Ashley's Story
I grew up in a wonderfully loving home and am very close with my family but unfortunately I grew up never knowing Jesus. When I met my husband at the age of 26, things changed for me. I found out that he grew up in a Christian home but like me, was not a Christian. That raised many questions for me about Jesus and God - questions I never knew I had. Until then, I never realised there was such a large part of my life that was missing. We soon started looking for a church to get some answers to our questions. A friend recommended we try Church@thepeak and that's where our Christian walk really began.
Before coming to church I think I avoided thinking about Jesus. I had a curiosity about religion but it was probably too confronting that I couldn't just go about my business living for myself. However, God softened my heart so I could hear his word and come to find faith and forgiveness in him.
After doing the Christianity Explored course I realised I was one of lost sheep and that Jesus came to find and save (Luke 15 1-7). I felt so humbled and blessed even though I was a sinful person, he still wanted me to forgive me and save me.
I now know of God's presence in my life, and even though I am still sinful, my worldview has definitely changed. I want his forgiveness and strength to turn away from my sins, and the idols of wealth and self, because now I want God to be my main focus in life.
I now have 3 young children and I pray there is never a day they do not know God and are blessed by him. It is such a blessing knowing we will forever be with him and one day we will all be reunited in heaven.
Before coming to church I think I avoided thinking about Jesus. I had a curiosity about religion but it was probably too confronting that I couldn't just go about my business living for myself. However, God softened my heart so I could hear his word and come to find faith and forgiveness in him.
After doing the Christianity Explored course I realised I was one of lost sheep and that Jesus came to find and save (Luke 15 1-7). I felt so humbled and blessed even though I was a sinful person, he still wanted me to forgive me and save me.
I now know of God's presence in my life, and even though I am still sinful, my worldview has definitely changed. I want his forgiveness and strength to turn away from my sins, and the idols of wealth and self, because now I want God to be my main focus in life.
I now have 3 young children and I pray there is never a day they do not know God and are blessed by him. It is such a blessing knowing we will forever be with him and one day we will all be reunited in heaven.
Col's Story
Tell us what you used to think about Christianity?
For 55 years, I was under the mistaken belief that just having 'Christian values' (being honest, humble, respectful, moral etc) was good enough to being a Christian. I believed that God existed and so I considered myself as a Christian and like many others celebrated Christmas and Easter.
What changed?
My perception of Christianity changed when I attended a ‘Christianity Explored’ course. This was the first time in my life that I had actually opened the Bible and studied what was written. I knew the Bible stories from Sunday School and from the Hollywood blockbuster movies, but to me they were just good yarns.
As the course progressed, I was truly amazed by how much meaning and depth was in each verse and the power of what was written. It was an eye opening moment and a realisation that there was more to this than just stories. However after finishing Christianity Explored, I still had some doubts and even more questions. So I kept studying the Bible with a friend. The more I read and deliberated over God’s word, the more I came to understand Jesus. This understanding and acceptance didn't all happen in a flash, but over a period of about 15 months of reading, studying the Bible, and asking a lot of questions, it finally did.
I don’t think the decision to follow Jesus came easy – there were many times I doubted, and often wondered whether I would ever believe. However, the more I asked questions, the more I realised there were good answers to these questions. I was able to trust, and eventually see the truth in what was written in the Bible.
Where are you at now?
In Ephesians 1:17–19 Paul writes: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.”
I am drawn to this passage as I feel in my heart that God gave me the wisdom and enlightenment to see the truth - to get to know Jesus and accept him as part of my life. I now know and accept that Jesus came to serve and that he willingly sacrificed himself to atone for our sins. I have a lot more to learn in what it means to be a Christian and to follow the Lord as he commanded. To me the journey has just begun and I ask Jesus to assist me grow in my understanding of him.
I remember in Christianity Explored that the first question we considered was “If you could ask God one question and you knew it would be answered, what would it be?” The first thought that popped into my head was not the question that I could ask, but the realisation that I had never, up to that point spoken to God. Well today I can say that I have spoken to God in prayer many times and that I know he is listening.
For 55 years, I was under the mistaken belief that just having 'Christian values' (being honest, humble, respectful, moral etc) was good enough to being a Christian. I believed that God existed and so I considered myself as a Christian and like many others celebrated Christmas and Easter.
What changed?
My perception of Christianity changed when I attended a ‘Christianity Explored’ course. This was the first time in my life that I had actually opened the Bible and studied what was written. I knew the Bible stories from Sunday School and from the Hollywood blockbuster movies, but to me they were just good yarns.
As the course progressed, I was truly amazed by how much meaning and depth was in each verse and the power of what was written. It was an eye opening moment and a realisation that there was more to this than just stories. However after finishing Christianity Explored, I still had some doubts and even more questions. So I kept studying the Bible with a friend. The more I read and deliberated over God’s word, the more I came to understand Jesus. This understanding and acceptance didn't all happen in a flash, but over a period of about 15 months of reading, studying the Bible, and asking a lot of questions, it finally did.
I don’t think the decision to follow Jesus came easy – there were many times I doubted, and often wondered whether I would ever believe. However, the more I asked questions, the more I realised there were good answers to these questions. I was able to trust, and eventually see the truth in what was written in the Bible.
Where are you at now?
In Ephesians 1:17–19 Paul writes: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.”
I am drawn to this passage as I feel in my heart that God gave me the wisdom and enlightenment to see the truth - to get to know Jesus and accept him as part of my life. I now know and accept that Jesus came to serve and that he willingly sacrificed himself to atone for our sins. I have a lot more to learn in what it means to be a Christian and to follow the Lord as he commanded. To me the journey has just begun and I ask Jesus to assist me grow in my understanding of him.
I remember in Christianity Explored that the first question we considered was “If you could ask God one question and you knew it would be answered, what would it be?” The first thought that popped into my head was not the question that I could ask, but the realisation that I had never, up to that point spoken to God. Well today I can say that I have spoken to God in prayer many times and that I know he is listening.