Pastor Brian Madden B.A. (Hons)
How would you descride your family background and your early years?
I was born a second son into a family that were connected a lot to alcohol, my father was an alcoholic and my mother a bar maid. My father was also a member of a loyalist paramiltary group (UDA) and as I grew up in the Tigers Bay I had a hatred for Catholics who forced us to leave our flat at the top of the Duncairn Gardens.
What was life like growing up in Tigers Bay?
I was a rebellious teenager completely disobedient to my parents and always angry, Around the age of 13 I became a skinhead and started taking drink and drugs, by the age of 16 I was continually in trouble with the law and attended court regularly. My life seemed troublesome no matter what I done. I met my futrue wife Martine at the age of 13. During my teenage years loyalist paramiltaries attempted to punish me but on two occasions I managed to escape their grasp. I had no job and continued to be involved in violence, I would do anything in order to get money for the weekend. My days consisted of continually drinking, taking drugs, and sniffing solvents... whatever made me feel high felt good to me. On many occasion I woke up in the morning and found myself in a police cell not knowing how I got there.
How did you come to Christ?
My Mother and Father along with my younger sister got saved before me. And I remember one time around 3.00am in the morning the police arrived at our home with an arrest warrant for me, as they led me downstairs my mother (who was suffering form cancer) fell to her knees and cried out for God to save me. Her words pierced my heart. One night on the way home from a friends house in Carrickfergus while driving along the motorway with Martine I heard God speak to me and tell me that I was going to hell. All of a sudden I realized that my life was a complete shambles and I asked Jesus Christ to save me. That happened on the 18th January 1987.
What changes took place once you got saved?
The immediate change was sorrow for joy, no need for drink, drugs, tobacco, and a change of friends. Happiness filled my heart and a great assurance that I was now saved. I wanted everyone to know.
How has God turned your life around since then?
This is a difficult question I could fill a book answering. God has totally transformed my life I left school with no qualifications, no self worth, low self esteem, and God has placed me and my family into the ministry. I really don't know how to explain this it is incredible, everyday I look back and still find it hard to believe. Studying was something I hated but I know find myself with a BA (Hon's) in theology this is God. He has blessed me with a beautiful wife (Martine) and three lovely daughters (Michelle - 16, Jessica - 13, Rebekah - 8). Placed me into a church filled with people I grew up with seeing many of them saved.
What's your desire for the unsaved in Belfast?
My desire is to see our community totally transformed with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to see people living life in all its fullness.