'My past sins have been forgiven'

John Banks (Ammanford) describes how he found his way back to God and The Salvation Army

MY journey began back in 1967 when I went with my father to St Albans Corps. I knew he went and I wanted to see what it was like. That morning I met Harry Champion, who became my Sunday school teacher. He would come to pick me up every Sunday, morning and afternoon.

My home life wasn’t great. I had problems with my father, and some of my best days were when I went to Sunday school. Harry was an awesome man who was a big inspiration in the early days.

I had every intention of continuing to attend, but something happened one day after school. I fell off a wall, breaking my arm and cutting my eye. At that time I felt that if God had loved me he wouldn’t have let me get hurt. So with that, I walked away from The Salvation Army.

From then things got beyond my control. I started drinking and smoking, and got into trouble with the police. I was aged 11 when I made my first court appearance. It didn’t go well – I was sentenced to two years’ supervision. I was just starting secondary school and wasn’t the brightest spark. For the next few years I kept getting into more trouble. My drinking was out of control – I just couldn’t stop.

At the age of 17 I was back in court, but this time I wasn’t so lucky. The judge said he was running out of options, so he sent me to prison. I was taken to HMP Wormwood Scrubs to start a two-year sentence in the borstal wing. All I can say is it was a tough time.

I remember writing to my mum making all sorts of promises, saying I wasn’t going to cause any more trouble. Who was I kidding? When I came out I started drinking again and got into more trouble.

Two more jail terms followed of two and three years. I just couldn’t – or wouldn’t – stop. I didn’t care what they did to me. Nothing mattered any more.

After my last term I came out and carried on drinking. I got arrested one more time. I was now 27 years old and still going nowhere, but by then I felt it was time to change. So I went to Alcoholics Anonymous to do something about the drinking. I stopped getting into trouble, and had my last day in court where I persuaded the judge that I had changed.

I have had a few more problems during my life. I had some bad relationships and have attempted to take my life. But I have been blessed with good children and have not been drinking for some time. Life is a whole lot better than before.

About two years ago I woke up and felt I needed to find my way back to God. He had been missing for so long and I knew I needed him. So I turned up at The Salvation Army in Ammanford.

Since then I feel that I have come home. The corps officer has been great. He welcomed me in and has given me some work to do in the Army charity shop in Llandeilo. He encouraged me to become an adherent member and then a soldier.

I recently turned 60 and my journey just keeps getting better. I feel that my past sins have been forgiven and slowly but surely God is changing me. I am still close to Alcoholics Anonymous, being the secretary of the Monday evening group that meets at the corps.

I have no idea why or how I have been given so much trust, but I know that I am in a very good place and that the journey will continue. These days I am an open book; I don’t try to hide my past, but try to use it for the best.