5 minute read
God Kept Knocking
Ethan Waugh from Christchurch City Corps shares his remarkable story of God’s faithfulness and his vision for future generations.
My mum and dad were both Salvation Army officers, and in many ways I feel like I was born into the Army. I spent most of my childhood in Gisborne and loved living in the country, spending lots of time outside. When I was 13, Mum and Dad were appointed to West Auckland as corps officers for Waitakere Central Corps. I found moving to a big city and adjusting to a new high school challenging.
I always had a sense of God being with me and I definitely had ‘God moments’ growing up. I remember feeling the Holy Spirit’s presence while my dad prayed for me as a child, but I struggled to hear God’s voice. Unfortunately, I got caught up in the wrong crowd in Auckland and I began smoking cigarettes and cannabis and I started drinking alcohol. I can see now that I lacked self-esteem. I wanted to fit in, and I was trying to find myself by chasing a party lifestyle. I tried methamphetamine for the first time. My interest in school waned, and I left school at 16 years of age.
I followed my passion for cars and went to Unitec to study a certificate in automotive engineering. Following this I struggled to find employment. I was out drinking most nights, getting high and selling drugs. I wasn’t going to church anymore, and I moved out of home to go flatting.
In 2013, Mum and Dad were appointed to the Belfast Corps in Christchurch, and I soon followed them— it was a fresh start. I got a steady job as a freight handler and was promoted. Around this time my dad was diagnosed with cancer. My partner became pregnant, and my son was born a few months before my dad died. I became deeply depressed and anxious. My relationship with my partner ended, and my son and I moved home to live with my mother.
Unable to work, I turned back to smoking cannabis and methamphetamine. Fifteen months after my dad passed away, my brother was diagnosed with cancer. He survived, but this situation pushed me to a new low.
Going downhill
Meth drove me every day. I sold my belongings and stole money and jewellery from my mum and my brother. I completely lost who I was. I was so addicted that I didn’t care about anyone. Things continued to go downhill, and I committed an aggravated robbery to support my addiction. On the second anniversary of my father’s death the police turned up at our house with a search warrant. I was arrested and taken away in a police car. I went to court and was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.
That first week in my cell, I remember praying, saying sorry to God and asking him to forgive me. I began to pray most days. I completed an automotive course and became a mentor. I also started to go to a church group on Sundays and a weekly Bible study group.
While I was in prison, I met Steve Wyllie who was a prison chaplain from Riccarton Community Church. He showed me love and support, and he gave me a Bible which I began to regularly read. I set myself a goal to get an early release from prison in time to see my son start primary school.
I then began an intense drug treatment programme. They taught me all these different tools to help me. My mum, my brother and my son came to see me graduate from the programme. Throughout my prison sentence my family supported me. My mum wrote me a letter my first week in prison that I still have. It says, ‘I forgive you’. I was then able to forgive myself. I was granted release at my first parole hearing after only serving two years of my sentence, and I was able to see my son start school.
New beginnings
I began attending Christchurch City Corps and I was literally welcomed with open arms. They were really good to me. I met my lovely partner Suzie and we have now been married for a year. We have a new family, with my son and her daughter. I began a new job as a workshop assistant. I have since been promoted to workshop coordinator and oversee a team.
I have a story to share with others and I can relate to what the youth of today are struggling with— low self-esteem, drugs and alcohol. God has given me a passion to help the generation behind me. I have learned these tools that I can share with others. I have also learned how important it is to talk. I used to bottle things up.
I have a vision to run an organisation that supports young people to develop self-esteem and practical skills. Sometimes I try to work out how I can make this happen, but I know that if God wants me to do this, he will give me the right tools to get me there.
Throughout my time in prison, I reflected on many Scriptures, especially Revelation 3:20: ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.’ I think God was probably knocking at my door for a long long time. My time in prison is what made me let him in.
I have now been off meth for six years. God is so good and has been with me the whole time. He knew the choices that I was going to make and what I needed to experience. I am hopeful for the future and look forward to seeing what God does with my passion for helping the younger generation.
