My Spiritual Journey: From Lord Howe Island to a Renewed Faith
Christine was baptised by Pastor Roger Millist on Sabbath afternoon 15 March 2025. The baptism took place in the swimming pool at Rossmoyne Waters SDA Retirement Village. Christine is now a member of the Rossmoyne SDA Church and also a member of a home-based Zoom Church. Christine shared this moving testimony at her baptism.
"I grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist church on Lord Howe Island until I was ten years old. My childhood was imbued with the teachings and traditions of the SDA faith, surrounded by the serene beauty of the island. However, at the age of ten, my family and I left Lord Howe Island and moved to New Zealand. This move marked a significant change in my life, as I never attended a church again during my time in New Zealand.
Although I had numerous interactions with Sunday-keeping churches, I never felt comfortable attending them. There was something unsettling for me about the practices of some congregations, particularly those where people would bow down, lay on the floor, and mumble. This discomfort kept me away from church services altogether.
In 1989, I relocated to Brisbane, yet my desire to attend a church remained absent. Life in Brisbane was busy, and I didn't feel a pressing need to reconnect with my faith. However, around 2010, something began to shift. My daughter had become a Christian, and her journey sparked a newfound interest in me. Watching her embrace her faith with such passion and dedication made me curious about the path she was following.
In 2017, I took a trip back to Lord Howe Island with cousins, David and Jeanette and Neville Dixon. During our stay David mentioned that they would be attending church on the Sabbath. He suggested that I could drop them off and take the car to return later after the service. To his astonishment, I replied that I would be attending church with them. Dave was taken aback and later remarked that he was so surprised by my decision, that “you could have knocked him over with a feather”
Attending the church services on Lord Howe Island brought a profound sense of reconnection for me. I attended every service during our stay and felt a deep sense of peace and belonging. Not long after returning to Brisbane, I realized that I needed to maintain this newfound connection with God. I decided to move to Perth were David, my cousin, lived as I knew that had I remained in Brisbane I would come up against significant opposition from some of my family. In Perth, I attended Rossmoyne with Neville Dixon for a time, which helped me nurture my spiritual growth.
In September 2018, Dave and I returned to Lord Howe Island once again, along with my brother his wife and a cousin, this trip was to bury my mother’s ashes alongside my father and sister. It was a sombre and reflective occasion. At one of the church services during this visit, I had a remarkable experience. As I was sitting and listening to the service, I sensed a presence on my right side. Turning to look, I saw a person dressed in white. Puzzled, I turned to Dave and asked who was sitting beside me. He told me that there was no one there. The person in white remained beside me throughout the service, and when we got up to leave, the presence was gone. This mysterious encounter left a lasting impression on me, reinforcing my belief in the divine.
After years of studying God’s word, my faith continued to deepen. I felt a growing desire to formally commit to my faith and decided that I would like to be baptized. This decision was the culmination of a long and transformative spiritual journey, one that took me from the SDA church on Lord Howe Island to an uncertain period of disengagement, and finally to a renewed and profound connection with God.
My journey has been a testament to the enduring power of faith and the ways in which it can shape and transform our lives. From the serene shores of Lord Howe Island to the bustling city of Brisbane, and ultimately to the spiritual haven of Perth, my path has been marked by moments of doubt, reflection, and profound revelation. Each step has brought me closer to a deeper understanding of myself and my faith, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.
In reflecting on this journey, I am reminded of the importance of remaining open to the possibilities of faith and the ways in which it can manifest in our lives. My daughter's unwavering commitment to her faith played a pivotal role in rekindling my own spiritual flame. It is a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected sources can lead us back to our true selves and our true beliefs.
As I look to the future, I am filled with a sense of hope and anticipation for the continued growth of my spiritual life. The decision to be baptized marks not a closing, but a new chapter in my journey of faith. It is a commitment to live a life guided by the teachings of God and to remain steadfast in my pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.
My story is a reminder that no matter how far we may stray from our faith, the path back is always open to us. All it takes is a willingness to listen, to reflect, and to embrace the possibilities that faith can offer. And in doing so, we may find ourselves on a journey that is as rewarding as it is transformative.
The ultimate ending to this journey is to join Jesus Christ in Heaven for eternity.
I want to thank those who have joined me today on this journey."