Real lives: New life at 70!
Debbie's Baptism 19th May 2007
Listen to the whole service
I was brought up in a religious family, and was expected to go to chapel and Sunday School every Sunday. I really did not want anything to do with either! I didn’t want to be a goody-goody like the chapel people, nor did I want to please my parents by being saved and going up the front when the preacher called. Though I nearly did once, but I was not going to please anyone.
Instead I went my way. I wanted to know about life, and experience everything - and I did. I ended up in Soho at the end of the 1960s. Rebelling against all that was good, I went as low as any human being could go, with alcohol, drugs and sex.
In the early 1980s I moved to Italy with my partner, and I began searching for the meaning of life, especially after his death. Over the years I explored spiritualism, Buddhism, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others but I never found the answer to my questions.
At the end of 2005 I came back to England. I spent a month with my cousin Joy in Cheshire. Once, surprisingly, I even went to church with her. Then I returned to central London and stayed with a friend in Covent Garden while my flat in Old Compton Street was redecorated.
One Sunday morning I saw a notice - 'Evangelical Church'. It was right outside the flat. That Sunday I didn’t go! The following Sunday, same notice, big decision, go and see or stay at home? Having sort of broken the ice by 'going to church' with Joy, I went. I sat at the back. At the end of the service, I cried. it felt like I had given up fighting God and 'come home'.
I continued to go every Sunday. I was truly welcomed. There were Bible classes and I began to read the Bible at home, especially the Old Testament which I had never read before. I had loads of questions which Andrew spent much time in answering. I had often prayed before but only in bad circumstances when I needed help. Now I was praying to understand more of the Bible and the truth of life.
The decision to be baptised has been a difficult one. It had to be the truth. Satan has been at work. He really doesn’t want to lose me. If he does try to rule me, as soon as I realise it, I pray for God’s help.
When I look back I see where God’s grace was with me. Without that I would not be alive today. It has been a long hard battle of rebellion. I find in the Bible that sinners like me can come to know Christ and ask his forgiveness. This is what I am doing, opening my heart for the Holy Spirit to enter and give guidance in what way I may lead a life with Christ in my heart.
I thank God for not leaving me all these years. I pray that Jesus will forgive me as I come to him as a sinner.