Daniels Story
Daniel Russell is a very active member of the FGBMFI in Calderdale / West Yorkshire - here he tells his story:
As a young teenager, I thought there was a God. At a traditional church, where my dad was the Vicar, I was loved. After a meeting with young Christians in Taize (France), I witnessed a normal individual desperately appealing to God through an image and I concluded that God must be helpful. But I had no idea about faith-action for God. I still haven't reached that maturity but I have changed myself, by God's guidance, and this is my story of how this happened:
Before it happened, I studied at school, college and Uni, being happy-go-lucky but trying hard for exams and passing the required amount - my attitude was not good enough for work as a leader. So I failed my interviews and ended up either being a Porter or shop assistant or volunteer at a Christian retreat. I chose the Christian voluntary work at two places because I have high hopes! Iona Abbey in Scotland, which concentrated on action and Lee Abbey in Devon, which concentrated on faith. Unfortunately, I spent much time cooking and cleaning but I did make good friends and supply-ordering responsibilities. Later, I would begin to enjoy practical work for others, not only for itself.
One day a session was held for "community" volunteers and the leaders spoke about God being able to forgive our past, even things that I wouldn't/couldn't remember. Well, a tall chaplain then asked if I wanted to pray. I thought that was ok. I ended up confessing fornication (although I had been aiming for marriage) to God and realised that this was hampering my happiness - a relationship with God. They taught that friendship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and with others as myself was needed, and I knew I needed this. I tried to get to know God through prayer, and they taught that it is through the living Jesus and also by the overwhelming feeling of the Holy Spirit of God. We are also taught that God teaches us like a father teaches his son. So I was very, very happy. My enthusiasm increased, instructed by others on "community". Later, this included my hopes, expectations and self-development, areas I had not thought about before.
The friends I made appreciate this but God had something more, as follows:
We could stand with guests and pray for them. I just stood there with an old professional prayer, a lady. A bright, middle-aged lady-guest at Lee Abbey came to us for prayer. The next day at Kitchen-Team prayers I found out that she had had M.E. and was wheelchair bound normally but had suddenly recovered during the rest of the day and ended up running up a small hill that day! Wow! I was baffled, happily surprised and shocked! I come from a thoughtful family and didn't have a clue what, how or why this happened, but my good feeling about God would continue the rest of my life.
When I left (to show off my new life with God) to my family to improve my relations with them it seemed that they and my brothers were out to put me in a mental health hospital (and they were Christians!); they thought I needed to change big time and now I know they are right. My happy-go-lucky lifestyle would not work as a man. I began to enjoy work for myself. I would, later, start my own business. So, I have humbled myself in my work and all my relations; whether I meet my managers or my mother, I try to put them first, asking myself silently in my head:
'What would their greatest need be right now?'
Finally I have, unfortunately, come to neglect myself but then remembered that I am important too. With help from these/my friends, the well-known command to
"...love others as yourself..."
won't work otherwise!
I NOW KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH OUR LOVE IS SOMEWHAT DIRTY, GOD'S LOVE IS PURE. These are the extremes but God is all-encompassing and, after all, we cannot make any living thing that God made! Even a natural rock is bound by so many natural occurrences that it is impossible to re-create! As for me, I will serve God and provide a better place for others as myself!