In my real-life story 1944 when I was living in Rye, my Aunt Rene and Uncle Arch took me to the Baptist church there.
His family were all members there.
I do not think that I had a deep faith then, but I enjoyed going, and I expect that I absorbed the Bible teaching, without probably realising it.
It was not until I was living at Chalfont St Peter, aged 14 years, that I knew that I was being called to become a Christian.
It happened one Sunday when we had a visiting preacher, and he brought into the pulpit a model of a door with three handles at the top, middle and bottom.
He took his text from Revelation:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 NIV
I cannot remember the three points he illustrated by the three handles, but I suddenly knew that this was referring to me and that I had to open my heart to Jesus and ask Him to take control of my life.
Several months after this, I asked the Minister if I could be baptised, and was subsequently visited by two older lady church members, who asked me questions about my faith, to make sure that I understood the meaning of the step I wanted to take.
So in October 1944, I was baptised in a long white robe with weights along the bottom hem to prevent it from floating upwards!!
My Mother stood at the side, with a large towel to wrap round me, while the congregation sang:
O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end”
Author: John Ernest Bode (1869)
My faith was severely tested eighteen months later when my Mother, who had been ailing for some time, died of breast cancer, aged 51 years.
I was given strength by the Lord to cope with this, as that same day I was due to take part as the White Rabbit in a Girl Guide performance of Alice in Wonderland.
I did so, and later the Guide Captain wrote to me praising me for my courage, but it was not my strength, but the Holy Spirit sustaining me.
Becoming a Christian then, has meant that throughout my life, I have known that God loves me, that He came down to earth in human form, as Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for each one of us, taking our sins upon Himself, so that we can be accepted by a holy God, who will receive us after death to live with Him forever.
More of Christine Reason’s true life story in these articles:
[1] 1922 to 1930
[11] 1946 new mum – my story
[12] 1947 to 1948 Essex girl
[13] 1949 to 1951 boyfriends