Testimony

Michael Burns

My name is Michael Anthony Burns. I'm not sure where to start, but I have prayed to Christ Jesus before writing these words that I would say only what God the Father wants me to say. 

I am formerly a Roman Catholic. I am educated and am bi-lingual in English and French. I am also a veteran with a disability so I have a pension. I thank God for this and other things daily. 

Without taking up too much of your time I want to share my testimony. Please read the following if you are interested. 

On July the 28th, 2009, I was a hopeless alcoholic and in the deepest pain/anguish you could possibly imagine. I was drinking daily to die. I did not want to live further because I considered my situation hopeless. Through my mother, who attended ICF while she lived in Thailand, I knew of Pastor Ben and had previously sent him a message. The next day, July 29th, 2009, I basically surrendered my will over to Christ Jesus/God the Father/The Holy Spirit. This was a frightening thing to do for me because I didn't know what it would entail. I simply fell on my knees right here in this living room where I write you from and was quiet before Almighty God. I knew that there was an AA meeting at ICF Udon Thani. I contacted Pastor Ben and let him know that I planned to attend church that Sunday and promised myself I would go to the meeting the following day. I did these things, by the Grace of God, and ONLY by the Grace of the Loving God. 

Since July 29th, 2009, I have not failed to pray and meditate in the mornings, attend church on Sunday and the AA meeting on Monday. By the Grace of God I have also been sober since that day and am now working the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

I want to tell you something about myself. I used to despise Protestants. I'm not joking. I was taught to be critical of organized religion and was never a true practicing Roman Catholic for any extended period of time. I was a very skeptical person when it come to the word "God" and found my solace in drink. Having said this, what I found when I came to ICF and heard the words of Pastor Ben McClure and his message of the love of Christ Jesus for sinners like me, was not threatening to my intellect. It was convicting, yes, but not threatening. I have come to believe in the healing power of Christ Jesus and His love for us all. Praise God. I give God, and God only, the thanks for saving my soul but mention should be made for His vessel in Pastor Ben McClure. 

Pastor Ben, simply put by me, has a Christ-like demeanor. I've never seen him exhibit anything but the fruits of The Spirit. True, he is a man, and bound to have had sinned but I have confidence that he confesses his shortcomings to God the Father. He has a heart for alcoholics and the homeless and makes provisions for alcoholics to meet in ICF and for a free meal for the homeless/needy every Friday night at six PM. And guess what? I think God used him to bring me to Him and to be saved. 

I will end this with a passage from the Bible from which I don't know where it comes but do know it is in the Bible. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God". Pastor Ben McClure is a peacemaker in my eyes. -- God bless you all, Michael Anthony Burns

PS. I can be contacted at maburns9@hotmail.com