Paul Houghton
1. How did you become a Christian?
My parents brought me up to know and love the Lord. Then, at a summer camp aged 13, I remember hearing the gospel explained clearly. I returned home knowing that I wanted to live for Jesus and 38 years later I’m even clearer that I’m a sinner saved only by God’s grace.
2. What lessons have you learnt since that you would want to pass on to a younger Christian version of yourself?
In Deuteronomy 4 Moses instructs the people: ‘Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.’ Wise advice: watch yourself, don’t forget, and teach the next generation.
3. How would you describe your prayer life?
Weak and feeble.
In 2019 I held my mother’s hand the night before she died. She prayed for forgiveness, thanked her Heavenly Father for her faith in Jesus, and committed her future to Him. My prayer is that I’ll be praying the same as I reach the end of my earthly days and that, until then, I can be useful in His service.
4. Which two or three Christian books apart from the Bible have most influenced your faith?
Rather than a list, I’m just going to mention the most recent good book I read: Plugged In by Dan Strange. Those around us are always dissatisfied by the array of cultural engagement on offer because we’re made for another place. Dan’s great book helps us tell a better cultural story, encouraging friends to find satisfaction in Jesus.
5. Who or what have been your biggest Christian influences?
Aged 18 I lived with a missionary couple, who arrived in the Philippines aged 21 and entirely shared their lives with those amongst whom they lived: natural gospel conversations with strangers; the house a stream of believers and unbelievers; and the Lord trusted, even through terrible loss. They’re still there, aged almost 80 – I want to be like them.
6. What are the main challenges you believe Christians face today?
We need to get out more! Yes, we should gather, but if our only post-Covid longing is to get back into church buildings, perhaps we’ve forgotten the Great Commission? Interestingly, twice as many people attended our church’s Zoom Christianity Explored courses in 2020 as did in 2019. Having been pushed out (online), let’s not retreat into holy huddles.
7. What encourages and what discourages you?
Encouragements: In the past few months I’ve taken over the lead role at Kingdom Bank – it’s been wonderful to have the engagement and support of so many people with that new venture.
Discouragements: Christian brothers and sisters pronouncing ‘high moral ground’ comments on social media. Let’s humbly remember that ‘there are a few really bad people and the rest of us are good’ is the world’s lie! We’re all sinful.
8. What makes you laugh?
My wife and three children. Alongside the hard times of Covid and the pain of a sinful world, over the past 12 months we’ve got to know each other better, walked the dog, watched films, sailed on the Norfolk Broads, prayed, talked, and laughed a lot. I thank the Lord for them.
9. What would you want to say to the wider evangelical world?
Kingdom Bank was bought by evangelicals in 2020 as a Christian bank to serve UK evangelical churches with financial services. Currently that means we provide mortgages for property (church buildings and ministers’ housing), deposit accounts and church insurance. Please do mention us to others; and please do get in touch – I’d love to explore ideas with you.
10. Which Biblical person do you most look forward to meeting in glory and why?
I look forward to sitting down with Mary, Peter and John to hear each describe their dawning realisation of the reality of the resurrection on that first Easter Sunday. That will be a wonderful, happy conversation, and I can’t help but smile just contemplating it.
Also, I’ve always been into boats, so I’m excited about a chat with Noah!
