Days before a special Diocesan thanksgiving for the 1959 Billy Graham crusade, one of the ‘original ‘59-ers’ has told his dramatic story to Sydneyanglicans.net

The Rev Bruce Ballantine-Jones, Canon Emeritus of St Andrew’s Cathedral and former rector of Jannali, has a dramatic testimony of running away from home and living on the streets before he found his way to the crusade in April 1959.

The 50th anniversary is being celebrated this weekend at the Cathedral with another two of the original ‘59-ers, Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen and his brother Phillip, the Dean of Sydney.

There will be thanksgiving for the ministry of Dr Graham and the work of God internationally through the Graham organisation.

But few stories told on Saturday will be as dramatic as the turnaround of Mr Ballantine-Jones.

“I went to the crusade out of curiosity,” Mr Ballantine-Jones says. “Prior to that I had been in massive rebellion against God which expressed itself in total alienation from my parents.”

“They threw me out of home, I wouldn't work, I was a drunk and I used to hitchhike around the state sleeping under trees" I lived at the (Kings) Cross and was totally messed up.”

“I went forward and my whole life changed from that moment on.”

In a video testimony for Sydneyanglicans.net, Mr Ballantine-Jones looked back over the 50 years since the crusade and said “I’m just so thankful that I was forgiven my sins. The Lord has always been with me through good and bad times, and even very hard times. My passion for the gospel and for serving Christ is as strong today as it ever was.”