Personal Stories: Ann Macleod's story
I Really Enjoyed The Alpha Course
Ann Macleod expressing her Testimony on the occasion of her Baptism.I was brought up in a large family, the eldest of eight, so am used to sharing and hard work in the home. My Mum’s here today and my youngest brother. My hobbies are grandchildren and gardening, in that order.
I have lived in Durrington for the past 35 years, and we often used to pass this church and I wished we could come in. I don’t know why we didn’t, but there you are. When the coffee shop opened we were first through the door, and have been regular customers ever since.
The first baptism I came to was Tricia’s, and John was here as well, and I enjoyed that, and then I went on the Alpha course, I think it was October I joined, and by the third week I was totally confused, but I carried on and really enjoyed the course, enjoyed meeting the people and had a really good time.
March this year was a bad time for my family because our son-in-law died and left two children of 3 and 6, but with the help of the home group and all the praying and all the church, I really got through it, and I even stood up in St. Symphorians in front of 300 people and did a tribute to him. I never could have done that before.
On a Sunday for years I used to go to church in the morning and bingo in the evening. I know that they really don’t go together, but this is what I did. I used to think that I worked hard and this was my reward and I enjoyed going, but I also played the machines, and now looking back, although I didn’t think I had a problem, I think I might have done. Now I have got more money to spend on the grandchildren, and I just come to church on Sundays. It was absolutely no problem giving up, in fact I didn’t realize I had, I just did it.
Now I want to donate my life to Jesus, to get closer to him. I want to help those who are less fortunate and I seem to be able to do this more here, there is every opportunity, and I just want to continue.
Ann Macleod
