Very simply, this thread is a place for you to tell us a bit about your Christian background. Do I have to go first? Oh, alright then.
It all started in my family in 1991. My Gran, who lived in the family home with myself, my Mum and my Step-Dad, passed away in April that year, just a matter of weeks before my 16th birthday.
I remember how my Gran so dearly wanted to see me turn 16, and how I didn't think it was fair. I went through a pretty wretched time emotionally, and was more surprised a few months later when my Mum became a Christian. How could she believe in a God who had been so cruel to my Gran, someone who had led a good life and wouldn't seek to harm anyone.
The following year doesn't seem that dramatic looking back, but off the top of my head I remember it as being quite an emotional roller-coaster. In 1992 my Step-Dad (more of a Father than my actual Dad ever was, or ever will be) also became a Christian. I was a minority of one in my own home.
From that point home life was more difficult. Arguments were more common, although I knew my parents weren't bad parents and I did love them - hopefully they didn't think I was a bad kid.
In September 1993 I began life at University. Moving away from Portsmouth, I was heading to London! I had more freedom, and while I wasn't completely wreckless I did "enjoy myself". Loneliness kicked in somewhat, and I found out the hard way that getting drunk didn't solve your problems.
In December I came home for a weekend for my Mum's birthday. It was my first time visiting back home, but really I had a girl I liked at the forefront of my thoughts. Therefore when I was asked to go to a Christian Youth Group that weekend I thought I would be able to go and be there (saving myself from an argument) without "being there". Instead a visiting American called John Hwang put this thought in my head - "Can you honestly look at nature and not believe in a Creator?" That thought never left me until I became a Christian.
By February I was really lonely at Uni. In April I turned a corner, decided to enjoy the freedom being single offered and throw myself into my passions - mostly watching sports. My favourite football team, Crystal Palace, ended up winning Division 1. I would have a lot of new grounds to visit.
I had started to really enjoy life. Before starting my summer job I had time to enjoy lots of balmy summer days with lots of Christian friends, including some American and Scottish visitors. These people weren't stereotypes, they really cared about me. We could chat about normal things, they weren't boring, the Bible Studies weren't boring, and I had friends who could answer my questions.
I could now see the Bible as something relevant, something true. My preconceived ideas of God being unfair and unloving were being swept aside, as the Youth Group went through the Gospel of John and showed the caring, loving nature of Jesus. God's Word was working on my heart, and other scriptures and studies were working on my mind. Everything was falling into place.
Only one thing was missing. Everything seemed a bit too good. Nobody's life was this perfect, even I knew that being a Christian did not prevent bad things from happening to you. How did these new-found friends react when things didn't go so well?
Sadly I would soon find out. David and Carren, the Youth Group leaders, were expecting their first child. Unfortunately the foetus had begun to develop in a fallopian tube - an eptopic pregnancy. They would lose the baby.
The night they told the Youth Group was naturally a sad affair. However their reiterated their trust in God, and how they still believed in Him. I was impressed by their words, and didn't doubt their own belief in them. The final piece of the jigsaw was in place - it was that night that I became a Christian (August 6th, 1994).
Nine years on, there have been highs, and there have been lows, but I'm still intent on running the race set out before each of us (Hebrews 12:1).
It all started in my family in 1991. My Gran, who lived in the family home with myself, my Mum and my Step-Dad, passed away in April that year, just a matter of weeks before my 16th birthday.
I remember how my Gran so dearly wanted to see me turn 16, and how I didn't think it was fair. I went through a pretty wretched time emotionally, and was more surprised a few months later when my Mum became a Christian. How could she believe in a God who had been so cruel to my Gran, someone who had led a good life and wouldn't seek to harm anyone.
The following year doesn't seem that dramatic looking back, but off the top of my head I remember it as being quite an emotional roller-coaster. In 1992 my Step-Dad (more of a Father than my actual Dad ever was, or ever will be) also became a Christian. I was a minority of one in my own home.
From that point home life was more difficult. Arguments were more common, although I knew my parents weren't bad parents and I did love them - hopefully they didn't think I was a bad kid.
In September 1993 I began life at University. Moving away from Portsmouth, I was heading to London! I had more freedom, and while I wasn't completely wreckless I did "enjoy myself". Loneliness kicked in somewhat, and I found out the hard way that getting drunk didn't solve your problems.
In December I came home for a weekend for my Mum's birthday. It was my first time visiting back home, but really I had a girl I liked at the forefront of my thoughts. Therefore when I was asked to go to a Christian Youth Group that weekend I thought I would be able to go and be there (saving myself from an argument) without "being there". Instead a visiting American called John Hwang put this thought in my head - "Can you honestly look at nature and not believe in a Creator?" That thought never left me until I became a Christian.
By February I was really lonely at Uni. In April I turned a corner, decided to enjoy the freedom being single offered and throw myself into my passions - mostly watching sports. My favourite football team, Crystal Palace, ended up winning Division 1. I would have a lot of new grounds to visit.
I had started to really enjoy life. Before starting my summer job I had time to enjoy lots of balmy summer days with lots of Christian friends, including some American and Scottish visitors. These people weren't stereotypes, they really cared about me. We could chat about normal things, they weren't boring, the Bible Studies weren't boring, and I had friends who could answer my questions.
I could now see the Bible as something relevant, something true. My preconceived ideas of God being unfair and unloving were being swept aside, as the Youth Group went through the Gospel of John and showed the caring, loving nature of Jesus. God's Word was working on my heart, and other scriptures and studies were working on my mind. Everything was falling into place.
Only one thing was missing. Everything seemed a bit too good. Nobody's life was this perfect, even I knew that being a Christian did not prevent bad things from happening to you. How did these new-found friends react when things didn't go so well?
Sadly I would soon find out. David and Carren, the Youth Group leaders, were expecting their first child. Unfortunately the foetus had begun to develop in a fallopian tube - an eptopic pregnancy. They would lose the baby.
The night they told the Youth Group was naturally a sad affair. However their reiterated their trust in God, and how they still believed in Him. I was impressed by their words, and didn't doubt their own belief in them. The final piece of the jigsaw was in place - it was that night that I became a Christian (August 6th, 1994).
Nine years on, there have been highs, and there have been lows, but I'm still intent on running the race set out before each of us (Hebrews 12:1).