"searching for something"

HH, who had recently lost her husband, wrote this to us: "I am questioning how I live out the rest of my life alone. I am searching for something which has led me to your website."

"interested"

GS, who is in his late teens, and has never set foot in a church, commented: "I'm interested in becoming a Christian but don't know how to go about it".

"looking for direction"

AH, who was brought up as a Mormon and is now looking for an authentic faith said: "I have found out that the [Mormon] Church is based on a lie. I am looking for direction in my life again."

"hope for me"

"A, a prisoner who saw The Passion of the Christ film and requested a copy of More to Life wrote: I enjoyed reading it and feel that if the Lord helped the people I read about then there is hope for me. He also requested prayer and contact with a local Christian.

"to the point"

C, aged 13, filled in a Life Issues card and received the Little Book of Help. She said: It gets straight to the point and it is very good. To start with I never believed in Jesus but now I do. She then asked for prayer and more information.

"become a Christian"

Someone who contacted us via the rejesus.co.uk website wrote this after receiving a copy of So who is this Jesus: Useful to read and reflect on ... would like to become a Christian in the near future although I do not understand everything. He also asked a question and for prayer.

"answered questions"

A, an occasional churchgoer, commented on So who is this Jesus: Found the magazine really good, enjoyable to read and easy to understand. It answered a lot of questions I had. Is there a course of some kind I can use to learn more?

"great news"

A church minister in Surrey let us have this great news about someone who became a Christian after attending Alpha: Three years ago N contacted rejesus and you [CEA] directed her to the nearest Alpha course which led to my meeting her. She and her husband attended the course. They have since attended a second one and now lead a home group.

"turned to God"

G in Nottingham was sent the So who is this Jesus? magazine and wrote saying: "As a drug addict I am pleased to hear that other people have turned to God as I shall." She asked for more literature, details of Alpha courses and a local contact.

"faith progressing"

P - a prisoner in Doncaster - saw The Passion of the Christ film and requested a copy of More to Life. He said: "I will continue to go over and over the book. My faith is progressing although at a slow pace. Determination to get there!" He requested further literature and prayer.

"out of sadness"

Another prisoner, C in London received the Little book of Life and wrote: "Excellent - those words are sometimes enough to bring me out of sadness and loneliness." He asked for further material and prayer.

"helped by God"

Someone who never goes to church asked for a More to Life magazine and responded: "It is very interesting. Each story is different and so nice to know they were all helped by God." He asked for prayer and said "I actually feel guilty asking for your prayers. Should I feel like this?"

"asked for contact"

D asked for contact with a local Christian who reported: "I met D and invited him to a meal. His wife died 18 months ago from cancer leaving him with a grown-up son and daughter. He has had a varied church background but is not a Christian. On return from holiday he has promised to attend an Alpha course at my church."

"opened my eyes"

R in Castleford, a former prisoner, asked for literature and wrote again saying: "The Little Book of Life opened my eyes much more. Answers many questions of mine. Thank you." R asked for more literature and prayer.

"like to know more"

T in Newcastle requested a booklet and then said: "It was very interesting. I would like to know more about Christ." T asked for prayer and details of local Alpha courses.

"moving towards Christ"

S in Bradford asked for a magazine about Jesus and then responded: "I am still reading the magazine. It calms me down to read about God's power. I feel like I am moving towards Christ each day." S requested prayer and contact with a local Christian.

"still hope for me"

J in Hull sent for information and then wrote: "I benefited by reading and it gave me confidence that there is still hope for me." J asked for prayer and contact with a local Christian.

"being baptised"

H in Birmingham asked for contact with a local Christian after she had sent for literature recently. The contact, arranged via Contact for Christ, has let us know that H is now attending a local church and loves it, and is planning to be baptised later in the year.

(Footnote) Contact with a local Christian is arranged mainly through Contact for Christ and also the Catholic Enquiry Office and Prison Fellowship.

Most of the people who get in touch with Christian Enquiry Agency are offered the opportunity to be contacted by a local Christian. Some then ask for this and the stories that result are often so encouraging.

Forgiveness card led to thrilling contact

One of many people who asked for a local contact last year - having sent in a Contact Card about forgiveness, was a man from Scotland who we'll call Michael. Through partner organisation Contact for Christ, Pastor Samuel McKibben from Inverness was asked to visit Michael and afterwards wrote to say: "When he [Michael] heard that Christianity was not about just going to church but building a deep friendship with Jesus Christ, he immediately said 'That is what I want'".

Pastor Samuel had the privilege of helping Michael commit his life to Jesus and also gave him a Bible and some daily notes for new Christians. That's not all: Samuel also wrote about the great thrill he had about being asked to visit Michael. "Eleven years ago when his family lived in Inverness they were members of my con-gregation and my daughter taught Michael in Sunday School. When they moved 22 miles away we lost contact with them.

Can you imagine the thrill I had when this request came to visit, what once was a little boy in Sunday School. I am convinced that you were truly led of the Lord to allow me to be the contact. Thank you for the privilege".

Here are some more of the recent stories from different local contacts:

"M came along to church last Sunday to talk to someone about the questions she has."

"…helpful in the process of rediscovering my Christian faith after a long period of not going to church."

"All the information you sent me has been a massive step towards me getting baptised."

"The 16 year old lad you referred to me has been coming to church ever since."

"She rang me and we prayed together on the phone and agreed to begin by looking at what is a Christian."

"He made a commitment to Christ at a recent meeting at our church. I am in the process of meeting with him in developing his new found faith. He really wants to know more about growing as a Christian."

"I contacted him by email just to say Hi. He replied and said he'd like to come to church but was nervous … He missed church but came to Christianity Explored."

"Met him on B wing where my wife and I lead a group most Wednesdays. He seemed pleased to meet us. Now he has a contact with the Wednesday group which he can take part in each week."

"I phoned him and he was positive. I invited him to church on Sunday and he was keen to come." (The enquirer rang CEA to say he had been to church and wanted to go again and meet young people his own age.)

"We have now had a visit to our church from him in response to my letter. I had a good conversation with him after the service and he was very interested."

"He has been visited and has started attending church and has signed up for an Alpha Course."