Michael Gibney:
CLASS OF 1983
Tottenville High SchoolClass of 1983
Staten island, NY
Michael's Story
Michael is from Staten Island, New York. Michael's schools include Tottenville High School. Michael later attended Faith School of Theology, Christian Bible College and Seminary. Michael works(ed) at New Gathering, New Gathering, New Gathering.
Music Michael likes includes Pastor Clint Brown, Kim Walker, hillsong united. Books Michael likes include The Bible, Love and Respect. Movies Michael likes include The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Official Page), Taken, Rocky. TV shows Michael likes include NCIS, Fox News.
One of Michael's favorite quotes is:""All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:37-Jesus
"I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. -John 17:23 Jesus
"Don't Blame them Train them."-Steve Kelly
"If God had begun saving us because we were good, he would of course leave off saving us when we were not good." C.H. Spurgeon
âThe future is as bright as the promises of God.â- William Carey
Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man. â Dwight L. Moody
Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?- Martin Luther
âI believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fieldsâ¦I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.â
George Whitfield
âPreach abroadâ¦.It is the cooping yourselves up in rooms that has dampened the work of God, which never was and never will be carried out to any purpose without going into the highways and hedges and compelling men and women to come in.â Jonathan Edwards".
More about Michael:"My name is Michael Gibney. My younger years bring back memories of big wheel races on the streets of Staten Island, New York. I grew up in an Irish Catholic home and both I and my identical twin brother, older by only three minutes, served as alter boys. Mom was a nurse and dad..... This was home.
There are times when Iâd like the memories to stop here, but then again I wouldnât have the beautiful part of my story in which I found grace.
My dad was a man who worked hard seven to three, Monday to Friday to put food on our table. Weekend alcoholic binges turned our home into a living hell though. My parents were constantly fighting or dad was yelling at my brother and me for no apparent reason. Itâs upsetting and astounding to think that a person could scream as long and hard as he did. Perhaps no better way to describe the intensity of his rage is to say it was demonic.
Dad was a victim of sin. Being the youngest of seven children made him an easy target. His only defense was anger. The feelings of
helplessness drove him to drinking at the age of eight. Of course this
was aided by the fact that his parents during the prohibition had a
speak-easy and dad would often sneak down into the basement and drink.
His resentment and hurt carried into his adult life. He was a man to be
feared.
My exposure to religion was in the Catholic ...Expand for more
Church where my brother and I served as alter boys. I remember having a fear, actually a terror of God. It was a dominating force in my life. Everything I did was out of fear. There were times Iâd wake up at night with an overwhelming
feeling that I was going to Hell. I had no idea what to do. I didnât
have anyone to ask. I felt alone.
At 14 the outward torment of my home became an inward torment.
Bitterness, like the acid that consumes the unprotected vessel, ate way
at my soul. I was sick of the abuse. I was angry at the way dad
treated mom. I was afraid. I felt hopeless because I could do nothing
to change my environment. Suicide is a point a person reaches when they no longer see hope in their future. At 14 I was at that point. I
didnât want to continue living what seemed like the rest of my life in
despair. I was tired of searching always coming up empty.
People usually start thinking about God again around Easter. This was
no different for me except the thought did not wane with the passing of
time. I canât remember exactly why, but I was watching the 700 club.
As time went on I began watching it regularly as well as other
television evangelist. Each time the sinnerâs prayer was said I prayed
it. I was beginning to find what I had been searching for. I was
finding real life in each page of the Bible and it made me all the
hungrier for it. I remember reading one day, âunless you forgive⦠you
cannot be forgiven.â I realized by Gods Spirit that the problem was not
my father, but bitterness. My heart was opened to loving my father.
My experience is so precious to me. As I am sure is the same with every testimony. I donât recall anyone coming to the door with a tract or me every visiting an evangelical church, but through a television program my life was changed by the Gospel. Not long after I began attending a church not far from home. The sign read âSunday Evangelistic Service at 6pm.â Though I had an idea of what an evangelist was from television I had no idea what evangelistic meant. I figured it had to be good.
I walked through the doors not knowing what to expect. There were all
these books in the pews and I thought they were Bibles. Casually I
thumbed through the pages realizing they were song books. Being a
trumpet player I understood music. The melody of love they sang
resonates in my heart even today. For someone who felt so alone and
unloved a simple hug and the words âJesus loves you and so do weâ meant so much.
You know the phrase faith can move mountains. Well it did. Mom began attending church. Soon after my brother Steven accepted the Lord. Both received the gift of the Holy Spirit. For three years Dad watched us go to church, pray, and listen to Christian music. He finally
decided to give his life to Christ.
Dad died about 12 years ago as a Sunday School teacher. Dad was proud of his boys who had become preachers. Steven presently is an evangelist working in a local church in Staten Island. Iâve had to opportunity to evangelize in 28 states and travel internationally.
At present, with wife Kim and three sons, I am planting a church in
Rahway, NJ. New Gathering is 35 people strong and we hope to continue growing.".
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