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Testimony

I was brought up going to church, but at 15 I still had doubts as to whether God was really there. In North Wales that summer, I encountered United Beach Missions and was challenged by the certainty many of those young people had in God. Over the following year I wrote to two girls and they invited me along to a Christian meeting for young people in my area. I really enjoyed the afternoon and noticed again the certainty they had.

The following summer, after my GCSEs I was in North Wales again, and the beach mission was there too. After an evening barbecue the speaker talked about Heaven and Hell and for the first time I understood I was a sinner doing wrong in God’s eyes and did not deserve Heaven. However the speaker didn’t leave it there, he went on to explain how God's only son, Jesus Christ, came to earth, perfect as he was, with the sole purpose of dying for me and other sinners. In becoming a Christian, God convicted me of my sin, but provided me with a way to be right with Him. His only son was punished in my place, but I had to believe this for myself. Becoming a Christian has not stopped me from ever sinning, I’m not perfect now, but I’m allowing God to change me.

In the questions concerning other religions I have been convinced that God would not have permitted his only son to go through so much pain and suffering, if I could be right without such a sacrifice. I have to accept that as a human, I can never be good enough for God. Becoming a Christian has made me accept that I need God in my life.

As a Christian the sixth form was not an easy place, it brought hard times, but made my faith really grow. Many versed in the Bible explain Christians’ sufferings as something which identifies us with Christ, who suffered despite doing nothing wrong. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you maybe overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter ch4 v13)

I’ve now been a Christian for three and a half years, over that time God’s been faithful to me. I spent August of last summer in Rwanda, as part of a team working with young people. Living in a war zone, with little food, with many problems showed how powerful God is. Each time something looked impossible in human terms, God took control and prayers were answered. It especially sticks in my mind how one girl forgot to take her passport out one day. Usually at every checkpoint we all had to show identity. After praying for her, for no other reason, the soldiers did not stop her on that day. God was always present and I had to learn to depend on Him.

If you know, like me, that you’re not perfect, pick up a Bible and read for yourself how Christ died for you.

Hayley Patterson

Last modified: 25th November 2005