ULSTERMAN FINDS CHRIST IN AUSTRALIA
I
can't really remember much about the lady visitor I had but what I do
still possess are a couple of little booklets she gave me. One of
these, "Someone Cares" , had a paragraph on the first page which read
'May God strengthen you as you read his word, and grant you peace of
mind and heart as you learn to commit your ways unto him"…
My brother, sister and I, like most Belfast children of our day, were
brought up to attend Church, Sunday School etc. but my parents seldom
set foot in the Church. My mother however did teach us to pray and she
nightly knelt by her bed to pray. I also recall her teaching us, at
quite an early age, the Apostles Creed. As a child, and right through
adolescence I attended, and enjoyed attending, all sorts of Christian
gatherings. On a Sunday there was our own Presbyterian Church &
League of Church Loyalty in the morning then the local Gospel Hall
[Brethern] Sunday School in the afternoon and occasionally, if they had
a good preacher, the Gospel Hall again in the evening. From about the
age of 14 I cut out Sunday School to attend the Boy's Brigade Bible
Class. During the week the Gospel Hall Children's Meeting, The Boys
Brigade and the Church Youth Club took up the evenings when we weren't
kicking a ball around the streets.
I left School, before completing my final year, to take up an
apprenticeship with a large Electrical Engineering Company. This was to
be my one and only employer before emigrating in 1975. I spent just
over 16 years in this employment which was a big influence on my life
and friends made there are still friends today. Shortly after starting
work with this Company I was formally presented with a New Testament
and invited to attend the Thursday lunchtime meeting of "The Worker's
Christian Fellowship". I became a regular attendee at this Gospel
Meeting where they had various invited speakers. Northern Ireland has
produced some wonderful inspirational preachers of God's Word and we
had most of the contemporary ones come to speak at our Meeting at some
time. From a work force of several hundred attendance at these meetings
averaged around 30 odd, with upwards of 50 or 60 not being unheard of
if a "big name" came along. The Thursday meetings were a continuing
inspiration for me over the years and I use to feel regenerated after
attending them.
With all this involvement, I was by and large a Christian. I mean the
seeds had been sown over and over again but they were taking time to
germinate, they were obviously falling on stony ground. I was a
believer alright but there was an uncertainty. I think I was what
W.P.Nicholson termed "a nominal Christian", I certainly wasn't
committed.
During the mid to late 60's political unrest was simmering in our part
of the world and by the end of the decade "The Troubles" as we now know
them were in full swing. I have always been a fairly easy going person,
most amiable and the word hate just isn't part of my vocabulary - but
if ever there was a time in my life when something got my back up, it
was this era. I am very thankful that I was never drawn into any form
of violence or become involved with any of the evolving
"organisations". I knew people who were murdered by the IRA and it was
at times like these that some normally law abiding citizens began to
lean towards a retaliatory viewpoint.
What I did do in 1972 was to join the Ulster Defence Regiment [Later to
become the Royal Irish Rangers] the largely part-time Regiment of the
British Army. It was pretty demanding in that most of the time we did
our duties at night and then had to front up for our normal day jobs a
few hours later. We experienced a few hairy moments but I'm glad to say
I was never forced to fire a shot in anger. Travelling to and from
duties was most risky and it was a bit scary knowing that your name was
on a "hit list". The pressures of the situation were getting to my wife
and after a couple of years I resigned and took out papers to emigrate
to Australia.
So it was that in May of 1975 my wife and I with our 9 year old twin
sons departed for a new life in Adelaide, Australia, the land of
opportunity. Excited and nervous the early days weren't easy and we
found ourselves in a State sponsored Hostel and armed with various
references and introduction letters for work, football and Church we
set about trying to get established, but it all would take time.
I was soon involved with the Soccer Club I'd been introduced to and we
were made very welcome at the Presbyterian Church close to the Hostel.
It took a bit longer to get a job and find a place of our own to live
but it all happened. When you move in Australia it can involve a fair
distance and in moving from the western suburbs of Adelaide to the
north east was, for us, a big move and meant looking for a new Church
again.
We had been introduced to another Presbyterian Church this time in
country surroundings, a lovely little Church steeped in history. We
soon became regulars at this Church for perhaps a couple of years.
There were changes occurring within the Church around that time. Two or
three small Churches in the area were joining together to become part
of the Uniting Church of Australia. After having an Elder visit us in
our home I became disillusioned with our standing in that Church and we
drifted off . For some time we became more occasional Churchgoers on
often picked a service to attend after scouring the Saturday newspaper
Church Notices. - the way you might search for a movie to go to.
Through the '80's I increased my involvement with sport. Having been a
bit of a Harrier in my youth I easily took to the sport in the
wonderful environment that was Australia. I also encouraged my sons to
do the same. I was what was known in Athletics as a veteran by this
time so I began to focus a bit more on coaching especially as on of my
sons, Robbie, had became quite an outstanding Race Walker. He won
Australian Championships as a Junior and then as a Senior and
Represented the nation at the World Cup in Barcelona in 1989. By this
time I had gained a bit of a reputation as a coach and put together a
squad as good as any in the country. We had great success, which was
something I took great pride in.
In 1990 I began to have some health problems and in February 1991 I
found myself in the Cardiac Unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital
awaiting a triple by-pass operation. I recall filling out my
registration form at the Hospital and putting "Presbyterian" in the
optional space for religious denomination. I can't really remember much
about the lady visitor I had but what I do still possess are a couple
of little booklets she gave me. One of these, "Someone Cares" , had a
paragraph on the first page which read 'May God strengthen you as you
read his word, and grant you peace of mind and heart as you learn to
commit your ways unto him".
I didn't read the rest of the book right away. I just lay and thought
about what I had just read. Just one simple sentence and it hit home. I
thought about my life and I knew what I had to do. With time on my
hands I did a lot of thinking and a lot of praying in that hospital
bed. I had often thought about this life journey I was on but now I
knew my destination and by the time they wheeled me into the operating
theatre I knew I was travelling "First Class"
Anyone who has been through Cardiac Surgery will know that recovery is
slow. It was months before I was back at work. I had made the decision
that I would carry on with my coaching. It may seem strange to some
that someone who had committed himself to Christ was going to continue
to coach on Sunday mornings. This group of young athletes had dedicated
themselves to following my training programmes and I didn't feel that I
should leave them high and dry. My coaching may be for a few years but
Jesus was for eternity. I had always emphasised that the Sunday morning
distance session was the most important of the week, so we carried on.
What use to happen though was I'd set the training and I would then
walk for an hour or so in the company of the Lord. I'd pray, converse
and sing my favourite hymns and although apparently alone I felt close
to God. I still didn't belong to a Church. I had reached a stage where
although taking in evening services at various Churches I longed for
the fellowship of Church membership. I use to think back to Northern
Ireland where there were Christians "everywhere". Now don't get me
wrong, there are some wonderful Christians in Australia in all walks of
life but they are so spread out and not much in evidence in day to day
affairs. A lot of Churches I visited were very much ecumenical in
outlook and I knew enough from my background for this not to sit
comfortably with me.
Still selecting Church Services from the Notices in the Newspaper I
became aware of a group in the process of setting up a new Presbyterian
Church in my very own suburb. I went along and discovered a small
"congregation" of mainly Scots people some of whom I'd known from the
little country church which went "Uniting" all those years ago. This
was going to be my Church. In my coaching I had made my mind up not to
take on any new athletes and I would just let natural attrition take
its course. By this time athletes from my squad had attained many
National Medals and were highly ranked - even by World standards. Four
had represented Australia and I myself was able to get to Europe a
couple of times as a coach with Aussie teams. So it was as athletes
moved on to various life tasks I was able to begin to enjoy the
traditional Sunday Morning Service and not have to get up at 7.00am to
go training.
Our local Church, St Andrew's Presbyterian [Para Hills] is thriving and
as well as meeting up with two of my earliest Australian/Scottish
Christian friends I have also met up with the lady "Church Visitor" who
was so humble when I relayed to her the part she played in my coming to
the Lord. This year [2001] we have at last got our own Minister,
although we do have to share him with another Church.
Church attendance have grown to around 40 - 50 compared to 15 - 20 a
couple of years ago. The Rev Reg Mathews has entitled his first year
with us as "Revival" and I feel that we have been blessed to get such a
man. He has opened up the Word of God for us all and I know that for
myself any uncertainties I may have had have gone. The clouds have
lifted and I truly can now see the wood through the trees.
That's my story. My seeds took a long time to germinate, my development
may have been delayed but these days I'm really bubbling with
enthusiasm about what's happening in my life and in our little Church
these days.
ROY McFADDEN (Adelaide)