I wrote this testimony in preparation for my baptism at the beginning of September, and looking at it in preparation for today, I didn’t want to change anything but just add anything significant that has happened since. So here goes;
If I was to stand here before you all and tell you everything that has played a part in why I’m stood here today, we would most definitely be here for hours on end. So don’t worry, I won’t.
I was born into a Christian family and have been going to church my whole life. We moved to Stafford when I was 6 years old, where my Dad became the minister at Holmcroft. We moved to Rising Brook a few years later and I have been coming here ever since. My earliest memories of going to church are at Rising Brook, where I continued to receive great teaching and learned more about my beliefs.
As a family we went to Spring Harvest for a couple of years. One year I decided to commit my life to God and have only grown stronger in my faith since that moment. Throughout school I was always open about being a Christian and felt encouraged by all my friends as I was never made to feel ‘different’ just because I went to church. I’m fortunate enough to have friends around me who supported me and accepted me for who I was and what I believed in and that within itself has been encouraging.
I have been going to Soul survivor – a summer event aimed at young people to encourage development and deepening of their relationships with Jesus - for a number of years and this is where I first experienced an encounter with God. During the worship one session I really connected and began to understand the words I was singing – it wasn’t just about the music anymore, worship is so much deeper than that and this is when I really began to praise God. Since then I have continued to have many encounters with God which still play a part in where I am in my journey today.
Throughout my high school years I continued to get involved with church activities, whether it be attending them or leading them. Throughout the past couple of years I have begun to step up with leading worship or talking at youth events and being on team at Spring Harvest and Soul Survivor. I’m looking forward to future opportunities in which I can step up and serve God’s Kingdom.
Over the past couple of years I have found difficulty in finding where I truly belonged this was due to moving schools a couple of times and I really struggled to comprehend the fact that I had to move on. However, it was throughout this time that I realised just how much my faith makes me who I am. I found that when I struggled with day to day life, I could turn to God and find peace and clarity in him. I started getting more involved with Journey – a worship event here at church – and really found Rising Brook to feel like home.
If it wasn’t for the support, guidance and encouragement from my family, friends, church family and organisations, such as Soul Survivor, Spring Harvest and Bless, I wouldn’t be stood here today and I wouldn’t have been given amazing opportunities to challenge myself and look deeper into my faith.
I have always wanted to get baptised and for a number of years I have known I was ready but there was always something to hold me back – especially in September, but I’ll spare you the details. Around 9 months ago I felt challenged by God to really think about what I believe. So I wrote it down. The whole thing is too long to share today but here’s a snippet of it; ‘I believe you have forgiven, you are forgiving and you will forgive us of our sins. You sacrificed your son to renew our hearts, to set us free and to show our importance to you. I believe that you won't let go, you won't turn your back, you won't favouritise, you won't prioritise and you will not lead us down the wrong path. But you will remain around us, comfort us and listen to us. You will see in us what we don't see in ourselves. I believe in you as my Father, my Lord , my Saviour that it's time to let all doubts go, to stand with my arms wide open and offer my heart to you for you to release what you want me to achieve.’ This challenge me again to thinking about baptism – if I can stand up in front of a room full of people sharing what I believe, then what is stopping me? I was reminded of this at the beginning of this summer whilst away with Bless – an organisation whose mission is to transform the lives of people in Europe by empowering young adults through prayer, personal creativity and strategic partnerships to live for the service of others. I was serving on a mission team in Rotterdam after having 5 days training in France. Throughout this time it became clear that I just couldn’t let another opportunity slip, especially as I knew I was ready to take this next step.
Since the beginning of September I have continued to step out in faith. From running a new cell group, to encouraging and leading the next generation in providing opportunities to be in a new youth band here. I have continued to step up in my worship leading after being given plenty of opportunities and a lot of support from many people sat in this room today. I cannot thank you all enough for the opportunities that I’ve had in order to release my full potential and each day I continue to grow stronger in my faith as God reveals the plans that he has for me in new and exciting ways. New doors are continuing to be opened for me. New paths are taking shape. More recently God has provided for me and showed up in ways that I least expected. A few weeks ago I was waiting to hear back from a job interview, waiting for that one phone call which never came. Enough was enough, I asked God to reveal the plans that he has for me and that following day Martin spoke to me about spending some more time at church doing some admin for and working with the 11-14s here. Little did I know that this is what God had in store for me all along! So instead of carrying pizzas around (no discount for any of you – sorry!), I am so excited to now be doing some temporary work here for the next 8 months or so. I have no idea where my life will lead me over the next few years, but God does, and I put my full trust and faith in him as I continue to live life each day.
Just over a year ago Pete Gilbert, a good friend of the church, prophesised over me and said that in 1, 3 and 7 years something significant would happen in my journey. So, just over one year on from this, here I stand in front of my family, friends and church family ready to take the next step in my journey and make this public declaration of my faith and I can’t wait to see what God has planned for me in the 3rd and 7th years!
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