By the age of 15, I was the typical product of a violent and abusive home life. I had become increasingly violent towards everyone, fighting continually at school and being abusive towards teachers. I left school and went from job to job, now directing my anger towards anybody in authority.
My brother introduced me to a young lady who went to Valley Christian Centre and I began attending church, but did not really come close to God. I, like my brother, continued drinking and smoking. I got married and began attending church more regularly and seriously.
Jesus touched my life and gave me what I wanted - which was to join the military. My priorities changed, I forgot about God and even spent time in the military prison cells. About this time, my brother-in-law died of a heart attack from alcohol abuse at the age of 32, which affected me greatly.
While parachuting I had an accident, severely damaging one of my legs. During rehabilitation, my brother (whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol) fell out of a train and died. This tragedy continued my downward spiral, and I was discharged from the military medically unfit.
We moved back to Morwell and I began attending church once again. I was desperate for reality and purpose, and that is when I met Jesus Christ and he put His hand on my life and began healing me of the deep emotional and physical traumas of my past.
My life has changed completely and I know I am being continually healed, and believe that in everything God has been beside me protecting me. I know He loves me and wants me to show young people who have similar backgrounds to my own that they can hope for a good future, and that God loves and believes in them.
I give God all the glory for my life because he has replaced tragedy, anger and heartbreak with His joy and purpose!
