The evangelistic newspaper of the modern Jesus Army
2002
OUT OF THE GRIP OF BOOZE
Ravinder sees hope after losing so much through ravages of drink
It was tensions in his family that made Ravinder Singh start drinking heavily. Much later, he realised that many of the tensions were caused by his own jealousy and possessiveness.
"I lost my wife, my four children, my friends and relatives, and my self-respect. I also lost my job and my home. It was all my own fault.
"I ended up in the local night-shelter, mixing with all sorts of addicts. I was drinking from other people's bottles and cans, desperate for alcohol. I don't think I could have sunk any lower."
From a Sikh background, originally from Punjab, India, Ravinder has lived in the UK for 23 years.
"I have been an alcoholic for over 10 years. After my wife divorced me, with a lot of effort I managed to get another job and a place to live. I had money coming in, but my life was still empty. Loneliness is the worst disease anyone can suffer from. It wasn't long before I was back on the drink."
One night Ravinder was walking down a street in Northampton, drunk, when he met someone who pointed him to a Jesus Army house.
"This was my first encounter with living Christianity, even though I had known about its beliefs from my school days in India. I started attending services and going to the Jesus Centre in Northampton. Here I found a safe place, where I could make new friends and could be occupied during the day.
"The drink still had me in its grip, though, and I ended up in hospital. Here, I prayed to God to get me out of the terrible mess I was in. He answered my prayers amazingly. I experienced Jesus as my Saviour in a real way. I got a new job and felt so much better. I knew He was looking after me.
"I now have a closer family in my Christian brothers and sisters than I have ever had before in my life. I am so grateful to them all. I am now living in a Jesus Army house in Milton Keynes and working as a bus driver. I am believing that Jesus can work a reconciliation in my marriage and family.
"I was lost, a prisoner of negative thoughts and emotions. But now I want to live my life to the full, believing in Jesus and trusting Him for what lies in the future."
OUT OF THE GRIP OF BOOZE
