Sermons and series???

When I was about 11 years of age something remarkable happened to me. My teacher Mrs Milburn gave me a little book titled 'The art of public speaking'. Why I don't know for I was a quiet shy boy. However it became quite prophetic as my life and gifting in years ahead centered on that very thing, publicly speaking sermons and series!!!

The story starts in 1946 when I was born in Wellington New Zealand to Ray and Cath Gordon my Dad and Mum. Dad had returned from serving in the New Zealand forces in the 2nd World War and like thousands of other returned service men married and commenced to set up a family.

We moved into a two bedroom state house in the Hutt Valley suburb of Naenae. In time our family grew to five boys and one girl, adding to the already booming population of children in the area. Schooling, sports, friends, games in the nearby hills and for me introduction to brass banding commenced. We saw the introduction of TV after years of being brought up on listening to the radio. Mainly British programs my favourites were the British comedies which helped develop a rich sense of humour and culminated in the unparalleled Goon Show.

Like most children of that time we attended Sunday School on Sunday mornings. Initially with the Methodist church and then, because it was nearer and we did not have a car, a Salvation Army Sunday School that commenced in an old Community hall around the corner. This seemingly minor decision was actually highly significant and in many ways marked the beginning of my Pilgrimage. It led to my making a deliberate choice to follow Jesus Christ a few years later in my early teens. So it began....