The Bible’s core message of the forgiveness of our sins through the life and death of Jesus Christ was known in my family for several generations. Both sets of my grandparents were believers. My paternal grandfather, Charles Evans, was a founding member of Ely Baptist Church in Cardiff.
My mum and dad both professed faith and were baptised as young people. After the war they were married and lived in Canton, in the same house my mum was born in.
They began to attend the nearby Methodist church. Sunday school and church attendance have always been part of my life. Sadly, the preaching of the gospel was not clear in this church, and my mum and dad’s attendance declined.
All of my brothers and sisters (I’m one of seven) attended the Sunday school. I also went regularly to the morning and evening services once I could go on my own, although I think I did sleep through many of the evening services!
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible says, ‘God has put eternity in our hearts,’ and while as a young boy I engaged in all the usual activities (football, climbing trees, and even getting into fights), I always knew there was more than just life in this world. I often found myself wondering about whether I would exist after my death.
