“I was 75 when I came to Australia (from the UK). My daughter was already here and she said, ‘Come to Australia for a bit of an adventure.’ So I did. But when I got here, I thought, ‘What have I done?’ How am I going to manage? My daughter lived down a big hill and I had no car. I had to walk up the hill to get the bus, and the bus only came every hour. But then I realised that the church here is a bit like the pub at home – the centre of things. So I joined a church, and then we moved house. I got a car, and now I go to the church right in the middle of the shops. It’s great. They’re involved in everything locally. They serve the community. For me, that’s what it’s all about. Jesus spoke about compassion in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.’ (Matthew 7:12). That’s how I try and live. Every day, I read Matthew 5-8 and I go out. I go to church groups and Toastmasters. I connect up with people and support them. I call them. I meet up with them for coffee. I want to be an encourager. And now it’s been ten years since I came to Australia. It’s been a good move!”

Gordon’s story is part of Eternity’s Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed. Click here for more Faith Stories.