Hello, my name is
Steve. I do hope you enjoy
my story.I was born at a
very early age, in 1956,
North London. My mother
left my father when I was
three years old, taking me
with her to Scotland. After
a while she moved to Kent,
though I do not remember
much about that time.
We then moved to
Norfolk in 1962. During
that time I was starting to
feel lonely and left out. It felt like my mother did not really
love me and was more interested in her career as a
midwife. I did not have any friends to speak of or can
remember.
In 1965 we moved to Brighton when I was about nine.
My mother had moved in with another woman who had
children of her own: a girl and a boy. Even though I was
older than the boy, the boy bullied me and I felt they got
more love than I. The other woman also made it quite plain
she did not like me one bit.
From Brighton we moved to Chelmsford in Essex. This
was around my eleventh
birthday. With all this moving I
was getting unsettled; which
came out in my behaviour.
My mother was obviously
fed up with me, and, after only
a
year at an ordinary senior
school, she sent me to a
boarding school, miles away in
Dorchester. I could not return
home at weekends because of
the distance. After a year she
moved me to another boarding
school in Colchester. However,
even though this was closer,
my mother still did not want me to come home at weekends.
She even complained at end of term times. I felt very lonely
and rejected.
During my time at Colchester, God had started to speak
to me. This took me on a journey looking for something. I
did not know what this something was; but knew I wanted it.
It wasn't a blinding flash just a quiet voice.
At this Boarding School it was compulsory to go to
church on Sundays. I chose to go to a local Church of
England. God spoke to me again. I had got into the habit of
going to church but I did not have a relationship with God. I
thought He was like other people I knew: uncaring and
distant. Eventually I left school after disappointing exam
results. My mother and her friend was just as cold and
uncaring as ever, saying things that hurt and wounded me.
Eventually she kicked me out of the house shortly after my
sixteenth birthday. I was working in a chicken factory at the
time and a work colleague said I could stay with him for a
while. Little did I know that he was a drunkard and played
his music loudly at night and at weekends. I even fell into
the trap and got drunk a few times myself. I just wanted this
loneliness to end.
Unknown to me, my parents had got divorced when I
was 14 and the Divorce Court had placed me on a
supervision order. Only when I was 16 did I find out and the
care officer got me a place to live with two Christians: one
eccentric old woman, and one eccentric young man by the
name of Eddie. During this time God was still talking to me
and his voice seemed to be getting louder. Eddie invited me
to his church. It was an ordinary church but God spoke to
me again. During the coming weeks I went again and again,
each time God spoke to me more and more.
II began to be aware I was unclean, feelings that even
though people had done me wrong, I had done wrong to
God. So I asked Eddie what I should do about giving my life
to Jesus. He told me to think of all my sins and list them. He
told me to turn away from them and say sorry to God,
asking Him to forgive me. Things were different after that,
but I knew there was a long journey ahead.
Later, the care officer found accommodation with house
parents so I moved. There I was shown Christian love. I saw
God change me and I began to grow as Christian. God
delivered me from smoking and I started going to a church
where I would eventually meet my wife.
Having not known what it was to have a father, I asked
God if He could show me what it meant for Him to be my
Father. Nothing happened straight away so I forgot it. When
I was 17 I decided I would like to find out what had happened
to my dad and asked the care officer to help me find him.
She did and I was able to meet up with him. He too after a
while, because of painful memories, decided not to have
anything to do with me and we lost contact.
God met me in a very special way.
I had been visiting my then landlady's son just down the
road. It was getting late so I left the house and made my way
in the direction of home. Almost immediately I heard an
audible voice saying, "turn around”. I chatted back my
agreement. "Right oh LORD", I said. "It would be nice to (take
the long way round on to country roads" So off I headed for a
nice pleasant walk on a lovely crisp clear night on to country
roads.
Leaving the town and entering the countryside I rounded
a bend. Suddenly I felt something amazing. I felt a love from
God I'd never felt before. The full moon seemed to be on fire.
In response I cried out. "I love you Lord!"
I didn't know what to do. I started to laugh. I wanted to
cry. My legs started to buckle from under me so I fell in a
ditch. I got out still laughing and crying. I fell on my knees. I
was so grateful.
And so it went on. I had lost all track of time, but I think it
lasted about an hour. I was dishevelled but full of joy. God
had changed me; I had gained a new love for Jesus and
wanted to have Him number one in my life.
God’s Call
While I was in church one Sunday, a visiting speaker
from the London City Mission came to speak. He spoke of all
the work they did among the homeless and poor in London.
Suddenly I knew God wanted me to live in London and do
His work there. I did not know how I should do this and left it
for a while. Later, I heard of a scheme called Voluntary
Evangelism (VE) that the London City Mission ran in
Bermondsey that I joined in 1977, for seven months. Once I
got to Bermondsey I knew London was where I would stay.
Meanwhile, having met my future wife, Andrea, in church
and being away from her, in Bermondsey, I really missed her.
So much so I went off my food! Hard to believe, I know, but
there you are.
While I was a VE, people kept asking me how I became
a Christian and what God had done in my life. So I told them
this same story. The more I told people, the more God spoke
to me saying how much of a Father He had been to me,
looking after me all these years. For the first time in my life I
started calling God "Father!"
By 1979 it was time for Andrea and I to get married. I had
been looking for a place where we could both live. Could I
find anywhere? No I could not! I knew God wanted us to live
in Bermondsey, but where would we live? Many a time I felt
like just giving in, but God picked me up and told me to keep
looking. Eventually God showed Himself faithful, like he
always does, and a week before our wedding date we found
a place in Peckham. It had two rooms with a shared
bathroom, toilet and Kitchen.
We were there for a little
while when Andrea became
pregnant. We knew the rules of
the house said no children and
we began wondering what would
happen. Our pastor at the time
(Mr Chris Brown), came to us
and told us he had been
approached by a local doctor
who asked him if he knew of
anyone who could be a live in
caretaker at the surgery rent-free.
Chris thought of us and we
jumped at the chance. It was
lovely our own kitchen, toilet and
bathroom! It even had a garden,
which my wife was thrilled with.
Later we were to find out that
God is faithful in all our housing
needs - but that's another story!
Now after many years of
belonging to Jesus, I know how
God is faithful. The Bible says,
"Though my father and mother
forsake me, the LORD will
receive me." Psalm 27:10
I have three grown up
children whom all believe in
Jesus, as I do, and I know God
has got more blessings for me in
the future.
Some Points to
Remember
1
God loves YOU and
wants you to be His child.
(He came to that which was
his own, but his own did not
receive him. Yet to all who
received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave
the right to become children
of God John 1:11-12)
2
God loves YOU so much
that He sent His Son,
Jesus, to die on the Cross
to take the punishment
you deserve. (God made
him who had no sin to be sin
for us, so that in him we
might become the
righteousness of God. 2
Corinthians 5:21)
3
The way to receive God's
forgiveness is to believe it
was for YOU, repent-turn
away from your sin and
ask God to forgive you.
(Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38)
My house in Brighton
