At 15 I discovered that believing there was a God was not the same as believing in God. I consequently committed my life to Him and asked Him to take control of it. Just prior to this I had commenced reading the New Testament. It was this process of reading, especially the Book of Romans, which led me to acknowledge I was a sinner and needed Christ as the Saviour of my sins.

As I continued reading the New Testament I discovered that Christ promised the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues with the availability of supernatural gifts. I began seeking this.

At 16 I was in a small Pentecostal church, in Geelong Victoria, on a Wednesday night where the guest American preacher invited people to be prayed for to receive the Holy Spirit. I responded to this invitation. After prayer I felt different. Later that night at home, while alone, I spoke in tongues. I also had what I can only regard as an unusual supernatural experience where I was greatly physically shaken.

Shortly after this I felt the Lord burn the words of Jeremiah 1:5-10 ~

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

I knew from a young age I was called to preach, teach, and write for God. From the early years of my credentialed ministry I received insight and revelation into Biblical issues which have made a contribution to Christian thinking.

In 1995 I received a word from the Lord about moving to Tasmania from Melbourne. This was such a clear call that we packed everything we owned into a container and ordered a removalist to send it to “Tasmania”. I had felt the Lord saying to me that was “sending” me to Tasmania and that He was going to do something significant in an “insignificant” place. I also felt that the Lord was calling me to sow my life into this call.

When we arrived in September 1995, uninvited and unknown, we were invited to pastor Legana Assembly of God, a struggling church of 17 members, within one week of arriving. We knew this challenge was God’s will for us and the commencement of His unfolding plan.

Shortly after arriving I completed what had been 10 years of undergraduate study to earn my Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree. I then felt the Lord immediately call me to commence doctoral studies. I completed this degree over six years.

Since 1995 I have applied myself with all my heart to lead and pastor Legana AOG, now Legana Christian Church, with the support of able and gifted people, and fulfil a vision from God which was much bigger than just our town.

In 1997 I produced a vision paper in which I stated that God had put on my heart the desire to spread His Word through the use of digital technology (radio, television, internet, videos, CDs). From this point it has been one open door after another as God has brought in people into this ministry with the necessary gifts and talents to realise this vision.

During my pastorate I have endeavoured to do 3 simple things –

• Be a man of God with integrity to the Word and call of God imitating Christ as best I could

• Minister in a way that points people to a closer walk with Christ and to pursue Christlikeness

• Build the church on Biblical values rather than corporate techniques.

God has called me to lead Legana Christian Church. He has gifted me with teaching and preaching. Our use of electronic media (radio, internet, video, television) is also in response to the call of God on us. Therefore God has a special call for Legana Christian Church. It is continually having people added to it who see a bigger world than their own, and are prepared to pool their gifts into this church community. Andrew Corbett.

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