APARTHEID! Born in South Africa in the shadow of Table Mountain, Andrew experienced segregation based on the colour of his skin. Black or coloured people did not have the rights, freedoms or opportunities that the white community enjoyed. Up until the age of 12, he lived in an area of high crime, gangs, violence and political riots. It was here that Andrew caught his first glimpse of God.
This is his story:
My mother’s family came from St Helena Island, off the west coast of Africa. Dad was of Anglo/Dutch descent. I wasn’t classed as native African, but coloured, and therefore not accepted fully by either black or white.
My family were Catholic, and I attended primary school and my first year of high school in Cape Town, before migrating to Australia. As a Catholic we went to Mass, but never opened our Bibles. Therefore, I didn’t know much of the Bible but read children’s Bible storybooks instead. I learned of God’s Divine Son who healed the sick and forgave sinners. I also learned of God’s Ten Commandments and was warned of a devil that tempted men to break them.
My grandmother taught me and my sister to pray. Each morning, we asked God to protect us through the day and at night thanked Him for seeing us safely home.
One time my friends and I were surrounded by an older youth gang. I was 11 at the time and remember thinking that this would not end well. It just so happened that I recognised the gang leader as being from my neighbourhood. He recognised me also, though we did not know each other personally. It prompted him to let us go, which was a surprise to all!
As I prayed that night, I wondered if our escape was a coincidence or if God had answered my prayers.
Another time my friend and I were robbed, and a knife was held to my friend’s throat. It was a frightening situation. I began to look around for help when at that very moment my mother, who was usually at work, happened to be walking along the street. She saw me and rushed toward us, shouting so that the thieves took off.
Once again, the thought crossed my mind, Had God directly intervened? I sensed that it was no coincidence.
A third incident was when I was driving home with my family from a fishing trip. Our vehicle ground to a halt as hordes of protesting Africans stormed the streets in a surprise attack. Rocks came smashing through our car window and one of them struck me on my back as I ducked for cover. The army arrived just in time to scatter the rioters away.
That night I prayed confidently, thanking God for our rescue.
I also realised that if men followed Jesus and obeyed God’s commandments then things like apartheid, violence and crime would be no more. It seemed foolish to do otherwise. I decided to place my faith in God.
In 1985 we moved to Australia to escape apartheid. I was 12. We settled in and continued to go to church. But by the age of 16 things began to change. I started drinking alcohol with friends and family.
Before long, I entered a lifestyle of under-age drinking, parties and clubbing. I was introduced to other drugs like marijuana, LSD, cocaine and speed. Over the next 10 years I naively fostered a dependency on marijuana that I did well to hide from family and friends. The effects of my abuses were far reaching. I left behind a string of broken relationships and career prospects. Efforts to change were short-lived and I often suffered deep bouts of depression.
Finally, in my helpless state I began to remember God. But who was God really? I thought to myself. Was He real? I needed to know. Observing the complexities of nature convinced me of a Creator God. I then compared various teachings like Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. I visited many Christian churches. I prayed to God to lead me to the truth.
My prayer was answered at 28 years of age. I was studying acting and landed some “extras“ work on a big Hollywood production called The Matrix Revolutions. It was there that I met four friends who were Christians. I remember being drawn to them. They seemed to have an inner joy and peace that I could only hope for. They spoke of God and church as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do. They had no interest in harmful indulgences.
I remember thinking, I need whatever they have. I felt inspired to stay off drugs for the rest of our time together. It was easier said than done. By the third day, I succumbed to my addiction. I couldn’t bear the thought of facing them in a drugged-out state. I banged my head against the wall and cried, “Why? Why? Why, God?” Sadly, I abandoned all hope of change. Little did I know that God heard my cry. What happened next was extraordinary. My head immediately cleared. I couldn’t understand how, but was overjoyed at the thought of returning to work. I would later realise it was God’s doing.
For the rest of the week, I talked and laughed with my new friends. I also shared my desire for a changed life with one of them, named Fiona. On the night that filming ended I walked Fiona out to the car park. Before she left, she said, “Andrew, I’m a bit embarrassed to ask, but would you mind if I said a prayer for you?” She was unaware that I had already given up hope. After contemplating the offer, I finally replied, “Fiona, whatever’s going to help.” She prayed in the name of Jesus and left soon after.
What happened next can only be described as a miracle. The temperature in the car park seemed to rise. I began to sweat. As I stood there alone, an indescribable surge of love came upon me. Again and again, it came, intensifying with every wave until it flooded my entire being. I was spellbound!
As I grasped for reason, I suddenly found myself confronted with the knowledge of the presence of God. I couldn’t see Him but there was no mistaking who it was! His love was overpowering.
With trembling I uttered, “God, I never knew you were real like that.”
“I’ve always been there,” came the response.
My mind quickly filled with thoughts of all that God had seen. I was mortified! I shamefully confessed, “You’ve seen everything I’ve done, God.”
Without hesitation, He replied, “I forgive you.”
I was stunned! “How could You forgive me?” I muttered.
Again, without hesitation He replied, “Because I love you.”
Those words broke me, and I fell on the concrete car park floor and cried uncontrollably. First, I cried in repentance. Then I cried with joy for I was in the presence of the One who loved me and forgave me. When I finally stood up, I was what the Bible calls, “born again“. I had a new lease on life. I felt like God had touched my life and made me whole. I was filled with peace and felt in need of nothing.
I returned home to tell my partner, Kim, what had happened. I knew I had to tell others too. Kim and I would later marry and go on to have three beautiful children.
Just two weeks later I visited a local charity stall. A volunteer worker asked me if I believed in God. With surprise I replied, “I’m just starting to look that way.” She gave me a free book called The Desire of Ages by author Ellen White. I read and re-read that book for the next two years. The author seemed gifted as she chronicled the life of Jesus Christ with incredible detail and plausibility. She pointed to Bible prophecies that foretold of Jesus’ death, life and resurrection. She explained how it worked to free men from the curse of sin and death.
Two years later, Kim and I attended a public Bible series after receiving an invitation in our letterbox. The speaker presented amazing topics including “Who Changed God’s Sabbath?“ and “Why So Many Different Churches?“ That is when we learned about the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
What a joy it was to be baptised in 2005 and join God’s remnant church. In 2009, I answered God’s call to pastoral ministry.
King David wrote, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). That was certainly true in my case . . . and I know it’s true for you too.
Andrew Russell is currently head pastor of the Hoxton Park Seventh-day Adventist church in Sydney, NSW. See more of Kim and Andrew’s story in our article “Thank you Australia, Thank you God”.
Sandra Lehn is responsible for communications at Hoxton Park church in NSW.
