My Journey
I am 43 years old and have been married to my wife, Jane, for ten years. Upon leaving school I attended college in Bristol and began drinking heavily and regularly smoked marijuana. I later started using LSD and amphetamines. Although I managed to continue my studies, I got into petty crime.
In 1988 I began working at a three-star hotel. I often got into difficult situations which normally involved excess alcohol. Drinking played a big part in my early life and was considered the ‘norm’ with the people I hung around with.
In 1990, whilst still working at the hotel, a receptionist began work who told me she was a Christian. We would have long conversations about faith and Jesus. In 1991 another Christian began working at the hotel and I asked her out. She agreed with the condition that I go to church with her! A young man told his story which was a mirror image of mine. I met him after the service and we spent until 2 a.m. talking. By the next day I had given my life over to God. What joy and release I felt!
However, I became disillusioned, didn’t attend church and denounced Christians. I started drinking again and continued my former lifestyle. Whilst working in Jersey my alcohol use had become a real problem. I drank so much that I would loose whole days at a time.
In 1997 I moved to Cirencester and met Jane. I would drink most days and hide the alcohol from her. This didn’t work and resulted in terrible arguments. I found work in 1999 and was able to control my drinking. In July 1999 Jane and I were married and from that date until 2003 we had an ‘o.k.’ marriage. We had started our own catering business and took over the Café at the Swindon Arts Centre.
We used the café for business breakfasts and one customer stood out as different. It turned out he was a Christian. Jane asked what a Christian was and I began to tell her what I knew about the Gospel. By the time I finished Jane was in tears and wanted to get to church and find out more. Reluctantly, I agreed. This was my big turning point as I had walked away from God, but he had always been there for me. Over the following weeks I began to pray, ask for forgiveness and put my life back in order.
Jane gave her life over to God and the changes in our lives were immense. My need for alcohol started to diminish and on Easter Sunday 2005 we were baptised. A week later things went badly wrong. Jane and I would argue and we began to drift apart. I worked all hours and started to go to the pub on the way home. Our marriage took a real battering and my world fell apart. Jane eventually said she was leaving as she had no choice.
I prayed my heart out, pleading with God to help me. Jane and I were able to forgive each other and our lives were changed forever. We knew God had brought us together and we loved each other.
Jane and I still disagree on some things but our love for each other gets stronger by the day. Being able to pray and get tangible answers has been a real blessing to us. We know that God is calling us to full-time evangelism and pastoral care and are on fire to see this happen.