These stories are told by everyday people in the Diocese of Worcester.
Dave Holdsworth - a story from St Andrew's, Malvern
Q. What was your life like 13 years ago?
I was heavily dependent on alcohol and cannabis; walking a tightrope to avoid going back into prison; constantly searching for anything that made me forget the hurts I'd caused and the hurts caused to me.
Q. What made the difference?
Outside the Crown Court, facing a possible 15 years for GBH, but feeling I'd been stitched up, I prayed for the first time in my life: God, all I want is justice, and I'm yours for life. The Judge declared himself horrified at how the case had been handled, asked if I'd accept the same sentence as the burglar I'd beaten up. I said Yes. That turned out to be 100 hours Community Service, which I was allowed to do at Oxfam, though they didn't normally accept violent offenders.
Searching for the way forward, I got a dog, Izzy, and told God I'd go wherever she led me. She led me to the Priory Office, where I said, I think I may have been called by God, but I'm not sure. Can you get someone to contact me. The people I met as a result felt I did have a calling, which was very humbling. Going to the Baked Potatoes lunch at the Octagon brought me into contact with Paul Finch, who said Izzy was welcome at St Andrew's as long as I behaved myself! Which is how I came to be a member here.
Q. What are you doing now?
Training as an evangelist with the Church Army in Sheffield. When I met Nick Russell, the Church Army officer from Greenwich that St Andrew's supports, I recognised that this was God's call on my life (though I was disappointed they don't squirt pistols of holy water). And he recognised that I have a passion which could be quenched by four years at college! So I'm training on the job, though concerns in Sheffield diocese about my shady past caused some painful delays.
I still enjoy the same company, but I want them to know I've found a better high. I've found God, I've found love, and I never want to be without it again. I want to change the world but I know I can't do it without God. My job is to journey with people, be a link in the chain that will bring them to know God through Jesus.
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Jim Ford - Rescued from a mountain fall by God?
I parked the car opposite the Three Sisters in Glen Coe. It was a beautiful day in April, the sky was blue with a few white fluffy clouds. I walked up and over Bidean nam Bian and along the ridge down to the beallach aiming for the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach. (bealach - low point or saddle between summits). The walking had been tough and in parts I was definitely out of my comfort zone. The snow was extensive over about 2,000 feet but very soft at this time of year, not slushy, but not crisp and icy as it is in mid-winter. I was told later that snow on mountains can be particularly hazardous in spring, a fact I learned the hard way! Snow in winter allows you to dig in with your crampons and ice axe, and secure a firm hold, so that slopes can be safely traversed or ascended and descended.
I reached the summit and began to attempt the descent. I put on my crampons, rucksack on my back and walking poles in my hands. I sat on the edge, dug my heels in and slid forward.
Suddenly, I was twisting and turning, totally out of control, zooming down the snow slope. I was desperately trying to work out what to do to stop myself falling. I was totally disorientated and could not focus on my surroundings. I might as well have been free falling in a pitch black void. I thought that I might arrest my fall by digging in with my walking poles, then I thought that I ought to just relax and go limp. I probably fell about 100 feet, in 10 or so seconds? I thought I heard my walking pole zoom past my left ear, a metallic sound on ice, but on reflection, much later, I think it was the sound of my shoulder cracking. Anyway, I suddenly cried out ‘Well God, come on then!'
He responded immediately. Within a second or two I was lying flat, with my face in the snow, feet down the slope, feeling my clothes wet and not knowing what or where I was. I just stared into the snow. My nose feeling the coldness of its surface. My lips tasting the freshness of the flakes as they melted in my mouth.
My left arm was hurting; must have pulled something! I had also lost a walking pole, it went flying down the mountain. I decided to turn over very slowly and sit up. I sat and dug my heels in and gradually shuffled down on my bottom. Use remaining pole to give extra support against the slope. Finally, I got to a position where the slope was gentle enough to stand up and walk the rest of the way down.
My hands were just as numb even though I had gloves on. I managed to get moving and walked towards the lower limit of the snow and began looking for the path which was shown on the map, so I knew that it was there somewhere, but it was covered by patches of snow.
My arm was hurting a lot and it did cross my mind to have it examined at the hospital in Fort William. Anyway, I needed to find this path. I walked to the left, rocky edges means scrambling. To the right was too steep so I figured that the path must be down the middle, but where? ‘Come on Lord! Where is it? I'm not fit to scramble off, I need Your help please!'
Just to the edge of the snow I saw a patch of gravel, and then a bit more. ‘Thank you Lord', it was the path. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy path, but at least it was taking me in the right direction. I looked back up at the snow slope and sighed with relief. ‘Thank you Lord'. I also saw a couple of people, I had met earlier, attempting to come off the edge of the beallach.
I was really taking my time, my arm was next to useless and I certainly didn't want to slip again. I eventually reached the car at 7.15. It had taken me almost 4 hours to get there after my fall. I decided that I must go to A & E in Fort William. My clothes were soaking wet and smelly so, with great difficulty, I changed them. This meant that I would get warm more quickly and also be kind to the nurses at the hospital. I drove the 20 miles or so, changing gear with great difficulty, getting to the hospital at about 8pm. The doctor thought that I may have torn a muscle but an X-ray revealed an avulsion fracture (bone torn away) at the top of my humerus.
As a Christian, I believe that I am never alone, God is always with me. However, we should take proper safety precautions and not take Him for granted. I had all the correct gear and am experienced in winter walking in Scotland. I cried out to God in my time of desperation and He responded and saved me.
As I plodded from the mountain it felt as though God was guiding me to safety. As I mentioned earlier, I felt at peace. This was, perhaps a feeling of relief at surviving the fall but was mixed with a sense of divine intervention, of God's presence. A nurse at the hospital observed that I had rescued myself from the mountain, but I believe that I was rescued by God!
