Name

Shane Houghton

What was your life style like when you deciced to follow Jesus?

In a mess, extreme poverty, depression, alcoholism and drugs, not to mention the mental illness that goes with all these things, always in debt.

What year were you baptised?

First baptism by the Seventh Day Adventists, 15 May 2004. I soon began to feel something was wrong with it and realised I was given johns baptism for repentance. I was then re - baptised by Ron Wallace for the remission of sins and received the Holy Spirit, after doing an open bible study for about 3 months with Ron.

I was baptised on the 30th September, 2004, aged 44, Bottany Bay - 6.00 pm.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Eastside, friendly and i was a social phobia sufferer, much less now.

With the Seventh Day Adventists a few weeks, I was not impressed and didn’t attend church, I thought they were strange.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

My difficulties were, sexual imoralities, sweating, sweating, anger and frustration management.

What challenges did you have in feeling part of the Lord’s body?

I struggled with a guilty conscience, and that I am now spotless of sin in Christ.

What principles of the Restoration movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

Everything, I can’t find anything not important, sharing, caring, loving, singing, the Lord’s Supper etc. etc. Ephesians 5:19, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

Great! It’s what God commands, “make music in your hearts to the Lord.”

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

As an aboriginal person I felt I was fairly spiritual.

I was so wrong!

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

That I remember I’m now a Son of God, and what I have in Christ.

1 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Still at Eastside church of Christ (non - denominational) Bondi Junction.

What roles do you carry out in the church?

I do what I can, do what I’m supposed to.

Do everything happily.

I ring everyone when it’s their birthday.

I put the chairs up, be an encourager, grateful!

Be an alrounder, do everything I can do.

I’m a servant anyway.