Keith Stuart once lived a rock 'n' roll life. He travelled from country to country playing with bands and sampling women, drugs and alcohol he picked up along the way. That all changed when he tired of the fast-paced lifestyle and turned his life over to God. In the years since, he's gone on to establish himself as something of a spiritual leader in his adopted home of Thailand founding churches and helping feed and educate the impoverished. He spoke with The Royal Gazette about how he began on God's mission.

At 52, Keith Stuart seems to have done it all. He's travelled the world with his bagpipes, saved a few lost souls and had quite a bit of fun in between.

His journey began 22 years ago. The former Bermuda Islands Pipe Band member visited continents on a whim, ingratiating himself with bands and performers along the way.

"I went by myself, but I had connections everywhere I went," he said. "I would show up and get jamming with the band or if not I would go somewhere and meet musicians and get work like that."

He arrived in Thailand in 1987. Finding gigs became easier and his rock star persona developed.

Women, drugs and alcohol became a habit.

"I wasn't exactly a star, I wasn't a household name, but I was working every night," he explained. "And so I had that life with the drugs, the girls and the applause. It actually was kind of glamorous. Some people recognised me, I didn't have to deal with the paparazzi, but it had a lot of the trimmings [of stardom].

"It all began to make no sense to me. I felt emotionally dead and the only time when I felt alive was when I was on the stage making music."

It was around that time friends started mentioning God, and how He could help turn Mr. Stuart's life around.

"A couple of people came to tell me that I didn't have to die, God wanted me," he said. "And I said, 'Well if God wants me he can have me'."

The musician returned to Bermuda, entered the substance abuse programme at Montrose and began the healing process.

"When you are an alcoholic or a drug addict the first thing to suffer is your spirit, then your emotions and then your physical health. For the next 10 years, I had to go through various aspects of healing."

In 1996 he returned to Thailand and a new chapter of life opened up for him he met his wife Nomkamon and began working with prostitutes, helping improve their lives through education.

Many of the Thai people live in serious poverty. When Mr. Stuart met his wife's family he categorised them as an extreme case there was no road leading to their house which had a dirt floor, no real furniture, no electricity and no flushing toilet.

The family assured him there were others who were suffering far worse than they.

"I thought, 'What is worse than this?'"

His wife helped structure his efforts to maximise their potential.

As an example Mr. Stuart explained how he wanted to pay for one girl's education but his wife refused to let him.

"My wife said, 'No, we pay half. She has to get a loan for the other half, she has to earn it'.

"We gave her enough money for hope, but we didn't give her a free ride."

Although many members of his in-laws are Christian, Mr. Stuart said they had nowhere to worship until he stepped in.

"Over the last ten years we established a church, The Nungkah Fellowship, and we linked it up to a mother church in Bangkok," he said.

"And because of this connection, we have gone on to start 19 churches in villages all over the country."

He and his family live in Pattaya.

"It is a real swinging town and it is probably the prostitute capital of the world," he said.

"I figure if I can gradually improve the lives in some of these villages perhaps these men will not have to sell their daughters [into sex]."

At present, the Stuarts work with around 1,000 people in different villages. Some have AIDS, others are indigent.

Most of their efforts are linked to the Bangkok church Mr. Stuart tries to stay behind the scenes so that it looks like Thai helping Thai.

His wife also teaches. Church members and educators have put together a syllabus covering everything from becoming a pastor to business administration at the Bangkok Fellowship Training School.

"My whole life has been about making my dreams come true," said Mr. Stuart. "These people are either afraid to dream or don't even know what to dream I came along and this is how the school started.

"We are still learning. I am not changing the world but I've made little differences and I feel good that the Lord can use me."

He explained that he doesn't bother with actual fundraising to assist his programmes but generates finances through word of mouth.

"I talk to people about what I am doing. I explain how, with $30 I can feed 100 kids," he said explaining that whatever cash finds its way into his account is used to provide meals for children living in slums.

Once a donation is made, Mr. Stuart makes sure to write to the person and explain what was done.

"Sometimes you give to great organisations and you know you helped somebody, but you don't know what so I do like to write back and say thank you and these are the lives you touched."

Mr. Stuart is currently working in Bermuda to help raise funds.

"I give glory to my God, because he makes it all happen. I figure that I always have enough to eat, and always enough to share."

To assist, send an e-mail: keith_houseofstuart@hotmail.com, telephone 732-7302 or make a deposit at Bank of Bermuda Keith Stuart account number 010583185011.