Roland Tann's Remarkable Testimony

Early one morning in January 1973, while on my way to the Police Training Centre near Oxford, where I worked as a PE and self-defence instructor, my car broke down. As I lifted the bonnet to see what was wrong the engine burst into flames. Suddenly, a strange feeling came over me - I wasn't alone... Though outwardly a respectable family man, I was leading a double life, deep in pornography and adultery. I neglected my family and ran away from responsibility. The devil had me where he wanted me but I did not realise it.

I was very hard, terrorising the recruits I instructed in physical education and self-defence. Many a non-swimmer learned to swim during their first lesson because they were more afraid of me than the water! The idea of breaking a man's arm in a Judo match didn't bother me at all. Returning home at weekends, after being gone for five days, no joyous reunion awaited me. My wife, Margaret, would feel sick and have to go to bed. Our marriage was on the rocks.

It was in this state of affairs that I had the encounter on the road to Oxford.

After putting the fire out with an extinguisher. I looked up from the still smoking engine. I knew Someone was there. Then the realisation hit me. It is God! I was a rough tough non-religious police Instructor, but at that point 1 felt pitifully small. I suddenly knew I'd made a right mess of things and I was heading (or hell. This frightened the life out of me. I had no Christian background: all I knew was that I wanted to be on Jesus' side. Shortly before this time Margaret had asked if I would come to church with her and pray for our marriage. I thought church was only for women and elderly people, but decided to go and keep her happy. To my surprise, I found a number of men there. I was impressed, but still wanted to carry on living my own life - that is, until my experience on the road. That morning another fire was started -one on the inside, one that will not go out.

I started going to church with my wife. She had invited Jesus into her life some mouths earlier and had changed in so many ways. I started reading my Bible, and for the first time in my life, began to really understand who Jesus Christ was. As I read the Gospel of John, I saw that Jesus had created all things and yet he came to earth and lived as a man. He sacrificed himself for men like me. Suddenly, I realised it had been Jesus I'd encountered on that road to Oxford, and with that my conversion was complete. But as I was known as the tough guy and was so concerned what people thought of me. I did not feel able to speak out for my new beliefs. ('Fear of man brings a snare. Prov.29: 25). But God had his way!

There had to be something more and I knew it. I needed power in my life - power to speak out - power to see things happen. I began to read about others who saw God working in their lives today. In ‘The Hiding Place', an ordinary Dutch girl stands against all odds to carry out the commission God gave her during World War II, and in 'The Cross and the Switchblade'. David Wilkerson effectively brings the message of Jesus Christ to the tough murderous street gangs of New York City. In 'Nine O'Clock in the Morning', an Episcopalian vicar tells story after story of people reaching out to God and actually receiving the Baptism of the holy Spirit just like the Christians In the Bible. Through these people, God was working amazing miracles today. I thought, 'If a vicar says it's true, it must be true, because if it were not, his job would be on the line.'

In one or his stories a girl read about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in a letter. She then simply asked God for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and received it. 'Surely I reasoned. 'God will do the same for me'. I reached out to the Lord Jesus Christ, received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues.

I regularly took a group or men for Judo at the Police Training Centre. At the end or the session, I allowed each or them In turn to try' throwing me - I'd put them all down. But one day, having taken five sessions in the morning, I was very tired by the time I raced the last man. He was strong and 1 could not throw him, so I roiled him to the floor and put an arm lock on him. Even then he would not give in until I put the lock on even harder. The next day, he came to me and asked. 'Sergeant, can you do anything for my arm?' Why, what's up? I asked. 'it’s that arm lock you put on me yesterday. I can't bend my elbow now.'

Inside I knew I had to pray for the man and if I did, God would heal him, but it was a battle. Finally I asked, 'Are you a Christian? 'Yes.' he replied. Well, massaging your elbow won't do much good because this is a joint injury. But if I pray for you, I know that Jesus Christ will heal you. So what do you want me to do? 'Pray for me', he said. So I took him to the Medical Inspection Room and prayed for him. Afterwards I said. 'Bend your elbow.' He did and his eyes nearly popped out, and so did mine! God had healed him! I told him not to tell anybody else what had happened.

A week later some Gideons came to the Centre and held a meeting. I went along and listened to a man giving his testimony about the Gideons' work of taking Bibles into schools, hotels and such places. Two recruits behind me started scoffing at him. As they did. I felt as if my heart was being squeezed. My seat seemed to get hotter and hotter until I had to go to the front and speak to the men.

There were 150 men there and I just said I want you all to know I am a committed Christian and if I can help any or you. I'm happy to do so.' After the meeting four men came up to me and thus was born a small Christian fellowship at the Police Training Centre.

I took a good deal or baggage from my old life into the new. I was delivered from the spirit of lust, I had been involved with the ouija board and levitation, which let in evil spirits, and the Lord revealed a curse on my family. ('The sins or the fathers are visited on the third and fourth generation.' Exodus 20.5). My grandmother was a Romany, who died trying to separate two uncles in a fight. Deliverance by the power of the Holy Spirit brought major release to our family.

But that hardness was still there. I continued practising Judo and took up Aikido after I became a Christian, working hard to gain my black belt in that as well. Then, at the National Aikido Championships, I felt God leading me to give it up. As I got rid of all the paraphernalia, including my medals, that hardness seemed to melt away. A person cannot exhibit the love of Jesus effectively while held by the hard spirit behind the martial arts. Our marriage, and family situation gradually Improved.' I thank the Lord for saving us from the disastrous way the devil was leading us.

One day I was on duly outside the Mansion House in the City of London during the rush hour when a man came up to me and asked the way. Inside I felt the Lord Jesus saying. 'Tell him!' I had a bit or a struggle with the idea but went ahead and the Holy Spirit gave me the words to say. 'Do you know the Lord Jesus loves you?’ I asked him. 'Does He?’ He responded. I was surprised how receptive he was. I continued. 'He is concerned about all your problems, every detail of your life.' I was able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with him at length, how the Son of God had been beaten and had gone to the cross for him. He had made the sacrifice so that we could give our burdens over to Him, and He would help us. Can you imagine it? A policeman in a big helmet, crowds of people and traffic going by, praying for someone. That man invited Jesus Christ into his life right then and there.

Many things have happened since Jesus came into my life and changed the way I was going. I have left the police force. As a policeman I was 'always right', and God had to remove me from that position in order to deal with my pride. We now live by faith that the Lord will provide for us.

My wife and I first heard of the FGBMFI through reading 'The I Happiest People on Earth', a book which describes how the Fellowship started. It all sounded very exciting and so, when a friend of ours, Robert Lee, invited 'us to a Chapter Dinner in Woodford, we went along. We were not disappointed. These people were full of joy, and miracles were commonplace in their meetings. We have continued our involvement with the FGBMFI and, after our move to Chelmsford. I became the local Chapter President for several years.

The miracles have never stopped. We have seen many people healed and delivered. For instance, while ministering in East Germany in 1991,1 met Manfred, who had a withered arm, damaged in a car accident 30 years before, when he was eleven. I had no faith for healing such a serious injury, but lifted his arm to examine it and said. 'In the name of Jesus'. There was a loud crack and it was healed in an instant. His arm grew out 4-5 inches and in his astonishment he cried. 'It cannot be true!' I learned that out of His compassion God will heal despite our lack of faith.

If you have never asked Jesus Christ into your life and you feel something is missing. I must tell you that nothing else will fill that void - not alcohol, drugs or illicit sex, not achievements or impressive qualifications. Only Jesus can fill your needs.

Praise God that He loves us and is gracious towards us.