Ed: When did you first start writing?
Bill:      My first article was posted on my ‘dancing-on-water.com’ website on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Ed:       Do you remember what sparked this interest?
Bill:      After corresponding with my daughter-in-law, Grace, for some time, she encouraged me to write

Ed:       Where do you get your ideas?
Bill:      Regular devotional Bible investigations, current local and world events, and spontaneous promptings of the mind from the Holy Spirit

Ed:       What are you passionate about?
Bill:      The salvation of lost souls and making them disciple-makers

Ed:       What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Bill:      Discipleship, leadership development, relational evangelism, formation of small/micro fellowship groups

Ed:       How do you handle tough times?
Bill:      I have learned how to rejoice in every circumstance, in particular ‘tough times’

Ed:       What would you describe as your greatest accomplishment so far?
Bill:      Compiling 212 articles that show my heart, mind, and devotion to God, also for raising-up a number of Christlike successors who are presently engaged in       raising-up their successors!

Ed:       What are your current priorities in this season of your life and why?
Bill:      My current priorities are my wife of 54 years, our two children, and six Grandchildren. They have managed to get-by on the ‘crumbs of my time’ during years of sacred service without complaint. It’s time that they be treated with the ‘main meal’ of my best. This, I believe, is my final divine assignment in this world.

Ed:       How has your upbringing influenced your worldview?
Bill:      Born to Lebanese parents in Lebanon,  together with our immigration into Australia at an early age greatly advantaged my worldview. It was natural for my parents to be God fearers as in the centre of our village was an old Greek Orthodox church building. My father honoured God with his life, not just his lips. He didn’t have to push his faith in God on me… I gladly received his influence of his reverence for God. However, I did not know God, nor did I realise my need for Him. 

It was at about the age of seven, I was drawn to Christian street evangelists who positioned themselves at the corner of our street at Redfern, Sydney, on Sundays (pre tv and ipads era). Using butchers paper and crayons, they told John Bunyan’s story of a pilgrim (a man burdened by the increasing weight of sin in his life) who progressed from this world, to that which is to come through looking up to Jesus. I believe it was at that time my child-heart first opened to God.  

My walk with God has opened my eyes to see myself, others, and the world from His perspective. This has defined the person I am today, my relationship with God, and my life’s purpose. 

DOW would like to thank Bill for his willingness to share a little bit about himself apart from his Bio which you can view here.

Lesley Mathews
Editor

Ed:       When did you first start writing?
Mathew: The first article I have ever written was for DOW was in April 2023 titled “Consider your ways”.

Ed:       Do you remember what sparked this interest?
Mathew: I was approached by Uncle Bill who explained the ministry and his desire to want to expand it to “guest writers”. I thought it was a great honour and privilege to be a fellow labourer and carry on the work with Uncle Bill and the other writers.

Ed:       Where do you get your ideas?
Mathew: Quiet time, messages and lessons from Bible College.

Ed:       What are you passionate about?
Mathew: Youth and Young Adult ministry. From personal experience: I recognise it can be a difficult time in a person’s life and it is important to protect them from the world and the consequences of sin.

Ed:       What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Mathew: Other than the bible, leadership books (for example John Maxwell and Stephen Covey) and books by Max Lucado.

Ed:       How do you handle tough times?
Mathew: Prayer, reading scripture and my wife.

Ed:       What would you describe as your greatest accomplishment so far?
Mathew: Being a faithful husband and father. My family is my most important ministry.

Ed:       What are your current priorities in this season of your life and why?
Mathew: Family, ministry and work. My wife and I have 3 young children who require a lot of time and attention which is a big priority during this season in life. Also time in ministry and work which requires a lot of time and attention.

Ed:       How has your upbringing influenced your worldview?
Mathew: It taught me about respect and trust as well as prudence in picking friends. It also taught me the importance of family and, most importantly, God’s providence in life.

DOW would like to thank Mathew for his willingness to share a little bit about himself apart from his Bio which you can view here.

Lesley Mathews
Editor

Ed:       When did you first start writing?
Pastor Sam: I started in 2004, writing church bulletins for ‘Dominion Today’ which was published quarterly and later became ‘Assurance Today’.

Ed:       Do you remember what sparked this interest?
Pastor Sam: Yes – I give the credit to my former senior Pastor, Rev. Kola Emiola who encouraged us to put our thoughts into black and white. Another person who helped me to up-skill is Pastor Bill Joukhadar. I learned by reading his articulated and well-presented articles. I’m inspired by these servants of God.

Ed:       Where do you get your ideas?
Pastor Sam:  The Holy Spirit has taught me never to read my bible without notes or having writing materials by my side. Sometimes words will be dropped into my spirit, with an immediate follow up into a deeper search or study into the Bible. This enables me to hear what the Lord would have me know from His inspired Word.

Ed:       What are you passionate about?
Pastor Sam: I’m passionate about encouraging the believers through

the preaching of the word of faith, which is demonstrated by the outpouring of love. This passion has helped me to author a few books to encourage my fellow believers in Christ Jesus. These books are all available on Amazon store. ‘Securing Divine Help’, ‘We All Are Jews: A Ministration To The Saved!’  are a couple of samples.

Ed:       What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Pastor Sam:  I enjoy reading Christian books and articles. My favourite local authors are Bishop David Oyedepo and Bishop David Abioye, who are the two ministers of Living Faith World Outreach Ministries. My favourite international authors are E.W. Kenyon and Kenneth E. Hagin both of whom bring blessed memories. And lastly, the Tommy Tenny books – my favourite among them being ‘The God Chasers!’

Ed:       How do you handle tough times?
Pastor Sam: My secret in enduring tough times is my faith in God as well as speaking out words of faith.

Ed:       What would you describe as your greatest accomplishment so far?
Pastor Sam: Following God’s leading to start Assurance Pentecostal Church Int’l. I didn’t believe in my ability to lead a new assignment BUT thanks be to God, this is our 10th year and we are still moving forward by His grace. We are seeing our vision of soul-winning and equipping the believers being fulfilled.

Ed:       What are your current priorities in this season of your life and why?
Pastor Sam: My main priority is to equip believers according to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission within Assurance Pentecostal Church Int’l as well as further afield. This priority has also opened doors for ministry outside my nation Nigeria.

Ed:       How has your upbringing influenced your worldview?
Pastor Sam: I was raised by a single Christian mother and grandmother but went to live with my uncle when I was 7 years old. He was a Christian in name only, as we never attended a church service. I lived with him all my life and when I was 19, I miraculously came to know Christ.

Before my conversion, my life was influenced negatively by my upbringing. I struggled with self-centredness, had great difficulty in living in harmony with others and didn’t know how to form close friendships. I lived with an unforgiving spirit, but now, thanks be to God, all of that is dead and buried as the Holy Spirit helped with the renewal of my mind.

DOW would like to thank Pastor Sam from Lagos, Nigeria  for his willingness to share a little bit about himself apart from his Bio which you can view here.

Lesley Mathews
Editor

Ed:       When did you first start writing?
Anna: I was about 7 or 8 years old when I set my mother’s typewriter up in my bedroom and told her I was going to write a book. I won my first writing competition at school when I was 14. It was the 80s and the prize was a 3 pack of blank cassettes from the local Retravision store.

Ed:       Do you remember what sparked this interest?
Anna: Blame Dr Seuss for my absolute love of books and reading! I have been writing in different forms ever since.

Ed:       Where do you get your ideas?
Anna: Everywhere. Life is full of stories.

Ed:       What are you passionate about?
Anna: Loving people the way Jesus did.

Ed:       What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Anna: Non-fiction – I love reading about how things are made and how they work.

Ed:       How do you handle tough times?
Anna: Sit at the Lord’s feet, cry, pray, praise, repeat.

Ed:       What would you describe as your greatest accomplishment so far?
Anna: The mixed doubles partnership with my husband, Scott, and the way we have worked together to raise our kids.

Ed:       What are your current priorities in this season of your life and why?
Anna: Health – As I get older, the complexity of chronic illness affects me in more ways. It reminds me that I still need to lean on God.

Ed:       How has your upbringing influenced your worldview?
Anna: My family were all Christians and we attended a Pentecostal Church. In many ways their very conservative views formed a stumbling block for me as I grew up with the effects of PCOS. I struggled for years with gender confusion as a result of the hormonal irregularities it caused. It took time to discover how graceful and gracious Jesus is. His worldview is loving and filled with mercy.

DOW would like to thank Anna for her willingness to share a little bit about herself apart from her Bio which you can view on our website: www.dancing-on-water.com

Lesley Mathews
Editor