Editor: Shalom Chris. It is wonderful to have you feature in our interview corner this month. I know you have a wonderful testimony about how you ended up being a Christian. To start with, do you mind sharing that testimony with our Hope Alliance Newsletter readers out there

Chris: I grew up in a family where God wasn't known. That's not to say love wasn't shown or I was neglected! Far from it. It's just the way it was.We had no contact with any Christians or with the Church, apart from the usual births, deaths and marriages. All my life I was interested in physical things, spiritual stuff like religion was a waste of time. I wanted to be a scientist, to work with stuff I could measure, hold, use and do things with. At school I was quite bright but tended to hang about with kids who were interested in things other than learning and lessons. I was threatened with demotion at school a few times, but always managed to do enough to keep the status quo. My life as a teenager was easy going. Always out with friends, fishing, riding old motorbikes around gravel pits and the surrounding fields - stuff like that. My first direct contact with Christians came when I started going to a youth group they were running at a local junior school. We went because we wanted to 'have a laugh'. And we did, in our own peculiar way. Breaking into classrooms, letting off fire extinguishers, climbing on the canteen roof and throwing tiles in the swimming pool. That was our idea of a laugh. And that was it for contact with Christians, until about 16 years later in 1993. I was living with the woman who was later to become my wife. We had 2 children by then and I had been unemployed for about 2 years (remember the recession in the UK of that time?). I'd always been a great fan of Cat Stevens. I think he was, and is, an awesome singer/songwriter. You may remember he gave up his music and songs and embraced Islam? Having time on my hands I thought I'd try to find out why. Well, I read some books about Cat and then read some books about Islam. Then I read a translation of the Koran. And it was interesting. All the biblical characters that we in the west grow up with yet know nothing about were in the Koran. Moses, Abraham, Jesus and others. And, yes, it was interesting. But that was all.

Still hungry for whatever I was being led to search for I went down the library and took out a Bible. And I read it from cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation. Yeah, ok, I did skip a few pages in Numbers and Deuteronomy, but I'm only human! And what I found in the Bible was really interesting. I read all I could about Christianity. And I got to a point where books weren't filling the hunger but feeding it. I had to find out more - but where? So I used to cycle round all the churches near to where I lived. Looked at their notice boards trying to get some idea of what they were like. After all, I didn't want to become ensnared in some sort of cult, did I? And in the end plumped for safety and went into the local Church of England church. I went in with the pretext of getting my children baptised. The curate I spoke to got wind that something was up when I asked him if he could explain the Trinity to me! And for good measure, was John the Baptist Elijah! I think he knew something was up. By coincidence (are there coincidences with God?) the church was just about to run it's first Alpha course. Perfect timing. It was on that course that the reality of Jesus, who He is and what He has done hit home. I realized and accepted the sacrifice of God on my behalf and became one of the saints on that course.

Editor: Your testimony just goes to show that God's love is a love that is higher than our human comprehensions and for me the most wonderful aspect of my Christian life is knowing each day that I am accepted by God not because of what I did but because of what He did and as a result no longer subject to condemnation but daily justified by His grace. What would you say is the best part of your Christian life?   

Chris: As with everyone I would say the gift of salvation itself, but perhaps to be more specific I would say the commitment my faith brings to my marriage and family! In an age of loose and mobile relationships there's something wonderful about a marriage under God, how faith and the Holy Spirit can underpin it and sustain it through thick and thin.

Editor: As Christians, we all have our trying moments and in today's world of never ending struggles, many Christians often ends up discouraged due to the pressing circumstances and situations they find themselves in. Since finding Christ, what would you say is your greatest challenge and how did you find the daily encouragement that you needed to rise above it?

Chris: I think the greatest challenge is to live a life obedient to God in a world full of temptation. Every day we see powers and principalities working against us but we should always remember what it says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Always remember the promises of God. 

Editor: Besides your passion for Christ, you are also a passionate Web designer and you currently have a Web business under the name MSWD. Can you tell us what MSWD means and also your particular reasons for choosing that name

Chris: It's short for Mustard Seed Web Design - good things from small beginnings which can be so characteristic of the plan and purpose that God gives us. Plus it shortens to a name which wasn't being used by anyone else!

Editor: Would you say Christians are lacking behind when it comes to using the internet and other information technology for Kingdom purposes

Chris:  Christians are like any other people when it comes to the internet and technology in general. There's a scripture at Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Sometimes we Christians forget about being as wise as serpents when it comes to the internet and the dangers that lie there amongst the opportunity it gives us. And the world often sees us as sheep and as harmless as doves which makes us targets. It can be so empowering to remember that third aspect of our nature.

Editor: Do you have any suggestions on ways we can improve or make better use of information technology for Kingdom advancement purposes

Chris: There is a myriad of ways that we can use the whole range of information technology and tools in advancing the Kingdom. The key for me is not to lose sight of what the goal is, not to let the path become the destination, not to let temptation cut in on the race. We can become overawed with the technology to the detriment of our purpose. But there are fantastic opportunities to make your voice heard, to build communities across distances and to encourage.

Editor: Tell us what you do in your spare time when you finally manage to get one

Chris: Spare time? I remember it well! As a father, husband and a foster carer, I can say that no time is spare, the important thing is that no time is wasted. A great use of any spare time would be a meal out with my wife.

Editor: How would you like future generations to remember you?

Chris: I think if my gravestone said "He made a difference" then I think I would be content.

Editor: We thank God for your life and we pray the Lord continues to empower you in your daily life for His Kingdom glory. For more information about Chris or on MSWD please visit www.mswd.co.uk. I pray God’s grace and mercy continues to rest and abide with you all.