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Biography
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"An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so he must be willing to accept all experiences that life can offer." Marlon Brando
I love that quote from Marlon Brando .. I can really relate to the sentiment behind it.
[ SHORT STORY OF MY LIFE .. ] A few years ago I tragically lost my best friend and then my sister. It was challenging to not allow those difficult experiences in my life make me become negative, or bitter. I rose above the sadness by continuing to perform in shows and by doing many rewarding things, including travelling around the world and by getting involved with various charities.
I also did an Alpha Course and this led to be a huge turning point in my life. And with a sprinkling of love, hope and faith along the way I can honestly say from that day onwards I have ended up living my life to the full.
To give you some examples of this: I became a street performer and danced in front of thousands in many different parts of Europe.
I qualified as a diver and had some amazing experiences swimming with dolphins, sharks and stingray. I travelled to remote places and witnessed incredible things such as a volcano erupting in Tabacon. I skydived from 18,000 feet and even became a rally driver and raced cars at 170 mph ... never a dull day for me !
I have always believed in caring for others and over the years I have been involved with various Charities supporting the homeless and people suffering from depression, drug and alcohol issues, etc. For the last ten years I have been involved with a Christian Charity called Cry In The Dark and in Romania we have built a residential care home for 24 young people with special needs and have built a hospice to provide care for over 200 children.
 C.I.T.D
[ LONG STORY OF MY LIFE .. ]
( TIP : Make yourself a cup of tea .. its a long one ! )
I consider it a real honour and privilege to be able to come and speak to you about my life.
For some of you, what I am going to say can possibly become life changing, should you make a decision to change your life, from today, and live in a different way.
Something can change in your heart, should your heart remain open and should you choose to live your life with Gods love and guidance in the centre.
For some of you, your heart will be closed right now and instead of being filled with love, you may have hurt or anger.
If you heart is closed, then what I say today may make no difference at all ... So all I say to you is this.
I never used to FULLY believe in God, but I do now.
I know that my own self will got me no where …. But now I have handed my will and my life completely over to God, I am a totally different person.
I pray that you too may you find your way to a transformation in your life ... May those hurts be healed and may there be forgiveness.
AND FOR ANY OF YOU WITH ANY DOUBTS OR FEARS, I PRAY THAT INSTEAD OF FEAR, MAY YOU HAVE FAITH.
Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 :
Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you."
The things we learnt as children, from our parents and from our home, have helped shape who we are today.
I was told by my dad when I was growing up that I was useless and stupid … and for a long time I believed him.
I used to hang out with the wrong sorts of kids and was often influenced by their view of things .. often a worldy view and a view lacking in God, or conscience … or care about others.
I was told by some kids at school that it was ok to steal from people because I had no money … and I grew up believing that it was ok to steal.
Are there any messages running around in your head that you need to change ?
Are you being influenced by people, when in fact you should be showing THEM a good example ?
Or maybe there are some habits or attitudes that one or both of your parents passed on to you, that you need to change about yourself ?
Well here is some good news for you for today .. it is never too late to change
I have learnt over the years, many, many important lessons in my life.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE MADE LOTS OF MISTAKES … AND SOME TIMES I HAVE LEARNT QUICKLY FROM THOSE MISTAKES .. AND SOMETIMES NOT SO QUICKLY.
WE ALL HAVE OUR STORY AND I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU SOME OF MY MINE.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE I HAVE HARDLY ANY MEMORY OF AND THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OF ME AS A CHILD.
THE REASON WHY I CANNOT REMEMBER MUCH FROM THOSE EARLY YEARS IS BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A TRAUMATIC AND SCARY TIME FOR ME.
WHAT LITTLE PHOTOS THERE WERE FROM THOSE EARLY DAYS, WERE DESTROYED BY MY FATHER IN A FIT OF DRUNKEN ANGER ONE NIGHT.
SUCH WAS HIS PROGESSIVE BOUTS OF DRINKING AND HOW ANGRY HE GOT AT TIMES --- AND HOW LOST HE BECAME IN HIS LIFE.
I ALWAYS KEPT A LOVE IN MY HEART FOR MY FATHER, REGARDLESS OF HIS BAD ATTITUDE TOWARDS ME AND I LEARNT TO APPRECIATE FIRST HAND THAT AN ALCOHOLIC IS NOT ALWAYS A BAD PERSON … THEY JUST SUFFER FROM AN ILLNESS.
I LEARNT AS I GREW UP THAT LIFE CAN BE CHALLENGING AND PEOPLE CAN HURT YOU, BUT FORGIVENESS IS EVERYTHING.
FROM THE MOMENT I WAS BORN, MY LIFE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO TO BE ‘ UNUSUAL’ …
WHEN I WAS BORN, MY PARENTS COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOOK AFTER ME, SO FROM A BABY,UP TO THE AGE OF 5 ,I WAS FOSTERED AND I GOT TO STAY WITH SOME VERY LOVING CHRISTIAN FOSTER PARENTS, BY THE SEA
THEY WERE A CHILDLESS COUPLE WHO LOVED ME DEARLY AND I HAVE A FEELING OR WARMTH WHENEVER I THINK OF THEM.
ONE OF THE ONLY MEMORIES I HAVE FROM THAT PERIOD WAS THAT MY FOSTER FATHER LOVED MOTORBIKES. AND FAST CARS.
HIS LOVE OF FAST CARS MUST HAVE RUBBED OFF ON ME, FOR IN LATER YEARS I GOT INTO RACING KARTS AND FAST CARS.
I WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT LATER …..
FROM THE AGE OF 5, I WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM MY LOVING FOSTER PARENTS AND RETURNED BACK TO MY MUM AND DAD.
MY MUM WAS IRISH AND MY DAD WAS HAWAIIAN
MY MUM WAS A LAPSED CATHOLIC AND MY DAD WAS A HINDU.
WE WERE QUITE POOR AND ENDED UP LIVING IN A HORRIBLE HOUSE ON A BAD HOUSING ESTATE
WHEN I WAS RETURNED BACK TO MY PARENTS,
I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A SISTER ( SUE ) AND THREE BROTHERS .
MY FATHER WAS AN ABUSIVE, ALCOHOLIC AND I RECEIVED NO PRAISE OR ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HIM.
THOSE WERE TOUGH TIMES.
WE WERE POOR AS A FAMILLY AND WE GREW UP BELIEVING LIFE WAS DIFFICULT.
6 YEARS OLD
I WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL –
THE ONLY REASON WHY I WENT WAS BECAUSE THE LADY ON THE FRONT DOOR WOULD ASK IF I LOVED JESUS .. AND WHEN I SAID YES .. SHE WOULD GIVE ME A LOLLIPOP !
AT THAT TIME, I HAD NO REAL IDEA WHO JESUS WAS .. BUT I KNEW HE MUST BE A GOOD GUY IF HE WOULD GIVE ME A LOLIPOP !
I LISTENED TO THE BIBLE VERSES THAT WERE READ OUT IN THAT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND EVERY NOW AND THEN I WOULD HAVE A STRANGE FEELING OF WARMTH INSIDE ME.
THEY TALKED ABOUT JESUS BEING MY FATHER AND THAT COMFORTED ME.
IT WAS NICE TO HEAR TO HEAR THAT JESUS LOVED ME UNCONDITIONALLY.
WHEN I WAS SEVEN, MY MUM SENT ME OUT TO THE SHOPS TO BUY SOME MILK … I RAN OUT IN THE ROAD WITHOUT LOOKING PROPERLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW A BIG LORRY COMING TOWARDS ME.
JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME, MY LEGS GIVE WAY AND I FELL UNDER THE PATH OF THE LORRY – THE LORRY DROVE STRAIGHT OVER ME AND AMAZINGLY, I DO NOT GET KILLED
IT’S WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I GOT A SENSE OF ‘SOMETHING’ PROTECTING ME
Psalm 121:5-8
The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
5 YEARS OLD
DAD LEFT
AT 8 YEARS OLD
I SAW IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT A TOP WEST END SHOW CALLED ‘ OLIVER’ WAS HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR A PART IN THE SHOW.
I WENT TO THE AUDITIONS ON MY OWN.
THE PART OF A WORKHOUSE BOY WOULD INVOLVE ACTING ALONGSIDE A FAMOUS OLD MUSICAL HALL ACTOR CALLED ROY HUDD.
I GOT THE PART, FROM 2000 CHILDREN THAT APPLIED. IT WAS A BIG DEAL AT THE TIME AS I WAS THE ONLY COLOURED PERSON IN THE SHOW.
THE ACTOR ROY HUDD CAME TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND HE LOOKED AFTER ME AND ENCOURAGED ME TO DO WELL ..
IT FELT GOOD AT LONG LAST TO MEET SOMEONE WHO WAS KIND AND FRIENDLY. AND SOMEONE I COULD TRUST.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY MUM AND DAD SEPARATED.
BEING THE ELDEST, I WAS NEEDED BY MY MUM,
SO I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE SHOW TO LIVE WITH MY MUM AND HELP LOOK AFTER MY BROTHERS AND SISTER.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT WAS A BIG DISSAPOINTMENT FOR ME TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE SHOW AND RETURN HOME.
9 YEARS OLD
MY FAMILY MOVED TO ANOTHER HORRIBLE AREA ..
I GOT RACIALLY ABUSED ALL THE TIME, CALLED ALL SORTS OF NAMES AND OFTEN GOT BEATEN UP … JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR OF MY SKIN.
I JOIN A GANG IN ORDER TO GAIN A SENSE A BELONGING AND TO PUT AN END TO THE CONSTANT BEATINGS.
INITIATIONS IN THE GANG INVOLVED SMASHING PEOPLES WINDOWS, BREAKING INTO PEOPLES HOUSES, ETC.
**** IT’S AT THIS STAGE THAT I LOSE ALL FEELING INSIDE FOR LIFE … I HAVE NO CONCIENCE ABOUT ANYTHING OR ANYONE ********
I STEAL FROM SHOPS AND OFTEN GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE.
I START SMOKING AND START LYING TO MY TEACHERS, MY MUM .. ANYONE.
I KEPT STEALING THINGS FROM SCHOOL AND IN THE END THE SCHOOL HAD ENOUGH OF MY BAD BEHAVIOUR AND I GOT SENT TO SPECIAL DETENTION SCHOOL
IN THE SPECIAL SCHOOL, THERE WERE BARS ON THE WINDOWS.
THERE WERE CHILD PROSTITUTES AND CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ATTENDING
IN THE TWO YEARS I WAS THERE, I RECEIVED LITTLE OR NO EDUCTION
11 YEARS OLD
WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD,
MY MUM STARTED SELLING SWEETS FROM A PRAM
AND SHE MADE ENOUGH TO KEEP US FED AND CLOTHED AND TO BUILD UP SOME SAVINGS.
MY FATHER RETURNED AND WE FOUND OUT HE HAD REMARRIED.
MY FATHER TOLD MY MUM THAT HE HAS CHANGED AND HE WANTS THE BEST FOR HIS KIDS NOW … AND MY MUM BELIEVED HIM.
MY MUM GAVE MY FATHER ALL HER MONEY TO BUY A SHOP AND A HOTDOG VAN AND I MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT AREA WITH MY FATHER.
MY FATHER USED TO TAKE ME OUT IN THE HOTDOG VAN, PARK IT ILLEGALLY OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB DURING THE NIGHT AND THEN WENT TO THE PUB AND LEFT ME ALONE IN THE VAN TO SERVE CUSTOMERS .
WHEN I WOULD SEE POLICE COMING, I WOULD SIT ON A BIG STACK OF CUSHIONS AND DRIVE THE VAN OFF AND AROUND THE TOWN.
ONLY PROBLEM WAS, AT THAT TIME I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE GEAR, SO I DROVE AROUND THE TOWN IN 1ST GEAR ONLY !!
MY FATHER WAS OVERLY STRICT WITH ME AND I WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH CHILDREN FROM MY SCHOOL OR AROUND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
I ALWAYS HAD TO BE BACK ON TIME FROM SCHOOL OR HE WOULD HIT ME WITH A STRAP.
AFTER A SERIES OF ROWS AND HITS FROM MY FATHER, HE TRIED TO ELECTROCUTE ME.
HE PRETENDED THERE WAS A FAULT WITH WIRING AND ASKED ME TO HOLD SOME WIRES TOGETHER .. WHEN I DID THAT, THERE WAS A BIG BANG AND I DISCOVERD HE HAD TURNED THE POWER ON !
I GOT ELECTROCUTED AND A BURNT HAND ..
BUT I SURVIVED
YET AGAIN, I EXPERIENCE THE AMAZING PROTECTION FROM GOD.
THE NEXY YEAR I ATTEND A NEW SCHOOL –
I AM ASSESSED TO BE A CHILD WITH SOME POTENTIAL AND I AM ASKED TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL IN DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.
BUT I DO NOT CARE ABOUT EDUCATION
I START SMOKING AND DRINKING TO FIT IN WITH
WITH WHAT SOME OF THE OTHERS KIDS ARE DOING.
DRINKING ALSO HELPED ME TAKE AWAY THE FEELING OF BEING LOST AND EMPTY INSIDE.
THE ONLY SUBJECT I CARED ABOUT WAS ACTING AND PERFORMING … I HAD AN AMAZING CHRISTIAN DRAMA TEACHER WHO ENCOURAGED ME AND USED TO PRAY FOR ME.
IF IT WAS NOT FOR HIM, I WOULD HAVE NOT BOTHERED GOING TO SCHOOL AT THAT TIME.
13 YEARS OLD
MY FATHER LEAVES, TAKES ALL OUR MONEY, SELLS THE VAN AND SHOP AND WE ARE LEFT PENILESS AGAIN.
I RETURN BACK TO MUM AND WE ALL LIVE ON A DIFFERENT COUNCIL ESTATE
AT THAT POINT I MAKE THE DECISION THAT I WILL NO LONGER GO TO SCHOOL … FOR A YEAR I HARDLY EVER ATTEND SCHOOL.
I START STEALING CARS AND MOTORBIKES TO JOY RIDE THEM AND THEN SET THEM ON FIRE.
I GOT A THRILL OUT OF SEEING THE POLICE AND FIRE BRIGADES COMING AND KNOWING I WAS THE CAUSE OF IT.
14 YEARS OLD
MY SCHOOL CREATES A PILOT SCHEME WHERE NON ATTENDING AND BADLY BEHAVED CHILDREN CAN HELP IN THE COMMUNITY
I HELP OUT AT OLD PEOPLES HOME
AND DO PLAYS AT SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS
A CHILD THAT WAS MUTE AND COULD NOT SPEAK, CRIED OUT DURING ONE OF THE PLAYS … THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONES LIFE
I MAKE FRIENDS WITH A GUY CALLED TONY FROM MY ESTATE .. WE BECOME BEST FRIENDS AND HIS FAMILLY PROTECTS MY FAMILLY FROM BULLIES AND THUGS ON THE ESTATE
15 YEARS OLD
LEFT SCHOOL
I MANAGED TO GET A JOB, PACKING PARCELS AT A SMALL ELECTRICAL SHOP
AT 16 - I LEFT HOME.
I STARTED GOING TO A NIGHT CLUB CALLED THE GREEN DRAGON
I BECOME A NEW ROMANTIC, I WORE LOTS OF MAKE UP AND I HAD SPIKED BLUE HAIR !
THE SINGER GEORGE MICHAEL WAS AT THAT TIME A DJ AT THE NIGHTCLUB AND ONE DAY I WAS ASKED TO DANCE IN ONE OF HIS VIDEOS
I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS A SINGER OR IN A BAND CALLED WHAM, UNTIL I GOT TO DANCE IN HIS VIDEO
AFTER DANCING IN THAT VIDEO, I GOT ASKED TO DANCE IN SEVERAL MUSIC VIDEOS, INCLUDING MICHAEL JACKSONS VIDEO BEAT IT .
EVEN AS A KID, I HAD ALWAYS LOVED MUSIC AND DANCING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FOUND THAT I WAS GOOD AT IT !
DURING THE DAY I WOULD WORK AT THE ELECTRICAL SHOP, BUT DURING THE NIGHT I WOULD GO TO THE GREEN DRAGON CLUB AND HANG OUT WITH MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT BANDS AND ENJOY THE ROCK AND ROLL LIFESTYLE THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
ONE NIGHT IN THE CLUB I SAW TWO GUYS DO A ROBOTIC DANCE ACT AND I END UP SO TAKEN BY THAT WAY OF DANCING, THAT I END UP TRAINING WITH THEM.
19 YEARS OLD
I MET A GUY AT WORK CALLED STEVE AT AND HE LOVED DANCING TOO, SO WE ENDED UP BEST OF FRIENDS AND PRACTICING ROBOTIC DANCE TOGETHER
STEVE AND I WON A MAJOR LONDON TALENT CONTEST PERFORMING ROBOTIC DANCE AND WE GOT SIGNED TO DANCE IN MANY BIG LONDON NIGHTCLUBS.
I ENTERED A WORLD FREESTYLE DANCE COMPETITION ( PERFORMING A ROBOT DANCE )
AND COMPETED AGAINST 15 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES --- I CAME 3rd IN THE WORLD
I DANCED IN SEVERAL MUSIC VIDEOS AND ON STAGE WITH DANCE ACTS LIKE ROSE ROYCE, ..
THEN I GOT INVITED TO DANCE THE PRODIGY IN FRONT OF 20,000 PEOPLE
MY LIFE WAS GOOD THEN …
BUT IT WAS ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE
20 YEARS OLD
MY BEST FRIEND TONY SEES ME TO TELL ME HE WILL BE GETTING MARRIED …
1 WEEK LATER HE FALLS OFF A ROOF AND GOES INTO A COMA … THEN DIES..
THIS BECOMES MY 1ST FUNERAL AND I FEEL AN UNDERCURRENT OF SADNESS IN ME FOR A LOSS OF A FRIEND THAT I DEARLY LOVED.
21 – 24 YEARS OLD
THE COMPANY I WORK FOR KEEPS EXPANDING AND MY JOB CHANGES AND I AM INVOLVED IN OPENING BRANCHES AROUND THE COUNTRY .. LONG HOURS AND VERY PRESSURISED, HIRING AND FIRING STAFF
AFTER BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP FOR A FEW YEARS, THE RELATIONSHIP ENDS AND I START DRINKING AND START TO LOSE ALL INTEREST IN LIFE AGAIN.
24 YEARS OLD
MY FRIENDSTEVE FROM WORK SUGGESTED TO ME THAT WE COULD LEAVE WORK AND TRAVEL AROUND EUROPE WITH ANOTHER FRIEND.
THIS WE DO AND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE LIVE HAND TO MOUTH BY PERFORMING DANCE ROUTINES ON THE STREETS OF AMSTERDAM – COPENHAGEN - SWEDEN – ROME – FRANCE – DENMARK - VIENNA – VENICE, ETC.
IT BECOMES A LIFE CHANGING JOURNEY FOR ME.
I MEET DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND OF MANY DIFFERENT FAITHS. I MEET ATHEISTS, MUSLIMS, BUDHISTS, TREE HUGGERS .. YOU NAME IT, I MET THEM !
I LEARN THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR STORY …
THE COMMON THEME I SAW IN MANY PEOPLE WAS THEIR QUEST TO FIND A TRUTH , A FAITH .. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN .. SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES.
I HAVE, OVER TIME AND THROUGH MANY DIFFICULTIES IN MY LIFE, LEARNT WHAT SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF FAITH ARE :
Benefits of Faith.
The Bible teaches us that genuine faith is "more precious than gold that perishes" (1 Peter 1:7). Indeed such faith is going to be "tested by fire". You can expect difficulties and persecutions in your life of faith, as well as blessings. Therefore to encourage you to hold onto and develop your faith, we will consider some of the benefits of faith.
1. Faith brings salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9). Whosever believes in Him has eternal life. (John 3:16), and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24). The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)
2. Faith brings answers to prayer."And whatever things you ask in prayer, really believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22). Since God tells us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), faith is therefore a key to our material provision.
3. Faith brings all the benefits of salvation into our lives (Ephesians 2:8,9). This includes healing, prosperity, peace, love, joy (1 Peter 1:8) and the curse, sanctification of the mind and emotions (the salvation of the soul) and any other benefit which the word of God promises to us.
4. Faith is a spiritual force through which our ministry for Christ becomes effective. (Mark 11:23; Matthew 17:19,20). Faith is a major key to ministry success. It brings to you what you need for your ministry, and by imparting it to others through your life and your ministry of Gods Word, you enable them to receive the blessings of Gods grace mentioned above.
25 YEARS OLD
I RETURN BACK TO THE UK
START WORKING FOR THE SAME ELECTRICAL FIRM AND BOSS AGAIN
MY NEED TO GO OUT EVERY WEEKEND AND GO NIGHTCLUBBING INCREASES.
ON ONE NIGHT OUT, I GET MY DRINK SPIKED WITH DRUGS AND A RESULT OF THAT GO INTO A COMA..
I GO UNCONCIOUS FOR 48 HOURS AND MY HEART STOPS ON OCCASIONS
MIRACULOUSLY … I DO NOT DIE.
29 YEARS OLD
MY WORLD STARTS TO FALLS APART
MY BOSS TELLS ME HE CAN NO LONGER EMPLOY ME, DUE TO MY DRINKING AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR
THEN MY FRIEND STEVE GOES INTO A DEPRESSION … I TRY TO HELP HIM .. BUT HE ENDS UP COMMITING SUICIDE
THIS BECOMES MY SECOND FUNERAL, FOR ANOTHER CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE …
AT 30 YEARS OLD I HAD THE BIGGEST TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE
I WENT SKIING IN FRANCE AT WHILST ON A MOUNTAIN ON MY OWN I HAD A HUGE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND FELT COMPETLETLY AT ONE WITH GOD.
SOMEONE HAD GIVEN ME A CHRISTIAN PRAYER ABOUT PRAISING GOD AND ACCEPTING GOD INTO MY HEART AND WHEN I READ IT OUT I SUDDENLY FELT AN AMAZING WARMTH INSIDE ME.
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SKY BECOME CLOSE AND I FELT AN OVERIDING SENSE OF LOVE AND PEACE INSIDE.
TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE.
I CLEARLY HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD AND I WAS TOLD THAT HE LOVED ME AND THAT I WOULD ALWAYS BE PROTECTED AND LOVED ….
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS LOVE OTHERS AND STAY CLOSE TO GOD AND I WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE LIFE IN FULL
I WAS BOTH FRIGHTENED AND IN AWE BY THIS SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
I STARTED TO PRAY AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD ON A DAILY BASIS AND ALWAYS DEEPLY GIVE THANKS FOR MY LIFE.
FROM THAT DAY ONWARDS, MY ROCK AND ROLL DRINKING LIFESTYLE STOPPED.
I STARTED TO DO VOLUNTARY WORK AT A CHRISTIAN HOMELESS CENTRE IN STREATHAM, LONDON
THE CENTRE WAS ATTENDED BY 100 + HOMELESS, PLUS ASYLUM SEEKERS, DRUG ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS
THE CHRISTIAN NUNS WHO RUN THE CENTRE TAUGHT ME ABOUT JESUS AND ABOUT HOW TO LOVE OTHERS AND RESPECT OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE THAN MYSELF.
I THEN WENT TO THE PHILIPPINES AND SAW FIRST HAND THE EXTREME POVERTY IN SOME OF THEIR SLUM CITIES.
I THEN TRAVELLED OUT FROM THE CAPITAL OF MANILLA AND STAYED ON A REMOTE ISLAND AND LIVED IN A BAMBOO HUT AMONGST LOCAL TRIBES.
I LEARNT TO DIVE FOR SPONGES AND FISH WITH THEM AND THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO CLIMB HIGH TREES FOR COCONUTS.
I LIVED A VERY SIMPLE LIFE.
I THEN RETURNED BACK TO THE UK AND STARTED DOING VOLUNTARY WORK AT THE FAMOUS PRIORY TREATMENT CENTRE IN ROEHAMPTON.
I SUPPORTED MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO THE CLINIC WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.
AFTER 3 YEARS OF THIS VOLUNTARY WORK, I THEN WORKED ON THE SUICIDE WING, SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE SELF HARMED, HAVE ANOREXIA, DRING AND DRUG PROBLEMS
I VISIT THE MOST SUICIDAL AND TELL THEM THAT GOD LOVES THEM AND THEY HAVE EVERYTHING TO LIVE FOR …
I EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW HOPELESS I HAD FELT AT TIMES BUT THAT I HAD COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE
THEY LISTENED AND MOST DId TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND
I SAW MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY WEEK AND 60 PEOPLE THAT I SUPPORTED TURNED THEIR LIVES AROUND AND START TO LIVE THEIR LIFE ANEW.
(Psalm 103:1-5).
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits–who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”
SOME YEARS LATER …
I GO TO IRELAND AND TELL ME SISTER AND MY MUM THAT I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH AND THAT I AM SORRY THAT MY PAST LIFE OF DRINKING AND ROCK AND ROLL HAD MADE ME PUSH THEM AWAY FROM ME.
THEY HUG ME AND THERE ARE A LOT OF TEARS AND LOVE BETWEEN US.
36 YEARS OLD
A BIG FAMILLY REUNION IS PLANNED FOR CHRISTMAS
MY BROTHER MARTIN WILL FLY TO IRELAND FROM CANADA
ANOTHER BROTHER AND I WILL FLY IN FROM THE UK
MY SISTER SUE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF US BEING TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS
2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS .. THE WORST THING I COULD EVER DREAM OF , HAPPENS.
A MAN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAS DEVELOPED AN OBSESSION WITH MY SISTER, SEES MY SISTER IN THE STREET, GRABS HER AND BUNDLES HER INTO HIS VAN.
HE DRIVES OFF TOWARDS SOME MOUNTAINS ..
AT SOME POINT HE PANICS ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE AND INEXPLICABLY STARTS HITTING MY SISTER … AND ULTIMATELY MURDERS HER.
HE THROWS HER BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN DRIVES STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE STATION AND CONFESSES.
AT MY SISTERS FUNERAL IN IRELAND, THE WHOLE TOWN LINED THE STREETS AND MANY EPOPLE WERE UPSET BY THE LOSS OF SUCH A GENTLE BEAUTIFUL SOUL THAT MY SISTER WAS.
I HAD THE TASK OF DEALING WITH POLICE, REPORTERS, CORONER … IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
AT THE FUNERAL, I HAD TO LEAVE AND GO OUTSIDE FOR A BREATHER.
AS I SAT IN MY CAR, A WOMAN KNOCKED ON MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME THAT MY SISTER LOVED CHILDREN AND USED TO DO VOLUNTARY WORK RUNNING CHILDRENS SUMMER CAMPS FOR UNDERPRIVALEDGED CHILDREN.
MY SISTER WAS SO HUMBLE SHE NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT THIS.
THIS REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART.
ON THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE UK, I KNEW THAT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT CHILDREN SOMEWHERE, IN MEMORY OF THE GOOD WORK MY SISTER HAD DONE.
I PRAY TO GOD AND BEG HIM TO HELP ME WITH THE PAIN AND EMPTYNESS INSIDE.
I KNOW I HAVE TO FORGIVE THE MAN WHO MURDERED MY SISTER.
I REALISE THAT HOLDING THIS RESENTMENT, PAIN AND ANGER WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR ME, SO OBEDIENTLY I FOLLOW GODS INSTRUCTIONS AND FORGIVE.
I OFTEN SAY TO PEOPLE ... FOR MANY YEARS YOU READ NEWSPAPERS AND WATCH THE NEWS AND SEE REPORTED THE MURDER OF SOMEONE AND PART OF YOU FEELS SYMPATHY FOR THAT PERSON AND DEPENDING ON WAHT MOOD YOU ARE IN AT THE TIME OR WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU MAY, JUST MAY , THINK ABOUT THE VICTIM AND MAYBE THE FAMILLY OF THE VICTIM.
WE HAVE BECOME, I BELIEVE, QUITE DESENSITISED TO MURDER AND LOSS.
WE SEE A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT A SOLDIER LOST IN THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN ( for example ) AND WE THINK OH, HOW TERRIBLE OR HOW SAD ... AND THEN TURN OVER THE PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER AND FORGET ALL ABOUT THAT PERSON AND THINK ABOUT THE NEXT ARTICLE.
AND THATS HOW IT WAS FOR ME ...
UNTIL ONE DAY I READ A NEWSPAPER AND THE PERSON THEY HAD REPORTED AS MURDERED .. WAS MY SISTER.
MY WHOLE PERSPECTIVE CHANGED FROM THAT MOMENT ONWARDS, BECAUSE I HAD SEEN FIRST HAND THE DEVASTATION THE IS SET UPON THE FAMILLY IN A LOSS LIKE THIS.
NEVER AGAIN DID I JUST SEE A MURDER AS A SAD LOSS AND TURN THE PAGE .. I THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR PARENTS, THEIR LOVED ONES, THEIR FRIENDS, WORK COLLEAGUES ... MANY, MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED FOREVER BY THEIR LOSS.
ON THE VERY DAY I STARTED BACK AT WORK,
STEVE COOPER A FRIEND OF MINE AND FOUNDER OF A CHILDRENS CHARITY CALLED CRY IN THE DARK, CAME INTO THE SHOP AND TALKED ABOUT HIS WORK SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN ROMANIA.
I KNEW THIS MEETING WITH STEVE WAS MEANT TO BE .
STEVE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HE HAD SEEN A VIDEO ABOUT SOME HANDICAPPED CHILDREN BEING LEFT FOR DEAD IN A LARGE CHILDRENS HOME IN ROMANIA
THAT WEEK I WENT TO ROMANIA WITH STEVE AND MET THE CHILDREN IN THAT HOME.
THEIR LIVING SITUATION WAS TERRIBLE, MADE ALL THE WORSE BY THE FACT THEY WERE DISABLED.
WE EVENTUALLY PERSUADED THE LOCAL AUTHORITES TO LET US PUT THE CHILDREN IN A CHILDRENS HOME THAT WE WERE BUILDING.
WE ENDED UP BUILDING A HOME FOR ALL 23 DISABLED CHILDREN THAT WE MET … AND WE CONTINUE TO STILL LOOK AFTER THEM.
GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS FOR THOSE CHILDREN IN A MIGHTY WAY !
BUT JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT OUR JOB WAS FINISHED, WE FOUND OUT THAT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS !
WE STARTED VISITING TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN IN STATE HOSPITALS.
MANY CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS OF YOUR AGE ARE DYING IN ROMANIA DUE TO AN AIDS/ HIV EPIDEMIC THAT HAS GRIPPED THE COUNTRY FOR MANY YEARS.
THESE CHILDREN ARE IN DESPERATE PAIN AND STARVING, DUE TO A LACK OF FOOD AND MEDICINE.
WE PRAYED INTO THIS SITUATION … AND GOD SPOKE TO US AND TOLD US TO BUILD A HOSPICE FOR THEM , A HOME FILLED WITH LOVE AND CARE.
IT WAS TO HAVE CHAPEL FOR THEM TO RECEIVE GODS LOVE AND PRAYER AND TO ALLOW GOD INTO THEIR HEARTS BEFORE THEY WERE TO PASS AWAY.
IT WAS TO OFFER SPECIALIST CARE
TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF HOW HUGE A MOUNTAIN AHEAD WAS AHEAD OF US AT THAT TIME, WE NEEDED TO RAISE £500,000 POUNDS TO BUILD THAT HOSPICE.
I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO FUNDRAISE £500 POUNDS, LET ALONE HALF A MILLION POUNDS !
THIS IS FROM MATTHEW 21.21
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.
In all such testing, without any means of passing, we need to remember that God knew we would be standing here, and He knew we would need a way through - that is at least part of the reason that the mountains are there in the first place
(and probably the biggest part).
Without mountains in the way, our faith would never be put to the test to a degree necessary to make it grow on the one hand, and to test its true worth on the other.
Mountains in our path are Gods way of refining our faith like gold, and also of assaying its true value for all the world to see.
It is true that our Lord puts the matter in these verses you ask about in a very matter of fact way. Like so many of His words, this has real "steam". We put ourselves in the situation and blanch.
He tells us, "just believe, and it will happen". We know that there is pain involved in these things, and time too, often great trackless vistas of time before the mountains move, but our Lord is forcing us to look to the end of the matter.
Even if that mountain moves glacially slow, at the end, if we have trusted Him, we have our victory, and we see that He did move it.
From our human perspective, mountains usually move imperceptibly slowly when they move at all, but with God one day is as a thousand years, and the whole span of human history is but the blink of an eye.
We know these things, and we know that we can trust Him to do even the impossible things we need Him to do.
But we need more than knowledge - we have to put what we know about Him, His goodness, His power, His foreknowledge, His mercy, His planning out of all things, to work in our hearts with complete child-like faith, that ignores what is seen and felt, and trusts rather in the words of God.
After all, we already have the experience of this. To save us from death and destruction, we needed someone to die for our sins - the impossibility of impossibilities - and God provided this at the utmost cost to Himself. We have the cross of Jesus Christ to remind us that, compared to the sacrifice on Calvary, every other mountain is infinitesimally small.
THERE WERE 5 PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE CHARITY AT THAT TIME.
ONE OF THE GUYS INVOLVED WAS PETE SMITH,
THE BROTHER OF MARTIN SMITH
( LEAD SINGER OF DELIERIOUS )
PETE SPOKE TO MARTIN SMITH ABOUT OUR WORK IN ROMANIA AND MARTIN AND THE BAND EMBRACED THE IDEA OF HELPING US WITH RAISING FUNDS.
CATHY BURTON / DAN WHEELER AND DELIRIOUS PUT ON A CONCERT FOR US IN LONDON THAT WAS ATTENDED BY SEVERAL THOUSAND CHRISTIANS AND WE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY FROM THAT.
WE CAME UP WITH LOTS OF CREATIVE WAYS IN WHICH TO FUNDRAISE THE MONEY.
I CAME UP WITH AN IDEA TO DO A FIREWORK PARTY AT A LOCAL, PRIVATE SCHOOL.
INITIALLY I SOLD ONLY 80 TICKETS.
BUT WORD WENT OUT IN THE SUSSEX AREA ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING, IT GOT REPORTED IN A LOCAL PAPER AND THEN LOCAL COMPANIES CAME ON BOARD TO SUPPORT THE EVENT.
IN THE END WE HAD 950 PEOPLE ATTEND THE FORWORKS NIGHT.
WE RAISED £12,000 THAT NIGHT.
FAMOUS PEOPLE I HAD SUPPORTED AT THE PRIORY TREATMENT CENTRE AND CELEBRITIES I HAD MET DURING FILMING ALSO SUPPORTED THE CAUSE.
ONE GUY I HAD WORKED WITH WHO HAD BEEN QUITE SUICIDAL, HAD ENDED UP TURNING HIS LIFE AROUND.
TO SHOW HIS GRATITUDE, BLESS HIM , HE DONATED £80,000 TO THE CHARITY.
OVER THE COURSE OF 5 YEARS WE WORKED HARD ON THE FUNDRAISING AND MIRACULOUSLY WE RAISED THE £500, 000 THAT WAS REQUIRED
FROM THAT LITTLE IDEA AND PRAYER WE HAVE NOW ENDED UP BUILDING A HOSPICE THAT SUPPORTS 200 CHILDREN IN VARIOUS AREAS OF ROMANIA.
OUR PALLIATIVE CARE SYSTEM FOR PATIENTS HAS BECOME A MODEL OF CARE RECOGNISED BY ROMANIAN AUTHOROTIES AND HAS, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, BROUGHT ABOUT REFORMS IN THEIR CARE SYSTEM.
ON MY VARIOUS TRIPS OUT TO ROMANIA, STEVE COOPER TALKED ABOUT HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND BELIEFS.
I DID AN ALPHA COURSE AND GOT BAPTISED IN FRONT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILLY… MY BOSS … AND THOSE WHO HAD TRAVELLED OUT TO ROMANIA WITH ME.
IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR ME AND I KNEW THAT THE SEARCHING I HAD GONE THROUGH ALL MY LIFE WAS NOW COMPLETE .. I HAD FOUND WHAT I WAS I WAS LOOKING FOR ..
IT WAS JESUS !
OR MORE TO THE POINT .. HE FOUND ME AND HE HAD LOVED ME AND NEVER ABANDONED ME.
REFLECTING BACK ON MY LIFE, I CAN SEE WHERE I WAS LOST IN MY OWN WORLD OF SELF CENTEREDNESS AND HOW MUCH I LIVED BY MY OWN WILL.
IT IS ACTUALLY SUCH A RELIEF TO ALLOW MYSELF TO LIVE BY GODS WILL.
AND TO LIVE BY SPRITUAL PRINCIPALS AND VALUES.
AND TO HAVE A CONCIENCE AND A NEWFOUND LOVE IN MY HEART FOR OTHERS…AND FOR MYSELF !
I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT EVERYDAY AND FEEL SO ENPOWERED TO GO OUT THERE IN THE WORLD AND SHOW TO OTHERS HOW WONDERFUL GODS LOVE AND MERCY IS.
I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO LIVE MY LIFE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
I AM CLOSE TO FINISHING MY STORY NOW ….
AND IN FINISHING, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE BLESSINGS I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM GOD.
1. I LEARNT TO SAY YES
AFTER MANY YEARS OF NOT BELIEVING IN MYSELF, GOD ENPOWERED ME AND I LEARNT TO NOT BE RULED BY FEAR.
AFTER ALL, FEELINGS ARE ONLY FEELINGS …
NOT FACTS !!
I ALSO THINK THAT MY LOSS OF LOVED ONES GAVE ME A SPECIAL APPRECIATION OF HOW SHORT OUR TIME IS HERE ..
INSTEAD OF SAYING NO, OR BEING AFRAID,
I JUMPED HEAD FIRST INTO ANYTHING THAT I WANTED TO DO OR ACHIEVE.
LEARNING TO SAY YES TO THINGS, INSTEAD OF PUTTING BARRIERS IN MY WAY, HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO THE FOLLOWING.
I HAVE TRAVELLED AROUND THE WORLD AND WITNESSED INCREDIBLE THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM A VOLCANO ERUPTING IN TABACON, COSTA RICA.
I TRAINED AS A DIVER AND SWAM WITH DOLPHINS IN MEXICO, I HUGGED SOME STINGRAY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND I GOT SURROUNDED BY 20 OR MORE SHARKS IN THE BAHAMAS.
ONE OF MY MOST ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES WAS SITTING WITH A CHEETAH IN KENYA
AFTER RACING GO KARTS FOR A WHILE,
I TRAINED AS A RALLY DRIVER AND WENT ON TO WIN A NATIONAL LEAGUE.
I HAD MANY CRASHES IN THE LEAD UP TO WINNING MY LEAGUE AND MY WORST CRASH WAS WHEN I WAS IN A WOODED SECTION AND FLIPPED THE CAR OVER, GOING TOO FAST ROUND A BEND.
THE RALLY CAR ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND CAME TO A STOP NEAR SOMEONES FRONT GARDEN.
THE CAR ENDED UP UPSIDE DOWN, WITH MOST OF THE WINDOWS MISSING AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS GOING OFF.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW AN OLD LADY LEAN INTO THE CAR AND ASK ME IF ME AND MY CO-DRIVER WERE ALRIGHT … WHEN I SAID YES .. SHE THEN ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE A CUP OF TEA !
AFTER RALLY DRIVING, I WENT ON TO DRIVE FORMULA 3000 CARS, FERRARI F40’S, ETC ..
SOME VERY FAST CARS.
I CRASHED AT 156MPH DRIVING A JAGUAR JP1 RACING CAR ..THE GEAR BOX BLEW UP AND PUT THE CAR INTO A SPIN … I MANAGED TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE TRACK AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, THEN I SPINNING OFF THE TRACK AND WENT INTO A SANDTRAP. I CAME OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH !
THE FASTEST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IS A RADICAL S2 RACING CAR AND I REACHED A TOP SPEED OF 195 MPH.
I HAVE DONE LOTS OF ACTING JOBS AND HAVE APPEARED IN EPISODES OF CASUALTY, DOCTOR WHO, TORCHWOOD .. I HAVE EVEN BEEN A WARM UP GUY FOR ANN ROBINSON ON EPISODES OF TEST THE NATION !
I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOME BIG CHALLENGES BUT ALSO SOME AMAZING EXPERIENCES .. AND MY LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS GROWS MORE AND EVERYDAY.
I LOVE BEING A CHRISTIAN AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
I PRAY THAT YOU ALL MAKE THE MOST OF GODS LOVE AND BLESSING AND BECOME GREAT PEOPLE OF GOD.
SAY YES TO EXCITING AND CHALLENGING THINGS, DREAM BIG AND LOVE FROM YOUR HEART.
If you believe that the Bible offers truth about the way to salvation, but you have not made the decision yet to become a Christian, its as simple as praying this prayer. You can pray by yourself, using your own words. There is no special formula. Just pray from your heart to God, and He will save you. If you feel lost and just don’t know what to pray, here’s a prayer of salvation that you can pray:
Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner.
I have done many things that don’t please you.
I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent.
I ask you to forgive me.
I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me.
You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you.
Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
Amen
If youre wondering what to do next as a new Christian, check out these helpful suggestions:
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