Paul Backholer - My Testimony

My parents had attended Sunday school when they were little, but had never been converted. They were like many in Britain at that time who attended church, but had experienced religion, rather than having a life changing encounter with Jesus.

When I was very young, I had many very severe asthma attacks, and ended up in hospital on many occasions. One day my parents asked the doctors to be very straight with them, and they replied by explaining that I may never become a teenager!

Though the doctors help was greatly appreciated, my family soon realised things were now out of their hands. They began to seek God and my dad prayed, telling God that he would live for Him, for the rest of his life, if I was healed.

One day we met a Christian who said that God could heal and I went to them for prayer. After prayer, something changed in my life, God touched me, and I have never been the same since. Even though today I still use medicine, we soon realised that God had answered my family’s prayers. We all became Christians because of this miracle.

From the ages of six to sixteen, I went to church, prayed, read my Bible, and tithed, but I was not on fire for God in any way. Though Jesus had touched me, because I was very young I did not truly appreciate it at that time. God does not have any grandchildren; we must all become His children. Therefore, every child of a Christian parent needs to encounter Jesus in a special way on its own.

As a teenager I remember having lots of friends, and having many things to be happy about – but I was not happy. At times I felt close to God, at other times I felt away from Him. I did not have the fullness of life that Christ spoke of.

I knew that my dad was on fire for God, and he would often speak to me about the things of the Lord. He did not have a religion, but a powerful and real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ – and at times, he had seen the miraculous, which I found very exciting. My dad helped birth a desire in me for a radical relationship with God.

One day my dad gave me several audio-cassettes of Duncan Campbell’s preaching. He had a thick Scottish accent, which took some time to get used to, but he had seen revival on many occasions.

Now let me say this, revival is not a bunch of evangelistic meetings – but revival as we know it in Britain, is a time when the Holy Spirit comes and visits a community or even the whole nation! Non-Christians and believers alike are transformed by His visitations. In the West we have not seen anything like this for so long, that the word revival has been watered down to our experience – that is why we need to read the history of revival, to remind us of what it really is!

Anyway, someone who has seen true revival is changed – and they are changed in a way that no theological college or church could ever teach. When you have met a person who has been through real revival – you know they have something that others don’t. Duncan Campbell was like that – he had touched heaven and he had an anointing that can only be received in the fire of revival.

Duncan Campbell died in the 1970’s, and here I was in my bedroom, listening to his tape many years later. Something that he said transformed my life: “Are you REAL with God?”

He did not want to know if I went to church or gave money to the poor etc. He was clear “Are you right with God? Are you living for Him?” I knew I was not walking with God. It was not so much sin; sin was there, but the problem was I had a religion, not a sacrificial relationship with Christ. I had the religion of Christianity, but God was not number one in my life. God was only there just in case something went wrong in my life – then I would ask for help. I had totally ignored the fact that Jesus had a call and destiny for my life.

I did not hear any voices or see anything great – but that night the Holy Spirit came and met with me. The tears began to stream as I repented for being lukewarm.

That night my life was changed. It was then that I really began my journey of discipleship. I no longer was a Christian who believed everything and yet did nothing, now I had become a disciple and I knew that from then on, I would live for the will of God for my life.

I received deep satisfaction and peace that night – and I realised that if I continued to walk with God, that peace could be with me everyday – and it has!

Ten Years On!

“But I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more ABUNDANTLY”, said Jesus. John 10:10.

Around ten years on from my life changing experience with the Lord Jesus Christ, I can truly say it has been an amazing journey! As a teenager I found peace, joy and purpose in Christ. God helped me find my first and second job, and at the right time I left for Bible College. My years at Bible College were costly, yet terribly exciting, and I remember preaching almost every week in a different church. There were youth camps, evangelistic campaigns and loads of assignments. Then I went to Brazil on mission, and returned only to leave Britain again, for a whirlwind mission tour of South East Asia. On return, the ByFaith website started and here I am today.

There have been times when the cost of God’s call seemed a little too much to bear, but God has always proved Himself to be deeply faithful to me. Truly I have seen that ‘All things work together for good to those who love God and have been called according to His purposes’ Romans 8:28.

The Call To Salvation

Jesus made the way of salvation clear. He said this, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6, and "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God", John 3:3.

If you want to become a Christian, the Bible says to do this...Repent, which means to turn from your sins (those things which are wrong and break God's law) Luke 13:3, and "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved", Acts 16:31. Put your faith in Jesus. He died for your sins, and rose again three days later, showing us, that we can be forgiven and live in newness of life.

Some say "Maybe I’ll get saved later in life", but this is what the Bible says about that…."Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, today is the day of salvation!” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

After you have been truly saved and get on fire for God, you will enter into a new world. A world where God is REAL and you can discover that God has a call and destiny for you. Christianity is not another religion to try out, but a satisfying relationship with the living God. There is great excitement as 'We walk by faith, not by sight' 2 Corinthians 5:7.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He direct your paths' Proverbs 3:5-6.

The Call To Discipleship

Each one of us has a call and destiny from God, and it is up to us to respond to His call. Will you live for the call that God has for you? Will you accept the challenge of Discipleship?