Paul Algeo is Blythswood’s church engagement officer for south and central Scotland. He knows what it is to pray:

“It was 2006. I had been arrested again and was being taken to Saughton Prison. I had an awareness of sin although I didn’t know that word. I was thinking of my partner and of letting my two kids down. I didn’t even have words but my prayer was ‘Get me out of here and I’ll change.’ God responded to my prayer.

“I was brought up in Paisley. Life in Ferguslie Park was marked by drugs, especially in the 1980s. Those with wealth and power and influence were all dealers. When I was young, I used to go to chapel with my gran. I enjoyed it. To me it was a place of peace and safety.

“I was a shy boy and had a bad time at secondary school. I got involved in drugs and that continued until I was in my mid-20s. When I was 32 someone told me the story of the prodigal son. My lifestyle changed a lot. I was spiritually bankrupt, my circumstances difficult. But looking back, God was with me in it. He noticed. He knows.”

Paul’s is a long story but by May 2015 he was, in his own words, clean and sober and had started to read the Bible. He went on to work for Amazon, then become Family and Development worker with the Church of Scotland. He got married in 2017, is now a member of the Scottish Baptist Lay Preachers Association, and serves as a deacon at New Prestwick Baptist Church.

Paul is keen to meet with Blythswood supporters in south and central Scotland and welcomes opportunities to tell your church or other group about the work of Blythswood. Contact him on 07526563669 or email paul.algeo@blythswood.org.