So, you wish to tap into the depths of my mind, do you now? Well, I suppose that's perfectly fine by me, if you don't mind dealing with my constant interruptions or my occasional tendancy to ramble on and being of great wind...

Personal History:

Very soon after this, my father was transfered to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, then to Aklavik, which is a small village near Inuvik. I have very few memories of this time, as I was very young. In 1984, we moved again, to Fort St. John, British Columbia, where I would have my first encounter with neighborhood kids and also become enrolled in school the following year.

I was enrolled in a school called Robert Ogilvie Elementary in Fort St. John from my Kindergarten year until a few months into Grade 5, when we were to move yet again. It was the next five years that would be the hardest time of my life. We moved to a small town in BC called 100 Mile House, where I would spend my middle school years between the ages of 10-15. It was difficult making friends during this time for several reasons, and I found myself the target of much bullying by many of my peers. Because of the rage of pubescent hormones, my unofficial social position of "outcast" and bullying target, my inability with sports and seemingly lacking support network, my sense of who I was and what my relationship with the world and with God was became completely shattered and altered considerably. I developed a hatred and disgust for humanity, a distrust toward God and humanity (especially those my own age, and even especially those of the jock or skateboarder crowds, as these were my main tormentors), and a similar feeling toward myself.

I realize that I am not the first to testify to the damage that bullying can do to a person, and I likely won't be the last. But I can tell you from a first hand perspective, it destroys you. No matter what they may say, that peer bullying is "just kids being kids", I can testify that human monstrosity and evil injustice are called what they are because that is what they are, no matter who it is that does them. Those who are oppressed begin to believe the things that their oppressers say to them, and they either become calloused and evil monsters themselves (thus carrying on the chain of wickedness and violence) or they retreat into themselves and become emasculated wretches. Or, as in cases like myself, they attempt suicide, while at the same time desiring revenge and justice on those who have hurt them.

My first attempt was with my father's gun. I pulled the trigger when I held it in my mouth, but the gun did not fire the shot. I then tried stabbing myself with one of the kitchen knives through my heart, but I panicked suddenly and decided against it. My final attempt was to jump off the roof of the gymnasium at the school after speaking out, but I forgot my speech in my locker, and the guidance councillor broke my fall. The result of my escapade? 5 months of counselling, a deeper distust in God (who, in my opinion at the time, would not let me get out of that hell) and even less confidence in my own abilities and competence (as I could not even die correctly...).

During the summer between Grade 9 and Grade 10, at some point around when I turned 15, we moved to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, where I spent the next three years, and where I graduated from highschool. I still faced some bullying from a few of the individuals at the school there, but it was less than what happened in Jr. High. I, more or less, learned then that it is best for me to stand on my own, and not to rely on the opinions of others. However, it was also during this season of my life that God began to reveal himself, along with his plans and purposes for my life. I became involved in numerous dramatic performances during this time, and in the summer between Grade 11 and Grade 12 (August of 1997), I had the opportunity to attend a camp for teenage actors in Montana with the Missoula Children's Theatre. That camp was to forever change the course of my life. I came back to BC more confident, more hopeful, and touched by the hand of Almighty God.

There were some at that camp who were Christians, and they invited me to join them at a mid-camp chapel service, where various testimonies were shared (including my own - much to my own surprise). I was accepted and loved at this camp, and I was stuck between confusion (this being a new experience for me) and over-joyed excitement (as I became instantly attracted to this new experience). I did not become a Christian then, but I at least admitted that not all of humanity was as evil and that, like it or not, I was just as human as everyone else.

My graduating year at highschool for me gave me more experiences, some positive, and some negative. For graduation, I wore a white tux, instead of the customary black. I was laughed at by a few of the other guys, but my attitude to them was different - they were the losers, too drunk to think or walk straight; I was the one who walked away with dignity. I was working at Tim Horton's also at the time, which continued through my transfer to Prince George for College the next year.

I became a Christian that summer while in Vancouver, BC. I wanted to go back to Montana, to the summer camp for the second year in a row, which would also be the last year that I would be allowed to go. However, my family had arranged for a family reunion on Vancouver Island, which would be happening at the same time. Since I had not seen that side of the family for a long time, and I could not afford to make the trip out of my own funds. So, I went with them to the reunion, where I had all 3 of my cousins hanging off of me the entire weekend. After this, we went to Vancouver, where we visited the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), where God brought me to himself, and I devoted my life to him that day (which is a bit of a story in itself, believe you me!).

From there, I went to Prince George, BC, where I would be living for the next 3 years as a college student. While there, I attended the College of New Caledonia for two years, and the University of Northern British Columbia for one year, as an English major. At the time, my church family was First Baptist, under the ministry of Lance Morgan as the senior pastor. It was Pastor Morgan who "recommended" that I become a preacher, three times in the Thanksgiving message of 2000 (right as I was beginning my third year of college). So, when the Canadian Christian College tour came around to the church a few weeks later, I signed up to receive information and apply to them.

My parents were not as keen on the idea as I was. They were still not keen on the idea of my becoming Christian. And now, to them, it seemed as though I was completely throwing my life away, because ministry is not the most popular job, and it certainly isn't the most financially lucrative. It was not until I came to Toronto and had been studying here when they realized that my faith in God was not just a phase that I would grow out of. And not only that, but that the vocation that I was choosing was very well suited to what I was good at and what I was passionate about. They even flew across the continent to see my graduation, which was incredibly special for me, and a testimony of the work that God has been doing in their hearts. They are separated and divorced now, but I love them both incredibly, and I am excited about what God has for them in the future.

I received the application packages in February, which was when I applied. I applied to 4 colleges, and I said to God that I would go to the one that accepted me first, because I knew that he wanted me to go. Months past, and no acceptance letter. There was plenty of administration hurdles to jump over, but nothing. I was beginning to lose hope. I worked at Panago Pizza as a pizza delivery driver at the time, and I did pick up hitch-hikers on occasion. In mid-July, I picked up a hitchhiker who knew a lot about the Bible, and he proceeded to teach me numerous things. He invited me to come preach with him, and to ignore Bible College. Suffice to say, I was tempted, and I was excited when I told a prayer-warrior friend of mine. But she was indignant in her rebuke. "No! You are meant to go to Bible College. Do not throw this away!" Secretly, I changed my agreement with God. I would still go to whichever college accepted me first, but if I was not accepted anywhere by my birthday (July 30) of that year, I was joining up with this guy, and enough with Bible College!

It was July 28 when I was accepted to Tyndale College and Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, where I would be living and studying until May of 2004. During that time, God tested me and taught me much about himself, his relationship with me, my calling, and my relationship with the church around me. I got to meet some of the greatest people in the world, and I was also depressed a lot of the time because of the seeming spiritual malaise. But even this urged me on further and further developed my passion for revival of the church of Jesus Christ. During my final year at Tyndale as a College student, I actually got a girlfriend, and I was even engaged briefly. But things just don't seem to happen as we plan them all the time, and this relationship just wasn't meant to continue past when it did. I really don't know what all happened there, even to this day, but I am thankful to God for that relationship, and also for showing me (through my reaction to the breakup as much as anything else) that I am not ready for marriage yet...

Another thing that happened, which I praise God for, is that I was given a short chance at pastoring a small church in Waterloo, Ontario, Eastbridge Community Church. I did that from June 1 until October 31, 2004. Once again, it was something that just was not meant to be. However, I did learn much from my experience there, and I do appreciate the friendship of those that I became friends with there, and also that they gave me, a guy who is still wet behind the ears, just as I am very thankful to the church that I interned with, The Toronto Church of the Living God, under the leadership and supervision of Pastor Hany Boghossian.

As for my plans for right now, I am hoping to move back to Toronto and team up with one of my good friends, Nouhoum Coulibaly, and learn all that I can from him for the period of time that he is still here. I feel that there is much that I can learn from him as far as people skills, preaching skills, and humility before God that I desperately need to learn if I am to continue in pursuing my calling. Not only this, but by moving back to Toronto, I will have easier access to other things that I hope to do during my time here, and hopefully, God could also use me to affect change in the lives of those He sends my way while here.

G. S. Whyte