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Angela Michelmore

“Tell us about the time when you asked Jesus to be your Saviour?”

It was 29 years ago, about a year before I accepted Jesus as my Saviour when  I began to realise that I often thought and even said things that were wrong and I gradually became convinced that I was not always a very nice person. I know now of course that I was being convicted of my sin and have also learned that my daughter Belinda and her Bible study group were praying for me then. During that year while God was beginning to work in my life Belinda became quite ill and after her recovery she became very depressed.

It was a difficult time for the family, especially for David and myself as we could never leave her on her own. Unfortunately there were several afternoons when we both had to work and I asked Pat, her Bible study leader if she could look after her then. Pat was a really busy lady but it was quite amazing that God ensured that  she was always available to have Belinda when we needed her help. Whenever I collected her I was always invited in for a “cuppa.” I would firmly say “no thanks”, I didn’t want to get involved with all that nonsense! One day I had had a really rough time with Belinda, and also at my work and when I went for her I opened my mouth to say “no” yet again, to Pat’s invitation, but to my great surprise I found myself saying “Yes please”.

As I sat down Pat started to tell me about her daughter Gillian who had also been ill but had received Baptism of the Spirit. She explained that Gillian had actually fallen down at that time but had soon got up, smiling and well again.

I was intrigued and asked her to tell me more. She told me that Gillian had then accepted Jesus as her Saviour and was a different person,  always laughing  and happy. “I need some of that” I thought and asked Pat if  anyone could receive the Spirit’s Baptism and how did it happen. “Oh that’s easy” she replied, “You just ask Jesus into your life and ask to receive His Baptism”. There and then she prayed for me, while I kept muttering “Yes please Jesus“. As I drove home I felt no different at first, then I suddenly started to grin and laugh and told Belinda that I was tingling all over, and it felt just as if every cell in my body was rejoicing,  praising God and singing. “Mum you have been Baptised in the Spirit”, she said  “Christ is now your Saviour”. We were both so happy that this had happened, and also very pleased that He was gracious to me and did not let me fall down whilst I was  driving!

That evening I prayed and asked Jesus into my life. I just cannot imagine now what my life would be like without Him.

Angela Michelmore

Annie Mwampulo

“Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither” Job, chapter 1:21, this was such an amazing verse I came across as I was reading the Bible aged 15, there as a young girl I realized that my purpose in life was to serve and please the LORD, in all that I do. This was nothing new to me seeing as I was brought up in a Christian home, with a loving mother and compassionate father, who is also a preacher.

My home life made it easier for my brother and I to be taught the word of God.  I have always wanted to get baptized from such a young age because I understood that this would be an awesome opportunity to obey God’s will and to declare my life to Him publicly. I had a different life style in secondary school to the one I had when I was home, but I always believed that God was always protecting me and I also believed that I was living a life for someone far greater than myself, a God that truly loves and protects me and the more I grew in faith, the more I talked to God and the greater my passion for getting baptized grew too.

After witnessing my friend Miriam Welfare getting baptized I was spiritually inspired and I couldn’t pass the time, because I believed it was my time to get baptized, I wanted to obey and show the LORD that I have accepted Jesus Christ as being the son of God and I wanted to take that fall into the water to dismay my past and as I was brought up from the water I believed my new life could start from that point, just as Jesus did when He died for our sins but rose again to show that our sins had been forgiven. That is why I wanted to get baptized because our God is an awesome God, He gives and takes away and He gave us the free will to choose our own paths and I choose the path of the righteousness, the way of the light, to follow the Shepherd and be saved. I pray that God may continue to bless my life and for His will to be done and not for my own.

Being a young adult in this day and age is very hard and challenging, with more people denying the word of God, by being baptized I can now fully devote myself in telling others the words that saved me so that I may help them get saved also. It was such an honour to have been baptized at Stanway Evangelical Church.

Thank you and God bless.

Annie Mwampulo

Karen Spinner

Brief Background

I had an emergency baptism as a baby but didn’t go to church as a child or adult until my late 30’s. I joined a traditional C of E church as I didn’t know or have any thoughts about other church services. I was confirmed into that church in my early 40’s but then my faith was a Sunday’s only faith as I only thought about being a christian on a Sunday.

How did I start coming to Stanway Evangelical Church?

Several years ago, Monica (who I had known for years through joint church services and our hobby/interest in cross stitching) came into Boots where I work. We chatted and she mentioned Stanway Evangelical Church and suggested I come along. I came along to the church the following Sunday. Monica had forgotten to tell me she was away for a quiet weekend with the ladies group at Sizewell. I was greeted warmly at the door as I came in. One of the first people I spoke to was Audrey Fisher and she took me under her kind wing! We have been friends ever since.

The Change Started

During one of my early services taken by Kevin, this scripture was mentioned:

Matthew 7 v7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

This seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear at that time. I asked God to come into my heart and help me. God heard me and I was filled with his glorious golden light and wonderous love and then I knew my life was changed forever.

That was just the beginning.

I came to church regularly and seemed to get a real buzz from the whole experience. I was drawn in by God’s love in everyone in the church. This real buzz I didn’t experience from attending the traditional C of E church.

I became more aware of my faith, my prayers and the scriptures of the Bible. I came along to some of the prayer meetings on Wednesday nights. Later I joined the Bible Study group that was held at the church which was based on videos. After that I joined the Home Bible Study Group which first met at Stella and Tim’s home. This Home Group gave me the opportunity for my faith to grow and have more understanding of the Bible. Gradually I gained the confidence to be able to speak at the group (which I wouldn’t have been able to do in the past because of my shyness).

My faith has changed from Sundays only to a faith of evey day where coming along to church weekly and praying has become such an important part of my life.

During this year at one of the Home Groups in February, we were discussing baptism. That night I had a message from God that he wanted me to be baptised. When I heard this message I was so overcome with excitement, joy and happiness as I believed that it was the right thing to do. I had no doubts at all that this was the right thing for me.

I chose to be baptised so I could follow and obey God’s teachings. I wanted God in my life forever knowing that He is my saviour and shows me everlasting love. He is always here for me which means so much to me now. Luckily my dear brother Mark and my nephew Adam were able to come down from Birmingham for my baptism, some of my friends came too as well as my church friends.

Before the baptismal service Eric and Adam explained what was involved during the actual baptism. I was more scared about speaking to a church full of people. I started off quite well but I was overcome with emotion when I was speaking about how God came into my heart, and I couldn’t continue any more.

I feel so blessed that I was able to share my special day with Angela and Annie, who had chosen to be baptised on the same day. I shall remember my baptism for the rest of my life as it was so emotional, joyful and so special to me.

I wish to thank Eric and Adam for baptising me and Monica for recommending the church to me. I would also like to thank Audrey and everyone here at Stanway for all the kindness, support and love that they have shown to me. I feel so at home with everyone, like one big family together. You have all helped to change my life forever, which I will always be grateful for.

God bless you all.

 Karen Spinner I

f you have any questions concerning baptism please contact a member of the pastoral team or send us an e-mail with your question.

Baptism Testimonies