> MY NAME IS LOUIS. I LIVE IN PRETORIA, SINCE
> 1964. I WAS BORN IN NORTHERN RHODESIA (NOW ZAMBIA).
> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THE SCRIPTURES AND HAVE ALWAYS QUESTIONED
> EVERYTHING, IN FACT MY MOTHER WOULD SOMETIMES BE STUMPED AT SOME OF THE
> THINGS I WOULD ASK HER, ABOUT THE BIBLE, OF COURSE.
>
> IN ABOUT 1989, BEING IN A METHODIST CHURCH FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, MY WIFE,
> MYSELF AND SEVERAL OF OUR FRIENDS (10 OF US,) REALISED THAT SOMETHING WAS
> VERY WRONG WITH WHAT WE THEN CALLED "THE SYSTEM". WE STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
> DILLIGENTLY AND COULD NOT RECONCILE WHAT WE LEARNED AND WHAT "THE SYSTEM"
> WAS TEACHING. IT BECAME SO BAD, I REMEMBER ONE TIME, AFTER HAVING A WHOLE
> WEEKEND OF PRAYER VIGIL, HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO US FOR THE CHURCH
> ("THE SYSTEM") WE WENT TO OUR PASTOR AND TOLD HIM, VERY EXCTITED OF COURSE,
> THAT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DISCERNED FOR THE C HURCH (AT THE TIME). HE WAS
> EQUALLY AS EXCITED, AS WE HAD ARRANGED THIS VIGIL TOGETHER WITH HIM, BUT TO
> OUR AMAZEMENT, HE SOON BACKED OUT OF EVERYONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD
> APPROACHED HIM WITH.
>
> THIS WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR US, WE FELT WE HAD JUST WASTED HOURS AND HOURS
> OF OUR TIME, SACRIFICING OUR FAMILY COMMITTENTS ETC... TO BE TOLD THAT
> WHATEVER WE CAME UP WITH, WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO METHODIST
> DOCTRINE, ALTHOUGH WE BELIEVED OUR MESSAGE WAS SINCERLY FROM GOD(AT THE
> TIME). WE ALL RESIGNED FROM THE CHURCH, THIS CREATED SUCH A SCANDAL IN THOSE
> DAYS.
>
> NOBODY RESIGNED FROM A CHURCH, YOU COULD LEAVE, BUT TO ACTUALLY RESIGN, TO
> ASK TO BE TAKEN OFF THEI R RECORDS, NEVER TO RETURN, THIS WAS UNHEARD OF.
>
> WE ENTERED INTO WHAT WE CALLED A "HOME CHURCH" WHICH LASTED FOR ABOUT 2
> YEARS- STUDYING, TEACHING, EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER BUT I SUPPOSE ALL GO OD
> THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND DUE TO GEOGRAPHICAL REASONS, WE SOON SPLIT
> UP. ONE COUPLE LEFT FOR AUSTRIA, IN EUROPE, OTHERS EMMIGRATED TO LONDON,
> ENGLAND, AND SO MY WIFE AND I WERE LEFT DESTITUTE (SO AS TO SPEAK). WE TRIED
> TO FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS, BUT SOON REALISED THEY WEREN'T OF THE "SAME MIND"
> AS OUR OTHER FRIENDS WERE. IN FACT WE WENT WITHOUT FELLOWSHIPING FOR MANY
> YEARS, AND GUESS WHAT, WE DIDN'T MISS IT AT ALL. WE REALISED, WE DON'T NEED
> OTHERS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH TO SHARE GOD'S LOVE. IT WAS ALL AROUND US. SO WE
> STOPPED "LOOKING" FOR FELLOWSHIP.
>
> THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT CHANGED MY LIFE, I FOUND BIBLE TRUTHS.COM- L.
> RAY SMITH, AND AS I WAS STUDYING YOUR PAPE RS, I SOON REALISED YOU WERE
> CONFIRMING EVERYTHING WE HAD LEARNED, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE OF COURSE.
>
> HOW REFRESHING TO READ SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE. I NOW REGULARLY READ
> EVERYTHING ON YOUR SITE, AND I AM AMAZED AT WHAT I AM LEARNING AND OF
> COURSE, THROUGH SELF-STUDY. I BELIEVE GOD IS REALLY REVEILING HIS TRUTHS TO
> ME DAILY. I AM SO ENVIOUS WHEN I LEARN YOU ARE HAVING A CONVENTION WITHOUT
> ME! I DOWNLOAD EVERYTHING ON YOUR SITE AND REFERE TO THE NOTES ALL THE TIME.
>
> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE WONDERFUL "REVELATIONS" YOU SHARE SO FREELY.
> YOURS IN CHRIST, LOUIS DE JAGER.
>
Well, Louis, we know that you will be with us at the Conference in Spirit, and we will tape it so you can
get it off of our Discussion Forum the next week.
God be with you,
Ray
