Updated: Fri Nov. 06 2009 18:03:50

ctvbc.ca

A year after a gift-wrapped bomb arrived on his doorstep and exploded in his hands, a Langley, B.C., missionary is telling his story on television for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with CTV News, Pastor Gary Stevenson shared his remarkable tale of recovery.

The bomb, disguised as a gift, was left at the back door on the day his family was moving.

Stevenson said he thought it was a present for his little girls. But, fortunately, they weren't home at the time.

The bomb exploded in his hands moments after he picked it up.

It felt like a fireball, he said, "like a wave just hit me."

The blast tore open his chest and face. Shrapnel embedded in his arms.

Shrapnel also blew through the back of a chair in the garage. Other pieces lodged into the walls.

"The police did say right away, it was built to kill," he said.

His wife, Lynda, heard screams. She saw smoke pouring out of the garage.

"Gary was lying on the ground in a pool of blood and I thought, 'He's dying.' All I could do was pray," she recalled.

Stevenson still bears scars from the explosion on his stomach and his face. No one has ever been arrested.

However, investigators do not believe the Stevensons were specifically targeted, said RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks.

That's a bit of relief to the Stevensons who say their faith has given them strength.

But they still want those responsible for the attack to be caught.

"Having such hatred, for whatever the reason may be, that's a tormented soul and I really feel compassion for them. But at the same time, this is somebody I'd like to see off the streets before they do it again," Stevenson said.

On Monday, Stevenson will speak at an anti-violence rally at SFU. Stevenson's story and details of Monday's rally can be found at http://powertochange.com/gary

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro