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Matt Woodcock, Church of England Pioneer Minister and Mission Supporter in the Diocese of York:

This month I鈥檒l be sharing a stage with the man who gave me the worst news of my life. He鈥檚 the consultant urologist who broke it to me that I鈥檇 almost certainly never have children naturally. Without putting anyone off their coffee and cornflakes, Dr Graeme explained that the average man produced between 40 to 300 million sperm per millilitre sample. He said they鈥檇 found 37 in mine.

鈥淏rilliant!鈥� I said. 鈥�37 million - that鈥檚 not too bad.鈥�
鈥淣o Matt,鈥� he replied sombrely. 鈥淟iterally 37. And they aren鈥檛 great swimmers I鈥檓 afraid.鈥�
I had some hard questions for God in my prayers that night. Virtually seedless and probably going to be childless - it didn鈥檛 look good.
I clung to Graeme鈥檚 last words before leaving his office.
鈥淩emember Matt - there鈥檚 always hope,鈥� he said
We鈥檝e since teamed up to host men鈥檚 health nights.聽 Embarrassment, fear or male pride so often deterred his patients from getting checked and treated early enough for things like prostate cancer. It鈥檚 a serious issue.
We seek to help blokes be more open about their physical, mental and spiritual well being.聽 Graeme focuses on their nether regions - with graphic slides. What symptoms to look for. How to check yourself. 聽
I talk about getting a spiritual health check. Generate debate and honest conversation about faith, belief and the great beyond.
Regardless of gender, I believe being unashamedly open is an essential part of the Christian journey. Open about our joys and inspirations, but also our confusions, doubts and fears.聽 The airing and sharing of our innermost thoughts and feelings can be the best kind of soul surgery.
For me, practically, that could mean prayer and meditation in a quiet chapel or outrageous oversharing to treasured friends in a noisy bar.
It鈥檚 what helped me cling to hope in the dark days of our childlessness.
After several failed attempts of IVF treatment, when all seemed lost, we had one more go.
Seven weeks later - one unforgettable morning - two heartbeats flashed up on the nurse鈥檚 monitor.聽 Somehow the IVF miracle makers found two Michael Phelpses amongst my tiny batch of flailing doggy paddlers.聽 My wife was pregnant. With twin girls.
Cradling them in the maternity ward was like holding hope.

But Chris, I'm sorry to tell you this - I鈥檝e hardly slept since.