The Missing Piece, a Fullfilled Life

I was born into a Christian family as my family were Plymouth Brethren. When I was 14 years old we left the Plymouth Brethren and started attending our local Anglican Church in Woodford. Being bought up in a Christian family meant I understood what sin was and that Jesus Christ had died on the cross for me. At boarding school I sincerely thought about going into the church, but I never did. When I had finished school I went into the family business which was manufacturing uniforms for the medical profession.

Early Life

In 1960 I attended a conference the late Tom Rees held for young people in Switzerland. There I met a very attractive young lady, Miss Gill Thomas, who also came from a Plymouth Brethren family, in Devon. Afterwards we went our own ways, but the following year we met again at the same conference. This time I made sure of a way to keep in contact. Not long after the holiday Gill took a job in Bushy, Hertfordshire as a school secretary. It enabled us to see one another and in 1963 we married. We moved to Ongar and got involved with the local Anglican Church by running the Sunday school.

Something was Missing

After six or seven years we moved to Fyfield, where we had a large detached house with 5 bedrooms and three quarters of an acre of garden.  We had made it! We had everything we ever wanted; we had two lovely children, a comfortable home, beautiful garden, and two cars, but frankly something was still missing.

Turbulent Times

Our faith was not really working; it had become a list of do’s and don’ts. I found I could neither enjoy the world nor my faith. But whilst living in Fyfield we came across the Charismatic movement where we met Christians who had a love and joy in their Saviour. God graciously met both Gill and I in a very wonderful way and life took on a new meaning. All was well for a period of time but unfortunately we had joined ourselves to a very rigid group of “House Churches” that I later discovered were in error. To make the situation worse, they then manipulated Gill against me. This greatly affected our marriage to such a degree that we were fast heading for the divorce courts.

This Man Had Something

About that time Pastor Trevor Dearing, who I had met a year or two previously, mentioned a man named Michael Reid and suggested it would be good for me to meet him. Coming home from work Gill told me a Michael Reid had called; he was selling insurance and she suggested I should meet him. This was the last thing I wanted to hear!  I perceived that here was another ally on Gill’s side who would tell me how wrong I was. That night Gill went out to her Bible study, and who should call but Michael Reid. We had a long lengthy discussion and I realised this man had got something.

Reunited

We were still talking when Gill returned.  Michael looked up and challenged her as to where she had been, to which Gill replied “My Bible study”, Michael told her not to go there again. Gill simply replied “alright” and that was the end of that!  Joy of joy I had my wife back and we were united once again; all the differences sorted out. I thank God that he sent Michael Reid to restore our marriage. From then on until Gill’s homecoming to the Lord in 2009 we were happily married and fulfilled in the church that God had placed us in.

Service to God

The church started within a few months of our restoration with Michael Reid as Pastor.  It was an exciting pioneering work, with many miracles of healing, lives changed and the church growing rapidly. In those days Michael Reid was a real man of vision and one of his visions resulted in Trinity School which was started in 1982. Gill became the school secretary later to become the examinations officer, all on a voluntary basis.

I sold my business in order to devote my time to maintaining the grounds at the church and school site and doing other duties as necessary. When the school moved to its current location at Brizes Park I was able to assist my friend Ian Veal who had been appointed estate manager; working along side him, generally maintaining the 74 acres of parkland as well as the fabric of the building.

Fulfilled and Happy Life

Our two children are happily married and are active in the church and school.  God has been very gracious to me during my lifetime as He put into my heart a desire to go His way. He has been the centre of my life and if I had the choice to live my life again I would not change anything.  In conclusion to those that read this testimony of my life I would say, “Commit your life to Jesus Christ, don’t deviate from following Him and you will live a fulfilled and happy life”.