Mark aka TartanArmy

- Raised a nominal Roman Catholic and always believed there was a God.

- Good upbringing, wanted for nothing. Working class background, family immigrated from Scotland to Australia when I was 5 years old.

- Disliked people who pushed religion, especially those born again Christians. They seemed fake to me. Made fun of them in High school for example.

- Lived life and tasted of its sinful pleasures.

- Became relatively successful by worldly standards i.e. was self employed and travelling the world and driving fast cars and dating fast women etc

- My world came tumbling down! ie Business collapsed suddenly, so called friends abandon me, family turmoil. (Family business)

- Escape reality and become very detached to life in general. Have violent thoughts about the man who played a part in the downfall of our family business. A man my Dad had tried to help.

- Reconnect with my old High school friend and we become great friends again.

- He suddenly becomes a Christian out of nowhere.

- He is a different person entirely and I feel as if I have lost a friend.

- His family asks me to try and get him away from this religious stuff as even they do not know him any more.

- I try to do this but with zero effect.

- He becomes even stronger in his new life as a Christian and we start to grow apart.

- I move to Scotland for a change and a strong feeling that I will meet someone there and get married, so I go with the blessing of my family.

- I do meet a lovely woman, fall madly in love and we do get married.

- Living in Scotland and my friend starts writing to me and sending me Christian books and tracks etc.

- I start reading the stuff and over time get seriously affected by what I am reading.

- My wife is concerned about me. I am a bit like Christian in Pilgrims progress.

- Decide to move back to Australia and raise a family.

- My friend back in my life and he will not let me alone!

- Some amazing discussions with my friend about God and life and stuff.

- Cannot refute what he is saying, and when he leaves I crack open the Bible and read it for myself. It is a scary book to me!

- Try to live a Christian life for a few months. My wife tries too. Some success in my mind!

- Don't last long. Back into sin and the world again.

- Friend perseveres with me against some advice from other Christians who urge him to move on.

- Wife gets cancer.

- Surgery successful.

- One day my friend takes me to a Christian bookshop. He buys me a little booklet called "SEEKING God" by Peter Jeffrey.

- Next three days I read it about 7 or 8 times and fall under conviction of sin.

- My wife does not know what is going on.

- I lock myself in my room and ask my wife to leave meals at the door!

- Moment of conversion alone in my room. I am going to Hell and am pleading with God the Father.

- In a moment, in my mind, I see a Cross. (This is not a vision per say, but in my minds eye, whilst in a dark room)

- I look away from this cross I am seeing. I do not want to look at it.

- I hear(?) am instructed (?) to look at the cross!

- I cannot "NOT" look at it.

- I see in my mind, The sinless Son of God upon it dying.

- I am terrified one moment, then I experience pure Joy.

- I am convinced that my sins are forgiven and that Christ died in my place.

- I leave the room in tears and rejoicing with excitement!

- I ring my friend and he leaves his house before I stop speaking on the telephone!

- Oh what Joy from this moment, which lasts about 1 year. A long honeymoon. Note- During this time I experience many answers to prayer and it alsmost seems to good to be true. Kind of like walking by sight and not by faith. God is too Good!

- Very next day my wife is converted right in front of my eyes whilst reading the same booklet! What a blessing!

- My Brother (An active Atheist living in America and pursuing a career in Hollywood) receives a very private letter from me to Him. A spiritual letter of epic proportions!

- One week later he is in Australia as a direct result of reading this letter (forsakes Hollywood and a meeting with Spielberg and Amblin)

- and powerfully becomes converted in tears right in front of me! (He now makes Christian stuff and hopes to make good Christian stuff)

- Two weeks later my Mother is powerfully converted.

- Six months later my Dad.

- Wife¦s brother visits us from Scotland and 6 months later becomes a Christian. A lot of witnessing there! (Pursuing Missionary work and Pilots license, previously car park attendant and grunge music lifestyle)

- Friend is now an Assistant Pastor and I am called to the Ministry but await the details and human call.

Blessings and To God alone be the glory!