The first time I was caught heading this way was when I was 5 years old. I had rounded up all my toys, set them in rows and was giving them a fire and brimstone sermon.

Periodically as I was growing up my grandmother kept telling me that God had a plan for me, but I couldn�t see myself being like Brother John our pastor.

Years passed and I kept telling myself that there was no way I would ever be a preacher. Man, what a dull life that must be. After all, what could a preacher do for fun?

So I tried a few things on for size. I have been a Sailor, an Electronics Technician, a Biological Technician, a Forest Ranger and a Corporate Director to name a few.

Then the day came when I really started digging in the Word of God and I began feeling the call stronger than ever. So I enrolled in Seminary to learn at a faster pace. I couldn�t get enough of the Word fast enough at church and this was great.

Then in the summer of 1990 I was asked if I would fill in at the church summer camp while the couple that was directing it took a week off. This was my first hands on ministry experience. I hesitated at first but was assured that it would be no problem as there were only 7 kids enrolled. So I said sure. Well, the couple�s car broke down out of town and they didn�t make it back until the last week of camp. So I had it all summer long. If there was one thing I knew for certain it was that I had no idea of what I was doing. I prayed a lot, trusted God, did as I felt I was being lead and at the time the couple returned there were 38 kids in the camp and over 20 of them saved for sure. When asked how I did it I told them that all I did was pray a lot and hope I was doing a fair job. The Lord did all the work and my pay for being there was a simple, thank you.

Next up I ran the Sunday School for the first through sixth graders � a rather lively bunch To this I was added the Wednesday night Kids Club, or Junior prayer meeting. Then I was made the Senior Chaplain for the church�s Christian Academy. Pay for all this � it�s all in heaven, none from this world.

After three years I left this church and joined a Southern Baptist church where I preached on Sunday and Wednesday nights, ran the young adult (21-35) Sunday School and Ushered on Sunday mornings. The Senior Pastor made $650,000.00 a year. I asked not one dime. My pay � it�s in Heaven too.

From there I moved out of state and being a little disturbed at how much money some of these preacher ask for and get, I just did free lance evangelism and weddings here and there. I never asked a single cent from any one. However, between two weddings I did one weekend I was given $50.00 and three Bud Lites, which I tried to refuse, but ended up with any way.

Then in February 2004 I nearly hemorrhaged to death and was taken to the ICU at a local hospital where, when I asked what was wrong, the nurse told me I would be dead in the next 15 to 20 minutes. They sent a priest in to give me Last Rights, which he did and then when he to hear my confession I told him I wasn�t a Catholic and had already talked with the Lord.

Well I didn�t die as you can see. I made a remarkable recovery and signed myself out 3 days after being told I had just minutes of life left, walked out of the ICU and went home. I had started to give up on everything including ministry and I believe this was my wake up call.

I started seeking Christians to talk to and got back into the Word again. A couple of months later the Lord sent my a wonderful Christian woman and we were married. That would be Marie and she is Canadian. We haven�t seen each other in almost a year and that�s about how long we�ve been married. We are still waiting for the immigration process to complete.

In the mean time we started building a web site with information on Christian topics. We paid for this web site with our own money and if you check the site you will find no click to donate buttons � just information and Christian reading.

Now you may think we must have money to do these things. The answer is no. In fact we are pretty poor people. I am a disabled Vietnam Vet and I live on that little pension that comes once a month. So why do these things to date with no monetary compensation? Simple: I love the Lord.

There are a couple of things I believe make for a good attitude towards ministry:

(1) When God calls be like Isaiah:

Isa 6:8
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (KJV)

(2) Remember you are on an unbeatable team:

Mark 10:27

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (KJV)

(3) The Bright side to not being Rich:

James 2:5
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (KJV)

Prov 13:8
8 Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man! (TLB)

Prov 10:15
15 The rich man's wealth is his only strength. The poor man's poverty is his only curse. (TLB)

(4) One Last Thought:

Luke 17:33

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. (KJV)

Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (KJV)

Rev. A. M. Buchanan, D.D.

MY TESTIMONY OF LIFE, IN CHRIST!
Attend church regularly on Sunday

I was a bright student in my class. I was a
bookworm and went through any book, that came in my hand.
I didn't leave the newspaper cover of bundles packed, brought from the market by my father.
I had membership in 3 libraries. I was awarded
the 1st prize of leather bound Bible from Sunday school for being the first rank holder
in the final exam. Then I began to teach in Sunday school.
One thing I forgot to mention, in the final Sunday school exam, there was a question out of syllabus, and the superintendent permitted
to look into the text and copy the answer. As it was contrary to my conscience, I never copied the answer. The superintendent was a deacon too, that prodded me very much.
This was the reason
I hope, that I was getting away from church and Christianity even.

I looked on my body and I saw the mark of the umbilical cord on my
belly. That is the only evidence that I had a mother. I was unaware
about my birth, and separation from my mother's womb. Still there is a
clear-cut proof in my body. So I cannot refuse that I had a mother at
all. In the same manner, man was not there, while the earth and heaven
were formed, but we see the mark of a sovereign God who created it, the psalmist says, " The heaven declares the glory of God and the firmament shewth his handy work." The Bible also says, " The fool hath said in his heart that there is no God, They are corrupt and
do abominable things" Ps 14:1 (bible)

Now I came to know that there is a God. Then who is the God? There are so many religions and each one has there own gods. This was confusing to me.

As I was reading the 'Complete works of Vivekananda' the Great
Indian saint Vivekananda, said," a true Hindu is a true Christian".
This statement touched me. In effect he was telling that there is only God. The other major religions of the world have a common father
hood, I mean about, Jews, Islam, and Christianity. At this time I read a small booklet namely, "how I got joy unspeakable and full of glory" written by a Sikh (having turban on head) called Bhakt Singh. A very learned engineer, Bhakthsing had certain peculiar Christian
experiences and he accepted Jesus as his personal saviour.

I met him in Madras in 1969. It was a turning point in my life. I had discussions with him and convinced that Jesus was my saviour too.
Many miracles happened in my life as the charismatic people say of the miracle hand of Jesus.

I will tell you one small incident. My wife was working as a staff nurse in Saudi Arabia in the year 1988. One day I had a dream,
in which I saw I am getting a telegram, which read, like this so deep and hit the spot in my heart." Unfortunately... I could not read it fully, since tears were falling down my cheeks. I thought some untoward incident is going to take place, and I was anxious about my wifes safety. I compelled her to resign and come back to India, at the earliest. She resigned and came to India. When she came to India, she asked me, why she was
compelled to resign. I kept mum. I didn't say it was on the basis of a
dream, which I thought, would not convince her.

But after few months, as Saddam of Iraq dropped the bombs in
Saudi beginning the Gulf war only, we came to know EVERYTHING WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD THAT LOVE THE LORD. ROM: 8:28 (BIBLE)

Few Years back, one night I was sleeping at my home. I had a dream and I found that I am falling on the ground and dying. It was pitch dark, and I didn't what is happening whether it as a dream or a fact. I felt the ground and knew I was in my cot. I got up, and switched on the light. Now I found there was no accident and it was mere dream. After
one week I had a peculiar instance. I had to go for duty (I was a chief Telecom supervisor) at 7.30AM. So I prepared my Tiffin early morning and told my children to have it and go to school. I would come at 10 AM from office. I came to my office and kept my scooter, at the gate, went in to have my breakfast. Finishing my breakfast, I came to my gate and
started the scooter to go to my office.

Suddenly I heard a voice telling me to take my helmet, I turned around to see the person talked to me. There was nobody in that area, and only I heard the sound. Seeing nobody I started the scooter again, and heard the same voice, telling me to take my helmet. There was no one at sight. Believing that it may be the voice of the risen Lord, I took my helmet, which I purchased from Delhi, and wearing it went straight to my office. On my way I met with an accident. An auto rickshaw
giving wrong signal hit against me and I was thrown off from my scooter.
Fortunately nothing happened and I was totally safe. My helmet was broken
and there was damage to my vehicle too.

Who has warned me one week before the accident? Who gave me warning twice on the same day the accident occurred? It is JESUS the Son of God whom the Romans and Jews crucified and yet lives! I suggest you to read the Bible to know more about Jesus. (Start from New Testament)

MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
YOURS LOVING, Kuriako