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Shaun's Story Where did I begin? Where does it all end? Why isn't anyone interested anymore?. These questions haunted me throughout my young life. I was born and 'christened' in the Church of England. My young life in England was a series of moving about and never staying anywhere long enough to settle and make friends. My Father was a violent army man who would beat my mother. But when I was seven years old my Father , who was suffering from depression, committed suicide. This changed my life dramatically. I was taken from England and put into Roman Catholic schools in Ireland. My mother had me "converted" to Catholicism!. I was eventually put into a very strict boarding school which was run by catholic 'Christian' brothers. This meant I had to get up early every morning and attend mass, live on a diet of porridge and batch loaf bread. I have problems eating vegetables so I nearly always missed dinner and at tea time had more bread and tea. It was hard, and having an English accent in Ireland at that time meant I got beaten up a lot in school, because of the Northern Ireland troubles. Life at home wasn't much easier, my mother and her boyfriend used to lock me and my brother and sister up in our bedroom with no light or way of using the toilet. They would get drunk frequently and leave us locked out of the house in the freezing cold. If we ever complained about anything we were severely beaten up. On the whole, we had a miserable childhood which should have left me bitter with mental scars for the rest of my life But praise Jesus, I didn't have them for that long. I got a chance to go to a mixed denomination secondary school (11-16). Mount temple Comprehensive a place famous for the group U2. I was in school the same years they were there, and frequently had a few punch-ups with the drummer Larry Mullins. But someone impacted my life when I was there. My 'religion' teacher was actually a Born Again Christian. Her name was Sophie Shirley. She must have endured hell with me there!. I was so confused about God. My mother had delved into Mormonism in the meantime and I read the Book of Mormon alongside the King James Bible when I had nothing else to do. Well Mrs Shirley played tapes of Nicky Cruz (Cross & the Switchblade, Teen Challenge), chatted with me about God, gave me some tracts etc. But it all seemed to be so false. I was judging by my family, and not real Christians. Well I gave up on God, went my own stupid way down the road to ruin. I had nagging questions which no-one could seem to answer though. "Where did it all start?". That was my simple question. I spent most of my spare time when not working researching theories about the Big Bang. I went through many books on astrophysics and all that kind of stuff. But I still couldn't find the answer to my question "Where did it all start?". Do you know every book on the Big Bang and Evolution is not scientific!, they are all based on theories, theories that crumble under close scientific scrutiny!. They are science fiction not fact!. But anyway, I didn't get the answers. I got a job in a cinema. My colleague was a Moonie (Unification Church cult). He used to try to 'indoctrinate' me into the Moonie mind set, but I somehow survived for three years without joining!. I got another good job taking care of famous people in a theatre in Dublin. It was a very disappointing lifestyle. Everyday you would be with the rich and famous. Sometimes pop stars other times famous film stars and actors. That kind of life led me into heavy drinking and the occasional drug taking. One day I was walking around the city of Dublin a man asked me if I was interested in taking a 'free personality test'. I complied, and soon realised that nothing is free!. I discovered that I had somehow ended up in the offices of the Church of Scientology!. I didn't know they were bad then, they seemed to have the answers then, (I must have been really very messed up!). I kept visiting them and having long chats with them. A friend I met one day warned me to keep away from them, that they were brain washers. I had some suspicions so I did for a while. I kept bumping into an old school friend Nigel McGowan. He told me he was a Born Again Christian also. He never tried to shove anything down my throat or indoctrinate me. One day when I was really at my wits end he bumped into me. He was on his way to an evangelistic campaign held by Louis Palau. I eventually came along with some coaxing. The message that night wasn't exactly great (sorry Louis!, but I bought one or two of your books, they are great). I wasn't exactly impressed by the message but by the people there. So many people who loved Jesus, and it showed in their faces and attitudes. I couldn't believe I didn't hear one foul word there (and that is quite common in Dublin!). Well I took some literature home from there, but didn't read it until a week later. I read it one evening when there was nothing on the television. It was a booklet called "What is a Christian?". I would advise anyone who can get their hands on it to get a copy, it really reached me that night. I was amazed at what Jesus did, I was shocked when I realised what a real Christian is, and does. The booklet ended with the verses Romans 10: 9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. I suddenly knew I needed to be saved, and I knew I needed the Saviour. I prayed a simple prayer of dedication, giving my life to Jesus, then I read the verses. I finished with a triumphal cry of "Jesus is Lord, Jesus you are my Lord". With that I felt like I had a punch in the chest!. No, it wasn't negative, I knew that my heart wasn't self seeking and hedonistic anymore. That sign led me to believe without a doubt that Jesus was and is real. He has shown me many new and wonderful things since. I love Him for what He has done for me by dying for my sins. That night I cried so much because of my wickedness, my sinfulness and all the bad that I had done that my pillow was soaked!. The next day I woke up with the words in my mouth "Jesus is alive". Great!, He isn't distant anymore now, He lives in those who love Him, and have a relationship with Him. If you knew me before I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, you would certainly know the difference!. I have a little secret that I will let you in on. If you ever come to Dublin, just go to the door of the Waxworks Museum, and look in. You will see a very big ugly mean ol' giant statue inside the door. Well that was me before I knew Jesus. I was, and might still be the tallest man in Ireland (Even though I am living and pastoring in Belgium). That's why there is a statue of me there. If you ever meet me, having the misfortune to see that ugly statue, you will certainly know that I have gotten younger since I came to know Jesus!. Many have told me that!. Let me finish by saying that Jesus is the answer I was looking for, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and The End Rev 22:13 ,20,21 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. God Bless you © 1998 Shaun Aisbitt
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