Roger Pratt

We were a family of five children, four girls all older than me.  I enjoyed my Sunday School years.  I liked the stories we were told, they seemed quite exciting; but I don’t think I quite grasped their true meaning. I saw them as part of history but not necessarily reality.

When I was old enough, I joined the choir and stayed with them until my voice broke.  From then on, I only attended church on special occasions.

When I was eighteen, I joined the army – not my choice – but if you were fit you had to do it.  It was called National Service.  After some basic training, I found myself, with many others, put on a special troop train in the south of England for what seemed a very long journey to the north, which eventually arrived at Liverpool, where we were put aboard a very old ship.  We were eventually told we were going to Malaya and Hong Kong, a journey of six weeks.  There was very little to do and most played cards to while away the time.  The room was thick with cigarette smoke.  I think we had sailed through the Suez Canal and the Captain announced we were in the Red Sea.  My heart jumped.  I left the card table and raced up to the deck.  I looked over into the sea, a beautiful calm azure blue, and flicked away my cigarette.  My mind went back to my Sunday School days and the wonderful stories I had been told – of course the Red Sea was most prominent.  It was thrilling – God taking the Hebrew slaves on their journey to the Promised Land.  From that moment, I fully accepted the words were true and thus the Bible must also be true.  Since that day I have never doubted the truth of God’s Word.

After six long weeks, we finally arrived in Hong Kong. Our barracks were situated just as far away from the capital as they could be. There were two churches, but we rarely got chance to go there.  We did, however, have an army padre on station.  We had occasional services which were not always on a Sunday and were mandatory. I managed to learn a little but was frustrated that my understanding was so limited.

Finally back home, I joined the Civil Service, and after training, I was posted to my home town, Oxford, a few months later. One Monday morning, a young girl walked into the office. I remember she came directly to me, wearing a most radiant smile, very attractive, and asked if I could take her to the manager as she was due to start work with us.  The weeks went by, and she was quite a hit.  Her behaviour and character far exceeded anything the rest of us could display.  I invited her out for tea, which was accepted, and we quickly saw we had much in common.  She had the courage to tell me she was a Christian and her values were based on the Bible.

Before long, she introduced me to the pastor of her church, and after much worthwhile discussion he offered to give me some personal tuition.  It was mind-blowing.  My life was full of amazement and understanding as he opened up the Scriptures.  I had no difficulty in knowing the path I should be following.  Life has been wonderful ever since.  With 65 years of marriage, with Jesus Christ always at the centre, how could it be otherwise?  Prue and I were very privileged to be able to share the wonderful gospel of salvation with so many people.  Praise His Holy Name.