, “why don’t you go to church?” and I sort of dared her back. I said, “I will, if you will”. So we started going to church...

And then somebody mentioned about Promise Keepers and a bunch of guys coming away for a trip to Dunedin... And so I turned up on the first night here, and they were talking about Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice and surrendering all, and I hadn’t really thought about God. So the next thing I found my arm going up and I went out the back and got prayed for and I surrendered my life to the Lord.

Brian Hughes prayed for me and I was telling him about all the problems I had with health... so he prayed for healing. I came home from Promise Keepers absolutely on fire – from going up there with low iron levels to actually bouncing off the walls, and I just couldn’t get enough of God! I found Shine TV and... wanted to hear more of the speakers [like] they had in Promise Keepers. One of them was talking on being baptised – baptised in the Holy Spirit and baptised in fire – so I just poured my heart out and repented to God of all the things that I’d done over the years and just asked him to baptise me in the Holy Spirit.
Basically I wasn’t sleeping through the night – I was praising Him in the shower and in the car and just couldn’t get enough. I joined Bible College; I got into prison ministry, started working casual work...

[When] I was sick and I was tearing people down all around me... I didn’t care if I was taking others down. But when I had this encounter with God at Promise Keepers and my eyes were opened, I just had such a turnaround, and a peace that came over me. I couldn’t believe it - in the first day I was walking down the street and just seeing all the trees and the clouds looked so different, and just the overwhelming peace.

About 6 months after I gave my life to the Lord, my nephew was having a lot of problems with his mother. He was actually rebelling against her quite bad to the point where she was almost thinking of bringing the Police on him.

And me and my wife were lying in bed wondering what we could do about it and we said to one another maybe we should take him. We thought, well I’d only just become a Christian, so why not let’s pray about it? So we were busy praying about it, and I’d read in the Bible where Gideon had asked for a sign. So I said, “Why don’t we ask God for a sign?” And then a bird popped into my head, so I said, “Lord, If You want us to take him into our house, could you send us a bird to our bedroom window? And then I was thinking any little bird won’t do, so I said, “Could you make it a loud bird, when we both wake up?” So we both went to sleep. I was lying awake in the morning, wondering what was going to happen... my wife, she rolled over and just as she was rolling over there was this really loud bird that was just squawking its head off, right at our bedroom window. And we just could not deny that. The first words that came out of her mouth were, “That’s what we prayed for, that’s what we prayed for!”

So we took him in for a few months and he could just see the incredible change in me from where I was – destroying everything around me – to a totally different person. And so he started coming along to church and he got involved in Youth and then this year, we brought him along to Promise Keepers.

I was amazed - he’d been toying a lot with the idea of giving his life to the Lord, but last night he just put his hand up and did it in front of everybody... I just want to thank you guys at Promise Keepers for this ministry, for what God’s been doing in my life and doing in my nephew’s life.