GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Name: Dalkieth Thomas

Church: Good News Open Bible Church, Old Harbour, St Catherine.

Position: Elder, trainer of persons for discipleship, church board member.

How long have you been saved? I have been saved since 1988.

How did you get your conviction? On Good Friday in 1988, I went to church. I didn't want to give my heart to the Lord or recommit at the time, but I listened to the sermon still. There was an altar call. I sat hoping the altar would have been full so I wouldn't have to go. The altar was full. A lady came to me and instructed that I go to the altar. I obeyed. Thank God I did. When I went, the pastor told us to pray. I remember praying. It was as if somebody eased two bags of cement off my shoulders. On my way from the altar, I felt as if I was flying. I felt was so light. That was where I met God.

What has been your most challenging moment since getting saved? I grew up in the First Born faith, but I got married and moved to Old Harbour. I left First Born and went to another church, where I spent four years. I was doing good things. God was really using me. There were some challenges with leadership at the church. We had a disagreement and the pastor decided to strip me of all the positions I had in the church. That was my most difficult time.

What has been your most miraculous moment since getting saved? It was when I was to get my first degree. I wanted to do administration because I wanted to be a principal. I felt a push to go to a Bible college to study counselling. I applied to two institutions and got through for both. I didn't know what to do. People suggested I do administration. They said I was born to be a principal.

I was still uncertain. I was struggling with the decision. I finally decided to go to the University of the West Indies (UWI). My life turned upside down. Nothing worked out. I was not sure what was happening. Two weeks before I started UWI, I got a call from the Bible college to come do exams.

I was surprised. I questioned why I needed to sit exams. I had told them I was not coming there. I spoke to my wife and she told me the Lord was speaking to me so I should go and sit the exam. I went and did the exam, and while I was on the compound, the Lord spoke to me and said: 'This is where I want you to be'. A friend who was overseas returned the night before I started UWI. She called the following morning and asked whether I was going to Bible college. I asked how she knew and she said she got a dream. In the dream, the Lord came to her and said she should go to the Bible college because I was going to be there. When I heard, I told the Lord I did not have enough money to go to UWI. I told him if He was going to send me to Bible college, I did not want any students' loan. I did not borrow a dollar to study.

Message to Christians: God has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light to serve Him in spirit and truth. Satan does not want us to do that. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. For you to fulfill that purpose, you have to know Him personally. You have to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. This way, you will know how to serve Him. At the end of the day, it is what you do for Christ that will matter. Spend time being humble. Be prayerful, spend time seeking the face of the Lord, and spend time doing good.

Message to non-Christians: Every breath that you take is God's breath. Every move you make is God's move. Whether you believe it or not, God is going to pay you for everything that you do. Turn to God. Listen to the Spirit because He is speaking to you. Some of you have ignored Him and have been doing so for years, but God is still calling you.

He has a plan for your life. He wants to deliver you from the slum; deliver you from a life of wastefulness; deliver you from the stronghold of the adversary; and to empower you to live.

Remember the thief comes to steal and destroy. Anything, any thought, any action that is not of God is killing you and stealing all you own. God is calling you.

Favourite Bible scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Favourite song: I Must Have the Saviour With Me.

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