One Friday evening just after I had come home from the army, I was walking along the road on my way to make a score ( buy some dope). When suddenly I was stopped by the power of God, and found myself walking back to a church that I had just walked past. I went in and was surprised by the noise, and everyone standing there with their hands in the air and speaking in tounges “different languages”. Found a seat near the back, but before I knew what was going on I saw in the front of the congregation, up on the wall something that would change my life forever.
I noticed for a moment something like a film projected onto the wall, the wall was covered with a curtain. But I could clearly see a hill with three crosses on it, and it was all shiny white. So while they were all praying and praising God, I went up front to find out what was going on. I had to find out if they were trying to trick me, with film tricks. So when I told them what I had seen they got so excited, and asked if I wanted to get saved.
Get saved? What were they talking about, I wondered, but before I could answer they lay hands on me and were already praying.
After that they asked if I was baptised.
Baptised? Never heard of it. So I said OK!
The next week I was to come back and they would baptize me there. So I invited my grandmother, being catholic she got really upset and warned me against doing it. So I asked my mom and uncle Jack (my stepfather) if they could come, but my mom didn’t have time. So uncle Jack came, he was a believer, but had not yet been baptised himself.
I got into white garments ready to be baptised. Was taken up to a room in front of the building and went down into the water with another man. Then the curtain in front of the congregation was drawn aside, and I saw down where the congregation sat, was so glad to see uncle Jack sitting there. The exact place where I had seen the vision, was where I was baptised. And now it was done, not really understanding anything about what had just happened.
When I got home to Nana (my grandmother) she was so upset when she saw my wet underwear. She said it was a terrible thing that I had done, and that the catholic church would not be happy. But for once in my life I felt at peace, and it seemed so right what was happening in my life.
Uncle Jack was so surprised and told me that when I came up from the water that my face shined like an angel. My new desire was now to be with other christians. And within a week I had thrown my smokes into the sea. And joined a team that went into the slums to witness to the lost.
Suddenly things in my life would change, for the very next week my father’s ship arrived in South Africa. It took him nineteen years to make the call. And he asked if I wanted to join him on the ship, promising me a new start in life. I was unemployed and without any ambitions, so I said yes.
I can remember telling the elders of the church that I was leaving South Africa, going to be a sailor and travell the world. Again they lay hands on me and prayed to the Lord, for guidance and protection on my journeys. They encouraged me to go out and tell the world about my experiences with Jesus.
Bethel, Plumstead was the name of the church in 1980.
This is where Jesus found me, where I was baptised.
Back then there was a great revival where many met Jesus and were saved.