Personal (Page 2)

My parents were not churchgoers but sent my 3 sisters and me to church on Sundays. We never prayed in our home except at meal times. However, we were raised in a loving home despite the many social challenges my family encountered. Although I attended services at the local Anglican Church during my High School years, I knew very little of God, let alone His desire to have an intimate, personal relationship with me. I met my wife, Joan, in…

My first encounter with Jesus was at a Youth for Christ outreach at the Durban ice-rink in 1967 at the age of 13. My family were church-goers but not born again, and the spark of life that I had experienced that night, soon fizzled out. I had a second encounter with the Lord at Boarding School the following year during an African Enterprise crusade. Michael Cassidy preached the Gospel. I made a decision to give my life to Jesus, along…

All glory, honour and praise to God for His call upon my life. I thank God for His indescribable love for me and for His keeping power over me! 1995 was a significant year and the beginning of a life-changing experience. I resigned from teaching and my first spinal fusion operation was performed in August.  During the long weeks of recovery, folks came round to pray and encourage me. I spent time reading the Word and listening to Gospel music…

I was at boarding school in South Africa for 10 of my 12 school-going years, with my family home in the then Northern Rhodesian Copper Belt. Up to Standard 8/9 (Grade 10/11), our family were members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Since I can remember, my mom, Anne Groenewald, long gone to be with the Lord, whom many of the “oldies” in CAOG should still remember, was an individual predisposed to the things of the Lord, even before she met…

25 years ago I was sentenced to death 11 times for the murder of 11 innocent woman and children at Trust Feeds, near New Hanover. It all began at the 1988 height of the political war between the UDF and the Inkatha Freedom Party. The unrest spread to rural areas not previously affected by political violence. In these areas alternative structures were being established by the UDF, and KZN was gripped by a low level civil war. Trust Feed was…

I was raised in a good Christian home, as many of you will know. My family life and home situation was probably one of the most privileged situations I could have known. I only came to realise this much later in life. Pretty much every one I know or have dealt with lately has come from, or is in, a broken family. Living with both sets of parents in Christian homes is almost unheard of nowadays. Anyway my three brothers,…

I will begin at the very beginning. I was privileged to be born into a Christian home with a Mum and Dad (Scott and Colleen Phillips) who loved each other, their children and, most importantly, the Lord. We attended Waterfall Assembly and it really was like an extension of our family. We had many Brothers, Sisters and Aunties and Uncles in Christ. From a young age I learned, by example, to love others and the Body of Christ. That in order…