I was not brought up in a Christian family, but my parents had a friend who helped with leading a Sunday school. Therefore, my sister and I went along.
I don’t remember much about it and it didn’t seem to make any impression on me at the time. Despite this, I often used to come home from playing with friends or from school saying to my parents, ‘Do you know that so-and-so doesn’t believe in God?’
I don’t know what my parents thought of that, as there was never any discussion about it. My sister and I also used to go to Girl Guides, part of which was attending church once a month, but I found it very boring.
When I was in my early teens, my mum’s brother said he had become a Christian, which interested my mother. She then asked my sister and me if we would like to go to church. We said ‘yes’.
We started going to a Pentecostal church and were baptised after attending the services for a while. However, most of the teaching seemed to be connected purely with having experiences rather than with Bible truths.
Eventually, in my early 20s, I ended up attending a Church of England church, where the Bible teaching was clear and helpful. I started to realise I hadn’t really heard the gospel before, as this was the first time I heard the Bible taught in a way that was relevant and accessible.
I realised that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and I had to do something about it — which I did, by asking God to forgive me.
It’s been over 30 years since then. Although life has sometimes been difficult due to my physical disability, being a carer for my mother-in-law who in her final years had advanced dementia, and the stresses and strains of being a pastor’s wife, I have a real sense of security knowing that I am accepted by God; and this will never change, whatever life might throw at me!
Tracy Plant
