Testimony
Archie Greenwood (21.09.2025)
I wasn’t raised as a Christian. For most of my life, up until I was 15, I didn’t have a religion, and I didn’t believe in God. In fact, for a time, I even disliked the idea of having a religion. I scoffed at the idea of church and God, and at times, I even mocked it.
But by around the age of 15, I went through a difficult time in my life. It was then that I felt drawn to Jesus in a way, I couldn’t ignore Him. It was Him who pulled me out of that rut. I didn’t see a vision or have a dream but I began to sense His presence and His call in my life. I started to feel that there was an all-loving Creator who cared for me and could guide me, even though at the time I didn’t fully understand — but I had been reached by God’s grace.
Over the course of 2024, my faith grew gradually. It didn’t happen overnight, but step by step. By the summer, I started regularly coming to this church. I began reading the Bible and learning more about Jesus, His teachings, and His love for people. The more I learned, the more I felt drawn closer to God and inspired to live in a way that reflected His goodness.
In the last 18 months, Jesus has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. He has given me hope, purpose, and a reason to live differently and to grow. He has helped me make better choices, develop Christian values and find strength even in difficult moments. I’ve seen how following Him can bring peace, guidance, and joy and I want to continue growing in my faith for the rest of my life.
That’s why I want to be baptised today - to declare publicly that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and that I want to follow Him, trust Him and live with Him for the rest of my life. Jesus is my refuge, anchor, rock and my source of strength in hard times.
Vera Dunne (29.12.19)
I was born in Clayton on 8th October 1950. I grew up in a loving home. I went to Sunday school, church and to Logos Bookstore, where I gave my life to Jesus and was baptised. Although I went away from church, I thank my Heavenly Father for never leaving me. He brought me back into His church family through Clayton Gospel Hall in 2005.
I mostly thank my Heavenly Father and my church family for being with me in the year when I was recovering from an operation and was bed bound for a long time. I missed being able to come up to church or do anything to help others but was glad that people came to visit me. We even had bible studies in my bedroom for a while. Church came to me because I couldn’t come to church.
I am especially thankful, now that I am back in church again, that I can re-dedicate my life to God in the church that I call my own and in front of my church family and others who mean a lot to me. My recovery has taken much longer than I wanted it to but I am so glad to be back and to be able to dedicate myself to God. Thank You for everything. In God’s love, Vera.
Nicola Johnson (29.12.2019)
I have been coming to this church since I was a little girl. I gave my life to God in 2000 but He has had His hand on me since I was born. As you may know, the doctors told my mum that I would not live – but He made sure that I did.
Certain times in my life have been really hard for me. I have felt that God had left me because I didn’t feel His presence anymore. But then I got invited to the Scottish ladies’ retreat where I learnt that, no matter how far away from Him I feel, He is always there. He is my God/ I have learnt that I am stronger than I know and that we should love one another even though it is sometimes hard.
So, here I am. I am married. I have my three little monkeys and I am living my life for God.
Diane Speck (29.12.2019)
Since I was born, I have had two medical conditions – epilepsy, I have fits; this is controlled by tablets – and hemochromatosis – which just means that I absorb iron into my blood and the only way to take the iron out is to take a pint of blood out of me.
Later on in life, I have had diabetes and high blood pressure plus another seven illnesses. Although I have been coming to this church – both here and when we used to meet in Girlington – since I was very young, I had to be absent for many months because of my illnesses.
As I am now able to come back to church, I would like to dedicate myself back to the Lord so that I can do the things that He would like me to do. He is my God and I want to live my life for Him.
The late Helen Margaret Sinclair (June 2012)
When I was 13 years of age, I started to attend a Brethren church and, when I was 15, I asked Jesus into my heart. I was baptised at age 21.
Next October, I will be 80 years of age. As I look back over those many years, I see the hand of the Lord on my life. I had much to learn but the Lord is a faithful and gracious teacher.
Over the last two years or so, my hearing and eyesight has deteriorated. I have found these conditions very difficult and they have caused me much stress. A verse from Hebrews 13 gives me hope: 'The Lord is my helper.; I will not be afraid.' (vs6)
