officer, whose influence for good was immense, was Lieutenant
Ridley. I do not belong to the same persuasion as Jack's. He is a Baptist.
I am a Roman Catholic, but I say of him most sincerely that he is one of
the most perfect Christians I have ever met. Brave as the bravest, cool
and manly in action, Jack Ridley was beloved by officers and men. There
are many chaplains with the A.I.F., but I doubt if any of them has been
a more successful teacher among the men of those virtues that make mortals
Christ-like and heroic. Would to God we had many more such as he."
After
returning from the war Lieutenant Ridley's life long military ambition
changed focus but not |
passion when a friend challenged him about his direction
in life. He asked John whether it was better to be a soldier for this world
or for Jesus Christ alone? He chose to be a soldier for Christ alone; to
fight the spiritual battle of rescuing souls from Satan's kingdom of darkness
into God's eternal Kingdom of love and light. Not with man made weapons
but by the power of God's word. His heartfelt resolve led him into the
Baptist ministry.
For
some 18 months John was pastor of the Maroubra Church, but he crashed in
a shocking nervous breakdown, the reaction of war and wound which lasted
for six years. He then went west as a jackeroo, which led to bush mission
work in a |
John G. Ridley - Australia's beloved evangelist
horse-drawn wagon after the call of Christ, "Cast thy
bread upon the waters and thou shalt find it after many days." 1,000 miles
were covered in three months sowing the Page 1,
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