It was a sunny June day in London last year when people from all around the country gathered to participate in the Big London Walk. A 12-mile fundraising walk across this global city organised by London City Mission.
75-year-old Chris Balchin, his son, his daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters were joining close to a hundred people that day. Chris moved out of London in 1969 but visited frequently, including running the London Marathon four times. But he had not visited the areas where the Big London Walk took him since 1979.
“It was wonderful to see parts of the city that I used to know. Growing up in southeast London, I knew this area quite well, but the skyline is so different now. It’s incredible to see how much has changed,” Chris recalls.
"It’s incredible to see how much has changed,” Chris recalls.
Besides seeing the old haunts, Chris wanted to support LCM through the Big London Walk for an important reason. And that was something that happened to him more than 60 years ago.
On an evening in 1962, Chris his life changed after an LCM Missionary spoke at his youth group.
“On Easter Saturday in 1962, the club held a social evening. At the close, there was a talk by Basil Cole, a London City Missionary,” explains Chris.
“Basil spoke of the choice given to a Jewish crowd nearly 2000 years earlier. They could opt for the release of Barabbas, a career criminal and insurrectionist or an innocent man, Jesus, charged with being the son of God.
“Basil then said that we too had the choice to opt for a life of self-interest and fading pleasures or on faith in Jesus with all the good things that represented.”
That evening, Chris chose Jesus. His life-altering decision was based on the faith and life that, deep down, he knew he desperately wanted.
And now, 62 years later, he is delighted to be able to give back to an organisation that pointed him to Jesus.
Chris was energised by the conversations with the missionaries.
Chris prepared for this day by taking long walks with his dog, ensuring he was fit enough to keep up with his family. He was grateful for his health, allowing him to share these moments with his loved ones.
His son, who lives in Southampton, had driven them to London, and though his other children and their family couldn’t join due to other commitments, John cherished the time with those who could.
Despite the long walk, Chris was energised by the conversations with the missionaries.
"It was good to talk to some of the current London City missionaries and see LCM's different centres,” says Chris. “It was also interesting to see how things had developed in the mission through the decades."
As well as supporting LCM, Chris also created new memories with his family. He loved sharing stories of his past and seeing the interest in his grandchildren's eyes.
“It’s wonderful to spend this time together,” he said.
If you’d like to attend the [Big London Walk] this year, visit lcm.org.uk/walk25 to book your place.
