Testimonies
James Lees - survivor of a horrific motorbike accident
As a small boy I used to go to Church and to Sunday school for bible readings. One half of me wanted to go and play with my mates and the other half of me wanted to focus on God. I am now glad that I settled for the latter. If I had not, I am sure I would not be here today.
Whilst I was reading the bible, one important message stood out to me. AS CHRIST SAID, "ALL THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN ME SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." Since I loved life and did not want to die, I chose to live a Christian life and follow Christ.
As years went by, my belief in God never changed. I stayed close to God and connected to the Church. Then one my life was to change and never be the same again. I would come to know that God's word was true. Never would He leave me or forsake me.
I remember that day clearly. I was riding my motorbike when suddenly everything went black. I was involved in a horrific head on collision with a car as I passed a lorry on the motorway. I should have died but it was by God's grace that I lived. The doctors told my parents that I would never walk again, drive a car or hold a job down. They said I would never get married and have a family.
I spent the next five years in and out of different hospitals and rehabilitation centres. I was in a wheel chair and had to have large shoes fixed to steel leg callipers that stretched from my waist to my ankles. I was in constant pain 24 hours a day.
The first time I came home, in between my hospital visits, my dad tried to kill me twice with a gun. "I don't want a half-witted crippled son like you to live in my house," he told me. He couldn't and wouldn't accept what had happened to me as he always wanted me to play football for Cambridge City, sing in a band, have a good job and have lots of girlfriends. Because of my dad's words, I decided to fight back by putting my trust in God.
It took me six years to get completely on my feet. With God's help, I pressed on. I believed he would one day heal me.
There were times when I would get low and could easily bang my head against a wall, but this never solved anything, just more pain. I would scream at God "PLEASE HELP ME IN MY HOUR OF NEED" and I would feel His warmth embrace as he showed me how much He loved me.
My healing has been a process and is continous, which has enabled me to grow richly in the love of God and has taught me how to live in His love and peace. My only regrets is that my late father could see me today. The doctors were wrong. I did hold down a job, drive a car and get married and have a family. All things are possible in Christ for those who love Him.