As I holidayed in Boundary Street Coolangatta on the border between Queensland and New South Wales, I decided to cross the border and do a walk at dusk along the main street in Tweed Heads. An unique occurrence happened. It had never happened before and has never happened since. I was wolf whistled by small group of young women. It was embarrassing but also amusing. Remembered because of its uniqueness.
However, another unique occurrence was to take place later in the evening that had eternal consequences. My two sisters had become believers in Christ and had been trying to persuade me to become one also. During the holiday I had been reading the book “Peace With God“ by Billy Graham and some small booklets written by John Stott, an English clergyman and a chaplain to the Queen. I had become convinced that Jesus had lived, died and risen from the dead before ascending back to heaven. He had become Lord of the universe and of all its inhabitants. But how was I going to submit to His lordship?
Later in the evening I opened one of the booklets written by John Stott. It had a simple prayer one could pray to become a Christian, using the letters A, B, C and D to describe the steps involved.
- I had to Admit that I was a Sinner in the sight of God. That was easy to do because I knew that I was not perfect. I had not loved Him with all my being!
- I had to Believe that Jesus Christ had come into the world to die for my sins. I had understood that when I read 2 Corinthians 5: 15, “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” I had realised that if I was the only person ever born and had committed only one sin, Jesus would still have needed to come to die for me for my forgiveness and salvation.
- I had to Consider the cost of becoming a Christian. Though salvation is a free gift in Christ, there were implications in giving one’s life to Christ. I realized that becoming a Christian meant that from that time forward, I had to live for Him, as that verse above indicated, “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
I considered the cost but knew the only option I had, was to live for Christ from that day on.
D. I had to Do something about it. I had to invite him into my life to be my Lord and Saviour. I had come to know how to do that as I read Revelation chapter 3 verse 20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” It had made sense of a picture in the small prayer book my parents had given me when I was confirmed.
I discovered the picture was a painting by Holman Hunt entitled “The Light Of The World” a copy of which I saw in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London when on a trip years later with my [now late] wife to the UK. It is a picture of the risen Christ holding a lantern, knocking on the door of the human heart, knocking and waiting to be invited in.
A few minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve 1958 I invited Him into my life. As I finished the prayer the horns honked and the bells tolled and there was great rejoicing outside …… because the new year of 1959 had come in. I was later to read there was also rejoicing in heaven on that New Year’s Eve as Jesus said, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7.
I was later to discover the truth of this verse, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Certainly the old had passed away. I gave up my Rugby League career after playing several seasons of A grade football and representing Ipswich in an international match against a touring New Zealand Maori team. Which we won!
I began to study the Bible, and to go to church. Soon after I was teaching Sunday school and leading a youth group where most of the members finished up on the mission field or in full time Christian service. I too went to theological college and was ordained an Anglican minister in 1968. In brief my ministry encompassed 10 years in Brisbane diocese at Coorparoo and Mount Gravatt, 10 years as the Dean of Armidale in New South Wales , 18 years as the Leader of the Healing Ministry in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney and a year as a locum at the Maclean-Yamba parish after retirement in 2012.
By the grace of God I was able to conduct teaching missions in many parts of Australia and did a ministry tour for the Order Of Saint Luke throughout New Zealand in 1993. A surprise invitation in 1999 meant my wife Carol and I did a ministry tour to the United States in Wisconsin, Alabama and Florida. WE returned every year for a 4 to 6 week ministry at All Saints, Winter Park, Florida from 2001 to 2008 and again in 2012. Many of those to whom we ministered became close personal friends for eternity.
Also by the grace of God there were wonderful changes in my personal life. Into my youth group came a young woman I had heard about as a great sportswoman and leader. She had been born in Kharagpur, India and had travelled as a 4 year old with her parents to Queensland and had settled in a neighbouring suburb. I have written a lot about her in my previous blogs but in summary she was the most attractive, self-giving woman I had ever met. We both believed that the Lord had brought us together in His love for His purposes. It was an incredible privilege and a joy to be married and to serve the Lord together for 54 years of marriage. And together to welcome into the world three wonderful children and through them our beloved grandchildren. Again there’s much about our family in previous blogs.
The main purpose of this blog, is to remind people of the newness of the new creation which we become in Christ, And to encourage those who have not done so, as yet, to pray the prayer to invite the Lord Jesus into their lives. HE keeps on knocking but WE must open the door of our hearts to Him. Only then comes the brand new newness that the Risen Christ is able to bring into our lives.
Blog No.586 posted on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2025.
About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
586. A New Beginning In A New Year. New Year’s Eve 1958. My personal story.
As I holidayed in Boundary Street Coolangatta on the border between Queensland and New South Wales, I decided to cross the border and do a walk at dusk along the main street in Tweed Heads. An unique occurrence happened. It had never happened before and has never happened since. I was wolf whistled by small group of young women. It was embarrassing but also amusing. Remembered because of its uniqueness.
However, another unique occurrence was to take place later in the evening that had eternal consequences. My two sisters had become believers in Christ and had been trying to persuade me to become one also. During the holiday I had been reading the book “Peace With God“ by Billy Graham and some small booklets written by John Stott, an English clergyman and a chaplain to the Queen. I had become convinced that Jesus had lived, died and risen from the dead before ascending back to heaven. He had become Lord of the universe and of all its inhabitants. But how was I going to submit to His lordship?
Later in the evening I opened one of the booklets written by John Stott. It had a simple prayer one could pray to become a Christian, using the letters A, B, C and D to describe the steps involved.
I considered the cost but knew the only option I had, was to live for Christ from that day on.
D. I had to Do something about it. I had to invite him into my life to be my Lord and Saviour. I had come to know how to do that as I read Revelation chapter 3 verse 20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” It had made sense of a picture in the small prayer book my parents had given me when I was confirmed.
I discovered the picture was a painting by Holman Hunt entitled “The Light Of The World” a copy of which I saw in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London when on a trip years later with my [now late] wife to the UK. It is a picture of the risen Christ holding a lantern, knocking on the door of the human heart, knocking and waiting to be invited in.
A few minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve 1958 I invited Him into my life. As I finished the prayer the horns honked and the bells tolled and there was great rejoicing outside …… because the new year of 1959 had come in. I was later to read there was also rejoicing in heaven on that New Year’s Eve as Jesus said, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7.
I was later to discover the truth of this verse, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Certainly the old had passed away. I gave up my Rugby League career after playing several seasons of A grade football and representing Ipswich in an international match against a touring New Zealand Maori team. Which we won!
I began to study the Bible, and to go to church. Soon after I was teaching Sunday school and leading a youth group where most of the members finished up on the mission field or in full time Christian service. I too went to theological college and was ordained an Anglican minister in 1968. In brief my ministry encompassed 10 years in Brisbane diocese at Coorparoo and Mount Gravatt, 10 years as the Dean of Armidale in New South Wales , 18 years as the Leader of the Healing Ministry in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney and a year as a locum at the Maclean-Yamba parish after retirement in 2012.
By the grace of God I was able to conduct teaching missions in many parts of Australia and did a ministry tour for the Order Of Saint Luke throughout New Zealand in 1993. A surprise invitation in 1999 meant my wife Carol and I did a ministry tour to the United States in Wisconsin, Alabama and Florida. WE returned every year for a 4 to 6 week ministry at All Saints, Winter Park, Florida from 2001 to 2008 and again in 2012. Many of those to whom we ministered became close personal friends for eternity.
Also by the grace of God there were wonderful changes in my personal life. Into my youth group came a young woman I had heard about as a great sportswoman and leader. She had been born in Kharagpur, India and had travelled as a 4 year old with her parents to Queensland and had settled in a neighbouring suburb. I have written a lot about her in my previous blogs but in summary she was the most attractive, self-giving woman I had ever met. We both believed that the Lord had brought us together in His love for His purposes. It was an incredible privilege and a joy to be married and to serve the Lord together for 54 years of marriage. And together to welcome into the world three wonderful children and through them our beloved grandchildren. Again there’s much about our family in previous blogs.
The main purpose of this blog, is to remind people of the newness of the new creation which we become in Christ, And to encourage those who have not done so, as yet, to pray the prayer to invite the Lord Jesus into their lives. HE keeps on knocking but WE must open the door of our hearts to Him. Only then comes the brand new newness that the Risen Christ is able to bring into our lives.
Blog No.586 posted on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2025.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.