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OAP PRAYED AS KNIFEMAN STRUCK

God gave me thestrength tofight off attacker

A HEROIC pensioner believes God gave her the strength to fight off a knife-wielding attacker who stabbed her six times at a bus stop.

Little Maria Morrison, 74, thought she was going to die when a crazed man shouted “Die! Die!” during the unprovoked assault.

PRAYINGBut after praying and holding

her attacker’s hand, Maria found supernatural strength and the thug fled. She was rushed to hospital

and treated for stab wounds to her back, hand and mouth. Maria, of Chorlton, Greater Manchester, said: “I had just sat down when something came at me. I didn’t realise what it was. He was slash-ing at me.”

The knife went into her hand, causing terrible injuries, and the force of the blow also cut her lip as she tried to protect her face.

“ I t r ied to escape. But he grabbed me by the shoulder and put me against the fence of the ● Continued on Page 3

THE Archbishop of York has urged Brits to celebrate the real meaning of Easter.

Dr John Sentamu said that Easter is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.

He said: “At Easter we cel-ebrate that Jesus lived, died and rose to new life so each one of us can live in a loving relationship with God without fear.

“On the cross Jesus does for us that which we couldn’t do for ourselves.

“He cures our guilt, rebel-lion against God, shame, and gives us peace of mind, healing of relationships, forgiveness for ourselves, and the courage to forgive others.

PoweR“As someone has said, the

cross is a symbol of violence, but paradoxically it’s the key to peace. It’s a symbol of suf-fering, yet the key to healing. A symbol of death, yet the key to life. A symbol of utter weak-ness, yet the key to power.

“A symbol of capital pun-ishment, yet the key to mercy and forgiveness. A symbol of vicious hatred, yet the key to love. A symbol of supreme shame, yet the Christian’s supreme boast.”

Call to mark what Easter is all about

BRAVE... Pensioner Maria Morrison prayed

during knife attack Pic: Manchester Evening News

Dr John Sentamu

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● Continued from Page 1cemetery. I thought I was dying. The knife was a millimetre from my neck. I thought, ‘I can’t hold on any more, I can’t fight it.’ My leg was shivering and I was cold. I felt like my body was giving up.

“Then something came into my mind – I don’t know where it came from. I held his hand as hard as I could. I knew then I wasn’t on my own, because I said ‘please God help me’ and he did.

“I was very weak but I found strength. It was like someone was pushing me to hold him off. I felt like I was dying but after I got hold of him he went away. I said ‘God, thank you’ because no way could I have done that on my own.”

FORGIVEThe attacker has since been

caught and pleaded guilty to at-tempted murder. He will be sen-tenced this month at Manchester Crown Court. Maria said she already forgives him.

“I can’t hate him – it was a mo-ment of madness. Of course I forgive him – God forgives everybody. It was just unfortunate.

“I was there on the wrong day at the wrong moment. Now I have to get on with my life.”

Church boss found Jesus after tragedy

A WOMAN who had her throat slashed by an intruder spent at least an hour reading the Bible to her attacker, police have said.

Lindsay Wood was attacked in her home in the US city of Shelby, North Carolina. Shelby Police captain Rick Stafford said: “She even invited him to her church. He kept saying he was sorry, and then walked away.”

NEW LIFE

NEWSFLASH

EGG-CELLENT news! A chocolate egg that tells the Easter story is on sale in British supermarkets.

The Real Easter Egg is the first Fair-trade egg to explain the resurrection of Jesus on the box. The product was a hit in Morrisons, Booths, Co-op and Waitrose last year.

But this year, church leaders believe retailers have turned their back on the product because of its Christian

association, and fewer eggs have been ordered.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rev John Pritchard, who chairs the Church of Eng-land’s Board of Education, said: “There seems to be a clear cut agenda to keep credible products, with any connection to Christianity, off the shelves. But it is vitally important that our children are not cheated of the chance to hear the Easter story.”

Egg is choc-full of real meaning!

pop singEr’s bidTo bE EAsTEr no1A POP singer who has written a song about the resurrection of Jesus is to launch it as a chart single with a big budget video in time for Easter.

Tara Mathew, who had an un-derground dance hit in nightclubs with the single He Said She Said last year, wants listeners to under-stand the real story of Easter.

And her record label is also launching a resources pack for churches to use along with the new song, In Three Days, which is also featured in a video, be-lieved to be the biggest budget production for a Christian artist in the UK.

Tara, who is based in Devon, said: “So many people do not understand why we have Easter. While they may know that Jesus has something to do with Christ-mas, a lot of people do not know anything about the Easter story.

“I feel God’s Spirit move when I’m writing songs, they are his songs not mine. I really love this song and it was written some time ago and featured on my debut album. But record produc-ers thought it would be great as a single.”

After hearing the record, some of the music industry’s senior producers decided late last year that the single needed a top qual-ity video to accompany it.

Tara said: “We think it is the most expensive Christian music video ever made. The producers came up with a storyboard and it was amazing. It really tells the Easter story but in a stunning and contemporary way.

“As a result, we believe it will get lots of air time and that’s why it was decided that we should also include a resources pack

for churches who may want to use the song and the video for outreach.”

During her teenage years, Tara picked up a number of music awards in her native Canada, but she gave up singing to become a missionary in India.

She said: “When I went to India I thought that my singing career was over. But it looks like God had plans to use my talent and I’m delighted to be singing pro-fessionally.

“It’s so exciting to be involved in a single launch that isn’t afraid of telling the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

“All my songs are based on the Bible and He Said She Said was a surprisingly big hit in the nightclubs. It was remixed by the DJ Almighty and featured on a number of dance compilation albums.

“But In Three Days is quite clearly about Jesus and I hope that the single, video and resource pack will help people understand just what he did for us all.”● For more information visit www.taramathew.com

SINGLE AND VIDEO CHART RELEASE

VOICE OF AN ANGEL... Tara Mathew is set to release her single and video for Easter. Left, the special resources pack

A NOTORIOUS gangster who was once nick-named ‘the devil’ visited a church recently to tell how God had turned his life around.

Stephen French featured on TV’s Britain’s Hardest Men after he tortured drug dealers in Liverpool.

But after finding Christ, he gave up his life of crime and now travels the UK as a preacher. He said: “The fact that I’m even alive is testimony to the power of Jesus. They

called me the devil but now I’m a warrior for Christ.”

Stephen recently visited the Elim Church in Tyldesley, Manchester, to tell the story of his remarkable turnaround.

The church’s pastor Ernie Jones said: “The young people of the church interviewed him afterwards about violence, and he warned them about the dangers of drugs and gangs. It was a good night.”

‘The devil’ reveals faith in Christ

Stephen French

A CHRISTIAN initiative is urging people to “do one nice thing” as part of a national campaign.

The HOPE organisation is encour-aging Brits to visit elderly neigh-bours, volunteer in a community project or simply smile at a stranger to help spread the Christian message throughout Easter.● For more information, visit www.loveyourstreets.org.uk

Be nice pleaPOP star Whitney Houston’s fi-nal performance was singing the tune Yes, Jesus Loves Me, it has emerged.

Although tormented by drug and alcohol addiction, Whitney spoke publicly of her Christian faith over the past few years. She was taking part in an impromptu performance at a private bash in Hollywood.

A SENIOR Christian leader whose dad died when he was just five has told how he found faith after listen-ing to the Easter story.

Steve Clifford, who is the General Director for the Evangelical Alli-ance, grew up in a Christian home but didn’t have a personal faith in Jesus.

He said: “My dad was an Angli-can vicar who died in a car crash when I was five. By the time I was a teenager, I was living in a faith-filled household but there wasn’t a lot of faith in my life.

“I got a summer job, ended up in a Christian conference centre and heard the Easter story in their chapel.

passIOn“I’d heard it before. I could have

told the story, but that evening I just knew, deep down, it was true and that everything had to change. I am where I am today because of that moment.”

Now a senior official in the Brit-ish Church, Steve is enjoying his latest role.

“I started just over two years ago and I live with a sense that God has called me to it. I bring my passion for the Church to the role, and my belief that the Church really is the hope for this world.”

God helped me to fight off knifeman

Star’s last song

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NEW LIFENEW LIFE

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

A RECENT survey discovered that children thought that Easter was about celebrating chocolate.

They could be forgiven for doing so. Within days of the Christmas decorations being taken down from the shops, their shelves are bulging with the latest egg-shaped chocolate treats.

Like the aforementioned Christian festival that marks the birth of Jesus, Easter is now a major materialistic event, which sees stores using a date of meaning to Christians on a calendar as a way of selling as much as they can.

And while the shiny layer of paper that covers those chocolate eggs is ripped off, the real story of Easter is long forgotten.

And yet, this event is more important than that of Christmas for Christians – because it marks the moment Jesus Christ had rusting nails hammered through his hands so he could die on a cross for the sins of everyone of us.

Even more importantly, Easter is a time when we remember Jesus then fulfilled God’s promise and rose from the grave to show that those who believe in him as God’s Son will have eternal life.

Colin Dye clearly explains why this event is so important on Page 4 of this newspaper. Please read those words to get a real insight into the meaning of Easter.

And while doing so, do enjoy your chocolate egg. We’re not saying you shouldn’t enjoy one – but don’t make it the reason why you celebrate Easter.

BIBLE QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Sudoku

Solutions on the right

CrosswordAcross1. Group of musicians (9)7. Eye socket (5)8. Jockey (5)9. Epoch (3)10. Part of the foot (6)14. Shrewd (6)15. Cacophony (3)18. Thighbone (5)20. Ice hut (5)21. Court game (9)

Down1. Woodwind instrument (4)2. Floor show (7)3. Consumes (4)4. Despot (6)5. Assistance (3)6. Precipitous (6)11. One of three (7)12. Perplex (6)13. Gaped (6)16. Flightless bird (4)17. Metal money (4)19. Disorderly crowd (3)© Krazydad.com

Puzzle corner.

CHRISTIAN FILM PUT FOCUS ON STAR

CHURCHGOERS in North Somerset are being invited to ‘tweet’ the preacher during his sermon.

The Rev Andrew Alden is encour-aging members of St Paul’s Church, Weston-super-Mare, to send messages via Twitter while he is preaching and the best ones are displayed on a large TV screen on the stage. He said: “The Hebrews had the written word, the

Romans built roads, the reformers had the printing press, and I feel that social media is God’s gift to the Church today to get the message out to as wide an audience as possible.

“My wife would describe herself as a Twitter widow, and she certainly feels I look at it too much, but it is a way of keeping up with what the young world is doing.”

CHRISTIAN outreach or-ganisation Hope is offering a range of free resources for churches to use in their communities as they celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in June.

The Queen has given official backing to the Big Jubilee Lunch, where

six million people are ex-pected to eat together with neighbours and friends across the country.

Churches can register for the Big Jubilee Lunch at www.thebiglunch.com, and for resources ideas, visit www.hopetogether.org.uk.

Jubilee help on handTwitter on during my sermon!

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’” Psalm 16:1-2

HoLLYwooD star Erik Estrada says God landed him his dream role – after he lost out on his dream job.

The man known to millions of fans as Ponch in the hit TV series, CHiPS, actually wanted to be a real life police officer in his native New York.

But he joined his school drama club and ended up with the lead part in a play. That gave Erik the acting bug, which has led to an impressive and suc-cessful career in Hollywood.

He said: “I was hooked on act-ing from that time on. I experi-enced emotions I had never felt before. I still don’t understand it all – I only know that I need to perform. It must be my way of giving to others, and giving to myself at the same time.”

In The Cross And The Switch-blade movie, Erik starred as street-wise New York gang leader, Nicky Cruz, who left the slum tenements of the East Side to become a Christian and evangelist.

The film has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, ap-pearing in 30 languages in 150 countries. It is still shown in around 500 youth clubs and churches every week as a result of its anti-drug and anti-gang

message.Playing Nicky Cruz brought Erik to the attention of movie producers, leading to his first Hollywood film, Airport ‘75, alongside Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda.

But as well as being a top-class actor, Erik, now 63, is also a Christian.

“I believe in God, that he cares for us and guides,” he said. “I have faith in God and in myself. It is important to stay grounded spiritually.”

Born in 1949, the actor’s par-ents divorced when he was just two years old.

He added that his grand-father provided the paternal influence he needed, especially growing up among real l ife gangs and drug dealers in Span-ish Harlem.

Erik has starred in most of the hit TV shows of the 70s and 80s, such as The Six Million Dol-lar Man and Hawaii-Five-O.

But it is as Ponch in CHiPs, based on two Californian mo-torcycle cops, that he is prob-ably best known.

“I always loved Ponch,” he explained. “It was so much fun for me to be him, to put on my duds, get on that bike and bust the bad guys, help out the kids and to get the girl.”

How God helped when the CHiPS were down!

by James Hastings COP THAT... Erik Estrada as Ponch in

the TV show CHiPS

MARIA Morrison showed amazing faith when she prayed while being attacked by a knifeman.

Thankfully, her prayers were answered and she escaped relatively unscathed. To then forgive her attacker shows the true grit of this remarkable lady.

Remarkable lady

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FORMER England stiker Cyrille Regis says Easter is central to everything that he believes.

Cyrille, who has five England caps and enjoyed a successful career with several clubs including West Brom-wich Albion and Coventry City, will be celebrating the Easter weekend with family and friends at church.

The 54-year-old, now a football agent who represents top stars, told New Life: “Easter is central to my faith. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is vitally important to Christianity. In fact, the resurrec-tion of Jesus is the cornerstone that underpins Christianity.

“I firmly believe that death is not the final resting place. Jesus conquered death and provided an alternative for us.”

Cyrille, who scored 159 league goals, became a Christian when former team-mate Laurie Cunning-ham died in a car crash in 1989. He began to ask questions about the meaning of life and about heaven and hell.

“Before then my life was a selfish existence but now there’s a peace that God loves me. A relationship with Jesus is wonderful,” he said.● Cyrille’s full story will be in next month’s New Life – don’t miss it!

Why former England aceloves Easter

EGGS-ELLENT... Cyrille Regis

my prayergroup planPREMIERSHIP defender Anton Ferdinand is not letting a row over alleged racist comments stop him from setting up a prayer group.

The Queens Park Rangers full-back is at the centre of a probe after allegations that former England skipper John Terry made racist remarks to him. The Chel-sea midfielder faces a trial over the claims in July.

Ferdinand, the brother of Manchester United stalwart Rio, has told how he hopes to start

a prayer group amongst other players at QPR.

The former Sunderland man said: “My mum and dad instilled the right principles in me.

“My mum goes to church every weekend and I had to go when I was younger, but I didn’t appreci-ate it. I appreciate it now.

overcome“It’s one of the best things

that has ever happened to me although the hardest thing is hav-ing faith in something you can’t

see, but I have overcome that. I can talk about my journey and things that have happened to me. That’s why my mind is the way it is at the moment.

“My outlook on life is very dif-ferent. I’m more of a man now.

“At Sunderland we had a group who prayed. There was me, Kieran Richardson, Stephane Sessegnon, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah, Nedum Onuoha. Hopefully I will start building that here.”

Ferdinand, 27, started his ca-reer at West Ham United before joining Sunderland in 2008. He played 85 times for the Black ● Continued on Page 11

Defender Ferdinand says faith has grown stronger

by Matthew Murray

PLANS... Anton

Ferdinand

NEW LIFE

SPORTBRUCE DYER WRITES FOR NEW LIFE - P11

thE day strikEr

‘diEd’SEE

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ChUrCh tEaM has BiG hOPEs tO rEaCh PrEMiEr LEaGUE!

Race rowwon’t stop

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