Page 8 - GNfE Launch leaflet

Andy’s Story
Serving a life sentence for murder, the result of
a drunken argument, Andy’s outlook on life was
very bleak and hopeless… until one night in his
prison cell.

“In August 2006, while in prison, I decided to take
my own life. My situation had become so hopeless
I’d lost the will to live. I had made a noose and
decided to fix it up at the window then let myself
hang to death. At that moment a quiet voice spoke
to me “Just read that Bible.” On the shelf sat a copy
of the New Testament and Psalms placed by The
Gideons, now known as GOOD NEWS for Everyone!
I opened the book at the beginning of Mathew’s
Gospel and started to read. At Luke’s Gospel, the
story of the lost son, my tears started to flow, my
hopelessness disappeared and the wretchedness
I had suffered went. Most of all the idea I firmly
believed that I was unworthy of forgiveness was
taken from me.
The angry, frightened desperate person I had
become ceased to exist there and then. When Jesus’
words spoke of the brother who was “dead and is
alive again; he was lost and is found”, I was found
indeed. I wept openly with joy. Suddenly I had hope.
I couldn’t have told you what for, I just knew I had
hope. I wanted to live, there wasn’t any difficulty I
wasn’t ready to face. My words do an injustice to the
event that happened in and round me.

If no Bible had been in that prison cell, I would be
in hell right now, instead of living my life in the joy
of the Lord!”

Andy’s story is a beautiful example of the
impact of our work. Often, we never know who
picks up the Scriptures we place. However, we
believe in the power of God’s Word and when
we follow His calling nothing is in vain. Andy is
now serving the Lord in a ministry supporting
released prisoners.

www.goodnewsuk.com