| God was protecting me |
 Derek Hiscoke survived 43 years military service without a scratch, and always put it down to chance – but now he believes God kept him for a reason I always called myself an atheist. From childhood I unconsciously started to build a resentment towards religion and what I called ‘churchgoers’, based on the way they looked at me as I cycled past the church every Sunday on my way to work at the golf club. On top of that were the comments they would make when they saw me during the week about me not going to church. My years in the armed forces then helped to fuel my resentment towards religion, particularly my tours in Northern Ireland. Many years later, after a divorce and another failed relationship, I met the lady who would become my wife. Some years after we married, my two step-children started to attend a youth fellowship here at church in Cambridgeshire, more with Helen’s blessing than mine. Later that year they asked if they could go to a one-week camp at Hemel Hempstead. When they returned having been ‘saved’ and wanting to be baptised, I thought they had been brainwashed and said as much at the time. Helen started to attend this church regularly and some time after that first visit she became a Christian. My reaction was, “Oh no, now I have two churchgoers in the house!” I don’t do church! One day I was walking past the church and an American man stopped me and asked if I was Helen’s husband. He introduced himself as Pastor Dave Woodard. But before he could say anything else I said “Sorry but let’s get one thing straight, I don’t do church and I don’t like Americans.” Dave replied something like“That’s fine, I’m sure we will become good friends.” I finally told Helen I would meet her in the church after golf. From that day onwards I started to attend carol services and other events including the men’s meals and breakfasts – not because I wanted to become a Christian, but because I enjoyed the company of Pastor Dave and the other men of the church. I was not interested in the message. Or so I thought, until I noticed that neither Pastor Dave, the guest speaker or any other member of this church looked down on me or avoided talking to me for not being a Christian. A big contrast to the response I remembered from being a teenager. Then just over 12 months ago, Pastor Dave asked if I would like to do the Christianity Explored course with him. I agreed and we met roughly once a week. One day at home alone during one of my study periods, I felt the need to pray to God, admit I was a sinner and ask for forgiveness. After many questions and much talking with Pastor Dave I asked him how people got “saved”, as everyone called it. And he explained about admitting you are a sinner to God and praying for forgiveness. Then Dave asked me if I had said this prayer and I confirmed that I had and carried on talking. But he stopped me and said “Hold on. What did you just say?” I said I admitted that I was a sinner and asked for forgiveness. He then said that according to the Bible I was now a Christian. When Helen found out, she wanted to tell Emily and they then wanted to tell everybody. I couldn’t understand why or what the big deal was… to me, being a Christian was between me and God, so what did it have to do with anyone else? Anyway, I agreed, and as people were told, the joy and happiness that they showed surprised me at the time. I now know the importance of telling people that I am a Christian and letting them know that I have made a life changing decision. Relaxed I didn’t think it was possible for me to be saved and for God to forgive my sins and that I would feel this relaxed about my future in faith with him. I joined the RAF Regiment in 1964 and have served in many areas of operations including Borneo, Malaya and Northern Ireland. I thought I was just lucky to have lived through 43 years of military service, almost without a scratch, but I know now that God had looked after me all those years and I am prepared to let him decide what is best for me in the future. This was the beginning of a new and long life with Christ. Even in the short time that I have been a Christian, I feel compelled to tell other people about Christianity in the hope that we will all meet in heaven and continue to praise the Lord for our salvation. Christianity Explored is an informal course for people who’d like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics. It explores who Jesus was, what his aims were, and what it means to follow him. You won’t be asked to pray, sing or read aloud, and you can ask any questions you like. Or, if you prefer, you can just come along and listen. To find out where there’s a course near you, visit www.christianityexplored.org, or write to us at: Christianity Explored, 14 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PQ |
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