Changed Lives: Alison's Story

Faith surprises atheist

Growing up as an atheist, I would have laughed if anyone had told me I would become a Christian,” says Alison Edwards (52), who works at top Wimbledon venue the All England Lawn Tennis Club. “Not me – Christianity was for the weak and goody-goodies.” Alison was jolted out of her certainty that there was no God when struggling to come to terms with family illness. “I was sitting in the garden with tears streaming down my face, wondering what I would do without my mother. Out of the blue, I heard a voice saying: ‘Don’t worry you’ll be okay.’ Somehow I recognised that this was a spiritual voice and I felt a new peace. But I didn’t really know how to find out what had happened. I looked in the Bible which a friend had given me, but it didn’t mean anything.”

                                                      
Months later, a friend suggested trying the Alpha course, after Alison had recounted her experience. That was 18 months ago and, says Alison: “I’m still bowled over by what happened, because after 50 years of not believing, God just jumped into my life! I’m not striving all the time now and have a real inner joy and peace.  Things which had really bothered me before, like being single and sometimes feeling my life was pointless and empty although I was outwardly successful, aren’t an issue any more. I no longer dwell on what I perceived as wasted years, but now have a reason for living. And I’m hopeful about the future because I feel safe in God.”

"I thought Christianity was for the weak"