“I have never been to a baptism before. 

And I have to say that this is weird !"

 Each time a person decides to get baptised we ask them to share their story with the church about how they came to know Jesus.  The quote above is how Adam started his testimony! 

"...I would speak at length (great length) on religion, politics, ethics, war and violence, just unable to understand how we just keep managing to kill ourselves and destroy our lives in such pointless ways, and I fully included “religion” in this list of pointless sources of divisive hate.  But this was all academic...."
Although he thought he was a "good guy" Adam searched hard for the meaning to life and eventually found it in Jesus Christ.  Read more about his journey.

“I have never been to a baptism before. 

And I have to say that this is weird !"

 Each time a person decides to get baptised we ask them to share their story with the church about how they came to know Jesus.  The quote above is how Adam started his testimony! 

"...I would speak at length (great length) on religion, politics, ethics, war and violence, just unable to understand how we just keep managing to kill ourselves and destroy our lives in such pointless ways, and I fully included “religion” in this list of pointless sources of divisive hate.  But this was all academic...."
Although he thought he was a "good guy" Adam searched hard for the meaning to life and eventually found it in Jesus Christ.  Read more about his journey.

"My mother was young, and my father disabled. My parents decided that it would be too difficult to try and raise a child whilst already struggling to cope with my fathers disabilities ..."

A few Months ago when Dave Kingswood was speaking he asked a few people to give testimonies to God's faithfulness.  

This was the story shown on the screen at the end of the service, of one man's journey in search of his family.  Read it and be amazed how God works in people lives today. 

"My mother was young, and my father disabled. My parents decided that it would be too difficult to try and raise a child whilst already struggling to cope with my fathers disabilities ..."

A few Months ago when Dave Kingswood was speaking he asked a few people to give testimonies to God's faithfulness.  

This was the story shown on the screen at the end of the service, of one man's journey in search of his family.  Read it and be amazed how God works in people lives today. 

I have always believed in God but did not show it in any way. I was “one of the lads” and took a full part in all aspects of army life...

I have always believed in God but did not show it in any way. I was “one of the lads” and took a full part in all aspects of army life...

Before making a personal committment to Jesus Christ, George went through some tough and testing times and at his baptism recently he explained what a difference having a personal relationship with Jesus means to him now

"...... Growing up in a Roman Catholic tradition meant God was always part of life’s equation for me, maybe someone I feared more than loved. I had a wonderful childhood with a strong moral foundation. Attending mass, Serving at the altar and going to confession were rituals I accepted and took for granted as part of my religion. .........

....... As I grew older, I drifted away from God, Jesus and the Bible, it began to make less sense to me and just seemed more and more absurd the stuff of fiction, of myth and legend.

But looking back this was quite a naive conclusion to come to, and in drifting, I learnt some pretty tough lessons.....

...... I began to live to please myself, giving in to temptation when it came my way and facing the world without God. This led me to an extremely destructive place. I don’t want to dwell on the negative details but for a long period of time, life for me became a meaningless task filled with quick fixes and artificial pleasure to punctuate my existence, abandoning commitment and responsibility......"

Read more of George's story here

Before making a personal committment to Jesus Christ, George went through some tough and testing times and at his baptism recently he explained what a difference having a personal relationship with Jesus means to him now

"...... Growing up in a Roman Catholic tradition meant God was always part of life’s equation for me, maybe someone I feared more than loved. I had a wonderful childhood with a strong moral foundation. Attending mass, Serving at the altar and going to confession were rituals I accepted and took for granted as part of my religion. .........

....... As I grew older, I drifted away from God, Jesus and the Bible, it began to make less sense to me and just seemed more and more absurd the stuff of fiction, of myth and legend.

But looking back this was quite a naive conclusion to come to, and in drifting, I learnt some pretty tough lessons.....

...... I began to live to please myself, giving in to temptation when it came my way and facing the world without God. This led me to an extremely destructive place. I don’t want to dwell on the negative details but for a long period of time, life for me became a meaningless task filled with quick fixes and artificial pleasure to punctuate my existence, abandoning commitment and responsibility......"

Read more of George's story here

Mark Urry gave this testimony in the morning service on May 3rd 2009.  He relates how he first encountered God and later discovered more through the Alpha course, shortly before he was deployed to the Far East with the Royal Navy.  He describes the highs and low points of life away from his wife Georgina and two small boys and how he experienced God's provision while he was away.

".... In the blink of an eye the darkness surrounding my life was replaced with a blinding light. All my questions that had no answers suddenly made sense. I remember trying to think faster, to get more questions inside my head so that they could be answered. When my life was in darkness, life passed me by and my head was down. Now my life was filled with so much love it was overwhelming. I had trouble driving my car home as my legs were shaking so much.

April came, I started basic training and visited the Chaplain and told her my story. She told me that I had had a message from God. Deep down I knew this, but my busy life took over again and God went down in my order of priorities. I joined 899 Harrier FA2 Squadron shortly afterward and as a trainee, had the chance to go on a detachment to Cyprus. It was here that I met my future wife, Georgina, who had been in the Navy for a while. We were both at difficult times in our lives and together we pulled each other through...

...Georgina and I had both driven past Norton Hill School (this is where the church meets) many times on a Sunday and seen the church sign board outside and towards the end of 2007, decided to go in. Shortly after, we decided to sign up for the Alpha Course .....

Read the whole of Mark's story here

Mark Urry gave this testimony in the morning service on May 3rd 2009.  He relates how he first encountered God and later discovered more through the Alpha course, shortly before he was deployed to the Far East with the Royal Navy.  He describes the highs and low points of life away from his wife Georgina and two small boys and how he experienced God's provision while he was away.

".... In the blink of an eye the darkness surrounding my life was replaced with a blinding light. All my questions that had no answers suddenly made sense. I remember trying to think faster, to get more questions inside my head so that they could be answered. When my life was in darkness, life passed me by and my head was down. Now my life was filled with so much love it was overwhelming. I had trouble driving my car home as my legs were shaking so much.

April came, I started basic training and visited the Chaplain and told her my story. She told me that I had had a message from God. Deep down I knew this, but my busy life took over again and God went down in my order of priorities. I joined 899 Harrier FA2 Squadron shortly afterward and as a trainee, had the chance to go on a detachment to Cyprus. It was here that I met my future wife, Georgina, who had been in the Navy for a while. We were both at difficult times in our lives and together we pulled each other through...

...Georgina and I had both driven past Norton Hill School (this is where the church meets) many times on a Sunday and seen the church sign board outside and towards the end of 2007, decided to go in. Shortly after, we decided to sign up for the Alpha Course .....

Read the whole of Mark's story here

Coping with traqic losses, dragged Paul down  and raised un-answerable questions in his mind, until he discovered Jesus.  Here, Paul shares his story at his Baptism.

"..... On the whole LIFE WAS GOOD (but) all this changed on the 20th September 2006, when as a family we were told that my younger brother Steve had died after an accident. The months after the accident where very hard for us and when Christmas came we had the usual family celebrations, but this was difficult with Steve not being there.

Then on New Year’s eve I found out my wife was leaving me after 14yrs of marriage. Trying to cope with the loss of Steve and now this was too much to handle.... I knew I needed help and after speaking to my Doctor I was placed with a mental health team in Frome. Over the next few months, with their help the bad thoughts in my head became less.

Then one day out of the blue, a friend, Kevin Smith, asked if I was interested in going to the next Alpha course being run by the church....I thought “Yeah right!! GOD?…LOVE?…!! I don’t think so..!!!”

But he kept asking me…so eventually I thought “Well I could try just this once and I’m big enough and bold enough, that I could leave at any time..!!”

WOW! IT WAS BRILLANT!   ..... ” I thought, “What have I got to lose if I become a member of the church?”   So on the 8th January 2008 ..... I BECAME A CHRISTIAN!

.... Both I and Aby would like to thank Jonathan Cooper for all he has done for us and for answering those questions which we sometimes found difficult to ask. Finally a big thank you to a really special friend, Lee Green, who couldn’t be here today as he is in hospital. Lee, I just want to say how much I value your friendship.

Read Paul's full account here

Coping with traqic losses, dragged Paul down  and raised un-answerable questions in his mind, until he discovered Jesus.  Here, Paul shares his story at his Baptism.

"..... On the whole LIFE WAS GOOD (but) all this changed on the 20th September 2006, when as a family we were told that my younger brother Steve had died after an accident. The months after the accident where very hard for us and when Christmas came we had the usual family celebrations, but this was difficult with Steve not being there.

Then on New Year’s eve I found out my wife was leaving me after 14yrs of marriage. Trying to cope with the loss of Steve and now this was too much to handle.... I knew I needed help and after speaking to my Doctor I was placed with a mental health team in Frome. Over the next few months, with their help the bad thoughts in my head became less.

Then one day out of the blue, a friend, Kevin Smith, asked if I was interested in going to the next Alpha course being run by the church....I thought “Yeah right!! GOD?…LOVE?…!! I don’t think so..!!!”

But he kept asking me…so eventually I thought “Well I could try just this once and I’m big enough and bold enough, that I could leave at any time..!!”

WOW! IT WAS BRILLANT!   ..... ” I thought, “What have I got to lose if I become a member of the church?”   So on the 8th January 2008 ..... I BECAME A CHRISTIAN!

.... Both I and Aby would like to thank Jonathan Cooper for all he has done for us and for answering those questions which we sometimes found difficult to ask. Finally a big thank you to a really special friend, Lee Green, who couldn’t be here today as he is in hospital. Lee, I just want to say how much I value your friendship.

Read Paul's full account here

"....then it was like someone had attached a giant magnet onto my heart and was tugging at it really hard and I found myself smiling....."  At her baptism, Aby Turner explains the twists and turns of her journey to faith.

"....then about 16 years ago I met a friend who was a Christian. I used to listen to a lot of what she said but wasn’t really convinced by it all, but to keep her happy I went along to Welton Baptist church and was introduced to some lovely people most of who are here today.... Then in August last year another friend of mine Sarah asked me to go along to the Sunday service at the Big Top Festival.... I had my doubts about going but went along to be supportive. ..... I started to understand what God and the Holy Spirit were all about, and after all those years I could understand what all those people were getting excited about and trying to tell me. After the service I got chatting to Sally, Gavin and Sharon and they recommended I went to the Alpha course, which I did.
The course was life changing for me, It answered all the questions that I had doubts over, and made me reflect on life and things that had happened to me. I soon realised that I couldn’t go through life anymore without God there to help me and guide me.

.... If you’re wondering what difference it’s made then I’ll tell you.
In my work it means I can feel satisfied that if I physically can’t do any more for my patients then I know I can pray for them.
In life in general I no longer face problems alone because I can talk to God about them which I have done. ......The only question I have now is to myself and that is “why didn’t I do this years ago?”

Read Aby's full story here

"....then it was like someone had attached a giant magnet onto my heart and was tugging at it really hard and I found myself smiling....."  At her baptism, Aby Turner explains the twists and turns of her journey to faith.

"....then about 16 years ago I met a friend who was a Christian. I used to listen to a lot of what she said but wasn’t really convinced by it all, but to keep her happy I went along to Welton Baptist church and was introduced to some lovely people most of who are here today.... Then in August last year another friend of mine Sarah asked me to go along to the Sunday service at the Big Top Festival.... I had my doubts about going but went along to be supportive. ..... I started to understand what God and the Holy Spirit were all about, and after all those years I could understand what all those people were getting excited about and trying to tell me. After the service I got chatting to Sally, Gavin and Sharon and they recommended I went to the Alpha course, which I did.
The course was life changing for me, It answered all the questions that I had doubts over, and made me reflect on life and things that had happened to me. I soon realised that I couldn’t go through life anymore without God there to help me and guide me.

.... If you’re wondering what difference it’s made then I’ll tell you.
In my work it means I can feel satisfied that if I physically can’t do any more for my patients then I know I can pray for them.
In life in general I no longer face problems alone because I can talk to God about them which I have done. ......The only question I have now is to myself and that is “why didn’t I do this years ago?”

Read Aby's full story here

"I spent all my time looking, but was not quite sure what I was looking for." - These are the words of Lee who was recently baptised with his wife Clare at Welton Baptist Church.

 This is how they finished their joint testimony during the Baptism service.

"..... We know God is in our lives now. ..... We have received blessing after blessing, just at the right times. We have also been blessed with the way [our Son] Ben has accepted God into his life. He knows God is always with him and has such a great understanding of the way God is working in our lives. We decided to be Baptised together as a symbol of starting a new life as a family, with God. We are really looking forward to what the future brings. Even though things are still tough, we know God has great plans for us. Can't wait to find out what those plans are! "

Read their full testimony here.

"I spent all my time looking, but was not quite sure what I was looking for." - These are the words of Lee who was recently baptised with his wife Clare at Welton Baptist Church.

 This is how they finished their joint testimony during the Baptism service.

"..... We know God is in our lives now. ..... We have received blessing after blessing, just at the right times. We have also been blessed with the way [our Son] Ben has accepted God into his life. He knows God is always with him and has such a great understanding of the way God is working in our lives. We decided to be Baptised together as a symbol of starting a new life as a family, with God. We are really looking forward to what the future brings. Even though things are still tough, we know God has great plans for us. Can't wait to find out what those plans are! "

Read their full testimony here.

 “Until the middle of 2006 I was a committed atheist.

Almost every Christian I had ever met seemed to be a hypocrite. I was convinced that to be a good human being was the ultimate goal of everybody’s existence and it was with this in mind that when a friend invited me to Welton Church, I started coming to the morning services to see what it was all about. Soon after I started attending, I heard people talking enthusiastically about the Big Top Festival due to take place in August, and so during Big Top week I went along to a few of the meetings. Some of the things I heard at church and Big Top started to challenge the way I had been thinking, but I had many questions which I wanted to get answered.

In September the church organised one of their regular Alpha courses. This was billed as a series of informal meetings for people who wanted to find out more about the meaning of life and where no question was too simple or hostile. I thought this was just the sort of thing that might help me answer my questions. In fact it did more than that because it showed me how to see past the individual Christian and their human failings to the perfection of the risen Christ. I discovered that only through Him can our sins be forgiven. Without Him my life was pointless and death the only certainty.

Since I accepted Jesus as my personal saviour my life has purpose and eternal life is my assured destination.

My name is Johan Sanders and I became a Christian during Easter 2007. This year instead of just going to a few things at Big Top, I took the week off work so that I could get really involved in some of the fantastic things which happen there. I have also joined one of the church’s housegroups which meet every week throughout the year.

If you have questions about Life, the Universe and everything like I did why not come and ask them and, perhaps you too will discover there is more to life.”

 “Until the middle of 2006 I was a committed atheist.

Almost every Christian I had ever met seemed to be a hypocrite. I was convinced that to be a good human being was the ultimate goal of everybody’s existence and it was with this in mind that when a friend invited me to Welton Church, I started coming to the morning services to see what it was all about. Soon after I started attending, I heard people talking enthusiastically about the Big Top Festival due to take place in August, and so during Big Top week I went along to a few of the meetings. Some of the things I heard at church and Big Top started to challenge the way I had been thinking, but I had many questions which I wanted to get answered.

In September the church organised one of their regular Alpha courses. This was billed as a series of informal meetings for people who wanted to find out more about the meaning of life and where no question was too simple or hostile. I thought this was just the sort of thing that might help me answer my questions. In fact it did more than that because it showed me how to see past the individual Christian and their human failings to the perfection of the risen Christ. I discovered that only through Him can our sins be forgiven. Without Him my life was pointless and death the only certainty.

Since I accepted Jesus as my personal saviour my life has purpose and eternal life is my assured destination.

My name is Johan Sanders and I became a Christian during Easter 2007. This year instead of just going to a few things at Big Top, I took the week off work so that I could get really involved in some of the fantastic things which happen there. I have also joined one of the church’s housegroups which meet every week throughout the year.

If you have questions about Life, the Universe and everything like I did why not come and ask them and, perhaps you too will discover there is more to life.”

When I was a kid I went to a Sunday School at a Baptist Church in a village near Bury St Edmunds, and it was while I was attending the Sunday School that I asked Jesus into my heart and became a Christian. A test of my faith came at upper School when I caught a very rare illness which was potentially fatal. I knew that all the church was praying hard for me and God answered their prayers because I made a full recovery.

I carried on living a Christian life until I got to my teens. None of my friends were going to church though and I gradually stopped going, got stuck into all the normal teenage stuff and gradually forgot about God. Racing Stock Cars was what I really loved and I put all my energy into that.

In 1996, I started going out with a nurse called Dee and before long we moved in together. God moves in strange ways sometimes because a couple of years after we got together Dee’s sister dragged us along to one of the services at the church she was attending. So there we were, being taken to this Pentecostal Church in London just to keep Dee’s sister quiet (or so we thought). I had a really strange sensation during the service (which I felt was the Holy Spirit moving in me) It looked like Dee was feeling the same and when an altar call was made we both went up at the same time. For me it was a recommitment to God and for Dee it was the first time she had made the decision. As soon as we got back home we looked around and found a church to attend in Ipswich.

We finally got round to getting married in 2002 and because Dee was from Trinidad & Tobago we decided to get married there. The following year Dee found a nursing job in the Royal United Hospital in Bath, so in March we moved down to Bath. We looked for a church to attend in Bath but couldn’t find one where we felt comfortable and so we gradually stopped going!

Things started to go wrong for us. We suffered a big blow the following year when my Dad committed suicide which messed my head up for a bit. Then we started having problems with the marriage. I really started to pray that God would help us resolve the problems but less than a year after my Dad died, sadly we decided to separate. This really blew my mind and I didn’t care what happened to me. One night I went to Bristol for a party and got so drunk I passed out. Thank God the bouncers were very kind to me when they helped me off the premises and even told me where the taxis were. Even there when I was paying little attention to God, I think He was still watching out for me.

I felt really dreadful about the things that were happening to me and thought I should maybe try to get back into a Church. There was one round the corner from where I now lived in Midsomer Norton so I decided to give it a try. Welton Baptist Church was a friendly place and I soon joined one of the Housegroups there. God put some really special people in place at Housegroup to help me when my world had fallen apart. My faith is a lot stronger now since I’ve been at Welton. Before I felt really alone but now that gap in my life is gradually being filled thanks to God and His church.

When I was a kid I went to a Sunday School at a Baptist Church in a village near Bury St Edmunds, and it was while I was attending the Sunday School that I asked Jesus into my heart and became a Christian. A test of my faith came at upper School when I caught a very rare illness which was potentially fatal. I knew that all the church was praying hard for me and God answered their prayers because I made a full recovery.

I carried on living a Christian life until I got to my teens. None of my friends were going to church though and I gradually stopped going, got stuck into all the normal teenage stuff and gradually forgot about God. Racing Stock Cars was what I really loved and I put all my energy into that.

In 1996, I started going out with a nurse called Dee and before long we moved in together. God moves in strange ways sometimes because a couple of years after we got together Dee’s sister dragged us along to one of the services at the church she was attending. So there we were, being taken to this Pentecostal Church in London just to keep Dee’s sister quiet (or so we thought). I had a really strange sensation during the service (which I felt was the Holy Spirit moving in me) It looked like Dee was feeling the same and when an altar call was made we both went up at the same time. For me it was a recommitment to God and for Dee it was the first time she had made the decision. As soon as we got back home we looked around and found a church to attend in Ipswich.

We finally got round to getting married in 2002 and because Dee was from Trinidad & Tobago we decided to get married there. The following year Dee found a nursing job in the Royal United Hospital in Bath, so in March we moved down to Bath. We looked for a church to attend in Bath but couldn’t find one where we felt comfortable and so we gradually stopped going!

Things started to go wrong for us. We suffered a big blow the following year when my Dad committed suicide which messed my head up for a bit. Then we started having problems with the marriage. I really started to pray that God would help us resolve the problems but less than a year after my Dad died, sadly we decided to separate. This really blew my mind and I didn’t care what happened to me. One night I went to Bristol for a party and got so drunk I passed out. Thank God the bouncers were very kind to me when they helped me off the premises and even told me where the taxis were. Even there when I was paying little attention to God, I think He was still watching out for me.

I felt really dreadful about the things that were happening to me and thought I should maybe try to get back into a Church. There was one round the corner from where I now lived in Midsomer Norton so I decided to give it a try. Welton Baptist Church was a friendly place and I soon joined one of the Housegroups there. God put some really special people in place at Housegroup to help me when my world had fallen apart. My faith is a lot stronger now since I’ve been at Welton. Before I felt really alone but now that gap in my life is gradually being filled thanks to God and His church.

 Hi! My name is Kevin and I’m married to Angela and we have two children, Jessica and Ben.

We have been coming to Welton now since January 2006 and we feel very much part of the family of God here. Both my parents are Christians and so I’ve always known church. My earliest recollection of church is of the local traditional Baptist church, which was in a place called Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. As a youngster I went through Sunday school and have many happy memories. As I grew up I heard the gospel message many times and used to wrestle with it in my mind. It was on the 12th July 1986, aged 13 and a bit, on my sisters wedding day that I gave my life to Jesus. I made a terrible mistake at the time by not telling anyone of my decision, and at this time I didn’t attend my church youth group due to playing football, which didn’t help. I do believe because of this, I didn’t grow as a Christian and remained stuck in the various struggles of teenage life. It wasn’t until a few years later and after we changed churches to Hertford Baptist church that God got me out of my comfort zone. Within a few months of attending the church I was invited to the young peoples group. With one of my brothers, I started to go, which met after the evening service. Within weeks I was asked to take a meeting, as everyone did in the group. It was then that I started to truly learn and understand my faith. I also got involved in a Covenanter adventure holiday in North Wales, Criccieth Adventure camp. I first went as a Junior officer and then many other times as a tent officer.

Through the ministry and training in discipleship I grew in my faith. I thank God for the many Godly people I’ve met and for their influence on me. One of them, unknown to me, continued to pray for me with his wife daily, for many years. I do treasure them and thank God for them. I was baptised in 1991 a few months before moving down to Bath Uni. Once down here at Bath, I joined the fellowship at Union Chapel, Combe Down and got involved in the Covenanter group there. I thank God for His people there as they always encouraged me and took a keen interest in what I was doing. Through Gods guidance I started to use my interest in football to reach out to the local youngsters. For a few years I came alongside a number of young people and told them about Jesus and encouraged them to come to Covenanters. In fact, it was through football that I met Angela! God continues to guide me and I know He longs for me to know Him better. I’ve had a number of difficult times in my life and through every one God has remained faithful and a true friend.

 Hi! My name is Kevin and I’m married to Angela and we have two children, Jessica and Ben.

We have been coming to Welton now since January 2006 and we feel very much part of the family of God here. Both my parents are Christians and so I’ve always known church. My earliest recollection of church is of the local traditional Baptist church, which was in a place called Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. As a youngster I went through Sunday school and have many happy memories. As I grew up I heard the gospel message many times and used to wrestle with it in my mind. It was on the 12th July 1986, aged 13 and a bit, on my sisters wedding day that I gave my life to Jesus. I made a terrible mistake at the time by not telling anyone of my decision, and at this time I didn’t attend my church youth group due to playing football, which didn’t help. I do believe because of this, I didn’t grow as a Christian and remained stuck in the various struggles of teenage life. It wasn’t until a few years later and after we changed churches to Hertford Baptist church that God got me out of my comfort zone. Within a few months of attending the church I was invited to the young peoples group. With one of my brothers, I started to go, which met after the evening service. Within weeks I was asked to take a meeting, as everyone did in the group. It was then that I started to truly learn and understand my faith. I also got involved in a Covenanter adventure holiday in North Wales, Criccieth Adventure camp. I first went as a Junior officer and then many other times as a tent officer.

Through the ministry and training in discipleship I grew in my faith. I thank God for the many Godly people I’ve met and for their influence on me. One of them, unknown to me, continued to pray for me with his wife daily, for many years. I do treasure them and thank God for them. I was baptised in 1991 a few months before moving down to Bath Uni. Once down here at Bath, I joined the fellowship at Union Chapel, Combe Down and got involved in the Covenanter group there. I thank God for His people there as they always encouraged me and took a keen interest in what I was doing. Through Gods guidance I started to use my interest in football to reach out to the local youngsters. For a few years I came alongside a number of young people and told them about Jesus and encouraged them to come to Covenanters. In fact, it was through football that I met Angela! God continues to guide me and I know He longs for me to know Him better. I’ve had a number of difficult times in my life and through every one God has remained faithful and a true friend.

 Around Christmas time a couple of years ago we asked a few of our members how Christmas was going to be different for them compared with previous years.  This is what they said ......

Dave

Christmas never really meant anything until I fully understood for myself who Jesus was. I had lost something in our materialism but found what it was really about with Jesus.

This Christmas was hugely different for us as it was our first Christmas with our new son Noah.  I think he was more interested in the wrapping paper than anything else but we will certainly bring him up with Jesus as the focus and not the presents. I think it makes the whole season far closer to what it should be about.”

Kate
It started with the breakdown of my marriage to the childrens’ father, which was very sad and tough for all of us.  (I was struggling to cope and knew I needed help.  At Easter I had the most amazing experience of coming closer to God and felt the Holy Spirit guiding me in everything I did.  I committed my life to God and became a Christian.  Since then my life has just got better.  I trust in the Lord totally and he has made me and the children so much happier!  Christmas time was so much more meaningful this year because we focussed on the birth of Jesus and the most awesome way he was welcomed onto this earth.  He was born the Son of God to guide and teach us the way God wants us to lead our life.  We must never forget that.  Just as Jesus coming to Earth brought a new and exiting beginning for the World, I personally have found a new and exiting beginning in my life with Jesus.

 Sharon
This time last year I was a very happy wife and mother.  As a family we had everything we could possibly want, a nice house, comfortable life and all healthy.  But there was one very important part of our family that was missing and that was Jesus in the life of my husband Gavin.  But then in January Gavin was completely compelled to face reality and either believe and accept Jesus for himself or deny him.  Praise God that he chose to receive Jesus. 

Since then life has been very exciting and different for us all.  We now share everything with each other and God.  And as for Christmas time, it was really a time of celebration of all that’s happened in the last year, and that as a family we could all give thanks for the birth of our Lord and Saviour. 

Jason
For many years Christmas has always been a wonderful time, food, presents, telly and of course time off work. But with all this came the stress of getting the presents, the stress of the Christmas day meal and the stress of how you might pay for it all. That is the point when you have to ask yourself why and what does it all mean? So that's exactly what we did, we asked why? We had started an Alpha course at Welton, this started to change our focus on the whole meaning of Christmas, and our lives. At the end of that Alpha course we both became Christian's.

This Christmas we both noticed a difference early on, the stress and worry about the whole time was at an all time low, our children understand the real meaning of Christmas, and whoever you are you can't deny the real reason. Christmas was different, amazing and unforgettable, and we especially enjoyed going to church on Christmas morning to celebrate with our family a birthday.....................................................a birthday of a very special child.