I was low as low, life was bad, being diagnosed with two aneurisms, losing my father, I got depressed. Two times I overdosed on sleeping pills. I shouldn't be here now. But I went to my GP saying “I need to change – I need spiritual help”, not knowing she was a Christian, not knowing she was going to a church near mine. 

She pointed me to Belvidere Road Church, and there I did a Christianity Explored course with Pastor Ali.  In that course I realised how guilty I was to God. My life wasn’t just making me unhappy – it was making God unhappy – and I was under His judgment. I heard about my sin and how Jesus died for sinners. I heard that my life belongs to God. It always has. I had abused it. I turned away from my old way of life and prayed to God; asking Him to take my life and do with it as He pleases.

Jesus being pure, righteous and holy, being God’s Son, died for sinners like me. Jesus felt the pain for all of our sins, the pains so immense, the torture and everything. It is emotionally upsetting because He died for our sins and He went through so, so much and all we give back is faith and speaking His word. This is so little to give back. God saves us from His anger and punishment free because Jesus died instead of us.

I don’t say I’m better than anyone - but I'm going to a better place. I’m still a sinner, but I’m forgiven! I don’t deserve anything. But God has given me eternal life free because of Jesus.  So now I’m trying to honour God. It's all for Him. It’s so reassuring, it’s a nice thing to know - I will be going to heaven.

To get God’s forgiveness is a nice thing; a good thing. On top of that, God taking hold of my life has transformed me and turned my life around. I’m free from drugs and alcohol; living clean and strong. Living His way is… a smile… a very big smile!

"I don't say I'm better than anyone - but I'm going to a better place"

I want to tell people how God has changed my life - to say, “Listen, God can help you. Listen to what the Bible says. Turn away from your sins, and give God your life. Ask God for forgiveness and live God’s way - not your own. If you don't do it, I'm not going to see you in Heaven. When Judgement Day comes, you're going to end up in hell. You’ve got to hear this.”

Now I have hope. Death is the end of this body maybe, but I’ll have eternal life with God, next to Jesus, and He’ll give me a crown. I’ll get a new body and I’ll be living a pure life of no evil thoughts, no sins, no badness in any form. God will give us all this in heaven, and to be beside Jesus our Saviour … as we say in Tocky [Toxteth], “Well in, kidda la!” Eternal life, not eternal pain in hell. I’m not a hell man – far from it. I was: I was a hell, hell, hell man, but now, I don’t want to see people who I know to go to hell. I want them to listen and I want them to see the change my life and say, ‘Wow! That’s brilliant, how do I get what you’ve got?’

 

"Living His way is a smile ... a very big smile"

 

Life is great – but it’s not all easy. I didn’t ever think I’d get called ‘Bible-basher’ or anything like that! That makes me smile. Christians do get trouble. You have your ups and downs and its not just people, it’s the devil too. But I’m happy, because I love Jesus. I love God. And nothing’s going to change that - nothing at all.

If you would like to know God in the way Mark does; If you would like freedom to live God’s way – then do something about it: contact Pastor Ian at Belvidere Road Church who would be happy to point you to eternal life in Jesus.