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Open-Air Mission
‘Holding fast the faithful word...’
(Titus 1:9)
(Titus 1:9)
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‘Holding forth the word of life...’
(Philippians 2:16)
(Philippians 2:16)
Geoff Cox
& Ruth
Open-air opportunities in the Home Counties
Click here to read Geoff’s
latest article
My Testimony
I was sent to Sunday School as a child, but gave it up when I was 16, and left home to be an apprentice in Malvern. While there I met my first real Christian, who impressed me. I left there when I was 21 and got a job, where I met another Christian, who again impressed me and witnessed to me. I moved on to another job, but life was getting a bit ‘pear-shaped’ with me failing to be all that successful in my work, and struggling with finances etc, and generally finding life tough and meaningless. I kept in contact with my Christian friend, but the tipping point came when my girlfriend, who was at Cardiff University, got involved in the Christian Union – something with which I was not very happy. I used to argue against the gospel, but things suddenly changed at the end of November 1969, when I got a letter from her telling me that I ought to stop arguing and look to Christ. It was at that precise moment that I gave in and looked to him and he received me, and took my burden of sin from me, and gave me a new life. It can all be summed up in the words of Charles Wesley:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
The transformation was wonderful. I began reading my Bible right away, and it was a thrill to read it as a believer. I phoned my Christian friend and asked if I could come to his Bible Study. After a moment of stunned silence, he gladly agreed, and when he saw me he said it was as though a great burden had been taken from my shoulders, which, of course it had.
Since that time the Lord has been unfailingly faithful to me as I began to serve him. I have had a varied Christian life, but for the last 15 years have been a preaching elder at Binfield Free Church. The church has supported me faithfully as I have begun preaching in the open air, and are fully behind me as I step out in serving the Lord as a part-time evangelist with the Open-Air Mission.