‘I met my wife when I was 28 and we married at 31. She was a lovely girl, beautiful looking. We started dating and then she got pregnant and then we had to get married, because it would have been a shame to have a child out of wedlock.

‘We didn’t know each other that much and that affected the relationship. I went into the ministry and she wasn’t ready for that. There was too much strain. The desire to be there for my congregation at all times meant that I just went back home to sleep. No marriage can take that. I couldn’t balance my marriage and work.

‘We were together for about 24 years and then we parted. We have two children. I didn’t see them for seven years and that was the most painful thing.

‘John 16.20 really, really helped me. It says, “Verily, verily I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy”.

‘I knew at the time, that joy would come. After seven years of divorce, the same woman and I came back together. It was around Easter. One day she just walked into my office and sat down. We have been back together for five years, and now I have a grandson.

‘Without that scripture, I would have been out of the ministry and would have gone back to being a solicitor. That verse changed my life. I read it all the time, even now. I like gadgets and I’ve got it on everything, my phone, my computer. I’ve preached so many messages on it. It means a lot to me.’

Do you have a story to share? Email mybible@biblesociety.org.uk

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