Bernard
Quinn was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to a very ill
mother who was persuaded to put him out as a "Ward of the State" at six
months of age. Bernard's name was changed without his mothers consent.
Due to the corrupt adoption laws of the time, Bernard was consequently
sold to a family on a large farm in rural New South Wales, Australia
and was raised as a Catholic.
During
his time as a baby and small child, Bernard's adoptive mother and
father did not show any affection to him at all. He was ill treated by
his mother and his father. They treated him as someone else's child,
preferring to pay no attention to him at all. His father made serveral
attemps to murder him in his teen age years. Also, he was not accepted
by the paternal family, as he was not of the natural family name or of
Irish blood (this was to be disproved later as Bernard is a close
relative of the famous Australian Bush Ranger, Ned Kelly). His adoptive
mother employed a Nanny (Miss Barbara Goolagong. (a sister of Evonne
Goolagong Cawley)) who was very loving towards Bernard and has remained
a lifelong friend.
Despite many efforts and years to regain custody of her son, Bernard's
mother was denied any access. She was eventually institutionalised for
medical reasons and died when Bernard was aged 10.
From five years of age Bernard was abused physically, emotionally,
sexually and psychologically. The abuse (not always sexually) continued
almost on a daily basis until Bernard left home at around age 17. At
this time Bernard met a friend who was a dental nurse and attended the
Uniting Church of Australia who shared with him what it meant to be a
Christian. Bernard gave his life to the Lord in 1979 .
Bernard commenced work in the Palliative care area as a nurse and
worked in several states before doing a D.T.S. with Youth With A
Mission (Goulburn, NSW) in 1984. Since that time Bernard has completed
many Christian courses. Although Bernard did not know it, there was a
call on his life that other people had recognised. Bernard had never
thought that he was good enough for God to call let alone use in
ministry because the abuse he received as a child/youth took away his
identity as a person.
Bernard married his wife Valerie in December, 1989. Together they raised two sons and now have three (3) grandchildren.
On the 19th March, 1995 Bernard made a life commitment to Jamberoo
Abbey as a 'Benedictine Oblate' (an external member of Jamberoo Abbey).
Due to the lack of care as a child/youth Bernard was living with a
major neurological disorder that was not diagnosed by the medical
profession until many years later. This disorder caused Bernard to be
very misunderstood by family members and friends who were very quick to
judge him. They left him for dead when he so desperately needed
assistance. It was not until a chance meeting with another doctor that
the diagnosis became real.
Bernard was diagnosed with Complex Partial Seizures & Photic
Epilepsy. Bernard's condition worsened with the introduction of
medication to a point where he was finally diagnosed moronic'. Bernard
was not able to care for himself and having to rely on his wife for all
his daily care. Bernard was on twenty four (24) prescribed tablets per
day which included a very dangerous dosage of morphine for pain relief.
In 2000 Bernard was given less than six (6) months to live. In that
same year Bernard's treating doctor moved to Western Australia and he
found a new doctor at a Christian Medical Practice who agreed to take
on his case and treated him as a son.
Within 2 years, Bernard was well on his way to recovery. This enabled
Bernard to be able to spend many hours in prayer and seeking God's
healing. As a result, Bernard realised that he needed to totally
forgive his adoptive parents and all who had hurt him during his life.
He did this in the privacy of his office over a period of many months,
where Yeshua (Jesus), by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit came
to him and set him free. Bernard still had the physical manifestation
of epilepsy but held on tightly to the word and to God for total
healing.
On November 2nd, 2002 at a Conference in Brisbane, Queensland where
Bernard (and his wife Valerie) were Ordained as 'Ministers of the Word'
by Rev.. John Alley of 'Peace Apostolic Ministries'. Bernard received
full healing for the condition that had held him bound, all his life.
God also healed Bernard of hepatic neuralgia (shingles, which he was
suffering from for 3 years) at the same time. Bernard walked out of
that conference on the third day, completely healed and with no adverse
symptoms and has retained that healing (No one prayed for healing for
Bernard in any way at his Ordination.) The Grace and Mercy of God
is awesome and way beyond words.
By the Grace and Mercy of God, Bernard is now fulfilling his Call as a
'Active Monastic'(b) in an Non-Denominational Ministry called "Peace In
Christ Ministries". Bernard gives all the glory to God each day for his
new life in Yeshua.
Bernard is often asked what he does all day and his reply is this: “My
day, life” is one of "Prayer and Work". My work involves whatever my
Heavenly Father gives my hands to do each day.
Peace In Christ Ministries maintains the practice of wearing of a
distinct monastic tunic. Although this visually differentiates us from
others, the tunic is Not worn as a sign of religious superiority, But
of service, surrender, and of our monastic commitment. Far from being a
means of personal exhibition or flamboyance, it is a means of personal
hidden-ness. Wearing the tunic expresses that we no longer belong to
ourselves, but to God, and through God to all people.
The practice of wearing a tunic is also a symbolic, outward, and public
way of claiming our intention to live as completely as possible into
the gift of our monastic vocation. The monastic tunic were the clothes
Servants used through out history until recently. The tunic is worn at
all times where appropriate.
Bernard preaches and teaches "Nothing" whatsoever other than the Word
of God and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If it is Not in the
Bible then he will Not preach or teach it, period.
And
they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb,
and because of the
Word of their testimony.
And they did not love their soul
even until death.
( Revelation 12:11 )
