Soldiering on for Jesus
Bill Carter's Testimony
I was born in Adelaide Sth Australia on the 15 July 1930
I was born of the Spirit at Elizabeth Sth Australia 26TH January 1974
That’s when life began for me.
The Bible says “IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION”
I can truly testify to that my life had been a bit of a mess, no direction, just a meaningless day-to-day existence. But that wonderful Saturday night in January 1974 all that changed, I found a new way of living.
Let me share with you a bit of my background.
I was born during the great depression of 1930 to 1939
I have two sisters I was the middle child.
My father was an owner-driver carrying goods to Lawrie Condon’s Nth. Laura hotel,
and carting grapes from Berri to Angaston and other country goods carrying.
When I was old enough I traveled with him and slept in a wheat bag on the drying racks at the Angaston winery.
My Daddy was my hero until that heart-wrenching day in 1935 when he took me
for a haircut gave me a Peanut toffee and sixpence, left me on a street corner and walked out of my life.
My life was devastated; my hero had gone, never to be seen again until that day
in 1951 when my mother who was on holidays in Melbourne was at the Spencer St.
railway station recognized my father who was walking past in the crowd.
“Hullo Frank” said she, He stopped came back and said, “Do I know you?”
You should you fathered four children by me [one had died at three or four days
old]
It appears that he had a lady friend in Laura Sth. Aust. And gone off timber cutting
in the back blocks of Tasmania and they had two girls and eventually settled in
Melbourne and he worked as a wharfy.
I was working AT WOOMERA Rocket Range at that time being 21 years old in 1951.
At Christmas time I went to visit him but that wasn’t my boyhood hero that was
just a rough bloke who had done the dirty on me. We had it pretty tough when he left us. We had a nice home in St.Peters a suburb of Adelaide.
Mum let it fully furnished to some church people with very taking ways and we went to grandma Hardings at
Berri.
Six weeks later mum got a letter from a neighbor in St.Peters saying these very
nice people with taking ways had taken away all the furniture, all mum’s personal papers including her wedding certificate and even the newspapers on which the lino had been laid.
That by the way was my introduction to church people.
Bill & Lee Carter
As this time was during the great depression my mother placed my two sisters and myself to the care of the “MORIALTA PROTESTANT CHILDRENS HOME “ near Norton Summit.
We were there from 1937 to 1942.
My mother came to visit once a fortnight she had managed to get a job with Bill & Mary Sydney who owned a little milk bar come café in Pulteney St. where the City Parking Station was, so we had adopted them as Uncle Bill & Aunty Mary.
Uncle Bill had a motorcar and bought mum to visit us.
Many a time I chased that car down the road crying my heart out as the had to leave So I grew up with the spirit of rejection and betrayal that my earthly father gave me and a feeling of unworthiness and unloved.
When I was 12 years old mother was able to rent a house in the west end of Adelaide. It was three rooms and I slept on the front verandah behind a canvas blind this was a common practice the verandah was just over a metre wide then a picket fence and the footpath.
After midnight one night I was awakened to find a man sitting on my bed. He told me he was a friend of my father (who had discovered where we lived) and sent this man over to abduct me and take me to my dad.
My mother had cause to get up and had turned a light and so the man speedily left.
I was14 in July and so left school before grade 7 and got a job in a garage at a pound a week for 48hrs. That was $2-00 a 5 and a half-day week.
At 15 my mother’s live in boarder filled my head with a load of nonsense about the glamour of working on a cattle station called Commonwealth Hill.
It was about 100ks Nth of Malbooma on the east-west rail close on 700ks from my home in Adelaide.
Wages were good 2/6 pence a week and my keep today’s money 25cents a week and we worked 12-14hrs a day 6 or 7day working week.
I actually stayed for 12 months ending up on a man’s wage of a quid a week that is $2-00.
Life was very tough in the bush. Many other jobs followed that, until early1950 I came to Berri on the River Murray and got a job carting tomatoes with my Uncle Arty Day, he lived near the Berri water tower.
This was a good job, out in the open, meeting lots of people especially the girls.
Being a 20 year old, I was friendly with 2 of the local girls which was good oh, until the night they were both on the same shift at the packing shed and they had a fight. So being a man of discretion I shot through on the first grape truck heading south.
I headed bush again this time to Woomera where I worked for nearly 17 years.
During that time I married and we had four boys, because of the nature of my work my wife was left to raise these kids on her own. Just like my mum did, When I did come home the kids were a bit frightened of this filthy, bearded man smelling of dust and driving this big 4-wheel drive army truck.
Church had never been high on my priorities.
God didn’t even get a look in, well not until a few years later. God is very patient.
He has a plan for every man.
Despite Satan’s many attempts on my life God had His hand on me.
On the cattle station I nearly did a perish when we put a conrod through the block and in the middle of summer and had to walk cross country through sand hill country about 30 to 40 kms with one water bag between 2 of us from 9-00a.m. to 2-00 a.m. the next day in Woomera coming home on the dirt road the Landrover in front of me had a head on crash on the top of a single width bush track.
The driver was killed outright.
A 16metre high ladder that we used for line of sight observation for proving a line crashed while I was at the 10-metre mark. I was fortunate I only fractured my spine in two places and crushed 3 discs and broke my left foot.
My head in the fall missed a large boulder by a millimeter or so if I had hit that, my head would have been smashed and I certainly would not be here today.
We put a MAYDAY CALL out on the 2-way from 9-00a.m. It was eventually answered at 3-00 P.M.
It wasn’t until 2-00a.m.the next day that the helicopter arrived with the Doctor on board and at daybreak I was airlifted to the Woomera Base Hospital they had landed the chopper on the side of the hill by it’s own landing lights and when they checked the site they were amazed that the rotors had not smashed into the rocks as they were touching down another miracle of Gods’ protection.
It was obvious that my foot was broken so for 3 weeks that I was in hospital with my lower left leg in plaster I went everywhere on crutches until the day I was due to go home. The Radiologist came to see and said QUOTE “ You have been whinging about your back come with me and I will x-ray it.”
I followed him up the passage got on the table laid down, had the x-ray and a few minutes later he came in with a wheel chair and told me to carefully get in the wheelchair and said “I don’t know how come you are still alive, you have crushed discs and spinal fractures “
So back into bed for two months with corset and 15ks of sand on the spine stretch. So once again Satan’s plans were thwarted.
Time was running out for me God was certainly on my case.
We left Woomera and came to Elizabeth to live as I was now working at Weapons Research Salisbury.
Wages were low in those days $34-00 a week so being mechanically minded and to get extra income I worked on cars and did a bit of buying and selling.
All part of Gods plan in my life
Until that day my time ran out of not allowing God into my life.
I had swapped a car I had done up for a 250 Yamaha motorbike.
I hadn’t ridden a bike for about 15 years, but I was game and stupid.
First day rode to and from work OK.
Second day different story too fast around the roundabout hit the gutter thrown off the bike spread-eagled across the road broke my left leg. Bone sticking out, semi conscious; gravel rash bleeding, and a bit of a mess. Come to think of it, kind of like the man on the Jericho road experience, because as I lay there I actually heard an audible voice speak to me and say “THE LORD IS THY SHEPHERD THOU SHALT NOT WANT”
“What a stupid thing to be thinking about” I said “Me with a busted leg $400 worth of unsecured motorbike” nevertheless I was enough for me to come to my senses and crawl off the road to the safety of the footpath. As I did this two cars came around the corner. If I had not moved they would not have been able to stop in time and would have run over me and I would have been dead!
Once more off to hospital ….
Whilst I was in hospital a friend bought a book along for me to read called “I Believe In Miracles” by Katherine Kuhlmann.
I spoke to one of the nurses and asked her if she believed in miracles she said a lot of things happen in hospitals and there is no logical explanation. I left hospital with my left leg in plaster from the groin to my toes. So I was virtually bedridden.
My friend came to visit me and he had a tape player and said he had a tape I might like to listen to. Tape players in 1974 were the latest thing and I hadn’t used one nor heard one so I was pleased to be able to listen to this.
On the tape, which he left, was a talk by an American evangelist Pastor Wallace (Sonny) Heflin of Richmond Virginia U.S.A. Who said that when they were in India, they had prayed for a woman that had been in a wheelchair for 30 yrs and after prayer she rose and walked. My reaction to that was with scorn and vocal unbelief. “It may happen in India but no way in Australia”, I said.
A few days later another visit, another tape.
And on this tape, the man said. “How long is it since you could open and close your hand?”
“Three years!”
“Well praise God you can open and close your hand!”
I stopped the tape ran it back and listened again.
This was happening in Elizabeth I thought.
I‘ll get Wardie to take me to this joint were he gets these tapes from.
When he came to visit again I asked him to take me to this joint were he gets these tapes from. He reluctantly agreed, because at that time of my life I was rather rough and crude and he was worried as to how I would react. Saturday night came along so I got ready to go out. I was dressed rather roughly, a pair of shorts split up the side to get my plastered leg through, a shirt with the sleeves out unbuttoned down the front, one thong on my right foot and a pair of crutches.
What a sight to behold (these days its Bermuda Jacket and slacks) I hadn’t told my wife where I was going I just went.
When I entered that little church hall not knowing that it was a church, the Australian Pastor who was sitting on the platform with two American Evangelists said to himself, (so he told me much later) “No way am I going near that Bloke!” and he didn’t. The meeting got under way and I thought it was an Italian Social Club.
All this hand clapping and hugging and jumping up and down and funny language Very, very peculiar. I had taken a seat on the back row - a very dangerous place - Evangelists zero in on the back row.
When the meeting finished I got up to leave and headed for the door, the American Pastor Heflin came and stood in front of me and said “Why have you come to church Brother?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I said
He’s got a nerve asking me that, what the hells it got to do with him?
“Have you come for prayers for your broken leg?”
“No b------- way” I said
“Well why have you come to church?”
“You’re a nosey b---------------- what’s it got to do with you?”
“Why have you come to church?” He asked again.
I thought he was a ventriloquist, because my reply was “I’ve come for the Holy Spirit”.
Then I thought, “What did I say that for? I don’t even know what the Holy Spirit is!”
“Well we will pray for you”, he said
“Don’t worry about mate it she’ll be right, I’m just leaving.”
“Well, we will pray for you before you go.”
“You’re a stubborn b--------. Lets here what you got to say.”
He began to pray for me in English and then began to pray in the Holy Spirit
“He’s a DAGOE (a slang term for an Italian) he sure looks like one.” Were my thoughts. Suddenly he stopped praying and walked away.
“God is I that rotten that a bloke would start praying for me and then knock off half way through? Well to hell with him I’m getting out of here.”
I headed for the door once more and his offsider another Yank
said to me,
“You being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more shall the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask of Him?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I said.
“You want to receive Jesus we will pray for you.”
“Look mate”, I said. “I don’t need your prayers or anybody else’s I’m leaving and the door is behind you. Now get out of my way or I’ll go through you.”
“Well I would like to pray for you before you leave.”
“You’re a stubborn b------ you’re as bad as your mate.”
“Ok, lets hear what you’ve got to say get amongst it, give it your best shot.”
So he began to pray for me in English then he stopped praying.
I thought that was it that I had my 2 minutes worth like I had
with his mate but no, there was more.
He said, “You want to receive Jesus look up and praise Him.”
“Fair enough”, I said. “I know who’s in charge down here. Ok, carry on.” Which he did. So I just hung on my crutches.
Looked up and said “Send her down Hughie, You’ll do me mate.” And I looked around to say something else stupid, but the words that came out of my mouth were: “God, just take me as I am.”
Much to my amazement, He did!
IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND
I KNEW THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS A REALITY
THAT MY SINS HAD BEEN FORGIVEN
THAT I WAS A NEW MAN
THAT I HAD BEEN CLEANSED
EVERY BIT OF FILTH HAD BEEN DRAINED OUT OF MY SYSTEM
I HAD BEEN FILLED WITH LIQUID LOVE
I FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN CARRYING TWO BAGS OF CEMENT ON MY SHOULDERS I WAS SO LIGHT I NEARLY FLOATED OFF THE FLOOR.
ALL MY SINS HAD BEEN FORGIVEN.
I HAD BEEN CLEANSED. I KNEW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT IF I HAD DIED AT THAT MOMENT I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS
WHERE AS IF I HAD DIED ON THAT ROUNDABOUT MY SOUL WOULD HAVE BEEN IN ETERNAL TORMENT IN HELL.
SUCH JOY BEGAN TO FLOOD MY ENTIRE BODY!
I COULD FEEL HAPPINESS AND EXCITEMENT JUST WELLING UP IN THE LOWER PART OF MY BELLY
I JUST LIFTED MY HANDS IN COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD
MY FACE WAS AWASH WITH TEARS OF JOY
MY MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING AND FLOWING
WITH GREAT GUSTO AND A VERY LOUD VOICE I BEGAN TO SING IN
A NEW HEAVENLEY LANGUAGE TO THE TUNE OF
“HOW GREAT THOU ART”
HERE WAS I TRANSFORMED BY THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD
A WRETCHED UNCOUTH, FOULMOUTH, SEMI ILLITERATE
UNCHURCHED MAN OF THE WORLD, DEVOID OF LOVE, FILLED
WITH ANGER; REBELLIOUS; AGGRESSIVE; KNOWING NOTHING OF
THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
KNOWING NOTHING OF THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD
HAVING NEVER HEARD A GOSPEL MESSAGE.
KNOWING NOTHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD.
FILLED TO OVERFLOWING WITH THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BORN AGAIN, SINS FORGIVEN BLOODWASHED SON OF GOD.
Before my transformation, I was Bill Carter R.A.G. (ruff as guts)
BUT NOW IT’S BILL CARTER B.A.S.F.S.O.G.
Born Again Spirit Filled son of God
The change in my life was beyond comprehension. I asked God why He filled me with His Spirit with the evidence of speaking in Tongues.
The answer was: “If I had only received Salvation, I could have written it off as an emotional experience, but when I pray and begin to pray in a heavenly language, how can I possibly deny that I have had an encounter with the Son of God?”
Two and a half years after my conversion my wife and I were ministering in a small house church in India and I said to my host, “It’s because of a miracle that happened in India that I am here today,” and I related to him about the lady who had been healed after 30 years in a wheelchair.
“Yes Brother, that story is true and it happened right here in this room in that corner of my kitchen.”
One year later I met the man whose hand was healed in the church meeting in Elizabeth. He was the late Pastor John Richardson of Wallaroo and Kadina.
WHAT AN AMAZING GOD WE SERVE
Prior to becoming a Christian, the furthest I had traveled was Woomera to Melbourne.
Since that amazing life changing night of Saturday 9.35pm 26th January 1974, we traveled extensively for the work of the Lord in:
America; Norway; England; Italy; Jordan; Israel; Iran; Afghanistan; Armritza; Shrinagah; Pakistan; India; Nepal; Singapore; Fiji; Malawi; Pretoria; Africa. Every State in Australia. So it goes on until that day when we head for outer space.
WHERE ERE HE LEADS
US WE WILL FOLLOW