des:the unlikely lad!

This photograph of me was taken in 1993 in a photo booth in Leicester prison (Wellford Rd). The prison used it to keep me on record: I took mine for memorabilia! Never would I have thought that I would use it to spread the good news of Jesus. I was 23, remanded after breaking bail for violent disorder. It wasn’t my first time behind bars and it wouldn’t be my last. I had an unhappy childhood being on the end of my dad’s frustration with unemployment and the problems it brings. Aged 11-12 I'd discovered getting high (glue sniffing).
This would be the beginning of a 20 year chemical addiction, be it solvent, alcohol or drugs. It would result in me losing all my possessions, being hungry, homeless, without my freedom and unable to maintain any loving relationship be it girlfriend, child, family or friend. Eventually after robbing me of all these things my addiction would come close to taking the only thing I had left. Me!
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy

In 2003 I fell off a plane drunk as usual. I'd decided to do what I did best - run from all my problems and hide away at my brother’s house. Andy and his family were (and are) Christians and they had different ideas. They wanted me to try a Christian Rehabilitation Centre. I agreed, thinking I'd do a couple of days, phone Andy and tell him thanks but it wasn’t for me and he'd come and pick me up. I was about to find out that Andy wasn’t the only one who loved me!
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

On May the 7th 2003 I received some amazing news. It was my first night in rehab...I’d not spoken with anyone about Jesus, nor opened the Bible that Andy had given me...but that night in Church I fell to my knees, asked for forgiveness and prayed that the Lord Jesus would come into my life. The void I'd tried to fill with things that this world had to offer (but never could) was full to overflowing. What was missing in my life was the love that God our Father has for us!
John 14: 6 - I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

Jesus delivered me from my addiction right there and then and I was filled with an inner peace that I'd never known and knew for the first time what love really is. Not only did I need healing but so did those I'd hurt. I had lived with my ex girlfriend for over eight years and we had two lovely children, but Louise had really received the brunt of my addiction and had suffered greatly to the point of not being able to cope with me any longer. The relationship had become full of bitterness and resentment. Finally, having no other option but to tell me it was over, I was told to leave. Louise did what was best for herself and the children. But I knew God had blessed me with my family and all the time I was in the centre (71/2 months) I prayed that the Lord would bring them back into my life!
2 kings 20:5 - I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you

On my return to England I went back to live with my mum and dad in Norfolk for the first time in 19 years. I continued to pray for my family. I visited Louise and the children in Manchester and found she had begun to ‘get on’ with her life (a new house, new friends etc). I continued to pray for my family and believed that if I persevered God would do a healing in Louise as he had in me. And he did.! Louise, seeing the miracle that Jesus had done in me, wanted to know what had happened to me. We found a church local to Louise and began to attend. I moved back up North, living with Louise's parents, and with the help of people in the church we began to rebuild our relationship. It was great seeing Jesus healing wounds that I had caused in Louise and our two children (Jack and Rhianna) - and with me and my parents. In September 2004 we were married and now Jack and Rhianna had mummy and daddy back together and they too know Jesus as their best friend. There is no end to this love that Jesus has for us and the only thing that stops us receiving it...is ourselves!.Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him and he with me

I can't ever remember once, as a child, my brother or sister standing in for me as I was about to receive a beating off my dad. I’ve stood in many court rooms and had many solicitors at my defence, but never did they offer to take the punishment for the crimes I’d committed. This was the very reason that Jesus - God's Son - lived on earth, died (nailed to a rough wooden cross) and was raised from the tomb, so that we would not receive the due punishment for our sin and that we could be reunited with our Father in Heaven.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life