Brian

Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, I and three other boys ganged together and our parents sent the four of us to Sunday School, where we learned history from the Old Testament, but nothing spiritual.

Then, because of bombing and commandeering, the local Boys’ Brigade (BB) moved to a nearby school for its midweek activities. The BB was a successful Christian youth organisation for boys. All officers were church members. I joined and attended the mid-week activities, and on Sundays the Bible Class at 10am followed by the church service. The BB really had an impact on me especially at the annual week-long camp. The evening services were led by officers where I learned much and sensed the real presence of the Holy Spirit – God was really with us!

One particular event stands out: my parents had bought me a bicycle for my birthday and it was kept

‘secretly’ in the garage, where I was told not to go. I just looked in for a peep of course so didn’t go anywhere near the bike! Yet I scratched my leg which I couldn’t hide from my parents. I realised that nothing could be hidden – everything in my life would be seen by God. As he says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111 v 10)

At 16 years old I left school, commuted to London, and began studying evenings and weekends by post!  I withdrew from many church activities and moved to Tring with my parents, creating a void in my Christian life. After I qualified as an accountant, Gracie and I were married and moved back to Watford, which gave me the chance to renew contact with the BB and the church.

I was still working in London, giving me the opportunity to go to lunchtime services at St Pancras’ Church where I really felt the presence of the Lord Jesus. On one occasion I knelt down on a pew cushion for prayer and sensed the Lord Jesus sitting next to me!

In 1966, we moved to Berkhamsted with our two young daughters. A new BB company had been formed at the Baptist church and I was delighted to join them as a Warrant Officer to form a bugle band, and Gracie helped establish the juniors. We agreed that we would both consider baptism and following an evening with the minister, we were both baptised at age 50!

I was forced to take early retirement in 1988 having contracted ME, so we moved to Leighton Buzzard and attended Hockliffe Street. The minister at that time was Norman Barr, a Spirit-filled preacher. One Sunday during the service, as I remember, Norman asked those who wished to affirm Jesus Christ as their Saviour to come to the front (logically, I thought everyone would come up). Some went to the front but a force, which I took as the Holy Spirit, took me there. THAT WAS IT!! – I felt that I had stepped into a new life with Jesus and recommitted myself to Him with the prayer that God would lead and shape me through His will and by His grace.