The sole survivor of an alleged mushroom poisoning has publicly spoken out for the first time since the incident, thanking God for never leaving him.

Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church in Victoria’s South Gippsland region, gave his first sermon since recovering from the deadly lunch to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his induction as a pastor.

Video of the sermon emerged Monday after being originally delivered on February 11.

Wilkinson described the preceding week as “pretty big” as it marked six months since the deaths of his wife and friends, his 70th birthday and what would have been his 45th wedding anniversary.

He encouraged his congregation to “keep on going”.

“The ways are sometimes hard, but God is good. He is with us,” he said.

“He promised to never leave or forsake us, and I can say that is true.”

The Herald Sun reported multiple parishioners took to the church stage to thank Wilkinson for his contribution.

Three people died last year after eating a meal at Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home – the parents of Patterson’s ex-husband, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister and Wilkinson’s wife Heather.

Ian Wilkinson was hospitalised for almost two months after the incident.

Erin Patterson has since been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.

She allegedly served the Pattersons and Wilkinsons death cap mushrooms. Patterson and her two children, who were also present at the lunch, did not eat the mushrooms.

Police allege she had also attempted to kill her ex-husband Simon Patterson between November 16 and 17 in 2021, and in 2022 between May 25 and 27, and on September 6.

She had also invited her ex-husband to the lunch which is alleged to have killed his family members, garnering her an additional attempted murder charge.

Erin Patterson remains in custody after police were granted a 20-week adjournment to build a brief of evidence to be served on March 25.