In September 1961 I turned 15 and on the Friday after my birthday I left the fourth form of Naenae College. The following Monday I commenced a five year apprenticeship as a Photolithographer with a firm in Wellington called Warburton Golder. I took to this like a duck to water and within a year or so was doing a tradesman's work and topped New Zealand in the exams for apprentices. More importantly however was the beginning of my path with Jesus Christ. One of the tradesmen Don Hutson was a member of the Salvation Army and he invited me to a Salvation Army event called a Congress in the Wellington town hall. During those meetings I heard the clear invitation to follow Jesus and as was the custom I responded to the appeal and knelt at the front of that hall and gave my life to Him. This was reinforced as later during that year I attended Youth for Christ meetings in the area and reiterated that decision with more understanding. Two things happened immediately as a result of that beginning. Firstly my foul mouthed swearing stopped like a tap was turned off and secondly the Bible came alive as I read it. Previously when I looked at religious books I found them boring, but now the Scriptures became like food and I had a big appetite!! There was much more to come, but my Pilgrimage had commenced.