Members
The Warrington Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (F G B M F I) hold monthly dinner meetings which are open to all men and women to attend, as shared by Stuart Cripps (in the audio clip attached below). After dinner guest speakers are invited from a wide range of professional and business backgrounds to share about what a difference it makes to their lives to have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
These Christian speakers do not preach and the F.G.B.M.F.I is not a church, but we seek to give an opportunity to all who come from any church or non-church background to hear something of the reality of the presence of God and His power at work within our lives.
The Officers of the Warrington Chapter are currently:
President: Dave Riley, Vice Presidents: Stuart Cripps and Keith Redhead, Secretary: Dave Byrne, Treasurer: Alan Davies, Prayer Coordinator: Bob Carroll, Voice Director and Membership Sectretary: Frank and Sonia Pratley.
Members of the Warrington Chapter are also invited to speak at other groups throughout the North West Region, the U.K. and in Europe. Some of their real life stories (testimonies) are given below:
Stuart Cripps “I was 23 years old when, having satisfied my scientific intellect that God must exist, I met a close friend who, having just become a Christian, claimed to have a personal relationship with God. I did not really believe that the infinitely powerful creator of the universe would possibly have any personal involvement with men and women on planet earth and I was not looking for anything from God. I had all I needed in life: a good job, an active sporting and social life and a young wife, Anne, with whom I was happy to spend the rest of my life. Church or religion just did not figure in our plans for continued enjoyment of life. However, this friend of ours was quite a normal mentally stable person, who appeared to be very sincere in her new found beliefs; so much so, that it drove me to my first ever real prayer: “God I know you exist, but if you exist in a way that can hear me, please show me the TRUTH.” On the very next Monday evening, the vicar from the local church was knocking at the door! For some unprecedented reason we had attended the previous Sunday evening service and ‘politely’ told the vicar we didn’t understand a word of his sermon. He had come round to answer a few questions! Well, I fired loads of questions at him, and he just calmly turned the pages of the Bible and found satisfactory answers to every question. Faced at the end of the evening with his one question: “Is there any reason why you shouldn’t become a Christian?” We had no answer – the TRUTH of his answers, which pointed to JESUS as the saviour and only WAY to LIFE (John 14 v 6), had been revealed from God’s words in the Bible. We both prayed for forgiveness for leaving Jesus out of our lives and asked Him to come into our lives to be our saviour and Lord. It happened. Although we didn’t feel any different at the time, Anne and I were born again that evening and we started personal relationships with God as our heavenly Father through accepting Jesus as the Son of God. We prayed to God often, but it was over six months before I heard God speak to me. In over 25 years as a Christian, God has spoken to me many times and I have witnessed some amazing signs and wonders following God’s words. These have included miracles, even an earthquake, healings and the greatest miracle of all: people becoming Christians and receiving God’s free gift of eternal life and a personal relationship with Him. Stuart is Vice President of the Warrington Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and is also the FGBMFI Director for the North West Region of the UK. He regularly speaks at the FGBMFI meetings throughout the UK, when he shares in more detail his story of how he discovered the TRUTH about life as a Christian as well as a scientist. . . .
Dave Riley: From Cop to Jesus !
The First Challenge After a Comprehensive Education and one of the first pupils to start on this stream of education. I left school with 2 'Levels. One 'O' Level in Geometric Engineering Drawing and a 'Spirit Level, in Woodwork. However it was at this Comprehensive School in Liverpool that I was first challenged by Jesus. It was during one particular R.E. lesson that I first heard : but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39, NIV). This was at a time when the battle for 'Cock' of the school, was a very much sought after title for which there were many contenders. I managed to avoid being caught up in any battles, but was soon to consider, (because of the way in which the teacher had put this lesson over) that if somehow Jesus, could be my 'mate' then somehow it would be possible to do what he was saying in this scripture. I have to say I soon dismissed it as folly but will remember the feeling I had that day for the rest of my life. It was a This led me into the city centre of Liverpool where I worked for several years which turned out to be a costly affair and led us to the verge of bankruptcy. I had without realising embarked upon a routine of going out on the town and painting it red, whenever we had been involved in a good arrest. This not only put a strain on our bank account but also our marriage. In 1984, my elder brother, Neil, whom I had followed into the Air Force on his recommendation. Had found Jesus and to be honest became very much of a problem for us, as he kept thrusting his new found faith down our throats, I had reached in August of 1985, the point where I was about to discourage him from calling again, unless he would keep this new found faith to himself. I was satisfied that I had nothing to find this religion for. After all I was a 'Big City Cop' who had not gone out to hurt anyone, other than in self defence and tried whenever possible, to treat people as I would expect to be treated, if the 'shoe was on the other foot' so to speak. It was around this time, I met a local 'village bobby' whom I had befriended 'out in the sticks' where we live. (Bob Carroll) He would walk around with his push bike and after inviting him in for a brew, we became friendly with him as a family. He turned out to be one of these 'Born Again Christians' who told me that if ever I had any questions or problems about what Neil had been telling us, that he would be happy to explain as best he could and said that I could contact him at any time of the day or night regardless of the time. This impressed me greatly and although I didn't ring him I actually dreampt one night that I had given my life to Jesus and awoke the following morning telling my wife Jeanette, about the dream and we both laughed it off as all that stuff Neil had told us was playing on my mind. However from that moment on I remember feeling such a beautiful peace flooding over me and feeling as though I was walking on air for at least 4 days. This was a strange but very wonderful sense of contentment with a overwhelming assurance that God was in control of my life. Then all of a sudden, although I didn't realise it then, a sense of being cheated started to flood over me, where I found myself saying, "Fancy creeping up on me when I was unconscious in my sleep". The enemy was trying to rob me of what God had done and I was believing him. I went to Bob explained what was going on and on 3rd August 1985. Together with Bob and a Jewish believer I gave my life to Jesus in Bobs back kitchen, knowing this was for real and was fully awake. This started off a chain of events which led to my being re-united with my sister whom I had grown so far away from due to childhood hurts which had created within me a hatred and indifference toward her, which was so strong, but one which I felt was perfectly justified. God thought otherwise and was quick to act moving on my heart in the only the way He could. Convicting me of my sin and giving me the grace to go and ask my sister for forgiveness. That moment was a wonderful moment, which I never thought, would ever be possible. In the April of 1986 I was posted into the 'Traffic Division' and for me completion had arrived. I was the happiest bobby in the whole of the Merseyside force. I was ecstatic I had arrived. I remained in 'Traffic' for nine years where my new found faith was never hidden and having 'nailed my colours to the mast' I came under a lot of suspicion and became the object of considerable scoffing. God was good to me and I fell more and more in Love with Him but I also became more and more in Love with my job. Soon after in December 1996, I was struck down with what was eventually diagnosed as being M. E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which it is more commonly known as now. This was to affect me for 2+1/2 yrs or more and resulted in a further 7 months off work before being allowed to return, on restricted duties, which would over a period of time, build up to an eventual return to full duties. It was during this time of being very weak in strength and more depressed than ever. I met an Australian ex- RUC policeman who had a Doctorate in Theology, Dr. Norman Campbell who whilst touring Britain spoke these words of healing into my Spirit. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31, KJV). This for me was a word, which was to change not only the way I was to look at this illness but also showed me a clear sense of direction and a certain trust I could place in God to see me through. Dr. Campbell was speaking to others but I knew that word was for me. I claimed it, believed it and received it as being for me. Then all I had to do was wait until God worked it out for me. I can tell you now that I have more Spiritual strength than I had before. My zeal and spiritual fervour is continually seeking God and I am now more willing than ever to serve Him, that the Father may be Glorified. In myself I am nothing but with Jesus all things are possible. What seemed impossible for such a long time became possible. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27, KJV). . . .
ROBERT CARROLL: Real Life Story
It was 1943 when I was born in St.Helens, a large industrial town in the north west of England. The son of a coal minor, I was brought up in accordance with strict Roman Catholic orthodoxy. I recall as an altar boy being able to recite Latin parrot fashion without understanding a single word. At the age of fifteen years, it was the standard practice to leave school, albeit without the ability to read or write. The latter becoming apparent when I failed the entrance exam’s for the junior Irish Guards. I think the recruiting sergeant was desperate when to years later I was able to enlist into the Lancashire Regiment. THE ARMY I joined the regular army as a professional soldier in December 1960 and was posed to Fullwood Barracks Preston, Lancashire, for my basic training. Following my three months of the army turning me from a civilian to a trained soldier they posted me to my regiment who were part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), near to the town of Hilden, West Germany. During this period two specific things happened. Firstly, I became tied to drink (alcohol) and the freedom to lust myself in the nightlife of some of the large towns and cities of Northern Europe. The second was that in the course this new freedom, my religious upbringing began to disintegrate! This collapse of my childhood faith continued until the time I found myself serving in Swaziland; when one day, I was sent home on compassionate grounds. The reason, my mother had but a few weeks to live. The army were good to me at the time, but sadly my mother died just four weeks after I arrived back in the UK. The affect of her death was dramatic both on me and the rest of my family. I shall never forget telling my five year old sister that her mum had gone to heaven. I decided at that very moment not to belief in God? ACTIVE SERVICE In 1967, I went with my regiment to Aden Conflict, now known as the Aden war of Independence. While I was both Up Country on the border with Northern Yemen and whilst down in Aden itself, I found myself regularly having made contact with insurgents who tried every trick in the book to kill British Soldiers. Sadly, they succeed time and time again. For me, it was a particular stressful time because I was a combat medic and some of those killed or badly wounded were amongst my closest friends. I would say, that If there was every a time I should have believed in God, it was then. I did try; I even went to a service. The priest who took the service did so to a concert of heavy machine gun fire. Eventually though, the thought of a God who would allow young men to die was just too much. I left Aden with two medals and a citation for treating casualties under fire. The following year, I spent one year and six months on Malta a very Roman Catholic place, where St Paul found him self sick wrecked. I saw the big fine cathedrals in the capital Valetta. I witnessed the prostitutes who seemed to be in harmony with the Catholic Church. It didn’t take long to get a picture of religious hypocrisy at highest level. If that religion – you can keep it, I said. NORTHERN IRELAND In 1969, I found my self on the streets of Northern Ireland and patrolling the border region known as bandit Country. Only again to be confronted by a religious bigotry, that caused the needles loss of so much life. COUNTY POLICE !970 brought a change of direction when I left the army and became a member of the Police Force. During my early years, I had both laughter and heartbreak. But perhaps the greatest event to take place was the courtship and marriage of my wife Maureen who brought two wonderful daughters into this world. I believe God had His hand on me at this stage, because Maureen had the experience of being “Born Again” yet she still married me? The bulk of my service was in the traffic department and after dealing a high amount a fatal casualties from road traffic accidents began to affect me. So, the powers to be transferred me to be the local bobby of the village where I now live. It was here that I started to search for the answer to life. While I was asking questions about various faiths, a number of incidents happened. Firstly, although I worked a cycle beat, I was worked in tandem with a Christian Police officer, and when there was a need, I would work with him in His beat car. I recall one day, after accepting I was a sinner, telling him I would never find a priest to forgive my sins and that I was doomed to spend eternity in hell. In fact Satan would already have my locker and coal fork ready for me. My colleague, Dave said, no Bob, “For God so loved the world He died for your sins!” He left it at that. Later, I went to the scene of a suicide, a man had gassed himself to death. When I had finished with all that had to be done, I left the scene. Pushing my police cycle along a country road, I now call my Damascus Road! I was half way down the road, when my mind was taken into the clouds. The scene became a court room with a judge sat perched high up. My name was called, a book was opened. It was full of black finger marks which I saw as my sins. “Have you any answer” said the judge? I didn’t. He said Guilty. At that moment I came back to the realm of reality. I sweating a cold sweat and I whilst experiencing pure fear, the like I had never experienced in all my life. Not even in battle torn Aden or on the streets of Northern Ireland. A couple of Sundays later, I was walking along the same road, it was spring and it felt good to be alive. As I passed a local parish hall, I could hear the singing of chorus like hymns coming from the building. I had only got about ten paces past the hall when some invisible force took hold of me. It turned me around. The Only way I could go was back to the parish hall were I discovered a Christian Fellowship was meeting for worship, praise and proclaiming the word of God. After some small talk, I left with a mixture and peace. I couldn’t wait to get home to tell my wife. It was a few weeks later when I had been invited to a meeting to be held at a gospel hall. My police friend and colleague Dave who had spoken the words, For God so loved the World, but never elaborated on it, who took me. As the speaker was going to the platform and the congregation were still talking, something strange took place. I saw myself rising out of my body. There was an eerie silence. Then without realising it I was speaking to some one about all the problems of the planet and why did God allow wars, crime and all the vicious things of life. The voice was gentle. It said that He (God) had given man a choice. He said He had sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins. Lord, I prayed, I have been such a sinner, forgive me. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. Be the Lord of my life. At that very moment, it was as though I had been snapped out from some hypnotic trance. I knew I was crying, but I didn’t know that I had been born again. That only came later. Though a few days after I was saved, I felt deeply hurt when heard some one taking the Lord’s name in vain! BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Shortly after, I was baptised both by full immersion in water and came out baptised in the Holy Spirit. How do I know? Firstly, I physically felt that chains had come off me. Secondly, I knew in my heart that something extremely special had taken within me – I knew that I had been changed – I felt that I was new creation. MY FIRST HEALING Just before I left the police force, I was deeply troubled with severe back pain. I saw a consultant who diagnoses a bad case of arthritis. In simple terms the doctor said, you will be wheelchair bound with a few years time. In the meanwhile, in as admitted to hospital and put on traction. After a day or so, it was obvious I was under severe stress. I recall vividly going first into tears and then into prayer for many hours. When suddenly a great peace descended upon me; starting at my head and working through my body. The following morning the doctor took me off the traction. Today over twenty years later I am still not in that wheel chair. LIFE CHANGING - An Ambassador for Christ! To know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is life changing! Through the influence of the Holy Spirit I began my re education in the English language. I completed a theological diploma wit the Theological college of South Africa. I obtain a BA Degree in Biblical studies followed by a Masters Degree, then a PhD and Doctor of Theology, finally I was mad a fellow of the European Theological Seminar. A long way from my youthful days of being almost illiterate. My life is now spent building relationships between Jewish and Christian communities. The Lord as taken me from having lunch in the White to counselling the counsellors at New York’s ground zero, from government offices in Jerusalem to the synagogue of Dublin. I have met with Arab terrorist to Foreign office Ministers in the British Foreign Office. Many times the Lord has saved me from imminent dangers of terrorist activities; I have been invited into the London foreign embassy life, made friend with ambassadors. I could not have done any of these things without Jesus Christ in my life. In each place and on every occasion I have felt the anointing and presence of the Holy Spirit. I recall one day waiting in a room at the Foreign Office in London, reserved for ambassadors and other senior diplomats, when I felt the Lord saying that I was now an ambassador for Him HIS GLORY When ever I have faced the problems of life, be in my health or my lack of wealth, Jesus as been there, day by day, hour by hour – 24/7. I give Him all the glory! For I know that I am rich in Him! Amen. I lived in Garswood on the outskirts of Wigan. I am married to a wonderful Christian wife, with two daughters who are both married and have the pleasure and blessing of two grand daughters. (For the moment).
Dave Byrne: from Religion to Reality
My father was a Roman Catholic and my mother was a Protestant. They married in a Protestant Church so the Catholic’s excommunicated my father. So as far as my parents were concerned, GOD, JESUS or any other religious figures were not mentioned in our home and neither of them went to any churches, unless it was to celebrate birth, marriages or funerals. During my childhood I was forced to go to the local C of E church Sunday School until I became a teenager. Then I was allowed to choose my own church. I chose the Methodist church as they had a better youth club and football team. I went to the local Grammar School and got a grade 2 “O” Level in Religious Education, as I concentrated on the New Testament and learned it as a story. It meant nothing to me. At the age of 17yrs I joined the Lancashire Constabulary as a Police Cadet. I became the “black sheep” of the family as my dad and brother worked for British Gas. On February 28th 1972, at the age of 19yrs I became Police Constable 449 and was supposedly being sent to Barrow. My father had recently suffered a heart attack so I requested a posting nearer to home. Thankfully I was given St.Helens. I was taken around my first beat by a senior constable, Neville Corrigan. He looked like a mannequin. He was immaculate, with razor like creases in his uniform and very shiny boots, but he did not arrest many people. He gave me some simple advice that helped me throughout my career. He told me to speak to members of the public for the first time, in a manner that I would want a Constable to speak to my parents when they first meet. If that approach does not work, then I can escalate the volume and language to match theirs. If I was to go into a situation in the wrong manner it can go horribly wrong very quickly. As it turned out Neville was a Christian but did not tell anyone about it. In February 1979 I met Margaret and fell in love. She was a Christian, but I did not “hold it against her”. Within 9 weeks of meeting her, we were engaged to be married. I now had to add her favourite Christmas Eve midnight services to my list of church visits. We were married in St. John The Baptist church on 2nd August 1980. I wanted it to be an engagement of over 12months to disprove a rumour in the Police, that Margaret must be pregnant. Our daughter Catherine was born on 28th March 1982 and our son Carl born on 23rd September 1983. Both were baptised at our church just to please Margaret. Some time in 1989, I was posted to a new type of job in the Police working from Newton Le Willows Police Office. Part of my job was to interview members of the public, either as witnesses of incidents, or people suspected of committing offences in other Police Force areas. One Sunday afternoon I had finally managed to interview a witness in North Ashton, after trying to find him for months. When I came out of this man’s home I looked across the road and saw a man doing his gardening. It was fireman I knew from Newton Fire Station. I was asked in for a cup of tea and being a usual type of “bobby” I accepted. During the conversation in the kitchen, this couple were suddenly bathed in sunlight and I was asked about what Faith I had and did I know JESUS. Suddenly the voice that I was hearing appeared to change to a voice that I did not recognise as being from either the fireman or his wife. It was calmer and deeper. After a few minutes I made my excuses and left. On the way back to the office I was confused and a bit troubled. I went home and as I got in my wife Margaret told me that our friends, Pam and Ray, were coming to visit us that evening and I should hurry up and eat my tea. I told her that she could stay at home and see to them as I was going to church. I heard something drop in the kitchen and Margaret came in to check on what she had just heard me say. When I confirmed it she immediately got on the phone to our friends to tell them to cancel and the reason. She met a long silence of (no doubt) unbelief. We all went as a family that night to St. John The Baptist Church. This was Margaret’s church, our local C. Of E. Church. I was told by my boss to change my shift patterns, shortly after this day, and to do a regular Monday to Friday office system. This meant that I could go to church twice every Sunday in an effort to know more about this man Jesus. After I had been going to church for a few months, I saw that they had a need for someone else who would be willing to work the public address system, as only one member of the congregation could work it properly. As I considered volunteering I was asked by this man to help him. I got to know the equipment and it eventually became my role, as this man and his family moved to another part of the country. I became well known in the church and was asked to stand for the church council. To my surprise I was elected and had 12 months on the council. The next year one of the two wardens had decided not to stand again for the position. I was asked to stand for election as a prospective churchwarden with three other members of our congregation. To my great surprise I was elected with another new member of the church. During my period as warden the inner part of the church was thoroughly modernised, and thanks be to GOD that the monies required were raised to pay for it. I was in the third year of my position as warden when I returned from annual leave to my office job in the Police and found that I had been posted back to a car beat on 3 shifts. I thought to myself “Lord what are you doing? I cannot carry on as warden with the new shift pattern!” It was obvious that I would have to resign at the next A.G.M. After a short period of time Bob Carroll, the Christian Police Assosiation Co-ordinator here on Merseyside, invited me to the inaugural meeting of the Cumbria branch and to sit in on the BSSC meeting to get the feel of it all. (Bob had, in fact, been acting as caretaker until a serving officer was able to take the job on, in compliance with the CPA rules). I started attending branch meetings and went to the National Assembly in the northeast. It was there that I felt that the Lord wanted me to take over from Bob as Branch Secretary, as he was a retired officer. I contacted the CPA Headquarters and was interviewed and approved to do the job. I formed a leadership team of five including myself and things started to go quite well. In May 1995, I had been invited to go to the International Christian Community Centre in Wigan by my sister-in-law. We went to the 6 pm service and we really enjoyed it. I decided that the times of service were right for me to attend on a more frequent basis. On Sunday 21st May we took one of our friends, Justine, with us to the church. I cannot remember the preacher’s name but he was preaching, as if to me, about being Born Again and that doing “good works” was not good enough. I realised that I had become one of those people who thought that they were doing good work for the Lord, that I was ‘safe’. He asked those in the congregation who either wanted the Lord in their life for the first time or re-affirm to then say the sinners’ prayer with him. I said the prayer. He asked those who had said the prayer to put up their hands whilst everyone was still praying. I put up my hand. He then asked for us to step out in Faith and come to the front, so that we could receive individual prayers. I opened my eyes and found myself walking down the aisle towards the front. I looked up and there was only me there. I asked the Lord for someone else to join me and I looked up to my right, and to my surprise Margaret and Justine had also come to the front. We were all Born Again that night. I now started to feel very different, but still thought that there was something missing. Margaret and I were invited to be baptised in church the next Sunday evening. Margaret agreed to it, but I was supposed to be working. I was acting Sergeant that day on afternoon shift. I asked to be put on the list and if GOD wanted it to happen, then I will be there. I went to work and asked for cover for a couple of hours by the St.Helens sergeant. (This could only be confirmed on the day, subject to any serious incidents taking place.) I was waiting for my answer on that Sunday and asking GOD in PRAYER to help me, when a stolen car drove past me. I started to follow it in my small Ford Fiesta Police car. I used the radio to alert my colleagues but did not expect the car to stay in my sight for long. To my surprise the car stopped after a few hundred yards and the occupants did not run away!! When asked why they had not run away, they stated that they had known me for years and knew that in a Court, I would have been believed and not them. So it was pointless for them to run away. So GOD did not want be to be baptised that night. I was eventually baptised the next month. I then knew what had been missing from my life. Since then our marriage has grown stronger, with less strife. Like everyone else we have had problems, but we know that GOD has HIS hands on us and is leading the way. My arrest rates grew with not guilty pleas being very rare. In April 1999 I was at a C.P.A. meeting, when I clearly felt that I should step down as leader of the Merseyside Branch by the millennium. Dave Riley took over from me. On 4th March 2002 I took my 30yrs Police Pension and retired at the grand old age of 49yrs. This was far too young and I soon got bored. Dave Riley saw an advert by the D.S.A. (Driving Standards Agency) for driving examiners. He advised me to apply and it was GOD’s will that I was successful. Everything fell into place for me. PRAISE GOD. I now take learner drivers for their practical driving test in cars. At the time of writing this (February 2006) I have been in this job for just over 3yrs. I say a quite PRAYER at the start of each test for GOD’s will to be done and the correct result. I must have the record of only having received 1 letter of complaint in all that time and in over 4000 tests. In 2004 I joined the Warrington Branch of the FGBMFI and I really enjoy the meetings. It is great to hear how OUR LORD has changed peoples lives. I am now the secretary and using my organising skills again for OUR LORD. I hope that my testimony will help some of its readers. I am still a sinner trying to do my best to please GOD. The LORD JESUS CHRIST came down to earth as a baby, lived on earth as a child/man and died on that cross for my sins. I can never thank him enough for that. I simply want to GLORIFY GOD in my life style, until that GREAT DAY WHEN JESUS RETURNS and calls us home, to be with him for eternity in HEAVEN. If you do not know JESUS as your LORD and SAVIOUR, do not delay. Do it today because tomorrow may be too late!!!!!!
Science and Christianity do mix !
Stuart is a scientist employed by AMEC as a technical manager in the nuclear power and radiological safety fields. Whilst he was at university, he proved to his own satisfaction that an all-powerful God must exist. Using the second law of thermodynamics and Einstein’s theory of relativity, Stuart explains that the theory of evolution is not supported by scientific evidence and that the creator of the universe exists outside our perceived limits of time and space. However, he also demonstrates how he went on to prove through personal experience that God can have a personal relationship with any individual who has become a Christian.
sort of reassuring confidence which would allow me the boldness to to try. After leaving school I started an apprenticeship with the Liverpool City Water Works as an apprentice mechanic. I completed my apprenticeship when I left the Water Board to join the Royal Air Force, where I stayed for some 3 yrs. I left the aAir Force in order to marry my wife in 1978. In 1979 I
joined the Merseyside Police with the aspirations of joining the Traffic Department. However before this could be achieved I had to prove myself worthy of such a calling ?
in the early hours of the morning he never turned me away. The Second Challenge. My brother Neil asked me the question. "What sort of a relationship do you have with God"? It was at this point I gave him an answer which I felt had answered his question but deep inside. I realised that I did not have any relationship with Him. To me He was some God who was far away and useful for praying to when I wanted Liverpool to win ! And to help me through the Toxteth Riots in 1981, to come out unscathed.
This love of the job must have in some way offended God and I was deselected from 'Traffic' in its first downsizing programme in 1995.
From me. To me through him I was so affected by this decision that I went into a clinical depression which took several months of treatment and counselling before I was able to return to work with any sort of confidence. My new Sgt. were doubtful of how much of a contribution I would be to their section, believing they were about to get a de-motivated and switched off bobby who would be more of a burden than a support and help. It turned out they were wrong and one Sgt in particular commented in a staff appraisal, of just how pleased he was to discover that I was prepared to work and worked hard within the team. He was such a help and support that I will always remember his kindness and belief in me.
INTRODUCTION
Colin Pownall: Real Life Story My name is Colin Pownall, I am 60 years old, married to Anita and have 4 children and 2 grand children. I had been brought up in childrens homes, then mental hospitals, then from one prison to another. My life was filled with hatred for all people fuelled by drug addiction and alcoholism. Motor bikes have always been part of my life but usually on the wrong side of the law. Before I became a christian I broke most of Gods laws and knew I was on a one way trip to hell. 25 years ago I went into a church meeting and heard someone talking about a living Jesus. I had tried most things in life but never given Jesus a thought. That night I gave my life to Jesus and the response was immediate. I was filled with love and at long last I had found a family to love me. That night transformed my life. I still ride my bikes but now its with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. I travel the world telling others about the Jesus who changed my life and gave me a life worth living. 
Charlie Hale
Mob:07968778352
e-mail: christian@charliehale.co.uk
website: http://www.charliehale.co.uk
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For many years Job's a good Un! was the catch phrase of Television Comedian Charlie Hale, his catch phrase now is God's a good un!
Keith Redhead 
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Keith is a travelling salesman in the textile industry. For many years he has travelled throughout the northern half of the UK, representing his employer and also his Saviour Jesus Christ. He has been a member of FGBMFI for over 20 years and has a living testimony of God's power for life, including his own miraculous healing from multiple slerosis. God is alive!
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David Harrison: the Taxman cometh ! 
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How I gave my life to Jesus and how it all started with a letter from the Taxman. I was born in 1955, in Leicester and baptised in the Catholic Church. I imagine we were a fairly typical ‘practising’ Catholic family in that we use to attend Sunday Mass and observe ‘Holy Days of Obligation’, but outside of these observances I don’t recall that we ever talked about Jesus or that we read the Bible at home. When I was 16 years old and my brother was 14, we moved out of Leicester to a remote village. Things seemed really great at first, but then my parents started to argue more frequently. The following January my father left my mother for somebody else. My mother started drinking more heavily and it saddens me now that I really wasn’t much help to her at all. As well as everything else, she had to bear the brunt of all my anger and frustration. Two years later to escape, I left for college and went to Bristol. During the next three years although I would stop going to church for periods at a time, I was always drawn back. At home, my mum’s drinking was getting steadily worse. Summers had been spent as a youth leader, helping to run holidays for diabetic children. It was at one of these camps in August 1977 that I met my wife, Anne. I had no doubt that she was the girl I was to marry. We were engaged the following February and married in August 1979. Not long after we were married, Anne persuaded me one evening to attend a charismatic mass. I was apprehensive and my worst fears were confirmed when I witnessed what I believed was some form of cult worship. I was shaking and couldn’t get away quickly enough. I vowed never to go to anything like that ever again. When Lucy our first child was three and Anne was pregnant with Emily, we left to spend three years on secondment in South Africa. Increasingly I was spending more and more time at work in the false belief that it was for the benefit for my family. Late nights at work meant not having to face up to my responsibilities at home. By the time we came to leave South Africa, I had become selfish and insensitive and I was drinking more heavily. Simon, our third child, was just a few months old. I moved from job to job and we moved house many times. I travelled on business to various parts of the world including the Republic of China, Bangladesh, the Far East and the Middle East. I enjoyed travelling and was attracted by the prestige of negotiating big computer projects and all the intrigue that went with it. This entailed spending long periods at a time away from home, but even when I was at home there would be many a day when I didn’t see the children during their waking hours. This was having a particularly bad effect on Simon and it showed in his behaviour. Simon and I were slowly but surely moving apart. There was a lot of anger in me and it must have been especially frightening for him. Visits to his teachers were becoming a regular occurrence. My father died of cancer in 1995, but I had grieved at the loss of him many years earlier. Throughout, whilst Anne continued to be a witness to Christ, I was there in body, but little else. Increasingly, although doing ‘good works’ within church I began to doubt the existence of God. I thought that as long as I was going to church once a week I was OK. The outside was fine enough, but deep down the inside was dying. At work, once again I was under pressure to meet ever increasing targets. Early in March 1998, I received a letter from the Inland Revenue to say that I owed them in excess of two thousand pounds, which together with the mounting credit card debt amounted to almost four thousand pounds. I was facing a huge debt and a job that was looking less and less secure. I didn’t tell my wife at first and I tried to shoulder the burden myself. I sought financial advice, the first piece of which was to cancel the summer holiday. It was at this point that I told Anne. The prospect of not having a summer holiday added to my despondency. Anne reminde Renewal. This weeklong event of praise and teachings is donation based and is usually attended by about 3000 people. Thoughts of cult practices came flooding back – I was not going, holiday or no holiday! Eventually I succumbed, on the basis that it was going to be the only way I was going to get a holiday. We bought a cheap second-hand tent, and I was all set up for spending my time chilling-out, sunbathing and drinking beer, whilst everybody else was doing whatever they wanted to do. That first evening however, in our tent on the family campsite, all the stress of the previous weeks and months came to a head as I cried at the unfairness of my situation. I was frightened of the debt and at the prospect of losing my job; I was a broken man. On the first day we went into the main marquee and I was taken back almost twenty years. I saw people lifting their arms up in the air as they sung and once again I heard strange noises coming out of their mouths. Everybody looked so happy and I resented them. The songs were different to the ones I knew and even different to some of the more modern ones which I had played in the church folk group years ago. I started to sing the songs but found that after a verse or two I was choking up with tears; I didn’t understand what was going on. As the conference progressed, I was drawn more and more to the praise and worship and to the talks. One evening, I went up for healing and although I was shaking with the turmoil going on inside me, God’s powerful hand kept me there and I received His wonderful blessing. At the end of the week I knew something had happened to me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Back at home I had this overwhelming desire to read the bible, something I hadn’t done since RE lessons at school. I had this incredible thirst for knowledge of God and Christian teachings. I started praying again, something I hadn’t done since the children had been very small. I saw everything in a different light and I wanted to receive the body and blood of Jesus every day. One afternoon that September, I was called into the Director’s office. A colleague had tipped me off the evening before, so during the lunch break, I had gone into a nearby church to pray. I went into that meeting knowing that Jesus was right there beside me, and He was saying that everything was going to be fine. Less than five weeks after I lost my job, I had a great new job (the best I’ve ever had) and a financial settlement which cleared all our debts; we were even able to buy a car to replace our thirteen year old ‘banger’. At about the same time, I was invited to a FGBMFI dinner at Warrington in October 1998 and was introduced into a wonderful, loving Christian fellowship - I joined there and then. Over the past two years, many amazing things have happened. God has blessed us in many, many ways. It is such a joy to lead worship and to be involved in the music ministry. It is such a joy to talk and pray with real friends in Christ. The Holy Spirit has given me the courage to be a witness to Christ at my workplace and in many different situations. God has worked a real miracle in my life. My wife and I now pray and read scripture together and by the grace of God, Simon (now 14) and I are growing ever closer together, just as God intended. I love Jesus and my family more and more each day and I thank Him daily for His healing all that He has bestowed upon us.
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Sid O'Neill 
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Sid is a printer by profession and rides a motor bike for a hobby, but his main passion is sharing the reality of his relationship with God as a Christian. As a member of both the Christan Motorcycle Association and FGB, he shares his testimony of God's grace and provision for his family and the greatness of God's blessing.
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Frank Pratley
- Laboratory Manager and radiochemist,who found a relationship with Jesus in a nuclear scientist's office.
Alan Davies - Clerk of Works and Treasurer of the Warrington Chapter. 
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