Like most people of my age I was brought up to attend church, in my case the Welsh Methodist chapel, where the Sunday school leader taught us about the Bible with the help of a cane! I found this unacceptable, so left the Methodists for the local Anglican Church, which I attended spasmodically until my confirmation in 1953. However, my early encounter with Christianity and stories of the treatment of the first Christians made me decide Christianity was not for me.

For many years after, my only contact with the church was for christenings, funerals and marriages (including my own). Then, in 1985, my son became a Christian and wanted to be involved with the local church (St John’s). Elaine was still recovering from a nervous breakdown and wasn’t ready to face people, so I went along with them to offer support. Sadly, I didn’t feel that I belonged in church and was relieved when they no longer needed my company.

Between then and 2004 I continued to support my son and my wife in their faith without any interest on my par, but in 2004 I felt I should attend an Alpha course. Unfortunately, my health problems stopped me completing that course. Fortunately the Lord had plans for me.

Shortly afterwards, I had major spinal surgery, which was successful, and I decided to retire.

In 2005, Gary made an appeal for helpers for the Banana Club. Elaine told me that she had been praying about this. She felt that God was calling me, and having recently retired I was happy to be of help.

It was while I was assisting with "Bananas" that I began to question my own lack of understanding – how could I help the children learn about the Bible and Jesus, if I did not understand. I decided to attend the next Alpha course. I found it a struggle at first but persevered and completed the course. Thereafter I noticed that the weight of all the anger about all the injustices I felt I had experienced or witnessed, that I had carried around, was lifted away. Surely this must have been the Lord taking this burden from me. I am now an active member of the church and happy to be so.

Tom Morris