Testimony — George Verwer

New Creation and Reconciliation in Christ

The Bible, I mean, because the Bible clearly I told you, the 2nd Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians 5, verse 17, 2nd Corinthians 5, verse 17, 2nd Corinthians 5, verse 17,. Therefore, when a man be in Christ, he is a new creation.

Old things are passed away, behold, old things are become new. Therefore, when a man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Therefore, when a man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Verse 18,. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, and though God did beseech you by us, we beg you, in Christ's name, be reconciled to God. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, and though God did beseech you by us, we beg you, in Christ's name, be reconciled to God.

For he hath made us, or for he hath made him who knows him as Christ, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. For he hath made us, or for he hath made him who knows him as Christ, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

For he hath made us, or for he hath made him who knows him as Christ, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, and though God did beseech you by us, we beseech you, in Christ's name, be reconciled to God.

Now let us have a great plan, and a great purpose for each individual life here tonight. And so we look unto you, in Jesus' name. Amen. I'd like to start by giving my testimony, how I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Family Background Without Faith

My father and grandfather were born in the land of Holland, the Netherlands. We had many Dutchmen working on this ship. My grandfather was an atheist. He did not believe in God. To him it was all nonsense.

There was no such thing as God. That was only for weaker people, stupid people, to believe in God. My own father was a materialist. And he went to live near New York City. He left Holland and went to the great, the Holland New Land to make money.

On my mother's side, my grandfather was a drunkard. He drunkard, drank too much. You have plenty of that in India as well. Especially in certain cities like Goa. So this was my background. And I was brought up in this kind of home.

Of course we called ourselves Christians. Everybody did that. I mean, we weren't heathen. So we say Christians. Nothing, nothing. Purely a name. And I knew almost nothing about Jesus Christ. Except when I got angry, it was a swear word on my lips.

Pursuing Money, Pleasure, and Sexual Temptation

And I at a very young age began to live for money. I went in business when I was about 11 years of age. I learned how to lie, I learned how to cheat, I learned how to steal. And I soon was finding myself in some interesting situations.

Of course it was nothing that big when I was only 12 years old. But I had this great love of money. And then another strong passion came in my life. That I didn't quite understand. This tremendous lust toward women.

Now we never talk about that here in India. We were told not to talk about these things in India. So you better not read your Bible. Because there's over 200 verses in the word of God on the subject of sex.

Then someone said to me, oh don't speak about these things in mixed group. Of course in my Bible there's no reference that says not for reading in mixed group. So when I was about 13, I began entering into this very interesting world.

And by 15, 16 I was in the night clubs in New York almost every weekend. That was a very dominating thing in my life. Then there were many other desires in my life. Great love for pleasure. Great passion to be someone.

This caused me to do many foolish things. Say many foolish things. Then I started going to church. There was some nice girls in this church. So I thought this was a good place. Plus there was some small interest in my heart about God.

Religion Without the Gospel

Now I went to a church where the man, the pastor, did not preach the gospel. He just had a job and he was getting good pay. So thus we were all very wonderful. He made me president of the young people.

Now I thought I would bring revival to this church. Of course I didn't even know what revival was. But I thought at least I could teach them how to dance. I used to be dancing every few nights. And if I couldn't find a woman I would dance with a stick and even.

I had music going from very early morning. I had a special clock that ticked off the record player before I was awake. To get me out of bed and get me going in the morning. So I told the pastor, let us get a record player into this church and we will get this place going.

So many more young people were coming. Of course none of us knew Jesus Christ. All kinds of things were happening. The pastor and our parents knew what was going on. You know it is easy to fool people.

I used to think I was so clever. That poor mother, she is so ignorant. My mother is thinking I am such a good fellow. And I would stay out late at night. I would do so many things. She would never believe I was doing anything wrong.

I was stealing from her very pocket book. But they were so happy they had such a good little son. Of course in the house. I never said any naughty words. Out in the streets I was cursing and blaspheming all the time.

I thought I was so clever. So I got many dirty stories. I was going to produce a dictionary of dirty words and dirty stories. So I was trying to get a little bit of religion and a lot of the world together.

Billy Graham and Conviction of Sin

Then came the year just before I was to go to university. I was sixteen. An old lady had sent a gospel of John to me through the post. And I had begun to read. She had prayed for this particular school.

For fifteen years. Tremendous woman of prayer. She had heard about me. Because of the trouble I was causing in the school. She began to pray for me. She prayed for me for three years. And I believe I am here today because of the prayers of that woman.

At that time I didn't know she was even praying. I did not know it was she who had sent this gospel. So I thought it was her son. And then on March 5th, 1955. Billy Graham came to New York City. Just for one night.

Many of you have read his book, How to Find God in Orient. So partly out of curiosity. I went. Maybe some of you have come to this ship like that. That's a hungering for God. Wanting to join the army of Jesus Christ.

Curious what kind of ship is this? And so I went to this meeting. I took my binoculars. And I heard that this Billy Graham was a hypocite. And that people would be emotionally caught. And just swept in the reception.

Billy Graham gave a very simple message. He explained how all men were lost. Whether they were religious or whether they were atheists. He explained the deadly perils of playing with sin. As a young man I had begun to play with sin.

But by 16, sin was playing with me. I no longer had the power to stop habits that had gripped my life by 16. I was unable to stop lying. I was unable to stop swearing. I was unable to control my mind.

And I began to peddle and to sell pornographic filthy literature to my schoolmates. And I knew that what Billy Graham was saying that night was true. I knew that I needed courage. I had tried religion.

That made me worse. That made me into a hypocrite. I was failing in the church. My little necktie. We will now have the Lord's prayer. We will now sing one hymn. Let us all sing Jesus loves me. And people thought all this lovely young man was a little angel.

Even sitting there in the church the whole time I was watching this beautiful girl up in the balcony. So I was a hypocrite. And Monday through Saturday I was living like the devil. And my friends would have never known that I had even ever entered a church building.

And my friends would have never known that I had even ever entered a church building. And my friends would have never known that I had even ever entered a church building. Religion makes things more confusing.

We begin to live a double life. We begin to pretend. We wear the little Christian mask. We don't have the little Christian mask. We don't have the little Christian mask. And then when we go with our other friends.

We quickly take the mask off. And the real person. So as I listened to Billy Graham that night. I knew something was wrong. I did not like the word sin. I'm no sinner. I've never murdered anyone. Of course I wanted to.

I mean I'm not a gangster or some thief. I mean I don't steal much. And so I didn't like this word sinner. I was from a good family. We were good people. Sinners. But he quoted all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

And he kept reading the Bible. He didn't give man made philosophies. He said the Bible says. And it went like an arrow into my heart. I knew I needed time. Now I had brought a girl with me. Whenever I went I took a girl with me.

This is one of these girls who pours peroxide on her head. Turns her hair all blonde. Chemical. And she was not very nice girl. So I thought boy this is definitely. Yes somebody's salvation. And so when Billy Graham asked people to pray.

Conversion Through Faith in Jesus Christ

I bowed my head and I prayed for her. But even as I was praying. There was a sense something was wrong. There was a sense that something wrong was me. That I needed this salvation. I needed forgiveness of sin.

I needed to know that I was on the way to heaven. So when he called people to make a decision. To get out of their seats. I did that as a simple act of faith. And I trusted him. I believed in him. You see believing is not with the head.

We all believe in the head. But the Bible says the devil believes. He does more than we do. But the faith that the Bible speaks about. Is something very revolutionary. When you really believe on Jesus Christ.

As it says in this verse you become a new person. And that night. I became a new person. That person. Solved some of my problems. They went very quickly. Like for example all the literature I had. Evil literature.

That was easy. But my mind. For many years. Had to have continual cleansing and renewing by the word of God. It says in John 1 .12. As many as receive him. Receive Jesus Christ. So then he gives power to become the son of God.

And that's what I did that night. I received him. And his power came into my life. That was many years ago. It has never left. Only for a few minutes. When I sin. With my eyes. But I learned as a young Christian.

That if I confess my sin. Immediately God is faithful and just to forgive me. And I believe. Many who think that they are Christian. They only have it in their head. Their lives have never been changed.

Their tongues have never been changed. Their thoughts have never been changed. Let me explain. We have a chair here. Now this is a very nice chair. Very strong chair. And I can say I believe in this chair.

That's the kind of faith a lot of people have. I believe in this chair. But that faith is no good. I will show you the kind of faith. That saves a man's soul. This is the kind of faith. Now I'm trusting this chair.

And if this chair breaks it will be quite funny. I'm trusting this chair. I've committed myself to the chair. And I'm really believing. The Bible's kind of believing in this chair. That's the kind of faith we need.

We put our trust in Him. We yield our lives to Him. This is God's will. My plan. But it's God's will and God's plan. Now I never found the Christian life to be easy. I know many of you are already believers.

Growing in Grace After Conversion

Maybe you're like I was. That kind of thing is very easy. And I believe this is for one main reason. That after we're born again we fail to grow. Look at 1 Peter 3 .18. Look at 1 Peter 3 .18. Look at 2 Peter 3 .18.

But grow in grace. 18th verse 2 Peter 3 .18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Him be glory both now and forever. Now this is very important. When a baby is born when you were born your mother didn't say oh well here he is and throw him into the street.

No. She nursed you and took care of you. You needed air. You needed love. You grew. Being born again as wonderful as it is as important as it is is only the beginning. And you must grow. And this has been one of the main entries of the work of O .M. O .M. Operation Mobilization to help young people grow strong in Jesus Christ.

The Beginnings of Operation Mobilization

Let me give you a little history how the work began. Oh what a big work. But it started with just 2 or 3 of us. There was no organization. There was no money. There was no vehicle. Just 2 people. In that very high school.

We were 17 years of age. Only 17. One of the best things you can do if you are serious about the things of God is to form prayer cells. So at 17 we learned to pray. And God broke into that school. And within one year about 150 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

Through the weak work of just a group of young people. Then I went to college. There I met one or two of them. We began to pray. We began to go out in evangelism. And God worked. And that summer 3 of us went 4000 miles to Mexico.

That was the first OM team though we had no name OM. I was only 18. And we were very young. We were in a foreign country. We didn't know the language. I was learning the Spanish language. I had trouble knowing even my own language.

So we prayed to God and God answered prayers and did great things. And that was the beginning of this work. The next summer there were 5 of us. The next summer there were 15 of us. The next summer I went to Spain.

And God began to work there in Europe. So we prayed to God and God answered prayers and did great things. And that was the beginning of this work. The next summer there were 5 of us. The next summer there were 15 of us.

The next summer I went to Spain. And God began to work there in Europe. And there were about 25 of us. And we prayed. We asked God to give us 200 Europeans. He gave them in 1962. Even though we were told this was impossible.

They said this may happen in North America but it will not happen here. And in 1963 He gave us this house. We never tried to raise any money. There was no big business. There was no big church. We had no great source of money.

But day by day every prayer weekly nights of prayer God answered. He gave us literature. Literally lakhs and lakhs of people. Never so much literature in the history of world ministry. And then He gave us vehicles.

We didn't have any money. We got very old vehicles. First big truck. A man said to me, take it. It's free. Nobody wants this 1949 truck. And one man said this truck will not reach city limits. So that truck 20 ,000 kilometers to the glory of God.

For the first seven years we didn't even have a mechanic. Not one mechanic. But God heard our prayers. I remember once driving a truck water started to leak out of the engine. I didn't know what to do.

But I had some swing on. And then I... And to my amazement the water stopped. And so God helps us in so many ways. Many times we did not have food. We had no money. One team was in the south of France.

They were sitting by the side of the road. They were French. All of us started. Dozens and dozens and dozens of pieces of fruit came down the hill, rolling down the hill. Apples, oranges, rolling down the hill.

They just started praising God. And eating His food. They discovered later that one truck up the hill had lost his load. Now someone can say that we do not have to suffer. This is just coincidence. But my friend, I am also a skeptic.

After spending 90 years of this life and this kind of being, every day it is impossible to believe it is coincidence. I need much more faith to believe it is coincidence than I do to believe that God hears and answers prayers.

Faith, Provision, and Marriage

So many ways God supplies. When I first met the girl who is now my wife, I tried to explain to her I am committed to Lord Jesus Christ. She was also committed. But she did not understand some of my convictions.

I explained to her my possessions, my business, I had no money. I told her if she married me she would be poor, all of her life she would be poor because I was giving all of my money to quench the thirst of the Lord God.

She was somewhat afraid because girls like material things even more than men. So we were discussing maybe we should not get married, better I be a single man. And one day we were sitting together and we were sitting by one lake and I had no money and time was coming for food.

So I said I don't think we should buy any food today. She looked at me she was not quite sure this was the best way. So I was praying. Then a group of young people sat behind us and they had sandwiches wrapped in paper and some fruits and they were eating away.

Then they put everything in the bag and they threw it in one barrel like a pot they have a dust barrel. So I didn't know what to do. This dear girl would never understand. So I said let me just go and see in the barrel.

And when I took out this bag there was much food they had not even touched. There was fruit they had not even touched. And so I presented this meal to the girl who later became my wife. We've been seeing God so far.

I would not spend even five paisa without teaching God. At college I lived in the YMCA. Now I didn't want to spend any money for soap. I prayed Lord God of Heaven, God of all soap please send soap. Every time I went down to the shower room there was one piece of soap.

Someone always forgot their soap. Sometimes it was a very small piece but I'm not a very big fellow. So I began to learn. The charge is to spread. Not everybody is the same. We all grow and change. Some people God says you work.

That's good. Other people God says you must go out completely preaching the word of God all day long. And so as I began to share these principles and I wrote articles and then books and I'm very happy that my book has just been published in Oodiya and I'm going to give you one of those tomorrow if I can find enough copies.

World Evangelism and the Call for Laborers

More and more young people will be taking part. Soon we will be moving all over Europe and during the Middle East Turkey, the Arab world, Iran many India and many other places. When we came to India people said nobody is going to join you.

What salary are you paying? No one is going to work. What future is in this kind of situation? Only unemployed people will join and they will steal everything you've got. And it's true in the early days.

We had many problems and stealing, lying, everything. But as we prayed as we sought God basing our prayers on Matthew chapter 9 that he would send laborers began to send laborers some for short time and some for longer time.

We pray God for some of you from this state of Odisha who have worked with these people. Do you understand? It's just extreme work. We find men learn things by doing them they learn things even by making mistakes.

The only man who has never made a mistake is the man who has never done anything. We as young people we need to come out of our seats stop worrying about making mistakes and get on with world evangelism and spiritual revolution.

Now I have 250 men here in India. About 70 -60 in India. Also Indians moving out to other countries. Many of these other countries are much much more needy than India and India is very needy. India is very needy but in other states people are repeatedly praying, evangelism, loving one another that is causing people wrong.

Christian Freedom, Holiness, and Surrender

And still in the habits that cripple our lives evil things that control our lives still never fall in sight. We have found out Christianity is all negative. Don't smoke, don't go to cinema don't look at the girl don't say that, don't go near her.

That is not the Christianity of the Bible. That is our own imagination. Many many people have been driven away from Jesus Christ because we presented him as a negative, negative guy. We have a positive message.

I myself can never stop doing those things. So many Christians I know they are discouraged. They try so hard not to do this and not to do that the harder they try the more they fall. They get discouraged and they say this is all nonsense.

God has given us a path. A revolutionary path where we love one another. We help one another. We invade the world for Christ. We give our lives, we give our time, we give everything. And in turn we experience many things.

I have not had a day in 19 years to die. The Bible says that whoever gives his life to God he will die. Many people try to save lives they want to be happy they want money, they want vaccines they want everything and they try to save lives but what do they get?

They get nothing. They are not happy. But the man who falls into the ground and dies who is buried with Jesus Christ who surrenders his life to Christ he gives his money he gives his time he gives his heart he falls into the ground he brings forth joy and he experiences a joy unspeakable.

Oh may God show this great secret of spiritual life may we give our lives to him may we submit to his pattern of growth. See me every day on the word of God that's what I began to do as a young person and every week for 19 years another 60 books now some 500 -600 books and of course more on the word of God such great help and then witness God gives us more and as we give and every belief even the youngest Christians when I was just a baby Christ only one year I was winning many people's hearts and this helped me so much I saw their lives changed.

I went down and worked among criminals in jail. I was living there but here I went into the jail. I became the scapegoat of the jail behind the bars surrenders to life tremendous things. But we see God changing our lives.

Testimonies of Transformation and Commitment

What's the Bible say? And nobody is too hard to find. I've seen drug addicts so many people I think of Tom Skinner. He was a terrible gangster. He had fads, he teases. He was a gang leader. He fought many gangs.

He was constantly beating people with his fists. One day he was planning a large war. He used to carry guns. He used to use bottles. He smashed the bottle and smashed it into a man's face filled with hatred.

Some of you have read his story. It's in many Indian languages. He was listening to the radio. He was born again. He was active again. He preached to the gang. Some people tried to kill him but his arm froze in the air by the power of God.

He was saved 10 years ago. Tom Skinner has been preaching ever since. He's one of the great American black evangelists. He has been doing good. He has been doing good. He's the one I look at all of you as one, but I don't know many of you, but I have a plan for your life.

Give me your heart. Give me your heart. Give me your heart. I will give you my heart. I pray with the heart and soul. Giving him to God. Giving him to God. You know, he is one of our heart. You know, he is one of our heart.

Amen. Just as we wait upon Him. Let's take a moment of silent prayer. You can pray right where you are. Yielding your life to Christ. Maybe for the first time. Maybe for rededication. God will hear your prayer.

Let's take a moment for silent prayer. To do serious business with God. Thank you God, did you hear and answer prayer? Hear the prayer of these young people tonight. Work in their hearts and lives. That they may never be the same again.

Letting God Shape the Believer

That we may be true disciples of Jesus Christ. Living holy for Him. Knowing that He plays His grace helping. Praying Jesus' name. Amen. You get your hands around my neck. Fortunately I'm in London. And if you just realize, God is building paths.

Don't kick, don't run the wrong way. Watch what He says. Circumstances is one of God's greatest message. To make you what God wants you to be. So if you fall off the sea truck and we have to fish you out with a fishing pole.

And you lose your sari in the process. God is still alive. That's never happened to anybody in Oang yet. But I can tell you I was preaching in a meeting in Kerala with my dhoti. And when it started to move through my shoes I became a mighty nervous preacher.

And we had another brother down in Kerala. And it did go with the wind. That started a new legend in the Maristoma church. Once I tried to use Him, now He uses me. Don't use God. And don't try to push God into your mold.

We get some people I know, they try to push God into their little theological mold. Don't make God into a Baptist. Please. Don't make God into a Flemish Brethren or a Pentecostal or an Anglican. Let your God be faith.

Grace. The God of all believers. Don't try to use Him. Don't use His word in a deceptive way. Once the power I wanted, now the mighty one. People go wild speaking for power. I want to tell you, if God gave some of us too much power prematurely, we'd blow the church down with it.

Misplaced power is a great problem. And I just pray in my own life. I want power when I preach. I pray that God will give it to me in accordance with the humility that I have to control it and absorb it.

It's very important. Once was the power, now the mighty one. Once for self I labored, now for Him alone. I think I'll just read the rest of Joseph's time. Once I hoped in Jesus, now I know He's mine. Once my lamps were dying, now they brightly shine.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Once for death I waited, now is coming hell. Now my hopes are anchored safe within the veil. You know, one of my favorite songs is the one that is in this new film about the second coming of Jesus Christ.

I wish we'd all been ready. You get a chance to listen to that song sometimes. I wish we'd all been ready. I wish we'd all been ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. And I don't know if that great doctrine has been mentioned here in your girls' conference, but it should be.

Because it's one of the greatest, most challenging, encouraging doctrines in the word of God. That Jesus Christ is coming again. That these old clay vessels, and that's all we got, clay vessels, weighs 123 pounds.

I don't know what yours is, but if it's much over 123, you better go on a diet. Unless you're pretty tall. You know, someday this clay vessel is going to be changed for a new body. Jesus is coming again, do you believe that?

You do. You're going to get out with the work. You're going to be praising him. You're going to be keeping your eyes off the material things, and not be getting too worried about the future. You're not going to be too worried about what people are thinking of you, and not too worried about what your uncle is saying, and what your grandpa is saying.

But you're going to be living for Jesus, and wondering all that day, when I stand before him, will he be able to say, Sally, or Susie, or Joan, or Elizabeth, well done. By good and faithful servants. That's what we live for.

Final Prayer for Faithful Discipleship

Give God his final word concerning our lives. Let us pray. Living Lord Jesus, we thank you for this little poem. Help us to think upon it many times in the years to come. Keep us from tangents. To keep us from foolishness.

From selfishness. And to keep us thinking after you. Communing with you. And developing a deeper and deeper love relationship with you, Lord Jesus. For even if everyone else leaves us. Or everyone else misunderstands us.

You will be with us. For you have said you would never leave us. Or forsake us. And on this strength we go. Into the backs of these old trucks. Into the years behind and gone. Into the problems and the difficulties of the days ahead.

We believe that with your presence. All things are possible. And we go forth in your name. Through Jesus Christ. Can we sing as the closing word of this conference. When I survey the wondrous cause.