Andrew Behrend – Alpha course
Bernie Rose, who is the instigator of the forthcoming Alpha course in Earl Soham, was looking round for some one willing to write a short resume of how they became a Christian — and as some one planning to be in on this course, I volunteered.
I was brought up as an irregular attendee of my local parish church Sunday school and then there was compulsory chapel at the boarding schools to which I was sent. I quite enjoyed singing hymns and hearing the excellent school choir sing, and I certainly didn’t disbelieve in God, but that was about as far as it went.
It was my chemistry teacher at secondary level boarding school, a stocky, forceful man with rather a harsh voice, who ran a Christian study group. You didn’t mess with Mr Bennet. I was somewhat intimidated by him, even more so after he tried to give me help with catching up on my chemistry and then lost patience with me because I was failing to make any headway. Nevertheless, in my second year he had the good sense to organise a mission to the school with a Chinese man called Jimmy Song, who spoke very simply and without trying to pull any emotional strings about committing your life to Christ, and knowing God as a real rescuer and friend. I was a rather dreamy boy but I knew that what he was saying made sense, and I knew that this is something that I should do and that if I didn’t do it I would be copping out. God was calling and it did not feel right to fail to respond.
I felt no great emotion, either before, during or after, going forward to indicate that I wanted to commit my life - after all, I was an awkward and inhibited adolescent boy who wasn’t particularly happy at school. But I knew when I walked down the hill from the school chapel that night that I had taken an irrevocable step that would change my whole life. I was never to feel fully at ease with the chemistry teacher, but I did attend his Christian study group from that time on.
Andrew Behrend, Linchrist House Earl Soham