Heart & Soul
Great people from Sheffield, Liverpool and Leeds: their views, experiences, challenges and successes!
James' Ultimate Makeover
Surrounded in environment of anger and lawlessness, James Sharman grew up feeling trapped in a downwards spiral toward drugs and alcohol. Find out what released him from that and gave him a bright outlook on life.
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My story:
I loved my childhood and have loads of memories of playing games and messing around. I looked up to my brother as though he was a superhero. However when he reached high school something changed. He started smoking and started taking drugs. The atmosphere at home changed. All of a sudden it became aggressive. He was so angry all the time. You knew when he had got home because there was this huge tension.
One night I remember waking up to my Dad and Brother debating something in the street. When I looked outside my window I saw them start to hit each other. That was it for me. I couldn’t take it any more. Something had to change because I didn’t want to become what I saw.
One Friday night I went along to Buzz – it’s a night designed for youth. My friends band were playing at it so I thought I’d check it out. Everyone seemed really excited about life. They were really friendly and there were loads of people my age. I started to wonder about this God thing. Was he real and was I missing out on having him in my world?
At the end of the night one of the guys there did a talk about God and how he thinks I am amazing and that I have potential. A guy called Craig came to see me after it and I was telling him that it seemed like every word that was said on stage that night was about me. I decided to give God a try and see what he could do for me.
Straight away my friends noticed a difference in me. I wasn’t angry any more – they asked me about it and I said it was God. They came along to Buzz and several of them have decided to give God a chance too. It has been the most amazing few months since then. I have a whole new group of friends and family at Hope City. People ask me how I am and give me opportunities like no one has done before. I have new role models to look up to. God is like a Dad and brother to me. I can talk to him about anything. He’s amazing!
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