My Story
My Story Chapters… 1……Rachel Walker 2…….Jack Nicholls 3…….Margie Owen 4……..Linda Bullivant 5……..Julie Spencer 6……...Vera 7………Alan Richards 8…….Unknown 9…….Karen Downing 10…….Carole Obrey 11……..Joe Griffin 12……..Unknown
My Story Rachel Walker My Provider I was working as a full time dentist, but felt that this was not what God wanted me to do forever; I enjoyed it and life was comfortable, but it was not for me. I worked for two years in a hospital in Head and Neck surgery, and had a real heart for cleft lip, palette and head and Neck cancer. The only way I could realise my desire to work in this department would require me to return to medical school - which concerned me as it might mean giving up full time work which would result in no income for three years, paying tuition fees and not being able to afford to stay where I was living. I prayed hard. I wanted to stay in Birmingham as I felt this is where God wanted me to stay. I was offered a place on the three year medicine course at Birmingham within a week. One of my old consults contacted me and said they had created a new post at Worcester hospital for recently qualified medical students, I was to work one night a week and one weekend a month which fit in amazingly with my med school timetable. I set my tithing at what I thought, and been told I was going to earn. When I started this I had to up my tithe as I was given more than I was promised, although a lot less than i had previously been used too- It was always just enough! God says you can test Him on giving and he sure provides amazingly! In February last year i had to concentrate on my final exam, to do this I had to give up my job which consequently would mean six months without income. Later, I was helping my mom clear out her house and came across two post office books that had been taken out when I was born-1979! It has been put away for such a time as this. I wasn’t sure how much they were worth now, but sent them off to be cashed in. Having no income, I said to God, “whatever I get back from these savings I will divide equally over my six months of no work and change my tithe to ten percent of that.” When the amount came back, the total divided by the six months was exactly the same as that i had been earning, I didn’t have to change my tithe. How amazing, giving and tithing is something that should never be compromised as God always provides! “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19
My Story Jack Nicholls Church My name is Jack Nicholls, I have been brought up in CLC all of my life because my Mom and Dad were early members of the church. I feel so blessed to be in this church as I have amazing friends that help each other when anyone is down and friends that support and motivate you to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ. I became a Christian at a young age of 12 at Infuse, in a youth service. When I was 13, our former youth pastor Becky Button brought together the CLC youth band with my brother Chris Nicholls on drums, Matt Blount on Keys and vocals, Chris Hawkeswood on bass guitar, Lewis on rhythm guitar and me on lead electric guitar. We developed as a band so much over the years and a few years later, I asked our youth pastor Tony Irving if he wanted me to sing at a Sunday morning youth service and from there I have been leading Worship at youth services and occasionally at church. I feel so blessed to stand there at the front and lead worship to the congregation, looking out there seeing young people serve God to the music that God blessed us with is the greatest privilege. At Infuse 2010 I received the same prophecy from about 4 different people, Dave Grogan, Matt Blount, Taku and Batsi. One of the guys that gave me this prophecy said ‘You will be a big worship leader Jack, almost like Chris Tomlin leading in front of thousands’. When I got told this, I was blown away and feel blessed beyond belief! Even if I wasn’t going to lead in front of thousands, I’d feel the same way about leading in front of 10 because worshiping God is a blessing no matter how many people you lead. Me and my cousin Anastasia became very inspired after care group on a Wednesday a couple of months ago. Anna stopped at my house the same night and we were up late discussing what we could do to spread the word of God. We decided to start a CU at school the following Monday. 23 people came to our first CU, and it went very well with many questions thrown at us which we did our best to answer. The CU is still going on today and we plan to keep it going through out many years with the younger people in our youth leading it in the future. We have had up to 30 people come to our CU one week where we showed a video of Louie Giglio speaking on his great message using Science. I encourage every single person to spread the word of God as he is the most high and our saviour and deserves our every minute to worship him. God bless all of you! Jack Nicholls “Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the lord our maker!” Psalm 95:6
My Story Margie Owen My Hope Kelly is our baby. One of our four daughters. She was great fun, loveable, and being a little younger than the others, had lots of attention paid to her. When she was 16, she got involved with a group of youngsters, who unbeknown to me were using drugs. It wasn't long before Kelly was using drugs too. Heroin as a matter of fact. From that day on life for us and for her was never the same. For four she spiraled out of control into a world of drug taking and all that goes with it. This was so devastating for us. To watch your child change from a vibrant, happy, healthy teenager, to a six stone drug induced mess is heartbreaking. Our lives were turned upside down and inside out as by now Kelly had left home and was following the lad who was her drug supplier. She had now progressed to injecting heroin and using crack cocaine. It really is unimaginable to think that the child you love with all your heart and every fibre in your body is no longer in your life. At times, because we didn't know how serious the situation was, we didn't know whether she was alive or dead. We tried everything we could think of to help the situation, in fact if i ever did get to see her for a few minutes I was always sure to tell her that whilst i didn't like the person she had become or what she was doing, we would always love her no matter what. In fact we never stopped loving her even though she tested that love in ways you can not imagine. At the height of Kelly's drug taking and when I was so desperate at the very very depth of despair in my life, I decided to go and see Simon Foster, I prayed the salvation prayer and asked the LORD JESUS into my life. From that day on he gave me the strength and purpose and love to carry on with this battle. He allowed me to find the strength to tell Kelly that if she was to choose to continue with her drug taking then we had to allow her to live that life by herself. This is where we had to choose to show Kelly TOUGH LOVE and believe me, it's not easy. I had never done anything so difficult in my life. I completely put all my trust in Jesus. Those were the hard and desperate times for us as a family. By the Lord's grace we survived. After four long years, and many battles, Kelly went into rehab, became clean of all drugs, and we could begin to believe that her life of drugs were behind us. That was over ten years ago. After many battles and struggles along the way Kelly has turned her life around. What a fantastic blessing to us all. She is now happily married with a beautiful little girl and a baby on the way. All thanks, praise and glory for this goes to our Lord Jesus Christ. He allowed her to become whole again, he allowed us grace so that we could move on. He erased all our pain and healed my broken heart, he has a plan and a purpose for all of us. Unconditional love - love no matter what; Just as our Father gives to us then so we show to our children. Throughout this difficult time our love for Kelly was unconditional. Thank you my Lord Jesus.
“He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him� Proverbs 2:8
My Story Linda Bullivant My Healer Over the years i have been a Christian, God has become more and more precious to me, but significantly so in 2008 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The weekend it was confirmed I was devastated; I was drowning in despair. But after the weekend an amazing thing happened. God drew so close to me and comforted me like I have never known. He carried me through that whole year in a miraculous way – through 3 operations, 8 months of chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy with a deep peace and a shield of protection from so many of the nasty side effects of that harsh treatment. I praise God everyday for his goodness described in Isaiah 43, which i proved for myself: “Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the water I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” I have recently had the benefit of further surgery to give back what was taken away from me - a God bonus!
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to heal you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
My Story Julie Spencer Healing In December 2009 , Beryl became critically ill, suffered several heart attacks in one night and blew a hole in her aorta. She survived this and was admitted to intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth hospital. However, the doctors told the family that she would not survive more than another day or so. The damage to her aorta was so bad that it could not be fixed so nothing could be done to save Beryl’s life. Blood was leaking from the aorta and this would prove to be fatal, according to the doctors. It was at this point; after being told this awfully sad news that I started praying to God for a miraculous healing for Beryl. I also asked a fellow Christian and work colleague to pray for her. The next day Beryl sat up in hospital and asked what all the fuss was about and why her daughter was crying. From this moment on she went from strength to strength. The doctors were amazed and couldn’t understand what was happening, especially when further tests showed that the hole in the aorta was starting to heal itself. Although still very weak, Beryl was eventually allowed to go home with a care package in place. She eventually was well enough to have corrective surgery last summer and is back to being the life and soul of the party. Beryl’s family call her the Christmas miracle as she first became unwell just before Christmas 2009. As I am the only follower of Jesus in my family, this has opened doors for me to discuss my faith and the miraculous God I worship, even to my self-proclaimed atheist brother. I know that Beryl was only healed because God heard the prayers and answered them with a miraculous healing power. Only God could have achieved this miracle which even the most experienced doctors said was impossible. To God be the glory!
“The Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting”Psalm 100:5
My Story Vera Amazing God This is a long story cut short and without all the dramatic actions! Four years ago this month (March) I was with my daughter, Pauline in town and she noticed my constant stopping as I walked, all was not well. The next day we were in the doctor’s surgery, the doctor decided to give me a blood test. That afternoon I had a phone call and told an ambulance was on the way! I told them they couldn’t do that as my daughter was at work and she wouldn’t know where I had gone. I phoned her and she drove home. We collected my files from the surgery and we were on our way to Heartlands Hospital. I was soon heading on a stretcher to the Geriatrics ward, by this time thoughts were running round in my mind wondering what I was doing there – and another shock, I was put on a drip for three pints of blood, I remained in this ward for four days. The first day there was a family row on my ward with a mother crying and complaining that she hadn’t been looked after properly. blaming a young Muslim nurse. The nurse was so terrified i saw her hiding behind a curtain as the family said they were going to ‘sort it out’. While the family were away I called out to the nurse and she came. I was able to explain, and on her ground, that God had seen and heard everything. She agreed and listened for half an hour – that was a miracle! There was no disturbance as I gave testimony how God had intervened when i was in trouble and that He had answered my prayers just when I needed him too. She was in awe, as a result she and I prayed to Jesus and she gave her life to Him. I told her she had to tell her family, “I will” she said. The next day another row, another family, the mother was complaining that the nurse had vanished. As the family gathered around the bed the mother collapsed and one of the daughters started to scream “They’ve killed my mother!” I called her over and commanded her to sit down, I raised my arm towards her mother’s bed and started to pray – she immediately sat up! The daughter was astounded and I asked her does she go to a Church? No she replied, I asked her to go and thank God for giving her, her mother back, she assured me she would. To top it all after I was allowed to go home the doctor came and asked me if i would like to stay another four days, as the nurses had said I was a laugh a minute, my reply was “No thank you!” The end of this story after many x-rays, they found a growth on my pancreas as big as a Satsuma. They explained to me it was a risky operation. I decided no. The doctor gave a sigh of relief. God Bless you he said. As I’ve been back for constant x-rays over the years the growth has shrunk, first to a grape, then a current and now just a spot, why the fruit!? Two weeks ago I was discharged. I testified how my God answered prayer! I got a reply from a doctor who said he was an atheist; my reply was “how can a well educated man like you not believe in God?” No answer came! I gave him two book marks explaining the way of salvation, he kept them!
“”Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable“ Psalm 145:3
My Story Alan Richards My Father
In the year of 2001 my Father passed away. This isn’t really the beginning of my story or even the end. Rather it is the filling in the middle surrounded by arguments then forgivness followed by a very cherished moment. During my mid twenties my relationship with my Dad was anything but harmonious. This was a time where we both argued and almost competed against one another. I was far from the Lord at this point and indecisive about my life. My Dad had retired and was finding it very hard to leave the house due to sickness mainly brought on by old age and smoking. I was living at home having just left university. I was arrogant and felt self entitled about life. My Dad and I locked horns daily which was followed by weeks of not talking to one another. We even came to physical blows. This would end by me telling my Dad that I wished he would die and that when he did I would dance on his grave. There was a real hatred in my heart for my Dad. I resented what I saw as a lack of effort on his part. As far as I was concerned he had never cared about me as his Son. At least (I thought) there could have been some pride in his heart from seeing that I had gone to university. But my Dad was not a man of words and only reserved conversation for subjects such as football or television. Time went on and his health began to deteriorate. My lowest moment came when he started to suffer from falls. He wouldn’t be able to lift himself from the floor. There was one such time when after he had fallen he lifted his hand out to me and asked me to help him back up onto his chair. I ignored him and walked away. Something broke in me that day and I sank to the lowest depths of my life. I soon came to know the Lord. I was too much of a sinner for me not to need and want him in mhy life. I was over done in terms of my non-Christian life, exerted and worn out in making the wrong decisions. Life soon found me living in Birmingham and regularly going to church. I was sitting in my bed sit one day when i felt the Lord urging me to phone my Dad. When I did we spoke for ages about my new-found faith. Suddenly I felt an urging within my soul to do or say something. I then asked my Dad for his total forgiveness. He gave it whole heartedly. We spoke for a little longer before saying goodbye. It wasn’t long afterwards that my Dad was taken into hospital and put on a machine to help him breathe. I travelled up to Northampton to see him. Sitting by his bed i held his hand and prayed. My immediate concern was that he didn’t at this time in his life know the Lord. My interpretation of this was that he didn’t go to church. I think looking back that my Dad had what most people would call a secret faith. I know that he loved Jesus because there were times that he would reveal this. However, I was uncertain and needed some sign that my Dad would find salvation. Bearing in my mind that one part of me was hoping that he would recover, I returned to the hospital the next day. This time he had deteriorated quite dramatically. To all intents and purposes he was almost in a coma. P.T.O…
My Story My Story Alan Richards conWnued… My Father I prayed for him again and felt that there was one glimmer of recognition in his eyes for me. As this happened I felt in my spirit a voice saying those very familiar words from the Gospels: “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” I knew then that God was not only giving me a word to tell me of his approval for my Dad, but he was also revealing something of my Dad’s love for me- that my Dad was well pleased with me as his son. At that moment the enemy not only lost my Dad he also lost the chance to condemn me with guilt about the past. The next day my Dad passed away. All that was left to do was help my Mum make the funeral arrangements. The only Church u really knew in my home town the local Methodist Church I used to attend as a child. My pastor travelled up from Birmingham and said a few words during the service. In human terms I know it quite an unremarkable event – a few people gathered in church to pay their respects. But what made it beautiful in my eyes was the stained glass window above the coffin. Emblazed for all who cared to see where the words “This is my son in whom I am well pleased” were written. The Lord makes all things good and reunites broken families and lost sons from fathers.
“”This is my son whom I am well pleased“ Matthew 3:7
My Story Unknown My Messiah I was just like any other teenager but I had some big quesWons in my mind about the validity of God. I grew up in an orthodox Hindu family in India. I went to medical college and was studying MBBS. I realized I need to find the Truth. I searched for the Truth very acWvely invesWng my Wme and effort and in this process I even a`ained masters degree in Yoga but I felt I was close to the Truth but I did not yet find the Truth. Although I knew the gospel I acWvely opposed religious conversions especially ChrisWan conversions thinking that bible is an intelligent enWcing compilaWon of words. I wanted to search for One True God unbiased and I did. My colleagues were keen to learn Yoga as a spiritual discipline and I was about to start teaching them when something strange happened in my life. I saw a vision . I met Jesus Christ .I knew who Jesus was Wll then but when I met him I knew that He is the Truth I have been searching for all my life. I was awestruck . I heard His voice I AM THE WAY ,THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.I AM THE WAY TO THE FATHER.I also heard the voice THE CHOICE IS YOURS .i was absolutely frozen .I surrendered my life to Christ that moment and never looked back .It is beyond my capacity to express my vision or make people understand .But I know one thing for sure about God and there is absolutely no doubt about it. That night I felt like waking up everyone in the hostel and telling them that GOD IS REAL .My joy knew no bounds. Everyone of us has a space in the heart which is the throne and it is meant only for God. Everything else is unfit to be enthroned .The greatest gid which God gave us the the gid of choice. God never never forces us to believe .It is enWrely up to us how we uWlize the gid given to us.
“I am the way the truth and the life” Johm 14:6
My Story Karen Downing My Restorer As many of you know over the last ten years I have had an ongoing eye problem that affects my central vision. During this time I have had two operations and numerous laser treatments, in the hope that my condition did not deteriorate. Last September I had another bleed at the back of my right eye which caused my general vision to be much distorted; in fact I could not distinguish people’s features at all, and found it very difficult to go out on my own. My consultant suggested a new treatment of three Lucent injections, to maintain what sight I still had when I had my first injection. The Doctors words to me were: “We are giving you these injections not to improve your vision just to stop it from worsening.” Six weeks ago I went for my routine hospital appointment following this treatment, and my sight had been the best it had been for ten years, so much so i am able to write my story today! I thank God everyday for what he has done for me, for His faithfulness and His favour. The last few months have been very difficult for us as a family and for this to happen now has been a real blessing. “In his time he makes ALL things beautiful.” I thank God everyday that I belong to Him, I thank God I am a part of this church, and i thank you all for your prayers, which have meant so much to me and my family. x
“”For with God, nothing is impossible” Luke 1:37
My Story Carole Obrey Faithful One
Joe Griffin RevoluWon Fires
Last Tuesday I went to my very dear, and much loved half-sister Margaret funeral in Iron Bridge. I had been praying for Margaret to come to faith quite consistently over the years. Julia one of our daughters who was at the funeral, phoned to tell me that she was “overwhelmed todayb by the grace of God on this family in that so many of them had come to know him in a very real way after a bit of a messy start. I’m wondering who must have been praying for us all.”
The Gathering for me was an absolute inspiration. There were so many words given to inspire and engage us as young as young people. I saw God ways I could only dream of, not just in my life but also in the life of others. Whilst challenging me in specific areas of my life, God revealed himself to me in a variety of ways. It was a truly inspiring weekend that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Coming back into ‘normal life’ with this new found passion is a very new experience for me but I’m loving every minute of it. Being a light for God is truly amazing and I can’t wait to ‘shine my light’ for Him.
What Julia had said was such a blessing to me. At times we pray and nothing seems to happen but it is in God’s timing and we should continue to pray without ceasing. Margaret had confirmed she had put her faith in Jesus just a few days before she died
“”God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in Spirit and in truth“ John 4:24
My Story Unknown My Saviour In August 2010 i was at my lowest point mentally and physically after struggling with anorexia for six years. I could no longer walk upstairs properly or take part in the sports i had once loved so much. Whilst back at home from university I went to church and during the service finally accepted that I couldn’t do things on my own anymore. I asked God into my life and a wave of relief flooded over me. The pastor that prayed with me gave me a verse from 2 Timothy which reads:
Seven months on and I am already much healthier and am filled with hope and excitement for what I can become with our amazing Lord God working in my life. I give him all the glory and credit for what I have been able to do so far. Whatever our situation however low we may have gotten ourselves, we don’t have to do it on our own. Gad can do amazing things if we just let Him.
“God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline” From that point I stopped taking on things myself. I stopped the self harming and the restrictions that were keeping me from being who I truly wanted to be, and I stopped fighting my family who had been trying to help me for so long. For those close to me that know how bad my situation was it is hard to believe that something terrible didn’t happen to me, but I believe that God saved me and gave me this second chance. I thank him every single day that He did that.
“God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline” 2 Timothy 1:7