Stuart Farnsworth. The story so far...

Having just studied the gospel of Mark in our prayer groups, I was encouraged to be reminded that Peter was recognised as being a Galilean by the way he spoke, quite possibly his strong accent. I am a Yorkshire man, and find it very difficult to hide the fact, not that I would want to, I do like the way I speak.

Many of you may have thought I arrived from Mars last January, in fact it was a place much nearer to home. I have lived in Leicestershire since 1999, in the Charnwood area. It was during very difficult circumstances in my life that I came through the church’s doors last year. I must take this opportunity to thank you all for the Christian friendship and fellowship you have shown me since that time.

As a very brief window of my life so far, I can tell you that I have had a very full and exciting life. I have been involved in things in my working life that the majority of people will never experience. Having served as a police officer for sixteen years, in a wide variety of roles, I can say that life has been interesting. I must say though, that all the experiences in my life so far, have led me to similar thoughts and views held by Solomon. When everything is taken down to its bare elements, there is nothing in this world which has a lasting value or worth other than my relationship with God. Not that I am pious or consider myself to have ‘arrived’, but I do know the only things that will last in my life will be things I do for Christ.

I became a Christian at the age of eleven when I understood to some little degree that there would be those in the world who would accept Jesus for who he was and those who for one reason or another would not.

I wanted to be in the group who would ultimately see heaven. In my home church when I was young, we seemed to be hearing about heaven all the time. Preachers would visit us and captivate the congregation as to what was in store for those who trusted Jesus Christ. I wanted to go there.

In the past four years I have suffered the loss of several loved ones in my family, the wrench of living alone in an unfamiliar environment, having no-one around me that I have known for more than one year and having difficult times in respect of my employment. Life was so full of happiness a few years ago, but recently I have been experiencing others aspects of life and have found it hard. I can only say, without trying to sound cheesy or using clichés, that because of these experiences I now have a stronger relationship with my God. I am not perfect, but I can always rely on the fact that he is, and because of that I know he has full control of my life.

My grandmother said on her death bed last year, whilst pointing upwards and struggling to get her breath, ‘it will be better up there won’t it’.

If she was happy with her destiny and her Lord after 85 years, I am pretty sure I can be.

Back to This Magazine's Index