Here's My Story

Hello Friends

I thought maybe today you could get to know me a little better and so, I'm sharing my story with you.

As you all know my name's Shane but actually that's my second name by which everyone calls me. My first name's Samuel. And today you're going to get to know how I got that name and how it has become my testimony in sharing the power of God in my own life and in ministry through the years.

I was born prematurely on 26th February 1986, I was actually supposed to be born in late April of that year.

The day after I was born, my mum walks into the room where I had been placed in an incubator. The nurses had refused for her to see me and she was told she had to wait for the doctor.   When she eventually was told what the real issue was, she walked out the door and into corridor and prayed this prayer:  "Lord if you give me back my child I will give him back to you." She walked back in and the medical staff could not believe what just happened.

Now let me tell you exactly what happened. I was dead for three hours, my entire system collapsed. Heart, lungs and every other organ was dead. But after she prayed, I recieved my breath of life again. That's simply the grace of God. I was told this story of the circumstances surrounding my birth around the age of 12. When my mum told me what God had done for me and what he was capable of doing, I knew there was a choice to be made. I chose to follow in his footsteps and wanted to be a pastor. God did give me that dream of being in ministry and remembering how God gave me a second chance at life, has spurred me on ever since to give my life for him.

I can assure you, it's the greatest thing ever of what God has done for me but it hasn't been easy getting to where I am right now. And even now it still ain't easy but every moment given to him is worth it.

My dad left us when were little, and haven't seen him since. I have a younger brother Bradley who is just 4 years younger than I am. He's now married with his own family and is a brilliantly talented guitarist. He leads worship at one of our churches back in Pietermaritzburg(I now live in Durban). Mum's remarried and out that marriage I have a fourteen year old little sister, Jolene.

But coming back to my younger days as mentioned earlier it was never easy growing up. But God placed God-honouring men in life who showed me the way. The first was my favourite uncle Tony. A leader in the church. He introduced me to ministry and then the late Pastor Reggie Maistry who mentored me and allowed me to train and serve under him in ministry. I'm very much grateful for those men and a few others who have taken me under their wings for strength and support in both physical and spiritual matters. I even received a scholarship from my home church for full time seminary studies. And yet still God wasn't done with me. He is a great and holy Father.

I am very much grateful for the way life turned out, having a wonderful family. A beautiful and loving wife in Sarah and a handsome son in Zachariah. And even though life is great, it still isn't easy. In the past I've experienced hostility and betrayal from both family and friends.

Ministry is never easy but the absolute reminder of what God has done and can do brings strength and courage to do what can't be done. We must fulfill his will at all cost and our testimonies inspire others to be better and do better. Because of what God can do we must encourage others  of the same.

I hope and pray simply that my testimony today will empower you and remind you that God still raises the dead to life and if you're depressed for whatever reasons that you may have today, please be mindful that God does bring dead things back to life.

Blessings,

Shane.

NB: Please leave a comment or email us. We would love to hear from you. 

We would love for you to share your story with us.  We will publish it here on the blog to encourage all our readers.

Email: thepassionatebeliever@gmail.com