4161-4 Buck Dec-Jan - The Community of Bucklebury WIKI

ut I found out that everyone was selfish,
including me at the end of the day. I
also learnt that loving people led to pain.
I got really disillusioned. I moved on to
using heroin and then ended up doing
crime to fund my habit, which led to a
string of short prison sentences.
“By 29, I had ruined my health and I
was close to death. After a serious pulmonary
embolism and the diagnosis of
severe liver damage, doctors gave me
six months to live if I carried on with my
way of life.
“Back in prison six months later, a
probation officer suggested I try rehab. I
thought that a Christian rehab would be a
softer option so I went to the Red House
in Newark. When that closed down, I was
transferred to Yeldall Manor.
“I was really negative about
Christianity and would argue with anybody
about it. Secretly, I started to
believe it, and would see how they
ought to answer my arguments. I
realised that Jesus really is the Son of
God and that he is utterly on my side.
He offered change from within, which is
what I needed. Eventually, I surrendered
– ‘Lord, I give in.’
“Whilst at Yeldall, I felt that God was
calling me to preach. It was crazy. I was
very shy back then, but I spoke to Bill
Yoder and he advised me to apply to
Bible College.
“In October 1982, Joanie Yoder
drove me to Moorlands Bible College.
Praying …
for the Parish and the World
December 2010
5th ❤ Shoemakers
❤ Magazine Editor & Distribution Teams
❤ Roundfield & Little Lane
12th ❤ Christian Aid
❤ Organists, Choir, Worship Group
❤ Hopgoods Green & Briff Lane
19th ❤ Children’s Aid
❤ Cell Groups
❤ Burdens Heath, Upper Harts Hill Road & Mount Pleasant
26th ❤ Bible Society, SPCK (Society for the Promotion
of Christian Knowledge)
❤ Bellringers (Tower Captain – John Durham)
❤ Benefice of Mortimer, Mortimer West End & Padworth
January 2011
2nd ❤ Careforce
❤ Administration Team
❤ Hatch Lane & Hatch Close
9th ❤ Theological Colleges
❤ Ministry Team
❤ Westrop Green
16th ❤ Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS)
❤ Parochial Church Council
❤ Tylers Lane & The Slade
23rd ❤ Church Army
❤ Church Cleaners
❤ Broad Lane & Long Grove
30th ❤ Wycliffe Bible Translators
❤ Flower Arrangers
❤
Benefice of Purley
Whilst I was there, I met another student,
Marj, and we got married in 1985.
“After my course, I became
Associate Pastor at a church in
Peckham. I was there for three years
and was expected to take over from the
Pastor. But there were many young
people there with addiction problems
4 DECEMBER 2010/JANUARY 2011