Barbara became a Christian in 1983, when she was working with Christians as a home help. Tony became a Christian two years later, after having an overwhelming experience of God's presence as he was walking round the perimeter of the prison where he worked as a night patrolman.

Tony:

I started off helping with furniture-buying for the Jesus Centre, caught the vision and decided to join Barbara as a volunteer.

I've gained a heart and understanding for the situations of people I wouldn't normally have had much contact with. Getting to know them as friends and seeing lives changed through the Centre has changed me, too. Working in prisons, I never used to find it difficult to say no or see rules enforced. But I must say the hardest challenge for me, now, is to enforce Centre discipline - such as the banning orders which occasionally have to be used. My heart goes out to them!

Volunteering is stretching at times, but I look forward to the challenge. Every session is completely different - always new people, new situations.The Jesus Centre is neutral ground, where all people are loved and accepted and in many cases it's acted like a bridge for people to cross and see Jesus and His kingdom.

I look forward to the opening of the big Centre. We'll have more scope to draw in an even wider spectrum of people.

Barbara:

Living in Christian Community, as Tony and I do, we've had many opportunities to care for people. The Jesus Centre is like an extention of our community - giving us more facilities and resources to serve people effectively. Without our Community, we wouldn't be able do the Centre work properly that God has called us to and what we are limited to do in our Community network we can do through the Jesus Centres.

Being a volunteer shows you where your heart is and who you really are. You come across different situations you have no idea, naturally speaking, how to deal with and I've been able to step out and talk to types of people I would once have found very difficult.

Being a volunteer has also brought me healing. Unknown to them, things visitors have shared with me have brought flashbacks from my own childhood. I've had to face my own brokenness and ask God for healing. Then, I could forget myself and help them properly.

As we've become friends and built relationships, day by day, I've become a mum to many.

I went through a period when I'd leave the Centre and do nothing but cry. I thought perhaps I wasn't suitable for the work. Then someone said 'when you stop crying is when you should stop coming'.