A long time ago in a town far away I left school aged 16, with a handful of O Levels-a rebellious and angry teenager who disliked school, despised authority and disrespected God. Eleven years later, I found myself in a desperate situation and called on the God of my childhood years. In true prodigal son style He welcomed me back as the loving father I had always craved. He also miraculously healed my baby.
My return to faith was a shock for my husband who had only ever known a non-Christian Debbie and although he didn't understand, he supported me as I started to help out with children's work at my church, St Mary's in Ferndown. Six years ago I felt that God was calling me to youth work and I spent the next year praying He would show me something else- instead He changed my heart. He gave me a passion to reach out to young people, to help them achieve their full potential, to give them a hope for the future and to show them that no matter what they've done; God loves them with an unconditional love.
A verse from Psalm 25 has always been significant to me in dealing with my feelings about the teenager I was, ' Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.'
My first year of youth work was eventful to say the least, dealing with the tears of girls falling out and of boys fighting. Difficult questions about pets going to heaven, angry cleaners because of glitter in the carpets, spontaneous squirty cream fights and even a flasher!! I felt ill equipped for this task and asked my church for some training. At exactly this time Moorlands launched their new Placement- based degree course, so four years ago I was one of the first nervously excited new recruits on this new course.
Being in college one day a week instead of full time, enabled me to continue running my sports massage business, look after my family, and be a volunteer youth worker at my church. Things were going well until my second year when we moved from a comfortable house to a renovation project. It became clear that I could not project manage the house repairs and study, so after much prayer I was advised to take a year off. This was a risky decision as I was worried that I may not want to return college. It proved to be an extremely difficult year. As well as coping with living in a building site, my eldest daughter, Amber went to Mozambique on mission work for six months and contracted malaria. She was seriously ill and thousands of miles away but God was amazingly faithful and brought her safely home to us.
Those of you that know me will realise that patience is something I have to work at but during this year God acknowledged my patience and after seventeen years of praying for my husband, Larry finally gave his life to Christ.
Returning to Moorlands last September was not easy. I had to get in the habit of study again and was with a whole new group of people that I didn't know. I had also started working part time with Bournemouth Council on a Children's Outreach Project, so was back juggling my own business, family, work, study, church...If I really stopped to think about it I probably wouldn't have even attempted to do it at all! But all throughout college I have held on to Paul's words to the Philippians ' I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.'
As I finished my studies this summer and was convalescing after an operation I took the opportunity to ask God what direction my life should now take and because I was laid up I had plenty of time to really listen to His answer. It became clear that it was time for me to step down from church youth work and wait for God to give us, as a couple, a new ministry. I have no idea what that is yet! However, I am very excited to have started a new job as aSocial Work Assistant, working with young offenders and their families which is already proving to be very challenging!
During my time at Moorlands I have laughed and cried, argued and debated, shared worship and life's experiences, gained new friends less than half my age, but most significantly I have been equipped with the tools to match the passion God has given me to work with young people.
For Graduation Photographs, please Follow the link on the News Letter, by kind permission of Ede and Ravenscroft Photography.