Don't make it look too professional. You go ahead. Well, the pastor asked me if I would just give a general brief account of my life through the years, really, and how I become a Christian. And basically, I was very much blessed right from the early years, in the sense that I was taken along to our local chapel, as I was told, when I was three years old. And I remained in the chapel through the Sunday school, and right up until I was 19, when we moved away to another church. The actual, The chapel that we attended in those days in the Reddings, literally just round the corner from where I now live, is... We didn't have any pastor, we didn't have any elders, we didn't have any deacons, but we did have some very dedicated and interested members who had a real interest in the young ones who were coming along, of which I was one then. And I remember, the very Sunday afternoons when we went along to the chapel to attend the Sunday school, and there were several people who were involved with the Sunday school teaching, but one or two had become rather old and felt that they no longer were able to carry on teaching. And one lady in particular, I remember, Apparently, I was told that she spent the whole time the Sunday school was in session, praying for the children attending. And it was very much a caring Sunday school, if I put it that way. And I was very privileged to have plenty of friends there in the Sunday school. Among which was Irene. Now many of you won't know Irene, but Irene is Amy's, Lucy's and George's mother. And we were just toddlers in those years. And we came up through the Sunday school. And we then had a lady who was within the chapel, again interested in making sure that the young ones were instructed well, and she commenced a Wednesday evening Bible study group in her own house. And to that Bible study, we had various visiting preachers who had also filled the pulpit in the chapel. And that went on right through the early years of my life. And they were some dear men who we greatly appreciated and respected. Anyway, we got through till the... I was around about 19 and... There were problems arising between a church in Cheltenham, so say they were in charge as trustees for the little chapel that we attended. Now I don't know the detail of the issues that arose, but it meant that it was recommended that we ought to vacate. And from there, I went along to Hester's Way Baptist Church. And we joined there. Irene was there as well. And there we met Jeff, Irene's husband. And it was a very welcoming church in those days. But that was in 1959. Then in 19, 59 again, we had baptismal lessons, and we were asked if we would feel able to enter the waters of baptism, and we did so. So I remember very well that on this November evening, the baptismal service was arranged. And we went along full of hope, and got to the chapel, and one of the deacons there that was at that chapel said, sorry to let you know, but the heating's failed in the baptistry. And he was running around with kettles of hot water, trying to raise the temperature of the water. Not with great success, it has to be said, but they tried. And on that occasion, in November 1959, I was baptized, as was Irene, and we went on from there. We worshiped at that church and entered into the various activities and organizations there through until 1970. But just prior to that, an issue arose with what the Baptist Union was aligning itself to. And there was a lot of talk at that time about the ecumenical movement and how we should join it or not. And we felt that it wasn't right for us to join it. So a number of us seceded. from the Baptist Union, and thereby we had to vacate the church. And not only that, our pastor that was with us at the time also had to vacate the church and his house, because the house was all tied to the church, to the work in the church. Anyway, we didn't know quite what was going to happen. And it was a matter of prayer for the fellowship. And eventually, a redundant place of worship, very similar to the old part of the chapel here, became available to us. And we moved there. And I remember the day we moved in, which was the First Lord's Day of 1970. And as we walked through the door, it was just as if the previous congregation had vacated and left the hymn books and everything as would have been expected, just where it was. But obviously we had a bit of renovation work to do, not least of which was to put a new floor in, but we got around all those things. And then we had quite a good number of folk attending. We got to a point where parking was a bit of an issue because it was on the main road and it was not easy to safely park. There'd been one or two skirmishes with various people and passing traffic. So our pastor then decided he would look around and see if there was any way we could possibly move to something perhaps a bit more suitable. And then a church was located in the center of town, North Place Evangelical Church. And in the fullness of time, we looked at it. It was very much run down. It was put to the church members, would we be willing to make a move to that place, as there was a very elderly congregation of just two or three still there, and they would welcome being able to have folks come among them to continue the work. So we went. But if you'd seen the building, it was absolutely falling apart. And somebody said, one of the church officers said to me, how much do you think it's going to cost to put this right? And in order to put them off, I said, oh, about £100,000, and just right off the top of my head. And it turned out that in the end, when the work was put in hand, and it turned out rather more major work than we had anticipated. I think the overall bill came to something near £500,000, by which time we'd moved on again. Unfortunately, the work was so drastic and so involved that we had to move out whilst a lot of the work was undertaken. and we were blessed by the Canterbury Baptist Church offering us the use of their hall, which we met there on Thursday afternoons. But Geoff and Irene, they were absolutely stalwarts with our needs and they opened their home to us. and we used to meet round there too for worship services. And also we had another member who lived in a different part of Cheltenham, the Cheltenham Kings, and it was shared between them. We used to meet in his house, and also with Geoff and Irene, and we were so grateful to them. And bit by bit, this work continued. And as I say, things happened that we found it necessary to move on again. So there we were, a fellowship of believers wanting to carry on worshipping together, not knowing just how many there would be, But in the event, it turned out that there were about 50 of us who had decided that they couldn't remain with the fellowship at the chapel at North Place then, so they opted for joining with us and commencing another work. Well, again, we were out on a limb because we neither had premises and we didn't have a pastor by this time because our pastor had moved on to Clevedon and a few years, a couple of, well, he moved on. We had a farewell tea for him at the church the day Amy was born. Yeah, and I always remember it. So obviously Geoff and Irene couldn't attend, but that's what happened. Anyway, cut a long story short, we didn't know quite what to do. Should we pray for a pastor? Should we pray for a premises? And we decided that we should try both avenues, and if one of them opened up to us, we should pursue it. and one of our members happened one day to be in Gloucester walking around and he bumped into someone who was then attending the Brethren Assembly that was meeting here in the chapel and he He had a chat to him, and they said, well, they would really love someone to come into the chapel to ensure that the witness of the gospel was continued in this area. And so things were pursued, and bit by bit, we joined them. We started here, meeting on Lord's Day mornings, after they'd had their break in the bread service. And then we met in the evenings, which they didn't need in the evenings. Eventually, we purchased it. And what we purchased then was just this old part of the building as you see now. And bit by bit, numbers increased and somebody one day said to me from the committee as we had, we didn't have elders or deacons at that point, What do you think we could do to improve the accommodation? Because at that point there was just one single toilet for the ladies out on the car park and another one for the gents and it was very, very basic. So I looked at it and I said, well, I don't think we can do anything with that save consider building an extension. Well, in the fullness of time, after discussion within church meetings, it was decided that we should aim to do that. And so, around about the year 2000, we commenced work on building this extension to what you now see we have. And numbers have been increasing ever since, for which we praise the Lord. and it's been an amazing journey through. But it's one that's involved everyone having faith in the fact that there was a need to continue the work here of proclaiming the gospel. And even though oftentimes we didn't quite know which way to jump, as you might say, The way was opened up to us. And I do feel very strongly that although we might be faced with accommodation problems of sorts at the moment, we should always consider that what we're sitting in here now is very much the answer to fervent prayers of the folks that were here with us at that time. And it was a real blessing to us. And well, The rest, I suppose, you might say is history, but we have been working forward bit by bit, and we've been blessed with increasing numbers, and it's been a real blessing. We called our second pastor. to the place, Mick Harris being the first. You know, Jean and her husband, Mick, he passed away in 2019. But he was a real, a lovely man who put his all into the work here, as our pastor now does. And sadly, he passed away. And he is with the Lord, obviously. But he encouraged us all, you know, to have faith and to continue. And that's what we sought to do. And the Lord is blessed. There's no doubt about it in my mind. And we continue and trust that the Lord will continue to lead us on. And one thing that has followed me all through my years the importance of faith, because it's faith that unlocks the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ through scripture. And if you've got a particular promise that you've been looking at, then you just pray about it and ask the Lord to honor his promises. And it may not be answered instantly, But the development of your faith is absolutely essential. And that's one lesson I've learned all through the years. Do you want me to go on or should we start? We have another meeting next week. I've got a few questions for you, Tim. As a child, what were some of the passages of the scripture that really blessed you and worked in your heart, in your salvation? Well, there's a variety. You see, the thing is, I was one of these people that often found myself thinking, Oh, I do wish I could look to an occasion when I could say that I was actually saved. I'd heard accounts from various people who were able to tell how they'd been in all sorts of trouble and shared their problems with the Lord, and he graciously saved them. And that wasn't my experience, and it wasn't the experience of several others, because they were able to just Bit by bit, their faith was increased. We need to remember that we're on a pathway. We start as a baby does, very young and very inexperienced. But as you progress through life, you find yourself able then to pin your faith more so as you discover the promises of the Lord in Scripture. And that is my experience, how the Lord has proved to me that faith is absolutely necessary in the promises that the Lord has given us in scripture. I don't know. Okay, and when was it and how was it that you met Irene? Sorry, not Irene, but Pam. Well, thereby hangs a tale. Pam. Pam's father had moved to the area from Staffordshire, and he was staying for a while in the accommodation of a work colleague, who was also a member of Hester's Way Baptist Church, and talk was made between them. about how the family was going to be moving down, and that there would be this young woman called Pam, who would perhaps like to come to the chapel at Hester's Way. So, on one occasion, on the first occasion in fact, she was told, you get on bus number so and so, and ask for the stop on Hester's Way, whichever it was, and a man will be there to meet you wearing a Mac." And I thought, well, that's a good identifying feature, you know. So anyway, Pam came over. Have I got it right? And Irving Davis, his name was, he met Pam off the bus and brought her to the chapel and introduced Pam to me. Well, she was coming over. She came on that occasion, I say, on the bus, but occasionally she came on a bike from Presbyres, where they were living then. And on one occasion, I believe I'm right in saying, you were perhaps not followed but somebody approached you on the way and it was a bit of an uncertain time for her and so I opted to take her home on my scooter. As you do? As you do. And when things developed, off we went on the scooter. And there she'd come to chapel, I always remember, in a suit with short sleeves. And on the coldest of days, I perched her on the back of the scooter. And off we went, you know. And that's how it started. And from that point, then we started going out together. And then, just over 61 years ago, we got married. So, yeah, yeah. I haven't worn red yet, I'm pleased to say. Any questions anyone has? Any other kind of a basis? Yeah, Jack. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Well, I've got favorite passages. And in fact, you mentioned one this evening, from the pulpit, and it is to be found in Proverbs, and It's an essential, trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and the following verses, and lean not to thy known understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths. That's one of my favorites. There's another one, too, I was looking at, which I'd got somewhere. If I can find it. Yeah. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31, sorry. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall rise up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint. And that's been one that has been on my mind and heart for many years. Incidentally, I remember an occasion going back when our former pastor, Mick Harris, was very ill. And he asked if I could pop in and see him. And I thought, oh. I wanted to go and see him, but what could I say to a man who'd been so much help to everyone around him? And I went to him, and I just reminded him, he was in hospital at this time, and I recited that particular verse to him, and he seemed to very much appreciate it. Then about three weeks passed and Mick was becoming weaker and I was asked if I'd pop in this time to the house to see him, which I did. And I walked through the door into their dining room where his bed was. He turned around and looked at me. And he recited that verse off, and it took me by complete surprise. I thought, amazing that he remembered something I'd already mentioned to him previously. And he did, and I was quite impressed with Mick's memory for things like that. It was good, yeah. Thank you. Anyone else with a question? Jamie? What is the biggest thing, the biggest change that you have seen since you first came to Providence and what you see now? I got older. Well, I say that, but it's got to a point that I'm not able to do what I once did, you know, and I'm very conscious of that. So that's one change. But the other change that I've already mentioned is the increase in numbers and the greater width of fellowship we have with everyone who now attends. And that is surely an answer to prayer. and which, for one, we're very thrilled about. And there will be, in time to come, major decisions that the church will need to take. But when they take them, I do hope that it will be in mind that, as I've already said, the provision of this place has been through much prayer by faithful friends, and I would hate to see it passed for some of the youth, but that's me. Anyway. Anybody else? Any questions? Benji, have you got a proper question? We're just raising our hands. What is one of your favorite hymns, Tim? Well, I can tell you, I'll put that down for a minute. Down the years, one particular hymn has often come to the surface for me. It's one that we do not sing. It's not in our book as far as I know. If you don't mind a little bit of a wait for this thing to work, warm up. Oh dear, yeah, it's a hymn which is all about faith, and I feel it's very relevant. And I often look through the hymn books, and I don't know whether you'd agree with me, but there's much to encourage the believer as they go through the hymns in the hymn books that we sing. The experiences of the hymn writers are often laid open in the hymns they write. And I find that quite a help, you know, when you can identify certain things which perhaps you share with them by way of problems or whatever. And I just think we're so blessed with the hymns that we sing and such a help. I'll see if I can turn it up. I believe it's coming. Oh, please excuse me. I should have started this before your sermon really. Well, it is coming. So, ah, yeah. Right, let's see if we can find it. This particular hymn has been in my thoughts for many, many years. At Sunday school, our first Sunday school, we used to have an anniversary, and this hymn often was selected, and it emphasized faith. It goes like this. My faith, it is an oaken staff, the traveller's well-loved aid. My faith, it is a weapon's stout, the soldier's trusty blade. I'll travel on, and still be stirred by silent thought or social word. By all my perils, undeterred, a soldier pilgrim stayed. I have a guide, and in his steps, when travellers have trod, whether beneath what splinty rock, or yielding grassy sod, they cared not, but with force unspent, and moved by pain, they onward went, and stayed by pleasures, still they bent their zealous course to God. My faith, it is an oaken staff, O let me on it lean. My faith, it is a trusty sword, May falsehood find it keen. Thy spirit, Lord, to me impart, O make me what thou ever art, Of patient and courageous heart, As all true saints have been. That hymn has been on my mind for years and years, and it's your favorite one, actually, because it emphasizes the importance of the necessity of faith, and that must never be forgotten. I don't think I can say much else. Thank you. Well, as dear friends, some of you would know, our brother Tim is stepping down as a deacon. He's been a deacon for I don't know how many years. before many of you were born, and he has been a great blessing to me personally, as well as Pam, as well, and so thankful for his friendship, for the service that we have had together, like all the other brethren who have labored here. But he thinks he's getting older, and so he should step down. But it doesn't mean that he stops serving the Lord. So he has been very clear to me that he wants to continue on all sorts of things. So very thankful for that. So Tim, we have just got you a little gift. Oh, I shouldn't have done that. I hope you don't have them. It's just a set of volumes by J.C. Ryle on the Gospel of John that I would expect you to read it. Give me a report. That's right. So it's just a little gift. Well, I do appreciate that, obviously, very much so. Thank you. I still intend to do what I can. And you mentioned standing down. Well, maybe sitting down is a better one for me. Sitting down, yes, yes. But also with that, all along through your service for the Lord, Pam has been by your side. Absolutely, yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, it's been a shared occupation, if I put it that way. Pam has helped with the rotas and things like that. She was responsible with the flower rota, and she's just helped with everything. Many, many things, yes. So we have a little thing for Pam as well. Pam, can you come up here? Well, we are very thankful to the Lord and it's been such a long time that you have labored for the Lord and continue to do and we thought it's important to mark these things and thank God for God's blessing to you and God's grace towards both of you and making, using you in his kingdom. So we will just pause and thank God and then we will sing a final hymn. Our gracious God, we are so thankful for the life that Jesus Christ gives to sinners such as us. And we thank Thee, O God, that Thou dost show us, that Thou dost answer prayer, even for children. And we are grateful, Lord, that Thou dost answer prayer concerning our brother Tim and also our sister Pam. And we thank you for saving them both and bringing them through so many things, experiences in life. Lord, it has been a journey that that has led them all the way. And we thank thee that that has used them, that their life has been a life of service for thee. Lord, this is only an example that the Lord Jesus Christ has set for us too. And we pray that each one of us here would also follow on in the path of Jesus Christ. We pray for Tim and Pam that thou would continue to bless them, strengthen them, encourage them, oh Lord, for their children and their grandchildren and other family members. We pray for the salvation of their son Mark and for their grandchildren also. And that as they go on, they might continue to know the joy and the peace and the grace of God in their lives. We thank Thee for them, and we thank Thee for Jesus Christ who has brought them thus far. And Lord, we pray now these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor, for everything. Thank you. Well, please take a seat. You can leave that on. I haven't turned it off. You might hear me. It will be turned on. OK.