Sheila's story My life changed 5 years ago when I gave my life to Jesus and became a Christian. I've never known such love as the unconditional love of God. Through the good and bad times when I've struggled so much, I know God is there, he never changes. I don't know how I managed all those years without him. I have been through several bereavements since becoming a Christian. My husband left three years ago, then within eighteen months of that my Gran died then my sister, then my Mum. My daughter left home to be with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), which was a great joy, but difficult. Then 7 months ago my son left home. I used to come home from work with such a heavy empty dread knowing that I was going to an empty house and that I may not see anyone until the next day. I felt that all the people I loved were gone, I was no longer a wife or a sister, a daughter to my Mum and my role as a mother was changing, I'd lost my identity and didn't really know who I was anymore. Through all this, people and things have changed but God has remained the same. I clung on to the fact that I was a child of God. In Zephaniah 3v17 it says, 'The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save, he will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with love, he will rejoice over you with singing.' This verse helped me so much, the Lord is with me always, he is mighty and powerful, he actually delights in me, he will hold me and quiet me with his love, he will rejoice over me with singing. In Romans 5v2-5 it says 'And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.' God has given me the strength and perseverance I need and I can reach out and help others in need. I now have a delightful grandson and God has provided two young people to stay with me. I know will not be there for much longer and I will have to go through the bereavement process again, but I trust that God will provide whatever I need. Download Sheila's testimony. Return to contents Click here to go home Jan's story Our Father Who Art In Heaven. When I was 45 these words came to life for me. My name is Jan and at a very difficult time in my life the Lord called me to Him, Praise His Name. Psalm 65:4. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. May I just give you a little bit of my history to help you understand better. I was brought up in National Children's Home from 18 months to 18 years, and like the 1,600 other children I longed for a mother and a father. In later years I did find out who my mother was, but she never divulged much about my father. As you know we always search for that which is missing from our lives. Then I joined Astley Independent Methodist Fellowship and received ministry, counselling and disciplining, and discovered a wonderful truth. I HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER. (Matt 6). My Heavenly Father knew me before I was born. (Psalm 139:13-16). All I'd ever wanted to know about my Father is in the Bible. He is Loving, Merciful, Just, Strong and Righteous. What an amazing parent to have. If you, like I was, are looking for your Father please let me encourage you to look to Jesus and he will lead you to the Greatest Most Loving Father God. I pray my little testimony will help someone else. In the name of my Beloved Saviour Jesus Christ. Download Jan's testimony. Return to contents Click here to go home Roger's story My name is Roger Stone, and I have been a Christian for about 20 years. I am part of the leadership team at Astley, and have been an Independent Methodist Minister for the past few years. I grew up in an all male household, including my dad, and four older brothers. My Father and Mother broke up when I was still five years old. My Father looked after the children, and at times, things were tough. None of my immediate family were Christians, or even Church attenders. My grandparents on dad's side were lifelong Churchgoers, but lived too far away to influence me. As far as I recall, I didn't know anyone who was a Christian, or who claimed to be saved. My recollections of childhood include the fact that I grew up quite bitter, with an enormous chip on my shoulder, and I hated women. Although I attended a Church based primary school, it is perhaps remarkable, that I never heard the Gospel there! I heard references about Jesus. Some other Bible characters were mentioned too. Yet the Gospel story was never explained, at least, not to me. You could say, that Christian ethics were taught to unsaved kids. Apart from that, the Word of God had no impact on us. I suppose when I look back, the Bible was a mysterious book that required someone with super intelligence to make sense of it. Of course, when I look back from where I am now, I realise that there were times when the Lord had touched my life. I just couldn't see it then; I was blind. I mean, spirtually blind. It would take years of God's patience before I was able to come to Christ. I played football at a Methodist Church youth club where, I know now, people were praying for me. I met Susan, my future wife, when I was nineteen. A wonderful woman, also a Christian, who has given me four beautiful children. I sat listening to the Minister who married us (Harold Bevan), while he explained about his "relationship with God". He was supposed to be talking to us about the forthcoming ceremony, but most of it went out through the other ear anyway. Not only was I spirtually blind, I was spirtually deaf. I could neither see nor hear the Gospel, even when someone tried to explain it to me! It was some years later, and my wife had been attending the services at Astley on a regular basis. Only because I promised to go with her, and our two eldest children, did I end up one Sunday evening service sat there at the back myself. I enjoyed it, because the people were sincere, and friendly to me. So I continued to go along a few times. The Gospel was preached faithfully, and regularly during the services. People were praying for me a lot; prayer was a vital part of that fellowship. I found myself becoming more conscious of all the things I had ever done wrong. I had supposed, up until then, that going to Church generally made people feel better, but somehow, I felt worse! What I hadn't bargained for, was just how serious man's sin is. I hadn't understood how serious my sin was, and how that sin had seperated me from God. This was the reason why I hadn't been able to see, or hear, in the past. Yet now, I was beginning to see. Things made more sense as I began to do some simple Bible study, and mingle with the fellowship during the week, as well as at Sunday services. I became more aware of the Lord as a real person. I would talk to Him. I began to pray about things, to see what would happen. One day whilst I was sat looking at my new Bible, the Lord spoke right into me. It wasn't the Word I had been reading. It was a voice inside of me (that's the best way I can describe it). That voice said, "Don't you know I have forgiven you for everything you have ever done?". I stood up suddenly. I didn't think about standing up, I just did. As I stood up, the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ came into me, and I was saved. I knew I was saved. Now I understood. Now I could see. Now, I knew the difference between Churchgoers, and someone who was actually saved. Now I understood without being told by anyone else, that I was saved with a purpose. That as well as being given eternal life myself, I was called to something else. The past twenty years has been a process of discovery. Continually discovering, and finding out what God is leading me to next. It has been a time in which I have seen other people saved too. Other people prayed for, whose lives have been touched by Jesus Christ. An exicting life, and yet, sometimes a struggle. As long as I live, I don't believe I will ever stop discovering new things through my life in Christ. This is the life I want to share with you. Download Roger's testimony. Return to contents Click here to go home Dave's story My name is David Nicholson. I am a 46 year old married man with one adult son and a 16 year old daughter. I am the Secretary of my local Independent Methodist Church and have recently led an Alpha course, with a follow up bible study course under preparation. You may well think that, bearing in mind my service to the Lord within my local fellowship, I am a mature Christian. This could not be further from the truth. If, three and a half years ago, someone had told me that I would be going into a church on a regular basis, let alone doing what I am now doing, I would have probably called them stupid, or words to that effect. You see I was one of those people who only went into a Church when I had to, which was as little as possible - I liked all the things that an unsaved person likes. It was about three and a bit years ago when my son came home one evening and told both my wife and myself that he had become a Christian, that he was going to be baptised, and that he wanted us both to be there. My response to this was to completely avoid the issue by going to bed. I thought that it was a fad, and it would soon pass over. That was the last I thought about it for some months. I came home from work one Friday evening and my wife reminded me that the baptism thing was that night. I was expected to be there! Well, I tried everything to get out of this, as it was going to interfere with my usual Friday night out with the lads, but to no avail. I capitulated and went along with it, thinking that it wouldn't take long, and I could meet my pals later on that evening. So I went to this baptism. I remember one of my neighbours saying that it was nice to see me in Church, to which I replied "Well you better make the most of it, 'cause it's the last time you will". Well, the service started and I was immediately hit by several things which I didn't expect. The congregation seemed to be singing what appeared to be quite modern songs, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it! After a couple of songs a chap got up and started speaking about what baptism meant. I'm sure that he was talking directly to me, any thoughts of going to the pub with my mates had now gone. I was totally engrossed in what was going on. Then the people who were being baptised, about 12 in all, stood up and gave their testimonies. Some of the things that these people were saying were really hitting a spot with me. After the service, refreshments were available to those who wanted them and this seemed a good opportunity for me to find out more about this Christianity thing. I found that the people were all too willing to answer my questions. One person said, "Why don't you come to Church on Sunday and maybe we can answer some more of your questions after the service". I wasn't sure at this stage, so I thought that I would be better off sitting down and thinking about the whole thing first. I decided to consider the options available to me. Should I stay as I was? Or, should I take Jesus into my life, as my son and the other people at the baptism had done? I say that, as if there was some massive decision to be made, but there wasn't. It was probably the easiest decision I have ever made in my life. Yes, I did attend Church on that Sunday, and Jesus answered all my questions for me, and continues to do so. Well, how has knowing Jesus changed my life? I am more confident in all things now. I have learned not to jump into things without consulting the Lord in prayer beforehand. Usually things then work out okay. I feel I am much more easy going and laid back, in fact some people have said that if I get anymore laid back I'll fall over. I find that I tend to trust people more than before. I have now got a new circle of friends, friends that I can rely on at all times. I wish I had been found by the Lord a lot earlier, as I would have liked more time to tell other people about what has happened to me. I am so honoured to have been chosen to become a Child of God. Download Dave's testimony.