Mark Bowell's Story

Living behind bars?
If you'd have asked me when I was 16 if I was a Christian, I would have thought you'd asked a strange question and answered "Well yes, I go to church".
But church was boring and I did not see God as being very relevant to daily life. In fact the idea of God having a day to day effect probably would have scared me. Christian living seemed to be about being behind bars, with a whole set of restrictions stating what you cannot do.
Then, when I was 17, I was invited by a school friend to go on a day trip to Cambridge, with a bunch of people my age that turned out to be from a church. On the day, I was overwhelmed by their incredible welcome and friendliness. These people had never met me before but treated me better than my best friends at school. They enjoyed life and I enjoyed being with them.

Moment of truth
I went away with the group for a weekend to a grand old house in Norfolk, and a speaker there told us that even the slightest things we do wrong separate us from God. Jesus was God's son, who was crucified as a punishment for the bad things I had done. When I die and am judged by God, I can have Jesus' perfect record rather my bad one, and go to heaven rather than hell. But I needed to believe what Jesus did, ask God for forgiveness for my past life and let him be in charge from now on. Well, I had been confirmed and went to church but I hadn't heard this before!
The speaker went on to say that if anyone there wanted to accept what Jesus had done for them, they should stand up. I stood up. I was the only one, and I remember everyone's eyes on me and I was aware that I'd done something very risky. Two girls at the back giggled.

Another surprise
The next few mornings I would wake up thinking there was something new and exciting in my life, but forgetting for a moment what it was. Then I would remember I was a Christian! I was surprised by a feeling of freedom and of joy. God's way of living wasn't a set of tedious restrictions and it wasn't an impossible struggle. Because God helped me to change and live how I really wanted.

Now if you ask me if I'm a Christian, I'll reply "Yes! Of course." I wouldn't live any other way.

Mark Bowell