The power of love

Robber turned preacher, Paul Fitzpatrick, spoke at this morning's men's breakfast at St James.

Usual feast of bacon, sausage, mushrooms, beans, egg, toast, juice , tea, coffee etc. Great turnout plus a speaker with a remarkable real life story.

Paul had been a robber. Paul had been a violent man. But one night  listening to a Christian radio station in his prison cell, he had an experience of the reality of God's love for him that changed his life forever.

It was as if the speaker (on the radio) was talking to him directly. It was as if a whole new world suddenly opened to him - right there in his cell.

In time he was selected to train for the Church Army and much later went on to lead the charity, Prison Fellowship, that had  helped him to readjust to life outside when he emerged from prison many years before.

The great thing about Paul's story is that it reminds us that God's can reach people wherever they are and whatever they have done - and that God's love has the power to transform lives - forever.