George Fitzgerald
Home Church: Blackskull Methodist

Brought up in a religious background, I was under the impression that my church attendance was enough to ensure eternal life. I was also expecting great things from the bishop when he came to confirm me – I was hoping that something great would be bestowed upon me and my life would change in a wonderful way.

Instead all I found was a deadness and emptiness at the ritual of it all. From that point
I began to seek for the “something” that would fulfil me.

Listening to the gospel being preached in the open air, I began to realise that I was a sinner but could not fully grasp my need and God’s way of salvation.

On 12 January 1941 having seen an advert in the local paper for a Gospel meeting in Carnew Orange Hall with Mr. Thomas Ball as the preacher, I cycled the 8 miles or so to that meeting.

That night the Holy Spirit took a dealing with me as the man of God preached the gospel and my soul was set free as I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my saviour through simple saving faith.

This short word of testimony does not allow me to detail all that my saviour has done for me. Suffice to say that after more than 60 years I can say that He gets sweeter as the days go by. I have tasted and can confirm that the Lord is good.

Gordon Martin
Home Church: Hillsborough Free Presbyterian

Brought up in Culcavy, I had no church connections during my early years. Indeed I did not even know the meaning of the word “Christian”.

At the age of 14 I came in contact with Christians for the first time at a local youth club. These people were certainly different to those that I was used to - they didn’t even complain when I broke things!

Shortly after this I was being driven to a bar-b-que at Tyrella Beach. The driver was talking about the Lord’s Return although I didn’t want to listen. Suddenly there was a minor incident with the driver having to brake and swerve. Although used to speed and having been involved in much more serious incidents without batting an eye, this one shook me to the core of my being. The Holy Spirit seemed to be saying to me “if that had been your time to die, where would you be”?

A few days later, speaking to a friend I remarked that we ought to become Christians, as they are better, happier people who were never in trouble with the police like us. He told me not to be silly – that Christianity was only for intelligent people and that counted us out!

Nevertheless later that night, under conviction of sin, I trusted the Lord as my Saviour.

As I began to tell people of my conversion, a friend who was leaving home to commence work in England, told me that he would give me six weeks before I would be back to the old ways.

This short testimony does not allow me to tell what God has done for me over the succeeding 25 years, (let alone 6 weeks) but I am glad to say I am still going on with Him, following Him, trusting Him and seeking to win others for Him in whatever way I can!

Martin Thompson
Home Church: Banbridge Baptist

Born in Belfast, I was raised in Newry.

Although I attended Sunday School and Church every Sunday, by the age of 19 I still had no appreciation that there was a God who loved me, had sent His only Son to die on Calvary for me and was willing to save me if I would receive the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. At this point I was depending on my Church attendance and good life for eternity, and therefore had no realisation that I was a sinner (Rom 3V23) and as a consequence would be eternally lost in hell (Rev 20v15) if I refused to repent.

Contacted by a former school friend I was invited to a youth fellowship meeting on a Friday evening where I began to hear the gospel faithfully preached.

Following a coffee bar in Markethill a few weeks later, where the preacher combined the texts Rom 3 v23 “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and Rom 6 v 23 “for the wages of sin is death”, realising for the first time the consequences of dying without Christ, I came under conviction of sin and later that night in my own home I asked Jesus Christ into my heart and to become my Saviour.

Time does not permit me to declare all that God has done for me since. Suffice to say that through the highs and lows of life, I have proven that He is always there for me and I can honestly say that the more I know Him, the more I want to serve Him, the greater I appreciate what He has done for me and the sweeter He grows.

If you don’t know my Saviour, I would recommend Him to you.


John Hobson
Home Church: Mourneview Assembly

I was brought up in a non-Christian home and was sent to the local Brethren Sunday School at Bleary. Throughout my years growing up, my family weren’t church going people.

Up until January 1994 I just led a quiet life and my main interest was sport. At the age of 26 my life was going to be transformed, and change forever beyond recognition. In late spring of 1993 I came in contact with a schoolmate called Giles. September came and Giles and I started to go to the Cleft. There was a drama (play) portraying different events of the Bible. The scene that spoke to me most was when my Lord was before Pilate. “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23v4).

It was as if I was there – looking at Jesus, with God The Holy Spirit asking me the question of do “I find fault in Jesus? I didn’t do anything in response that night.

However, the next morning being Sunday, I went over the fields with our dog. God The Holy Spirit began to speak unto me again about my life. I needed Jesus Christ in my life. My life had been missing something, and repenting of my sinful nature against Him I asked Jesus to save me, and He did.

Every year has got better, and He has always been there for my when I needed Him. Will you do the same? I pray in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, you will come to saving faith in Him also.

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118 V 8).

Norman Fleck
Home Church: Dromore Presbyterian

I was brought up in a Christian home and was sent to Sunday school and church. I often saw my mother reading her bible and she told me about Jesus. When I left school and started work, I went out into the world and became involved in a lot of things I’m not proud of. At times I thought about the way I was living – I knew there was more to life than that.

I met my wife and we were married. We had two sons – the second died at just 6 weeks. It was a distressing time in our lives. God began to speak to us. My wife came to know Jesus as her own personal Saviour and I could see a real difference in her. Our third child, a little girl was born at this time.

A mission started in Dromore Gospel Hall and 2 friends invited me, taking it in turns to bring me along with them. One lived in Carryduff and the other in Drumbo. I knew they both had been praying for me and I appreciated the trouble they took to pick me up each night. One night in April 1989, lying in my bed I awoke in the early hours, having no peace. God was dealing with me. I asked Jesus to save me and come into my life.

Since then both my son and daughter have trusted Jesus as their own personal Saviour. I have received good bible teaching in my own Church and at the WORD Bible Class, and have become actively involved in both.

I know God is always with me, in the difficult times as well as the good times in life. His Word says: “He will never leave me nor forsake me”.

Stephen Gamble
Home Church: Ballykeel Baptist

I had the wonderful opportunity of being born into a Christian home where both my parents had put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. From a child I was instructed of my need of salvation and that I must turn from my sin and accept Christ as my personal Saviour if I wanted to spend eternity with Him.

At the age of 6 one night I accepted Christ as my Saviour confessing my sin, asking forgiveness from my sin, and that night, young as I may have been, I was saved, not only for time but eternity. Being saved at a young age not only was my soul saved for eternity but I was saved from many of the sins which people find themselves committing today as they seek to find pleasure and satisfaction.

Since I started attending the WORD I have been greatly helped in my Christian life and have benefited greatly from the teaching that we receive on a weekly basis from the many different speakers we have.

Philip Osborne

I was brought up in a Christian home and was privileged to have both my parents teach me the way of salvation. At a young age I knelt down with my mother one night and accepted the Lord Jesus as my saviour. Although I new I was saved and attended Sunday school and church I just seemed to go through my early years leading a Christian life without any real involvement or growth in the ways of the Lord. I continued through my teens and the early part of my twenties in this same mode. It was in my Twenties that I felt the Lord speak to me and I became very aware that I was missing out on many of the joys of Christian life. The friends I had at this time were all good decent people but I felt it was not where I should be. In my mid twenties I decided things had to change. I basically broke away from the friends I had and handed my life to God to guide in the direction he wanted me to go. It was not long after this that I got invited to the Word bible class and accompanied my new found friends to a little mission hall in the middle of nowhere.

I very much felt this was the Lords will and through this made many new friends and became involved in the work carried out at the hall. I met my wife to be about a year later and again feeling it was the Lords will, got married and have been blessed to have the support of a Christian partner as we carry out the lords work. I have been blessed many times over the years at the Word Bible Class and have been so encouraged to see His work grow, and see other lives touched through the work carried out in this small part of the vineyard. Particularly knowing I am where he wants me to be.

As a Christian I have had many ups and downs, but I have a loving Saviour whose grace is sufficient to carry me through, and a promise that no man can match.
A promise of life eternal, sitting at the feet of my Lord.

Isaiah 41. v10 Fear not, for I am with thee: Be not dismayed: for I am thy God
I will strengthen thee: yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness