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I was born in London but grew up as an army kid

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

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‘I was born in London but grew up as an army kid. When my dad left the army we went to live in Dorset. I loved sport and had a very happy childhood. 

‘I'd been baptised at 17 but I wasn't really converted. I did English and PE at Chester Uni and went a bit mad – I partied really hard. I was drinking really heavily. My lowest point was at an Isle of Man sports festival when I woke up covered in vomit. 

‘I was pretty desperate. I didn't change overnight, but my best mate had just become a Christian and we shared our stories and went to church together.

‘I qualified as a teacher but wasn't really sure it was for me. I had a few jobs including youth work and working for a Christian travel company. But I found a dream job teaching PE in a middle school and loved it. I now teach in a private school – an alien world to me, but I've really enjoyed it. I now have a pastoral role responsible for a team looking after more than 80 kids, and I feel it's something I'm called to do. 

‘The Bible verse that's meant a lot to me is Isaiah 40.31, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

‘I look back and think how I've been held. I was on a mission to an orphanage in Mozambique, and I was given the wrong prescription for anti-malarial drugs and could have died. There was a time when the alcohol kicked in at Crewe service station, I was running across a motorway, and down marble steps – it was as though I floated down. 

‘At times when my strength is drained and stuff is messy, those words help me not to try to do things in my own strength. I like the idea of riding on thermals. You might think this is just distancing yourself from reality and living in a dream world. I don't think that; I think this is the real world, and I'm living in God's promises.’

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