Ending up a single parent, trying to work full time and looking after my lovely daughter was getting me down. I never seemed to have enough time to fit everything in. Despair set in, I needed help, a sense of direction and some balance, I couldn't go on like this but how to change things I just didn't see a way out.

My sister joined an Alpha course, I had heard of it, seen it on the backs of buses and on posters especially in London. She asked me to try it so I went to a couple of sessions but getting back from work and going straight to Alpha meant leaving my daughter with mum all evening, the poor child hardly saw me, so I gave up on it.
I joined the next Alpha course and it was tailored to fit our needs and we met on Sunday tea time and one of the leaders looked after Sienna, my daughter, taking her to the park and the ice cream parlour, she enjoyed it and I was free to enjoy the course, and I did, thoroughly.

I was very sceptical to begin with; I really thought that Nicky Gumbel, who gave the talks on video, was making a lot of it up. But week-by-week I found that what was being said made sense and the fog that was in my head was clearing. During the course I decided that what I needed in my life was Jesus but I felt that I had too much clutter in my head and needed to get rid of it first. I prayed with 2 of the leaders of Alpha and gave all the clutter to God, then, the following week I felt ready and eager to give my life to Jesus.

During the time of the course we decided that to pray for a new, more family friendly job would be a big help. Before the end of the course I had an interview arranged for a 9 to 5 job in an entirely new field. I have subsequently got the job and it means I can take Sienna to school and be with her at teatime. She is a changing child, thank you God.

Since giving my life to God I am gaining a new understanding, reading the Bible is helping to put everything into perspective, I am much calmer, happier and have a sense of direction. In fact all the things I lacked. I can categorically say that becoming a Christian changes you, for the better.

Judy Cunningham.