- St John’s Church, Greenside &
- Church of the Holy Spirit, Crawcrook,
- Church Office, Main Street, Crawcrook,
- Ryton, Tyne and Wear
- NE40 4NB
0191 413 7279 Church Office
Email Us
Testimonies
Summer 2010 Colin Pemberton
Who would have thought you would see me in church - not me!
There I was, motor cycle mad, rugby daft - I’d had numerous motorbikes since I was 17 years old. I sold my last bike a year ago and I am looking for a more powerful one. I was a youth coach for Gosforth RFC and Ryton RFC. I held coaching tickets for 12 years from minis (4 year olds) to colts (up to 17 years).
Like others, I used to smile and then mock the so-called ‘happy clappers’. I even used to rib my daughter Miranda’s childminder, Carol Hawley, when she started church. Then Carol threw down the gauntlet, when she said the doors of the church would burn down if I ever stepped through them. Always up for a challenge, the following Sunday my wife Susan, Miranda and I came to church. And do you know what? The doors did not burn down!
When walking into church, I was surprised because I had never met a friendlier and more welcoming group of people as the congregation of this church. When I sat down, a sense of calmness and peace filled me. I did not know why then, but it felt that I had come home. That same Sunday Sue enrolled us on the next Alpha course! The first day of the course was ‘hmmmm’ but the food was good.
After the 4th evening, I thought to myself ‘You know Colin, there’s something in this’. On the Saturday Away Day - talk about fireworks! Since that day I have never looked back. I now help out at the Rock Solid Rock Youth Group and recently became a member of the PCC (Parochial Church Council).
Now if anyone asks me “Are you a happy clapper?”, I can stand proud and say “Yes I am - now let me tell you the reason why...”
PS Jesus loves you, so why not join our next Alpha course?
Summer 2010 Bobby Wigham
Bobby aged 81, says “When I was 18 years old, in the spring of 1947, I was called up to do my National Service in the army. The first 6 weeks were at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, with the famous Northumberland Fusilliers, doing weapons training. Then I was off for more weapons training to Farnborough, with the Durham Light Infantry. After that, the whole company travelled by train to Liverpool where we boarded a ship and sailed to Malaya. We thought the war was well over, but when we got there, we found that the Chinese insurgents were causing a lot of trouble. We had to help the police hunt them down. We found that we were in a guerrilla war.
One sortie we were on involved going through the jungle in single file. I was in the middle of the file and number one on the mortar team. I was praying to the LORD Jesus, telling him I did not want to kill anyone, when a machine gun opened up in front of us. My number two and I were then ordered up to take out the machine gun. But before we got to the front of the column, the machine gun had gone silent. Jesus has answered my prayer and I never had to fire my mortar.
There were a number of times when I was close to death, but the only thing I killed was a black mamba snake, which had attacked me. The LORD Jesus was always with me and He brought me home safely. 20 of the lads I served with never made it home.
After more than two years, I was travelling home on the bus from Newcastle. It was a beautiful summer’s day when I reached Derwent View, Chopwell. I was looking out of the bus window and down in the valley was my home village of Chopwell. The sun was shining on the roof tops. I could see my home and knew that I would see my family in a short time.
A great sense of peace came over me. Since then, I thought that when I pass on that great sense of peace would be with me when I am travelling to my home in heaven”.
March 2010 Carrie Green
It takes courage to share a personal testimony...
Carrie says: “I’d always called myself a Christian - with a small c. When I was little, my nana (who was house-bound but who had a strong personal faith) used to encourage me to go to Sunday school at the local Methodist chapel and to say my prayers every night.
Although my parents weren’t church-goers, I later found myself joining the choir and the youth group attached to my local Anglican church. This led to me being confirmed at the age of about 13.
The things I remember most about this was our confirmation group washing each others’ feet on Maundy Thursday, a trip to the theatre to see Jesus Christ Superstar and a great outward bound weekend with the youth group. I also remember being friends with the vicar’s son who used to throw some pretty good parties at the vicarage while his parents were away!
Later in my teens I stopped going to church altogether and did what lots of teenagers do – going out, having fun etc ... For many years I only attended church for weddings, christenings and funerals and nostalgically over the Christmas period to sing a few carols. As I got older I filled my life with career, friends, holidays and the like, questions of faith very seldom crossed my mind. I thought what was important was being a ‘good’ person and doing the ‘right thing’ as long as I didn’t harm anyone that was all I needed to think about.
I guess I only really started thinking about church again when I became a mother. I felt a great weight of responsibility to give the children sound values and principles to live by and I started to reflect on what was really important in life. I remember feeling totally bombarded by information and advice coming from all different directions. I thought ‘what a tough world we live in’ and if I found it confusing, no wonder children and young people are confused growing up!! It felt like an internal ‘nudge’, a kind of spiritual wakeup call.
In 2005 we decided to have our two daughters baptised. During the service when I had to say the words of the ‘decision’ something seemed to stir inside me. “I turn to Christ, I submit to Christ, I come to Christ” - I felt that the words had such an important meaning, it was no good just saying it and going through the motions, it had to be deeper than that. About this time we tried going to church on and off with the children but it was just so difficult. It was a nightmare having to sit right at the back, keeping them quiet, changing nappies and breastfeeding in a cold pew. Basically, not much fun at all and I just didn’t see the point. I felt like I couldn’t take much away from the service whilst being baffled with some of the rituals and formality which although a familiarity are often very off-putting. It all just seemed so irrelevant to a stressed out mother of three. I began to feel like a complete hypocrite – just going through the motions so we stopped going to church. I started to think ‘it must be me- I’m just not getting it, maybe I’m not a good enough person’.
Over recent years, I’ve had some quite tough experiences. Two people very close to me have been affected by addictions and alcoholism which left behind a lot of mess. As anyone who is close to an addict or alcoholic knows, patterns of destructive behaviour, manipulation and lies can affect the life of the addict and everyone they are close to. I also had a very traumatic operation which left me emotionally scarred.
Then a very close friend died suddenly. This had a bigger impact on me than I could have expected. Up to this point I’d always prided myself on being a ‘coper’, a strong person, a fixer of my own problems and those of other people. Suddenly here I was, in a position where I felt I could no longer trust anyone. And because I had also been ill, had weaknesses, vulnerabilities - for a time I felt like a failure.
I started coming to church again. This time to Holy Spirit and St .John’s. I heard some powerful teaching which spoke into all areas of my life and had the great opportunity of going along to hear the ‘Just 10’ sessions at Lobley Hill. My ears seemed to be open to all the things that I was hearing.
It was then that I realised that I had to stop relying on myself. I couldn’t do it all on my own. I took a ‘risk’ – a ‘step of faith’ and decided to humble myself to ask for God’s help. I am now beginning to see that all those difficult times, when I was almost overwhelmed, were part of leading me to seek God and find him.
On 7 September 2008 I said a prayer saying that I wanted to follow Jesus. I learned that God loves me so much that he came to earth as Jesus, suffered and died so that I could be restored to living my life to the full. It was a big step of faith for me, as someone who’s always relied on my own strength, resourcefulness, competence and abilities to solve my own problems and those of other people.
I thought becoming a Christian would mean I wouldn’t be able to have a life any more. I didn’t want to give up control. What I found instead is that by asking Jesus into my life, I have been set free from all the things which used to worry me and overwhelm me. I now live, knowing that God will give me the strength to deal with anything I have to face. He will always be with me. I now call myself a ‘Christian’.
I went on to do the Alpha Course which I would recommend to anyone (believer or not) if you want to find out more.
Since then, I’ve been privileged to serve God by helping lead a group doing the Alpha course, joining the music group and praying for people on the streets of Crawcrook.
If anyone had said I’d be doing that I would have said ‘never in a million years’ - and here I am!”
Carrie Green
Lisa’s Testimony May 2009
“Amen!” I raised my head and a huge smile spread across my face. I felt warm and happy; content and peaceful. I looked up to see the faces of Clive (Reverend Devonish) and Barbara beaming back at me. It was the best feeling in the world as I had just given my life to Jesus. “Praise the Lord.” That day was 1 November 2008; my first day as a Christian.
I’m Lisa a 20 year old student at Northumbria University. I’m usually found in conversation with just about anyone and up until a few months ago, church was the last place I expected to be, let alone becoming a Christian. I just did not think I fit the mould! But one Tuesday afternoon, in September last year, my uncle Andrew invited me to come along to an Alpha course starting that evening. I’d never heard of Alpha, so I asked him what it was about. He wasn’t entirely sure but...
I can now safely say that God had far more planned for me than just a cracking tea! (meal served for everyone on all ten Tuesdays of the Alpha Course).So with this in mind I accepted the invitation and came along to support him. Looking back I can now clearly see how God was already at work. Words cannot explain how grateful I am to the Lord for using my Uncle Andrew to lead me to this church and ultimately to Christ.
As I approached the church, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My childhood experience of church itself hadn’t been fantastic. Although I believed in God, I had drifted away from Him before my teen’s and had rarely attended church since.
As I walked into the hall, I was immediately welcomed by Mike, who along with Rosemary, have since become my spiritual grandparents. I love you both stacks! Mike spoke with warmth and kindness. And it was in that moment that I realised God had led me back to where I belonged.
It’s safe to say that God had far more planned for me than a cracking tea the next ten Tuesdays. Since giving my life to Christ, God has blessed me in so many ways. I have met a wonderful bunch of friends who I am delighted to call my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love you all!
I’ve since had the fantastic privilege of being part of the Alpha course that ran in January and also the current course which began in April. I’m involved with youth and music ministries within the church.
All of these opportunities have led to many exciting and rewarding experiences, which in turn have allowed my own faith to grow stronger. Among the many things I have learned, one thing sticks out above all, which is that there is no mould to fit in to. We don’t have to be perfect; because if we do our best God will most certainly do the rest!
Lisa Aged 20
Elliott Spoor March 2009
My Journey to Christ
I was brought up in a loving, family environment and attended Church as a youngster but I didn’t like it at all. I thought it was boring! I didn’t understand what it was about; I didn’t like all the rules.
I was very shy when I was young!! Being an only child, I was spoilt (cheers Mam and Dad). We didn’t have a lot of money but I never went without. Fighting was the main cause of the trouble I got into – oh and once I got caught shoplifting – Mam and Dad never found out – until now that is! Sorry!!!
By the age of 21, I was married with a son and knew it all! A few years later I was blessed with another son and life seemed good. I was going out a lot and drinking which led me to other things – namely drugs. My marriage ended in divorce. I was, 28, separated from my two beautiful boys (whom I love with all my heart) and back on Single Street. I went wild – partying hard and enjoying all that goes with it – more drugs!!
God blessed me with my beautiful wife and life was great again. The drugs were under control – or so I thought. We had a son (who is the light of my life); own business, own home – nothing could go wrong – could it?
Just when I had everything I’d ever wanted I started to lose control. I was using so much Cocaine, Alcohol and Cannabis I became paranoid. I knew I had a serious problem and decided to STOP! - and failed miserably. I had no money but could get credit, my business was suffering; I was hooked, miserable and ashamed of myself to the point of self-loathing. I stayed holed up in my office room and got worse. I never looked in the mirror because the bloke looking back at me was a wretch, a loser, a mug. Good friends warned me that I had to change before it was too late, but I couldn’t. Then it all went POP!! I was about to lose everything, including my life.
A good friend came banging on my door and gave it to me BIG STYLE. He told me all the things I already knew but in desperation I told him everything, feeling a lot cleaner. He dragged me to church to hear a guy called Dave Falcus talking about how God had saved him from his gangster life etc. How he had given himself over to Jesus while praying and was cleansed – and I thought “yeah, sure what a load of rubbish.” I was still thinking about it when I got home and in desperation I thought “what can it hurt?” I went into my room, fell to my knees and started praying,
“God if you are real, Jesus if you do want to help then save me from myself, rid me of my addictions; take me out of my misery and shame. If you take all this away I am all yours. I will never deny you again and I will follow you forever.”
The Encounter!
The most incredible feeling came over me; I started blubbing and found myself lying on my bed in a state of euphoria and peace. I felt a huge burden leave me; I could breathe easy and felt great. I woke on the Monday morning singing:
“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
I bounced out of bed with an energy and joy I had never felt before. Looking in the mirror I saw someone I had thought was dead but with no black, sunken eyes, no miserable face; just a happy, smiling, healthy(ish) looking lad. It was me! I was different – I felt no worries only happiness and hope. I felt God was beside me and I knew my addictions were gone. I felt free.
Later I dropped in to see Clive Devonish, now a good friend and leader, but there were times previously when I would see him approaching and leg it! I told Clive everything, how low I had been, how utterly ashamed and miserable I was and angry, always angry. Clive thanked God for saving me and prayed for continued healing. I signed up on an Alpha course which helped me understand what had happened and I learned the truth about Jesus.
That was over a year ago. I have since attended a full Alpha course and am helping run the next course. My marriage is strong, my anger has gone; the business is doing well; we have our home; debts are almost paid and I am at peace with the world. I am content.
Most importantly, I am no longer a prisoner of addiction. I know the truth and it has set me free. Jesus Christ is the truth and I am free indeed!
Elliott Spoors March 2009
Tricia Reed - October 2008
I didn’t think I had an interesting story to tell. But recently I’ve thought that perhaps those people like me who haven’t had a dramatic, sudden conversion might get some encouragement from my story. Also I realise that God thinks we’re all really special, and he has a plan for each and every one of us, and that’s exciting!
My relationship with Jesus in the last couple of years has developed into a deeper, more meaningful relationship. It is almost as if my heart and mind have changed, and at times I feel as if I’m overflowing with a love for Jesus I’d never experienced before. My whole life is changing as I am becoming more aware of the risen Christ in my life, realising the enormity of what he has done for me, and the power of His name through the work of the Holy Spirit. It hasn’t always felt like this!
Before this, and since I was a child, I was brought up to know about Jesus, and have been aware of his guiding, loving presence in my life. I’ve witnessed the very gradual process that God has had in shaping my life and me as a person. I feel that for many years my understanding of Jesus and my experience as a Christian stayed stuck at the level I had as a child. I don’t think, even though I said it often enough in Church, that I fully believed Jesus was alive in me. I would view the Bible as mainly historical facts, a story of the past that didn’t seem to come alive and apply to me in the present. Hence I didn’t make it a priority.
Another sign of my spiritual immaturity was that I conformed to the way of the world, not God’s way- at school, at University, at work and even in my relationships with friends and family. I only really connected with God when the going got tough- exams, job-hunting, and stresses at work.
Prayer was, more often than not, a list of requests, and thank-yous when I remembered. I never really surrendered myself to God and asked Him to change me completely. Perhaps, because I was worried about what other people would think of me, or the sacrifices I would have to make. When asked at school if I was a Vicar’s daughter, I was quite pleased when told by my peers ‘You wouldn’t think so!’
That denial, and embarrassment at calling myself a Christian in public continued into adulthood, combined with a self-consciousness and a feeling of not wanting to be different (This may have stemmed from moving homes and schools a lot, being of mixed race, and being bullied at school- who knows!)
What changed? When I moved back home from University, living at the Vicarage, it was hard to avoid going to Church. It was only a short walk up the garden path! The sense of obligation to keep my parents happy was another factor. Not that they pressured me, I just felt a sense of duty. But over time I started to enjoy attending regularly and being among other Christians outside my immediate family. After all the years of moving home, I felt settled and part of a community. I also started reading the Bible and bible notes, at times sporadically, but I started to feel more connected with God. I do feel that He was guiding me in decisions such as career, marriage and finding a home. But then the plan seemed to go a bit wrong, or had it?
After several years of difficulty in having a family- I had a miscarriage and fertility problems- at the same time a new and challenging job, my confidence and self-esteem were at an all time low. Looking back I was probably depressed. I didn’t seek professional help. Instead I relied on God like I had never done before. And although I now can say I have been blessed with two precious children, for whom I am eternally grateful, I do believe God used those ‘wilderness’ years to start a more intense process of change deep within me. I came out the other end with a real sense of what it means to have faith and trust in God, our loving Father. I also realised that God’s time is different to ours and He has a plan.
During those difficult years, although I wasn’t a mother as planned, I was given many other opportunities to develop as a person, that might not have happened otherwise, for example, a career change, a chance to support a friend in need, time to share the Word, prayer and fellowship in a home group, the opportunity to demonstrate to friends what it means to have a faith and be reliant on God. (So many friends who were pregnant and having children said ‘I don’t know how you’re coping’ and I could reply ‘Because of God’). Having Jesus as friend and example, and God as Father changes your perspective on everything.
But what about the Holy Spirit- the missing link? This was something I didn’t fully understand, perhaps feared, and was certainly happy to keep at arms length. I did believe in the supernatural aspects of Christianity, but separated what happened in the Bible from the present. These sorts of miracles that I’d read about I’d never really witnessed at close proximity, or experienced them myself (or maybe just hadn’t noticed what the Holy Spirit was doing in my life). Even though my parents talked about and experienced these things, I’d never really ‘got it’.
That’s changed in the last year or so, as I’ve opened myself up to receiving more of the Holy Spirit. Although I’ve had no dramatic experiences, such as speaking in tongues, physical healing etc, I’ve definitely felt filled with the presence of Jesus. My eyes and mind have been opened to the truths in the Bible. It’s hit me -what Jesus did by dying for us, and how much power He has over everything. It makes me wonder how I could have been so indifferent in the past. I feel much more emotionally involved and challenged. I’ve questioned aspects of my life, and have more of a conscience about what is right and wrong, and how to live life as a Christian (although still have a long way to go!).
I remember someone at Church saying that she has a real hunger for the Bible. I never had that feeling, but now I know what she means. I still have to be disciplined, I can let things slip and get the priorities in my life wrong. But God helps me get things back on track. I enjoy coming to Church, reading the Bible and apply it to everyday life, learning more about Him, who is still guiding me.
After having children you’d think everything would be perfect, but things at home started to be troubled. I struggled for a while before God revealed to me, when I was reading the Bible, that I had to change and not try to change other people. I was aware of things I’d been doing that made the situation worse. Following God’s guidance has meant the situation has vastly improved.
One area of my faith that I still felt was a concern was my lack of ability to share my faith and bring others to know Jesus. To be honest, I didn’t really think it was my job, or if it was, I took the stance that I would just demonstrate being a Christian quietly, by example. I would never mention I was a Christian, but in doing that I never gave God the glory. Perhaps people just thought I was a ‘nice’ person (maybe). Well it dawned on me that I had to try harder! Probably hearing this at Church- that the purpose of the Church is to know Jesus and make him known. I prayed a lot about it and said sorry to God for my weakness and ‘fear of man’. And those prayers have been answered. Far from having to proclaim loudly from the street corners (as I sometimes pictured evangelism), God has put opportunities in my path and with his strength, and the Holy Spirit, I’m sure, I’ve taken up the challenge, recently talking about my faith to other people, a little, and in a slightly rambling way, but it’s a start, and I’ve used the Alpha leaflets as backup!- to a friend who is an atheist, a family member who was waiting for an invitation, work colleagues and a complete stranger in the park!! This was not me 6 months ago.
As a result I’ve felt really blessed by God and by other people.
And what about what other people think? It doesn’t matter anymore. The only thing that matters is what God thinks. If anything, others would see me as more confident, happy and at peace, not the self-conscious person I used to be.
What’s helped?
- Prayer and daily Bible reading/ bible notes (it’s difficult with young children, but if you make the time, you reap the benefits)
- Being more connected to our local church, sharing faith with other Christians- makes it easier when you talk to non-Christians
- Hearing testimonies from speakers and members of our congregation- I’ve been amazed and encouraged, and keen for God to use me in more powerful ways.
- Alpha Course – reaffirmed beliefs, got to know others in the church.
- Just 10- J.John’s presentation of the 10 commandments was amazing and helped take my faith to another level.
- Work Talk- a series of talks about integrating Christianity with work, based on Christ’s work on the cross- I found this really helpful.
I think being a Vicar’s daughter has been hard. It’s difficult to let yourself go when your dad’s there. In some ways I feel more comfortable at church now, and I thank Clive for all he’s done and his God-inspired words and leadership with the help of his team. But I’m deeply appreciative of my parents for bringing me up as a Christian, not forcing me, but patiently waiting, hoping and guiding. It dawned on me recently how I’m so grateful for that foundation, which many children do not have. It’s a great privilege to be able to do the same for my children, and to be involved in Sunday Club. To know that no matter what happens, the seeds have been sown.
Ian Wallace from Crawcrook
I took ill on Monday 14 May 2008. Prayers were said for me on that evening by the Monday Home Group; they prayed for a Damascus type experience for me.I had a virus, it was rather nasty diarrhoea and sickness. On Tuesday evening prayers were said for me by Dawn, my wife, and Helen, on the bus from J John. At that time I stopped being violently sick; I assumed that this was a coincidence.
I went to work on the Friday, I felt well enough, I was content that I was not going to make a mess or die. I felt lethargic and cold all day. I returned home at 5pm and went to bed early at 10pm. I struggled to sleep as I was so cold.
I was lying on my side when a very bright intense golden light appeared. He asked me, ’Do you believe, do you believe, do you believe, do you believe?’
I said ’I believe in Jesus’.
He moved me from being on my side to lying on my back and he told me ’Raise your hands’.
I felt heat going through my body, wave upon wave from head to toe. I felt His love too. I was sobbing uncontrollably and my head was moving from side to side.
My wife Dawn woke up; ’Are you OK? What is the matter?'.
I said ’It’s Jesus, Jesus is with me.’ She said ‘You must be joking!’ She held my hand and felt the heat and energy too. She also felt a presence, the atmosphere in the room was thick. After a few minutes it passed.
I was very thirsty and got out of bed. I felt warm, completely free from any pain or discomfort in my body. My energy had returned too. I eventually fell asleep and arose at 8am.
My wife and I went to the village at 10am, the first person we met was Clive Devonish, our vicar. Another coincidence!
Before this experience I was a nice bloke, law abiding and very conscientious. Being an accountant my work can be stressful. I am now part of God’s family and am proud to call myself a Christian.
I attended Church on Sunday and was taken aback with the extremely warm welcome from everyone. I look forward to meeting my friends each week and am determined to attend as often as I can.
I have also enjoyed J John, a well known Evangelist who is presenting the 10 commandments at Gateshead on each Tuesday. On Thursday evenings we have Home Groups where we have a chance to be together as a group to sing, pray and understand the bible more; as well as having some fun.
I pray at least twice a day and read as much as I can during each day. I am very conscious that I have so much to learn and understand.
The main difference in me though is that I feel completely different inside. I am more relaxed and not as stressed as I used to be, I am much more content too. Although I would have swore a few times during each day; I have not thought of swearing and have not spoken a foul word during the past 4 weeks. I care more for others, more compassionate and loving. I am generally a much happier person too. This has totally changed my life.
I understand the importance of telling as many people of my experience and have told my family, friends and colleagues at work. Most were amazed and pleasantly surprised.
I will be pleased to share my experience with any other groups.
IW 140608
The Miracle of the Mobile Phone (from Clive's Blog 22 Nov 2007)
A few nights ago some young people were hanging about outside the Church of the Holy Spirit, Crawcrook. John Spencer the Alpha course administrator was setting up for Alpha invited them into the hall and began to chat with them. They later left the church building. Sometime later that evening they began to make a disturbance outside. One or two people responded by going outside and talking with them. They were asked just to respect what was going on inside the building.
After a short while I began to chat with them, while the Alpha talk was going on in the church. We talked about various things and I eventually asked them what sort of world they would like to see and be part of - various responses came back. One young man said he would like to see a drug and violent free community; another mentioned that she wished that a gang of kids would not make so much noise outside her grandmother's house which scared her gran.
The same girl said that she had a physical problem which affected her temperament and also shared that earlier that evening she had also lost her mobile phone somewhere in the park. I suggested to the girl and the other young people that we can pray for both situations - the medical problem and the lost phone. They began to giggle. I shared with them that God was a God who wanted the best for them and that they were extremely precious in their sight. I asked them: "Has anybody ever told you how precious you are? They replied, “No!” They then began to share with me some of their broken family history. We eventually began to pray (they were still giggling at this stage). I said that the God I worship is a God of love and miracles and that He could heal the girl with the medical problem and will help to find the mobile phone.
After praying they all went off to do their thing. The next morning I returned to the church building and guess what - a mobile phone was lying at the entrance of the doorway. I picked it up and saw that the battery was missing. I began to look around and there in the middle of a bunch of autumn leaves was a battery. The phone was then stored in the office.
The following week just before the Alpha course started the same group turned up outside the church and once again they were invited in. The first thing one of the girls said was something like "Your prayers did not work and your God did not find my phone"; I said to her “Hang on a minute” and went to get the phone from the office. When she was presented with it she looked flabbergasted and went and kneeled in front of a picture of a cross and blessed herself and said thank you to God (she was still slightly play acting). But as she left you could see the excitement on her face and she shouted to the people going into church, "I believe in God".
We pray for that group of young people - that we can continue to reveal the God of love and miracles to them.
When sitting down to write this I became a little confused as what to write. The reason for this is there is so much happened to my life since I became a Christian on 28th of March 2007. I could write a book not just a testimony!
I could have written about my life’s journey and how I believe God’s hand has guided me right through my life to living in Greenside and coming to this church. Or I could have written about prayer and all the pray that has been answered in the short time I have known God.
However I have had so much prayer answered in the last four months I have enough to write a book on my prayer experience alone! As you can see, there are many things that have changed in my life since becoming a Christian. My understanding of certain words have changed considerably. So I have decided to use this testimony to explain the difference between my old and new understanding of certain words, in the hope that it may help you, the reader, understand a little more of the life changing experience that occurs when you accept God into your life.
Church: My old understanding – A building where a few people who were religious went on a Sunday to sing old songs with an out of tune organ. My new understanding – A church is a group of people that come together to worship God and grow His kingdom. That group of people could meet in a house, tent or a big old stone building with a bell in it, it’s irrelevant.
What matters is they are bound together with their love for the Lord, their love for each other and their love for all people. The buildings themselves are irrelevant and I personally think they should be called something other than a church to stop the confusion. A church is a group of people not a building.
Christian: My old understanding – A Christian is someone born in a Christian country. If they want to reinforce the point of being a Christian they could go to church. My new understanding – I am a Christian because I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life.
I am now in Christ and He is in me. Therefore really we should be called (in Christ I am ians). However in man's wisdom we confuse things and call ourselves Christ ians.
God: My old understanding – Now with God I found it a little less complicated because, like most people, I always knew there was a God. Even when I made the classic statement of all non Christians (I don’t believe in God and if there is one, why is there so much wrong in the world). But deep down I knew that God existed. I think we all have a hole inside which we try to fill in different ways. The old me tried to fill that hole with so many different things, including money, booze, drugs, football, music, sex, successes, fame, cars, holidays and a host of other materialistic items.
All of these things fill your hole with desire while you try and get them, but once you achieve them, then they satisfy you for a very short time. Once that fades then you're left with the gaping hole of desire again and a frustration as how to fill it.
My new understanding – God fills that hole right up. You go from having a hole to becoming whole. Once you have accepted God into your life it can be overwhelming the love He shows you. The thing is we are born to have a relationship with God. If we are not having that relationship then we are left with a big hole in our lives.
For me, being a very successful business man with a strong 17 year marriage and two great kids, I thought I had it all, but it was nothing without God. Nothing could fill that hole – Until I found God
The Bible; My old understanding – A book full of stories about such things as David and Goliath and a man performing miracles of wine to water and healing the sick. My new understanding – The bible is a manual for life! In its simplest form you can read the bible from start to finish. It will document mankind starting in the past right through to finish in the future. It will tell of God's early relations with mankind and how He is developing us and teaching us. It tells how Jesus the Son of God was sent to earth to save us all and triumph over the devil. It also tells us what will happen in the future.
The bible though above all else is – The living word of God. God speaks to me through the bible. All of life’s answers are in the bible. I can refer to the bible for any aspect of life. When it comes alive it is an amazing feeling.
I could have read a chapter or verse three times before being a Christian, and not taken a great deal from that chapter or verse. Now, if I'm needing an answer in life, and I'm reading a chapter or verse that I've read before, it just springs out of the page to answer your question - sometimes before you even know you needed to ask the question!
You see, God knows you inside out, He knows you better than you know yourself. So the Bible is God's living word, a tool He can use to speak with me. God uses His Living Word to comfort me and encourage me as well as teaching me, and answering my questions.
Prayer: My old understanding – As a child I prayed every night even though I did not fully understand what I was doing. Why, as adults, do we stop doing this? Other than that, like most people I only prayed when I was in trouble. I thnk most adults do this . Even though we claim not to believe in God, we pray like the clappers when things go wrong, when we are in trouble or our life is in danger. My new understanding – Prayer is the most wonderful gift given to mankind. Anybody can talk directly to God through prayer. He loves to listen to us through our prayers. You can speak to him in any language. You can speak in the Queen's English or your best Geordie. God understands me better than I understand me. I can talk to Him any time I choose through prayer. God not only listens but He answers. I have had every question answered through prayer (not always the answer I wanted), but every prayer answered.
Once I accepted God into my life through Jesus Christ and had faith in the lord then all my prayers have been answered.
Jesus: My old understanding – A mythical Character whom I was told about at Sunday School and Infant and Junior School. My new understanding – Jesus is too big and wonderful to understand or write about. but I will try to give some witness here.
One of the first things to strike me on coming back to church was Jesus. The miracles He performed in healing the sick and the poor, that are documented in the Bible, were wonderful. However the many miracles that He performed in His ministry while on earth are dwarfed by what He has achieved since. These are the miracles carried out every day for the last two thousand years in His name, since Jesus was last with us. The power of Jesus is such that by the mere mention of His name the crippled are cured and the sick are healed.
Jesus is so powerful that it is way beyond our comprehension. I’ve just read and witnessed his huge power on a daily basis in wonder and awe since coming to Christ.
His words and teachings could not be spoken by a mere man. There are many of these great teachings in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However the one which if applied could sort all our problems is to:
Love your neighbour as you love yourself - If we truly loved our fellow man as we love ourselves then all the worlds’ problems could be solved.
- We would not lie to anyone as we would not lie to ourselves.
- We would not envy anyone as surely we would not envy ourselves.
- We would not hate anyone
- We would not try and be better than anyone else.
If the entire world applied that single teaching of Jesus – Love everyone the same as you love yourself. The world would be put right. Terrorism would stop; wars would cease; the rich western world would share with the third world and eradicate poverty and hunger.
NO MAN COULD SPEAK SUCH WORDS OF WISDOM.
ONLY THE SON OF GOD COULD SPEAK SUCH WISDOM.
Barbara from Crawcrook July 2007
I don't remember very much about church as a child, but I do remember collecting all the prayer books and Bibles from the pews, stacking them into piles and playing libraries! That was fun! I dropped out of church in my teens but I did still believe in Jesus.
When I was 21, I went to
Two years later I was excited about getting married and moving to Crawcrook. I started going to the Church of the Holy Spirit and after a little while I prayed a simple prayer and asked Jesus to come into my life. I can remember walking home and feeling very light, as though I was walking on air.
That was nearly 14 years ago and I’ve been learning ever since. I’ve got some things right and some things wrong. I’ve been through some tough times emotionally and spiritually.
Last year, I took part in an Alpha course, which helped enormously because I was able to say sorry to God and repent of some things that had been wrong in my life. As a result, I was filled with such a joy and peace, and a love for Jesus that it is almost impossible to describe. I simply adore Jesus.
God has poured out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit.
Romans 5.5
I need Jesus every day. I depend on Him and am so very grateful to Him for His love and faithfulness. I consider it a privilege to be a Christian.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
Out of the mud and the mire;
He set my feet on a rock And gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song into my mouth, A hymn of praise to our God
Psalm 40 verses 2-3.
With your grace Lord, let me continue to serve you by the power of Your Holy Spirit. You deserve all the glory, honour and praise and I give it all to you.
Annie Brocklebank, 80 years old, from Greenside Feb 2007
Nearly five years ago, I fell and dislocated my right shoulder, and my arm was limited as to how far I could raise it. I had therapy for weeks but that didn’t do anything; I just had to live with it.
But on Thursday 8 February 2007, Revd Clive invited me to go to a Blessing and Healing meeting at Holy Spirit Church, which I attended. The speaker was Stan Smith and his wife JoAnn from
I went home and when I got up on Friday morning, I had a premonition that my shoulder felt different; lifted my arm and it went straight up. To me, it was a miracle from our dear Lord.
Many thanks to Clive, our vicar, and to Stan and JoAnn. May God bless them for my miracle cure. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ who is our Saviour.
Alan Gaynor from Crawcrook Dec 2007
17 years ago, I was diagnosed as having sciatica and osteoarthritis. It was extremely debilitating and resulted in me spending long periods of time lying on the floor in order to get relief from the pain. Despite the best efforts of my physiotherapist, the pain persisted. But I placed the problem in God’s hands. After another eight years I found it increasingly more difficult to carry on with my job as a plumber and so took early retirement. At one stage, my wife Norma even had to put on my socks and shoes for me!
All this changed last year, when Randy Vickers from the Northumbrian Centre of Prayer for Christian Healing, was invited to our church. He shared about God’s healing and that he felt called to pray for someone with ‘back’ problems. As he laid hands and prayed for a lady, in front of the whole church, I had an immediate sensation of intense heat on my spine. And I knew that God had touched and healed me, through the power of His Holy Spirit.
A week later, I woke up with these words in my mind “He touched me, He touched me, Oh the joy that touched my soul. Something has happened and now I know He touched me and made me whole”. It’s now 2007 and my healing is still there. Here in the grace of God I stand.
Testimony by Clive Devonish
God speaks through His Holy Scriptures!
After about five years of interviews at a local level and responding to the many recommendations given to me, I had finally made it to a Selection Conference to become a Vicar. At last I made it, I had managed to jump all the hurdles they put in front of me!
The interview that lay ahead of me was three days long at Chester Retreat House. I can recall going to there with a deep excitement in my heart. Day One, the first part of the interview, as far as I was concerned went well. So did Day Two. On the Saturday evening of Day Two, when I was in prayer, the Lord clearly told me to read a passage in the Old Testament - Deut 2:7.
"The Lord your God has blessed you with everything you have undertaken. He has watched over your journey through this great wilderness; these forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have gone short of nothing."
The amazing part of this scripture was that I had just reached the age of forty, and I knew God's calling was upon me and was very aware of His presence in my life. Although I did not always acknowledge His presence when I lived in the wilderness, He still watched over me and I went short of nothing.
This scripture was to be my support for the news which was revealed very shortly after my interview - I was not recommended for training for full-time ministry. This obviously was a great disappointment to me. It was certainly an emotional time for me - questions such as - 'Why God?' 'Why have you led me to this situation' - Why this - Why that?
He kept leading me back to the passage in Deuteronomy. Then I realised that it was all in His hands and that whatever happened there must be a purpose in it. After all, He had blessed over forty years of my life and whatever happened, I believed good would come out of it.
I subsequently went for an interview with my local Bishop, who was also disappointed (after all he recommended me). He promised to send me again, in two years time, for another Selection Conference (two years being the minimum time between interviews).
During those two years after my initial disappointment and loads of self-pity I experienced the most wonderful times with the Lord. He led me into areas where my faith grew stronger and stronger. I experienced miracles and an immense power and fearlessness in my life. It was a wonderful preparation for the calling upon my life in full-time-ministry.
The good news is that after the break of two years, I went back for interview again at a Retreat House in Northampton - where I was recommended for training.