I first came to Christ in May 1972 at the age of 18, following a troubled childhood.  My Father took his own life when I was six years old and then I lost my Mother to heart disease when I was 16.  I fell into a deep depression and tried to blot things out by losing myself in rock music, drink and drugs.

However, at the age of 18 someone witnessed to me about the Lord Jesus Christ and after some days I accepted Christ as my Saviour and Lord.  I was then taken to The Upper Room Christian fellowship, a small house church in Altrincham where I received a warm welcome, and I have been there ever since – at the time of writing it is almost 40 years!

Over the years I have ministered as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, evangelist and worship director at the Upper Room, as well as doing street evangelism and prison ministry.  I was ordained in 1994 with an interdenominational fellowship of ministers called International Gospel Outreach.  I then felt the call of God to itinerant ministry and have continued in that to the present day, balancing that with my responsibilities at church.

In November 2011 an advertisement was brought to my attention for the position of Chaplain at the Narrowgate Night Shelter.  I immediately felt the witness of the Holy Spirit and promptly applied for the job.  I was subsequently called in for an interview in which I was grilled for over two hours!  Then two days later to my great delight I received a call from the Manager informing me that the job was mine if I wanted it.  I took the position on 12 December, my birthday!

I count it a great privilege and blessing to have been given the opportunity to join such a wonderful team and to minister to the many guests who pass through the shelter.  It is so good to be able to engage with so many people, befriending them, praying for them and sharing the love of Jesus with them.  I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me this role.