Testimonies 8






This Is Who I Am


An auto-biographical sketch in verse…



Born in December of 1951
A farmhouse my maternity home
Parents, Bill & Mary great devotion in their hearts
Prepared well for my welcome

~~~~~

Sickly child, from 4 years old
With various ailments tried
To hospitals frequent visits made
But took it all in stride

~~~~~

Witnessed then the power of God
Parents and pastors prayed
Even though in years ahead
From paths of right I strayed

~~~~~

In early teens chose my own way
It brought a lot of tears
Hurting folk who loved me so
My words came out like spears

~~~~~

In middle teens a change profound
within my soul took place
I met the Lord, His love came in
And saved me from disgrace

~~~~~

A hunger rose within my heart
To know the Saviour more
I sought His face, I read His Word
He thrilled me to the core

~~~~~

When Spirit-filled at Scarborough camp
I spoke new tongues of joy
From that time on a passion grew
To be in His employ

~~~~~

But father’s loss a savage blow
When only seventeen
Changed my course, found a job
Knuckled down to learn routine

~~~~~

Twenty one – and my big break
Bible College moved to me…
within 8 miles of my home,
Day student I could be

~~~~~

My wife I met in that dear place
A mutual passion shared
To reach the lost with Jesus love
To show how much He cared

~~~~~

For many years we’ve laboured now
And tried to give our best
Our passion grows to make Him known
We’ll give Him all the rest


used with permission

Alec Depledge




My story of becoming a ‘Christ follower’ & my first steps in that ‘new life’


Speaking Personally


I was apprehended by Jesus at the age of 15.

Life before that was pretty good – stable home, wonderful parents, pestilent brother (!),
decent school, fine mates, brilliant era (1960's). A typical teenager (minus drugs & booze) –
chased girls, loved soccer, enjoyed the Rolling Stones music, played truant, told naughty jokes –
with a few non-typical quirks: e.g. reading the Morning Star (UK’s Communist newspaper),
running a protection racket for weak kids, attending church
(hate to admit this, but assure you it WAS under protest),
and occasionally losing sleep wondering what life was all about!!

NO DOUBT about it – I was PRAYED for – oh yes, grandparents, parents, uncles & aunts,
pastors & church members – had me on top of their hit-lists. Regretfully,
I could do little about people like Mrs H – an elderly intercessor, who just wouldn’t let go.
Now, much to my shame, I must confess that knowing of her regular sorties into
God’s throne-room on my behalf, made me feel quite angry, even hateful, towards her!!

BUT … I was apprehended, and capitulated, one February evening, after sensing God’s Presence,
knowing I wasn’t part of His Family, breaking down in tears, and ended up making a commitment
which has held over 44 years. I’ll never forget when understanding of a particular Bible verse
first hit home. It says: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to FORGIVE our sins, and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – and it was like turning a light on in a darkened room.
My youthful ‘sins’ suddenly seemed so enormous, yet God’s offer of forgiveness
was so much bigger … and as I poured my young heart out, with sobbing,
there came such a relief, a sense of peace which I just cannot describe in words,
along with an amazing sense of ‘belonging’.

I didn’t know much theology – BUT I knew then and there that my sins were forgiven,
because God was true to His Word. Later I was to understand that such forgiveness was
possible because Jesus had died as my Substitute, taking my place under God’s wrath,
so that mercy could reach and pardon me.  (Heavy duty stuff – but so accessible).

Amazingly, as I travelled home that night back in February 1967 it was as though my feet
didn’t touch the ground. In addition to the sense of peace, already described,
there was a feeling of utter joy, of lightness of spirit…
the world suddenly seemed a different place,
and I knew that I’d now been accepted into the family of God.

New birth brings new life, and I’m so grateful I was shown, very early on,
what were the essentials for that new life to grow …
interaction with God (known also as ‘prayer’),
feeding heart and mind on Scripture (the Bible),
 regular fellowship with other believers,
and sharing my faith with non-believers
(also known as ‘witnessing’).
I soon discovered that applying myself to these four things did in fact
bring a lot of personal growth, enjoyment and fulfilment:

   - I found that God really does answer prayer …
occasionally in remarkable ways – physical healing when I’ve been ill,
provision of material needs, and ordering my affairs
with a precision that often left me astonished.

    - I found that reading and studying the Bible, and meditating in its pages,
fed both mind & spirit in a manner that no other literature could
– and I love reading!

   - I found that sharing in church with real ‘believers’ through expressions of worship,
prayer, communion, and teaching were incredibly challenging, stimulating and uplifting
(although I’ve never attended a perfect church, or met a perfect ‘Christian’ yet).

   - I found that sharing my personal faith with non-believers was like exercising
my physical muscles – it helped shape & strengthen that faith.
And what a remarkable privilege to lead another person into a personal relationship
with God, which happened more than once.

SO, that’s how it all got started – a journey of more than 40 years …
and today, as I reflect, I’m so grateful to God for His kindness, patience & love
which have kept me through all that time, in my faltering attempts to follow. 
Thank you, Lord Jesus !

used with permission

Alec Depledge