Home » ‘Over half of Londoners don’t even know a Christian’ – Missionary life in the capital

‘Over half of Londoners don’t even know a Christian’ – Missionary life in the capital

Eventually, I reached rock bottom after a messy relationship break-up. I was brought to my knees.

JamesTredgetthasworkedasanevangelistforLondonCityMissionsince2014. ET:James,tellusaboutyourbackground JT:IwasbornandraisedinnortheastEssex.Iwas‘dragged’alongtochurchasakid,butneverreallygotalongwithit.Igrewupthinkingandaskingalotofquestionsaboutlife,butIalsofeltlikealotofhypocrisywasinchurch.Oneofmyrelativeswouldgoregularly,butIwasawarethathekeptupahiddenlifeofpornographyusebehindthescenes.Thistroubledmefromayoungage. Aged16,IjoinedtheArmy;Ididn’tstayforlong,thenfellintoajobfittingwindowsanddoorsaroundEssex.IthengotajobinsecurityworkatbarsandclubsinIpswich–abouncer,inotherwords.Ialsodriftedintoalifeofdrinkanddrugabuse,aswellaspromiscuity. Ilivedthiswayforaboutthreeyears,butallalongtherewasa‘hole’inmyheart–asensethatsomethingwasmissing;lastinghappinessandfulfilmentkepteludingme,despitemypursuitofpleasures.Eventually,Ireachedrockbottomafteramessyrelationshipbreak-up.Iwasbroughttomyknees