Testimony of Murray Hiebert

I grew up in a Christian home and, thanks to my parents, I have never known a time that I did not believe in God. However, I did not always see my need for Him. Growing up, I was taught what was right and wrong and (I think) I usually made the right decision when faced with those choices. I also grew up fascinated by the stories of the Bible (particularly David and Goliath) and I enjoyed Sunday School. I also spent a lot of time reading books.

My favourite were Hardy Boys books and I know that my love for making discoveries was fostered by them (so was my 'collecting' bug - I kept detailed records and made sure I read every one). One day while I was in Junior High, I ran out of Hardy Boy books to read, so my mom gave me some books that she had had when she was young. They were adventure books about a fictional Christian guy named Danny Orlis. The series followed his life from teenager to young adult to husband to missionary to father.

While reading these stories, I realized that God has a purpose and plan for our lives and that true worship of Him was to obey Him and to be his servant. I also realized what sin was. Although I already thought that I was a Christian, I knew something was still missing and that I needed to somehow communicate with God and pledge my future to Him. That was when I prayed sincerely that Jesus Christ would forgive my sins and that He would direct me as my Lord and Saviour.

High School brought on all kinds of distractions, like sports and friends (my family moved into town, giving me many more opportunities). I never turned my back on God, but I did not take the time to think about His plan for me. Throughout the last half of Grade 12, I continued to ask myself what I was going to do afterward. Everyone around me seemed to be telling me to go to university. Some of my teachers were very persuasive that since I did well in science and math, I should study engineering. I was not convinced and I remember asking a friend whether I should go to university or Bible School. I was told university - because that would get me a good job.

That year I was baptized in my home church and then I went to university. It was not long before I realized that I was not supposed to be there. Although my grades were good, by mid-November I had had enough. Depression and a couple of close-calls while driving shook me up pretty bad. The most important thing about the rest of my school year was playing hockey and going to Winnipeg Jets games.

I tried to transfer into the Arts department after the Christmas break that year. I had always been interested in archaeology (especially Egyptian stuff) and since I felt that I was wasting my year at school anyway, I may as well take something I would enjoy. But, they wouldn't let me transfer! I decided to stick it out in engineering, but my grades suffered more.

The next summer was a turning point. I got involved helping with the youth group in my church and I began to focus more on what God wanted me to do - not what others or my own desires said. Still, I was going to try engineering at university again. I made up a class schedule and prepared a few days ahead of the time that I was to phone into the school and register. Even though I had done all that preparing, a week later I realized that I had completely forgotten to register. I sincerely believe that God made me forget. I was not listening to Him - I was doing what I thought was right.

The nagging thought to go to Bible College became a roar. I had to hurry to get in my application to Providence College (Otterburne, MB) and I only officially got my letter of acceptance on my second or third day of classes. At first I was enrolled in the Missions program.

During my first class in New Testament, the professor announced that he would be leading a group of students on a study trip to Israel two years later. We also received a flyer about the trip in our class syllabus. The professor told us about some of the things they had seen and learned about - and he talked about archaeology. From the moment I heard about that, I knew I was supposed to go on the trip. It was as if I was hit by a ton of bricks. I had never realized just how God had been preparing me for that point. Archaeology and the Bible? I had never before connected the two. Although I did not hear God's voice audibly, my whole being got the message. I could feel my soul rejoicing that He had given me a mission. I quickly switched my major to Biblical Studies.

I went on the trip in 1996, graduated from college with a B.A. in 1997 and returned to Israel in 1998 to dig at Tel Rehov. Soon after I returned home in 1998 I married my wife Jennifer. Although I have always been focused on finishing a Masters degree, family has had to come first. We have 4 children. In the time since, I have been able to take a few graduate courses and waiting (not always patiently) to get back to school.

One thing I learned from taking distance classes (most of my third year at college I did at home) was how to study independently. After preparing a thesis topic for almost three years, I published my material as a book: The Historical Conquest. That project led me to do presentations on my material and in turn God used that to lead me to CARE Winnipeg.

The world is increasingly hostile toward the Bible and recently it has publicly been called a book of myths, religious propaganda, and even that its stories are blatant lies. I like hard evidence, not theories. There is a lot of hard archaeological and historical evidence to support the setting of the Bible - in all periods. Sure, there are things that require faith to believe. I pray that God will use me to not only to present the 'hard evidence', but also the fact there is a holy and powerful God who loves us and wants each person to repent of their sins and to have a relationship with Him.

When graduating from college, I was asked to give a little write-up to accompany my picture in the year-book. Since I had taken much of my final year by correspondence and was not around the school much, I found out very late and was not given much time to respond. I'm not a big fan of poems and I drew a blank thinking of a favourite verse. However, a quote from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark struck me and, almost in desperation, was my choice. In the movie, Indiana Jones was sitting on a ship recovering from a full day of getting beaten up. In explaining his aches and pains, he tells his female co-star, "It's not the years sweetheart, it's the mileage."

God wants us humans to do everything that we can for Him in the time that He has given us. This thought brings me back to Indiana Jones' quote. As Christians, we need to put on all the 'mileage' we can - reading the Bible, learning, teaching and witnessing - in the time we have. We can't just sit around and wait for an opportunity. We need to represent our faith every day. For a non-Christian: consider the evidence for truth presented on this website and please read the Bible. Salvation is free upon your repentance to Jesus the Messiah. Tomorrow might be too late.

Murray D. Hiebert is the author of The Historical Conquest: Historical Events of the Amarna Age in Canaan and Their Preservation in the Biblical Narrative (evidence for the Israelite conquest of Canaan) and 100 Reasons to Trust Old Testament History.

To purchase either of these books or for questions, please contact him through our contact information page.