Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have, perhaps foolishly, allowed my mates to talk me into doing Tough Mudder - a 12 mile assault course that involves ice cold water, fire, electricity, tunnels, walls, heights...and LOTS of mud! It makes the bold claim of being 'probably the toughest event on the planet.' While I'm not convinced that it is, it's probably fair to say that for an out-of-shape 37 year old pastor with severely arthritic ankles (that I've just been told need surgery) - it still looks flippin' hard! (check out www.toughmudder.co.uk if you need convincing!)

 So why am I doing it?

I can promise you that it's got nothing to do with being macho, trying prove something to myself or lapsing into a mid-life crisis. 

No, it's got EVERYTHING to do with a heart that is breaking for persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, not least in Iraq right now. A few months ago I decided to pull out of Tough Mudder because I didn't think that my body could handle it. In all honesty, I'm still not sure that it can - though I'm going to give it a really good crack! However, I have been so affected by recent news reports about the rape, murder and ethnic cleansing that has been unleashed against the church in Iraq that I have decided to go ahead and do it. (My profile photo has the arabic letter 'n' sprayed over it - this is how Islamic militants, ISIS, are marking the homes of Christians in Iraq right now in order to mark them out as targets of violence).

All money that I raise will go direct to Open Doors who do an incredible job working on the frontline with those directly affected by persecution, including in Iraq. You can find out more about their amazing ministry at www.opendoorsuk.org.

Please give generously. 

Not for my sake, but for the sake of my persecuted brothers and sisters who are suffering greatly as they pay the highest price for following Jesus.

"If one member [of the body] suffers, all suffer together." (1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 26)