I was never brought up with Church apart from the usual christenings, weddings and funerals. But God had other plans!

My life started to change when Judy, my girlfriend and now wife, decided she wanted to go back to church after talking with some friends of hers who are born again Christians. After she was saved I would keep asking her questions about Christianity and God until it got to a point where she couldn't give me any more answers.

It was at this point that Judy suggested we went on an Alpha course, which was being run at St. John's in Wrexham. I decided to be very open- minded about it and give it a go. "It's a free meal if nothing else" I thought, but it turned out to be so much more! We both soon got to know the others in the group and friendships were quickly formed. As the course progressed, it answered most of my questions but also gave me a load more!

Judy tried, unsuccessfully for a while, to get me to attend church with Heather and herself in Queen Street in Chester. She didn't push it but kept telling me I should "come along and see what it's like". I wasn't too keen on the idea and kept telling her "I don't think it's my thing" – unknown to me at the time, but the Lord had decided it was going to be "my thing"!Eventually I gave in and agreed to attend but warned I probably wouldn't go all the time. How wrong I was! After just my first visit I couldn't wait for next Sunday to come to go back! The Lord had convinced me that this was most definitely "my thing" and I have been attending church when I can ever since.

At the time that I was saved I had got stuck in a bit of a rut. I hadn’t made a commitment to Christ and this was seriously holding me back. It came to a head when one night Sarah Errington came to have a chat with Judy over several things. (I was unwell at the time, so this was why I wasn't present during this conversation.) Judy explained to Sarah that I hadn't made a commitment and was struggling to make that final step to becoming saved. Sarah said that I was in denial and that I just didn’t believe. As soon as Judy told me this I stopped her: "But I do believe!" I exclaimed and told her I wanted to live my life for Jesus. I was feeling quite hurt inside that somebody could suggest I just didn't believe. Of course I did!

From that moment I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off me and I couldn't stop laughing. I felt so happy and couldn't wait to tell everyone! This was just the beginning of my life with Jesus at my side, my new best friend! I was baptised by full immersion at Queen Street Christian Centre in Chester  a  week  before  Judy and I were married.   I had  prayed to become saved and baptised before our wedding, and the Lord answered my prayers – He had done it! It meant so much as we were able to start our married life together as two Christians.

After our wedding we both felt God wanted us to become more of a part of St John's than Queen Street, and so we decided after much praying and discussion that it was the right thing to do. Previously there was one foot in each church, but this wasn't what He wanted. It is difficult to focus on two very different churches and give them your full energy. St John's is going through a challenging time and needs all the support it can get right now from all of us. We can't run the risk of losing what God has done there.

Since becoming a Christian I have learnt one important thing, and that is it doesn't mean everything will be fine and dandy and life will be perfect. It doesn't work like that! But knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him means we are capable of so much more.

Praise the Lord!