Due to my father's strong faith I am very proud to say I was brought up in a Christian household and attended St. Mark's Church. I went to Sunday School every Sunday as a child and was confirmed when I was thirteen at St. Giles' Church.

Due to a very bad experience as a child, I found it very difficult growing up as a teenager, but nevertheless I still attended church every week. When I reached 19 years of age I did not attend church as often, but I did attend at Christmas and Easter.

When I was 26 years old I met Peter, and we were married a few years later. We have been blessed with two children: Lydia and Anya. They are now eight and five years old. It was during this period of having my children that I began to suffer from flashbacks and depression. I think I lost my way and during 2003 my loving father died, and then my illness began to get worse.

I had severe depression, and due to my experience as a child I found it very difficult to forgive. To be a Christian the Lord Jesus says you should forgive. I prayed to the Lord at the time. I thought He wasn't listening to me, but He was.

After two and a half years of counselling I eventually became a lot better.

My journey of meeting the Lord began in December 2006. I took my loving daughters to the Christmas Carol Service in town. It was here that I saw the Alpha notice. The Lord asked me to trust in Him. I did trust in the Lord.

In January, 2007, I am happy to say I came to St. John's and was made very welcome. I put my name down to go on the Alpha course.

I started to attend the 11 o'clock service with my two little girls, and a few weeks later I started the Alpha. It was about three weeks into the Alpha course that I opened up to the Lord and asked Him to forgive me and to help me to forgive.

The Holy Spirit was already working on me, because I know He led me to St. John's. But it was the dream that I had that I know now was the Holy Spirit working on me. It was amazing. It woke me up, but it was still with me. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I truly found the Lord Jesus, and now I have forgiven, so I have found peace, and the loving Lord is my best Friend. I would like to thank Him for saving me.

I once asked my loving father when I was struggling with my faith, "How will I know when I find the Lord?" His reply was, "I won't have to tell you. When you find the Lord you will know"!

I truly believe that I know, and I have found my Saviour. Thanks to answers to prayer I have found the loving Lord. I would like to thank everyone at St. John's for making my family and me welcome.

Karla Thomas