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testimonies

Warren Kavanagh

Before I start, I want to give all the glory to God for where I am today and for what he has taken me out of.

From a very young age, I grew up in a house with alcohol, smoking and fighting, so by the age of 13 I had started drinking and following the same course. Growing up on the streets of Hillbrow in South Africa  I quickly learned to defend myself and became accustomed to living with the wrong types of people who were to influence my future. Abuse and violence was a part of my life and fighting was a way of being accepted with the older crowd.

As I grew up, the drinking, fighting and partying got worse and in my twenty’s  I was introduced to hard drugs which became an addiction and something I couldn’t live without.  It took hold of me. As life went on, I was introduced to something worse – crack cocaine. My family and people that were closest to me were no longer a part of my life. I only had one thing on my mind – to  organize my next ‘fix’. I would work in the week just to make money for drugs, I started stealing from my family and others,  moving  on to  serious theft  - I would lie, cheat and con anyone, anything to feed the craving –  I lost all self respect,  the guilt was overwhelming and many times I contemplated suicide.

 I rang my uncle in desperation, and agreed to go to a rehabilitation centre. When I completed this time I returned home, only to fall back into my old ways, the drugs and alcohol got worse, I found myself sleeping in the streets, I pawned everything I had just for another fix. My life was going nowhere and I knew then that I had to make a choice!

I returned to the Rehab Centre determined to make it work.  It was a choice between life and death. It was there that I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and he delivered me from the torment I was living in.  After an 8 month program I stayed on to help others that were in the same place I had been, and to tell them how Jesus had saved me from the life I was living. It was so wonderful to see the transformation of so many lives and to see how God was working.

I think back today of all the trials and tribulations we go through in life, and that the Lord is always with us - it just takes that one cry for help and the Lord is there for you.  I give all the thanks and glory to the Lord for where I am today and I know that without Him I would still be living in the pits of hell… But today because of His grace and mercy I am able to live victoriously.

Since I’ve been saved my life has turned 180 degrees,  I no longer have the desire to get ‘high’ on alcohol or drugs but my desire today is to build my relationship with God and being high on the Holy Spirit is a far more awesome experience than any drug I have experienced.

I’ve been blessed in so many ways, I have a beautiful wife, gorgeous little boy and I have been blessed with a business that was truly a gift from God. I thank God for life today because everyday for me from now on is NOT meaningless but instead I Iive in Gods promises and purposes for my life.

Being a part of Freedom Life has really opened up the word of God and taught me about His grace and love. The compassion, generosity and love of the church family is overwhelming, it’s awesome to belong to such a big caring family and to be a part of where God is taking the church. I look forward to what He has in store!!

Personal Testimonies:
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Warren Kavanagh
Clayton Riley
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want to add a testimony? email tjide@ozemail.com.au