Jane’s story | I just felt the drawing of God 

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) 

“I grew up in a household of humanists. Both my parents saw themselves as being thoroughly modern and science-based people. They wanted their children to be like them, but they also made it clear we had our own choice to make. I remember at age 8, I tried Jewish Scripture at school, as part of my quest to decide. There was an argument in class over which was best, and the Jews trumped because theirs was the oldest. Meanwhile, my brother got saved at a Christian camp and he started taking his Bible to school. It meant we had information, but the message meant nothing to me. 

Then, at 17, I was in the school orchestra, and I noticed there were a couple of girls in the orchestra who looked different. They had shiny faces. They were all wearing green badges, so I was curious. What did the badges mean? One day, I asked them, and they said they were for Scripture Union. It meant they read the bible and prayed to God.  

Not long after that, Billy Graham was coming to town, and it was the talk of the whole school. I took clarinet lessons at the Conservatorium of Music, so my bus went straight past Moore Park, where the event was being held. Every week, I saw the sign. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) One of the girls with shiny faces asked me if I wanted to come with her. She said she was praying for me. I thought, why? I don’t need prayer! 

But then I decided to go, to be informed. If I was informed, I could argue with them. I arrived late to Moore Park. The stands were all full, and I couldn’t sit with the girls with shiny faces. I walked into the stadium… and I immediately felt something. It was awe and wonder – it was the presence of God, although I didn’t know that then. I just felt an incredible sense of anticipation. Something was about to happen. I sat by myself and listened. Billy Graham was talking about the end times. He said that the lion will lay down the lamb. I thought that was crazy. But then he began to share the Gospel, and he gave an invitation to anyone who wanted to trust in Jesus. I just felt the drawing of God. 

It wasn’t that I felt any emptiness or need. I was 17. I had everything before me! But until that moment, standing there, I hadn’t realised I needed God. I went forward. A lady prayed for me, and she read John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” 

I was a child of God! Afterwards I did a follow-up course and I found myself craving the truths of the Bible. God kept opening my eyes to his word. I joined a local church, and my friends and I would be there all weekend – prayer meetings, rallies, church services, outreaches. It was an amazing time! 

Of course, I told me parents about it and invited them to church with me. At first, they put up with me, but then my mother told me to back off. She said she wasn’t interested in faith. I said, “Okay, I won’t say anything more about Jesus until you ask me.” 

Well, that was in 1970. I was 18 and my mother was 50. I respected her wishes for decades. We both got on with life. For 20 years, she never asked me anything about my faith. And then my brother died of a mysterious illness. He was only 34, married with young children. It was devastating. We had a funeral for him in Adelaide. And for the first time, my mother started to have questions. She was 72. 

She didn’t come to faith till she was 98. It’s an amazing story. I’ll tell you about it next time! In the meantime, my husband and I were involved in ministry in New Zealand and in country NSW. I always loved children’s ministry. We started in Balmain, gathering the street kids in after school Bible clubs. Then we kept going. It’s been 50 years, now. I’m still teaching Scripture in two schools in Narrabri, and I love it! The kids ask such great questions, every week… and I’ve seen the way God answers prayer, over decades.  

Now, let me tell you about my mum…” (to be continued)    

Jane’s story is part of the Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed.  

Visit Koorong to purchase Naomi’s Faith Stories book, Every Moment, Everywhere: https://koorong.com/everymoment