Israel-based believers Ronit and Tom Bender on the Sea of Galilee.

Several days later, in the letter which follows, Ronit recounted the extraordinary story of how she came to faith in Christ.

Shalom, Flyn. It was nice to hear from you.

I believe it was a divine appointment, that boat trip - and only the Lord can set things up like that.

I am happy to share my life story with you and your readers. Please forgive any spelling mistakes, and here we go:

My childhood was a difficult one. I was raped by my nanny's boyfriend at the tender age of three - and was warned that if I said something, my parents life will end! So I lived with the secret for another 40 years.

My parents divorced when I was four, and I was put in foster care - where I kept being abused and mistreated. When I was 10, my mother married her third husband - who was abusive, too.

So, make the long story shorter: at my teen years I started taking drugs to try to numb the pain; went to the Israeli Airforce; than moved to Jerusalem to become the deputy prime minister's (Yigal Alon) secretary, whom I worked for awhile.

Even though I had such a wonderful job, I felt like I had a hole in my heart. When I moved to Tel Aviv, I got a job in public relations in a travel agency, which I loved so much.

I could hardly believe that Christians would come from all over the world to see where Jesus lived, died and rose again.

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The Lord was preparing me for the future, and although I had no religious background, I was drawn to the love and life I saw in these groups' faces.

In 1978, I was about to get married to an American basketball player who was contracted to play in Israel - and was on the way to marry him in the U.S., knowing he was the wrong person for me.

While going through passport control, I saw this beautiful tall gentleman, with the most peaceful face I have ever seen - and fell in love instantly!

As my fiance was on the plane with me, I was faced with a problem. This man, Tom Bender, was also playing basketball in Israel, and he came to sit with us until London. He told us that his father died, and he'll be back playing another season.

Make the story short, I cancelled my wedding, stayed in U.S. for a couple of months, returned to Israel - to find out what kind of drugs Tom was taking to be peaceful. It was Jesus.

Within three months, I had a revelation of my Saviour and Lord. Tom led me to the Lord, proposed to me, and we married! Our next anniversary will be the 29th!

The Lord led us to Australia, where Tom was a citizen (he was born in the US). He represented Australia in Munich's Olympic games, and we lived there in Perth, Western Australia for 26 years. Our son Josh was born there, and he lives there with his wife Erin.

We knew for a long time that we are to come back to Israel to see the Jewish people come to Messiah; and in October 2005, we arrived in the land.

We live in a village, where our assembly is, and have a 'youth club' for 14 - 16 year old kids. I get to share my testimony with Israeli women, which are so touched by it - and the Lord's grace and anointing rest upon my life, so people come into God's kingdom.

It is a story I call: 'From Victim to Victor.' It does not matter how you start; the Lord can take the most broken and bruised life, heal it - and use it for his glory!

Thanks, and may the Lord bless you as you endeavour to bring truth to your readers. Many blessings.

July 2007