Working and drinking — that was my life

I’m retired now, but when I was younger I worked during the day and went to the pubs and clubs to drink in the nights and on weekends. That was my life — no real direction or focus.

But when our sons were old enough my wife started looking for a Sunday School. A friend recommended Bethel, so the boys went — and a couple of years later my wife started going too.

Although I had always felt there was a God, I had no real thought about him, so although I had no issue with the rest of the family going to Bethel, I didn’t want to go. But one Sunday I just decided to go with the others and I have been going ever since!

At first, I found it difficult to understand the Bible and the preaching. But God was dealing with me, and over time I realised I was a sinner and that my sins needed to be forgiven, so I asked God to forgive me.

I had become a Christian and I realised God had changed me! I didn’t want to go back to my old way of life which involved drinking and not much else; now I had something much better to enjoy.