We believe that real Christianity is much more than going to church. The late evangelist Eric Hutchings used to say, "You will no more turn into a Christian by sitting in church than you will turn into a motor car by sitting in your garage". We believe that a Christian is what the word sounds like: a Christ-in person. Jesus said: "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in ..." (Revelation 3:20). Our responsibility is to help open the door.

Throughout the gospels we find Jesus demanding a definite response from people. Peter and John had to leave their nets, and Matthew his accounts, in order to follow Christ from that moment on.

There are three steps in the response that God requires of us if we are to be truly members of his family:

• We need to believe in Christ with our hearts. This is not to commit intellectual suicide; it means to believe with our heads but to go a step further and commit ourselves with all our hearts.
• We need to receive Christ, that is to make him welcome. We open the door and personally invite him into our hearts and lives.
• We need to confess Christ with our lips. There is no such thing as a secret disciple. St John said: "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). St. Paul wrote; "’The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart’, that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: ‘That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved’" (Romans 10:8,9).

If you would like to respond to Christ in this way, we suggest that you find somewhere where you can be alone and talk to God. You might like to say a prayer like this:

Thank you God for loving me so much that you sent your son to die on the cross. As yet I don't understand it all, but I know he died for my sins, I welcome him into my life now. With your help I will follow in the fellowship of his church. Amen.

If you say that prayer please tell someone as soon as possible and so confess Christ. The psalmist said: "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Psalm 107:2). If you feel you cannot say such a prayer yet but would like to know more, we will gladly send you free literature.

Please contact Malcolm Widdecombe for details.