Hello, my name is Evelyn Wright, When Jesus said on
the cross, ït is finished", it was reqally only the
beginnning. But as i look back I did notgrasp at the
time what His words truly meant. Let us all be honest,
it is only when something really bad happens in our
lives that God really means a lot to us! Then, when
everything is well again, we fail to cry out to Him
as we should and we get caught up in other things.
When I look back a number of years to April 6th 1994,
to the terrible tragedy, the murder of my daughter
Margaret, it was then only when I began really trusting
the Lord for everything. I learned to leave all at His
feet, that I may be bought closer to God.
No matter what happens in your life, however bad
it seems. God will give that special peace and Grace
when you put Him first in everything, and wait upon
Him. Never lean on your own understanding in
spiritual matters, take God at His word and wait upon
Him. Lets face it, who else can we go to? Our departed
loved ones have simply emigrated to a new home
and we will all follow later.
The love He has for us took Him to the cross. We are
His people, so take the love He has given to and
extend it to others who need comfort in their time
of sorrow. It's not so hard to do when Jesus paid it
all. Praise the Lord.
Friday 4 November 2011
Jim's Story -
God gave me - "A Future with Hope"
I have lived a HOPE filled life since 11.00 PM on Friday 10th April 1959. That was the night
my life was changed for good, forever, after several years of traumatic experiences, including
the sudden death of my wonderful father whilst I was still only 12 years of age. Added to this
grief, was the loss I experienced following the sale of the farm. Everything I had loved was
suddenly taken away, and it was hard for me as young boy of 12 to understand why my donkey
and cart and even my pet dog had to be parted with.
Five years later, at the age of 17, I was still grieving and so very unhappy at home in
Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland that I ran away, not only to try and escape all the
things that made me so unhappy, but to try and begin a new life in England.
This new life was to take me into the Army and the Royal Engineer's Regiment at Aldershot in
Hampshire. Soon this new life was to rob me once again of someone I had come to love so
much.
I discovered that the girl to whom I was engaged to be married, no longer loved me, and our
engagement was broken off. This stirred up all the previous grief that I had struggled with in the
past following the loss of my father.
I was so devastated by what had happened, and it hurt so much to be alone, that I came to
believe that there really was no reason for my continuing to live, so I attempted to end my life by
swallowing a handful of tablets with the help of alcohol.
I have read that "We can live for 40 days without food, 8 days without water, 4-6 minutes
without air, but ONLY SECONDS without HOPE."
I was introduced to hope by John, a member of the Parachute Regiment, he contacted me in
the Bar of the NAAFI just a few days after my suicide attempt. After a brief discussion, John and
I prayed together in Holy Trinity Church, in Victoria Road Aldershot - This was my prayer - "Oh
God if you can heal my broken heart and dry my tears and give me hope, I'll go to the Nations
of the world to tell them of the hope you have given to me."
I got up from my knees that night, a changed man, as I began my personal relationship with
Jesus, I had been born again and from that moment on, I would have the life of Christ inside of
me.
It's now over 51 years since I began my hope filled journey, a journey that has not always
been easy, simply because I came to faith in Jesus, but I can honestly say that the Lord has
helped me to keep going when things became rough.
I have proved many times, that God's GRACE is sufficient. He has helped me through the
most severe of trials, including the death of my wife with cancer in November 1983 after 23
years of marriage. Christine was only 45 years of age and our daughter Marella was only 14 at
the time.
The Lord has also brought me through two painful episodes of clots in my lung, and two major
heart attacks. The second almost fatal heart attack was in 1994 whilst I was a Missionary in Uganda, East
Africa, with my wife Ruth. We served the Lord there for six years, and He enabled us to pioneer
a new Mission which we called "Uganda Mission Of Hope." The Lord added 100 Churches to
the Mission and He also enabled us to build a Village Health Clinic, and launch a School Of
Ministry And Theology. To God be ALL the Glory for anything we achieved.
In April 1995, the Lord helped me through a major heart operation - a triple by-pass.
After returning from Uganda to the UK, I took up Pastoral Ministry in North London and was
appointed as the Pastor of the Elim Pentecostal Church in East Finchley on 31st August 1996. I
first attended an Elim Church in Aldershot in 1959, just after I was born again, John who led me
to Christ also introduced me to his Church which was then in The Grove at Aldershot, and there
I met Christine, who was the Church Pianist.
Four years after becoming a member of the Church, I was appointed to my first Pastorate in
September 1963.
I served with Elim for two years beyond the stipulated retirement age, but had to leave in
October 2007 when it was decided by both the National and the Local Leadership Team of Elim,
that the Church in Finchley needed a "Younger Minister to take it on to the next level".
Their decision was painful for me to accept and it caused me a lot of grief as I found it very hard to
leave the people that I had been Pastor of for 11 years and I had never anticipated being forced
to retire from Pastoral Ministry, because of a preference for "A Younger Minister."
Fortunately, since June 2001, the Lord has been blessing me and using me as a Gospel
Singer, and I have travelled to over 200 different locations all across the UK, to sing "Songs
from The Heart."
God has also opened many opportunities for me to serve Him on local radio over the past 37
years.
I have presented programmes on several Radio Stations and these have included - LBC in
London and BBC Radio Medway, now known as Radio Kent. At the moment I present "Music
With A Message" on Radio Star every Tuesday afternoon at 5:30pm and the 30 minute
programme reaches people all across Ireland and even beyond the shores of Ireland. - To God
be ALL the glory.
Thanks sincerely for reading my story of what God has done and is still doing for me.
On Friday 10th April 2009, I celebrated the 50th Anniversary of my personal encounter with
Christ and of my becoming a Christian.
As I look back to the night of Friday 10th of April 1959 and as I remember the awful condition that
I was in when I was introduced to Jesus - I think about the words of a song:
"Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion, He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But He made something beautiful of my life."
Jesus said - I am come that you might have life and that you might have life in all its fullness
I can honestly say that Jesus completely transformed my life for good and forever. Now
because of my faith in Him, I no longer have a past, I only have a future. A future filled with
hope because as the Bible says - Christ in you - Christ in me is - "The HOPE of GLORY." -
Please read - Colossians 1:27 and Jeremiah 29:11
If as yet you have not found real life - real peace - real joy and real happiness, then I pray that
right now, you will have a personal encounter with Jesus, and I invite you to trust Him.
Jesus said - "I am The WAY - The TRUTH and the LIFE no man can come to the Father
except through Me." That's found in John chapter 14 and verse 6.
I have lived a HOPE filled life since 11.00 PM on Friday 10th April 1959. That was the night
my life was changed for good, forever, after several years of traumatic experiences, including
the sudden death of my wonderful father whilst I was still only 12 years of age. Added to this
grief, was the loss I experienced following the sale of the farm. Everything I had loved was
suddenly taken away, and it was hard for me as young boy of 12 to understand why my donkey
and cart and even my pet dog had to be parted with.
Five years later, at the age of 17, I was still grieving and so very unhappy at home in
Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland that I ran away, not only to try and escape all the
things that made me so unhappy, but to try and begin a new life in England.
This new life was to take me into the Army and the Royal Engineer's Regiment at Aldershot in
Hampshire. Soon this new life was to rob me once again of someone I had come to love so
much.
I discovered that the girl to whom I was engaged to be married, no longer loved me, and our
engagement was broken off. This stirred up all the previous grief that I had struggled with in the
past following the loss of my father.
I was so devastated by what had happened, and it hurt so much to be alone, that I came to
believe that there really was no reason for my continuing to live, so I attempted to end my life by
swallowing a handful of tablets with the help of alcohol.
I have read that "We can live for 40 days without food, 8 days without water, 4-6 minutes
without air, but ONLY SECONDS without HOPE."
I was introduced to hope by John, a member of the Parachute Regiment, he contacted me in
the Bar of the NAAFI just a few days after my suicide attempt. After a brief discussion, John and
I prayed together in Holy Trinity Church, in Victoria Road Aldershot - This was my prayer - "Oh
God if you can heal my broken heart and dry my tears and give me hope, I'll go to the Nations
of the world to tell them of the hope you have given to me."
I got up from my knees that night, a changed man, as I began my personal relationship with
Jesus, I had been born again and from that moment on, I would have the life of Christ inside of
me.
It's now over 51 years since I began my hope filled journey, a journey that has not always
been easy, simply because I came to faith in Jesus, but I can honestly say that the Lord has
helped me to keep going when things became rough.
I have proved many times, that God's GRACE is sufficient. He has helped me through the
most severe of trials, including the death of my wife with cancer in November 1983 after 23
years of marriage. Christine was only 45 years of age and our daughter Marella was only 14 at
the time.
The Lord has also brought me through two painful episodes of clots in my lung, and two major
heart attacks. The second almost fatal heart attack was in 1994 whilst I was a Missionary in Uganda, East
Africa, with my wife Ruth. We served the Lord there for six years, and He enabled us to pioneer
a new Mission which we called "Uganda Mission Of Hope." The Lord added 100 Churches to
the Mission and He also enabled us to build a Village Health Clinic, and launch a School Of
Ministry And Theology. To God be ALL the Glory for anything we achieved.
In April 1995, the Lord helped me through a major heart operation - a triple by-pass.
After returning from Uganda to the UK, I took up Pastoral Ministry in North London and was
appointed as the Pastor of the Elim Pentecostal Church in East Finchley on 31st August 1996. I
first attended an Elim Church in Aldershot in 1959, just after I was born again, John who led me
to Christ also introduced me to his Church which was then in The Grove at Aldershot, and there
I met Christine, who was the Church Pianist.
Four years after becoming a member of the Church, I was appointed to my first Pastorate in
September 1963.
I served with Elim for two years beyond the stipulated retirement age, but had to leave in
October 2007 when it was decided by both the National and the Local Leadership Team of Elim,
that the Church in Finchley needed a "Younger Minister to take it on to the next level".
Their decision was painful for me to accept and it caused me a lot of grief as I found it very hard to
leave the people that I had been Pastor of for 11 years and I had never anticipated being forced
to retire from Pastoral Ministry, because of a preference for "A Younger Minister."
Fortunately, since June 2001, the Lord has been blessing me and using me as a Gospel
Singer, and I have travelled to over 200 different locations all across the UK, to sing "Songs
from The Heart."
God has also opened many opportunities for me to serve Him on local radio over the past 37
years.
I have presented programmes on several Radio Stations and these have included - LBC in
London and BBC Radio Medway, now known as Radio Kent. At the moment I present "Music
With A Message" on Radio Star every Tuesday afternoon at 5:30pm and the 30 minute
programme reaches people all across Ireland and even beyond the shores of Ireland. - To God
be ALL the glory.
Thanks sincerely for reading my story of what God has done and is still doing for me.
On Friday 10th April 2009, I celebrated the 50th Anniversary of my personal encounter with
Christ and of my becoming a Christian.
As I look back to the night of Friday 10th of April 1959 and as I remember the awful condition that
I was in when I was introduced to Jesus - I think about the words of a song:
"Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion, He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But He made something beautiful of my life."
Jesus said - I am come that you might have life and that you might have life in all its fullness
I can honestly say that Jesus completely transformed my life for good and forever. Now
because of my faith in Him, I no longer have a past, I only have a future. A future filled with
hope because as the Bible says - Christ in you - Christ in me is - "The HOPE of GLORY." -
Please read - Colossians 1:27 and Jeremiah 29:11
If as yet you have not found real life - real peace - real joy and real happiness, then I pray that
right now, you will have a personal encounter with Jesus, and I invite you to trust Him.
Jesus said - "I am The WAY - The TRUTH and the LIFE no man can come to the Father
except through Me." That's found in John chapter 14 and verse 6.
Testimony of Jimmy and Mairie Moore
The problem of eternity had never bothered Jimmy Moore.
With a wife and eight children to care for, the present held
more than enough to occupy his mind. Despite her huge capaccity for
kindness the generosity, his wife Mairie often found it difficult
to cope when stress or trouble made it difficult. Unlike
Jimmy, the young mother took a more pessimistic view of
circumstances, leaving her husband to shoulder much of the
strain when things went wrong.
Affectionately, Jimmy recalls how his 'wee woman
preferred to pull the bedclothes over her head and wait for
the problems to disappear! However,Jimmy had his own particular
weakness and by his own defination had become 'half a pint
away from alcoholism'. Whatever their ups and downs, the
couple enjoyed the blessing of a close, loving relationship.
Unlike her husband, Mairie had no interest in any
entertainment thatrevolved around the drinking culture of
Northern Ireland. For the mother of eight, the domestic realm
presented suffient doses orf drama! with no obvious vice, her
life didn't appear to need any drastic reformation. Yet when
Mairie and her friend decided to go along to hear Pastor
McConnell preach the gospel, Jimmy had no idea how much his
'wee woman' would change.
With the sermon over, Jim McConnell ended the evening
with a familiar but solemn invitation. Looking around the silent
congregation, he waited patiently for another soul to come
forward and grasp the opportunity for salvation. Mairie was
among those who responded to the call. she may have being
small in stature, but from the moment she accepted Christ,
Mairie Moore became a mighty woman of God.
Although he didn't know it at the time, his wife was about
to teach Jimmy a lessonthat would not only give sustenance for
life but strength in the face of death. Jimmy reflects: " Mairie's
life revolved around me, the kids and our home. She had no
bad habits. From the moment she was saved, it was easy to tell
she had met the Lord. I could also tell she wanted e to know
Him too! She wanted our lives to be in harmony and united
in Christ but, at the time, it was the last thing I wanted!"
Ever since 'the wee woman' became a christian, Jimmy
Moore received an intensive course of bible therapy. Everyday,
without fail, she appied the gospel message, hoping it would
penetrate her husband's barrier of disterested apathy.
Eventually, in a bid to please her and maybe earn a little respite,
Jimmy agreed to tag along to Sunday sevice at her
church.
But whatever peace Jimmy ha in mind, he hadn't
bargained for the spiritual turmoil that Pastor McConnell's
message ignited in his heart. By the time the sermon ended,
the father of eight was in no doubt about his position before God.
Troubled by alien and unfortable feelings, Jimmy
decided there was only one thing to do, he would never set foot
in the place again. All he had to do was come up with a suitable
excuse for Mairie!
By the following Sunday, Jimmy still hadn't found a good
enough reason to miss church. As the minutes ticked away, his
stress levels rose. Agitated and restless, he tried another ploy
that he felt sure would work. Chuckling, he remembers how in
desperation he tried to provoke an arument: "when mairie
served dinner, I grumbled and moaned about hard potatoes,
hoping she would retaliate and the argument would get me out
of going to church!" But his wife knew Jimmy Jimmy better than he
thought. Instead of harsh words, she sympathised with his
plight and merely offered to exchange plates. Uncomfortable,
but resigned to the ssituation, Jimmy got his coat and
accompanied Mairie to hear the words that would revolutionise
his life.
Whatever resolve Jimmy maintained throughout the
praise and worship, it bega to waver as james McConnell
preached abut God's love for mankind. As the evening drew to
a close, Mairie's husband was once agian incomplete turmoil.
Standinding on the brink of eternity, he didn't know which way to
turn.
Suddenly the pastor pointed into the crowd and shouted
Jeus loves you!'> then with a careful aim, he fixed his next
missile directly at Jimmy Moore's heart. Pastor McConnell
looked directly at me and said "Jesus wants you". It was an
incredible moment." Finally, the message struck home. Jimmy
knew what he had to do. Like his wife, he had been won for
Christ and raising his hand in acknowledgement of his descision,
Jimmy Moore embraced salvation.
Like many others, the Snday joy at finding Christ was
eclipsed by Monday's fear of confessing Him. After a lifetime of
working in a male-dominated emviroment, he knew what to
expect from the attitude of his cooeagues and didn't relish the
prospect of certain ridicule. Even his boyhood talent for
calligraphy seemed at odds with the macho image and never
seemed an appropriate subject of conversation.
Jimmy was convnced that news of his faith would pose an
even greater threat to their idea of masculiinity. But when the
tea lady, a woman from a Roman Catholic faith, joked
about his weekend entertainment, jimmy was presnted with
the ideal opportunity to reveal his new life and status in Christ.
Taking a deep brerath, Jimmy plunged into story of how,
instead of an evening at the pub, he'd been to church and found
Christ. Whatever he exected, amused disbelief was the only
result. as a new believer, confessing Christ required courage,
but when it came to bravery, it was his 'wee woman'who
taught Jimmy most.
Asthe couple continued to worship together,
their rellationship developed an unexpected dimension. United
by Christ, they fostered as even closer, indestructible bond
of love and trust. Their marriagehad always been strong but,
as Christians, they began to appreciate the value of such a
blessing. Instead of separate interest, husband and wife shared
a new life that revolved around worship andlearning more about God.
Just asMairie had been instrumenal in bringing her
husband to hear the gospel, Jimmy also played a role in pointing
another soul to Christ. However,instead of quiet determined
pleading, Jimmy wrapped the message in song! He goes on: "I
woke up one morning with apopular tune, and 'and I love you so'
whizzing round in my head. Slowly, I started to replace the
lyrics with my own".
By the time he got to work, Jimmy wasd still humming but
as he looked out over Divis mountain, he noticed something
that added a note of praise to his tune. "I saw three huge masts
that, against the darkness of the morning sky, looked a lonely
sight. The outline reminded me of Calvary and before, I
realised what was happening. I was singing about the nail
prints in His hands, thorns upon His brow, the wound upon
His side, put there by you and me."
At the end of theday, one of Jimmy's workmates sidled
over and revealed that the tune was his brother's favorite but
he'd never heard the same lyrics. Then, glancing round to
ensure that he wasn't overheard, he confessed his secret. He wrote
poetry!
Sim months later, a woman at church presented Jimmy with
an envelope containing a surprise gift. Perplexed, he'd opened the
package to find a booklet containing his colleague's poems, one
of which had been crafted around Jimmy's impromptu and
unusual lyrics. With amazement still evident in his voice,
Jimmy explains: "I'd left work six months earlier and was
totally surprised as well as delighted by my friend's gift. One
of the poems was about me and the song I sang that dull and
dreary day. Immediately, I asked the sister for the guy's
address and then I sat down and wrote a few lines." A few
weeks later Jimmy received another envelop. It too contained
a booklet but, to Jimmy's delight, instead of a collection of
poems, he was reading his friends testimony.
Over the years, like all couples, Jimmy and Mairie had
known their share of trouble. Family life had brought the usual
portion of happiness as well as tragedy. Jimmy, the stronger of
the two,, had borne much burden while his wife relied on
him for strength.
However, the news tha Mairie was suffering from caancer of
the throat. was a painful shock for them both. But if husband
and wife shared the heartache of her diagnossis, they
participated equally in the enormous joy at her healing. For ten
wonderful years, they enjoyed the blessing of both health and
haappiness. When symptoms returned, neither knew what lay
ahead.
Jimmy's meeting with Mairie's consultant must have
seemed like a repeat of some old movie. the hospital
surroundings, office chairs, and even the diagnosis all looked
familiar. the only jarring note was the expresson of
hopelessness on the doctor's face. This time, there was no
remedy or treatment on offer. It didn't matter how sympathetic
his words, the specialist was saying that Mairies cancer was
terminal and Jimmy received the message loud and clear. His
'wee woman' was going to die. Fear and pain mingled as Jimmy
struggled to compose his feelings. He knew hathis wife had
asked for honesty and the medical profession and that the
doctor was on his way to break the news.
Struggling to regain composure, he made his way toward
the room where his wife now nursed the awful knowledge.
Jimmy's heart broke, both for himself as well as their family. At
that moment his concern was for Mairie, who had never handled
any crsis well. However, just before entering the room, the
consultant approached and asked for a quick work word. Jimmy
dreaded to hear of his wife's panic and fear but hte reaction the
Doctor described was not what either man expected.
Jimmy goes on: "Tye doctor was shaking his head in
amazement and told me that he had never witnessed such
bravery in the face of death. he told me how, when learning of
such advanced cancer, even big men had to be sedated. He just
couldn't fathom Mairie's calm reaction." Even today Jimmy
finds it difficult to relate the scenethat met his as he
entered the room.
"There sitting in a huge chair was my 'wee woman". A
young nurse had her head in Mairie's lap and my wife was
comforting her. It should have been the other way round!
When she saw me, the young woman got up and left and I
crossed to my wife and took the nurse's place."
As time passed, Mairie's condition deteriorated and it
became clear that, instead of healing, God had decided to take
her home to heaven. In the intervening time, husband and wife
shared many precious moments as they strolled through the
memories of a lifetime, sifting, smiling andsometimes laughing
at various events that had woven the fabric of all their
history.
Eventually, as the disease advanced and her time on earth earth
grew short, Mairie slipped into a coma. Still Jimmy continued
to sit by her bed and talk. He reminded her of the beautiful
place she was going to live, the sight her eyes would see, and
and the sounds that she would hear. Most of all, Jimmy talked about the
Lord who was waiting to greet her.
In the remaining moments of their time together, Mairie
and Jimmy shared one more smile before she left: "I kept telling
Mairie to squeeze my hand when she heard me. I talked to her
about many lovely things but, when I asked if she knew what
would happen when we met up again, I know for sure she heard
me! Raising her eyebrows, Mairie let me know she was
laughing when I joked that we'd have a row!" The affectionate
tease, no doubt, tugged at Jimmy's heartstrings, neverthe less,
the good-natured happiness that had characterised their \lifetime, endured right to the end.
Only those who have lost a love one can apprciate the
lonely, grief-filled hours that followin the wake of death.
Jimmy was devastated. Yet the grieving widower was to
discover an unexpected source of encouragement. Throughout
her illness, Mairie had endured many nights when the pian denied
her the comfort of sleep. It was during these dark hours that
Mairie Moore penned what she described as 'Love Letters to the
Lord'.
As Jimmy read the lines, he was privileged to trace his
wife's jounry toward a deep and intimate knowledge of the
Lord. In her final months, the bond between Mairie and her
Saviour had developed to such a degree that her heart was
drawn from this earth toward eternity. When Jimmy showed
his treasure to Pastor McConnell, he immediately recognised
the blessing it would bringto others. The words the Mairie had
witten to her Lord were eventually published and have blessed
many, both spiritually as well as practically.
Jimmy alos found a measure of consolation from an
unexpected source. The talent for calligraphy that at one one time
challenged his macho image has become a service for God. With
loving precision, he inscribes scriptural verses and dedication
in Bibles or cards for whoever requires his skill.
When Pastor McConnell led a tiny, middle aged house wife
to Christ, he may not have known how far the ripples would
reach. But from experience he knew that, when moulded by
God, Mairie Moore would never be the same. Her ministry,
conceived and born through long hours of suffering, not only
brought comfort to her immediate family, but reached people
who lived futher than Mairie had ever travelled.
Forty eight years of marriage may have taught Jimmy
Moore a lot about the "wee woman" in his life, but it was her
death that showed him most about the powerful and faithful
nature of God.
Taken from the book" Is there another one" Whitewell 50 years Jubilee"
by Lorraine Wylie. By permission.
With a wife and eight children to care for, the present held
more than enough to occupy his mind. Despite her huge capaccity for
kindness the generosity, his wife Mairie often found it difficult
to cope when stress or trouble made it difficult. Unlike
Jimmy, the young mother took a more pessimistic view of
circumstances, leaving her husband to shoulder much of the
strain when things went wrong.
Affectionately, Jimmy recalls how his 'wee woman
preferred to pull the bedclothes over her head and wait for
the problems to disappear! However,Jimmy had his own particular
weakness and by his own defination had become 'half a pint
away from alcoholism'. Whatever their ups and downs, the
couple enjoyed the blessing of a close, loving relationship.
Unlike her husband, Mairie had no interest in any
entertainment thatrevolved around the drinking culture of
Northern Ireland. For the mother of eight, the domestic realm
presented suffient doses orf drama! with no obvious vice, her
life didn't appear to need any drastic reformation. Yet when
Mairie and her friend decided to go along to hear Pastor
McConnell preach the gospel, Jimmy had no idea how much his
'wee woman' would change.
With the sermon over, Jim McConnell ended the evening
with a familiar but solemn invitation. Looking around the silent
congregation, he waited patiently for another soul to come
forward and grasp the opportunity for salvation. Mairie was
among those who responded to the call. she may have being
small in stature, but from the moment she accepted Christ,
Mairie Moore became a mighty woman of God.
Although he didn't know it at the time, his wife was about
to teach Jimmy a lessonthat would not only give sustenance for
life but strength in the face of death. Jimmy reflects: " Mairie's
life revolved around me, the kids and our home. She had no
bad habits. From the moment she was saved, it was easy to tell
she had met the Lord. I could also tell she wanted e to know
Him too! She wanted our lives to be in harmony and united
in Christ but, at the time, it was the last thing I wanted!"
Ever since 'the wee woman' became a christian, Jimmy
Moore received an intensive course of bible therapy. Everyday,
without fail, she appied the gospel message, hoping it would
penetrate her husband's barrier of disterested apathy.
Eventually, in a bid to please her and maybe earn a little respite,
Jimmy agreed to tag along to Sunday sevice at her
church.
But whatever peace Jimmy ha in mind, he hadn't
bargained for the spiritual turmoil that Pastor McConnell's
message ignited in his heart. By the time the sermon ended,
the father of eight was in no doubt about his position before God.
Troubled by alien and unfortable feelings, Jimmy
decided there was only one thing to do, he would never set foot
in the place again. All he had to do was come up with a suitable
excuse for Mairie!
By the following Sunday, Jimmy still hadn't found a good
enough reason to miss church. As the minutes ticked away, his
stress levels rose. Agitated and restless, he tried another ploy
that he felt sure would work. Chuckling, he remembers how in
desperation he tried to provoke an arument: "when mairie
served dinner, I grumbled and moaned about hard potatoes,
hoping she would retaliate and the argument would get me out
of going to church!" But his wife knew Jimmy Jimmy better than he
thought. Instead of harsh words, she sympathised with his
plight and merely offered to exchange plates. Uncomfortable,
but resigned to the ssituation, Jimmy got his coat and
accompanied Mairie to hear the words that would revolutionise
his life.
Whatever resolve Jimmy maintained throughout the
praise and worship, it bega to waver as james McConnell
preached abut God's love for mankind. As the evening drew to
a close, Mairie's husband was once agian incomplete turmoil.
Standinding on the brink of eternity, he didn't know which way to
turn.
Suddenly the pastor pointed into the crowd and shouted
Jeus loves you!'> then with a careful aim, he fixed his next
missile directly at Jimmy Moore's heart. Pastor McConnell
looked directly at me and said "Jesus wants you". It was an
incredible moment." Finally, the message struck home. Jimmy
knew what he had to do. Like his wife, he had been won for
Christ and raising his hand in acknowledgement of his descision,
Jimmy Moore embraced salvation.
Like many others, the Snday joy at finding Christ was
eclipsed by Monday's fear of confessing Him. After a lifetime of
working in a male-dominated emviroment, he knew what to
expect from the attitude of his cooeagues and didn't relish the
prospect of certain ridicule. Even his boyhood talent for
calligraphy seemed at odds with the macho image and never
seemed an appropriate subject of conversation.
Jimmy was convnced that news of his faith would pose an
even greater threat to their idea of masculiinity. But when the
tea lady, a woman from a Roman Catholic faith, joked
about his weekend entertainment, jimmy was presnted with
the ideal opportunity to reveal his new life and status in Christ.
Taking a deep brerath, Jimmy plunged into story of how,
instead of an evening at the pub, he'd been to church and found
Christ. Whatever he exected, amused disbelief was the only
result. as a new believer, confessing Christ required courage,
but when it came to bravery, it was his 'wee woman'who
taught Jimmy most.
Asthe couple continued to worship together,
their rellationship developed an unexpected dimension. United
by Christ, they fostered as even closer, indestructible bond
of love and trust. Their marriagehad always been strong but,
as Christians, they began to appreciate the value of such a
blessing. Instead of separate interest, husband and wife shared
a new life that revolved around worship andlearning more about God.
Just asMairie had been instrumenal in bringing her
husband to hear the gospel, Jimmy also played a role in pointing
another soul to Christ. However,instead of quiet determined
pleading, Jimmy wrapped the message in song! He goes on: "I
woke up one morning with apopular tune, and 'and I love you so'
whizzing round in my head. Slowly, I started to replace the
lyrics with my own".
By the time he got to work, Jimmy wasd still humming but
as he looked out over Divis mountain, he noticed something
that added a note of praise to his tune. "I saw three huge masts
that, against the darkness of the morning sky, looked a lonely
sight. The outline reminded me of Calvary and before, I
realised what was happening. I was singing about the nail
prints in His hands, thorns upon His brow, the wound upon
His side, put there by you and me."
At the end of theday, one of Jimmy's workmates sidled
over and revealed that the tune was his brother's favorite but
he'd never heard the same lyrics. Then, glancing round to
ensure that he wasn't overheard, he confessed his secret. He wrote
poetry!
Sim months later, a woman at church presented Jimmy with
an envelope containing a surprise gift. Perplexed, he'd opened the
package to find a booklet containing his colleague's poems, one
of which had been crafted around Jimmy's impromptu and
unusual lyrics. With amazement still evident in his voice,
Jimmy explains: "I'd left work six months earlier and was
totally surprised as well as delighted by my friend's gift. One
of the poems was about me and the song I sang that dull and
dreary day. Immediately, I asked the sister for the guy's
address and then I sat down and wrote a few lines." A few
weeks later Jimmy received another envelop. It too contained
a booklet but, to Jimmy's delight, instead of a collection of
poems, he was reading his friends testimony.
Over the years, like all couples, Jimmy and Mairie had
known their share of trouble. Family life had brought the usual
portion of happiness as well as tragedy. Jimmy, the stronger of
the two,, had borne much burden while his wife relied on
him for strength.
However, the news tha Mairie was suffering from caancer of
the throat. was a painful shock for them both. But if husband
and wife shared the heartache of her diagnossis, they
participated equally in the enormous joy at her healing. For ten
wonderful years, they enjoyed the blessing of both health and
haappiness. When symptoms returned, neither knew what lay
ahead.
Jimmy's meeting with Mairie's consultant must have
seemed like a repeat of some old movie. the hospital
surroundings, office chairs, and even the diagnosis all looked
familiar. the only jarring note was the expresson of
hopelessness on the doctor's face. This time, there was no
remedy or treatment on offer. It didn't matter how sympathetic
his words, the specialist was saying that Mairies cancer was
terminal and Jimmy received the message loud and clear. His
'wee woman' was going to die. Fear and pain mingled as Jimmy
struggled to compose his feelings. He knew hathis wife had
asked for honesty and the medical profession and that the
doctor was on his way to break the news.
Struggling to regain composure, he made his way toward
the room where his wife now nursed the awful knowledge.
Jimmy's heart broke, both for himself as well as their family. At
that moment his concern was for Mairie, who had never handled
any crsis well. However, just before entering the room, the
consultant approached and asked for a quick work word. Jimmy
dreaded to hear of his wife's panic and fear but hte reaction the
Doctor described was not what either man expected.
Jimmy goes on: "Tye doctor was shaking his head in
amazement and told me that he had never witnessed such
bravery in the face of death. he told me how, when learning of
such advanced cancer, even big men had to be sedated. He just
couldn't fathom Mairie's calm reaction." Even today Jimmy
finds it difficult to relate the scenethat met his as he
entered the room.
"There sitting in a huge chair was my 'wee woman". A
young nurse had her head in Mairie's lap and my wife was
comforting her. It should have been the other way round!
When she saw me, the young woman got up and left and I
crossed to my wife and took the nurse's place."
As time passed, Mairie's condition deteriorated and it
became clear that, instead of healing, God had decided to take
her home to heaven. In the intervening time, husband and wife
shared many precious moments as they strolled through the
memories of a lifetime, sifting, smiling andsometimes laughing
at various events that had woven the fabric of all their
history.
Eventually, as the disease advanced and her time on earth earth
grew short, Mairie slipped into a coma. Still Jimmy continued
to sit by her bed and talk. He reminded her of the beautiful
place she was going to live, the sight her eyes would see, and
and the sounds that she would hear. Most of all, Jimmy talked about the
Lord who was waiting to greet her.
In the remaining moments of their time together, Mairie
and Jimmy shared one more smile before she left: "I kept telling
Mairie to squeeze my hand when she heard me. I talked to her
about many lovely things but, when I asked if she knew what
would happen when we met up again, I know for sure she heard
me! Raising her eyebrows, Mairie let me know she was
laughing when I joked that we'd have a row!" The affectionate
tease, no doubt, tugged at Jimmy's heartstrings, neverthe less,
the good-natured happiness that had characterised their \lifetime, endured right to the end.
Only those who have lost a love one can apprciate the
lonely, grief-filled hours that followin the wake of death.
Jimmy was devastated. Yet the grieving widower was to
discover an unexpected source of encouragement. Throughout
her illness, Mairie had endured many nights when the pian denied
her the comfort of sleep. It was during these dark hours that
Mairie Moore penned what she described as 'Love Letters to the
Lord'.
As Jimmy read the lines, he was privileged to trace his
wife's jounry toward a deep and intimate knowledge of the
Lord. In her final months, the bond between Mairie and her
Saviour had developed to such a degree that her heart was
drawn from this earth toward eternity. When Jimmy showed
his treasure to Pastor McConnell, he immediately recognised
the blessing it would bringto others. The words the Mairie had
witten to her Lord were eventually published and have blessed
many, both spiritually as well as practically.
Jimmy alos found a measure of consolation from an
unexpected source. The talent for calligraphy that at one one time
challenged his macho image has become a service for God. With
loving precision, he inscribes scriptural verses and dedication
in Bibles or cards for whoever requires his skill.
When Pastor McConnell led a tiny, middle aged house wife
to Christ, he may not have known how far the ripples would
reach. But from experience he knew that, when moulded by
God, Mairie Moore would never be the same. Her ministry,
conceived and born through long hours of suffering, not only
brought comfort to her immediate family, but reached people
who lived futher than Mairie had ever travelled.
Forty eight years of marriage may have taught Jimmy
Moore a lot about the "wee woman" in his life, but it was her
death that showed him most about the powerful and faithful
nature of God.
Taken from the book" Is there another one" Whitewell 50 years Jubilee"
by Lorraine Wylie. By permission.
Testimony of Faith Johnston
Hello, my name is Faith/“smiler”/“bubble“, this is my testimony.. so far! I was born into a God believing household. When I was 1 year old my dad ,a policeman, tragically died.. this left my mum alone with 3 little kids all under 5years old. I don’t remember much of that time as I was so young, but I do know that God was carefully watching over and protecting our wee family…He is a Father to the fatherless and a Husband and Comforter to the widow! Exodus 22v22”Thou shalt not afflict any widow, or fatherless child”. We where sent along to Sunday school in the Free Presbyterian church, I praise God for that time, and for the faithful Christian teachers we had there!! We also went to church there, and also a little Sabbath school on Sunday afternoons and then attended the CWU hall after church on a Sunday night.. our Sundays where very busy, but very happy times!! The Faith Mission used to have meetings in halls around where we lived aswell, and mum used to take us to them, at the end of one in particular, one of the pilgrims told mum about the Faith missions camps in portadown, and how good it would be for me to go.. so that Summer of 1993,as a wee timid 11 year old, I went to the camp…I had and still have a very strong bond with my mum, and as she left me there, I sat sadly on my sleeping bag ..I didn’t know anyone, then 3 girls came over, we made an instant friendship and indeed still have to this day(I actually ended up crying leaving them at the end of that week)!! On the Thursday night they had a “midnight feast”.. it was meant to be lots of goodies and a giggle…but some of the girls started talking about death…this brought back memories for me, I wanted to go to heaven when I eventually died too…I said that to one of the leaders and she took me to the doorstep of the wooden hut.. and there I prayed with tears steaming down my cheeks, that the LORD would save me, forgive me, make me His child and keep me all me days! that night about 15 other girls got saved in our dormitory too…it was totally amazing, we had a mini revival!! That Christmas, my mums boyfriend, and our new “dad-to-be” as he called himself, died of cancer, this again rocked our wee house, but I never remember ever doubting that God had a plan in it all.. All this had made me very cautious of men, a deep painful scar …that was only healed a few years ago.. through God speaking in a Free Presbyterian meeting, Job 29vrs12+13 “Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless.. the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy”…and as the song says “YOU GIVE AND TAKE AWAY,STILL I WILL SAY,BLESSED IS THE NAME OF THE LORD” ,I praise God He gave and gives me the grace to do so, even now. High school, college and work was/is difficult at times, as it is for most Christians, but He has sustained me through it all. There are many many up’s and down’s in this life of serving Jesus, but I can truly say my God, my Father has never let me go, never abandoned me, never given up on me and will never ever leave me alone, for that I am, feel and know I’m fully truly Blessed!! I now go to the Whitewell metropolitan, and am a member of the choir, I have been so welcomed and loved right from the start, with an almost heavenly love from the family of Christ! Be Blessed!-1 peter 3 v15 “but sanctify(have)the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear(gentleness and respect)”. x:+}
Testimony of Anne Irvine
Hello my name is Anne and thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ I have a testimony.
I was brought up in Belfast and my Mum and Dad were not saved, but they still sent me to Sunday school. I used to go with a friend. I can't really remember much about Sunday school, only that at harvest time the church was lovely with lots off flowers and fruit. From an early age I knew there was a God but I didn't know Him personnally. As a teenager growing up in the 70's it was a scarey place. I used to follow the crowd, drinking and going wild. I believe Gods hand was on me even then, because many times I could have been in danger but He delivered me. I was married at 19 and by the age of 30 I had three children. I worked in a bar as a waitress and also had a cleaning job. I was busy with life, but very lonely. I had friends, family a good husband and three lovely children but I was so lonely inside. One day a couple of Christian neighbours called to my door and they witnessed to me about the Lord. I listened to them but couldn't get the door closed quickly enough. For the next few weeks I was so miserable, (I know now I was under conviction off sin). One Sunday I went to a Church around the corner, I spoke to my neighbour who was there and asked her to call round to my home. We agreed to meet on Tuesday morning. Well from Sunday to Monday night I thought I was going mad! I couldn't sleep or eat properly, I thought my head was going crazy. Tuesday came and my neighbour called. We sat in my living room and I explained to her the way I was feeling and she asked me if I wanted to come to the Lord. I immediately broke down with tears, the struggle was over and I said YES. I literally felt a heavy weight lift from my shoulders. The Lord knew my loneliness and He told me there and then that He would never leave me nor forsake me. That was 23 years ago (1987) and He has kept His promise. A lady who worked with me when I was a cleaner, brought me to Whitewell Church. It was a bible study night. The instant I heard the Pastor preach I knew that Whitewell was the church I was meant to be. I asked the Lord into my heart in March 1987. God is good. He has been my shield, my strong tower, and He has carried me many times. He has supplied all my needs and indeed all my children's needs. He has led me to be part of a prayer ministry in the Church where I am still learning and hopefully, growing. I have let Him down many times but He still loves me. I have fallen, but by His grace I get up again and go on. He is just so lovely and kind, so full of wisdom and strength, He hears and answers prayer. He has blessed me so much and given me so many brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, He has given me His own precious Word to guide me. Life may throw many things at me but I will always be the victor when Christ is with me. He has never lost a case. Corrie Ten Boom said "There is nothing to big that GOD cannot handle, and there is nothing to small for GOD's love." I love Him and I want to serve Him to the best of my ability. My prayer is that whoever reads this testimony would think seriously about the Lord Jesus Christ and come to Him. He is only a prayer away, He loves you so much and wants to live with you forever. No more loneliness in your heart, just a peace that passes all understanding.
GOD bless
Anne Irvine
I was brought up in Belfast and my Mum and Dad were not saved, but they still sent me to Sunday school. I used to go with a friend. I can't really remember much about Sunday school, only that at harvest time the church was lovely with lots off flowers and fruit. From an early age I knew there was a God but I didn't know Him personnally. As a teenager growing up in the 70's it was a scarey place. I used to follow the crowd, drinking and going wild. I believe Gods hand was on me even then, because many times I could have been in danger but He delivered me. I was married at 19 and by the age of 30 I had three children. I worked in a bar as a waitress and also had a cleaning job. I was busy with life, but very lonely. I had friends, family a good husband and three lovely children but I was so lonely inside. One day a couple of Christian neighbours called to my door and they witnessed to me about the Lord. I listened to them but couldn't get the door closed quickly enough. For the next few weeks I was so miserable, (I know now I was under conviction off sin). One Sunday I went to a Church around the corner, I spoke to my neighbour who was there and asked her to call round to my home. We agreed to meet on Tuesday morning. Well from Sunday to Monday night I thought I was going mad! I couldn't sleep or eat properly, I thought my head was going crazy. Tuesday came and my neighbour called. We sat in my living room and I explained to her the way I was feeling and she asked me if I wanted to come to the Lord. I immediately broke down with tears, the struggle was over and I said YES. I literally felt a heavy weight lift from my shoulders. The Lord knew my loneliness and He told me there and then that He would never leave me nor forsake me. That was 23 years ago (1987) and He has kept His promise. A lady who worked with me when I was a cleaner, brought me to Whitewell Church. It was a bible study night. The instant I heard the Pastor preach I knew that Whitewell was the church I was meant to be. I asked the Lord into my heart in March 1987. God is good. He has been my shield, my strong tower, and He has carried me many times. He has supplied all my needs and indeed all my children's needs. He has led me to be part of a prayer ministry in the Church where I am still learning and hopefully, growing. I have let Him down many times but He still loves me. I have fallen, but by His grace I get up again and go on. He is just so lovely and kind, so full of wisdom and strength, He hears and answers prayer. He has blessed me so much and given me so many brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, He has given me His own precious Word to guide me. Life may throw many things at me but I will always be the victor when Christ is with me. He has never lost a case. Corrie Ten Boom said "There is nothing to big that GOD cannot handle, and there is nothing to small for GOD's love." I love Him and I want to serve Him to the best of my ability. My prayer is that whoever reads this testimony would think seriously about the Lord Jesus Christ and come to Him. He is only a prayer away, He loves you so much and wants to live with you forever. No more loneliness in your heart, just a peace that passes all understanding.
GOD bless
Anne Irvine
Testimony of George Irvine
My Story for Christs glory
I grew up in an average working class family in Belfast N.Ireland in an average working class estate called Westland Drive. In many respects I was fortunate because many of my friends were Roman Catholics and as far as I was concerned the only difference was the fact that they went to a different church than I did. This fact meant nothing to me as long as we could play together and fight together, as all kids do, so what! these where my Primary school years and nothing existed except the moment. I make mention of the fact that religion is a major factor for our present situation in N.Ireland and because of our siege mentality. For many generations it has been the catalyst for our so-called troubles and we cannot seem to get past this barrier. My Christian Faith has given me the eyesalve to see past this barrier and realise that they are only nametags, if we go up to heaven they drop off, if we go to hell they burn of. According to GOD'S word there is only the lost and the saved.
I digress, my Father was a very strict man who would not suffer fools gladly or foolish behaviour, which I had personal experience of many times, at the wrong end of a rather large leather belt of which I was unashamedly terrified. As a boy I was seldom out of trouble, it seemed to dog my steps with monotonous regularity. As I grew older my neutrality started to waver and along with the start of the present "troubles" segregation became part of every day life, and with separation came more bitterness and to my shame along with bitterness came hatred.
Then in the early 70's came the paramilitary groups the U.D.A. the P.I.R.A ad infinitum, who opened their illegal drinking clubs and permitted kids of 16 myself included to openly buy and drink on the premises without fear of recrimination. At this point in time, as far as I was concerned I was accepted as a man, these were the people I would join and help fight for the "cause", WRONG, I was just about to have a sharp lesson that would soon knock that idea out of my head. Early one summer afternoon my whole, secure little world was about to have a major earthquake in the form of four large men who effortlessly scooped this 16 year old into a car, put a hood over my head, pointed a gun to my head and told me; "if you make one sound, one movement out of place you're dead". They drove me to one of their clubs and dragged me inside, still hooded and remained so throughout for what seemed like an eternity. The common term for these punishment beatings was Romper-room. Basically they seen themselves as the local police and their methods of interrogation were brutal. I was beaten and questioned about the alleged "crime", acquitted and dumped back on the street and only then was the hood removed. For month's after I was waiting for their return to finish their work, and that was the most terrifying part.
Years later I drifted back to the clubs, though I never joined up, I just bought the cheap drink before going to the disco's. Even here among our own kind we were very territorial and rival gangs would fight often with knives chains, whatever, this became a lifestyle for me until after many drunken nights and fights I met my wife and who, it must be said had a very calming affect on me, well the fighting side anyway. We were married have three children, Aaron, Ryan, and Claire.
Then on the 11th of July 1987 which is the celebration of the battle of the BOYNE which is a festive highlight for the Protestant population I was totally bombed out of my mind I decided to walk home at 02:00 in the early hours of the morning, through a republican area which is not the done thing. Many such people from both sides have not lived to tell the tale. I stuck my thumb out at a car in this republican area which stopped and I didn't even look to see who was in the car, I climbed in and asked in a drunken slur to be dropped of at the Woodvale road which every person in Belfast knows as a staunchly protestant area. Lucky for me, and on reflection, I can see GOD'S hand in it, a lone driver took pity on a drunk man which probably saved my life.
When I eventually arrived home I could not make it past the garden, I collapsed in a heap and was sick all over myself, I'm sure you get the picture, even my dog would not come near me I was so bad. Just then I remember looking up to the sky and saying if you are there GOD please help me. From that day everything pointed me towards my Church (as it is now) and I found myself there one Sunday night and the message I heard about a saviour called JESUS CHIST who gave His life that I could be forgiven for a life of past sins. I left the church that night filled with wonder about this Saviour, is it true, is it possible that my life of sin could be forgiven if I accept this JESUS Christ as my Saviour. Another thing why were these people at this Church so open and friendly with me, when all I ever knew were people filled with suspicion and aloofness. I returned to the Church in the following weeks until the 4th Oct. 1987 and after Pastor McConnell preached his Gospel message I could hold out no longer, I accepted the LORD JESUS CHRIST as my Saviour and my whole life has been turned around. Where once I lived for myself I now live to serve HIM. He saved me and healed me of asthma instantly as soon as I asked HIM, HE has given me hope were once was despair, HE has given me strength were once was fear, so you see I know that HE is real and alive and because of these facts my destiny is secure in HIM and as reference to this fact I quote
JOHN Chapter 3 verse 16 which states "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life"
Finally to all who read this may you also find peace in my Saviour the LORD JESUS CHRIST, if the good LORD can save a guilty hell deserving sinner like me then HE can save anyone.
GOD bless
George Irvine
I grew up in an average working class family in Belfast N.Ireland in an average working class estate called Westland Drive. In many respects I was fortunate because many of my friends were Roman Catholics and as far as I was concerned the only difference was the fact that they went to a different church than I did. This fact meant nothing to me as long as we could play together and fight together, as all kids do, so what! these where my Primary school years and nothing existed except the moment. I make mention of the fact that religion is a major factor for our present situation in N.Ireland and because of our siege mentality. For many generations it has been the catalyst for our so-called troubles and we cannot seem to get past this barrier. My Christian Faith has given me the eyesalve to see past this barrier and realise that they are only nametags, if we go up to heaven they drop off, if we go to hell they burn of. According to GOD'S word there is only the lost and the saved.
I digress, my Father was a very strict man who would not suffer fools gladly or foolish behaviour, which I had personal experience of many times, at the wrong end of a rather large leather belt of which I was unashamedly terrified. As a boy I was seldom out of trouble, it seemed to dog my steps with monotonous regularity. As I grew older my neutrality started to waver and along with the start of the present "troubles" segregation became part of every day life, and with separation came more bitterness and to my shame along with bitterness came hatred.
Then in the early 70's came the paramilitary groups the U.D.A. the P.I.R.A ad infinitum, who opened their illegal drinking clubs and permitted kids of 16 myself included to openly buy and drink on the premises without fear of recrimination. At this point in time, as far as I was concerned I was accepted as a man, these were the people I would join and help fight for the "cause", WRONG, I was just about to have a sharp lesson that would soon knock that idea out of my head. Early one summer afternoon my whole, secure little world was about to have a major earthquake in the form of four large men who effortlessly scooped this 16 year old into a car, put a hood over my head, pointed a gun to my head and told me; "if you make one sound, one movement out of place you're dead". They drove me to one of their clubs and dragged me inside, still hooded and remained so throughout for what seemed like an eternity. The common term for these punishment beatings was Romper-room. Basically they seen themselves as the local police and their methods of interrogation were brutal. I was beaten and questioned about the alleged "crime", acquitted and dumped back on the street and only then was the hood removed. For month's after I was waiting for their return to finish their work, and that was the most terrifying part.
Years later I drifted back to the clubs, though I never joined up, I just bought the cheap drink before going to the disco's. Even here among our own kind we were very territorial and rival gangs would fight often with knives chains, whatever, this became a lifestyle for me until after many drunken nights and fights I met my wife and who, it must be said had a very calming affect on me, well the fighting side anyway. We were married have three children, Aaron, Ryan, and Claire.
Then on the 11th of July 1987 which is the celebration of the battle of the BOYNE which is a festive highlight for the Protestant population I was totally bombed out of my mind I decided to walk home at 02:00 in the early hours of the morning, through a republican area which is not the done thing. Many such people from both sides have not lived to tell the tale. I stuck my thumb out at a car in this republican area which stopped and I didn't even look to see who was in the car, I climbed in and asked in a drunken slur to be dropped of at the Woodvale road which every person in Belfast knows as a staunchly protestant area. Lucky for me, and on reflection, I can see GOD'S hand in it, a lone driver took pity on a drunk man which probably saved my life.
When I eventually arrived home I could not make it past the garden, I collapsed in a heap and was sick all over myself, I'm sure you get the picture, even my dog would not come near me I was so bad. Just then I remember looking up to the sky and saying if you are there GOD please help me. From that day everything pointed me towards my Church (as it is now) and I found myself there one Sunday night and the message I heard about a saviour called JESUS CHIST who gave His life that I could be forgiven for a life of past sins. I left the church that night filled with wonder about this Saviour, is it true, is it possible that my life of sin could be forgiven if I accept this JESUS Christ as my Saviour. Another thing why were these people at this Church so open and friendly with me, when all I ever knew were people filled with suspicion and aloofness. I returned to the Church in the following weeks until the 4th Oct. 1987 and after Pastor McConnell preached his Gospel message I could hold out no longer, I accepted the LORD JESUS CHRIST as my Saviour and my whole life has been turned around. Where once I lived for myself I now live to serve HIM. He saved me and healed me of asthma instantly as soon as I asked HIM, HE has given me hope were once was despair, HE has given me strength were once was fear, so you see I know that HE is real and alive and because of these facts my destiny is secure in HIM and as reference to this fact I quote
JOHN Chapter 3 verse 16 which states "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life"
Finally to all who read this may you also find peace in my Saviour the LORD JESUS CHRIST, if the good LORD can save a guilty hell deserving sinner like me then HE can save anyone.
GOD bless
George Irvine
Testimony of Glynis Corbett
First of all I would like to thank,
the Lord Jesus Christ, that I have a
testimony to give, of His saving grace
and keeping power in my life. And to also
thank Billy Shannon for asking me to
write out my testimony.
On the 10th June 1984 at Belfast City
Hospital, I had a baby girl by section who
weighed 4,15lb. I named her Amanda Jane,
she was transferred to the Royal Victoria
Hospital for sick children to the intensive
care unit were she was very well looked after.
The doctor who was over her at that time, his
name was Dr Wiltey, who also was a christian.
There also was a very special nurse who looked
after Amanda Jane, her name was Margaret.
While Margaret was on holiday, Tuesday the 28th
June, My daughter Amanda had died. This was a very
sad time for me, as i went into depression and
would not leave my home. Among other things
my life was not the same after this.
I always knew there was a God, but did not
know He could be so close to me. I had a photo
of Amanda beside my Grandfather Sandy Black, who I
loved very much. There was one of the days when
I looked at the photo of Amanda I started to cry
I then I began to ask "Is there really a God up
there, will you help me?"
It was a few weeks later that I was in my
bedroom getting ready for work when I heard a
voice saying "come to me" at that time I did not
know that, that was in the Bible in Matthew 11v28-29.
(28) Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest
(29) Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek
and lowly in hearts and ye shall find rest for your souls.
I then looked around to see were the voice was coming
from, but saw no one. It was the voice of God I had heard.
I then went down to my Mums house, and told her what had
happened to me. She said that's the Lord calling you. I knew
at that time what I had to do, so I went upstairs to my
sister Deborah's bedroom and got on my knees and asked the
Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart and to take away
my sins. I am now twenty six years saved, and have never
looked back.
I know one day will come when I will see the Lord Jesus
who died on a cross for my sins, and for your sins. I will
also see my Daughter Amanda Jane on that final day.
I believe there are women out there who have went through
the loss of a child after giving birth, I have felt the hurt,
and went through the depression, You are not alone, the Lord
Jesus Christ was my last resort, but he was my answer, and
can be yours. Jesus is a prayer away, there is a God, who
cares, and you can learn to trust in him to.
(if at anytime you feel you need to talk to someone,
feel free to contact me through Billy Shannon, by contacting
Billy's email billy@belfastoutreach.com
the Lord Jesus Christ, that I have a
testimony to give, of His saving grace
and keeping power in my life. And to also
thank Billy Shannon for asking me to
write out my testimony.
On the 10th June 1984 at Belfast City
Hospital, I had a baby girl by section who
weighed 4,15lb. I named her Amanda Jane,
she was transferred to the Royal Victoria
Hospital for sick children to the intensive
care unit were she was very well looked after.
The doctor who was over her at that time, his
name was Dr Wiltey, who also was a christian.
There also was a very special nurse who looked
after Amanda Jane, her name was Margaret.
While Margaret was on holiday, Tuesday the 28th
June, My daughter Amanda had died. This was a very
sad time for me, as i went into depression and
would not leave my home. Among other things
my life was not the same after this.
I always knew there was a God, but did not
know He could be so close to me. I had a photo
of Amanda beside my Grandfather Sandy Black, who I
loved very much. There was one of the days when
I looked at the photo of Amanda I started to cry
I then I began to ask "Is there really a God up
there, will you help me?"
It was a few weeks later that I was in my
bedroom getting ready for work when I heard a
voice saying "come to me" at that time I did not
know that, that was in the Bible in Matthew 11v28-29.
(28) Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest
(29) Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek
and lowly in hearts and ye shall find rest for your souls.
I then looked around to see were the voice was coming
from, but saw no one. It was the voice of God I had heard.
I then went down to my Mums house, and told her what had
happened to me. She said that's the Lord calling you. I knew
at that time what I had to do, so I went upstairs to my
sister Deborah's bedroom and got on my knees and asked the
Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart and to take away
my sins. I am now twenty six years saved, and have never
looked back.
I know one day will come when I will see the Lord Jesus
who died on a cross for my sins, and for your sins. I will
also see my Daughter Amanda Jane on that final day.
I believe there are women out there who have went through
the loss of a child after giving birth, I have felt the hurt,
and went through the depression, You are not alone, the Lord
Jesus Christ was my last resort, but he was my answer, and
can be yours. Jesus is a prayer away, there is a God, who
cares, and you can learn to trust in him to.
(if at anytime you feel you need to talk to someone,
feel free to contact me through Billy Shannon, by contacting
Billy's email billy@belfastoutreach.com
The Testimony of Julia Morrison
My name is Julia & I want to tell you what the Lord has done in my life.
I was born into a Christian home & my family attended a Gospel Hall outside Castlewellan, Co. Down. I loved attending the Sunday School & have precious memories from those days. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
The Gospel Hall always had special meetings, which were great to get the locals in to hear the Gospel. Mr Hedley Murphy, a well known evangelist, was the speaker at one of them & many people were getting saved at these meetings. One night Mum & dad were driving home from the meeting & they were talking about the number of people getting saved. Unaware to them I was listening to every word in the back seat of the car.
When we got home, I said to my mum that I wanted to get saved too. So Mum simply said, "Ask Jesus into you heart & He will save you & never leave you". So we both knelt down & I prayed that prayer. I was only 5 years old. It doesn't matter what age you are because Jesus can save you. Mark 10:14 says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God".
The Christian walk is not an easy one. It takes a real man and a real woman to follow Christ. But God has blessed me & I still keep trusting Him everyday since I was 5 years old. Even in the bad times, He has never forsaken me. I could go on & on about what God has brought me through even in these recent years due to a long term illness. As David wrote in Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me". When death looked into my face, I knew my Lord was at my side & He would bring me through it.
God has a plan for my life & for you too. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future". I think this Bible verse is beautiful & just sums me up!
I now attend the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, Belfast. I have been blessed to have Dr James McConnell as my Pastor. If you have never been to Whitewell, come along & you'll be blessed too!
Thank you for reading my story & may God Bless you too.
Julia.
I was born into a Christian home & my family attended a Gospel Hall outside Castlewellan, Co. Down. I loved attending the Sunday School & have precious memories from those days. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
The Gospel Hall always had special meetings, which were great to get the locals in to hear the Gospel. Mr Hedley Murphy, a well known evangelist, was the speaker at one of them & many people were getting saved at these meetings. One night Mum & dad were driving home from the meeting & they were talking about the number of people getting saved. Unaware to them I was listening to every word in the back seat of the car.
When we got home, I said to my mum that I wanted to get saved too. So Mum simply said, "Ask Jesus into you heart & He will save you & never leave you". So we both knelt down & I prayed that prayer. I was only 5 years old. It doesn't matter what age you are because Jesus can save you. Mark 10:14 says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God".
The Christian walk is not an easy one. It takes a real man and a real woman to follow Christ. But God has blessed me & I still keep trusting Him everyday since I was 5 years old. Even in the bad times, He has never forsaken me. I could go on & on about what God has brought me through even in these recent years due to a long term illness. As David wrote in Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me". When death looked into my face, I knew my Lord was at my side & He would bring me through it.
God has a plan for my life & for you too. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future". I think this Bible verse is beautiful & just sums me up!
I now attend the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, Belfast. I have been blessed to have Dr James McConnell as my Pastor. If you have never been to Whitewell, come along & you'll be blessed too!
Thank you for reading my story & may God Bless you too.
Julia.
Joe Phillips A testimony of GOD'S mercy and grace.
Truly a sinner saved by GOD'S grace. Saved on the 8th August 2004, I can never thank the LORD enough for that day. A day that I can identify as becoming a child of GOD. A day in my life that the turn around was complete, a day of no going back to the things of my past... Praise the LORD.
Only recently was I asked by a brother in the LORD for my testimony, a brother who had attended the new converts class the same time as myself... I was somewhat taken unaware and hesitantly said I would take it to the LORD in prayer. He told me that someone, somewhere was just waiting to read what the LORD has done for me... so here goes. I pray all I write is pleasing to my LORD and my SAVIOUR.
My name is Joseph Phillips (Joe) born March 1954 into a catholic family. I have three older brothers and two younger sisters (all presently unsaved) whom I love dearly. My mum was a protestant but changed to a catholic so that she could marry my dad. I grew up on a small farm where money was very scarce. Life was tough. I was brought up according to the laws and teachings of the Roman catholic church. I married in May 1975 and was blessed with two girls Susan and Brenda, and two boys Stephen and Nicholas. I brought my family up as Roman Catholic's. Many people said that I was a good father but looking back I'm sorry to say that was not the case. I spent much of my time seeking pleasures of the world, things like drinking, gambling, fishing, shooting, pool, snooker and such like. All of which gave me pleasure, but for a short time. At the age of 40 I took up golf to try and keep me out of the pubs, a game that I became addicted to and my wife became a golf widow. Through all this I kept going to mass because I was brought up to believe that it was a mortal sin to miss. Now when I look back I can see I was nothing but a hypocrite... yes I was just acting the part.
My life changed big time in January 2004 when my marriage broke up due to me lusting after the things of the flesh. I then stopped going to mass knowing what I had done and what I was doing was wrong, yet I continued in my sinful ways. I moved in with Ruth, a very pretty young lady, 13 years younger than myself. It's not hard to know why I fell for her but many times I have wondered what she saw in me. Ruth had backslidden (at that time I didn't know what a backslider was) due to her marriage breaking up several years before I met her. She was a single parent with an 8 year old daughter named Jenna.
Easter Sunday morning 2004 unknown to me God began a work in my life. Ruth, Jenna and I went to Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle. It was my first time. From the moment I walked through the door I experienced the warmth and friendliness of the people greeting us. I had the pleasure of a hand shake from Pastor McConnell even though I didn't know who it was at that time. When I was told I thought it very strange that he was just dressed similar to all the other men. I was very impressed by the choir but when it came to the reading of the word and the preaching... well that was something special. I can't remember what the reading was that morning but everything about Whitewell just gripped me. We became regulars, the more I heard about Jesus the more I wanted to hear. For the first time in my life, at 50 years of age I began to hear and understand the gospel preached in all it's fullness and glory. As the weeks went past, during the appeal for lost souls I began to struggle. Weeks turned into months and the struggle became more like a battle. Part of me wanted to lift my hand but that little voice kept telling me I wasn't good enough to accept the Lord as my personal savior. Looking back I now know that I was under conviction from the Holy Spirit, but at the time I had no idea. One part of me wanted to be loyal to the catholic faith, one part was fear as to what my family and friends would say and yet I knew I must take that step of faith and be identified as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the 8th August 2004 during the appeal Ruth raised her hand to come back to the Lord and just then I knew it was a defining moment in my life. I lifted my hand and asked GOD to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my heart and my life. What a moment...Yes there were mixed emotions, from tears of happiness to an inner peace that I struggle even yet to put into words. Many times I had heard of the peace of GOD, a peace that passes all understanding, yet there and then GOD was allowing me to share with HIM his love and tender mercies.
There many things I don't understand but I know my life changed big time from that moment on.
Ruth and I were still living together, even though we tried to change our sinful ways we both knew we were not setting a good example to the unsaved. Sometimes things I say return to me as a way of correction. One such speak was on a visit to my mum who had just returned from a visit to the doctors. She told me because of the tests she had, the doctor was going to increase her medication. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was going to do no such a thing. I said what's the point of going to the doctors if you are not going to listen and take his advice. Very soon after that in church the message was about getting your house in order. I left that service with a voice in my head what's the point of going to the church if you are not going to listen and take advice from
GOD'S word. After a talk with Ruth I went back to my mum and asked if I could move in with her until such times as we could get our lives sorted out. I stayed with mum until June 2007 when Ruth and I became husband and wife. That day I received a text message from a brother in the LORD which I believe with all my heart. It was from the book of proverbs, C:3 v 5-6. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART: AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. I stand on the promises of GOD knowing a promise is much better than an explanation! GOD has promised if we put HIM first...HE will pour out a blessing so large that there will not be enough room for us to contain it. I know the LORD has rewarded us many times over for our faithfulness. By GOD'S grace Ruth been healed from asthma and in August 2009 she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (a form of M.E.) She was prayed for in church and anointed with oil on 9th September 2009 and yet again by GOD'S grace Ruth was healed.
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ daily for the miracle or saving my soul. 2nd Corinthians C5:17 We are told IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY: BEHOLD: ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. Yes there are times when I fail miserably but I now know there is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS. Now I cling to the promise HE has given to me and to all his children... a promise that HE will never leave me nor forsake me. In Hebrews C4:16 we are told that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. I would like to finish with a verse from 1st Corinthians C2:9 BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
GOD BLESS
I pray that all who take time to read this will be truly blessed and if you don't already know the LORD JESUS CHRIST as your own personal savior BEHOLD: NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME. If you would like to begin a personal relationship with JESUS right now pray this short prayer.
LORD JESUS CHRIST I am sorry for all the wrong doings in my life. I ask you to forgive me. I thank you for dying on the cross for me. I thank you for the price you paid, for the blood that you shed to set me free from all my sins. LORD JESUS come into my life today, come in and stay with me forever, in JESUS name I pray...AMEN
Only recently was I asked by a brother in the LORD for my testimony, a brother who had attended the new converts class the same time as myself... I was somewhat taken unaware and hesitantly said I would take it to the LORD in prayer. He told me that someone, somewhere was just waiting to read what the LORD has done for me... so here goes. I pray all I write is pleasing to my LORD and my SAVIOUR.
My name is Joseph Phillips (Joe) born March 1954 into a catholic family. I have three older brothers and two younger sisters (all presently unsaved) whom I love dearly. My mum was a protestant but changed to a catholic so that she could marry my dad. I grew up on a small farm where money was very scarce. Life was tough. I was brought up according to the laws and teachings of the Roman catholic church. I married in May 1975 and was blessed with two girls Susan and Brenda, and two boys Stephen and Nicholas. I brought my family up as Roman Catholic's. Many people said that I was a good father but looking back I'm sorry to say that was not the case. I spent much of my time seeking pleasures of the world, things like drinking, gambling, fishing, shooting, pool, snooker and such like. All of which gave me pleasure, but for a short time. At the age of 40 I took up golf to try and keep me out of the pubs, a game that I became addicted to and my wife became a golf widow. Through all this I kept going to mass because I was brought up to believe that it was a mortal sin to miss. Now when I look back I can see I was nothing but a hypocrite... yes I was just acting the part.
My life changed big time in January 2004 when my marriage broke up due to me lusting after the things of the flesh. I then stopped going to mass knowing what I had done and what I was doing was wrong, yet I continued in my sinful ways. I moved in with Ruth, a very pretty young lady, 13 years younger than myself. It's not hard to know why I fell for her but many times I have wondered what she saw in me. Ruth had backslidden (at that time I didn't know what a backslider was) due to her marriage breaking up several years before I met her. She was a single parent with an 8 year old daughter named Jenna.
Easter Sunday morning 2004 unknown to me God began a work in my life. Ruth, Jenna and I went to Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle. It was my first time. From the moment I walked through the door I experienced the warmth and friendliness of the people greeting us. I had the pleasure of a hand shake from Pastor McConnell even though I didn't know who it was at that time. When I was told I thought it very strange that he was just dressed similar to all the other men. I was very impressed by the choir but when it came to the reading of the word and the preaching... well that was something special. I can't remember what the reading was that morning but everything about Whitewell just gripped me. We became regulars, the more I heard about Jesus the more I wanted to hear. For the first time in my life, at 50 years of age I began to hear and understand the gospel preached in all it's fullness and glory. As the weeks went past, during the appeal for lost souls I began to struggle. Weeks turned into months and the struggle became more like a battle. Part of me wanted to lift my hand but that little voice kept telling me I wasn't good enough to accept the Lord as my personal savior. Looking back I now know that I was under conviction from the Holy Spirit, but at the time I had no idea. One part of me wanted to be loyal to the catholic faith, one part was fear as to what my family and friends would say and yet I knew I must take that step of faith and be identified as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the 8th August 2004 during the appeal Ruth raised her hand to come back to the Lord and just then I knew it was a defining moment in my life. I lifted my hand and asked GOD to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my heart and my life. What a moment...Yes there were mixed emotions, from tears of happiness to an inner peace that I struggle even yet to put into words. Many times I had heard of the peace of GOD, a peace that passes all understanding, yet there and then GOD was allowing me to share with HIM his love and tender mercies.
There many things I don't understand but I know my life changed big time from that moment on.
Ruth and I were still living together, even though we tried to change our sinful ways we both knew we were not setting a good example to the unsaved. Sometimes things I say return to me as a way of correction. One such speak was on a visit to my mum who had just returned from a visit to the doctors. She told me because of the tests she had, the doctor was going to increase her medication. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was going to do no such a thing. I said what's the point of going to the doctors if you are not going to listen and take his advice. Very soon after that in church the message was about getting your house in order. I left that service with a voice in my head what's the point of going to the church if you are not going to listen and take advice from
GOD'S word. After a talk with Ruth I went back to my mum and asked if I could move in with her until such times as we could get our lives sorted out. I stayed with mum until June 2007 when Ruth and I became husband and wife. That day I received a text message from a brother in the LORD which I believe with all my heart. It was from the book of proverbs, C:3 v 5-6. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART: AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. I stand on the promises of GOD knowing a promise is much better than an explanation! GOD has promised if we put HIM first...HE will pour out a blessing so large that there will not be enough room for us to contain it. I know the LORD has rewarded us many times over for our faithfulness. By GOD'S grace Ruth been healed from asthma and in August 2009 she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (a form of M.E.) She was prayed for in church and anointed with oil on 9th September 2009 and yet again by GOD'S grace Ruth was healed.
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ daily for the miracle or saving my soul. 2nd Corinthians C5:17 We are told IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY: BEHOLD: ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. Yes there are times when I fail miserably but I now know there is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS. Now I cling to the promise HE has given to me and to all his children... a promise that HE will never leave me nor forsake me. In Hebrews C4:16 we are told that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. I would like to finish with a verse from 1st Corinthians C2:9 BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
GOD BLESS
I pray that all who take time to read this will be truly blessed and if you don't already know the LORD JESUS CHRIST as your own personal savior BEHOLD: NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME. If you would like to begin a personal relationship with JESUS right now pray this short prayer.
LORD JESUS CHRIST I am sorry for all the wrong doings in my life. I ask you to forgive me. I thank you for dying on the cross for me. I thank you for the price you paid, for the blood that you shed to set me free from all my sins. LORD JESUS come into my life today, come in and stay with me forever, in JESUS name I pray...AMEN
Testimony by Thomas Harron
My name is Thomas Harron and this is my testimony.
I was saved on the 19 July 1998 in the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Church Belfast, under the ministry of Pastor James McConnell a man that I have grown to respect and love over these years under his ministry.
My testimony did not begin on the night I was saved , when I look back to my youth I realize that if it had not been for GODS Grace through HIS beloved SON The LORD JESUS CHRIST I don't know where or what state I would have been in today .
As Christians we have two testimonies.
The first GODS Grace before we where saved, in that our previous life did not consume and destroy us before the glorious moment of our salvation through our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
And secondly HIS keeping GRACE in that he has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, HIS HOLY Word tells us HE is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End, our life in and through GODS SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is complete the very moment of our Salvation.
As a child I mostly grew up in a one parent family , my Dad had died at the age of only 28 I was only 3 and have no memories of him , I have often wondered what it would have been like to have my earthly father about but this was never to be .
As a child and into my teenage years I was terrified by nightmares afraid to go asleep and wakening up in the night terrified.
Up to the age of 8 me and my Mum and older sister lived with my Gran and Granada.
About this age my Mum had met another man who seemed at the time to be nice, one thing led to another and me and my Mum moved with this man to the Donegall road in Belfast, it was decided that my older sister would stay and live with my Gran and Granada.
I remember the day when I moved to Belfast we moved into a 2 bedroom terrace house with no hot water no bathroom and an outside toilet , this set the scene for the years to come , after moving to Belfast I started to attend Blythefield primary school in Sandyrow , from the outset I was bullied in the forms of physical and verbal abuse this continued in and out off school , once in primary school I thought I had got the better of another boy and challenged him to a fight after school only to find that most who would watch at one stage would join in needless to say I came out the worst .
At home after moving to Belfast things where fine at the start , and then after a time I don’t remember exactly when , my Mums partner became violent towards her , one instant I will always remember , my mums partner had become violent and my mum had locked him out of the house he then proceeded to smash the front door window and when he could not get in he went around to the back of the house kicked down the entry door and then thumped on the back door me and my mum where on the kitchen floor hiding in fear he eventually managed to break down the door and then violently attacked my mother I would have been only 8 or 9 years old at this time , these attacks on my mother continued until he eventually left leaving me and my Mum and one younger sister with another baby on the way , this man had left us in severe poverty in a house that should have been condemned due to the condition and state this man had left it in .
Coming into my teenage years after eating food I would cause myself to vomit looking back what started out looking for attention turned into something I could not control it became a compulsive action , my mum took me to the doctors and I would have told lies to make it look like it was some other type of illness , at one stage I would have been down to 4 or 5 stone in weight , the doctor sent me for a series of tests and I was even admitted to hospital , during this time in hospital I seen others with real illnesses two in particular one with severe eczema and the other with a type of cancer , even though I seen those with an illness that was real an illness they did not deserve I could not stop the charade that I had started , during this time in hospital the doctors carried out an endoscopy where they place a camera down the throat and into the stomach the results of course was that everything was normal , for many years I could not resist the compulsion to purge my stomach of things I had eaten this is now known as bulimia , this vomiting in later years eventually caused damage to the diaphragm just above my stomach where the stomach pushes through the diaphragm causing a hiatus hernia , the results of this is severe acid reflux where stomach acid travels from the stomach into the throat causing a severe burning sensation that without medicine would be intolerable .
During my teenage years bulling was always an issue in one form or another, one instance I never forget happened one day on the way home from high school I was in my 2nd year at Kelvin High school , I had started to walk up Rodent street when some younger boys where challenging me to a fight on a piece of waste ground at the corner of Roden street and Lemberg street , very soon a crowd had gathered and where taunting I remember lifting a large brick or concrete block above my head with both of my hands threatening to throw it at anyone who came near , this then changed with the brick still above my head I found myself saying that I would kill myself if anyone came near , the taunting continued I then started to hit my head with the brick continually until in a daze I fell to the ground , someone from the school came and lifted me up and led me through the crowd with a sense of concern asking me if I was all right , still dazed I walked home not telling my Mum or anyone what had happened , and at school this just gave more reasons to be bullied and verbally taunted .
Anyone reading my testimony that may have been there that day I say to you, what is done is done none of us can change the past, I hold no bitterness against you and if you are not already saved I hope and pray that you will come to a saving knowledge of GODS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR and my REDEEMER.
Looking back at this now I cringe at what I done, and I am amazed that my skull did not break with the force and repetition that I struck my head with that brick, and that I did not succeed in what I had done in a moment of desperation, I believe that GODS Grace through HIS Beloved SON The LORD JESUS CHRIST spared me that day from severe head damage or even death that I could have caused.
I believe that life is not ours to give or take and that the life that we are given with its ups and downs is precious and that no matter how bad things get things will always get better.
And for me things did eventually get better , my last two years at high school where spent at Larkfield high school , Kelvin high school had closed down due to low numbers of pupils , the bulling still continued but it was more verbal than physical , during these last years at school I remember one instance that I very much regret , I had been in Belfast and had purchased some heavy metal music cassettes I was sitting in front of the city hall looking at the things I had bought when an old man in a long dark overcoat came and sat beside me the old man who was well spoken and very pleasant started a conversation with me asking me about the things I had bought , after showing the man the things I had bought he then showed me the error of the music I was listening to and shared the good news of the GOSPEL with me , that day to my shame I rejected in my heart the precious GOSPEL of my now LORD AND SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , I now realize this was one of a few missed opportunities that each of us have in this life to get right with GOD our Heavenly FATHER through HIS Beloved Son The LORD JESUS CHRIST , it would be many years after this before GOD by HIS Mercy and Grace would Save me through HIS Beloved Son The LORD JESUS CHRIST .
I left school with very poor exam results and with no real prospects, I joined the army with foolish ideals and looking for direction, disillusioned I left after only 4 months on my return I quickly found new employment as a timber treatment technician and then as a fitters helper in steam boilers or as I would now put it a human flue brush, the work was extremely dirty but it was a job for which I was grateful.
Things started to change for the when I met my wife Sanya , we where married and had children quite young but this I have not regretted , yes over the years as all married couples have we have had our ups and downs but in my wife I found someone I could trust and love someone who is more than a friend more than a wife and more than mother of our children , from the start and even before we where saved I believe that GODS hand through HIS Beloved Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST was upon me and my wife and children , I can truly say that all that I am all that I have and all I will ever be is because of what GOD has done through his beloved Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST in my life .
Before our marriage me and my wife attended the Church of Ireland in Derraghy where we where married, the Minister was the Rev GE Graham a man who was good and kind to me and my wife and children a man who I have also great respect for.
Before our first daughter was born I was made redundant in the job I had as a fitters helper, in a way I was glad to get out of that job because of the unhealthy work it was, I remained out of work for just over a year after which I went on various work placement schemes over the period of 4 years , during which I studied to obtain qualifications in engineering and electronics at Southern Itec in Newry which took 3 years, during this time I started work placement with Sam Robinson Business Systems in Lisburn.
There are many people in this life that are less than willing to give someone a chance but then there are some that will give you a chance and Sam Robinson was one of those few, this was a man that not only gave me a chance but was good to me and after the period of work placement gave me a full time job in September 1997 where I was able to build experience upon the qualifications I had gained at Southern Itec,
Before going full time with Sam Robinson Business Systems a swelling started on my right knee , in the mornings every step I would take would be accompanied with an intense pain , through the day the knee joint would generally free up through walking , this swelling along a heat generated by the inflammation started to get worse , I had various tests including x-rays , isotope bone scans and at one stage where something more serious was suspected I was admitted to Musgrave park hospital where mri and ct scans where carried out along with a biopsy , I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a condition that attacks joints in the body to a stage where mobility becomes impaired a condition for which there is currently no cure , I was around 23 years old when this started , this illness was managed through medication to reduce the inflammation in the affected joint .
While I was working for Sam Robinson Business Systems there was a work colleague named David Drysdale who was a Christian who at that time attended the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Belfast, at times David would witness to me about my need of Salvation and would lend me audio cassettes of sermons from Whitewell . One instance I remember we where both driving to a job together and as usual we got into a conversation about religion we had stopped at a petrol station on the knock dual carriageway in Belfast , still discussing religion David said to me why don't you get saved now ? , now its one thing discussing religion but when you are put in a position where you have to make a choice now that's completely different , there's a drawing in ones heart to make that decision but then for me came excuses , excuses that where more empty than needful .
On the 19th July 1998 me and my wife agreed to go a Sunday night service at Whitewell , on that Sunday morning there was a desire my heart to go to Whitewell up to this point there was always reasons or should I say excuses not to go , it was a day that I will never forget , when I arrived was amazed by the size of Whitewell and then by the size of the choir and congregation that night we sat in the balcony and listened to the service , at the end of the sermon by Pastor McConnell the Pastor gave an appeal for those who wanted to be saved and give there heart and life to the LORD JESUS CHRIST , during the appeal something came over me for which I was not prepared for nor did I expect , I was quite relaxed at the start listening to and thinking about the appeal given by Pastor McConnell and my need and want of salvation , and then my heart started beat so hard as though it was about to jump out of my chest and an uncontrollable trembling came over me , I was physically shaking from head to foot in physical and mental turmoil knowing I had a choice to make about my salvation trying to think trying to reason within myself knowing I needed to surrender and raise my hand , the congregation was singing just as I am without one plea , with so much going through my mind the most simplest gesture like the raising of a hand seemed the hardest thing to do , there had been around 20 decisions during the appeal when I surrendered and gave my heart and life to my SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST .
Driving home after the service that night I remember the sense of release I felt, it was as if something within me had died and there was no sorrow or remorse at its passing, I had an awareness of forgiveness and a new beginning.
I felt that all that that had happened to me in the past was in the past, and it was as if all that had happened had happened to someone else yes the memories remained but it was as if they where the memories of someone else.
That night as I lay in bed something happened to me that was so vivid I don't know if I was dreaming or awake , during the night I saw a hand holding a silver sword or dagger , the hand that held the dagger struck the right side of my right knee joint piercing it with the dagger , naturally I yelled with the pain of this and awakened my wife telling her that I had been stabbed in my knee trying to explain what had happened , I believe that night I was healed from the disease of arthritis , after this happened I began to stop taking the medication needed to reduce the inflammation and effects of arthritis .
About 7 years after I was healed of arthritis something started systematically attacking joints in my body , first my ankles then my knees the my shoulder , I knew that I had been healed of arthritis and I had told many people that I had been healed , once again I was referred to a rheumatologist for tests and on my first appointment explained that I had been healed of arthritis after I was saved , during this time I prayed , I would not take any arthritis medication , and what I experienced was that whatever was attacking my joints could not take hold , as one joint was infected it would recover and so would the next joint and the next until whatever it was that had happened to me had gone leaving no permanent damage to my joints .
On my last appointment when I was discharged from the rheumatology clinic I was able to tell the consultant I had been able to hike to the top of Slieve Donard in Newcastle one of Northern Irelands highest mountains with no joint problems, and since this I have climbed Slieve Donard again along with many other mountain trails, something before I was saved would have been very hard to complete.
After I was saved and over the course of the first year I was saved and after listening to various sermons , I felt an inward conviction to what I was hearing , I would raise my hand during the appeal at various meetings over that time , I know that I was saved that first night when I gave my life and heart to my SAVIOUR The LORD JESUS CHRIST , I had not backslid and I was going on in my Christian walk , but the night I was saved I was changed inside my heart , and after I was saved I was convicted within by the sermons I was hearing , I did not know how to respond to what I was hearing or what I was feeling so with my head bowed I would raise my hand surrendering to the conviction I was feeling , I now realize that my heart had been softened and I was now sensitive to GODS Holy Word .
My Wife was saved within a month after I was saved and we where both baptized some months later.
As a young Christian I had many questions , I was reading GODS Word and attending meetings at Whitewell , I also attended the new converts class at Whitewell once a month for 3 years , I found this class a great blessing and encouragement during those first years I was saved , the class was taken by Ian a man who must have a great lot of patience for I would sometimes have asked many questions , the questions I asked where not questions of debate or strife for I knew so little about the different areas of the Christian faith , there was many things I did not understand , and there was so many different opinions and views about GODS WORD and about being a Christian which was very confusing to a new convert like me , in this class the foundation was GODS Word not mans opinion and it was taught in a way that I could understand , and questions about the various subjects was encouraged for a clearer understanding of what was being taught , at the end of each class those who attended where given notes to keep for further study which I myself found very helpful .
within my heart there was and still is a want to clearly understand GODS Word, for so often we can misunderstand and misrepresent what and who we are as born again Christians, when we are saved we are not given all the answers all at once but there is a process that that each of us must go through a process similar to that of a new born child, and a process that I am still going through.
Some people say, life is what you make it, and in a lot of ways this maybe true, but life can also be what it makes you, life from the moment we are born brings many challenges, it comes with its ups and downs, some things we can control and something’s are out of our control.
As a born again Christian I have been given a second chance , I am saved , I have been forgiven , I have been healed of arthritis and bulimia and above all I have been reconciled to GOD MY HEAVENLY FATHER THROUGH HIS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR and my REDEEMER .
My testimony is only one of thousands at Whitewell and one of millions throughout the world who have been saved by the Precious Blood of our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and if it was not for the testimony of our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST I and no Christian would have a testimony to share and show others the Grace of GOD through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
In Whitewell I have witnessed precious souls being saved week after week, I have witnessed healings, and I have witnessed Pastor McConnell a man with an anointing, with integrity, with a passion and a love to see precious souls brought to a saving knowledge of our LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, and a man who loves and shows openly that he loves THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
There is a testimony I would like to leave with those who would read this and it is the testimony of the Gospel of my LORD and SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
My testimony and other testimonies are an example of GODS Grace and mercy through HIS beloved SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and it is only because of what our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST has done for us that we have a testimony to share with others.
A man who I had been speaking to asked me what I had been saved from, I replied as many Christians would, I explained that my sins had been forgiven and that I was saved from an eternity in hell, he then repeated his question as if to look for a different answer, I returned the same answer but unable to satisfy the question I had been asked.
For some months from time to time I tried to reason the question I had been asked , the question what am I saved from , I did not doubt my salvation and I understood the price that my SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST had paid for my Salvation but this question bothered me .
Then one morning while I was traveling to work I found myself thinking about the same question what am I saved from , while I was reasoning this question in my mind a thought and the answer came into my mind , and the answer was that I am saved from eternal separation from GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST , yes I have been saved from hell the penalty of sin , yes my sins are forgiven but the love that GOD gave me and showed me in that he gave HIS ONLY SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR to die for my sins at Calvary so that I would be reconciled to GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER for all eternity shows the greatness and magnitude of GODS GRACE LOVE AND MERCY in that HE is not willing that any should perish as we read in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9 ,
2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Again in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18 - 19 we read that GOD is the author of our salvation through HIS Beloved SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
It is only through GODS SON our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST that those who are saved are reconciled to GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER , our SAVIOUR The LORD JESUS tells us in John chapter 14 verse 6 ,
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Again we read in the book of Acts chapter 4 verse 12.
Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Inside each of us there is a longing for something , something that we feel that we cannot reach or grasp , we try and feed this hunger with things and interests that long-term do not satisfy the hunger that we feel , some people pour themselves into employment , some into sports , some feed this hunger with drugs and alcohol , some turn to various religions , and some even become a religious Christian but are never able to commit there life to our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and accept HIM into their heart as their own and personal SAVIOUR , so the hunger remains along with sense of being unfulfilled and the feeling of a lack of purpose and destiny .
The enemy of our soul satan is quite happy for us to fill our life with empty things that do not satisfy the eternal hunger in our soul to be reconciled to GOD through the LORD JESUS CHRIST HIS SON, our enemy is quite happy for each of us to be lost and go into eternity lost without Salvation and without hope.
There is a parable that our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST spoke of, it details the life of a rich man and a beggar, we read in Luke chapter 16 verses 19 – 31,
Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Note in this parable the rich man could see the beggar and Abraham but after the judgment and in the place of
torment he never seen the face of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER again, this parable along with other parables our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST told are clear warnings that after this life there is a final destination for both the saved and unsaved and an eternity that will be spent in the presence of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, or an eternity of torment in hell separated forever from GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Christianity is not just a fire escape from the punishment of hell and its sufferings, Christianity is a new life and relationship with GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER in and through HIS beloved SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR, GODS word tells us that HE is not willing that any should perish, and there is an invitation where GODS word tells us in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28.
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Again GODS word tells us in John chapter 6 verse 37.
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
To those who would read this especially those who are not saved , I ask you to listen to GODS Holy Word and receive it into your heart , let him change your life through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST , don't listen to the lies of the enemy , don't listen to those who say there is no GOD no hope and no purpose to this life , for those who say there is no GOD and think in there heart that their is no GOD are deceived by the enemy of our souls , it says in 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8 that our adversary the devil, as roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour .
Again we read in the LORD JESUS speaking says in John chapter 10 verse 10
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In these two verses you can see the contrast, on the one hand you have sorrow and destruction and on the other, you have peace with GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and life through GODS Beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST, I ask you this question what have you chosen for there is so much more to life than each of us now experience, The days preceding the return of our SAVIOUR THE LORD are coming to an end, John the Baptist said in Matthew chapter 3 verse 2. Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
when our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST came to this earth the first time that was the begging of the last days of this world, and now over 2000 years later we are almost at the end of those last days, as Christians we do not know the day or the hour of the return of our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST but the signs are clearly there that it is soon, so as John the Baptist put it, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
I ask you who read this to take warning for time is short.
As Christians we are subject to the same trials and tribulations as the unsaved, but as Christians we have a SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST who through GODS HOLY SPIRIT is sent to help us day by day, and is there for us in time of need, and as Christians we have a direction and a destination that one day we will arrive at.
I ask you to consider carefully where will you spend eternity and in whose presence will you spend it , will you spend eternity in hell with those whom you would join in torment ?, or will you except eternal life in the presence of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER through HIS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , the choice is yours , and if GOD is dealing with your heart through HIS HOLY SPIRIT I urge you to surrender and accept GODS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST into your heart as your own and personal SAVIOUR , ask HIM to come into your heart and save you , repent of your sins and ask the LORD JESUS to forgive you and trust in HIM to keep you , If you have come to HIM and accepted the LORD JESUS CHRIST into your heart as your own and personal SAVIOUR may I be the first to welcome you into GODS family the choice you have made is one choice in life you will never regret . Finally I would like to invite you to the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle 837 - 869 Shore Road Belfast BT15 4HS , Or you can log onto www.whitewell.com Where you can also receive live broadcasts of our services on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am , Sunday evenings at 6:45 pm and Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm , I hope to see you there GOD BLESS .
I was saved on the 19 July 1998 in the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Church Belfast, under the ministry of Pastor James McConnell a man that I have grown to respect and love over these years under his ministry.
My testimony did not begin on the night I was saved , when I look back to my youth I realize that if it had not been for GODS Grace through HIS beloved SON The LORD JESUS CHRIST I don't know where or what state I would have been in today .
As Christians we have two testimonies.
The first GODS Grace before we where saved, in that our previous life did not consume and destroy us before the glorious moment of our salvation through our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
And secondly HIS keeping GRACE in that he has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, HIS HOLY Word tells us HE is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End, our life in and through GODS SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is complete the very moment of our Salvation.
As a child I mostly grew up in a one parent family , my Dad had died at the age of only 28 I was only 3 and have no memories of him , I have often wondered what it would have been like to have my earthly father about but this was never to be .
As a child and into my teenage years I was terrified by nightmares afraid to go asleep and wakening up in the night terrified.
Up to the age of 8 me and my Mum and older sister lived with my Gran and Granada.
About this age my Mum had met another man who seemed at the time to be nice, one thing led to another and me and my Mum moved with this man to the Donegall road in Belfast, it was decided that my older sister would stay and live with my Gran and Granada.
I remember the day when I moved to Belfast we moved into a 2 bedroom terrace house with no hot water no bathroom and an outside toilet , this set the scene for the years to come , after moving to Belfast I started to attend Blythefield primary school in Sandyrow , from the outset I was bullied in the forms of physical and verbal abuse this continued in and out off school , once in primary school I thought I had got the better of another boy and challenged him to a fight after school only to find that most who would watch at one stage would join in needless to say I came out the worst .
At home after moving to Belfast things where fine at the start , and then after a time I don’t remember exactly when , my Mums partner became violent towards her , one instant I will always remember , my mums partner had become violent and my mum had locked him out of the house he then proceeded to smash the front door window and when he could not get in he went around to the back of the house kicked down the entry door and then thumped on the back door me and my mum where on the kitchen floor hiding in fear he eventually managed to break down the door and then violently attacked my mother I would have been only 8 or 9 years old at this time , these attacks on my mother continued until he eventually left leaving me and my Mum and one younger sister with another baby on the way , this man had left us in severe poverty in a house that should have been condemned due to the condition and state this man had left it in .
Coming into my teenage years after eating food I would cause myself to vomit looking back what started out looking for attention turned into something I could not control it became a compulsive action , my mum took me to the doctors and I would have told lies to make it look like it was some other type of illness , at one stage I would have been down to 4 or 5 stone in weight , the doctor sent me for a series of tests and I was even admitted to hospital , during this time in hospital I seen others with real illnesses two in particular one with severe eczema and the other with a type of cancer , even though I seen those with an illness that was real an illness they did not deserve I could not stop the charade that I had started , during this time in hospital the doctors carried out an endoscopy where they place a camera down the throat and into the stomach the results of course was that everything was normal , for many years I could not resist the compulsion to purge my stomach of things I had eaten this is now known as bulimia , this vomiting in later years eventually caused damage to the diaphragm just above my stomach where the stomach pushes through the diaphragm causing a hiatus hernia , the results of this is severe acid reflux where stomach acid travels from the stomach into the throat causing a severe burning sensation that without medicine would be intolerable .
During my teenage years bulling was always an issue in one form or another, one instance I never forget happened one day on the way home from high school I was in my 2nd year at Kelvin High school , I had started to walk up Rodent street when some younger boys where challenging me to a fight on a piece of waste ground at the corner of Roden street and Lemberg street , very soon a crowd had gathered and where taunting I remember lifting a large brick or concrete block above my head with both of my hands threatening to throw it at anyone who came near , this then changed with the brick still above my head I found myself saying that I would kill myself if anyone came near , the taunting continued I then started to hit my head with the brick continually until in a daze I fell to the ground , someone from the school came and lifted me up and led me through the crowd with a sense of concern asking me if I was all right , still dazed I walked home not telling my Mum or anyone what had happened , and at school this just gave more reasons to be bullied and verbally taunted .
Anyone reading my testimony that may have been there that day I say to you, what is done is done none of us can change the past, I hold no bitterness against you and if you are not already saved I hope and pray that you will come to a saving knowledge of GODS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR and my REDEEMER.
Looking back at this now I cringe at what I done, and I am amazed that my skull did not break with the force and repetition that I struck my head with that brick, and that I did not succeed in what I had done in a moment of desperation, I believe that GODS Grace through HIS Beloved SON The LORD JESUS CHRIST spared me that day from severe head damage or even death that I could have caused.
I believe that life is not ours to give or take and that the life that we are given with its ups and downs is precious and that no matter how bad things get things will always get better.
And for me things did eventually get better , my last two years at high school where spent at Larkfield high school , Kelvin high school had closed down due to low numbers of pupils , the bulling still continued but it was more verbal than physical , during these last years at school I remember one instance that I very much regret , I had been in Belfast and had purchased some heavy metal music cassettes I was sitting in front of the city hall looking at the things I had bought when an old man in a long dark overcoat came and sat beside me the old man who was well spoken and very pleasant started a conversation with me asking me about the things I had bought , after showing the man the things I had bought he then showed me the error of the music I was listening to and shared the good news of the GOSPEL with me , that day to my shame I rejected in my heart the precious GOSPEL of my now LORD AND SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , I now realize this was one of a few missed opportunities that each of us have in this life to get right with GOD our Heavenly FATHER through HIS Beloved Son The LORD JESUS CHRIST , it would be many years after this before GOD by HIS Mercy and Grace would Save me through HIS Beloved Son The LORD JESUS CHRIST .
I left school with very poor exam results and with no real prospects, I joined the army with foolish ideals and looking for direction, disillusioned I left after only 4 months on my return I quickly found new employment as a timber treatment technician and then as a fitters helper in steam boilers or as I would now put it a human flue brush, the work was extremely dirty but it was a job for which I was grateful.
Things started to change for the when I met my wife Sanya , we where married and had children quite young but this I have not regretted , yes over the years as all married couples have we have had our ups and downs but in my wife I found someone I could trust and love someone who is more than a friend more than a wife and more than mother of our children , from the start and even before we where saved I believe that GODS hand through HIS Beloved Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST was upon me and my wife and children , I can truly say that all that I am all that I have and all I will ever be is because of what GOD has done through his beloved Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST in my life .
Before our marriage me and my wife attended the Church of Ireland in Derraghy where we where married, the Minister was the Rev GE Graham a man who was good and kind to me and my wife and children a man who I have also great respect for.
Before our first daughter was born I was made redundant in the job I had as a fitters helper, in a way I was glad to get out of that job because of the unhealthy work it was, I remained out of work for just over a year after which I went on various work placement schemes over the period of 4 years , during which I studied to obtain qualifications in engineering and electronics at Southern Itec in Newry which took 3 years, during this time I started work placement with Sam Robinson Business Systems in Lisburn.
There are many people in this life that are less than willing to give someone a chance but then there are some that will give you a chance and Sam Robinson was one of those few, this was a man that not only gave me a chance but was good to me and after the period of work placement gave me a full time job in September 1997 where I was able to build experience upon the qualifications I had gained at Southern Itec,
Before going full time with Sam Robinson Business Systems a swelling started on my right knee , in the mornings every step I would take would be accompanied with an intense pain , through the day the knee joint would generally free up through walking , this swelling along a heat generated by the inflammation started to get worse , I had various tests including x-rays , isotope bone scans and at one stage where something more serious was suspected I was admitted to Musgrave park hospital where mri and ct scans where carried out along with a biopsy , I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a condition that attacks joints in the body to a stage where mobility becomes impaired a condition for which there is currently no cure , I was around 23 years old when this started , this illness was managed through medication to reduce the inflammation in the affected joint .
While I was working for Sam Robinson Business Systems there was a work colleague named David Drysdale who was a Christian who at that time attended the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Belfast, at times David would witness to me about my need of Salvation and would lend me audio cassettes of sermons from Whitewell . One instance I remember we where both driving to a job together and as usual we got into a conversation about religion we had stopped at a petrol station on the knock dual carriageway in Belfast , still discussing religion David said to me why don't you get saved now ? , now its one thing discussing religion but when you are put in a position where you have to make a choice now that's completely different , there's a drawing in ones heart to make that decision but then for me came excuses , excuses that where more empty than needful .
On the 19th July 1998 me and my wife agreed to go a Sunday night service at Whitewell , on that Sunday morning there was a desire my heart to go to Whitewell up to this point there was always reasons or should I say excuses not to go , it was a day that I will never forget , when I arrived was amazed by the size of Whitewell and then by the size of the choir and congregation that night we sat in the balcony and listened to the service , at the end of the sermon by Pastor McConnell the Pastor gave an appeal for those who wanted to be saved and give there heart and life to the LORD JESUS CHRIST , during the appeal something came over me for which I was not prepared for nor did I expect , I was quite relaxed at the start listening to and thinking about the appeal given by Pastor McConnell and my need and want of salvation , and then my heart started beat so hard as though it was about to jump out of my chest and an uncontrollable trembling came over me , I was physically shaking from head to foot in physical and mental turmoil knowing I had a choice to make about my salvation trying to think trying to reason within myself knowing I needed to surrender and raise my hand , the congregation was singing just as I am without one plea , with so much going through my mind the most simplest gesture like the raising of a hand seemed the hardest thing to do , there had been around 20 decisions during the appeal when I surrendered and gave my heart and life to my SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST .
Driving home after the service that night I remember the sense of release I felt, it was as if something within me had died and there was no sorrow or remorse at its passing, I had an awareness of forgiveness and a new beginning.
I felt that all that that had happened to me in the past was in the past, and it was as if all that had happened had happened to someone else yes the memories remained but it was as if they where the memories of someone else.
That night as I lay in bed something happened to me that was so vivid I don't know if I was dreaming or awake , during the night I saw a hand holding a silver sword or dagger , the hand that held the dagger struck the right side of my right knee joint piercing it with the dagger , naturally I yelled with the pain of this and awakened my wife telling her that I had been stabbed in my knee trying to explain what had happened , I believe that night I was healed from the disease of arthritis , after this happened I began to stop taking the medication needed to reduce the inflammation and effects of arthritis .
About 7 years after I was healed of arthritis something started systematically attacking joints in my body , first my ankles then my knees the my shoulder , I knew that I had been healed of arthritis and I had told many people that I had been healed , once again I was referred to a rheumatologist for tests and on my first appointment explained that I had been healed of arthritis after I was saved , during this time I prayed , I would not take any arthritis medication , and what I experienced was that whatever was attacking my joints could not take hold , as one joint was infected it would recover and so would the next joint and the next until whatever it was that had happened to me had gone leaving no permanent damage to my joints .
On my last appointment when I was discharged from the rheumatology clinic I was able to tell the consultant I had been able to hike to the top of Slieve Donard in Newcastle one of Northern Irelands highest mountains with no joint problems, and since this I have climbed Slieve Donard again along with many other mountain trails, something before I was saved would have been very hard to complete.
After I was saved and over the course of the first year I was saved and after listening to various sermons , I felt an inward conviction to what I was hearing , I would raise my hand during the appeal at various meetings over that time , I know that I was saved that first night when I gave my life and heart to my SAVIOUR The LORD JESUS CHRIST , I had not backslid and I was going on in my Christian walk , but the night I was saved I was changed inside my heart , and after I was saved I was convicted within by the sermons I was hearing , I did not know how to respond to what I was hearing or what I was feeling so with my head bowed I would raise my hand surrendering to the conviction I was feeling , I now realize that my heart had been softened and I was now sensitive to GODS Holy Word .
My Wife was saved within a month after I was saved and we where both baptized some months later.
As a young Christian I had many questions , I was reading GODS Word and attending meetings at Whitewell , I also attended the new converts class at Whitewell once a month for 3 years , I found this class a great blessing and encouragement during those first years I was saved , the class was taken by Ian a man who must have a great lot of patience for I would sometimes have asked many questions , the questions I asked where not questions of debate or strife for I knew so little about the different areas of the Christian faith , there was many things I did not understand , and there was so many different opinions and views about GODS WORD and about being a Christian which was very confusing to a new convert like me , in this class the foundation was GODS Word not mans opinion and it was taught in a way that I could understand , and questions about the various subjects was encouraged for a clearer understanding of what was being taught , at the end of each class those who attended where given notes to keep for further study which I myself found very helpful .
within my heart there was and still is a want to clearly understand GODS Word, for so often we can misunderstand and misrepresent what and who we are as born again Christians, when we are saved we are not given all the answers all at once but there is a process that that each of us must go through a process similar to that of a new born child, and a process that I am still going through.
Some people say, life is what you make it, and in a lot of ways this maybe true, but life can also be what it makes you, life from the moment we are born brings many challenges, it comes with its ups and downs, some things we can control and something’s are out of our control.
As a born again Christian I have been given a second chance , I am saved , I have been forgiven , I have been healed of arthritis and bulimia and above all I have been reconciled to GOD MY HEAVENLY FATHER THROUGH HIS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR and my REDEEMER .
My testimony is only one of thousands at Whitewell and one of millions throughout the world who have been saved by the Precious Blood of our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and if it was not for the testimony of our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST I and no Christian would have a testimony to share and show others the Grace of GOD through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
In Whitewell I have witnessed precious souls being saved week after week, I have witnessed healings, and I have witnessed Pastor McConnell a man with an anointing, with integrity, with a passion and a love to see precious souls brought to a saving knowledge of our LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, and a man who loves and shows openly that he loves THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
There is a testimony I would like to leave with those who would read this and it is the testimony of the Gospel of my LORD and SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
My testimony and other testimonies are an example of GODS Grace and mercy through HIS beloved SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and it is only because of what our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST has done for us that we have a testimony to share with others.
A man who I had been speaking to asked me what I had been saved from, I replied as many Christians would, I explained that my sins had been forgiven and that I was saved from an eternity in hell, he then repeated his question as if to look for a different answer, I returned the same answer but unable to satisfy the question I had been asked.
For some months from time to time I tried to reason the question I had been asked , the question what am I saved from , I did not doubt my salvation and I understood the price that my SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST had paid for my Salvation but this question bothered me .
Then one morning while I was traveling to work I found myself thinking about the same question what am I saved from , while I was reasoning this question in my mind a thought and the answer came into my mind , and the answer was that I am saved from eternal separation from GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST , yes I have been saved from hell the penalty of sin , yes my sins are forgiven but the love that GOD gave me and showed me in that he gave HIS ONLY SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOUR to die for my sins at Calvary so that I would be reconciled to GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER for all eternity shows the greatness and magnitude of GODS GRACE LOVE AND MERCY in that HE is not willing that any should perish as we read in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9 ,
2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Again in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18 - 19 we read that GOD is the author of our salvation through HIS Beloved SON our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
It is only through GODS SON our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST that those who are saved are reconciled to GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER , our SAVIOUR The LORD JESUS tells us in John chapter 14 verse 6 ,
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Again we read in the book of Acts chapter 4 verse 12.
Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Inside each of us there is a longing for something , something that we feel that we cannot reach or grasp , we try and feed this hunger with things and interests that long-term do not satisfy the hunger that we feel , some people pour themselves into employment , some into sports , some feed this hunger with drugs and alcohol , some turn to various religions , and some even become a religious Christian but are never able to commit there life to our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and accept HIM into their heart as their own and personal SAVIOUR , so the hunger remains along with sense of being unfulfilled and the feeling of a lack of purpose and destiny .
The enemy of our soul satan is quite happy for us to fill our life with empty things that do not satisfy the eternal hunger in our soul to be reconciled to GOD through the LORD JESUS CHRIST HIS SON, our enemy is quite happy for each of us to be lost and go into eternity lost without Salvation and without hope.
There is a parable that our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST spoke of, it details the life of a rich man and a beggar, we read in Luke chapter 16 verses 19 – 31,
Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Note in this parable the rich man could see the beggar and Abraham but after the judgment and in the place of
torment he never seen the face of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER again, this parable along with other parables our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST told are clear warnings that after this life there is a final destination for both the saved and unsaved and an eternity that will be spent in the presence of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, or an eternity of torment in hell separated forever from GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and our SAVIOUR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Christianity is not just a fire escape from the punishment of hell and its sufferings, Christianity is a new life and relationship with GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER in and through HIS beloved SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR, GODS word tells us that HE is not willing that any should perish, and there is an invitation where GODS word tells us in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28.
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Again GODS word tells us in John chapter 6 verse 37.
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
To those who would read this especially those who are not saved , I ask you to listen to GODS Holy Word and receive it into your heart , let him change your life through HIS beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST , don't listen to the lies of the enemy , don't listen to those who say there is no GOD no hope and no purpose to this life , for those who say there is no GOD and think in there heart that their is no GOD are deceived by the enemy of our souls , it says in 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8 that our adversary the devil, as roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour .
Again we read in the LORD JESUS speaking says in John chapter 10 verse 10
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In these two verses you can see the contrast, on the one hand you have sorrow and destruction and on the other, you have peace with GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and life through GODS Beloved SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST, I ask you this question what have you chosen for there is so much more to life than each of us now experience, The days preceding the return of our SAVIOUR THE LORD are coming to an end, John the Baptist said in Matthew chapter 3 verse 2. Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
when our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST came to this earth the first time that was the begging of the last days of this world, and now over 2000 years later we are almost at the end of those last days, as Christians we do not know the day or the hour of the return of our SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST but the signs are clearly there that it is soon, so as John the Baptist put it, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
I ask you who read this to take warning for time is short.
As Christians we are subject to the same trials and tribulations as the unsaved, but as Christians we have a SAVIOUR the LORD JESUS CHRIST who through GODS HOLY SPIRIT is sent to help us day by day, and is there for us in time of need, and as Christians we have a direction and a destination that one day we will arrive at.
I ask you to consider carefully where will you spend eternity and in whose presence will you spend it , will you spend eternity in hell with those whom you would join in torment ?, or will you except eternal life in the presence of GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER through HIS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , the choice is yours , and if GOD is dealing with your heart through HIS HOLY SPIRIT I urge you to surrender and accept GODS BELOVED SON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST into your heart as your own and personal SAVIOUR , ask HIM to come into your heart and save you , repent of your sins and ask the LORD JESUS to forgive you and trust in HIM to keep you , If you have come to HIM and accepted the LORD JESUS CHRIST into your heart as your own and personal SAVIOUR may I be the first to welcome you into GODS family the choice you have made is one choice in life you will never regret . Finally I would like to invite you to the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle 837 - 869 Shore Road Belfast BT15 4HS , Or you can log onto www.whitewell.com Where you can also receive live broadcasts of our services on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am , Sunday evenings at 6:45 pm and Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm , I hope to see you there GOD BLESS .
Testimony of Pamela Gaston
This is the story of how Jesus Christ has changed my life. It’s the story of my search for peace, contentment, satisfaction and purpose in life - a journey that started off in church trying to do the right thing, then a took me into the heart of the club scene and culminated when I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ in all His power and glory and realised that I could experience the reality of a daily walk with Him. In a sense, while I was ‘searching’ for something, all along He was searching for me and drawing me to Himself!
Beginnings
I grew up immersed in the church and was taught about God. When my best friend became a Christian I realised that if Jesus Christ came back again (as He promised to do), that I wasn’t ready to meet Him and I’d be left behind. That troubled me and soon after I asked Him to come into my life, aged 7.
I became involved in the church, doing my best to attend all the meetings, read my bible and pray, teach Sunday school etc. But looking back, my experience was one of ’trying’ - doing my best to ’do the right thing’. While I was sincere in everything I was doing, yet there was a ‘deep longing’ for more. I had no real deep sense of fulfilment, contentment or peace in my life. Eventually I became tired of the ‘stuff’ of church, grew tired of the ‘same old’ and walked away (around 1997).
The Middle Times
It wasn’t long before my search took me in other directions and I found myself walking down roads I never dreamed I’d be headed down. I became involved in the club scene and all that goes with it - binge drinking and eventually recreational drugs. I had a decent job and my ambition in life was one of ‘Work hard / Party hard’. I’d work hard during the week and look forward to the ‘adventure’ of each weekend with my mates. Life was good and I was having a ball!
Now and again I’d make a ‘guest appearance’ at church - more to keep my mum off my back than anything. Deep down I still believed (ie mentally ascented) in God, but the ‘old life’ I had was a million miles away and I was happy with that.
Over time however, what I can only describe as ‘longings’ were stirred within me. I found myself lifting my bible - but at that time in my life it was simply words on a page - it didn’t mean anything to me and I consoled myself that I could never return to that old ‘dull’ lifestyle. (I am so so thankful to God for His mercy and that He had a different plan! Now His word has become alive and real to me as I have a relationship with the Author!)
Eventually over time the appeal of my ‘partying’ lifestyle abated. While still partying hard, it wasn’t quite the same. I felt like I’d done it all, constantly reaching for a ‘higher high’ and the ‘next good time’ but somewhere deep within me was a gnawing emptiness that was growing. I’d do my best to hide it and attempt to fill it with anything I could find. (I now know it was a longing for an intimate relationship with my Creator King that I was made to walk in!) But over time I grew tired of the chase. The drugs began to mess with my mind and eventually I ended up on anti-depressants for a period, although I’d carry on as usual.
The Encounter
Now and again I’d go to hear the Glengormley Methodist Youth Choir (GMYC) as I enjoyed music. Each time I went, something happened - I now know I was experiencing the presence of God and He was drawing me. As I watched them sing, I saw something that I wanted. They had a real sense of joy, contentment, satisfaction and it was real - not some ‘put on’ religious thing. I couldn’t understand it, but it drew me. But in the back of my head, I was determined not to get to close to ‘all that’ or to those ‘church folk’.
Through a series of events which God in His sovereignty had planned, I ended up joining GMYC (a miracle in itself)! I was only in it for the music and was determined not to get too close to these ‘naïve’ Christians. But God had other plans! Each weekend as we sang, I became more aware of God - both through watching people worship God and through Him revealing Himself and His presence to me personally.
A few weeks later I was in a nite-club with friends for my birthday. Mid-way through the night I was returning to the dance floor from the restrooms to rejoin my mates when something ‘strange’ happened to me. Something made me stop at the edge of the dance floor and as I looked across the dance floor, it was as if my eyes were opened for the very first time. What I saw took me aback - I saw differently. Suddenly an exasperated feeling of ‘Is this it, Is this as good as it gets?’ came over me with such force it knocked me for six. It impacted me so deeply I had to get out of there. I went home without telling my friends (completely out of character) and had to climb in the window of my friends home, as they were still at the club! When they returned I pretended to be asleep as I was shaken inside. I now know it was God himself who opened my eyes which until then had been blinded so that I could not see the ‘light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God’ (2 Cor 4:4).
God was calling me and drawing me. In the weeks that followed there was ‘war’ going on in my head. Each weekend with GMYC, I was aware of the presence of God and I felt Him calling me - the songs we sang started to impact me and every time I heard of His love and God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me, it did something to me. But there was a struggle going on. In my mind were doubts, fears and questions. I know that Satan is a liar (John 8:44 - everything he says is a lie) and he was doing his best to put me off with thoughts of …….. ‘That’s not your thing, singing hymns and praying, sure you’ve been there before’ / ‘What about your friends - you love them so much, you can’t just ‘walk out’ on them’ / ‘You don’t know where that road would take you, you’re in control’ / ‘Sure look at you, you couldn’t ‘make it’ anyway’. The struggle was intense, yet this time was different. It wasn’t about a religion or even a belief or theory or about ‘doing the right thing’. I knew it was about coming into a living breathing, intimate relationship with the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galations 2:20).
One Sunday afternoon, tired of the struggle, from my heart, I prayed a 4 word prayer - ‘Lord, break me tonight‘. All I can say is, He did! That night at GMYC Youth Service (October 2001), Jesus Himself drew near to me - with each song I sang, my heart pounded as He called me to Himself. As a choir member spoke about the love of God, my heart melted within me. I realised that the Son of God Almighty - the one who spoke and creation came into being, the One who holds all things together by the word of His power, the One who measures the heavens with the span of His hand - LOVED ME! In spite of all the wrong I’d done. That blew my mind! And as we sang ‘I’m desperate for You, I’m lost without You’, I realised how completely lost I was without Him and how desperate I was for HIM - not for a religion, not to ‘try to be good’, not for a church, but for a person - Jesus Christ.
My prayer that night was a simple one of surrender - Lord, I don’t know where this is taking me, but here I am, take me, I’m Yours’. I was so aware that I didn’t deserve such mercy, but so humbled and all that reverberated in my mind was ’In royal robes I don’t deserve, I live to serve Your Majesty’.
A New Life
My new-found life in Christ were amazing. It was so exciting that I had found reality in a person, Jesus Christ - that even though He transcends everything yet He humbled himself and gave Himself for me - so that I could experience forgiveness, acceptance and know the reality of a relationship with Him! It was wonderful spending time with Him and in His word. Such a sense of peace, joy, contentment and a satisfaction I’d never experienced before was birthed within me and continued to grow as I walked in relationship with Jesus Christ. In Him is my purpose for being on this planet. He has literally changed my life! The more I get to know Him the more I love Him, there‘s no-one like Him! What I previously thought was living doesn’t even come close, compared to the reality of knowing Jesus Christ!
God began to do things to prove to me how real He was. Within days, a friend became seriously ill and was given days to live - we prayed and God healed her. Other instances include being referred to the City breast cancer clinic for a lump. The night before we prayed and in the morning the lump had gone. Another was finding the home I’d always wanted but was well outside my budget. Having committed it to the Lord, within 2 days, I received a phone-call offering me a gift which more than paid for the deposit!
Over and over God has proved to me just how real He is, not least in changing me from the inside out - my desires, actions, motivations, attitudes and conversation. But the best thing of all is simply getting to know Him and who He is - there is nowhere else in this world I’d rather be than in His presence.
It has been amazing to watch God working in the lives of my friends and bringing many of them to Him in miraculous ways! He has shown me that His ways and His timing are perfect.
Things have not always been easy - sometimes far from it. But He has been right with me in everything, good and bad. He has always been faithful, true and has shown me love and mercy beyond description, when I have often let Him down. I have learnt that His purposes will always prevail and its all about Him and His purposes, not mine.
At times that hasn’t been an easy lesson. On 3rd March 2008, I received a call around 8.30am with 2 words that changed everything - ‘Emily’s dead’. Emily was my cousin’s 5 year old child and a real wee star! Everyone who knew Emily had a story! She went to bed as usual the night before and never woke up again. We thank God that she asked Jesus Christ to be her Saviour when she was 4 and she’s in heaven! Its so comforting to know that we‘ll see her again.
Those were tough days for the whole family. And yet we proved the reality of ‘My grace is sufficient for Thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness’. The night before we laid Emily’s body in the ground, was one of the most special times in life - as we had prayed for angels to surround that house, I can only say, they did! As I got into the car with a strange yet very real sense of joy and peace, I put on a song which summed up that moment - ‘How can I keep from singing Your praise’. That’s His grace! Words cannot tell how sufficient HIS grace is, at the time you need it most. Of course there have been tough times, questions and searching. But He has been so faithful.
He brought me to this truth in Romans 11:36 which says ‘From Him, through Him and to Him are all things’. The source of everything I have, everything I am and every breath I take is from Him. Through Him I have hope, peace and a future. I have eternal life and right standing with God, not because of anything I’ve done, but because of the price He paid for me when He gave His life and shed His blood on the cross at Golgotha. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15). All praise and honour is due back to Him and ultimately one day I will return to Him!
Life is short and the only reality we have is ‘now’ - life is a vapour. Each day we make choices on what to do with the time we have on this earth - its sobering to realise the choices we make now, in particular what we do with Jesus Christ, will determine how we spend eternity. I want to use my time on this earth to love Him, serve Him and count - eternity is a long time!
The Future
He has begun something within me and has promised to carry it on to completion until He comes again (Phil 1:6). I am still learning the truth of ‘My grace is sufficient for Thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness. The story continues …..
Beginnings
I grew up immersed in the church and was taught about God. When my best friend became a Christian I realised that if Jesus Christ came back again (as He promised to do), that I wasn’t ready to meet Him and I’d be left behind. That troubled me and soon after I asked Him to come into my life, aged 7.
I became involved in the church, doing my best to attend all the meetings, read my bible and pray, teach Sunday school etc. But looking back, my experience was one of ’trying’ - doing my best to ’do the right thing’. While I was sincere in everything I was doing, yet there was a ‘deep longing’ for more. I had no real deep sense of fulfilment, contentment or peace in my life. Eventually I became tired of the ‘stuff’ of church, grew tired of the ‘same old’ and walked away (around 1997).
The Middle Times
It wasn’t long before my search took me in other directions and I found myself walking down roads I never dreamed I’d be headed down. I became involved in the club scene and all that goes with it - binge drinking and eventually recreational drugs. I had a decent job and my ambition in life was one of ‘Work hard / Party hard’. I’d work hard during the week and look forward to the ‘adventure’ of each weekend with my mates. Life was good and I was having a ball!
Now and again I’d make a ‘guest appearance’ at church - more to keep my mum off my back than anything. Deep down I still believed (ie mentally ascented) in God, but the ‘old life’ I had was a million miles away and I was happy with that.
Over time however, what I can only describe as ‘longings’ were stirred within me. I found myself lifting my bible - but at that time in my life it was simply words on a page - it didn’t mean anything to me and I consoled myself that I could never return to that old ‘dull’ lifestyle. (I am so so thankful to God for His mercy and that He had a different plan! Now His word has become alive and real to me as I have a relationship with the Author!)
Eventually over time the appeal of my ‘partying’ lifestyle abated. While still partying hard, it wasn’t quite the same. I felt like I’d done it all, constantly reaching for a ‘higher high’ and the ‘next good time’ but somewhere deep within me was a gnawing emptiness that was growing. I’d do my best to hide it and attempt to fill it with anything I could find. (I now know it was a longing for an intimate relationship with my Creator King that I was made to walk in!) But over time I grew tired of the chase. The drugs began to mess with my mind and eventually I ended up on anti-depressants for a period, although I’d carry on as usual.
The Encounter
Now and again I’d go to hear the Glengormley Methodist Youth Choir (GMYC) as I enjoyed music. Each time I went, something happened - I now know I was experiencing the presence of God and He was drawing me. As I watched them sing, I saw something that I wanted. They had a real sense of joy, contentment, satisfaction and it was real - not some ‘put on’ religious thing. I couldn’t understand it, but it drew me. But in the back of my head, I was determined not to get to close to ‘all that’ or to those ‘church folk’.
Through a series of events which God in His sovereignty had planned, I ended up joining GMYC (a miracle in itself)! I was only in it for the music and was determined not to get too close to these ‘naïve’ Christians. But God had other plans! Each weekend as we sang, I became more aware of God - both through watching people worship God and through Him revealing Himself and His presence to me personally.
A few weeks later I was in a nite-club with friends for my birthday. Mid-way through the night I was returning to the dance floor from the restrooms to rejoin my mates when something ‘strange’ happened to me. Something made me stop at the edge of the dance floor and as I looked across the dance floor, it was as if my eyes were opened for the very first time. What I saw took me aback - I saw differently. Suddenly an exasperated feeling of ‘Is this it, Is this as good as it gets?’ came over me with such force it knocked me for six. It impacted me so deeply I had to get out of there. I went home without telling my friends (completely out of character) and had to climb in the window of my friends home, as they were still at the club! When they returned I pretended to be asleep as I was shaken inside. I now know it was God himself who opened my eyes which until then had been blinded so that I could not see the ‘light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God’ (2 Cor 4:4).
God was calling me and drawing me. In the weeks that followed there was ‘war’ going on in my head. Each weekend with GMYC, I was aware of the presence of God and I felt Him calling me - the songs we sang started to impact me and every time I heard of His love and God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me, it did something to me. But there was a struggle going on. In my mind were doubts, fears and questions. I know that Satan is a liar (John 8:44 - everything he says is a lie) and he was doing his best to put me off with thoughts of …….. ‘That’s not your thing, singing hymns and praying, sure you’ve been there before’ / ‘What about your friends - you love them so much, you can’t just ‘walk out’ on them’ / ‘You don’t know where that road would take you, you’re in control’ / ‘Sure look at you, you couldn’t ‘make it’ anyway’. The struggle was intense, yet this time was different. It wasn’t about a religion or even a belief or theory or about ‘doing the right thing’. I knew it was about coming into a living breathing, intimate relationship with the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galations 2:20).
One Sunday afternoon, tired of the struggle, from my heart, I prayed a 4 word prayer - ‘Lord, break me tonight‘. All I can say is, He did! That night at GMYC Youth Service (October 2001), Jesus Himself drew near to me - with each song I sang, my heart pounded as He called me to Himself. As a choir member spoke about the love of God, my heart melted within me. I realised that the Son of God Almighty - the one who spoke and creation came into being, the One who holds all things together by the word of His power, the One who measures the heavens with the span of His hand - LOVED ME! In spite of all the wrong I’d done. That blew my mind! And as we sang ‘I’m desperate for You, I’m lost without You’, I realised how completely lost I was without Him and how desperate I was for HIM - not for a religion, not to ‘try to be good’, not for a church, but for a person - Jesus Christ.
My prayer that night was a simple one of surrender - Lord, I don’t know where this is taking me, but here I am, take me, I’m Yours’. I was so aware that I didn’t deserve such mercy, but so humbled and all that reverberated in my mind was ’In royal robes I don’t deserve, I live to serve Your Majesty’.
A New Life
My new-found life in Christ were amazing. It was so exciting that I had found reality in a person, Jesus Christ - that even though He transcends everything yet He humbled himself and gave Himself for me - so that I could experience forgiveness, acceptance and know the reality of a relationship with Him! It was wonderful spending time with Him and in His word. Such a sense of peace, joy, contentment and a satisfaction I’d never experienced before was birthed within me and continued to grow as I walked in relationship with Jesus Christ. In Him is my purpose for being on this planet. He has literally changed my life! The more I get to know Him the more I love Him, there‘s no-one like Him! What I previously thought was living doesn’t even come close, compared to the reality of knowing Jesus Christ!
God began to do things to prove to me how real He was. Within days, a friend became seriously ill and was given days to live - we prayed and God healed her. Other instances include being referred to the City breast cancer clinic for a lump. The night before we prayed and in the morning the lump had gone. Another was finding the home I’d always wanted but was well outside my budget. Having committed it to the Lord, within 2 days, I received a phone-call offering me a gift which more than paid for the deposit!
Over and over God has proved to me just how real He is, not least in changing me from the inside out - my desires, actions, motivations, attitudes and conversation. But the best thing of all is simply getting to know Him and who He is - there is nowhere else in this world I’d rather be than in His presence.
It has been amazing to watch God working in the lives of my friends and bringing many of them to Him in miraculous ways! He has shown me that His ways and His timing are perfect.
Things have not always been easy - sometimes far from it. But He has been right with me in everything, good and bad. He has always been faithful, true and has shown me love and mercy beyond description, when I have often let Him down. I have learnt that His purposes will always prevail and its all about Him and His purposes, not mine.
At times that hasn’t been an easy lesson. On 3rd March 2008, I received a call around 8.30am with 2 words that changed everything - ‘Emily’s dead’. Emily was my cousin’s 5 year old child and a real wee star! Everyone who knew Emily had a story! She went to bed as usual the night before and never woke up again. We thank God that she asked Jesus Christ to be her Saviour when she was 4 and she’s in heaven! Its so comforting to know that we‘ll see her again.
Those were tough days for the whole family. And yet we proved the reality of ‘My grace is sufficient for Thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness’. The night before we laid Emily’s body in the ground, was one of the most special times in life - as we had prayed for angels to surround that house, I can only say, they did! As I got into the car with a strange yet very real sense of joy and peace, I put on a song which summed up that moment - ‘How can I keep from singing Your praise’. That’s His grace! Words cannot tell how sufficient HIS grace is, at the time you need it most. Of course there have been tough times, questions and searching. But He has been so faithful.
He brought me to this truth in Romans 11:36 which says ‘From Him, through Him and to Him are all things’. The source of everything I have, everything I am and every breath I take is from Him. Through Him I have hope, peace and a future. I have eternal life and right standing with God, not because of anything I’ve done, but because of the price He paid for me when He gave His life and shed His blood on the cross at Golgotha. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15). All praise and honour is due back to Him and ultimately one day I will return to Him!
Life is short and the only reality we have is ‘now’ - life is a vapour. Each day we make choices on what to do with the time we have on this earth - its sobering to realise the choices we make now, in particular what we do with Jesus Christ, will determine how we spend eternity. I want to use my time on this earth to love Him, serve Him and count - eternity is a long time!
The Future
He has begun something within me and has promised to carry it on to completion until He comes again (Phil 1:6). I am still learning the truth of ‘My grace is sufficient for Thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness. The story continues …..
Testimony By: Paul Wright
I grew up in a sometimes difficult home. My mother wasn’t too well – she suffered badly with depression and was constantly plagued with debilitating migraines. She’d had a difficult childhood (mainly due to a suicide in the family – her dad) understandably wasn’t able to cope with the memories of that. My mum just fired tablets and anti-depressants into her – (to this day can’t get off them)
My dad hadn’t had a great upbringing either - as his parents divorced when he was a young child.
My dad was away a lot with his job in the military. Mum was left on her own most of the time to look after 4 kids. The marriage wasn’t good and they were always arguing from as far back as I can remember. It seemed liked my 2 brothers, my sister and I were mostly left to ourselves, although at the same time my folks certainly laid down fairly strict rules. There were some values.
My older brother and I were made to go to Sunday School, although I found it boring most of the time. I just raked around and it never really made an impact (at the time).
We lived off the Whitewell Road and my parents took us to hear Pastor McConnell a few times when we were kids at the Church up the road. And I remember going to the Church of Ireland nearby with my dad. (Again it didn’t really make much of an impression on me).
A few years on when I was 14, a girl/friend asked me to go to Whitewell on a Wednesday night – the bible class. She was a Christian – I went along….
This time I felt very uncomfortable at the meeting. I really felt under pressure, but couldn’t figure out why. What stood out was the fact that I didn’t even understand what the Pastor was talking about. How could I be feeling this way??? I didn’t tell anyone about how I felt, but the experience stayed with me.
I went to Whitewell here and there (on and off) with friends etc and sometimes on my own over the next couple of years. It was also somewhere to go instead of hanging round the street. I even put my hand up during the appeal on several occasions, but was too scared to tell anybody about it. I did feel a lot of joy in my heart for no apparent reason. (Again I didn’t really know what this meant) I didn’t pray or read the bible, so looking back it is easy to go in the wrong direction.
My dad was worried about the safety of the family with him being in the forces, so he took a job in London to move the family away from Northern Ireland.
Shortly after moving to England I got a job with a big Airline at Gatwick Airport. I was 18. It was a childhood dream come true for me. I spent 3 years working in London, but didn’t really think about the Lord with being so caught up with everything.
The family didn’t settle in England, so we moved back to N.I. – But I continued working in London and flew home on days off. Although I loved my job I was finding it difficult to manage financially and felt isolated. I remember praying and asking the Lord to help me get out of this situation I was in.
About a year and a half later I got promotion and a job at Aldergrove with the company I worked for.
When I got back home I started to go out drinking with my old school buddies to bars and nightclubs. I thought I was making up for lost time.
About 2 years later I started feeling the urge to read the Bible and decided to read a chapter every day.
My dad (who wasn’t saved) had noticed me and my younger brother both reading the bible in our bedrooms at night. (He was amazed as my brother and I didn’t get on - and rarely spoke to one another). My brother had been attending another church in Glengormley. My brother handed my dad a gospel tract about salvation.
A couple of months later my dad died of a stroke he was 49. (I was aged 22).
This was the first time I had experienced the death of a close family member. It really shook me up. I started going to Whitewell again to hear Pastor McConnell preach. I was looking for answers about life and death. But I still went out with my mates drinking. (On one occasion out in a nightclub the Lord spoke to me – He said you don’t belong here) Now I wish I’d listened to him. But I can see now that I was trying to have it both ways. Or Sitting on the fence. Still went out drinking for another couple of years.
Went to church regularly from then on but wasn’t saved. I met my then wife at 24 at a nightclub, got promotion at work etc. My Career really took off.
I got saved at whitewell when I was 26 (in Aug 95) and got married a short time later, but my wife wasn’t saved. I used to attend church on my own, but didn’t have any fellowship. I read the bible sometimes and loved attending church, but still didn’t pray or understand the importance of prayer.
I was working late a lot with a busy work schedule. Loved my job, but it was full on all the time. In my own mind I was trying to build security for myself. I’d a good job, house, money in the bank, holidays etc.
My wife and I had some problems in the marriage and grew apart. My job didn’t help. At the end of 2000, my wife left and my marriage was finally over in 2001 - I was 32. A few months after the marriage ended I was made redundant – as a result of massive cutbacks after the sept 11 attacks.
I managed to get another job working shifts at the airport, but got in with the wrong crowd - I started going out drinking again. Everything I’d worked for seemed to have gone up in smoke. I was going through a divorce, I stopped going to church. I couldn’t think straight. Everything was up in the air.
During a period of about 5 years I moved house changed jobs and finally got a divorce. I didn’t really no where I was in life. I was in the wilderness. Totally backslidden, I thought well that’s it, that’s your life. I even thought about suicide.
Just over 2 1/2 years ago I bumped into a few people from Whitewell on more than one occasion. They said I should come to church. I started reading the bible again… Within a short time I started going back to church. I was amazed to see all the regulars there.
After about a month at whitewell, pastor McConnell was preaching on the parable of the sower on a Sunday morning. I came under conviction very strongly and had to raise my hand. That was on 31st Dec 2006. I asked the Lord to plant his seed deep in my heart. I’m shocked and overwhelmed he has given me another chance.
For the last 2 ½ years I have attended Church more that I ever have in my life. I have a prayer life and read His Word regularly. Things have changed so much. Before I was hopeless, now I have hope in Jesus.
I had a wonderful experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit whilst at another church last May. I constantly feel the Lords presence in my life too. Things can still be tuff for me sometimes. But I have put my life in the Lords hands.
I heard Teen Challenge wanted to start up in Belfast a couple of years ago, and was intrigued. After a while of thinking and praying for what I could do for the Lord, I somehow got a Teen Challenge volunteer leaflet. Was thinking about asking one of the Pastors about it, but bumped into Charlaine one night and ended up talking about Teen Challenge. I attended a Teen Challenge prayer meeting in the summer of last year… My feet have rarely touched the ground since. God is good. I just want to be out there involved in winning souls for Christ. Glory to His name.
My dad hadn’t had a great upbringing either - as his parents divorced when he was a young child.
My dad was away a lot with his job in the military. Mum was left on her own most of the time to look after 4 kids. The marriage wasn’t good and they were always arguing from as far back as I can remember. It seemed liked my 2 brothers, my sister and I were mostly left to ourselves, although at the same time my folks certainly laid down fairly strict rules. There were some values.
My older brother and I were made to go to Sunday School, although I found it boring most of the time. I just raked around and it never really made an impact (at the time).
We lived off the Whitewell Road and my parents took us to hear Pastor McConnell a few times when we were kids at the Church up the road. And I remember going to the Church of Ireland nearby with my dad. (Again it didn’t really make much of an impression on me).
A few years on when I was 14, a girl/friend asked me to go to Whitewell on a Wednesday night – the bible class. She was a Christian – I went along….
This time I felt very uncomfortable at the meeting. I really felt under pressure, but couldn’t figure out why. What stood out was the fact that I didn’t even understand what the Pastor was talking about. How could I be feeling this way??? I didn’t tell anyone about how I felt, but the experience stayed with me.
I went to Whitewell here and there (on and off) with friends etc and sometimes on my own over the next couple of years. It was also somewhere to go instead of hanging round the street. I even put my hand up during the appeal on several occasions, but was too scared to tell anybody about it. I did feel a lot of joy in my heart for no apparent reason. (Again I didn’t really know what this meant) I didn’t pray or read the bible, so looking back it is easy to go in the wrong direction.
My dad was worried about the safety of the family with him being in the forces, so he took a job in London to move the family away from Northern Ireland.
Shortly after moving to England I got a job with a big Airline at Gatwick Airport. I was 18. It was a childhood dream come true for me. I spent 3 years working in London, but didn’t really think about the Lord with being so caught up with everything.
The family didn’t settle in England, so we moved back to N.I. – But I continued working in London and flew home on days off. Although I loved my job I was finding it difficult to manage financially and felt isolated. I remember praying and asking the Lord to help me get out of this situation I was in.
About a year and a half later I got promotion and a job at Aldergrove with the company I worked for.
When I got back home I started to go out drinking with my old school buddies to bars and nightclubs. I thought I was making up for lost time.
About 2 years later I started feeling the urge to read the Bible and decided to read a chapter every day.
My dad (who wasn’t saved) had noticed me and my younger brother both reading the bible in our bedrooms at night. (He was amazed as my brother and I didn’t get on - and rarely spoke to one another). My brother had been attending another church in Glengormley. My brother handed my dad a gospel tract about salvation.
A couple of months later my dad died of a stroke he was 49. (I was aged 22).
This was the first time I had experienced the death of a close family member. It really shook me up. I started going to Whitewell again to hear Pastor McConnell preach. I was looking for answers about life and death. But I still went out with my mates drinking. (On one occasion out in a nightclub the Lord spoke to me – He said you don’t belong here) Now I wish I’d listened to him. But I can see now that I was trying to have it both ways. Or Sitting on the fence. Still went out drinking for another couple of years.
Went to church regularly from then on but wasn’t saved. I met my then wife at 24 at a nightclub, got promotion at work etc. My Career really took off.
I got saved at whitewell when I was 26 (in Aug 95) and got married a short time later, but my wife wasn’t saved. I used to attend church on my own, but didn’t have any fellowship. I read the bible sometimes and loved attending church, but still didn’t pray or understand the importance of prayer.
I was working late a lot with a busy work schedule. Loved my job, but it was full on all the time. In my own mind I was trying to build security for myself. I’d a good job, house, money in the bank, holidays etc.
My wife and I had some problems in the marriage and grew apart. My job didn’t help. At the end of 2000, my wife left and my marriage was finally over in 2001 - I was 32. A few months after the marriage ended I was made redundant – as a result of massive cutbacks after the sept 11 attacks.
I managed to get another job working shifts at the airport, but got in with the wrong crowd - I started going out drinking again. Everything I’d worked for seemed to have gone up in smoke. I was going through a divorce, I stopped going to church. I couldn’t think straight. Everything was up in the air.
During a period of about 5 years I moved house changed jobs and finally got a divorce. I didn’t really no where I was in life. I was in the wilderness. Totally backslidden, I thought well that’s it, that’s your life. I even thought about suicide.
Just over 2 1/2 years ago I bumped into a few people from Whitewell on more than one occasion. They said I should come to church. I started reading the bible again… Within a short time I started going back to church. I was amazed to see all the regulars there.
After about a month at whitewell, pastor McConnell was preaching on the parable of the sower on a Sunday morning. I came under conviction very strongly and had to raise my hand. That was on 31st Dec 2006. I asked the Lord to plant his seed deep in my heart. I’m shocked and overwhelmed he has given me another chance.
For the last 2 ½ years I have attended Church more that I ever have in my life. I have a prayer life and read His Word regularly. Things have changed so much. Before I was hopeless, now I have hope in Jesus.
I had a wonderful experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit whilst at another church last May. I constantly feel the Lords presence in my life too. Things can still be tuff for me sometimes. But I have put my life in the Lords hands.
I heard Teen Challenge wanted to start up in Belfast a couple of years ago, and was intrigued. After a while of thinking and praying for what I could do for the Lord, I somehow got a Teen Challenge volunteer leaflet. Was thinking about asking one of the Pastors about it, but bumped into Charlaine one night and ended up talking about Teen Challenge. I attended a Teen Challenge prayer meeting in the summer of last year… My feet have rarely touched the ground since. God is good. I just want to be out there involved in winning souls for Christ. Glory to His name.
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