I can’t really write about my life before I was a Christian, as I made a commitment to ask Jesus into my life at the age of about four. My parents had recently split up and we were living with my uncle at the time. My Granddad who I knew well, led me to Christ in his living room. Although that was only the beginning, I’m sure it has a huge significance. However although I did say that I can’t really write about my life before I was a Christian, I can talk about my life before I made a solid commitment to follow God. I grew up with a belief in God, but I didn’t really understand his relevance in my life. I found it somewhat irrational though when people said that there was no God, and also somewhat sad. Because of my Christian family I knew a lot about the bible for someone of my age. A friend of mine often joked that my best subject was Religious Education but this knowledge I had meant very little because although I knew about God I didn’t know him. What I mean to say is that I didn’t have an intimate relationship with him.

Anyway I got older (obviously), and late primary school/early secondary school I had a few friends that didn’t influence me very well, and also I started lying to my parents, and things of this note. God has forgiven me though and still does forgive me for what I do wrong, and because of what Christ has done It’s finished, so I feel no guilt now.

At about the age of thirteen some Americans came to my school and also my church, I basically recommitted my life to God that night. They asked people if they wanted to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, I went forward and later was able to speak in tongues. I found (well began to find), that a relationship with God was achievable, a deep relationship that goes way beyond a bible class, or the words in a hymn. Shortly after that I went to this camp called Bonsal with the church youth group Eternity. It was a great week, and I made some great friends that still are great friends. I won’t mention names because you know who you are.

It would be great to say that things have been ‘hunky dory’ from then onwards but that simply isn’t true. I discovered I had a few, how do you say, mental problems. It was basically mild OCD, (obsessive compulsive disorder). This meant I would wash my hands ridiculously frequently, and would have to check plug sockets for fires etc. I also was often depressed. Now (the present day), those problems especially the OCD, are pretty much gone, and it was God that brought me through. I have found that by depending on him, I can get through anything, because he’s bigger than everything, although that’s something that’s hard to come to terms with.

One area that God’s blessed me in is my music – I love music! I think it’s the best of all the arts. I was a terrible singer when I was younger, and when I expressed a wish to learn the guitar, my step father said he thought ‘your never going to get very far with that", so partly to prove him wrong, and because of some strange desire to learn it, I picked up the guitar quite quickly, I then started to write songs. This is something that’s become an addiction – I can’t stop (please note that this isn’t linked with OCD). I found that my German tutor, also a church member had a brother that owned a mini recording studio, anyway she put in a good word for me, and booked me in for a couple of days. I think that God has given me a good ability, although I hope I’m not big headed, and I feel he will use me to make him famous.

It’s hard to follow God, but it’s worth it, and I believe that as a church if we really seek his face we’ll definitely start to find there’s much more that he has for us, we might even find we have a revival on our hands.