I came to know Jesus Christ as Saviour when I was 12 years old. I grew up in a Christian home and put my confidence in that status and the morals I adhered to and simply added Jesus to complete it. I thought I contributed to my salvation somehow.
In the spring of 2001, after hearing a clear presentation of the gospel, I saw myself a sinner with no ability to save myself and put my full dependence in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection alone for salvation.
A short time later, God called me to preach. I attended Shawnee Baptist College in Louisville, KY USA and graduated with a bachelors degree in Pastoral Theology.
We moved our family to Aberdeen, Scotland in August 2017 and started Open Door Baptist Church a year later. Now, whilst pursuing a Master’s degree, the Lord continues to grow His church for His honour and glory.
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, regularly attending church from an early age. I grew up hearing preaching and stories of Jesus but thought it was good enough that I believed Jesus was real and prayed to Him every day. I had doubts about whether or not I’d go to Heaven and wrestled with that for several years.
One day in 2002, my sister came home from telling our neighbour friend about how she could go to Heaven. I broke down crying saying that I still wasn’t sure if I would go to Heaven. I went to my dad and he showed me in the Bible how Jesus paid for all my sins and if I believed and trusted him to be my Saviour He would be. I then understood that it wasn’t my prayers, it was Jesus that would save me from my sins. I bowed my head and accepted Jesus Christ to be my Saviour and have never doubted it since.
God continued to work in my life and I attended Bible College and got my bachelors degree in Teaching Secondary English and Music. It was there that I met Rick and we were married in 2013.
I had gone to Sunday school at church as a child but it did not lead me to understand the Gospel. That understanding came in 2012, the day after I retired!
I was reading a small book, which explained that God makes it clear to us in His Word that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and so our destiny is eternal separation from God in Hell. However Jesus came to take the punishment for all my sins upon himself. He died in my place and three days later rose from the grave victorious over death so that all who believe in him might also have eternal life.
I believed what I read and there and then, I put my full trust in Jesus to save me from the destiny of all mankind due to our sin.
I have been a part of Open Door Baptist Church since the summer of 2019.
My dad was an atheist and my mum was an agnostic. I had no church or Christian input or association growing up.
I started going to church in my thirties and it was there that I finally heard the good news that Jesus, who is God, had come to earth with a mission; to provide a way for me to go to heaven, so I would not end up in my inevitable destiny of hell after I died.
That news was the most wonderful revelation to me. I believed it and put my trust in Jesus alone. I love the peace and assurance that has come since then. He is my Lord and my Saviour.
I found Open Door Baptist Church around the summer of 2019 and have been attending ever since.
Reared within a Church of Scotland family.
Moved to Aberdeen 1990 and ‘reluctantly’ attended a Christian Fellowship Business meeting in 1994, witnessing my wife giving her heart to the Lord, but refrained from doing it myself. Early the next morning, whilst in bed, I was gently wakened by a tender voice, in my ear, stating that I should have accepted Jesus into my life! This voice continued until I realised who was speaking and on my knees and with tears, I ask our Lord for forgiveness as I was a sinner.
From that early morning my live has completely changed, but although I became a member of various churches within Aberdeen I continued to search for a ‘God fearing Bible preaching church’ until joining ODBC in 2018. Since then my faith and understanding of the Gospel has increased greatly and I thank my Lord for His grace and mercy.
I have been gifted, by my Lord, in playing the flute within the Worship group and I personally thank Him for the opportunity in leading His people in Holy worship.
There have been times within my life, and marriage, when He has answered my prayers and I can only thank Him.
Sacrificing himself in going to that cross, for my sins, was the greatest gift He gave to me and I know that we will meet in Heaven or when He returns.
I was not raised in a Christian family, I could say I learned about God and Jesus at school and I was a believer.
In 1988 I had a very difficult time within my marriage and had a strong need to call on the Lord, I felt so alone. The Lord answered my prayers in 1990 and our family moved to Aberdeen.
In 1994 friends invited my husband and I to a Christian Businessman’s Fellowship Meeting (Aberdeen) During the meeting I answered the calling, I repented my sins and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, who died for my sins, was buried and rose again 3 days later.
There have been other answered prayers during my life and I put my full trust in the Lord.
I have attended other churches in Aberdeen over the past 30 years.
I became a member of Open Door Baptist Church Aberdeen in 2018 who teach the full gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I support my husband Bill, one of the Deacons; I also assist in the crèche and with fellowship in our church and other areas where needed. I thank the Lord for his grace and mercy.
My Heavenly Father’s word never ceases to amaze me. I am blessed.
I was saved aged 20 after miraculously receiving a Gideon’s New Testament & Psalms at Glastonbury Festival in 1999. I was baptised the following year and obeyed a call to Bible college where I learned how to study God’s Word, 2 Timothy 2:15.
Whilst at Bible college, I had the privilege of attending 2 study trips to the Holy Land, which gave me a strong love for and interest in the people and land of Israel, Romans 11:18.
A confirmed bachelor until 2021, I took a leap of faith and moved from Clevedon, England to Aberdeen, in February of that year as was courting a young widow, Lisa, who I met during the 2020 lockdown. In September 2021 we got married and in November that year, following a disheartening search for a suitable gospel-centred church, we obeyed God’s call to Open Doors Baptist Church following a reassuring meeting with Pastor Rick, who warmly welcomed us and answered all our questions concerning the doctrinal stance of the church. We became members in May 2022, and have served in Sunday school ministry and hosted home groups where I’ve led Bible studies, most recently on the Feasts and Festivals of Israel.
I was brought up in a Christian home and attended Sunday School and Girls Brigade. I was saved at 9 years of age in July 1988 on a church mission trip where I realised I needed to accept Jesus as my personal saviour. I repented and trusted in Jesus on the beach in Girvan, South Ayrshire. The preacher spoke on Matt 13:31-32 - how God’s kingdom starts out small like a mustard seed but grows - I knew I had to be saved to be part of that kingdom. My faith then became a relationship with God as opposed to just a religion.
I later served as a Girls Brigade Officer and youth leader where I had the opportunity to lead other girls to Christ. I was widowed suddenly in 2015 and experienced a peace and strength from God. I got married to Ben in September 2021 and we started attending the Open Door Baptist Church shortly after, where we have served in youth ministry, event organising and homegroup leading.
In February 2024 we suffered the devastating loss of our only child, Nadine, who was stillborn at 37 weeks. Our Heavenly Father’s hand of comfort and healing has been on us and we are excited about the plans God has for us.
