Irene's Story

I was brought up in Birkenhead and as a child I used to go to different church's, on my own. I left home at 18 and joined the W.R.A.F. and was one of a few recruits who went to confirmation classes, and was confirmed, during my first six weeks basic training. I was married in 1970, in St. James Church, Birkenhead, to John who was also in the R.A.F. I continued to attend a church, wherever we moved to and would hear God speak to me during the service. But usually when I got home and the week went by it was usually forgotten. In 1986 my sister died and I found myself calling out to God and was surprised when he answered. He answered the little things, like a parking space (at a time of day when there never is one – I had the choice of several on this day!) when I went to register her death at Birkenhead town hall. He also answered the big things, like providing extra finances when my nephews came to live with us in Norfolk. It was during this time, when God answered my prayers, I realised I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. God never forces himself on us, we need to accept his gift – '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.' I had to take a step of faith and say sorry – ask God to forgive me, thank you – for Jesus dying on the cross, please – come into my life. I was also encouraged, by the vicar at St James, to join a lively church and a small group and I have always found somewhere when we have moved to a new place. It has been the small group that has been a lifeline with helping me cope with the things life has thrown at me – but the anchor has always been Jesus. One of my brothers died in 2005 and I had a real yearning to be in Birkenhead as I have a lot of family members here, I thought that was coming to visit more frequently. But God had other ideas, out of the blue John (he wasn't even looking) was asked to come and work in Merseyside in a job he loves, so we moved back in 2006.