Third stage

I think the third stage was kick-started by my mother giving me JB Phillips modern translation of the gospels in paperback.  It was the first time that I read something that was so fresh - I could see and hear Jesus in action. This personal engagement coincided with me joining a group of young people in the church who were older than me - and how serious they were about Jesus!  I began to wake up spiritually, and when I went forward to commit my life to Jesus as Saviour after a baptismal service, I knew the Holy Spirit had made a faith breakthrough.  Jesus was real and when I was baptised, aged 14, it was deeply personal. I had many questions and was particularly concerned my spiritual encounter was not some comfortable family conformity. Now, my engagement with the Bible had desire and hunger to know my Lord better.  Wider implications of Christian discipleship were coming into focus. 

Privileged to belong to a vibrant youth group, I leaned about prayer and studying the Bible with others. Enthusiastically we witnessed in Gloucester city-centre with open-air testimony while handing out tracts. Three of us went into full-time Christian ministry -it was an unusually intense group. I realize that my journey with the Bible owes so much to this grounding with spiritually sensitive friends. Together, we even presumed to lead worship and preach in country churches. The Bible was essential as we wrestled with basic theological questions  At one point, because of atheistic attacks on the resurrection at school, I really had to work and pray. Frank Morrison's Who moved the stone? greatly helped me. The child’s love for a story book had really grown into desire to live with the living Bible. As a teenager I was advised to write on my Bible’s inside cover: ‘This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book’.

This third stage of my journey continued through into university.  Again, sharing with Christian friends proved vital to my growing discipleship. Involved with the Christian Union and especially the Baptist student society I found myself thrown into serious bible study in weekly study sessions. How refreshing it was to work with others in preaching teams and on annual Summer missions, based in local churches. What we believed and how we could speak well for Jesus depended on our walk with Jesus and his word. Having thoughtful Christian friends for whom the Bible was the bedrock for faith and action had an impact on my life's direction.