As far as the Christian tradition is concerned, pride is considered a sin. And I can see why, given the kind of things it can lead to. But I have to be honest and tell you that I am just a little bit proud of being Welsh, and just as importantly that I live in Pembrokeshire. Does that make a miserable sinner? Answers please on a postcard in no less than 10,000 words.

I am proud to be associated with CAP (Christians against Poverty) too; and with good reason. The Prince of Wales has suggested its work is ‘staggering’ and money expert Martin Lewis has gone further in declaring that CAP is ‘unsurpassed’ when it comes to the debt help it gives. Indeed CAP is now the leading debt management organisation in the United Kingdom with over 200 centres operating throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. And amazingly, what started as one man’s vision is now an international charity with CAP UK, CAP Australia, CAP New Zealand and CAP Canada making up the international family.

CAP’s amazing debt counselling service is run in partnership with hundreds of churches throughout the UK and provides the best debt help service to those with the very least. And that’s not all. CAP runs money courses to help people budget, save and prevent debt, job clubs to help people back into employment and release programmes to help those fighting the addictions that are frequently a major cause of debt.

But proud as I feel about the work of CAP (and our own local centre in particular), all this pales into insignificance compared to the pride I feel in the message I get to share week by week because it was this message that transformed the life of a broken man, and in so doing gave rise to this fantastic charity.

John Kirkby showed little interest in church as he grew up, but clearly had business acumen. Sadly, as so often happens, a series of mistakes and incautious borrowing led to financial disaster. But as a result of this, he met a pastor and his family who gave him a Bible and invited him to church. That’s how he came to have the encounter with God that proved so life changing and ultimately prompted him to use his skills and experience to help others by founding CAP. And as often happens, God was able to use a man’s past failures to help others discover a future.

CAP’s growth has been nothing short of miraculous. To begin with, John Kirkby simply had a lot of faith and a £10 gift, but over the past two decades, CAP has emerged as one of the most respected organisations involved with debt in the country, winning a long list of awards for its work in the process.

I’m never tempted to ask why I keep sharing my faith when so few people seem to show an interest in the Christian message, but if that ever did happen I would remind myself of John Kirkby’s story, or visit the CAP website to see the difference one changed life can make. As the Prince of Wales would say it is simply ‘staggering’. But why should I be surprised? If God is God, then miracles should be His stock in trade!

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]