My name is Warren Evans; I was born in Manchester. I am one of four boys and in fact I’m a twin. The doctor delivered my brother and disappeared, but was quickly called back to deliver me (it’s the only time I’ve had five minutes peace and quiet!) It was a shock because my parents weren’t expecting twins. I was always ribbed by my brothers as being the bonus child, as I was not planned! We were both six weeks premature, placed in incubators and not held properly for six weeks. It’s funny how these things impact you; my father said as a child I didn’t like anyone holding me. Now as an adult I love to give big “Northern” hugs.
When I was seven we moved from the leafy suburbs of Manchester to the edge of one of the largest and most deprived council estates in Europe. My father had become the minister of a church on Holmewood estate. I had a pretty happy and normal childhood with its good days and tough days but I had always believed in God.
During my late teens and early twenties my behaviour and lifestyle didn’t always reflect the God I knew. I guess in my eyes I could not live up to the standards my mum and dad lived but neither could I ignore the truth of their lifestyle. I would never say I went away from God but I didn’t pursue Him either.
These years were interesting, I had a relatively successful career, we worked hard and played hard. I was doing what most guys did, going to the gym, playing plenty of sport, nights out drinking and everything else that went with it – nothing different from every other guy my age but God had other plans.
The best explanation of what happened next was – well, you know those extendable dog leads it felt like God had let me have my way up to a point and he had allowed the lead to have gone out so far but now I sensed Him say that’s enough it’s time to come back in and stop ignoring me, stop doing the things you know aren’t right – the excessive going out, drinking, girls and all that stuff. Why? Well I believe that God created us and knows what’s best for us. In the world’s eyes I was a nice guy, a bit of a player but I knew others were getting emotionally hurt. It was time for me to grow up and take responsibility for my action.
During this time I was asked to take part in a charity boxing match, I was fit and strong. So I started training, while I was training a colleague asked if I could help him out one weekend by being on the doors in Bradford. One night turned into a season! I never really saw or got into trouble and I guess in hindsight I would say God had protected during this time.
Soon after this I got into a relationship that started getting serious and we got engaged. This relationship turned into an emotional rollercoaster and wasn’t the happy time that an engagement should be. We broke up and then got back together; everything was going well when this emotional rollercoaster started up again. Things from her past were making the relationship difficult and she started having doubts and fears. One minute it was off, the next it was on and I didn’t know which way to turn. I honestly thought God had spoken to me about marrying this girl. I remember saying a prayer “God, if this is wrong you’re going to have to stop it”. We went through the wedding rehearsals; everything was planned and paid for. The day before the wedding, a call came through to me at work, in that short phone call it was off, and then it was on again, but enough was enough – it was now definitely off! In reality I should have been a broken man, but strangely I had an amazing sense of peace. Through all this I learned to trust God and was confident He would never let me down.
I was now single and decided to do some travelling. On one of these trips I said to God if He wanted me to stay single I would, (at the time this was a massive ask). I got to the point where I was willing to let Him have it all. Turns out, God had a different idea! I was at a party and I met a beautiful girl, she asked me for my number and in the second it took me to reply I felt like I had had a five minute conversation with God about this situation. In that second I felt God say ‘if you don’t share Me with her then who will? So, we exchanged numbers. I didn’t have any intentions of marriage but God was up to something. It was clear God was pursuing Juliet and Juliet was searching for God. In the following months Juliet fell in love with God and Me. We became inseparable (still are!) and we married within the year. Juliet is a beautiful lady inside and out.
Within the next few years we started a family. Jacob was our first, like me he was six weeks premature, but God brought him through and a year or so later, Juliet became pregnant again. Everything seemed fine, but then with twelve weeks to go her doctor had concerns that the baby was too small and referred her to a specialist. The next day we were away, when Juliet started experiencing a lot of pain. We raced to the hospital, and on further examination they found that a foot was showing. Juliet was rushed in for an emergency caesarean. This was at the same time Gordon Brown’s family had just lost a child, it was all over the news, which caused me to have thoughts that it could happen to us too. We started praying and asked our friends to do the same. The operation went well and the only remark was how the baby was surprisingly big and strong. I know God heard our prayers and in that moment our son supernaturally grew. Our prayers were answered!
Juliet and I had good careers, but over a sixth month period I kept feeling that I should go self-employed. At the same time we felt Juliet could take this opportunity to go to Bible College. It was a big move and a big cost, and our next adventure was about to start. We became part of a good church in Horsham and made some wonderful new friends. Juliet went to college and I initially looked after the boys, I did some consultancy for an aviation software company and once again, God had clearly stepped in. I knew nothing of aviation or software but God used my people skills to help me do the job. The company was great and I made friends for life. It’s interesting, when you ask people what’s important in life; it’s those priceless things like family and friendships that always come out on top.
Our time in Horsham came to a natural end. I was hoping to go to America, but God wanted us somewhere else and we move back to Bradford. We initially helped an American friend with his church and then we went on to pastor a church on a small estate in Bradford. It was during this time that I was asked to become the chaplain of the Bradford Bulls Rugby League Club. I wasn’t sure, but again, I felt God’s hand leading me to do it. Clearly God knows best and I have the privilege of working with the players, coaches and all the staff associated with the Bulls. My work in the church ended and I have recently started to work with Sports Chaplaincy UK and I am Chaplaincy Director in Rugby League. We are now entering another season of the unknown, it’s uncertain what will happen next but we completely put our trust in God.
Obviously I don’t know what your situation is right now; I don’t know what you’re going through or what your life currently looks like. But what I am sure about is that the God I believe in wants to be a part of your life. You have read a little about my life with its ups and downs; it’s been a heck of a rollercoaster at times! I’ll admit, I haven’t understood parts and I also admit I have brought some of the problems on myself through the wrong choices I have made. The one thing I am absolutely certain of, is that Jesus Christ has been a constant in my life no matter what; whether life has been good or bad. I can honestly say that if it was not for Him I don’t know where I would be today.
The Bible says, “God loves you so much that He sent His only son Jesus Christ to save you, that if you believe in Him you will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Now that’s a massive promise and if it’s true – it’s too important for you or me to ignore.
So far all this has been about me. Here are a couple of questions for you.
What about your life?
What’s your next move?
There are three responses you could have after reading my story:
- “I’m not bothered and will throw it away.” That’s okay – Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
- “There could be something in this, but I’m not at the point where I want to accept Christ. But I do have some questions and I would like to explore it further.” Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
- “I am ready to ask Jesus into my life!” If this is the case, say the following prayer…
“…Lord Jesus Christ, here I am, thank you for loving me even though I haven’t loved you. You know the things I have done at times haven’t been great or right in your eyes. I ask that you forgive me, thank you for forgiving me and coming into my life. Help me now as I start over again, but this time with you at the centre. Today I am deciding to follow you by asking you to be my Saviour and Lord. Holy Spirit help me to know without a doubt that you have come into my life. Amen.”
If you have said this prayer, you have just made one of the best decisions you will ever make in your lifetime! Congratulations!
I would like to send you a free book that will help you develop your new relationship with Christ Jesus. Contact me for details by email and I will forward it to you.
That’s some of my story and I hope you found it interesting, thanks for taking the time to read it.
God Bless,
Warren Evans
