Just Looking
Changed Lives
It's great to hear how God is working in people's lives. "Changed Lives" tells of how some of our regulars came to know Jesus. The accounts below show that God can reach people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances.
Sarah Hibbs
"Hi, my name’s Sarah Hibbs, I’m nineteen years old and have been going to
Often people I meet ask me what I do and I tell them that, at the moment, I’m working for a Christian organization called the Pais Project. I tell them that I work with children and young people in schools, play lots of games, run clubs and talk to them about their lives and about God.
People often follow that question with another “Oh so you’re religious then?” I’m not always sure exactly what people mean by “religious”. I sometimes wonder if their definition of “religious” involves being a bit weird, maybe wearing socks and sandals or being angry with other people. So I tell them that I believe in God, I believe that He created the world, that He loves everyone and that it’s through getting to know him that we can really get to know what life is about! For me that’s what being a Christian is: knowing that although we mess up God is always going to love us and that God has good things planned for each of our lives.
Like a lot of people, for me there was no moment of sudden realisation that this was true. I’ve always attended church and my parents are both Christians. I can remember praying with my parents and reading stories from the Bible as a very small child and thinking that it was all great; I knew that God had made me and loved me. As I got older and got involved with various youth groups at church I realised that my belief in God shouldn’t just be confined to one part of my life but should affect everything I did. If Jesus said that it was important to forgive other people then maybe I shouldn’t hold grudges? And maybe when Jesus talked about loving our enemies he didn’t mean that we should talk about them behind their backs? I have by no means perfected this but I know I’m a “work in progress” and that God is helping me to change for the better. I think that it’s important to meet together with other Christians and also to spend time alone praying and reading the Bible, listening to what God has to say and also to know that although I don’t always get it right God will always love me."
Julie Moreton
"Throughout my life from my early teens I have had illness relating to stress and nerves. This has caused me many problems, even to a point of considering suicide, something of which I am truly ashamed now.
A couple of years ago my husband and I experienced a terrific amount of stress related to our business. We had no work, a lot of money to pay out, no cash coming in. As you can imagine, stress was at boiling point. We truly did not know which way to turn, and constantly worried about the affect this would have on our son Joshua.
One night when things were really bad with work and our troubles seemed insurmountable I couldn’t sleep.... Going downstairs to make a drink I switched on the TV and went through all the channels on Sky from BBC1 to QVC and beyond – there is never much on TV at 3.00 a.m. Finally I came to the God Channels....Through the fog of my misery I heard the voice on TV say ‘Trust in God’. Just that. I clicked to the next channel. ‘God is your Saviour’ was the next thing I heard. I clicked again. ‘I am here for you.’ Another click. ‘For you out there tonight who are in despair, turn to Jesus for he will comfort you.’....It suddenly became clear to me that God was speaking to me. I sobbed and prayed and said out loud: ‘OK God, I heard you. I’m handing everything over to you. I’ve tried it alone, God, and now its your turn. You take over my life, I give it to you.’
Those of you who believe in the power of God will know what I mean when I say that for the first time in ages I felt safe. A wonderful warmth surrounded me and I felt calm – totally calm – and for me that was a miracle. I cried and cried, but this time they were tears of relief. I thanked God over and over, knowing that at last I had the help I needed. I was absolutely sure that things would now begin to get better. I finished my drink and went up to bed....
I still have moments when I go into panic mode, and things can still be tough. But I stop and pray and feel God’s love surround me. I ask for his peace, and a calmness overcomes me and I know everything will be all right."
