Australian evangelist Pat Mesiti back preaching
Posted: Thursday, May 04, 2006
by Mark Peterson
Web Performance
One of Australia’s most gifted Christian communicators says he is grateful to be back preaching in churches again.
Almost five years ago, Pat Mesiti stood down from ministry responsibilities with the Assemblies of God in Australia following revelations of personal impropriety. Pat Mesiti says it was a very challenging period in his life.
He says he now has a life-changing message for people who, like himself, have made mistakes.
“I know what it’s like and I know how to respond to the greatest challenges that life sometimes throws at us," he said. “I’ve experienced some great highs and some great lows. But I got back up, I kept attending church, I kept tithing, and now I help others to get back up. I speak to students in high schools about self esteem and hope and character. I speak to business people and professionals about overcoming life’s many challenges. My experience has taught me many things and I now have a new lease of life."
Pat says today he just wants to share his story with as many people as possible. “I humbly ask for forgiveness from the Body of Christ for the pain I have caused," he says. “I am grateful to God for His restorative power and for the support and counsel of many Christian leaders around the world as I have sought to rebuild my life, my family, and my ministry."
For Pat Mesiti, 2001 was turning out to be a great year. In fact, by late 2001 he had sold over half a million copies of his four books, he was presenting a weekly television program on Australian Christian Channel, and he was director of one of Australia’s most successful residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres. He was recognised as one of the key pioneers of Australia’s largest youth organisation, Youth Alive. As a corporate motivational speaker he was being booked a year in advance and was speaking to audiences around the world that sometimes totaled over 300,000.
“I was experiencing success in ways that many people can only dream of," he admits.
In October 2001 he was in the United States on a speaking tour when a phone call home to Australia changed his life.
“I had made a mistake – of a personal nature – and people were starting to talk about it. I had not done anything illegal, but I had hurt the trust of people closest to me, including my family. It began to dawn on me that my mistake could potentially destroy my career, take away friendships, and – worst of all – break up my family.
“One day I was standing before a crowd of 80,000 people, the next day I was a revealed as a failure to some of my closest friends and family."
Within a week, the Australian media began to label him as a failure. His high profile and his role as a minister of religion were an easy target.
“Allegations were made against me that were totally untrue," he said. “But people I respected advised me not to respond to the media allegations. Instead, I was advised to stop everything I was doing and to begin attending counselling sessions. My name and reputation were destroyed within a week, and I was told that I should do nothing about it."
Over the next few days, his world came crashing down around him.
“A series of resulting phone calls and meetings caused my life to plummet from success mode to frantic mode. The result was that my marriage ended, my business folded, my friendships were tested, and my sources of income dried up. Time stood still. It was like I was in a coma. The worst day of my life was when I told my children that I was a failure and that I had hurt their trust."
Then one day Pat Mesiti says he caught a glimmer of hope. “As painful as that experience was, there was also a feeling of relief as I began to share my tragedy and bare my soul with a friend. The pressure began to ease. The amazing thing was that the moment I spoke to someone about it, it was like a light began to glow in the darkness. That wonderful experience began a process of healing and restoration."
Pat says he has learned from his mistakes. “I have learned that when your world falls apart, you still have options. One option is to let your life disintegrate and crumble at your feet. The other option is to pick yourself up and start again. I’ve discovered that it’s not what is taken from us that counts, it’s what you do with what is left that makes the difference. Sometimes things are taken from us, and sometimes we simply drop the ball. I’ve dropped the ball and I’ve dropped the ball big time. Through my own failure I lost it all.
“I’ve come to realise that in the long run, it’s not the failure itself that counts. What counts is if you get back up. During my crisis, I remember specifically one of my closest friends saying to me, ‘Your best days are still ahead of you.’ So I got back up."
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More commentsyes the thing of is not what is taken from us that counts but what we do with what is left that can make the difference and is good to learn that all of us can be sorry and change and it helps others
Thanks Mark for your honesty with Pat. I have watched him for a few years now and he really is everything he preachers and talks about. His family, children and wife all love the Lord and he is an inspiration too many. Pat continues too help the broken hearted, wants too build futures for the lost or bring the Teenages home to there famlies whom miss them the morst. Thank you Pat!
I feel for Pat, because he is not the only one who has ever made a mistake. Yes it cost a lot in the end, but at least now he has picked himself up again, which is sadly not what some people do. Good on you Pat!
I have come across this site after doing some research on the man I have just seen at a seminar, I am not a very religeous person and and the seminar wasn't about that, but the way that Pat spoke and the passion, humanity, caring and feeling that came from this man and what he has done for people in need, really touched a place in me that hasn't been touched in years. I was nearly in tears with some of his storys and felt moved that much that i questioned if I was doing enough to help people in need, and to also think more about the things I think and feel about my own life and situation, and to make sure that I am not just aimlessly walking through life. If I ever needed to see a sign for my future, I think I saw it today, I dont know what type of crisis that he has been through but I only wish the best for this man from the bottom of my heart, because from what I have seen he is no odinary human being. Thank you Pat !
Pat is one strong man with much to offer God can restore the broken and make them stronger and more powerful than before. Pat is proof of how with God's grace we can rise up and help others that may be going through something they think they will never survive and lead them out of it to the road of recovery and discovery. Pat is our new found special friend, he had coffee with us at an airport last year and shared his story honestly and openly. What an outstanding heart he has. Sandy and Graeme
Well done to Pat. I've made plenty of mistakes in my life and people like Pat Mesiti show us that forgiveness and persistence are two of the most important traits we can carry. He sure has my vote and he's an inspiration to me and so many others. Thanks Pat - we love you!
Pat, I met you over 16 years ago on a mountian in California in the early 90's. I will never forget the intense message you gave, and I'm sure it was just for me as it changed my life. It was your last night in America before you left with your family the next day back to Australia. I made a decision that night to do what was right, and I had to answer for it the next day. I would do it again in a second and apoligize for the hurt you must have felt. That night I realized, that even the best of them are not perfect. So, whatever mistake you made that you feel you need forgiveness for, HE already forgave you on Calvary. You may not remember that night on the mountain and the planned promise that was going to be broken. I'm just glad that it was made right. And that I had a hand in it. I felt honored. If you still don't remember, maybe Knots Berry Farm and a brother you met there might jiggle your mind. I do not know how to contact you, but will keep trying.His Child
I think christians need to be more transparent in this world we live in ,Obviously Pat made mistakes hes picked up and moved on unfortunatley theres consequences for his actions no one in this world can escape that,I commend him for what hes done and hope he has learnt from his mistakes at the end of the day God doesnt use the man that talks the best, looks the best,neither the one that has never done wrong, but the one that is willing to listen to him and action it, just look at David
I have never been so touched by a person as I have been by Pat Mesiti. He has changed my life and shown me how to restore faith in myself and prosper. He is very giving and gracious of heart and soul. He loves his wife and gorgeous daughters. He also his church family - ironically they seem to be the ones who hurt him the most. He has a passion for people that is rarely seen. God bless you Pat. And thank you.
Greately touching and life changing article.We are so blessed and transformed by your writting Pastor;Thank you.from Pastor yousif Nishan[chairman}Prayer Ministry International Pakistan
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