I increasingly became interested in intellectualism and accepted the Evolutionary theory within the grasp of an agnostic viewpoint and started looking at Astrology and the I Ching. I also put up a poster in my room at the University, which stated, "God is not dead, He simply refuses to get involved". That particularly needled many of the Christians there.

One Dental Student however, who was a provincial rugby player too, was deeply committed to the Lord and was keen to debate these issues with me. At that time I was in my 3^rd year Medical School. I can still remember clearly that I was "winning the argument" when suddenly that night, I heard quite loud a voice over my right shoulder saying, "It is enough, if you persist in this line of thought My involvement in your life will cease". I recognised that Voice immediately. Instantaneously, I fell down flat on my face and I repented before the Lord. My friend did not know what hit him, but was quick on insisting on the "sinner’s prayer". He also said that he would pray in a strange tongue, and that it was his "direct line" to God.

I started reading the Bible and found that I had an insatiable hunger for it. During the next 2 years I read it 7 times in Afrikaans and in different English translations. I was clearly convicted by the Lord and immediately disposed of books and music that weren’t suitable for sustaining my spiritual growth in the Lord. My mother and my friends thought that I had gone mad, but with every familiar object that I destroyed I felt lighter and lighter. The turnaround was so dramatic that in a hostel with approximately 40 students, 20 odd (probably more) either accepted Jesus as their Saviour or rededicated their lives unto God within the next few months. I also had to make restitution where possible and in particular I remember handing back a stamp collection I had nicked from my foster parents.

Within 6 weeks of my conversion I felt deeply convicted about Baptism and approached my friend concerning it. He was worried that someone had talked to me about it, after all, I had been Christened as a baby. But after recognizing that it was in obedience to God’s Word, I was baptized at the Hatfield Baptist Church in Pretoria and I can truly say it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Nothing can describe the joy and fullness of peace when I was raised up into a newness of life.

My struggle then started for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Remember this was in the mid-70’s and there was not a lot of books around on the subject. The Lord led me to the Oral Roberts Bookshop in Johannesburg, and found a particularly helpful book there by the man himself. I pleaded with God to fill me, but I did not feel anything happen. I received a promise of the Lord through Scripture that I would be filled though; and 3 weeks later one Saturday morning I felt the welling up of joy from within as I lay upon my bed. Suddenly I burst forth and spoke out some incomprehensible words and ran to my friend speaking half Afrikaans and half jargon! He laughed and said, "You’ve just been filled with the Holy Spirit". I was floating about 6 inches above the ground! It was wonderful!

A distant relative of mine (an "aunt") had a prophetic ministry and thus I was always weary of her, but after I had became a Christian, I was very eager to meet up with her. At that time I became more deeply involved in ministering with the teacher we had at our home fellowship group and with Athlete’s for Christ. I told my aunt that I wanted to go into "full-time ministry" and her response was crystal clear, "Young man, half a thing is never of God, finish off your Medical degree as a testimony unto God and then go off and convert the World!" I cannot thank God enough for her wisdom. She influenced my life profoundly and we helped each other through some very difficult patches in our lives. Her faith in my calling has encouraged me to stand and to recognise God as my sole source of Life and strength. She was a recognised intercessor and has represented South Africa on an international intercessory conference in England at Ashburnham. On numerous occasions she has been instrumental to pray me through my problems and has helped me cross some difficult obstacles. She also taught me that prayer works and how intimate and real a relationship with Jesus can be.

My career in General Practice in South Africa started in 1986 and I continued to give anaesthetics as well. At that time I started 3 home fellowship groups. One group was primarily for teenagers, who blossomed into an adult fellowship, a group of people from a traditional Protestant background. Some adults and children were baptized and were filled with the Holy Spirit. I was also involved with a Pentecostal Bible study group, which was fun.

I started my Masters degree in Biblical Studies at Durban Christian Centre who were affiliated to Christian International (Bill Hamon’s School in Florida, USA).

I have always thought that America was the Church’s spiritual growth point in this era and wanted to spend some time there. I met up with an evangelist with a strong prophetic anointing from Denver Colorado and spent some holidays there preaching and ministering at her church. Things were also heating up politically in South Africa at which time I completed redoing my medical degree for America, as well as passing the Canadian entrance examination.

In 1994 I came to England, met my wife and after she accepted the Lord we were married without delay! It was a difficult time for both my wife and I to adjust to each other, but God being the centre of our relationship helped us to joy and unity. She has been growing in grace and is a wonderful asset to me. In many ways she’s helped me to focus better, to slow down where necessary and she is an honest and sincere critic when necessary. Life is for sharing and I’m blessed to have such a precious ruby from God. Her love, concern and prayers make me a very happy man.

The work I was doing at that time as a dental anaesthetist, was insecure, but afforded me the opportunity to minister to some Dentists in Margate. They responded to the Lord and were baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and now serve actively in their Church there. One has actually left his profession to pursue studies at John F MacArthur’s College. I also completed my independent study on "How to read the Bible" at that time.

The prospects of Dental anaesthetics became more and more grim and I felt led by the Holy Spirit to return to General Practice. It meant sucking eggs for two years, but I did it and the day I started, I knew that it was of God. My Trainer was a Christian and we shared some interesting moments trying to reconcile the job and the profession.

I finished my training and joined a practice prepared by God, where I can deal with my patients freely in spiritual matters and although it is a high demand practice, it is very rewarding. During the last five years I have ministered more frequently in my own Church and preach often in different churches in Swanley.

I have also been accredited as a Lay Preacher in the Baptist Union of the UK.

I have also been blessed by a friend who is a lay preacher for the Methodist Church in Otford, who serves the Lord without question and is an example for God in his ministering unto all people whatever their needs may be. He has great wisdom and is used beautifully by the Lord and it is an honour to know him as a friend and a prayer partner.

The work at our local church involves me as an elder, and in participating in worship, as well as having a particular heart for the Alpha courses we run from time to time. For more info about our lively church check the website on the What's going on page!

It was through Alpha that a family have grown very close to our hearts, a farmer and his wife and children…God given friends who walk in agreement on the Way! Whether we soak or stoke, God is faithful and we have had some wonderful times in His presence, long may they continue.

With the loss of my "aunt" I have a duty and responsibility to build on the foundation laid and to do so effectively. Hopefully my first book will be published before the end of the year, "How to interpret visions & dreams and symbols from a Christian perspective".

God is alive and well in my relationship and I have come to a place in my life that I know that without Him I cannot and will not succeed. My desire is to please Him and to live a dedicated life to Him in truth. There are a few Christian "buzz" words that underline God’s priorities in my life. They are, "balance", moral freedom and accountability, boldness, giving, joy, worship and integrity. Truth is a big issue to me as it is so evasive at times, and thus I am convinced that people should experience God for themselves and not to enforce my own opinions upon them. The Holy Spirit does the work. May God give me the grace to be a facilitator and to always "speak the word in season to the weary". My desire is to be an example to my wife and to all those around me and to walk in love and integrity at all times. I love to teach God’s concepts and language and to bring forth treasures from His Word and make it simple enough for everyone to understand.

I suppose the exciting thing is that as a GP I do get opportunities to speak and minister to a lot of people with physical and emotional and spiritual problems. On many occasions I have been privileged to pray and council people rather than just write out prescriptions. The key is discernment from the Holy Spirit to minister to the real need at all times, rather than only treating symptoms. I am all for holistic healing, God healing body, soul and spirit through Jesus. I have great partners, all who support one another in serving the Lord. We now have monthly talks with ministry and soaking a week after with Father doing amazing things in people's lives.

The most important paradigm shift came for me after Toronto. I am far more conscious of the Father's love for me and others, and of how the orphaned heart is pervasive within the Church. If we can get our hearts entrenched in sonship ( which means; to love the Lord our God [Daddy] with all our heart, soul, mind and strength); if we truly comprehend how deep, how long and how far the love of God towards us flows, then we can receive that love and as His love is poured out into our hearts, we can love those around us as He does. When this realizes, healing, conviction and change for ourselves and those around us is inevitable. It's not what we are supposed to do, His love will constrain us. Too long I have strived to be acceptable to God and others, now I am just a son, but a son of my heavenly Father; from that premise all things are possible; 1 John 4:16, "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." NKJV.

The second flowing out of that was 1 Cor 2:1-5, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." NKJV

From this again I have learned that without the Holy Spirit showing up when we preach, wise words and clever speech about Jesus' life and His crucifixion is an attempt to convince people of the Father's love in our own strength, even Jesus said, "I only say what I hear the Father say", and "I only do what I see the Father do". Coupled with the fact that we need to receive the kingdom as little children, I now ask the Father what would He want me to say when speaking to others, what is His heart.

So Father give me the grace to always abide in your love, to receive Your heart for me and to do your heart for others in Your love always...in Jesus' Name, Amen.