I was a baptised and practising Catholic who regularly attended Mass at my local church. I wasn’t as devout as my father, but I did try to take my faith seriously by attending Mass most Sundays, especially on so-called “holy days of obligation.”

My parents were raised Catholic, with my father’s family going back some five generations. The family even produced priests, including one who became a Canon and another who joined the Dominican Order.

(On the streets of Manchester, sharing the gospel with a Catholic lady)

When I was about twelve, I first served Mass as an altar boy. For any Catholic, this is a great privilege and quite a responsibility. I can honestly say that I enjoyed this “sacred” duty, although it only continued until I was about fifteen.

Growing up as a Catholic, we visited Aylesford (a Marian shrine) several times, met numerous priests and bishops, and even hosted the late Cardinal Tom Winning of Glasgow—the second most senior cleric in Britain—when he visited our church to speak at a meeting chaired by my father.

(Winning happily received a copy of one of my CDs)

I can honestly—and sadly—say that Jesus Christ, sin, holiness, and the new birth never featured at all in my life. Nor was I ever encouraged by my church to witness to lost souls by sharing the gospel, something I now do regularly.

During this period, I was a successful semi-professional jazz singer with my big band orchestra. All my energy and spare time went into making music my future. I recorded three CDs and even worked with a trombonist who had once played with Frank Sinatra; we also performed a few live shows. However, with the drastic change in my father’s life, I couldn’t ignore it, and we ended up spending hours talking about Bible prophecy, secret societies, cults, and, of course, the Catholic Church.

My conversion from a big band singer to a Bible-believing Christian was primarily due to the change I witnessed in my father’s life. I remember one day seeing him listening to an American preacher on the radio. I asked, “Why are you listening to this? We’re Catholic, and you’re a good person.” He responded, “It isn’t enough for me now. I need something else. And I am not a good person.”

Now, I must say, for my father—who went to Mass daily, served on numerous church committees, and had even penned a book about our church—this truly amazed me.

This was a major turning point for my father, and little did I know, for me as well.

During this time, my father gave me a copy of an old 1880 King James Bible, which I still have. I read it and found its content astounding. All the years I had spent in the Catholic Church, with its many dry and repetitive rituals, and yet this Bible felt so fresh and alive to me.

(A Jehovah’s Witness grudgingly listens to me about the true Biblical Jesus)

In total, it took me nearly three years to fully realise that not only were we living in the last days, but that I too needed to be born again.

I should also say that once I understood God’s word and saw my need for a Saviour, I wasted no time in turning to the Lord. I read the Bible daily, and then, in 2002, I got down on my knees and, for the first time in my life, sincerely prayed and placed my trust in Jesus Christ to save me. I truly believed that He died for my sins and was raised from the dead, trusting in Him alone for my eternal life.

I had gone from knowing of the Lord to knowing Him personally! And what an incredible feeling and emotion that truly was!

From that day forward, I gradually lost interest in my music and other things I had once cherished. Eventually, I disbanded the band, left the Catholic Church, and forsook other vain ambitions.

(A student hears the gospel and later takes a tract from me)

Along with my immediate circle of family, friends, and bandmates, I began reaching out to people I hadn’t been in contact with for years, enclosing gospel tracts. I would guess that over a thousand people received tracts and free copies of my father’s book, From Rapture to Revelation, following our conversions.

(A Jehovah’s Witness wanted to know more about Jesus being God)

So, this is my honest and brief account of how I was wonderfully saved and began my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. But what about you? Do you know Him?

The Bible warns us that all liars will end up in the lake of fire, which lasts forever (Rev. 21:8); that no thief can enter the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10); that to lust after another person is the same as committing adultery (Matt. 5:27-28); and that to call someone a fool or to harbor unjust anger is the same as murder (1 John 3:15).

You must be born again. You must be forgiven. You must be made right with God. This can only happen when a sinner sincerely believes in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour who died on the cross for their sins and, after three days, was raised from the dead by God. By trusting in His precious blood alone to save you, you will not go to Hell when you die, but to Heaven.

If you have done this, you should get a King James Bible (AV1611) and read it every day. Start with the Gospel of John, Genesis, and the Psalms. Within six months or so, you can read the entire Bible.

Then start over again, this time beginning with 1 Thessalonians, then Proverbs, and then Exodus.

Pray as you read the Scriptures, asking God to open your eyes and ears to understand His word, and to show you His will for your life. As you grow in grace, He will build you into the person He intends you to become.

Tell others how He has saved you from your sins and how they, too, must be born again.

(A Jewish man was in no hurry to leave and later shook my hand)

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