I was brought up in a Christian home. There were 5 boys and 1 girl and we were sent along every week to Sunday school and to the children’s meetings. It was at one of these children’s meetings, held in a house in the Westwinds housing estate in Newtownards, that at age of 5 I heard of my need of a Saviour. The lesson was from John chapter 3 v 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". I knew that Jesus had died for me and all that I needed to do was call upon him and I would be saved. So on the 9th of September 1979 I asked the Lord to be my saviour.

Some people may say what does a 5 year old know about being a Christian. While I did not to know all the doctrines of the bible I did know that I was a sinner and I needed to be saved. During primary school it wasn't that hard to be a Christian as there was very little in the way of temptation. However, when I started Donaghadee High school I started to grow cold of heart. I began using bad language, not reading the bible and not praying. When I was in fourth year another boy in my class who had become a Christian hearing me using bad language rebuked me. It was then that I came under conviction of my sin and gave my life again to the Lord. I also made a promise to the Lord that no matter where I would go that I would always tell those I came into contact with that I am a Christian. We read in Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation".

I have to say that while I have failed the Lord many time in my life he has never left my side and in times of trouble has carried me. This was especially evident to me August 2004 that I became critically ill and was taken into the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald with a perforated bowel due to a condition called Behcet’s Syndrome I was in hospital for 11 weeks and had an infection in my bowel and lost over 3.5 stone. I was very ill, but the people of God across Co Down were praying for me. In answer to their prayers the Lord restored my health.

While I was in hospital there must have been about 15 people who were also Christians. At one stage in a bay of 6 people 5 were saved. This was such a blessing from the Lord.

My health may not be perfect but I am well enough to be getting on with my life and I thank the Lord for Christian parents and for a church where I am able to help with the work in videoing the services and by administering the web site. Maybe this was the reason for my illness as now I have time to serve the Lord. It tells us in Romans 8 v 28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." And so if you do not know the Lord as your saviour I would urge you to come and know him. If you do know him then take every opportunity to serve him in your own church. The Lord has given so much for us how little it would be to give a little time for him. Amen