I have
always
floated
around
the
periphery
of
Christianity.
We had
hymn
singing
and
prayers
everyday
at
school
but my
family
never
really
attended
church
and I
felt
kind
of
weird
for
being
interested
in
Jesus
and
never
really
pursued
my
inner
searching.
I
first
came
to
know
Jesus
through
a
horrific
attack
when I
was
21. I
lived
in
South
Africa
at the
time
and
was
attacked
by a
burglar
who’d
broken
into
our
home
while
I was
out at
college.
I
don’t
know
how I
survived
but
once I
managed
to get
away
from
my
assailant,
I
locked
myself
in the
bathroom
and
stayed
there
until
some
help
arrived,
some
two
hours
later.
During
this
solitary
confinement,
I
recalled
a
passage
from a
daily
prayer
book
that
someone
had
passed
on to
me a
few
days
before.
The
passage
I’d
read
had
been
about
a
pilot
during
the
first
Gulf
War
who
had
been
so
frightened
during
the
missions
that
the
only
thing
he
could
remember
was
‘Jesus
loves
me
this I
know,
for
the
Bible
tells
me
so’. I
repeated
this
for
those
full
two
hours
and I
know
during
that
time,
I was
not
alone.
But
like
many
people,
once
the
crisis
was
over,
I put
Jesus
on the
back
burner
and
carried
on
with
my
life.
It had
it’s
ups
and
downs
and I
taught
at
various
church
schools
so I
figured
I was
getting
enough
religion
– as
if it
were
vitamins!
At one
point
I did
an
Alpha
course
which
was
okay
but
unlike
most
people,
I
didn’t
get a
heck
of a
lot
out of
it and
once
again,
I put
my
relationship
with
God to
one
side.
The
amazing
thing
is,
God
has a
plan
for
each
of us
and He
won’t
give
up
even
when
we get
distracted.
At
many
different
times
in my
life,
God
has
sent
Christians
to
witness
to me,
to
plant
the
seeds
which
would
eventually
blossom
and
grow.
One of
these
people
was my
Pilates
teacher,
Annie.
I came
to
know
Annie
after
a
number
of
physiotherapists
recommended
I do
some
kind
of
exercise
for my
back.
Over
the
years,
Annie
talked
about
her
faith
but we
never
really
went
into a
lot of
detail.
Then,
two
years
ago,
my
life
hit
rock
bottom.
I had
been
suffering
with
depression
on and
off
for
years
but
this
time I
couldn’t
cope
any
longer
and I
tried
to
commit
suicide.
The
dark
thoughts,
the
false
promises
of
astrology
and
the
material
world
had
lured
me
into
believing
that I
was
worthless
and
had
nothing
to
live
for.
In the
darkest
time,
I felt
God’s
presence.
Although
I
desperately
wanted
to end
the
pain
by
ending
my
life,
He
promised
there
was
another
way
and I
had to
get
help.
Several
weeks
later,
after
I had
started
taking
medication,
Annie
innocently
asked
me how
I was
and
within
seconds
I was
in
floods
of
tears.
A few
days
later
we
went
out
and
got
talking
about
Jesus.
Clayton’s
Lounge
in
Marlow
is
normally
a
lively
hang
out
for
the
Bucks
social
set,
that
night
it was
the
place
where
I
poured
my
heart
out to
Annie
–
tears
and
all!
That
Sunday,
Annie
sent
me a
text
and
invited
me to
St
Peters,
since
I had
nothing
better
to do,
I went
along.
That
morning
I was
massively
convicted
by the
Holy
Spirit
and I
knew
there
was no
way I
could
carry
on my
life
the
way it
had
been,
I
needed
Jesus
and I
needed
to
have a
living
and
active
relationship
with
God.
That
first
morning
at St
Peters
I was
again
crying
my
eyes
out
and
across
on the
other
balcony,
I saw
a very
tall
man
doing
some
silly
dancing
to the
worship
music.
Through
my
tears
I
burst
out
laughing
and
felt
that
this
place
would
be a
good
place
for me
to be.
In
September
2005 I
married
that
tall
man –
Matt -
at St
Peters!
I must
point
out,
however,
that
it
took
him a
full
year
to
notice
me! I
feel
very
blessed
to
have
Matt
in my
life
as
well
as the
love
and
support
of the
people
at St
Peters.
But
most
of
all,
knowing
that I
have
‘Freedom
in
Christ’
and
that
He’s
part
of my
life;
I
think
that’s
the
best
bit.
Fiona
and
Matt -
September
2005
Permission
to use
this
story
has
been
granted
by
Fiona.
