I wasn’t going to do a bio. because I didn’t want to appear to be boasting. But the more I thought about it, the more I was convicted that unless you know the source, you would be wary to read what I had to write.
I went searching and searching until I came to the logical conclusion that God’s wisdom prevails while man is the one who fails. So it is no wonder that since, I came to Christ that I fight to preserve the message of unity of Christ and argue against the squabbles of the churches. I became a member of a non-catholic church but for several years had no real relationship with Jesus.
On August 2, 1981, I received the Reconciliation of Christ and was baptised of the Holy Spirit. Since that day I’ve been given recall of how the Lord has directed my life toward this Mission of Spiritual Unity. Even during the period of my life that I openly opposed Christianity (as well as every other religion in the world), and the Church, Jesus knew that I would one day accept Him and prepared my path. God planted the seeds into my mind that I would be called to this ministry even as a child.
Having accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I’ve felt that I am to serve God in my entirety. I’ve been blessed with several talents which I’ve used for my own purposes in the world, but have turned them over to God. Because of my full devotion to the Lord Jesus, I willingly dedicated them to Christ. As a member of Christian fellowships I have used my voice in song, led worship and prayer, used art skills to teach adults and children, worked with many outreach programs, wrote poetry, devotions, spiritual letters and have spoken openly of my faith. I share my belief in Christian Unity, even though it has caused me to be trouble in churches with many people in leadership. Yet I will continually follow the path the Lord Jesus has set before me. I believe and stand by the Nicene Creed, the Common Tenant of Christian Faith, the Holy Scriptures, the Walk and testimony of the early Christians. I believe in Faith conversion and contrition of the soul. And by no means last I believe in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in their entirety and the fulfillment of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I believe that we should read into our lives Galatians 5:22-26 and 2 Peter 1:3-9. If we fail in Peter, we fail in all. In these scriptures we find purpose in Christian living. These, as well as many more, direct my life in Christian Unity. I believe that I must live thus in fullness to be able to expend my Faith to others.
God has spoken to me through Scriptures, directing my heart to certain passages at various times so that I would understand His purpose. These passages enlisted me to spread the Unity message as a ministry rather that just a way of spiritual life for myself.
For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15
Here Jesus placed into my heart the desire to share my conversion and the unity I’ve found in Jesus with others. I want to share the Table of Jesus with all so that we can feast together the meal of Salvation.
And He said to them, “Go into the world and preach the Good News to all my creatures.” Mark 16:15
While in prayer one day, I read this verse and God told me, “I’m talking to you Paul. Go do it!” Who am I to argue with Him? It was at that time, I first felt the Call to Witness. Over several years I studied the Word and reflected on how I would share the message before I started to share it with others. I was amazed how hard it was to reach the heart of Pastors and church leaders with this sense of Spiritual Unity. I got this Call in 1982 but I didn’t starte to share it in 1996.
I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
Having repented of my faults and being of contrite heart, I surrender my self, my life and my very existence to Jesus. By accepting the Grace of Salvation, I therefore must continually strive to live the Holy and Blameless life in ALL areas of my life. Nothing I do must offend or disappoint God. The true ministry in Christian living is to be the instrument of His Love and His mercy. In that I am able to be the sacrifice He desires. Without His Love and His Mercy nothing I do is acceptable to God. Therefore, I will continue in the Unity Message and pray that what I do is pleasing to His purpose.
The body is a unit, though it is made of many parts; and though the parts are many, they form ONE body. So it is with CHRIST. 1 cor, 12:12.
As Jesus is one with the Father, we are to be one with Jesus. This is the message that Christ wants me to share and to teach the “christian world”, that we are one body and to quit picking at the scabs that mar us. There are many passages that share this thought but this one passage is the command of God given to me as my passion. Let us Live as One in Christ!
I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. Gal. 4:12
Not only did I accept Christ, I accepted Christians as my brothers. I share in the unity that Christ gave them even as He gave to me.
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; preserve in those thing for as you do this you will insure salvation for both yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Tim. 4:16
What clearer message from God to be careful with how I present His message. How can I preserve the message of Salvation and Unity with Christ if I dare to spread an example of disunity among the believers? So I refrain from telling that others are wrong in their following but only try to add to their understandings.
You may not agree with what I write, and I can understand if you don’t. What I ask is that you at least be of an opened mind to try to see how I reached my thinking. I firmly believe that God has called me. As a child I was rejected by many. I suffered from depression, assault, ridicule and sexual abuse. I had no friends, no one I could trust. It is no wonder that I turned from the one source that could redeem me. I was at my end when I finally reached out to Jesus and I see that I was so long coming to Him so that I could truly be able to reach out to others. Once I was alone, now I am unified with Christ, and because of that I hope to bring that Unity to the many. everything I say is to that end.
Although I have a learning disability, God has given me the confidence that I will overcome this for Him. From God comes all understanding, and if I can see that God is the means and grace of Salvation, then any who are willing can come to His grace. Through the Holy Spirit, I come to you and hope to guide you to an understanding of scriptures that will bring confidence to you as it has to me. I will endeavor to fulfill the all that God requires of me.
I pray for your assistance in this calling. In my heart I have experienced the Work of the Lord and the assurance that He wants me to go forward with the Unity Message. Pray for me, and the Wholeness of Christ Ministry!
Paul R. Shiras
« Collapse