Stories of Change // Adam Blair

Give us headlines for anybody who isn't doesn't really know

who you are and do. So what's the sort of just in a

snapshot I suppose it was a born Tinker as a kid.

I see like making things. Take things apart.

Sometimes put them together again, successfully and I had a

very happy childhood was brought up in a non-Christian home.

I enjoyed school I guess I was yeah, I enjoyed the academic

side of it and went through my childhood Without Really without

going through church might be true.

Certainly had no concept of fate or that.

It meant to people, I knew about Christianity as a thing over

there, based on this Dusty old book, but that was, as far as it

can, my engagement with any kind of Faith was as a child.

So going to school was a pretty happy backgrounds.

Living Word, says, about the ones.

I've looked Chester to the east of just a little bit of that is

a policeman. Cisco, directory started people

businesses and things like that. Yes, yes, I have a sister too.

She was quite tall and sisters. Yes, family for as they happy

childhood, but this sort of went through life, the work, any

particular G I guess as a child might be your Shield, it from

some other things but there's no particular things going on at

home. It was just went to school, went

through the normal process of growing up.

So you came to Lester study Physics or astrophysics.

Still Still representing a that would I be right in saying that

that was where you encountered? Christian's for the first time,

all Christians that you're interested in talking to you for

the first time. And are we going?

Yes. On the first day of University

by stealth, I didn't realize this.

I met that first to University and we just like each other.

That's sort of a similar friendship group and went

through three years of University without talking about

Christianity at all friendship with any crew.

And to a point we were Relationship together.

And that was first time, it's sort of a suppose that the

aspect of a faith came into my world in a way which is

demanded, some kind of response are some both because up to that

point If Ever I heard anything about Christianity or the Bible,

anything like that, it was all church.

It was sort of something I just turned away but there was a

strong reason to actually consider this question because

Danny had sort of just been very open about our faith.

And that was fine. But I saw that was like, that's

for you. That's not for me, sort of

thing. But when we were just talking

about our future together and what that might be like it

certainly was a bit of a shock to me.

That that's an important question needs to be answered

because it meant so much today. A large part of that was

actually talking to Danny's parents who are great to

actually got real will really well with them.

Danny went away to leave me to sort of this problem as well.

She went to Albania for a few months as part of this

missionary group and so fantastic timing-wise.

I'm sure introduced me to the church in the Bible and they

were not. And I was talking with their

parents and also at all also talk to my pastor and my belly's

in Kelso. I think you got shock of his

life. I wasn't always dressed

conventionally like I understand.

I walked into the parish priests Not as do all day, Reverend

training content and I just sort of said, timeout is

Christianity, that he was quite shocked, but to his credit he

put down his cup of tea and we had a good chat but I was

stepping stone on the way I suppose.

But talkin today's parents and his dad in particular who will

just very open honest and me and very welcoming.

I mean, obviously I'm of an age now with twenty something.

Or children as sort of, I see myself.

Yeah, I see myself as him and me as much greater than men.

But, you know, and looking back and seeing how he welcomed me.

Yeah. As I presented myself, and I am

quite struck by that. Yes, that was.

That was a supposed at the first sign of God's love being shown

to me? Yeah.

The grace gives his family, how they welcome you in and just

patiently explained things to me.

I mean, I knew Nothing. I was going to say.

How did they go about? What would sort of, without any

intellectual berries for you? We use of going, hang on a

minute. What about this or was it has?

It has a database of conversations going?

Yeah, I suppose a few different aspects to it.

Pre all this, I suppose, I was very self-assured.

I knew how the world worked and that was very definite about

that. It is very scientific base to I

suppose, I didn't know this. I didn't use the label humanism

but I suppose I would have been a humanist.

Yeah. And so yeah, it was meeting that

the Bible is meeting that sort of very self-assured, view of

the world. So yes, Sir, Richard denna's,

dad and others were talking to me about that and it started off

just witnessing by their life. I'll be staying with them, and

it began through things and I'd seen go to church.

I might be through join them at church or maybe not and just

having conversations about commenting on my life and asking

me questions about what I thought about various things.

So it was a gradual thing and it's a roping the door, really.

One of the first things I suppose was To convince me that

Christine's won't that weird? That's the situation.

And I'm so when you realize okay yeah they are people just with

lives but they have a particular head of their life which was

interesting. So intellectual yes it made a

big change because it meant I was doing astrophysics of

gymnastic physics, PhD. And that point.

And so it's sort of Of it really made me think a lot about how

the world is constructed. I was looking at the world in

terms of what I was studying in science of cosmology and stuff

as everything about the Big Bang is like was that exact enough to

put it in the bin? I didn't understand what it

meant to sort of adopting this change.

So reconciling those two was an important part of being able to

sort of this, except actually that the truth of the Gospel.

So so did you were there any particular resources or people

just walk out with that? It's of it as sort of the

science. It is Faith.

So I was going tonight and I'll take that as a given.

I was introduced to my church at the time and you have to start.

There's the assistant pastor and I was put in touch with him and

it was really useful. So we started going through

Mark's gospel together, just a weekly basis with Really, really

important and interesting and as well as that introduce you to a

couple of people at lighting and talking to them because there's

some people who were scientists, like how could that be?

You are a scientist and you're Christian and that for me was,

at least, you know, on its own, the Revelation.

And I realize actually one of the guys my age, my PhD was in a

really dingy office. I Hope they've improved it.

It's all in the past somewhere, and I realize, I said, one of

the guys came, there was use a Christian as well.

We didn't actually have much, but just realizing this people

who are scientific Arena, who are so talk to people not in

church, talking to Andy upturn. As we walk through, Mark's

gospel. So, there's a parallel things

that's most of what we fear from strands, realizing that

Christians are people like everyone in the sense that they

are not a weird cult. I mean, my parents actually will

Genuine business, a response or responded at the time and has

been for them. So, Who is the reason we do

inside things besides just having a different way of life

and I guess come to terms of that because her choice.

Yeah the time in the news occasionally there's things

surrounding the Christian church with come up in a negative light

and there was a couple of things in the states with Cults.

He was sort of started to have used the Bible but they got just

go crazy and they I'd been a couple of those instances but

I've been in the news and then here's me there some lived a

molester. Who starting to talk about the

Bible? Yes.

And so they all worried and I just try to be open and convince

them are so talking about the church and you could find out

about the church. It's not hiding.

Yeah it's not sequestering people away and saying you can't

talk to people out. So I just tried to example they

could allay their fears. And if they seemed to me so it

was for a while. It was a bit of a question, then

I think they become comfortable with it and just thought as

Adam. So so what was the sort of say

did? Yeah that's what was the moment

where you suddenly went nowhere. I am a Christian as opposed to

having not been one. Was there a sort of was it was

that moment or was it just a sort of so gradually?

Yes, very few different moments. So regularly speak with any

under going through the gospel of Mark and actresses.

Interesting you're going over the weekend of the Gospel of

Mark moment and there was you meet Jesus as a person in the

gospel and it was actually like chapter 8 when sort of he

reveals himself to the disciples in a more Overweight, suppose.

He declares I'm a Christ and they sort of this mean for us

and the realization starts to Dawn on them and there's a verse

there, which end of chapter 8, which says, what does it benefit

a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul?

Yeah, and that for me, was really good question.

So I sort of like, I could see Jesus historical figure but this

miraculous Don't come down, it's a man.

And then at that point, I suppose I could go for a shot so

far as they, well, that's interesting.

I've learned some more, but then you read that kind of meets that

kind of question and that were for me, was the first time it

really hit as a something, I've got to resolve this question.

So that was I supposed to beginning of that process and it

was November of the and that was when Danny was still over

Albania. And I remember you looking at

the day so that point and it was It was kind of strange in a

sense that I made it was going tonight and fairly regularly.

And so they knew a few people there but I didn't have anyone

to tell when I got back. So I was just living in a shared

house with this guy like you I was actually really good friends

with and he hated the fact. Yeah.

Who is everything looking at the Bible and was becoming a

Christian with the felt friendship really fell apart

very quickly. That was leaving the show, how

something. So, He was kind of tough to sort

of this massive thing happened in my life that I actually

couldn't tell him because he just got angry.

And so I rang up then the parents and they drove up

Bristol's. Alexa didn't love with me since

claiming so Danny was as a mother.

Yeah that was yeah. I don't get realize that she how

much they just suddenly appeared.

Yeah, I was leaving my church and they just were there in the

foyer, like that's weird. So they just popped up, but

they've been so meaningful. Have this little Yes.

Yeah. And he even comes on that side,

not just becoming a Christian and it's not as if they said,

well, that job done. They they read some of the best

at time is still legal. Okay.

So Danny get the eventually came back from Albania.

Yeah. And did you get engaged fairly

quickly after that with that car at the bottom of the chronology

is, as this? Let's just leave it as not we

can eventually. I was supposed to know.

Okay, so you got married in 1998.

Oh okay. So at that stage you finished

your PhD and what were you doing when you're raising all the

greats of those dates? All right now it was kind of

busy time alive. I suppose you know playing

ending a marriage instead of three months trying to write up

a PhD trying to look for a job. Remember sort of act that

Christmas prior to? We got married in February and

it did feel like there was just a lot of growing up to be done.

I'd been just mess around as a student on sort of no money.

And that was fine. Just renting places and just

sort of having conversation my dad and who's he was just sort

of Quite traditional kind of guy and you seen so you can be

married. Now you need to provide for your

family and you need to have at least this much money and need

to have a house and what not having any of that in place by

this most coming up. So I was looking for jobs,

trying to do a PhD and the web for job interviews, the default

of managing and so interview for jobs.

Any had one job interview, I was just anything would do and so I

have to doing sciency stuff picked up.

See, get involved with computers and I realized I probably

enjoyed that bit more than science.

Maybe, I went for a computer jobs because just you could do

with that money, I should physics jobs out there Elena.

So when for computer so got married honeymoon can get money

in founded, got a job that's great.

We're renting the flat the time. So it's all kind of rush but

then there was still writing up my PhD.

Interminably, but you got there in the end, I did it.

Well done, so, I think probably when we met you had started your

own business, or it was, it was so my recollection of you.

When we first met was, I think the first time we had dinner,

was you saying Adams? Businesses just are doing?

There was some massive to do with.

Suddenly there was no, you know, Money and it was it was quite

dramatic, wasn't it for tell us about.

So I got a job as I said, that was fine workers was going fine.

Then we made redundant because of various things.

That's right, software has been made redundant which was a bit

of a blow so bad. Was, it should remember these

things super notes. I've got no rights at all.

Weird, who's Ethan and just buy them, wasn't it?

Yes. So we had to take.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So maybe redundant, which is,

you know, so it's tough time and some of us who are being married

in a huge amount of worshipping. We made redundant start up and

you come Let's do sort of a similar thing basically, but one

of the guys had to get money to start a new company and so we

went and we put money in it. And started the company.

It was either of us would have someone's Conservatory trying to

write software to sell to the NHS and assignment.

The NHS funding was all being redone a very up and down to

say, yeah, enjoy to start a company, but there's a lot to

it. Yeah, you don't make money.

It's pretty quickly. Yeah, yeah.

So after a few years we sold the company and that varies a bit

more stability. In terms of that point there was

a point at, which the company was running and it was about

five or six of us. And we basically were had run

out of money. And so that was about the

September October, and then we just had no money for like until

Christmas. Yeah, that was a horrible

horrible time because I was a director of the company as well.

Yeah. So I had all these people

Working for us who just think. So, so boss, how we're paying

for Christmas this year. Credit cards are maxed out

That's a horrible. Horrible feeling.

Just saying there is no money. I'm really sorry.

And so trying to having to convey that message, to those

people who have known for many years and you their families and

stuff as well. And also, having in coming back

to home and home was like, not much money, that's that stuff,

as well. So, I remember homegroup being

quite supportive and as well in recurrent times, I guess in

life. At the center.

Felt the closeness of the church is a family which is is amazing.

And you know soon as talk about this as well and from time to

time it's made me a stronger or weaker feeling I suppose but

certainly feeling them there when the we protect ourselves,

all these things in life money and compass and things like that

when they start to Fall Away, having a church family there as

God's grace. Sings this world to help is an

amazing thing. And so having a particular

conversations at home group, when we're going through this

and it was tough, yeah, that was That's a good thing.

Yeah and it's you know Cassie you were relatively new

Christian even at that point in our you did.

Yeah. Did it shake your faith in any

way? Or was it more that you just

Learn more about God in a different way or have how did it

impact your spirit? Yeah, I think I don't recall it

sort of having a negative impact on my face.

It was certainly learning more about God's in that in that

isn't just a God. That was the icing on the cake,

when everything's fine. Yeah.

He's got he's down in the gutter with you as well.

So I suppose that was learning all over.

The university didn't sort of shape. at that time you just you

just seeing how people react around were God's grace to you

in times of need So you were bought out.

So the compass over my business point of view before stabilized.

And so from then, to now, what, what is your role now?

What what do you, what's your daily life, like at work working

an hour, medium is company in the UK and it's the it's the

office routine. Isn't it?

Where it's the home office routine, isn't it?

It's the same type of stuff going on.

So that that in itself is I think important aspect of it for

me because it's not that many people, you know, T, do all

kinds of things that can be, hey, we do, we hosting a gate, a

gambling site or yeah, we're in. We do stuff for banks and stuff.

Like I like the fact that actually, what Do is seventh in

HS, particularly in these last few years.

We've felt particular moments when we were able to do things

for covid, which hospitals that you won't believe how much

they've helped us. And so that's a particular nice

feeling not just in 1990, but it's got a beneficial aspect to

give them some business, all right?

That it was your company, that was providing some of the data

on covid sections. A little, some bit of data that

you were responsible for was yeah, the whole vaccine program.

Covid. Yeah, we ran the it.

We were sending and the letters for appointments and we were

doing all the stats that without from the podium within three

letters. Three words Logan.

So that was a that was and scary.

Yeah. But then yeah.

Wow, yes. Oh yes.

As I say it's nice to have the feeling, you know, just doing

it. You're doing idea, there's a

sort of a beneficial aspect of society.

So-so. Position.

Now of, you know you're you're more established Christian.

And what would you say are the sort of the challenges and the

yeah joys for your we've got now other things.

Yeah, we haven't in terms of to meet challenges in terms of my

family to go to boys, who, but don't go to church.

Doing didn't have a faith, one is more interested in things

like that and the other but that's a challenge speaking to

them and my parents, my family as well, but my wider family and

the only Christian and when you know like we said when I was

first a Christian that was a topic of conversation and they

were interested and the last questions and you think I'm

maybe there's an opportunity here to sort of spread the

gospel into my family but you reach that kind of point when

the conversations are had any more because everyone saw We

know where everyone is and that's it.

And so it's not a topic of conversation and it's hard to

break into that into that family environment with the gospels,

the conversation, without everyone just going.

Well, we know that and just like thanks.

But no, so that's a tough thing. It's hard to know quite what to

do. So that's one point prayers and

do have to break through the ice.

There's one thing. But the things any work

environment, you know, how to be a Christian and work

environments. I work in a team and one thing I

suppose I make an effort to be. He's actually a human manager of

people not just a business manager.

Yeah. And particularly now with SLI

times as they are, people are having difficult situations

outside of work and I below is actually tough and sometimes

making time for those conversations or just having

headspace to have a conversation with someone about their family

life or things like that or health.

But I that is one of the things I want to do to to to be that.

That Buster was able to have this conversation.

That's what I think I'm going to be posting should be doing, they

shouldn't be purely professional and then the shutters come down,

but it is tough. And I know it within myself, I

know. So how I've changed I suppose

over the years, I do can be impatient people.

And I know that and I think I will look back to how I used to

be as a young before. I was a Christian.

Suppose you and your man? I will be quite patient, I

suppose. And I think I have changed.

It is one of the things that has changed in me that I'm more

tolerant. I am more patient with people

and but I feel that sometimes in a pressure work environments, I

sort of, I mean, squeeze back into the time is a precious

thing and I haven't got time for this but have to make people do

notice actually as well. I think that is occasion,

people. Sort of feedback and just say,

well, Really appreciate this having that in me, made a

difference. So I think that is important

weigh-in. What to be Chris in a workplace?

Because now I'm working at home all the time.

There are no water. Cool moments.

Yeah, it doesn't happen. There's little conversations to

happen, and it is really weird. You can't just call someone and

teams and say, Talk about your family, your backpack.

That's like a totally weird thing to do, whereas it would

happen, sort of naturally if you're with them.

So, that's a job. Thank you.

So much has been fascinating and let me pray for me now.

Father God, we thank you so much for the way that you've been at

working Adams life, we thank you for your goodness, to him and

Sonny over the years and for bringing him to Faith.

And for just reaching out to him through So many different

people, but particularly through Danny's parents, we thank you

for the way that you have enabled him to serve you in all

the different areas of his life as a husband, and father, as a

manager. And we just really lift that

particular role to you now, Lord is one in which we just thank

you that he has opportunities to, to be there for people and

his team. And to, as a Christians, be

somebody who cares and is interested, as well as somebody,

who is able To manage them and help them with their work.

And so, we just ask for your spirit to be with him and to

give him wisdom in those moments, particularly to

navigate the sort of the challenges of being working

remotely and not seeing people directly.

And in person as much the we we lift you, the ongoing concern

and you know just desperate. Wish for other members of Adam's

Family to know youth themselves. So we pray for his Mom and Dad,

we pray for the boys, we thank you for the different contacts

that each of them have had over the years and just really pray

that your spirit would not be leaving them alone.

Lord, we pray for for you to break through in their lives.

And we just pray for Adam and he witnesses to them in the

everyday. But also just you just ask that

you would be working and externally as well to bring them

to Faith and just ask for your mercy.

And that Lord. And so we just thank you for

Danny and Adam. Thank you.

Or Chris and Sue, thank you for this evening for everything that

we've heard and just really pray that as we go out into this

week, Lord you would be with all of us in Jesus name.