There was a disturbance at the back of the church as two burly figures carried in a coffin and departed. I rose to read the name of the deceased. It was my mother. I remember the coffin looked so tiny. As I bit back tears of grief, I said to God: “That’s it. I’ll live my own life now”.

The next year, I was married, and by the time I was 21 years old, I had three beautiful children and a lovely home. My life continued with little thought of God until after 20 years of marriage everything fell apart with my divorce.

I lost my home, my children, everything I had worked for. Then began a desperate search for truth. I tried everything: Buddhism, transcendental meditation, yoga, renewing the Dreaming. A 300 mile trek through the Himalayas brought me only disillusionment. Seeking aboriginal spirits brought me only confusion and feelings of unutterable grief.

In 1982, I finally made a decision to give Jesus control of my life. It seemed like a great weight was lifted from my shoulders, and as I drove home singing, the car seemed to be filled with the voices of angels.”

After giving her life to the Lord, Irene Gleason decided to sell all of her possessions and leave her life in Australia for a life of ministry in Africa. In 1991, she founded the Irene Gleason Foundation, which works to feed, medicate, and educate children in the region of Northern Uganda.

Read more about Irene Gleeson

Irene Gleeson on Marcus and Joni

• January 17, 2013

Irene Gleeson on Joni

• April 2, 2012
• March 11, 2013