David Palmer's Testimony

I am a Chartered Accountant and trainer and I start every course with the same words:  "I was born an Accountant and I believe in cost/benefit analysis for everything: eating, sleeping, breathing, training courses…".  It’s an attitude which God changed dramatically in 1996.  I started working for Him and He became the centre of my life rather than money.

I grew up in a Catholic family, was confirmed at age 8, went to a Jesuit-run secondary school and effectively left the Church at age 14 because God was irrelevant to me.  I got married in a Catholic Church because my family expected me to.  When I started taking my daughter to the Catholic primary school I felt it would be hypocritical not to take her to Mass.  After six years of irregular Mass attendance I volunteered, so I thought, to read at Mass and become a Eucharistic Minister.  A job I took seriously but not spiritually.  My faith was limited to a grudging one hour a week.

In 1996 I went on an Alpha course out of interest - much as I would have gone on a tax planning course.  I soon realised that the course was about Jesus, who I had never thought of as a real person before.  The revelation that He had died for me was mind-blowing.  On the Holy Spirit weekend I was prayed with for the first time in my life.  To experience God’s love in the quiet words spoken to me was a life-changing experience.

The impact varies from the silly: previously holidays were Barcelona and Tenerife, now it’s Lourdes with HCPT, Celebrate at Easter and the Walsingham New Dawn Conference; to the sacred: my eucharistic ministry was transformed and I was ordained a deacon in June 2007.  Priorities have been transformed.  Making money is no longer my reason for living. 

Grace builds on nature and over the years God has brought me many opportunities to use my professional skills in His service.  Peter was a fisherman, and Jesus didn't change his work, just the nature of the catch from fish to men, and the scope of his work from the Sea of Galilee to the whole of the known world.  As well as being a deacon in my home parish I am a volunteer worker for Catholic Evangelisation Services, who produce the CaFE videos, a Trustee for CREW Trust and the Sion Community for Evangelisation and on the editorial committee for Goodnews, the Catholic Charismatic magazine. 

I still run finance training courses and believe that I have a role of helping people use money and financial techniques, wisely in business.  We are all called to be good stewards.  I always wear a cross and people ask me about it.  Just by explaining I believe Christ wants us to live sensibly helps "add value" to the learning and in some small way evangelises people. 

I thank God for those who asked me to go on the Alpha course and changed my life.  I encourage all those who work in parishes to run CaFE, Alpha and "Welcome Home" programmes.  Do not underestimate the importance of bringing people closer to God.  It is the most important gift you can give them.