I suppose I could start at the beginning of my encounter with Jesus, and relate all that transpired during those early years, but would that be testimony of the reality of Jesus in my life?

I was brought up during the war years in a family basically of unbelievers; father was a nominal Catholic and mother was not really interested in any form of faith. During the wartime, I was educated at the local school because the Catholic school was quite a distance from home. This continued through to secondary school, and I left school with little or no contact with religion.

However, this changed when I started work. Several of my friends were Catholics and, more importantly, had motorbikes! The opportunity came for me to go out with these lads at weekends. On a Sunday they went to mass first, and I tagged along. Over a period of time I became interested in what was happening, and started asking questions, mainly to my father, on what the Catholic faith was all about. This resulted in my attending a local church, and eventually being confirmed, and taking an active role. The Parish Priest listened to my never-ending list of questions - why was the Pope infallible? - why did the Virgin Mary have such an important role in the life of the church? - and many others. He listened and suggested that I should buy a bible - "And read it", he said, "All the answers are to be found there". This was tremendous advice from a priest because the church at that time did not recommend you reading the bible - you had to rely on his knowledge.

Like many things and events in life between the ages of mid twenty to thirty, I found that worldly things had a greater attraction. Eventually this and the nature of my jobs took me away from 'church'. This was to change when I met Jean, and her family, and the fact that I was invited to attend church meetings with them.

This was a revelation to me. They spoke about Jesus as if they knew Him, and the gospel message began to penetrate my thinking. I was starting to recognise that I needed salvation - that with Jesus I could start a new life, and that all my old ways and sins could be forgiven.

The time of decision came to a head during a discussion over a lunch with a business client in August 1970. He was telling me about a Crusader Holiday he had been part of, and how many of the young people attending had given their lives to Christ. I listened, and found myself declaring to this man that I needed Christ, and he led me to Him right there and then.

I left that place a changed man, and went straight to share with Jean and her parents. Jean's mum saw me coming down the path, and met me at the door saying, "What has happened to you?" She said later that she could see the change in me.

Well, great rejoicing in that household, and the start of a completely new life for me.

In the years after, there were some great highlights that more fully assured me that Christ was in my life - Baptism, by immersion, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit - without whom I would be nowhere. We have had difficulties, and times of testing, but one thing has been sure, we have never been left to face them on our own. Jesus kept His promise to be with us in everything. He has been, and always will be.

The past 3½ years have been a blessing, working in a company and sharing fellowship with other believers. It is something that I will treasure, and has been a tremendous encouragement. I will miss this relationship when I retire.

However, to go back to the beginning - testimony really is what is happening now and the fact that Jean and I together have grown and developed our relationship with Jesus is the most important thing, and we would not want to exchange any part of our lives for anything else. We are truly trusting in the promise of Jeremiah Chapter 29 v11 (read it and claim it yourself)

If, reading this testimony, you realise that there is something missing from your life - have the courage to ask Jesus into your life. It will never be the same again - but what joy you will experience.

Yours in Christ Jesus