My conversion from a practising Catholic to a Bible Believing Christian is primarily down to the change that I witnessed in my father's life. One day I heard him listening to an old time American preacher. I remember saying to him: "Why are you listening to this? You're a Catholic and we're good people." He responded by saying to me: "It isn't enough for me now. I need something else. And I am not a good person." Now, I must say that for a person who went to church every day, was on most church committees and had even penned a book about our church (which sold very well), this amazed me. This was to be a major turning point for my father and little did I know, for me too.

During this period, I was a singer with my own big band orchestra. We were at the level of semi-professional (I even worked with a trombonist who played with Frank Sinatra) and I absolutely worshipped this musical world that I was a part of.

All my energy and spare time after work went into making music my future. I would record 3 CDs and spend a small fortune producing these to float around to prospective agents. However, with the drastic change in my father's life, I couldn't ignore it and we would spend hours talking about the Bible, morals and the Catholic church. It took me 3 years to fully realise that I too needed to be Born Again.

As band leader it was my responsibility to not only hire and fire musicians but also to find adequate venues to rehearse the orchestra, sometimes twice weekly. On numerous occasions I was able to secure two different church halls. I distinctly remember one being a Methodist church and one of the elders of that church, for a period of perhaps 18 months or so, never once witnessed to me or my musicians. All I recall him stressing was that "no smoking or alcohol was permitted on the premises." Also intriguing was how our keyboard player was their Sunday organist and he too never shared the Gospel with me or the 17 other guys. One can be "religious" yet not saved. Needless to say, when I got saved, Gospel tracts were sent to both parties and other "religious" people I had long known, prior to my new birth.

I should also say that once sin was presented to me clearly in the Bible, I took no time in seeking God will all my heart and mind. I read the Bible every day for hours and it was quite easy for me to realise that I needed to become a Christian, and therefore in January 2002, I got on my knees and prayed to God for quite some time and started confessing many sins and sins I probably hadn't even committed. From that day forth, I gradually lost interest in my music and other secular interests that I once cherished. I would later go on to sell all my musical orchestrations and PA system and even witnessed to the singer who came to buy my charts, by giving him a tract. Money raised from this went to needy Christian communities around the world. And you know what, I don't miss it at all and neither will you (1 John 2:15,16.)

However friends left me, because I would witness to everybody I knew, including old and new friends, plus workmates. Family relations would also be strained and continue to this day.

One of the first groups of people I wanted to witness to were of course my Catholic friends, some of which had participated in producing my CD's with me. I recall two such individuals, both practising Catholics and talented musicians. One had written special arrangements for me on my first CD and I wanted to try and reach him with the Truth. I remember e-mailing him about my new birth and how wonderful it was. I tried as best I could as a babe in Christ to explain what being born again meant. I even shared my notes from a distinguished Bible teacher and I was amazed at his response. "The curry is great over here." That's all he had to say! He just wasn't interested. My other friend requested I stop contacting her, so I did. I have never heard from either of them since.

Thank God He saved me from an eternal Hell and he will save you too.

Because if you've ever lied (Rev. 21:8), stolen something (1 Cor. 6.10), sexually desired a person that wasn't your spouse (Gal. 5.19-21) or even hated someone without a cause, you are a MURDERER at heart and such people are eternally excluded from Heaven (1 John 3:15.)

What Now?

You must repent, that means to not only be sorry for your sins, but to turn from them towards God and then cry out to Jesus who died for your sins and trust Him completely to save you.