I first become involved in Christian ministries in 1996. To be honest, at the time I was not much of a committed Christian. I basically did it because my wife was into it. Christian ministry was alright for me, but it wasn't anything I particularly put faith in. The Christian youth Ministry I was involved in did some good work in the community, and I supported that, but I wasn't sure about the whole God thing. I liked that they were helping to keep kids off drugs and to provide job advice for the young, but I didn't understand what any of that had to do with Jesus.

Part of it had to do with the dazzling variety of Christian ministries out there. There are people of nearly every description ministering for Christ, and some of them are more helpful than others. One Christian ministry might just preach the gospel to the converted, while another one might take trips to foreign lands, help disadvantaged people, and spread the word of Christ to folks who never would experience it otherwise. There are Christian healing ministries, Jews for Jesus, Protestant ministries of every stripe, and even groups that don't really fit neatly into any category. Since all these people seem to believe somewhat different things, it was hard for me to believe that Christ was at the center of it.

That all changed when I had a religious awakening. It happened quite suddenly and unexpectedly, and to this day I can't explain it except to say that God works in mysterious ways. I wasn't asking for guidance, and I wasn't even really thinking about Jesus Christ at the time. I was just sitting on my couch when it hit me " the full glory of the love of God. It turned my work in the Christian ministries around overnight.

Before my religious awakening, I was just sort of going through the motions. I would do good work for Christian ministries, but I wasn't really inspired about it. After, however, I felt tireless. No matter how much I would do, it would never be to too much. I had an almost inexhaustible zeal both for good works and for sharing my faith with others.

I studied the Bible with a group, participated in church events, and in general went beyond the call of duty. I would minister to Christians, atheists, and to a large number of agnostics who hadn't made up their minds about the great questions of the universe. I can't speak for the works of other Christian ministries, but I suspect that many of them have people with similar religious awakenings working inside. Now I understand how so many different people can be inspired by the same experience.