It's odd that it has taken me this long to get around to writing anything about my pastor. I also known Gearlean for a very short time but her own testimony to life is a reason in itself to be thankful for to God.

I grew up in the Episcopalean tradition, in a rather laid-back Church of England church where anything goes except when it came to services: all had to be done by the book - or essentially by it. Bobbie and I were married in a Baptist church - and I envisaged this church to be more Baptist in nature - preaching and hymns sung from a hymn book but nope... the great thing about Jubilee Holiness and the way Gearlean set up the church is so that anyone who wants to take part can... if it's a testimonial, or a song, or anything: she wanted people to belong. And I did belong for some time. Heck, I was persuaded to help out with the Sunday School... and I'm hopeless at that at best. But I gave it a shot before other things in my life got in my way - some people call them demons, I call it bipolar disorder - but that's part of the story.

I got to know Gearlean more on a personal level when trying to teach her - with some success - on the basics of using a computer. The mouse wasn't that good so she called it a rat! I got to know her through her services, and through the small interactions. She was one who really cared. Oh and the computer bit? I just wish I had the more time with her because she was getting it, even though she didn't have that much confidence - I knew that she did.

I'll miss her. I will see her on the other side some day when I'm called home... She'd probably tell us all that we should have come sooner I'd bet but the Lord has His plans for us at this stage.

As this is a rough draft, I hope more people will send things to post as time goes on.

Regards, Mark Wooldridge.