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