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| Wickliffe Preachers |
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| Wickliffe Preachers | |
Here we wish to introduce you to our Wickliffe Preachers so that when you pray for them you will have a clearer picture of who they are. You can also contact them directly by e-mail. |
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Stephen Holland |
| I am ever thankful to the Lord for saving me whilst still in my teens. I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ aged 18. Although I went along to a local church Sunday school at the top of the road where I grew up in Swansea, I nevertheless remained woefully ignorant of the most basic Bible teaching. I have to admit I can never recall ever looking forward to Sunday afternoons, and was gratefully relieved when my parents said I no longer had to go if I did not want to! Upon leaving school at sixteen I began my working life on a building site. This I enjoyed immensely as I loved the outdoors. | |
| It was the usual practice
of retreating to our hut when rain came that first created some form
of spiritual interest. I do remember, though, as a child reading
through much of Matthew's Gospel in my little Gideon's New Testament.
Now came my first real contact with a Jehovah's Witness. In between
an interesting game of cards he leaned over and gave me a very colourful
booklet that seemed to explain the reason for life and offered a
hope in the world to come. I was very taken by all of this and agreed
to his offer to learn more. Then began a series of weekly Bible studies
with my zealous JW workmate. We began to go through a wonderful looking
book called You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth. I can never
recall ever questioning anything he ever said, as every point he
made seemed to have a Bible reference. These weekly visits were to
come to an end when I pretended one evening not to be in and hid
behind the kitchen door! I apologised the next day! My friend, no
doubt a little annoyed, made the kind offer for someone else nearer
by to lead me through these Bible studies. He had after all cycled
from one end of Swansea to the other. I declined the offer and asked
if it was okay to study on my own. His reply "of course, many
people do that" came as a relief.
Even though these visits stopped, I nevertheless still believed all that had been taught. I really thought they were the ones who had grasped the true meaning of God's Word, and that all others were false. I even made a promise to myself sometime later that I would return to what I'd been taught and would become properly involved. However, the Lord had other plans. Before I had time to act upon my promise, I came to understand what the true teaching of the Bible was, and of how one is truly made right with God. This came about by the providential meeting with the Lord's people who all seemed to be telling me the same thing - that salvation was not something we can earn, but was rather a gift from God to man that can only be had by faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. I also remember hearing things that I had not heard from those called Jehovah's Witnesses, like being born again, and being told that without such there can be no salvation or entrance into God's kingdom. This, of course, is the very teaching of Jesus Christ Himself in John chapter 3. I began attending a Baptist church in Swansea, and upon hearing more of the real Gospel came to trust in Christ alone for salvation. As I grew in my newfound faith I began to feel the urge to tell others. This grew into a further desire to learn more of God's Word, resulting in my attending Bible College for two years in Edinburgh. It is now my privilege to serve the Lord as pastor of Westhoughton Evangelical Church and to represent the PTS in the North West of England. Stephen is our Wickliffe Preacher for the North West of England region. If you wish to contact him for a preaching engagement at your church you can email him here. |
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