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Andrew Ryland, a Croydon native now living in Hong Kong with his wife Annie and son James, shares his story of how he became a Christian. Raised in a loving Christian family, Ryland stopped attending church at the age of 16, viewing religion as an ancient belief system that came before science. However, life events led him back to faith.
Years later, after experiencing a devastating marriage breakup and falling into dangerous habits like excessive drinking and smoking, Ryland found solace in the autobiography of cricketer Graham Thorpe. Thorpe’s account of finding comfort through the church sparked Ryland’s curiosity. He decided to explore Christianity further by participating in the Alpha Course – an introduction to Christianity.
Initially skeptical about the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, Ryland respected Christianity due to his family’s faith and its charitable aspects. Despite his doubts, he continued engaging with Christianity throughout his life. It wasn’t until he met his future wife Annie and started attending church with her that he felt compelled to seek proof for his skepticism.
One Sunday during church, Ryland had an epiphany: “Why not just accept that Jesus is the Son of God…you don’t need proof!” At that moment, he felt an incredible surge of energy – the Holy Spirit – confirming his newfound faith. Since then, Andrew’s life has been transformed; he and Annie have welcomed a wonderful son named James into their lives. They have also experienced answered prayers regarding job security and Annie’s fertility issues.
Ryland now feels an inner peace that he never had before and believes wholeheartedly in being transparent about his faith journey. He encourages others on similar journeys to embrace their identity as Christians and write from their unique perspectives without fear or limitation.