Jonathan Bellamy heard John Chadwick's life story.

Jonathan: Was she in the church?

John: Yes she was. When we were courting, we were going to Bible studies and learning together, but then when we got married, something changed and we moved away from God. We weren't even thinking about each other, we were thinking about ourselves. We were arguing all the time and instead of taking it to God, we were just trying to deal with it ourselves and eventually the marriage broke down. I was very bitter after that.

Jonathan: Against who?

John: I did have a bit of a rant at God about it.

Jonathan: How did the bitterness effect you?

John: I started drinking again and that's when it really started taking a hold of my life. Things got a lot worse. The violence became a lot worse and the offences got more serious. I started getting longer times in prison. I wanted to either destroy myself, or destroy the world. Plus I've got a lot of things buried deep down inside, which I still need to deal with and I think all of those were coming up as well.

Jonathan: What happened in 2011?

John: I got a four year sentence and I got sent to prison. I did the whole time in fear. There was no friendship with people and I kept myself to myself. I just wanted to be behind my door all the time. I felt safe behind my door. I didn't want to be associated with people. I just wanted to lock myself up. If they put me in solitary confinement I would have been absolutely fine with that.

My last sentence, two months ago, it was only a two month sentence, but they could have honestly locked me up and thrown away the key and put me in solitary confinement and I would have happily stayed there. That's where I would have felt safe and secure.

Jonathan: So you've just been released. What happened after you'd been released?

John: I was supposed to have been going to a probation hostel, but things got messed up within the system and I found myself on the streets homeless. I didn't want to be in the town centre, because there was lots of drugs and drinking. I didn't want to drink anymore. If I had gone back to drinking I would have been dead. Sometimes I did want to be dead, but I was scared as well. So I went and bought myself a tent and I was living up on the moors, in a little corner of the field.

I use to wander down Bolton town centre to try and scrounge some food during the day and then I'd take myself back to the tent at night. I used to call in to the Drug and Alcohol Centre, just as a bit of support. Everything was so confusing. They were trying to help me find somewhere to live and through that I got in touch with this guy who's absolutely bonkers about Jesus, he really is. When we were talking on the phone he said, "Where are you regarding your life, John?" I said, "Simon, I don't actually know at the moment". We prayed and then I went away for a while and I went back to my tent and that's when I started thinking and I phoned up a week later and said, "Simon, please can I come to Walk Ministries?"

Jonathan: And this is Simon Edwards and Walk Ministries who are based in Stoke-on-Trent?

John: Yeah.

Jonathan: How did you discover The Walk?

John: I don't know how it all came about. I was in touch with my support worker and she put me in touch with somebody else who ran another hostel, but they didn't have any places for me. Then it was through them that I got in touch with Simon and one day I was talking with Simon and that's when everything changed for me. Steven Anthony came up to interview me and he prayed over it and said, "Are you coming back with us now?" They brought me straight back with them and from the minute I walked into that house I just felt such peace. Meeting my house partner Bryn, we just get on so well and there was proper Christian brotherly love between us right from the very first minute. It's great. It's only really over the last three weeks that things have become a lot clearer and I'm walking with my brothers in Christ and it's amazing. It's just absolutely amazing!

Jonathan: For someone who's not heard of The Walk, can you describe what their ministry is?

John: The Walk is people with backgrounds like myself, prison, drugs and alcohol. Its building us up and teaching us and helping us to walk and not to run; just take our time and take one step at a time. To build us up in Christ, because we can't do anything without Christ.

Jonathan: How significant has the last three weeks been in your life?

John: Very amazing. More amazing than when I was born again as a Christian, because it was a very solitary birth, going to church once a week. Now I've got brothers and sisters around me. If I don't know it, they know it. If I can't bring the scripture to mind, or if I'm finding trouble praying, or finding the right words, or finding that stillness in God, there's somebody there who will know.

Jonathan: You mentioned earlier that one of the effects of all the drinking was that it effected your memory. How has that been in the last three weeks?

John: I find my memory is cleared. I'm remembering things; bits and pieces do come back from the past.

Jonathan: Earlier you shared how your dad died at the age of three and then your grandfather, both of whom would have been the most important male influences in your life. What's it like now? Because I guess with The Walk and with your 'brothers' and with Simon, the male influence in your life must be as strong as it's ever been since your dad died.

John: Yes and it's not just that, I know now that I've got an eternal Father in heaven, the perfect Father in my heart and my eyes are set on Him. He's never going to not love me. He's never going to be grumpy with me. He's perfect and He's there waiting for me. He's there for me all the time.

Jonathan: You do voluntary work with The Walk don't you?

John: It's just painting at the moment. I've not had very good work experience in the past. I've not worked for a while with prison. So it's all about building us back up in that respect as well, to go on to full-time employment, which, if I'd have been left to myself, probably it wouldn't have happened. It's about getting used to working again and getting fit and healthy in that respect as well.

Jonathan: What are your hopes for the future?

John: I've been thinking about this a lot. Somebody asked it me the other day. I would like this to lead to helping the homeless and feeding people who need soup kitchens, because I've been in that situation myself. Also it's a good place to speak Jesus' name as well, to get people round together to have something to eat. There is a lot of homeless and hungry people around who need the food and need the shelter and need Jesus as well.