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John’s Ministry History - A Personal Note.
I have been in full time ministry for nearly 20 years now, beginning almost immediately after completing Teen Challenge rehabilitation ministry. I went to London to work with the homeless in 1992, living and working with the homeless, addicts, pimps, prostitutes and dealers in King’s Cross, I would often sleep on the streets with them to reach them, spending up to four days and nights at a time, getting to know and build trust with these amazing people.  I call it the fourth world, we know of the third world but right under our noses in many of our cities and towns there are the fourth world people living all around us. I had the great privilege of leading many of these to Christ and to Rehab, working with Teen Challenge and Victory Outreach and we saw many change their lives around.
I stayed there for almost a year and after which I went back to school to learn business administration, which I did for two reason’s:-
1. I wanted to write some books, so I learned to touch type.
2. I needed to learn administration, God help me I am still not very good at it but at least I understand it and can get others who are great at it to do it for me. From school I went home to Ireland to spend some time with my mum and family, getting some quality time with them after having being an addict for so long, this was a fruitful time and a blessing to be restored in my family.
 I did not have much money during this time but I had a great desire to reach people all over Ireland, how would I do it? I prayed much during this time and eventually after reading about Moses, how he used a staff, it was all he had, I began to think about what do I have? I had good health, two strong legs, a good heart and a vision to reach Ireland and the world. I read in Genesis 13v17 “Arise, walk through the length and breadth of your land for I give it to you”. I believed this to be God directing me so I got up, collected my few pennies that I had, borrowed a car and caravan from a friend and together with Shay Phelan my pal we walked through the entire length and breadth of Ireland, speaking on a few radio stations, newspapers and in some churches as we went along. I loved this and almost immediately after the walk many people from all round Ireland came to get help from us. I also walked from Belfast to Dublin with former paramilitaries, praying for peace and revival as we went. Today there is peace in Ireland.
I have also walked through the length and breadth of Wales, all of Britain, praying, speaking in different churches, schools, prisons, on radio, newspapers etc, We walked about 25 miles a day, I carried a 5 foot syringe during this walk, drawing attention to addiction and the answer in Christ. We even stayed at the Queens ministers house in  Balmoral during this walk,
Many were reached during this time. I was also an evangelist at a church in Ayrshire at this time, we saw God move with revival power there and many addict’s and alcoholics as well as their parents and families found freedom and help, even the police said the crime rate went down in the area while I worked there.
I then set up three rehabs in Scotland, helping many to get their lives together, Friends ran these rehabs, Tricia my wife and I helped them all get started. We also started businesses around these rehabs to help fund them and provide employment for the former addicts. We had nearly 30 staff at one time.
From here I planned a trip to walk across America, right from Los Angeles to New York, I went by faith in the year 2,000 and made an 11 foot cross with a wheel on the end to bring with me, this trip was completely off the charts, we went out completely by faith, hiring a car  and headed out through Holywood, Beverly Hills, up and over the 8,000 foot high San Bernardino mountains and out into and across the Mojave Desert. Many, so many people were touched by God during this trip. People stopped their cars, got out, fell on their knees and asked God to forgive them and to come into their lives, the testimonies from this walk are far too numerous to write here, I feel another book coming on. I didn’t make it all the way across USA on this occasion, my planning left much to be desired but I believe God was blessed by the faith we showed. I came home, concentrated on our rehabs for a few more years and then set off again across USA, starting again at Los Angeles, This time I had learned a lot more about planning. So, bringing a team with me we completed the walk across America, leading many to Christ, speaking in churches, and our message went out on over 3000 media outlet’s around the world, literally millions of people heard our stories and the gospel. Praise God, Unfortunately I became unwell during this walk and when it finished I went to the Doctor, unbelievably I had cancer on my liver, three tumours, I had a liver transplant six months later and have done really well since, in fact I became the Irish transplant champion in the 1500, 800 and 400 meters. Ha! God is good, I guess that shows the attitude to trials that God has enabled me to have, just keep going and trust God. I retired from all ministry for a year to recover, Tricia and I moved to Bradford to attend The Abundant Life Church’ a great and influential church, we needed it during this time of recovery, still do in fact.
I have worked with the homeless here for the last few years and undertaking  outreach in Ireland. I have gone into different cities teaching the local churches how to reach out and bring the gospel in relevant ways to the lost and hurting as well as business leaders of society.
During the last couple of years I have done a late night live broadcast with Revelation TV called Voice In The Wilderness’ and this has been a great experience, almost like an apprenticeship to do live streaming. Now here at last we are able to do Walking Free TV, a live recovery programme, helping people all over the world to come to terms with addiction and to find freedom through Christ and changing their lives and thinking.
I believe many people struggling with Drugs/drink/eating disorders, self harm, depression etc will find a pathway to freedom through Walking Free TV.
We will develop our programmes around the needs of people and build them to help as many as God leads us to. God is good, His mercy endures for ever.
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