Word of Life Wesleyan Reform Church

Michael Flynn's Testimony

Michael Flynn

How I became a child of God.

In my early life I always thought in the back of my mind that there was a God type entity that made me. But for many years I just left it at that. My dad came from a catholic family from Ireland my mother was from protestant Scotland. My brother and I were going to be baptised into the catholic faith but we were stopped by the catholic priest because my mother was not a catholic, we became Church of England by default.

I did not have a Christian upbringing; in fact I can still remember leaving Sunday school because I refused to pay the six pence subscriptions, what joy having a great sum of money all to myself.

As I got older I started to feel that I did not belong, or fit in with what my pals were doing. I just got on with my life doing my own thing. Then at the very tender age of sixteen I joined the army. This caused my mother untold grief and heart felt pain and a lot of tears when I left from Newcastle train station. During my army years I became aware of how different I was to the rest of the lads. In time some of the lads started to come to me, Me?, for advice about stuff and so I became a sort of the one to see on the sly, after one must keep up the pretence of been hard men training to do a hard job.

For young lads just out of nappies it was plain hard, like for me. I started to drink and smoke for the first time. Smoking was one of the vilest things that I started. It was like eating the stuff, oh the pain of it all, but drinking was dandy I thought, I didn’t drink lots at the start nor at the end, but the middle bit was bit more than I would care to remember. While in the army I smoked one joint. This was a gift from my then girlfriend.

Saturdays and Wednesdays were going out nights and I would get drunk, a nice drunk full of the joys type, staying up all night and then doing your job was no problem. On more one occasion I ended up sleeping on a train station because I was so drunk and I had to walk back to camp when I came around. It’s fun been young!

Now to the question of sex; sex and the life of young men. I thought it was expected of me not to be a virgin so with great gusto I set off to find some woman that would help me out and yes she was a prostitute .The place was Kiel in West Germany. I was fitting in with what was expected, but it never felt right. I was always that a bit of me was missing.

After seven years in the army I left and was unclear of what to do next. So out of the blue I decided to attend a catering course at Ashington College. It was there that I met the person that changed my life of ever. She is Lesley Muter and I started to attend the church she went to. Every Sunday I would wait outside the church, looking for Lesley to come along and be with me. When I gave my life to Jesus, I started to grow as a Christian I just knew that it was Jesus that was the thing that was missing in me. Sometime later I met my wife who also attended Crossroads Church.

We were married for ten years when one day she told me that she was gay and had a female lover. I can honestly say that it was the last thing I expected her to say. She left the house in November. The kids were devastated. That first Christmas after she left, was hard for me and the kids, but every year became worse than the year before. The only gifts I could afford were cheap key rings, second hand toys from charity shops. It was pure hell.

The social services did not help because I was not in crisis. I was frantic, no work, no food and very little money. I was left in £40,000 of debt. There was only one thing for me to do PRAY! Pray over my finances and my children. It was not only praying but also being
practical. 10p noodles were a main stay for my kids. Straining milk through a wire mesh after the kids had their cornflakes to put in my cup of tea was quite a common thing for me to do. It was only God that brought me through the bad times. I remember using old curtains as blankets for the three Girls.

|Inow walk each day living in the strength that faith in God through Jesus gives me. I am truly blessed and thank Him for getting me through every trial in life. Having been through many difficult trials it helps you face the next ones as we get stronger in Him. Never have I had such peace and contentment even though life can be hard.

God has a plan for every one and a great amount of love to give away. Jesus was put to death for YOU! So you can have eternal life. NO sin is too bad for God to forgive.

One last thing I never thought as myself as needing a Saviour because I was not a sinner, I was not a drug taking, beer drinking, wife hitter, I was a normal well behaved man who never got into trouble the law. But I am a sinner saved by His Grace. I want to give you this verse from the Bible John 3:16-17.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.

Town Services

It was a pleasure and privilege to lead the remembrance service for the 75th Anniversary of the D Day Landings in Normandy on the 6th of June. A very moving and emotional service.

It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to offer a blessing on the Town Council's New £209,000 play park in the People's Park. On Friday 7th June.

Baptism Service

On Saturday 18th of May Ayanfe Gdabebo, Haydn Bell and Sharon Delaney all went through the waters of baptism. The event was held at Bedlington Trinity Church, followed by a celebration tea at Word of Life WRU Church.

We had a wonderful time in the presence of God, where three new Christians went through the waters of baptism. Haydn shared his testimony which had many of us in tears. Pictures of the event will be uploaded soon.

Summer Praise

On the 6th of July, we will be holding our annual Summer Praise Event. This is a celebration of God's glory and grace, and an opportunity to praise and worship God through song. The event once again will be a combination of modern worship songs as well as some more traditional chorusses.

All are welcome to attend and enjoy a special evening giving all the glory to God through out praise.

Installation of Deacons Service

A wonderful service was held in the presence of God on Sunday 17th March 2019 to install three deacons into the church.

Graham and Valerie Baldwin and (Toks) Olaronke Ashiru Gbadebo were installed as new church deacons. They agreed to serve as deacons in the church providing assistance to the ruling elders in pastoral visits, maintenance of the church building and serving in general so that the church can properly function.

Photographs of the service are displayed below:

Christian Retreat

Our Mission House next door to the Church is available for bookings to stay for 1 to 30 nights. The house is used as a Christain retreat, and we can offer a wide range of support programmes during your stay with us.

From Bible Teaching - various topics - to Worship Leading - to dance as a form of worship, prayer and a range of other activities.

We are based on the wonderful panoramic Northumberland coastline which is literally 5 minutes drive away, but also have access to the beautiful Northumbrian Countryside and Cheviot hills which are only 30 minutes drive.

Pleas see our Mission House Christian Retreat Section on this website, or visit our Mission House Retreat page on facebook.

Wedding Service

Our first registered wedding service took place in the church on October the 12th 2018. The Couple Ian Sidney Wales married Linda Airey. Linda has attended our coffee mornings for over two years, and Sid has known Michael for many years.

The couple were pronounced man and wife after a beautiful service delivered by Rev Michael Hedley, the signing of the registars was overseen by Lindsey who is the appointed person for wedding services for the church. The wedding was attended by family and friends and they then had a function at the White House Club following the service. We wish them all of God's blessing and favour upon their marriage. Photographs of the service are below.

Harvest Supper

We held an Ashington Churches Together Harvest Supper in the Church on the 15th of October where £73.00 was raised for the local Wansbeck Food Bank.

The evening began with prayer, Psalm 65 verses 6 - 11 which talks about God supplying everything that we need in order that we can have a harvest

A local folk group called the "Canny Lads" were the entertainment for the night, along with a wonderful variety of food, and drinks. The evening closed with all 53 of us singing How Great is our God, and Rev Michael closing in prayer. Phoyographs of the event are below:

Verse for Today

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

The answer to the question posed by the Apostle Paul here is that even though we are battered by the world system with trials, with problems seemingly of great magnitude. Nothing absolutely nothing shall separate us from Christ Jesus. He is with us through the midst of our troubles. So never let anyone tell you that your prayer life or your Christian walk isnt right because you've got a few problems. Jesus still and always will love you.

Word of Life Mission House

Our Mission House, of 73 North Seaton Road, the annexe to the church has now been completed.

We are using the building for a variety of things such as a Christian retreat, where specific programmes can be tailored for each group of people staying. Examples of the type of programmes we will be delivering, will be Leading Worship, Prayer, and a wide range of other Christian Programmes.

While staying here visitors can use it to be simply a place of rest, meditation and prayer, or take part in the church programmes, or take part in a specially designed retreat bespoke programme.

We will also be using the venue for Debt Management, helping those in need, as well as music lessons, job searching and basic IT programmes.

We are very excited about this development, and if you require any further information, please contact us either by email or by telephone on 07879253072 or 07854 820012. The cost for staying here is £30.00 per night. Donations are also welcome.

Friday Diner

Our Friday Diner at church is on the last Friday of every month from 12:00 till 2:00pm. Soup and sandwiches and a range of other hot meals will be available for each of the coming months. This is an outreach for those who may be lonely, or who maybe are just in need of company. There is no charge for the food but donations are welcomed. All donations from this monthly event go to Arab World Ministries Yemen