In January 1983, I received the Holy Spirit. I knew this had taken place because I spoke in tongues as the Bible said would happen.

Although never having been a 'church-goer', I have throughout my life been a believer that God was real, that the world was created, rather than evolving.

I had a good life. I had all I needed, work, good income, family, friends - all the trappings. There was always a nagging feeling that something was missing. Although I had a life many would have desired, there was an emptiness that I was unable to fill or explain. What I had considered a good life all changed in 1982. I found myself out of work, and for the first time in my life, I didn't know where the next dollar would come from. The problem increased when I began to realize that savings were going down and the funds on which we were depending had a finite end.

In January 1983, I was told that there was an experience I could have with God. An experience which meant God would look after me in every possible way, an experience that would pave the way to eternal life. This experience would come through obedience to God by being baptised (immersed in water), and asking God for the Holy Spirit. This happened in January 1983.

After I received the Holy Spirit, my life now took a turn for the better. The first thing I noticed was that the word of God became alive. For the first time, I could read and understand the Bible and understand what God required of me. I could understand what he had done for me. I could see his promise for the future. A short time later I came to Lismore for work and have in Lismore ever since.

God has given me a great life. I thought my life was OK before, but it doesn't compare with what I have today. I have a contentment that I had never known before. I now know and understand the plan God for me. I also have an understanding about the end of this world - what it means, and the end of those who make God their enemy.

In the last 43 years, God has done so much for me. So many small things, I have forgotten most of them. There have also been many major things.

In 1996, I was diagnosed by the Lismore Hospital as having Diabetes and Angina. These are not nice things. That was a Saturday night. I went to the meeting the following day and had one of the elders lay hands on me and pray with me as the Bible says to do.

Meanwhile, the hospital had made appointments for me with Community Health to 'manage' the Diabetes and with a local heart specialist for treatment for the Angina. Community Health did two Glucose Tolerance Tests.

The first one was extremely high confirming the hospital's diagnosis. The second one, done five weeks later, was almost normal. I neither changed my diet, nor took any medication - this was a miracle.

I kept the appointment with the heart specialist. Having done all the same tests as the hospital, he was quite annoyed at me wasting his time and concluded 'you have a heart of a man ten years your junior' - another miracle.

The miracles just go on. Fire in a car put out, marvelous protection on the roads; everything I have needed has been provided for me. A peaceful life, a happy life, a fulfilled life.

I have all this now and the promise of eternal life to come - it just doesn't get any better than that.