Testimonies...

Submitted by: Brian Keys
Date added: 22/03/2007
Hi there, I'm just a normal lad, 23 years old; depending on God's grace every day. I have nothing to be proud of, but all I have is of the Lord. I was born a sinner, as the Bible teaches, and never had to be taught how to do wrong. I realised at a very young age, that I was a sinner and began to understand that I needed to make things right with my maker. God set down a standard for everyone to follow (the Ten Commandments); and I've yet to meet someone who hasn't broke atleast one of God's Commandments. I include myself when I say not one of us can keep them. So, what does that mean? We give up??? No, certainly not! God knew we couldn't keep them and so he sent his only Son to die (in my place & your place) on the cross, to pay for our sins. When I really realised this was true (Jesus died on the cross to die for the bad things I have done & will yet do) ...I was truly sorry for doing all those bad things, and so I asked God to forgive me. Guess what? He did!! ...and "he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (John 15:16 KJV) As Christians, we should follow God's law every day, by reading the Bible & talking with him in prayer. I certainly do not set myself as an example of how this should be done, because I fail continually on many aspects of how Jesus has instructed me to live. I trust the Lord to help me, but Christian's arn't perfect! We're still sinners, but thankfully saved by God's unchanging love & looking to him to keep us from temptation and sin.
Submitted by: Joanne Keys
Date added: 18/06/2006
Hello, my name is Joanne Keys and I'd like to tell you about how the Lord Jesus came into my life. When I was 3 years of age, my family and I went to a mission being held in Brookeborough Orange Hall. The minister that night was the Rev Ian Paisley. Whilst I sat on mummy's knee, I remember being sorry for my sins and being scared that I would die and not go to heaven. The verse being preached on was John 3 v 7, "Marvel not that I say unto to, ye must be born again". At the close of the meeting, Rev Paisley made an appeal for sinners to do business with God, he asked for anyone who felt convicted of their sins and were ready to ask Jesus into their hearts to put up their hand. I remember raising my hand and mummy asking me if I was sure and if I understood what it meant to put up my hand. Apparantly I was so enthusiastic that I waved my hand a little too much, as Dr Paisley told me to put it down again and that he'd saw me, much to the amusement of me, now. After the meeting, mummy went with me into the back room, where Dr Paisley prayed with me and I put my faith and trust simply in Jesus and asked God to forgive me for all of my sins. As I went to christian school until secondary age, school was never a hard place to be as a christian. I moved to Fivemiletown High School to enter secondary education and this proved to be a massive shock to my system. Children swore without thought and did things that I was horrified at, as I had a sheltered upbringing. From the first day in first year at high school, I thank God that he gave me the courage to nail his colours to the mast and to tell everyone what I believed. Through school, I got many opportunities to witness and even got some friends out occasionally to meetings in our church. There were many temptations in school, but thankfully, God kept me throughout. When I was in 4th year at school, a girl I had grown up with in our church, who was in my sunday school class and class in school, was killed in a road traffic accident, incidently outside our church. This came as a massive shock and burst me from the bubble I had been in. This, I suppose, was the first time anyone I had known personally had died and it really made me question myself. Doubts such as, had I ever witnessed to her? Etc, went round and round in my mind. This was a trial to my faith and I believe God strengthened me through this. This made me more aware of the importance and need of witnessing to friends and people with whom I have contact with. In 2002, I was very ill, through a normally straightforward illness, this was terrifing, as, even though you think about death, its a different thing when you are in a position were you could actually die. One night in particular, when I was particularly ill, and everyone had been called to the hospital, Mummy read Psalm 23. When she reached, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death....", she broke down, as I asked her was I going to die. To be honest, although I knew I was'nt very well, I never actually faced up to the fact that I could die that night, until Mummy didnt answer me back, but just cried, along with the rest of my family, who were sitting around the hospital bed. This was a very real assurance of salvation. I was completely at peace, and knew that if I was to die, that I would be with God, "which is far better". For the next 4 months my health was not good, and this was an enormous trial to my faith...perhaps because I'm young and it was hard to be sitting in, while my friends were out and about doing things I normally would do. When my health returned to almost normal, I returned to school to study my A levels, which I thank God I passed. After much prayer, I applied for Nursing, in Queens University, Belfast. When I received the news that I had been rejected because of not having GCSE Maths, I was gutted. But, in hindsight, I realise God was in control. I had already arranged a house to stay in, in Belfast at this stage, so I moved to Belfast, in the hope of getting a part-time job and studying my GCSE in maths. I had the privilege of living with 2 christian girls and have made a lot of good sincere christian friends in Belfast since. God, yet again, was in control. What still amazes me, and will amaze me through life, is how God works in our lives, when we are not even aware of it. As I said, in hindsight, things appear much clearer. A friend of mine once explained their view of Gods sovereign will to me. They said that each period or trial or heartache in life is a jigsaw piece, and although one piece isn't useful by itself, BUT when it is all pieced together, it makes perfect sense. I got a job working in a care home, doing care assistant work. I had had experience working in an elderly nursing home near my home, but had never had experience working with younger people, or people with learning disablities or brain injuries, which this home had as residents. This was daunting at the start, but I soon got used to each wee person, with their unique disability. What struck me is how sad it is that they will never understand Jesus love towards them. Whilst in this job I learned of a 'support work' job that had become available. As I had the experience of working in this care home, I got the job after interview. This job was much better paid and things seemed to be smoothing out. I worked with a wee Roman Catholic 19 year old fella, who has epilepsy and is brain damaged from severe episodes and also physically disabled due to attacks. I got many opportunities to witness to him and his family, as he took a great interest in me singing in churches, which I started whilst I was caring for him. In August 2005, God convicted me of something he has convicted me off for years, singing. I have a love for music, and singing in particular. Our tent mission in Clogher Valley was being organised and our youth leader appealed for anyone to help out in any way they could. I really felt God's hand upon me, although the devil put so many doubts in my head. I spoke to Neville about it and he encouraged me to sing. Since then, I have sang in my church in Belfast and youth meetings, sunday night services, and much to my fear and trembling, sang in martyrs last week. God has really thoroughly blessed me through ministering in song. What I have learned is, the more you're in need of God, the closer to him you will be. Its extremely hard to get up in front of people and sing, and you become so aware of your insignificance and unworthyness for God's service. Sometimes, since I started singing, if I had been in a rush, and hadn't had much time to think about singing, never mind praying about it, I have really been attacked with nerves when singing, and I really understand the saying of having, "knocking knees"!! Christmas 2005 proved that my time with this fella was over, as I injured my back whilst trying to catch him whilst he fell over from having an attack. This really frustrated me, as I had been really enjoying working with him and had been helping out in the children's meetings and student's meetings and was able to attend the prayer meeting every week because of not having to work shift work. In my 2 months off over the christmas period, God really reminded me what I had in Belfast, and how much I had become to think of the people and the work in Tyndale. After I returned to work, I was given another client, as I wasn't allowed to return to the same wee fella, because of my back injury and because he had been assigned another carer in my absence. I worked for a few hard months with my new client, but through personal differences and huge differences in belief, on his part, and problems with payments from work; I then applied for other jobs. I got a job working in a large retail store in Belfast city centre. Here I learned I had jumped from the boiling pot, into a frying pan, as I was given a very hard time for being a Christian and they had massive problems with me refusing to work the Sabbeth. I worked there for 3 weeks, until I could stick it no more, and then unfortunately became unemployed. In my time of unemployment, I have been able to completely devote myself to Gods work in Tyndale, and God has richly blessed me through this. I have been able to take more singing bookings and have been available for the kids meeting, the prayer meeting and have recently felt largely convicted about starting help with outreach in the village area with Tyndale. From this I realise how important it is to give your life to Jesus in it's entirity. God is in Sovereign control, and only in God's will, will you truly be happy. Also, I would advise any Christian, young or old, to get involved in God's work. The blessing you receive makes you really realise what you have been saved from and more importantly, the souls that need saved. Ministering to the Belfast kids has taught me this, and I thank God that he has really gave me a burden for their little souls. Just a few favourtite verses to leave with you. Proverbs 3 v 5 & 6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him , and he shall direct thy paths. Psalm 37 v 4 & 5 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 1 John 5 v 14 & 15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. And a wee verse for the unsaved that can be made no simplier...... John 3 v 16 For God SO loved the world (thats you and me), that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever(thats you and me again) believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. I hope God either encourages you as a christian or speaks to your heart if youre unsaved. Joanne keys.
Submitted by: Peter McIntyre
Date added: 28/03/2006
Testimony Of Rev Peter McIntyre Minister of Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church My Childhood By the grace of God I was born into a Christian family and as I result I do not remember a time when I did not know that I needed to be converted. My parents brought my two younger brothers and myself to Coleraine Free Presbyterian Church where we heard the word of truth in Church, Sabbath School and the Children’s Meetings. We also heard the gospel from the lips of our parents because they faithfully conducted a daily family altar where the scriptures were read and discussed and where we met with God in prayer. I can clearly remember asking the Lord for salvation when I was very young. I do not recall exactly what age I was nor do I recollect the date. I do know that I sought God for salvation through the simple children’s prayer, “Lord Jesus come into my heart, come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart Lord Jesus.” We ought not to despise the child’s prayer because Christ said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God ” (Luke 18:16). As well as bringing me to salvation my formative years also gifted me with strong Protestant Reformation convictions. The denomination to which I belonged then and in which I am now a minister takes a separated position outside the ecumenical movement, which is endemic within the main Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland . My grandparents and an older sister of my Father’s joined the Free Presbyterian Church in Coleraine at its inception in 1957 because they wanted to worship God in a church not polluted by liberal theology and where they could be absolutely that every minister was saved and preached the gospel of saving grace. I thank God for the separated position of our denomination, which has kept the pure stream of God’s truth free of the pollution of falsehood. My Spiritual Crisis When I was thirteen years of age our church opened a new building. To mark the occasion Dr Ian Paisley and Rev John Morrow conducted a gospel mission jointly. After the first Lord’s Day afternoon meeting of the campaign a number of people responded to the appeal and I was suddenly overwhelmed by a searching question which came like a barbed arrow to my conscience, “What if I am not saved?” I did not know how to respond and found myself floundering for two days amid a sea of spiritual turmoil. On Tuesday evening after the mission I discussed the matter with my parents and they took me to John 6:37 where our Lord said “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. As I got my knees and claimed this text by faith then the joy and peace of assurance flooded over my heart dissipating the mists of doubt and insecurity. I learned a most vital lesson that night; assurance is not about how we feel but it is about the rock of God’s truth that never changes. Growing In Grace While I had spiritual longings prior to my arrival at full assurance these desires certainly intensified. I spent time each day reading the scriptures and in prayer. Before the close of the gospel mission I can remember rising to my feet during an open testimony time to publicly thank God for what he had done for my soul. I took opportunities in school to witness for the Saviour. These arose as a result of a Presbyterian minister who asked a class of boys, “Who read their Bible?” I knew that if I were to keep my hand down I would be denying my Lord and so I confessed Christ and risked the laughter of the crowd. Later I responded to an appeal from my minister, Rev George Whyte, for young people to give out just three gospel tracts and I gave mine out in school. While such a public witness was difficult it was soul strengthening because Paul taught , “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). I also grew in grace by learning the great doctrines of God’s word. As I became acquainted with the doctrines of grace commonly nicknamed “Calvinism” I became filled with wonder at the mercy of Almighty God in choosing a depraved people to be covered by the blood of Christ and called by the irresistible workings of the Holy Spirit into a place of eternal safety. Arthur Pink’s little book “The Sovereignty God” I discovered to be particularly helpful and is one which I am convinced every Christian should read. Called Into The Christian Ministry Easter time was always a season I anticipated because of the convention meetings in the Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, Belfast . As a teenager they were seasons of growth, of learning, of challenge and of rededication to the Lord. On Easter Saturday 1987 I was deeply challenged regarding giving my life for ministerial or missionary work and responded to an appeal for those who were willing. I was well aware, however, that this did not signify a call. Some weeks later in the month of May I was reading Jeremiah Chapter One as part of my daily devotions when the words of verse seven and then verse seventeen grasped my heart in a most unusual fashion: (v7)”..thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak”; (v17) “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.” I had two things to say to God in response to his speaking voice: 1. I had plans to go to university and was about to sit my “A” levels in preparation for this. 2. I was too young for the ministry at eighteen and ought to wait before entering Bible School . The Lord then directed my heart verse six where I was surprised to discover that Jeremiah had argued the same point to the Lord, “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” The Lord responded with the opening words of verse seven which I had not even noticed, “Say not I am a child”. I immediately consulted with my minister and made application to the Whitefield College of the Bible. In September I enrolled and began four years of study. Marriage Home And Family In 1993 I married Elizabeth and I thank God for her constant companionship and encouragement. Before our wedding the Lord gave us a promise which he has honoured; “The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel ; he will bless the house of Aaron” (Psalm 115:12). He has given us three lovely children; Daniel, Rebecca and Anna. It is a privilege to have these little lives to pray with and for and to guide into godliness in this dark world of sin. The Preparation Beyond Bible College While I was prepared for four years of study I did not anticipate the other methods employed by the Lord in fitting me for his vineyard. I gained experience in pastoral work in assisting the Rev McCrea in Magherafelt for three years, which included some of my college days. I also spent three years in what was then an outreach church in Donagadee, Co Down. Then as Presbytery rules required me to leave this work in June 1995 I felt myself slipping out into the wilderness. I knew I was called of God but there was no open door available and no place of service beckoned. Elizabeth and I settled down in Newtownards, I obtained employment and we purchased a house. I waited for another door to open but the months became years and humanely speaking it seemed as if there was no ministry. Yet God constantly was my encouragement. He spoke to me through the life of Joseph who was prepared for future events through being rejected by his brethren, through slavery and even through imprisonment. I was also comforted through Elijah who was called to Cherith where the brook dried up. For me the brook of service had become dry but God in his providence had brought me to this position. I was also greatly encouraged by the desires for the Lord’s work which became stronger as the years slipped past. These were fortified by my increasing enjoyment of the pulpit ministry as I brought the word on an itinerant basis. I became convinced that these years were giving me experience in life so necessary for one who is a pastor and teacher. Leaving school at eighteen and entering Bible College meant I had no idea what the Lord’s people face in life by way of pressure and temptation. Therefore seven years in what I called the wilderness were in reality years of improvement and preparation. How infinitely wise are the ways of our God? Clogher Valley In March 2002 I was informed that Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church had called me to become their minister. This came to me as a total surprise. I was overwhelmed. On 20^th April I was ordained and installed. I am grateful to the Lord’s people for their confidence expressed in me at that time and also for their continued support for me since my ordination. While we have experienced some blessings it is my prayer that during my ministry in this valley we will experience revival. It is to this end I preach and I pray.