My father died of lung cancer, as a direct result of Tobacco. We saw him suffer and die in our own home. He had an Oxygen tank and mask next to his bed and often he couldn’t breathe. After his death, people said that we children will never smoke, and I did hate it! My grandfather on the other hand was a drinker, he was abusive towards my grandmother. This really broke my heart.

With all the above mentioned things, one would think that I would never smoke or drink. This was the case, but only for a time...

I was the Head prefect in grade 7, went to church every Sunday and I was a good boy at home, but later I made all the wrong decisions…I did what others said I never will!

I started smoking and drinking with my friends. I thought it was fun and as a result of it I quit school and started working, at that time in Pretoria. It was through friends that I was introduced to Ecstasy, a drug that was to become part of wrecking my life. The same guy who introduced me to it still said that why would God make it if we cannot use it. How stupid!

At that time we started going to Night clubs where there was an environment for the drug and its use. I even put my job on the line by stealing to feed my habits. We also had regular private House parties, using drugs not mentioning all the things that went on over there. Some of the people at these parties had children and would put them out (to sleep) with pediatric medicine so that they can party through the night.

Fortunately, God snatched me out of the misery and I thank him for it! He made a way for me to overcome this sinful lifestyle and live in newness of life. He is my strength!  I now work for a large well known beverage company and have been a member of TNT for several years. I am happily married and we have four children.

Ian giving his testimony to learners in a class (Bloemfontein outreach, 2008)