Testimony - Mike Mtika

I was a carnal Christian most of my life. My mum always brought God into anything I was doing or experiencing. This led me to a position of significant respect for God. I was very active in Church activities. In College, I chaired the Interdenominational worship service. I got married to my wife in 1979 in the Church with Rev. Selfridge, a respected pastor, getting Annie and I to tie the knot. This all changed in February 1980; that is when I became a new creation in Christ. The scripture says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation [creature]. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The following song meant so much thereafter:I'm a new creation, I'm brand new man All things are passed away, I'm born again More than a conqueror, that's who I am I'm a new creation, I'm a brand new man.

I was at Reading University in the United Kingdom at the time. Eric Townsend came and gave a talk at a Students Christian Union meeting one Friday evening. As was my practice, very carnal of course, I went to the meeting to enjoy fellowship with fellow students. I had made a habit of connecting with believers wherever I went. I loved connecting with believers. They are good people. So going to the Students Christian Union meeting was just part of what I used to do. This time, however, God sparked some strange hunger in me.

Eric Townsend talked about "knowing God." His testimony was that he had been a missionary, a pastor, baptized many people, but did not know Christ. He then went on to state that when he accepted Jesus not only as Savior but also as his Lord, when he knew Jesus, everything changed --- the old was gone, he was a new creation. Eric Townsend's talk basically revealed my carnal Christian status. I wanted to get out of this carnality; I wanted to know Jesus.

At the end of the meeting, I went to Eric and asked him to help me know Jesus. He got me by the shoulders, closed his eyes, and started praying loudly, "Lord", then he opened his eyes and asked me "What is your name?" then continued, "Lord, Mike wants to know you, please come into his heart and show him how awesome you are. Amen!" I expected something to happen after Eric's prayer that Friday; nothing. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday --- nothing happened. I gave up and convinced myself that this knowing of Jesus is a hoax.

And it happened; it was Wednesday.  There are many details of what went on in those 4 days and on Wednesday. Christ came into my life and transformed it late that Wednesday night. Praise Him.