Back to church and a fresh faith
Finding faith on the doorstep
'I only went because I didn't want to be home alone' said
Duncan Jackson, whose wife, Helen had just joined the local church
in Yorkshire next to their new home.
It had taken Duncan almost 40 years to
come back to church and find a personal faith.
When he and Helen moved to Kirkheaton, within sight and sound of
St. John's, Helen wanted to go. Duncan, having lost interest
in anything to do with church (which had figured prominently in his
childhood), decided to reluctantly tag along. He often worked on
Sundays but when at home opted to join his wife rather than be home
alone!
He found the people at St. John's very friendly and welcoming,
but this made him suspicious. 'I couldn't wait for the
service to end' he said.
That was until Easter Sunday 2008. Helen as usual was
keen, Duncan dragged along behind her not wanting to be left
at home.
Here, in Duncan's own words, is what happened next. 'At
first I thought I was having a panic attack! How wrong I
was. I found the Sermon very moving, and inexplicably told
Helen that I was going to take Communion for the very first
time. I cannot adequately describe the feelings I had as I
humbly knelt there, but I was suddenly overwhelmed both emotionally
and physically and I had never experienced anything as powerful
before in my life. I knew then that I belonged to the Church,
but most importantly I belonged to God.'
Helen and Duncan joined the Emmaus Course at the church, which
they found to be a 'wonderful, rewarding and enjoyable' journey in
their faith. Helen was baptised in October 2008, and both
Helen and Duncan were confirmed the following week in Wakefield
Cathedral (see pic)
'I am still continuing to grow in my faith' said Duncan 'and I
know that my journey will never end.'