Another Special Life in Christ
These testimony lives are not stories of "role models". Jesus is the
role model!
These are lives wonderfully touched & changed by Jesus!
John Gavazzoni:
Having learned of John through Kurt Kolstad, I emailed John; and here is a combination of what he and Kurt said at about that time.
John: "Christ opened my heart to Himself as a 16 year
old teenager, having been raised in the Roman Catholic tradition. My conversion came about
mostly through the witness of other teen-agers, including some in the gang I ran
with."
Kurt: He is an X-Pastor of a church in Thousand Oaks,
Ca. He used to travel with Youth For Christ, the organization for which Billy Graham was the
first itinerant evangelist...and was very well know in the camps of the BIG TIME preachers
around the country. He came into the truth long ago and is a brilliant theologian and has
some great insights. Many writings are posted HERE.
More from John:
"Four of us organized a quartette almost
immediately after we had turned to the Lord; and we sang, gave our testimonies and took turns
preaching in churches and youth rallies all over...particularly the Pennsylvania area. I
preached my first sermon that same year. I began in 'full time ministry' at age 19, traveling
with a chalk-artist evangelist as his song-man and youth speaker. About two years after that,
I went out on my own conducting local church evangelistic crusades and eventually was asked
to join the Eastern Area Crusade Staff of Youth for Christ International, covering an
eleven-states area. It was during that period that I came to the revelation of ultimate
reconciliation, specifically while ministering at a summer Bible
conference.
"I was confronted by God suddenly and very
unexpectedly while I was musing about sermons I'd preached on eternal hell. I heard the voice
of the Lord say to me, 'Do you really believe that about me?' In an instant, the answer
leaped out of my spirit, 'No I don't Lord.' I more or less carried this truth in my heart for
many years...enjoying what it meant to me in my relationship with our Heavenly Father. It
wasn't until I was co-pastoring a church here in Thousand Oaks, Calif. that there were some
occasions when I felt that I just had to be upfront about my conviction with several
people.
"One of the elders of the church became very upset
and demanded that I either repent of that 'heresy' or be dismissed as pastor. Of course, I
could not deny what God has shown me...even for the sake of 'unity'. So, I was relieved of my
pastorate and declared a heretic by letter to all the evangelical churches in the
area.
"After doing some leading of home meetings, I
eventually went into sales work to support my family, until years later, the Lord began to
release me to ministry again through writing mostly at first, and then to speaking at
conferences and churches which embraced the truth of the salvation of all.
"That is a short version of this servants walk in
the Way, and pretty much brings you up to date. In case you might be interested in joining
us, I will follow up this e-mail with an announcement of the 4th conference in a series that
is planned for every area of the country. I hope our paths cross one of these days. I look
forward to meeting you in person."
***give me your comments about this
page***
(posted 14 March 2005; latest update 29 April
2006)
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You have just read a very brief example of the
powerful, supernatural transformation of a person's life which is possible through the
acceptance of Jesus as your savior. Are you tired of life as it now is for you? He will
accept you just as you are right this second! Consider accepting Jesus now
[check it
out]!
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