Testimony from David Brummitt
Hey, my name is David but most people call me 'crazy Dave' (never worked out why)
Anyway, this is my testimony, most people start off with a little bit of background on their family, saying “well, I’m from a Christian home”. I’m going to start a little further back in time before my parents were married and explain how my home became a Christian (pun intended)
My grandparents used to live near each other and my parents went to the same sixth form and obviously lived near each other and started meeting up quite a lot before going away to uni, my dad attended the Lanchester polytechnic (now Coventry university) and my mum went to teacher training college in Matlock where she met a mad bunch of people known as the Christian union and later gave her life to the lord. My dad was quite upset because he thought my mum was going to call the engagement off but my mum felt that God was saying "no, be patient, I’m having him as well"
It was either after they'd both finished Uni or one summer that my mum invited my dad to church where after the service an elderly gentleman asked my dad "did you enjoy that?"
For the next week my dad kept thinking "enjoy church? surely you don’t enjoy church?" and “Is he mad?” This lead to making a random excuse to go off home early from meeting my mum one Sunday and her getting a phone call the next day explaining that he had been to church and given his life to God.
They then got married and my dad later survived a near fatal car crash with no injury, just a bit shaken. The car slid off the road and rolling twice, for some reason a known weak spot on that car didn’t give, leaving the bit of roof above him where it should be and he was just a little shaken.
And a couple of years later (1982) my older brother Richard was born, followed two years later (1984) by me.
When I was 7 my mum decided it would be a good idea to go to spring harvest which is a Christian festival at Easter where we take over Butlins holiday resort. A year later, just after spring harvest at the age of 8 I became a Christian and gave my life to God. (we've been to spring harvest every year since)
as I grew up I never really fitted in and got bullied right the way through school to the point where I nearly committed suicide when I was 13 but as I sat there with my pen knife (a present from my dad) I heard a soft voice (its kind of hard to explain) that wasn’t really audible saying "don’t, I love you, your parents love you and it wont always be this way" so I hid the knife. the bullying kept getting worse and I didn’t really have any friends at school but I was encouraged by my parents to have a go at different hobbies and my brother encouraged me to go mountain biking a lot which started to act as an escape, I could put the anger through the pedals and get rid of it.
when I finished school I went off to college in a different county (I didn’t really want to see anyone from school again and they weren’t that bothered about me) and did graphic design NVQ and A-level photography which was fun, making some friends along the way, some re-adjustment had to take place due to my brother now being away at uni and slowly slipping away from God and also changing churches to one with a great youth group but in a different area to where we lived (but by this time I could drive :) ) for three summers I went away to youth camps with the youth group and slowly started to get more serious about my walk with God, the last summer I went away with them we went to a different youth camp where a really cute girl was playing bass with the band (I then took up playing bass guitar!) thankfully this didn’t distract me from the worship due to the distance between me and the stage! and I started to grow.
in 2002 I started university on a foundation art and design course along with a few other people that are now leaving uni or who have already left, these guys and girls have helped me through random rough patches feeding me with encouragement, friendship and scriptures at random including Isaiah 40: 28-31 "Do you not know?, have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not grow faint.
Also in 2002 I turned 18. Now I was old enough to be on children’s team at spring harvest helping with the 8-11 age group which was a fantastic experience (I’ve been on team each year since then) and I’m now considering training to work for a church as a full time children’s worker.
In 2003 I switched courses onto the transport and product design course and also started playing bass with the Christian union worship group.
looking back over my life, I don’t regret making a decision for God and becoming a Christian but I do regret having not lived it until I came to uni, each year that comes is a new challenge which knocks me back, but that gets used by God to help me grow to trust him. there is no way I would be around and definitely not at uni if it wasn’t for God I’ve been mugged, I’ve nearly not had housing but God keeps providing and protecting. I’ve made many mistakes but by Gods grace (Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense) I’m still here.
A song that’s meant a lot to me over the past few years is 'Grace' by a Christian band called Quench (who I am trying to persuade the CU committee to book)
These are the lyrics:
Sooner or later well the scaring on my soul won't let me be The skies are clear and the sun it settles down Still I struggle on, try to sing a happy song Heavy spirit its ready to receive, the darkness blinds my eyes Shallow smiles yet my eyes do not deceive This weight that drags me deep, some secrets I cannot keep
Constellations tell me I'm just fine Shades of dignity they shield me from the saving light Stars of sympathy now that I don't deserve What kind of dignity is this?
Grace bleeds for me Grace redeems me Grace praises me Grace shields me And I need Her to carry me home
Sugar coated pretty little words don't change a thing My success is viewed only by my pride Still I find no peace, this way gives no relief
Twisted reasons why everything occurred Stuck in a season - this winter night it feels so long Going no where but I'm getting there real fast What kind of dignity is this?
Grace bleeds for me Grace redeems me Grace praises me Grace shields me And I need Her to carry me home
Grace redeems even me Would You carry me home...
© daybreak music ltd. 2001
We never deserved grace the first time, yet it keeps on coming, God gives lavishly what we don’t deserve and I look out back on my life, regretting mistakes and not standing up and living what I believe but thankful for who I am and what God has made me (I used to really hate myself) having learnt that I don’t fit in anywhere because I’m unique as are you, and I look forward to what Gods gonna do and to the climb ahead that is my future.
Right now I think that God’s got something planned for my life and I’m hoping that includes a family but God keeps pointing out that it really isn’t the time for a relationship as I have other things I have to do, such as the odd bit of uni work!
That’s pretty much it, there’s one or two bits I’ve not put in cos I cant figure out where to put it (never been that good at writing stuff), if you want to know then feel free to ask when you see me, I’ll also add stuff to this as it happens because life is an ongoing process.