Bethel Stories

Everyone has a story to tell. For most of us in Bethel, our favourite stories are the ones that remind us that God knows us, loves us and changes us for the better. Here are some of those stories. (You might also enjoy some of the stories of our friends, too.)

Friends of Bethel

“He tried to kill me — but when I met him, I liked him”

“I opened a Bible and the words “the truth will set you free” just stared at me. The next eighteen months were the best in my life.”

“'Pan-Am Flight 103 has exploded'… the unthinkable slowly expanded, filling not only our minds but every nerve and cell of our bodies… That’s Helga’s flight.”

“We set our standards, but when you get there, it doesn't fulfil what you think it will.”

“Our Christian faith has helped us every single day – if we hadn’t known that God is with us even in the most difficult times, we would probably never have been able to cope. ”

Alison and Kevin

“I felt that God was calling me to speak out against Robert Mugabe ”

“God has kept me and given me strength through some very difficult times”

“Suddenly a masked man smashed through the driver’s window with an iron bar and began beating Dad to death. There was nothing Dad could do — he was trapped in his own seat, receiving blow after blow. And it was there he died, suffocating on his own blood.”

Colin’s story

“Unlike alcohol, success or sport, turning to Jesus has brought me true and lasting happiness”

Being Detective Sergeant in the Drugs Squad was challenging work and I spent a lot of time in pubs and clubs where the drug users were. I knew the drug users never found happiness through taking drugs — indeed, many ended their lives. It was such a contrast to the young people at Bethel, whose faces radiated such joy and happiness. Then at a New Year’s Eve service, I heard these words of Jesus: "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest". I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour there and then, and became a new person. My life had changed. I used to drink and I enjoyed smoking but I no longer wanted to do those things and gave them up immediately. What God had given me was so much more wonderful than anything the world had to offer. I went for a walk on the first morning of 1978 and I remember breathing in the pure fresh air and thinking how wonderful creation was. It was a new year and I was a new person.

Read more of Colin’s story