Reader Richard Spencer shares how an extraordinary experience in the late 70s started him on a faith journey that has changed his life forever.
Although Richard went to church when he was a teenager, he never really felt he understood faith. Everything changed when he was invited to go to a Christian camp run by an evangelistic organisation that travelled around the country holding meetings in a huge tent.
“I arrived on Saturday with some people from my church,” he said. “There was an evening meeting led by a charismatic preacher called Don Double. He was calling out, ‘Hallelujah, praise the Lord!’ and I remember thinking, ‘Oh dear, am I going to be stuck here for a few days?’
“But, within 24 hours, my outlook had completely changed, and I found myself inspired by the teaching and prayer.”
The preacher invited people to come up for prayer. Initially, Richard felt he could never go forward for prayer. But when the invitation was repeated on the Monday, he felt an overwhelming sense of needing to take the next step.
“People prayed for me to receive the Holy Spirit, and as they prayed for me, I felt this very warm, extraordinary power come through my head, from top to toe. It was a really wonderful experience,” Richard said.
He stayed for the whole week, going to talks on Bible teaching, prophecy and healing. “It was the start of a lifelong journey of Christian service,” he said.
Since then, Richard has become more involved in church life, leading youth groups and has served on PCCs. After moving to Gloucestershire, he began to feel a calling to become a Reader and he was licensed in 2008. Ever since that date he has faithfully served in Woodchester, Brimscombe and Rodborough.
“I had been wondering whether I should start conversations around becoming a priest, but I just felt the answer was no. God told me, ‘I want you to become a Reader’. At the time I was too busy studying for important exams for work, and I couldn’t do both. But when those studies finished, God reminded me: ‘Don’t forget your calling to be a Reader’. It was a very gentle calling, encouraging me on.”
As well as being a Reader, Richard coordinates a church link between St Paul’s Malawa in Tanzania, supporting the growing congregation there and helping fund training for future church leaders.
He said: “One of the highlights of my ministry has been travelling to Tanzania last year, meeting Bishop Emmanuel and preaching at confirmation services attended by around 750 people.
“I do believe that God uses me.”
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