My story by Cliff

Hi my name is Cliff and this is my story.

Strange as it may seem, considering how tall I am now, I was always one of the smallest in my class at school but I made up for it by having one of the biggest mouths, I was the class troublemaker, if there was trouble I was generally in the middle of it.

A month before my fourteenth birthday my dad started attending Church, we were all shocked at his sudden turn around, and neither my Mum nor any of us four children shared his sudden interest in Church. I had expressed “you wouldn’t find me dead in a Church”. Just over three weeks later my dad announced he was going to attend a “Tent Meeting” in a local town, I asked if I could go with him, my sole intention was to find more ammunition to make fun of it.

We ended up going as a family; I can’t remember anything about the service, except the part where the preacher asked was there anyone who wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. I found myself making my way to the front and found two of my sisters following me. If I’m perfectly honest, I don’t think I really understood fully what I was doing, but my life changed from that day. It was the beginning of the school summer holidays, when we returned to school after the break, neither my classmates nor my teachers could believe the change in me.

As a family we got involved with Church, so much so that we were there for both Sunday Services and for both the midweek Prayer Meeting and Bible Study. If we heard there was a meeting on the Saturday we would be there, often we would travel to Birmingham just for one service.

Even now after over 32 years my enthusiasm for Church has not diminished. From the age of 18 I got involved with leading worship, not because I am particularly good at singing, but because I had enthusiasm. I have since got involved in ministry travelling to various parts of the UK & USA. I am currently President of the Local “Full Gospel Business Men. Visit www.fgb-southend.org.uk for more information.

I am happily married with eight children and from experience I can confirm that God does still heal today, on many occasions God has provided for our family when things have been tight. God does answer prayer. I can highly recommend this way of life.

The reason Jesus died on the cross, was to take our punishment, he died that we may be pardoned.

 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

But you first have to accept the pardon; to do this you must recognize that you have done wrong and need to be pardoned.

If reading this has made you wonder where you stand with God, you can do something about it right now.

Here is a simple prayer that will help you to be sure that your sins are forgiven:

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you that you died on the cross for me. I am really sorry for all the bad things I have done in my life. Please forgive me and clean up my life. I ask you to come into my life, help me to live it from now to please you, and be a real Christian.