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"I was shocked because I thought “Hey they had everything going for them” and why the need to change..."
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My name is Mossy (Maurice) Angland. I was born on the 25th April 1956 in a place called Ballydesmond, which is located in the north West region of county Cork. My parents were farmers and were of the Roman Catholic persuasion. I grew up in a loving and caring family in a rural setting, never wanting for anything. I would have attended all church services with my family up until I was about 18 years. At the age of 15 years I began to question Catholicism as opposed to God. As I had begun to read and come into contact through TV and radio with people of different religions/denominations and practices. I remember reading an article of the “Jesus People” which was a movement in America in the early 70’s and I was impressed by their back to basics form of Christianity. Between the ages of 18-21 I had given up on Catholicism as I began to live my own life. I began to set my own standards and ideals, which were mostly low, as set by my friends and the world around me. Through all this time I felt I was right with God. I know there were certain things I felt I would never do. So I was able to convince myself that my spiritual well being was ok. I felt I was a good person because I believed in God and tried to be good to those around me. I was growing up becoming a man experiencing all the pleasures that this world had to offer.
I now was living in Limerick City in which I had moved to in 1974 to attend the Marine and Radio School, with the intention of becoming a radio operator and to travel the world. By 1976 I knew I was never going to go to sea. So I began to work in Limerick City in a succession of low paid jobs.
But during my time in the radio school I came into contact with two young men who had become born again Christians. I thought this was fascinating because these two guys were ordinary young rebellious men like me. We had the same interest in music, literature, sport, drink and the social scene in Limerick at that time. We sometimes dabbled in drugs. But it was what everybody was doing at that time. My thinking at that time was everybody did their own thing and if it made you feel good then it was the ok thing to do.
But when these two young men shared with me the change that had taken place in their lives I was shocked because I thought “Hey they had everything going for them” and why the need to change. About this time also I had begun to examine my own life style and future (or lack of it!) and I was filled with a sense of dread and uncertainty about my own future. Looking back now I can see the hand of God beginning to bring conviction upon me. I was really disturbed about what was happening around me. I felt certain anger towards God for taking away my social partners who now were no longer interested in the lifestyle that we had engaged in for the previous 2 years. I was now confused, bitter and clearly uncertain about my own lifestyle and my understanding of God and how I related to Him.
In 1977 I came upon some Limerick Christians preaching in the streets. Initially I avoided them. I was embarrassed to see two friends publicly demonstrating their newfound faith and beliefs. But the Lord kept bringing me into contact with these Christians, until I finally agreed to go to a gospel meeting in Mallow Street Hall in Limerick.
In that meeting and for the following week I felt a great conviction on my soul for my sin and a need for a saviour and a certainty that I longed for but had not yet achieved. Despite my own best efforts in the way I treated my fellow man and woman.
It all happened quickly during that week. I thought I was having a nervous breakdown, as I couldn’t understand why I was having these mental battles with myself regarding whether God existed or not, or if my ideas of spirituality were right or wrong. My whole belief basis was being challenged. Now of course I see it was part of the spiritual battle that I had to endure so that the Holy Spirit could convince and convict me of my need of Jesus as my personal Saviour from my spiritual darkness and sin filled life.
On the Saturday evening of that week I came to a crossroads in my life. I knew I had to make the most important and far-reaching decision I would ever make. When instead of going out on the town which I normally would have done, I went up to my bedroom and lay on my bed. All the things that I had heard from Christians for the past few weeks and had struggled to accept came to my mind. Now I felt I had no choice but to acknowledge that I was in need of salvation and that Jesus was the only answer. I cried out to the Lord Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to accept me as a sinner and save me by His grace. That scripture was to be the basis for my relationship with God from that moment onwards. I felt the Spirit of God giving me a sense of calmness, assurance and forgiveness. He has never left me to this day, in spite of times of challenges both spiritual and physical.
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Ordinary people in Ireland with Real life Experiences with God
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