I was born in a Christian family. I was one of four boys (also a twin!). We all went to the local Anglican Church. My father, Harry, and my eldest brother, John, and I were in the church choir. I was baptised when I was 1 year old and confirmed at the age of 12. I started to work at 15 years old and I was very interested in sport and entertainment. The temptation of enjoying myself was great and gradually I lost interest in the church; my life was made up of work, football and good money, and I considered this to be good and pleasant.

Meeting my wife, Carmela, when I was 27 years old was a real turning point of my life. We came to live in Italy after a brief period in England. Firstly, we went to the Catholic Church and then to the English-Speaking (Valdesian) Church in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Torino. For me it was a place where I could meet fellow countrymen and English-speaking people, but my feelings changed when I met David Stevenson, who became the first pastor of the International Church of Torino. I started to be interested in reading the bible, getting to know God and attending bible classes.

The last six years have been a real blessing to me. I have come to believe that Jesus was punished instead of me and so, therefore, I am forgiven and safe forever. Day by day I thank Almighty God for everything he has given to me. Above all, I thank God the Father, for sending his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins and for giving me living hope through his resurrection. I also thank Him for the Holy Spirit who daily fortifies me with his Word, the bible, and gives me a burning strength inside. 

The difference now in my life is that I have peace with God the Father - peace that I do't deserve. I read and study the bible every day because I want to know what God has to say to me. The change in me is as Paul describes in the bible: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures... but when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing if rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7). I now want to live a life serving God and helping others. The motives for this are many, but love is the most important.

I would like to thank the interim pastors of the International Church of Torino: Jack Shiflett, Larry Armstrong, Brant Cuthbert and David Stevenson for their love and encouragement. Pastor Dyfan has now given me, through his teaching and friendship, a joy which is very hard to explain. I thank God for all the Christian friends at church, who have encouraged me in my Christian life. I am also grateful to God for my wife Carmela, my daughter Manuela and Harry, my dear father. Thank you all for your prayers. My experience can be expressed with Paul's words in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.