Interview with Lyle Southwell - 1720

Raised by Christian parents in rural Tasmania, Lyle had an idyllic start to life. He attended a very small local school. He learned skills out of school like being able to fix things, to drive a tractor, to shoot and catch fish to name a few.

Around the time Lyle went to high school two major things happened in his life. He experienced a culture shock going to high school in Hobart because his interests and entertainment ideas just didn’t fit in. His mother also died only a couple of months after starting high school. After these two things Lyle felt very lost.

 Lyle’s world was shaken. His Dad remarried and he had to adjust to a step-mother, his home seemed to have fallen apart and his social network had changed.

 Lyle left home and went and lived in the bush in an abandoned apple picker’s hut. He suddenly had no restrictions, no boundaries and no foundation. His spiritual walk was impacted negatively. This sent him on a journey to find something for himself. He had big questions. Is Christianity real? Can I find stability here? Would it give him meaning? Is God real? Does He want to be part of my life?

 In his hut, by kerosene lamp, what did he read that completely transformed his life so much so that he was a completely different person?