Farther Along You’ll Understand Why
The journey of life is a gift from the creator that sometime turns out not as expected.
On the other hand for some it is a wonderful journey of creativity and adventure mingled with some sadness.
You may like to play this video as you continue to read as it is instrumental in nature.
I have often been asked to publish my story but have sensitively suppressed the notion, lest I unintentionally cause others to compare or reflect negatively about their own personal journey.
Each of us have a story and how it is told is the issue!
Looking back over a lifetime of 85 years I see the value now of sharing that story, with the view of giving God all the glory for steering me through it.
There have been 5 significant events that have taken place in my life that have helped to mould or shape the person I am.
THE FIRST TOOK PLACE IN 1944 WHEN AT THE AGE OF FIVE I CONSCIOUSLY INVITED JESUS INTO MY HEART.
I remember it as if it was yesterday, when I ran into the chapel at Lonavala, India where my mother & father were praying as was their habit.
It was war time and I was gripped with a sense of apprehension as I ran to my dear mother and fell at her knees and told her I wanted to give my heart to Jesus.
That was the beginning!
2. THE SECOND WAS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE WHEN I MARRIED BETTY.
The picture tells the story but you can also read the whole story by clicking on this link:
3. THE THIRD HAPPIEST DAY WAS WHEN BETTY GAVE BIRTH TO OUR FIRST BORN TED IN THE WEWAK HOSPITAL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
I was ‘over the moon’ to think the the great creator would give us the privilege of procreating.
Then followed many happy years serving the Lord as a young missionary family in New Guinea in the 1960-1970s
They indeed were the happiest years of our lives.
My life was full of adventure spreading the gospel and building churches and schools.
4. THEN CAME THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE.
By the mid 1970s I thought I had it all together with a healthy family of three children when disaster struck.
On 14 August 1974 I received urgent news over the Sked, the Missions radio network, that Betty was not well and was admitted to the Wewak General Hospital giving birth to our fourth child prematurely.
I drove through the dark jungle that night with chains on the tyres as the road was very slippery, to be at her side and there he was our third son.
John-Paul at birth was identical in appearance to his oldest brother Ted (first born).
Then came the shocking news that John-Paul’s was struggling with respiratory distress and what they called ‘premature lung syndrome’.
I immediately sent telegrams to churches and leaders all over Australia asking for prayer for his healing.
Upon certification of his death the Charge Sister handed his body to me wrapped in a hospital issued towel, to be taken back to the Mission Station for burial.
Oh I remember the pain, grief, unbelief, and dare I say it, anger I felt, as his tiny body rested on 
my lap, just beneath the steering wheel as I drove my old Jeep back to the Mission Station at Wewak crying all the way ‘Why Lord, Why! What have I done?’
Even as I write this nearly 50 years later, tears of grief and emotion momentarily exploded within me.
There were no Funeral Homes or Directors to call upon for support, advise or assistance.
I arrived back at the Mission Station leaving Betty back in the hospital battling Malaria that she contracted through a blood transfusion that was unfortunately laced with Malaria parrasites.
A missionary colleague the Late John Irvine built a tiny Coffin for John-Paul and on the afternoon of 20 August 1974, I buried him in an unmarked grave under a rain tree in the grave yard of the local Kreer people.
Missionary Ossie Molyneux & Ps Steven Minua assisted me in the burial.
If you would like read the full story click on this link.
5. THE DARKEST DAY OF MY LIFE CAME HOWEVER, WHEN I SUFFERED CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
“Burn Out” as it is often described in professional circles is a nice way of saying I had an emotional breakdown.
It left a lasting burden on my life that has to be managed lest it reoccur.
Seriously it came out of a period in my life & ministry when surreptitiously, I must have been consumed with what I call ‘prideful ambition’.
I was caught up in the competitive nature of what I call the “mega church growth syndrome”, to build the largest rural church in Australia and it was happening according to my planning but that’s another story!
The truth is I was not gifted physically & emotionally for the task, yet I pushed myself and my congregation to fulfil the ambition.
I sought help from the Late Ps Norman Armstrong of Sydney who heard me out and that was a comforted to me.
However the Lord knew what was happening and was gracious, sending along an ‘Angel’ to minister to me in person.
A missionary colleague who prefers not to be named, came to my assistance and walked me through it all!
I was given three months leave of absence from the Church and spent the time at my brother’s beach house at Goolwa in South Australia.
Thus began my journey into the dark night of the soul.
There is no point in describing what happened other than to say they were dark times indeed and death looked attractive.
I am grateful to Betty for her love and support through that time in my journey of depression.
In conclusion I would like to say if you ever enter the dark night of the soul call upon Jesus!
Since then I no longer desire to preach before live audiences although at times I have!
Strangely I break down emotionally as it triggers memories that I have left behind.
The amazing thing is that The Holy Spirit mindful of my case, has taken my natural giftings and opened an unintentional ministry on the Internet.
My son David showed me how and payed for my website domain at www.fredandbettyevans.com to write my story.
My inquisitive nature led me to explore Youtube where I can store all my music, church historic videos and personal videos for free.
The good news is you can subscribe to my ‘Church Channel’ as I call it, and its free to you also!
Go to Youtube: Ps Fred Evans or click on this link : there are over 1600 videos you can peruse at your leisure!
Because I love people in general someone suggested the social media platform of Facebook : Ps Fred and currently for some reason I have over 2700 followers who are not ‘Nosy-Parker friends’….. just saying!
Today I have a bigger Youtube church numerically than I ever dreamed of, with over 7.5K subscribers to my Youtube channel world wide and I don’t have to worry about taking up the offering or visiting them in person. haha!
It’s totally free!
“How did that happen”? …… The Holy Spirit used my hobbies for His glory!
‘Follow your gifting’ I say and don’t let prideful ambition creep in but keep humble!
I continually remind myself that I have “we have this treasure in earthen vessels”.(2 Corinthians 4:7
To be continued…….. Ministry Problems?