By Bec Symons for the ABC
Photo: Susan Murray
When Ian Wilkinson attended a lunch with his family in July last year, he had no idea his life would be turned upside down.
His wife Heather, sister-in-law Gail, and brother-in-law Don Patterson would all die as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms in a beef Wellington.
Wilkinson was lucky to survive and spent months in hospital recovering.
Despite this, he told his Korumburra Baptist Church congregation last Sunday his faith remained strong.
"Let me encourage you to keep on going," Wilkinson said.
"The way is sometimes hard, but God is good. He is with us.
"He promised never to leave or forsake us and I can say that is true."
His nephew's estranged wife, Erin Patterson, was charged in November with their alleged murders and five counts of attempted murder, relating to Wilkinson's poisoning and prior alleged attempts on her husband Simon Patterson's life.
But last week, Wilkinson delivered his first sermon since the fateful incident as part of celebrations marking 25 years as a pastor.
With tears in his eyes, he told his congregation it had been a big week as it marked six months since his loved ones died.
"At the start of the week it was six months since Heather and Gail and Don went to be with the Lord," Wilkinson said.
"Friday was my birthday, turning 70.
"Yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary, so it's been a pretty big week but I am grateful for all that God has given me, what God has done through me," he said in his sermon, published by the Herald-Sun.
This story was first published by the ABC.