My Beginnings
I was born in a coal-mining village in Derbyshire in 1946, the youngest of four sons.
At the age of fifteen years I left secondary school with virtually no qualifications. Most of my school friends would either go to work down the coal mine or work on the railway but my father, not wishing me to work “down the pit” advised me to continue with full-time education which I did. Never understanding Algebra at school, I taught myself and discovered I could actually DO MATHS!
That's when my life really began to take off!
I never imagined that I would ultimately obtain a B.Sc and M.Sc in pure and applied mathematics!
Through experiencing and addressing those academic deficiencies that I had, there became birthed within me a burning desire to help young people overcome their problems too! I fulfilled this by teaching thirty seven years in further education!
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My Wife, Pauline , and I were married on December 21st 1968
Our Beginning in 1964
My Wife's Testimony
A Testimony of the Saving Grace of God and Salvation
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ
By Pauline Reddish
What is it you would like in your life? -
“I wonder – how are you with your life? What is it you would like in your life? Perhaps a new house, a new car, a new job? Maybe, more money, a boyfriend or girlfriend; a husband or wife or perhaps security and peace of mind.
When I was 16 years of age, I was living in Mansfield in Nottinghamshire England with my parents and a sister who was two years older than myself. I knew what I wanted, I wanted to be loved! Why? you might ask; because I felt so unloved. Throughout my childhood, I could never ever remember, being hugged or cuddled by my parents.
My father was a business man whilst my mother was a Nurse and she was born in Austria. My dad had a very bad temper and he would shout and throw things and physically hit my mum! Consequently, I felt I could never dare bring any friends to my home in case he “kicked off.” There were no children’s parties; no one could ever come round to our house for a “sleepover.” Never! In reality, my sister and I led a lonely life in all respects but this led us to stick closely together so we always had each other to turn to.
It was when I was 16 years old that I met my boyfriend who was two years older than me. We had met in Nottingham Palais before he went to University in Chelsea, London, to study Mathematics. His parents were both Christians who loved the Lord Jesus and when he was away, I visited them from time to time at their home. It was during these occasions that they took me to their Church, an Assemblies of God Pentecostal, Church in their village. I loved it there! I was welcomed by the people - even though in those days I wore mini - skirts and make-up!! It was a happy place!
One Sunday morning at the above church, a young man, a farmer, was speaking from the Bible about Jesus. It was the first time I had heard about what Jesus had done for me on the cross. How He loved me so much that he died a very cruel and painful death on a cross to pay the price for my sins and, upon receiving Him, He gives me Eternal life. I can only say that my heart was touched by what I’d heard and I felt truly embraced and LOVED for the first time. From then onwards, my life began to change. The Scripture that God gave me at that time out of the Bible was the following: -
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3
What Else Did I Want in My Life? –
To answer this question, I really wanted someone to be there for me; to guide me and help me in my life. Why, you might ask? – because when I gave my life to the Lord, I was rejected by my parents. They could not understand what I’d done and thought I was extreme in my beliefs. I was not on any drugs, nor a drinker or smoker or into free sex in the so-called “swinging sixties!” There was no cause for their anger but this – what I had done in turning to Jesus! In fact, I was basically a shy person; an introverted teenager!
I recollect, at this time - and I can just picture it vividly in my mind – when I was sat reading my Bible in the Conservatory at home. I was very interested and loved to read the Gospels and Psalms. Suddenly my mum came in, took one look at what I was doing, then started shouting and screaming at me. She was so angry that she took my Bible from me and threw it out of the room. There was a photo of my boyfriend in a glass picture frame and it was smashed throwing it out of the window and then she ran after me! I started running out of the room - out of the back door - down the road and didn’t stop until I came to Mansfield Town.
As it happened, my boyfriend was on vacation from university and working in Mansfield at the Metal Box Factory. I met up with him there and told him what had happened. He took me over to his parent’s house and I ended up staying with them until I came to live in London.
As mentioned, I loved to read the Psalms in the Bible and at that time a favourite verse was given to me by the Lord whilst reading Psalm 27:
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me. Psalm 27:10
…and He Did!
I was 17 years of age when I came to live in London with just the clothes I stood up in and with very little money. I basically left everything behind and came to London, initially, with no home, no job and no friends. At this time, I found the Lord to be my provider, my helper and my guide. I gave my heart to the Lord; He put His Holy Spirit within me and I knew I was not alone. His Word says –
I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you so you may boldly say
“The LORD is my Helper and I will not fear what man can do to me.” Hebrews 13: 5-6
On arriving in London, I found a Christian Girls Hostel in Notting Hill Gate called CAWG - Christian Alliance for Women and Girls. I shared a basement room with two other girls, a white South African and a Scottish girl. They became my bridesmaids three years later! I did not have a job but I was offered an interview at the Headquarters of CAWG at St James Park near Westminster Abbey in the City. I went for the interview and was offered the job! What I liked about the job was this – every day in the morning, before starting work, we would read from the Bible and pray. For me, as a new Christian, this was really appreciated!
We both got married at Kensington Temple - which was an Elim Pentecostal Church - in December 1968 soon after my husband had graduated though he continued for a further year doing Postgraduate studies. We remained in London for nearly 40 years!
For 10 years, we lived in 2 rooms in a large Victorian House in Acton, London having all my 3 children born there! We both served the Lord in West London as Sunday School teachers and Youth Leaders. My husband became an Elder in the Church, a House Group Leader and teacher of God’s Word as well as a full-time Mathematics Lecturer!
At this time, I was a stay-at-home mum and my door was always open to whoever - Mums, children, neighbours and Sunday-School children! God provided me with 2 lovely Christian ladies from our Church and they became like Mumsto me! One of the ladies was a black Caribbean lady and the other a petite Sri – Lankan, the latter having 6 children of her own and was a widow. She, living fairly close by, would come over and pray with me when I or my babies were sick. I was always welcomed over at her house, at any time, even though she had a large family herself to care for.
What did I want to do with my Life?
I always would say to myself – “I want to be a blessing to others.” I wasn’t interested in fancy clothes, a big house or cars or a holiday to exotic places! I wanted God to use me in my daily life. You might say – “How could I do this? “I didn’t feel as though I’d got much to offer.
I hadn’t gone to university. I was quite shy and nervous. But what I did have was Christ with me. I had His Holy Spirit living inside of me. That was all I needed! He will give you and me the love and empathy for others to help them. A smile, a sympathetic ear when they are sad or suffering; hope and encouragement when they’re feeling down and low.
I have known the Lord, at the time of writing, for 60 years. I can say that He is Good and a loving God. Does that mean that everything will go smoothly for me and that I won’t experience any hardships or trials? Does it mean that He is not pleased with me and it’s my fault if I should go through bad times? No! We all go through the mountain – top experiences and walk in the valleystoo!
I will now mention just a few of the hard-times I have experienced and God brought me through them:
My eldest son got into drugs when he was a late teenager doing an apprenticeship in Engineering. He was mixing with people who were into drugs. We had several years of watching our son spiral out of control. There were times when we didn’t know if he was alive or dead. He became like a down and out. We were so sad and ashamed too. We did have a praying church and folk who supported us and encouraged us. The tunnel seemed as though it would never end. Eventually, there was light at the end and my son came through with God’s help. Now he himself loves the Lord and is a changed man with a wife and son holding down a job and he gives praise and thanks to the Lord singing with his guitar!
Another heartache for us was when one of our Grandsons at 9 years of age, became very poorly. We thought we’d lose him during the Covid outbreak. He was not eating or drinking; he was bed-ridden and couldn’t walk. The doctors didn’t know what was the cause of this!
Eventually he was admitted to GOSH – Great Ormond Street Hospital in London – and after much prayer over a long period of time, - several weeks in fact – it was there he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease! God brought him through and his parents too! Now some 3 -4 years later, he is steady and we are so grateful to the Lord for watching over him!
It was during these weeks when my grandson was in hospital that we had the privilege of looking after his younger brother who was 6 years old. He had never been away from home before but he happily came to our home and settled in so well. I can only say it was an absolute joy and pleasure to have him with us to look after him, care for him and give him happy times. He’d been so sad to see his brother in distress and didn’t know what to do. We played with him and took him out places in the car. He loved going to Costa Coffee for a treat! We prayed and read God’s Word to him. My husband always told him a story from the Bible before bed – The Miracles of Jesus were his favourite! He learned from memory the Lord’s Prayer and was very excited to say it to his parents when he next saw them!
What can I say to close? I am so grateful to God my Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who called me to be His child as a teenager! I’m loved! I’m forgiven! I have Eternal Life and He has prepared a place for me in Heaven! I have this Hope and assurance that I will see Him face to face!
God gives each one of us the opportunity to know Him and to love Him!
Finally, I would just like to say that over many years of communication and love, both of my parents came to know the LORD too!
Pauline Reddish
November 2024