We were both 13. Her name was Angela (The same Angie that sometimes posts comments on my blog), my high school crush and during a conversation at the school bus stop I asked her what she was doing on the weekend. Going to Church? Hmm... I had been to Church on many occasions, but it never had any meaning. That was all about to change. I was late, traveling by bus is not an exact science in Auckland, something that's true to this day. I got a shock as I approached the building. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". Oh, oh, my experiences with them were not pleasant. It turned out that this Church simply used an old Mormon publishing warehouse for their premises.

The name of the Church was North Shore Faith Centre, a non-denominational church on the North Shore of Auckland. I was too intimidated to enter the front doors, so finding a rear entrance, I entered. I remember what happened next like it just happened. Approaching plain white doors, wedged open, I took a step into the main auditorium and my world changed forever. I stopped. It was as if I was suddenly in a trance. My eyes swept over the crowds an then to the speaker on the stage, Pastor John Steele, when a voice within spoke to me as clear as anything I could have hear with my natural ears and spoke, "Israel, I will have you doing this for me one day".

I am not even sure if I made a decision to follow this previously unknown God that had just called me, but within weeks I was baptised, listening to Petra :) and being discipled by Mark ???? from the Church, and sharing his house with Dean Rush, now the Pastor of Christian City Church, Auckland. Mark ????, if you ever read this, please contact me, I've been looking for you for a long time.