Jean Blakey is from Larne, Northern Ireland and moved to Halifax when she was 19. Jean has a heart for people and is currently working in a Health Clinic for the Primary Care Trust. Jean is married to Paul.

My introduction to God happened before I had any concept of time or space or being. This happened when I was born after my Mum and Dad received the news that I had 6 months to live. The story continues that they both prayed and kept vigil throughout the long days and nights of my early life - forcing me to eat but knowing that only the grace of God could save me.

When I survived those early days, both my parents continued to educate my siblings and I about God and his healing, grace and love. The most memorable moment during these days were two little Bibles my parents gave me. Both were King James editions but best of all they were dedicated to me from my parents. So I began to read!

My parents began attending the Salvation Army in Larne, Northern Ireland were I was saved. In these days I was told about Jesus and his miracles and that he wanted to be my friend and if I wanted that I should dedicate my life to Jesus by kneeling at the mercy seat. So I kneeled. I began to pray, with some help at first from a soldier in the church. I prayed to God asking for forgiveness for everything that I had done that was wrong in his eyes and asked God to come into my life! At that moment I felt a light sensation flowing through my body and I felt calm and completely at peace - having being an anxious child I knew that was God and the beginning of my walk with him.

Some people say that when God touches your life, you want to tell the world about him. This happened in my life! At school I told my teachers and friends about God and what he can do for others. I tried my best to be a good Christian by doing charitable work and trying to help people even by making them feel happier. Most of all I prayed, or rather I talked with God - I had conversations with God every day! I knew I always had a friend.

I will never forget hearing the voice of for the first time. I was never a fast runner - and I tried very hard to win medals so that I could achieve something great to show my parents. Well I began to fret and worry and feel down hearted when a voice said, "Don't worry!" At the time I was flabbergasted - I rushed upstairs and told my parents and they said that it must be a good voice to say that! I knew it was God and that was my message for people for a long time - it still is. I didn't know the scripture at the time well enough to know that was there - I found out a couple of years later where it was in the Bible (the King James version is very hard for a child!). I was amazed!

The next few years, through the later teenage years and early twenties period I began to follow a different pathway without realising that I was putting barriers between God and myself through anger, selfishness, bitterness and everything I stood against as a Christian. At this time I struggled to go to church as my parents left the Salvation Army and being obedient to my parents I did as they wished and left as well thinking I could make it on my own! It is very difficult and nearly impossible to make it without fellowship! I would urge anyone to make a Christian connection to talk about the Christian faith and lifestyle to ensure that they understand different signs and interpreting scripture correctly. Especially if they are still learning about God and the Christian lifestyle and all the gifts that is and could be bestowed to you! There is a lot more to Christianity than accepting Jesus into your life! This is just the beginning!

I tried very hard to make connections with the church and still be obedient to my parents wish to stay safe in the turmoil of Northern Ireland and the fear of the revival of the troubles and terrorism. This was very difficult! I read the Bible at home and still prayed and sang his praises throughout these times because when you have been touched by God - nothing can make you forget about God and all that he has done for you! He is ever present! He is always there for you and is ever faithful!

I began to make mistakes by marrying the wrong man - I had faith to pray to God for my life partner and I believed I was guided to my husband! I was wrong - I looked in the wrong places and had so many signs that it was a mistake, which I chose to ignore. I was nineteen when I was engaged and twenty one when I married and had a calling to become a leader in the church I was attending when I moved to Halifax, West Yorkshire. I wasn't obedient and my marriage ended in divorce. I encourage others to be obedient to the Lord and follow his ways and trust in him to guide you onto the right path.

When I was following through with my divorce I met a man and prayed to God if that was the man I was meant to be with all those years when I was married. I started listening to God - he said "No". I prayed that God would guide me to my life partner again and this time I allowed God to guide me - listening to all the signs, watching and constantly praying. I met a Christian man that exceeded my expectations of a life partner and I know that this is God working in my life.

Life again is very blessed through the grace of God! I have received Gods healing power time and again to heal emotional wounds and heal physical defaults. Meeting Dario Luiz enabled me to experience the work of God and the Holy Spirit in a different way when my ear was healed. As a child I had an ear infection which caused my ear to bleed and ever since my ear was very painful and I sometimes found it difficult to hear properly. I received healing prayer from Dario and felt a wind in my ear rushing from the inside to the outside of my ear. I asked if the pastor had blown in my ear and he confirmed the wind to be the Holy Spirit and confessed to have received insight from God that the inside of my ear had a slight defect. God healed me!

I can only share my personal story about God. I urge everyone reading this document to make God a reality in his or her own life and endeavour to know Him personally! It will change your life!

God Bless
Jean Blakey