Meet John. A member of St George’s. A retired salon owner. A great character. And he’d like to give you a card.
Some years ago, John wrote an account of his Christian faith with his wife Juliet, which he gave to people.
This A4 sheet explained why he started to go to church. In short, his wife wanted to go. “I thought to myself: if I love Juliet, then what is an hour a week!”
It was at church that John heard the good news of Jesus. Eventually, “I accepted Jesus, knowing that he died for me, so that I can have eternal life… The cross defeated sin and death, so we are at peace.”
“What was the affect on me?”
“After I had given my life fully [to Jesus] and accepted the change in me, my life became peaceful. I found contentment, and a real peace within my soul.”
However, it was not long after writing those words that John’s wife, Juliet, became terminally ill. John cared for her through the illness. It was tough. And it was a great loss for him when she died.
But this didn’t destroy his faith.
“In every difficulty we have faced, Jesus has been there holding us and supporting us and – more importantly – loving us.”
Last week, John came to church clutching a batch of cards. “I want the congregation to help me deliver these to the local houses,” he said.
The card was entitled “What’s the meaning of love?” He’d written it based on 1 Corinthians 13, a famous passage about God’s love. He printed the cards himself and he’d been busy sticking them up all over the place.
“I’ve lost my wife and my son”, he said after church over coffee. “But God’s love has got me through. If one person reads this and comes to church and discovers Jesus’s love for themselves, then I will be pleased”
“Can you get people to help me deliver it? he asked. “And can you get it on the church internet?” he asked a week later.
John would like to give you his card.
You might get one through your letterbox; it might be stuck up in your local news agent; or you can read it here.
He’ll be one of the first to welcome you at St George’s on a Sunday at 10.30am. And if you come to church because of his card, do tell him – John will be over the moon!
Read What’s the Meaning of Love? l Find St George’s l About the Church