Beauty for Ashes

My mother was a Christian and went to a congregational church near Southampton, and she encouraged my brothers and I to go to Sunday school. When we got to the senior level we were asked to teach the infants; I remember teaching I Samuel 1 and 2. I went to church until I started working at age fifteen, then stopped going completely. 

Grieving

By the age of 45 I had lost my younger brother, mother and father. Then in 1990 my older brother developed cancer and subsequently died. This hit me hard as he was the last of my immediate family. Six months went by and I found I was still grieving not only for him but my whole family.

Not interested

I came to know of Peniel Church through my wife Carol’s family, who were all heavily involved with the church. Although I had attended various family weddings there, I was still not interested. I just thought God was not really working in my life; I prayed but nothing seemed to happen.

Surprising peace within

One Tuesday evening, God suddenly spoke into my heart to go to Peniel church. Walking into the church that night was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to do. There was some praise and worship, then the pastor Michael Reid prayed generally for the sick, and I remember leaving with a great sense of peace. This peace lasted for three or four days.

I knew it was my time

I suffered from reflux badly and needed antacids tablets, but on the sixth day I realised I had not taken any tablets for my condition. I rang my brother in law, Rob and told him what had happened. He told me I had had a miracle, which I did not fully understand. He encouraged me to come back and told me an American evangelist was coming named Billy Burke. My wife and I drove up from Hampshire on a Friday night and when I walked into the church I knew it was my time.

Cleansed with Gods’ love

The chairs had been moved back and there were people praising God; then there was a pause, and the pastor Michael Reid pointed to me to come forward. I had no hesitation in doing this, and he told me to bring my wife Carol too, much to her surprise. Billy Burke stood in front of me, and asked me to simply repeat the sinner’s prayer. I watched and when he laid his hands on other people they fell over. I was determined not to let this happen to me, so I stood with my feet braced. After the prayer he laid his hands on me and the next thing I knew I was on my back, not able to open my eyes or move any part of my body. I felt something reach inside and clean me of my past sins and replace it with God’s love.

When I eventually got to my feet everything had changed. I felt very different, the grief I had felt for my brother and family had completely left, and I felt incredibly happy.  The meeting must have gone on until 1.00am in the morning, and we left and made the one and three-quarter hours drive home. The next day I could not believe the feeling inside and I rang Rob and told him how I felt. He explained I had been ‘born again’. I did not understand this concept, so he explained it to me. And since then the love the Holy Spirit brought to me has never left; even nineteen years later.

Above all we dare ask

Since then I have accepted the job of managing the Brizes Park School grounds for Peniel Academy, and we live on the top floor of the beautiful Georgian house. I love the work I do for the church and am very much part of the church family.

By His mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. ~ Ephesians 3:20.