Meet the Family
Dean Norris
Dean grew up with no religious teaching whatsoever, but he always questioned what life was all about.
When I was a teenager I became very interested in philosophy, spirituality and religion - I instinctively knew that there must be a meaning to life and I always believed there had to be a God.
Whenever I looked at all the various life forms on earth, especially human beings, I thought they were way too clever and complex to put down to a mere freak accident I began to adopt a view that all religions are equally valid and lead to God, but I continued to question.
A series of events led me to ask myself, "What if Jesus is the only way to heaven and the Bible is true?" but I tried to put it out of my mind. Then as the weeks passed I felt more and more drawn to explore Christianity. I bought myself a Bible, but I didn’t find answers there - I found a lot of things I didn't like much, and had an ever-increasing list of questions! Even so I began to feel a strong attraction to the person of Jesus Christ.
I work on a psychiatric ward with mentally ill patients and I had to attend a course on violence and aggression that was held at St. Luke's Church Centre. I decided to get there early and went into the church building to see if there were any answers to be found. I met the Rev. Jackie Taylor. We talked, and she prayed for me, that my lack of understanding would be cleared up.
I walked out of that church just knowing within my heart that Christianity is true and that Jesus is the only way to God. Days after, I started having many memories of all my past sins - I realised how serious they were, that they were an offence against a holy and righteous God. I realised that I needed to be forgiven by God through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for me on the cross. I knew he was punished for my sins and I could only be forgiven through him and because of what he did.
Shortly after this I went back to St. Luke's Church and said a prayer with Jackie and gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting him as my personal Lord and Saviour. After I did this I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders - I felt completely forgiven by God for everything I had ever done wrong.
This was the best decision I ever made and ever will make. It felt like I had entered into a personal relationship with God and all other Christians. Since my conversion, I have been amazed at God’s power to transform my life and the lives of others; he has delivered me from so much immorality and is still delivering me little by little because of his unfailing love.