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 I was born in the County of Kent, UK, and whilst I am at a complete loss as to whether I am a ‘Kentish Man’ or a ‘Man of Kent’, I really do believe that I am a man of God, and that God has had His Hand upon me for many years. I have one younger brother whom God has also used in Ministry.
In 1971 the family emigrated to Australia with a view to me taking up a full time position with the Anglican Church.
That idea was quenched when told by the then Primate of Australia that the Church of England did not need evangelicals but rather academics. It was just after this that I came to know the Lord as a personal Saviour, a biblical teaching that I had never been confronted with in the Anglican Church, even when ordained as a worker-priest. Now, out of the Anglican Communion - yet within nine months of attending a Full Gospel Church, I had a greater knowledge of the Bible than what had been gained in the previous fifteen years.
In 1978, I was diagnosed as having a major spinal problem. Surgery was talked about, but with a greater than ninety per cent chance of being a wheelchair paraplegic for the rest of my life, I called upon God to keep me walking, and I would do the talking – and I’m still not in that wheelchair! Glory to God!
Shortly after, my first wife separated from me and started divorce proceedings. At that time I vowed that I would not marry again. A BIG MISTAKE, I DID NOT CONSULT GOD BEFORE I MADE THE DECLARATION!
I did, however, link up with two Christian brothers, a Scotsman and a Kiwi, spending three to four months at a time out west until one – my Scottish brother - responded to his call to return to his homeland to start, build, and actively lead a thriving church. Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to the Kiwi brother.
From that point, I progressed further into the fields of evangelism and teaching, periodically spending time as a spinal guinea pig to the spinal unit in Melbourne. It was after one of these visits to the clinic that I returned to Brisbane, and was approached by a friend, asking if I would be prepared to help a Filipino lady (Helen) with her English as she went through university in the Philippines. (Please read Helen’s profile for more info of our union.)
Twenty-six years later, and after many home group bible studies, two children - a boy and a girl - Helen also gained her degree Bachelor of Commerce major in accounting at USQ.
The Bible studies on this site (produced by yours truly and inspired by God) have been designed for use in a 'Home Group' environment, where discussion, thoughts, and views are actively encouraged from those present.
If you use these notes for individual use or in a group Bible study environment, then please permit the Holy Spirit to guide you, build you up, strengthen you, and create in you a ‘family fellowship’. God bless you.
 I am a redeemed sinner saved by grace on 21st May 1984 and I will be forever grateful of our Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the Father. Before this time my life has been so insignificant I thought, but God knew me even before I was conceived (Jeremiah 1:5) and, I am here on earth because He ordained it for His purposes (Ephesians 2:10). Everyday living for God is exciting, awesome, wonderful, and never short of challenges.
I was born into a loving family, my parents were very poor and we lived in one of the remote villages in southern Philippines. I was one of eight children, three boys and 5 girls – I was the middle child. I have some good memories of life in the village with my family. I missed the happy faces and the love we shared as we grow up albeit, in a very poor condition.
Sadly though, I left my family and village for the first time when I was 15 years old to pursue my education. I finished my last year of high school and three semesters of tertiary education as a working student (a live-in maid/housekeeper/nanny during the day and took evening classes). Then, my eldest sister who was living at a bigger city with her family offered to take me in and helped me continue my studies supposedly until I graduate but, things didn’t work out as we hoped.
While I was with my sister I ended up living a more sinful life and my conscience would remind me of this from time to time. I was 20 years old and I thought I knew it all and ignored my sister’s warnings. I now know that life without God is meaningless, and nothing seems to go right. Being brought up in a Catholic faith, my knowledge of God is basically as a ‘Judge’ up in heaven watching me when I do something wrong. I admit of feeling guilty every day before salvation and I was hoping for something to happen that would change my life for good but don’t know how?
However, in January 1984 (I was 21 years old), I was at my lowest and I can remember sitting at the beach looking up to the skies and felt to ask God to please send me a ‘good husband’ and help me get my life in the right track. I believed since becoming a Christian that ‘simple prayers from the heart are often getting answered. By February, a letter from Mike from Australia arrived at my sister’s place in response to my application for ‘pen-pal’ in one of the marriage agency in Brisbane.
Mike and I exchanged letters for only 3 months (we were writing just about every day) and by mid-May Mike and I met at Manila International Airport to finalise the impending marriage (we got engaged by post!!). Everything seemed to go fast, we had 5 ˝ months (the length of time of Mike’s visa) to get my immigration papers through besides the wedding. We got married on 11th June 1984.
Looking back at the events prior to coming to Australia, I am just in awe of how God worked through it all. To start, my birth was never registered as my parents were unable to do so, (who would think that 21 years later I will need one?). God in His infinite wisdom, favour and love, blessed Mike’s limited finances and we were able to get my papers organised. Although I did not have a birth certificate, God made a way to get around the problem through affidavits signed by family members and relatives from my village. God has got all the answers and there is nothing too difficult with God. A week before Mike was due to return to Australia, the Australian embassy graciously granted me my permanent resident visa (I think/believe she was an ‘Angel’ sent by God in a form of an embassy staffer) which means we only had a few days to get my passport organised. By this time I was 5 months pregnant of our first child and praise God I accompanied Mike back to Australia on 1st November 1984.
 I thank God everyday for His goodness and the experiences I have had, and will have. We have been blessed with two beautiful children and both have been raised in a Christian home. Our son Leslie has moved on to have his own life in Brisbane working in the retail industry, and our daughter Evelyn is about to finish year 12 (an aspiring lawyer). Mike and I have been involved in various church ministries throughout the years and, and we are currently waiting on the Lord to release His abundant provision to extend YJM Inc ministry we feel God has a call on us. To God be the glory, great things He has done in my life i.e. I have grown in my Christian walk over the years and my desire is to serve God in whatever way He wants to use me. Moreover, God also allowed me to pursue my education in Australia and I am humbled to have a piece of paper that says ‘Bachelor of Commerce’ major in accounting. This will be handy one day whenever and wherever God is ready to use me. God bless you. E-mail me if you wish for prayer or just someone to talk to:
hphearn_63@yahoo.com.au
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