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Real Testimonies from Real People

We have received many letters from prisoners who have read the Tough Talk books or have seen the guys in Tough Talk prison meetings. Here are a few examples FELTHAM I’m James…I’ve read your book and was overwhelmed by the changes in all three men… I’m on remand in Feltham for taking a man’s life by hitting him….although I was provoked my actions are inexcusable. Can God still forgive me for my actions? Perhaps you could tell me how I go about bringing him into my life as a permanent feature. HIGHPOINT You have opened up a new light in my life after reading your book…tears of joy and thankfulness that Jesus has touched your lives were streaming down my face. I had a truly unforgettable experience with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in prison many years ago……but life got the better of me and I am now serving another 3 years…. Seeing you in Highpoint has rekindled the light and love of Jesus in me again…….I feel a massive turn-around in my inner self again… NOTTINGHAM Thanks a million for coming all the way up from London to see us all (in Nottingham)……I must admit I was very moved by your talk and I can assure you that most of the lads were too. One bright spark was heard to say you were only promoting your book to which I replied, if you can see the price on the front, inside or back cover, I will buy him lunch at the Savoy when we get out! BEDFORD I did enjoy reading the book…..it has made me look at my life, and I know that I cannot be like I am for the rest of my life, I can be a decent helpful person I want to be like that, full stop. The book has made me think of a better future. NOTTINGHAM Before you came here I had started going to Chapel…..and when you came it was like assign, it might sound mad but I felt something come over me when you was speaking….. and that day when I went back to my pad I said to myself would God help me like he has helped that man. So I started talking to him and no, I am not mad but its like he is talking to me. I have been doing so many things different. I know that me not doing wrong wont happen overnight but I know something will change when I get out… ONLEY I’ve messed up…because I have a drug problem. I’ve tried everything to get over this evil but the temptation is too great. I’ve lost all my friends because of this…I’m writing to ask you to help me try and find Jesus Christ because may be he will help me conquer this bad part of my life like he has for Arthur, Ian and Steve…… ******* I have been in and out of jail since I was 15 …because I have a drug problem. I’ve tried everything to get over this evil but the temptation is so great….I have lost any real friends I had and most of all I have lost my family. This is why I’m writing this letter to get you to help me try and find Jesus Christ because may be he will help me conquer this bad part of my life…like he has done for Arthur, Steve and Ian… ******** The book has made me look at my life and I know that I cannot be like I am for the rest of my life. I can be a decent, helpful person, but I want it to be like that, full stop. The book has made me think of a better future. ******** I thoroughly enjoyed the book. But I can’t do it that easily. I have prayed the prayer over and over but I still get drawn into the drugs and other things whilst in here. I hope you can answer some of my questions and give me a little guidance. ********* On reading your book I now know what I want in my life…..since I have read about you and your friends I have felt that I can do anything that I put my mind to. When you came to my prison it was like a sign…..I felt something come over me when you were speaking. I went back to my pad and said would God help me like he has helped that man. I started talking to him, and no I’m not mad, but its like he is talking to me. I have been doing so many things different. I know that me not doing wrong won’t happen overnight but I know that something will change… ******** We received this very encouraging “testimony within a testimony” from an officer in the Metropolitan Police. He told us he became friendly with an intimidating 20 stone, 6 foot 3 tattooed and shaven headed prisoner who gave him a battered and torn book that he said had “changed his life and could change yours”. In the book, the man had written “Thanks for being a friend. Jesus loves you!” The book was Tough Talk. The officer said “ I read the book in one day…… it sent me through mixed emotions….. it sent a tingle down my spine….. I have never been a religious man….but I have asked my girlfriend for a Bible for Christmas….because I feel I cannot get enough” This was received from a prisoner who has not yet sorted his life out....but it is very encouraging:>>>>"Many thanks for writing a great book. So many thoughts have been going through my mind of late. I was confused until I finished the end of your book. Now I see things in a much calmer way and that there could be something out there for me too. ........I'm going to pass the book around my friends who are having troubles in their lives maybe they will take notice or maybe not at least I can show them there is something more.....I have always been very stand-offish about God and Jesus but I am learning slowly that there can be more. I keep getting messages that there are other things like God and Jesus......Well I am starting to believe, just a little apprehensive a bit, but I am sure I will have another sign to help me find my way...Many many thanks for a great book...."

The following two letters were received from prisoners in a prison that the Tough Talk team regularly visit. Letters such as this really highlight the value of our ministry to prisons: Letter 1: " I would like to give you a bit of feed back from your last visit here. First though, Ian I asked you if you was for real. What I thought at the time that you bwas talking rubbish, which I am sorry for. At the time you was giving us the talk about God, I laughed at you, again I am sorry for that. I experienced something very peculiar at the end of the session, which I now know was the Holy Spirit. Upon leaving the gym that Thursday, I felt the urge to go to the Chapel on Sunday. I had another strange feeling and then and there I said enough, I have given my life to God. I go every Sunday now and pray every day. You see I wanted what you guys had, not the muscles but the peace you talked about. I now have that peace inside me, I feel so alive......You also saved my dearest friend who experienced almost the same things as me......" Letter 2......"Firstly I would like to thank you for your visit to our prison. I don't know what made me come that day but I do now. I have never been a believer in religion but after your visit I got such an urge to start going to the chapel, praying and reading the Bible which I do every night now. My look on life has drastically changed. I'm leaving my old life behind and starting a new one with God. I'm so happy about it its unreal. I already feel like I've been born again. I'm getting baptised this Sunday. Me and my friend experienced the same thing and its brought us so close as friends and brothers. Its baffled me how its happened so fast. I've gone from being an angry person to an understanding peaceful person. I just felt as if I would write to yopu and thank you all for how you helped me to start my new journey with God. I'm so thankful...." And here is another fantastic letter...... " ......I am on remand for stabbing and robbery...I have done a lot of things I regret and have been involved in things I wish I hadn't. Until reading your book, I was convinced this was the only lifestyle for me....I know there is more to life now. I have been going to church every week now, and have realised I can be forgiven. It feels so good, like a load has been taken off my shoulders. So just a quick note to say thankyou all so much. We continue to regularly receive letters from guys in prison who have heard Tough Talk at one of their prison visits. Here is an excerpt from a recent letter: "Hi, I was at the Tough Talk event in our prison ...I enjoyed it a lot and it made me think about things....it really opened my eyes and made me realise that there is much more to life than women and money.....I can now sort my life out and start my life on that new road. Thank you again."

SECURE TRAINING CENTRE, RAINSBROOK.
As well as receiving letters from prisoners, we also receive very encouraging messages from members of chaplaincy teams and from prison gym staff. We have received this letter from the Chaplain at Rainsbrook: “I just want to say a HUGE thank you to Arthur and Ian following on from their visits to Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. Their message focused on “the consequences of our actions” and “our ability to make choices” was a powerful one linked to a very real hope for the future. More importantly, though, was that the good news of Jesus Christ was put across in a “powerful” way, as Ian and Arthur used the power lifting alongside their amazing testimonies of God at work in their lives. The afternoon session has stuck in the minds of several of our young people and paved the way for many more in-depth conversations, both with staff and young people. We are really looking forward to October when Ian and Arthur are planning a return visit” Revd. Diane Bussey. Chaplain. Rainsbrook STC, Willoughby, Rugby. Warks.

We have recently received a very encouraging letter from a young man who attended one of our meetings in Portsmouth. Here is an abbreviated version of what he had to say…. “I always subconsciously believed in God. Over the last few years I have had numerous relationship issues…….resulting in my leaving my wife of 16 years…..I became paranoid, addicted to attention, pain then violence but never to drugs…..I became closer to my mother in law and humoured the level of belief in God that she had….but I could not commit to believing in him myself. I was invited to a Tough Talk meeting by my mother in law but woke late on the morning of the event….a voice said “ I know you are going to be late but it will be OK I am with you…”So many things said that morning made an impact on me……at the end, Joe Lampshire asked for people to respond by raising their hand…I could not raise my hand for embarrassment’s sake. But then Joe said there was someone in the room who was hurting more than most….he prayed for that person not knowing that person was me! ……From that day I have felt complete, weirdly content, people have commented on the fact that I seem different…..I was challenged to tell my story to the church to thank Tough Talk, my mother in law, the church and to prove to God that I believe…but I didn’t…..Some time later, I found myself in front of the church telling my experience, no script completely off the cuff……I have since then opted to be baptised as another token of my belief….I have surrendered my life, body and soul for him to use as a tool to reach others as he did with me.

Here are some more excerpts from letters received from prisoners: 1: This man had read the Tough Talk testimony book and thought it to be "thought provoking and inspirational". He was having a rough time in prison and he says...."During one of my bouts of self-pity, I was trying to figure out a way to get out of my cell I hit upon an idea......Chapel! I then had a chance meeting with the catholic priest on the landing and asked him to put me down for as much as possible....so he did. This is where the miracles in my life start.......I'm not writing this to say that give your life to Jesus and you will get what you want....its to share the amazing fact with you that I let God into my life, repented of my sins and an amazing chain of events and truths unfolded, and in that respect, prison is the best thing that has happened to me. I no longer, or ever will, live the selfish violent and materialist life I used to....." Its letters like this that keep us sharing the really good news of Jesus Christ!! 2:"I have just finished saying the prayer in the back of your book, the stories of the three bouncers. As I finished saying this prayer, I had a tingling sensation come over myself and I could feel tears welling up in me.I have realised that I was living my life by the wrong set of morals and standards. I have never felt so compelled to do something as I do now writingthis letter.In my life IO have committed and participated in some dreadful that I feel a deep shame for.......I don't know how Jersus can help me with this but I feel that I need to have him in my life......" 3: " I attended the church service in chapel last week where you came and gave a talk. I have read the book you gave me and I've got to say its the most powerful set of stories I've ever heard.........I loved the way you came across and I so want to change my life but I'm struggling. I wondered if you could perhaps write to me with some more information and some words to help me out!" 4:"I would like to say it was a pleasure to meet you when you came to my prison, I really enjoyed your testimonies. When I opened your book Tough Talk, I could not put it down. I used to keep it to read over lock-ups so as to enjoy reading it in peace. When I got back to the wing the rest of the lads came to ask me to pass it on to them to read. I was telling them all about the meeting. I have been in and out of prison all my life and think its time I changed my life......its up to me to make a change for the better as I want Christ to become my Saviour......" Extract from a letter from an inmate when he was in Norwich Prison:....... "When I was in Norwich Prison I met with Arthur White and Ian McDowall and I shared my story with them. They told me about this love and forgiveness from a special person called Jesus........the story they told me touched me deeply and I then decided to go to chapel and after a while I got baptised.......since then I have been confirmed and my life has changed so much. I feel wanted and loved and like someone cares for me......." The new Tough Talk book is already affecting people who read it. This is an extract from a letter received from an inmate in Brixton prison:......... " I read both your stories from the Tough Talk book....they both touched me in different ways, but down to the same principle they related to me in the same way.They made me think of Christianity differently and now I want to give myself to God. I want to become a better person and really follow the word of Christ. I feel I am ready to accept Jesus as my Saviour......you showed me the light and now I know there is hope for me to touch the light.........."

Here are some extracts from a letter received from an inmate in HMP Northumberland: "I have recently took the time to read your book......I will admit that prior to reading the book I was fast in judging people who say they had found Jesus whilst in prison........Whilst reading the book I felt that I have been in some of the same situations that the men have been involved in.........I continued to read on ...and then had a strange overwhelming feeling come over me....At first I thought I may have been sitting in a window area where a breeze may be coming in.....but all the windows were shut...I was rather spooked so I decided to read the previous page again and had the same reaction to the paragraph. I have spoken to the Chaplain about this experience....he believes it was the Spirit of the Lord coming to me. I have read the book again and I have felt this experience again so I do believe the Lord has in fact tried to communicate with me...... I have since felt that I have more understanding of myself....I am also beginning to make choices that previously I would not have thought twice about....I am more honest and open with my family and I am more relaxed and feel better about myself..."

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