A Work in Progress
Paul Carley
3/9/2001
Hi my name is Paul. As the old Monty Python sketch used to say "I am an accountant". But hey you had to do something when you left school.
I was born in Dublin to Christian parents and we attended an Assmblies of God fellowship. My earliest memory of Gods calling was when I was on my seventh birthday.The church had a visting Healing Ministry team , Barret and Williams I think they were called. The Holy Spirit was really moving and many were prayed with and healed.I myself had prayer as I was constantly run down and pale. I didnt really have a clue but I knew that God wanted me. I remember wanting to respond and could only express myself by trying to buy books on the books stall. My pastors wife a wise and gentle woman, gave me free tracts and encouraged me to read my Bible.
Growing up in a home were the Gospel was normal and songs spoke of being Born Again I guess you assume that you are OK. You get a little smug. I knew all the detail all the manner of salvation and also that you needed to be saved but that was for others. As I came into my teenage years I was of just a normal kid doing what kids do and experimenting with life but thank God I went on a holiday when I was 13 to a Mission House run by our church in England. On my second day there at breakfast the house leader and old retired British Army Major shared from the Gospel the story of Niocodemus, where Jesus says YE must be Born again. When he finished Len just said to me "Paul are you Born Again". I knew I could not say yes and so for all of the next 12 months his question haunted me. The following August I went to a youth camp and am glad to say I made that step of accepting Jesus as my saviour.At seventeen I recieved the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and was water baptised at nineteen.
Now at 42 I have experienced Jesus in many ways have two girls one boy and a beautiful wife. It has not always been esay I have got a lot wrong both personnaly and in ministry. But Jesus always has been with me and over the last seven weeks despite my experiences Jesus has led me into deeper experiences in the Spirit and it is as fresh and real as it was when I was 15.
If you do not know Jesus you must settle that question " Am I born Again"?
If you are a young person who struggles because you grew up in a Christian home so your conversion has been less dramatic than some read Pauls letter to Timothy . Just because you have no "big sin" does not mean you do not need a saviour, nor does it mean you are less Born Again. Just praise Jesus for your good begining.
If I can be of help email me at paulcarley@chapmans.ie