Who are you and what led you here?

[Justmerach]

Who are you and how did you get here?

With this post keep in mind that this is the internet and not to post more than you are comfortable with privacy wise.

I thought it would be interesting to read some of our journies briefly and how we go to where we are today posting on this forum and what is the intention that led us here.

I have been a Christian carved out in my own path since 16. I attended Catholic schools as a Christian and see myself as a non denominational today. I am 51 and female and came here in this position in my life trying to support my faith particularly wanting to reach those who were struggling with the faith

Through health challenges of a chronic nature in my life I was not able to have children.
I am though an aunt to eight several of who I attentively looked after in their early years and had great experiences. i do still feel Gods blessings. I am now a Great Auntie as well.

I have a lifelong interest in religion and went to undergraduate to major in Religious Studies.

I was baptised at 8 years old and received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in my late teens. Been reading here long enough I feel in a better to share.

My journey hasn't been the easiest but it certainly has been made more bearable by God's free spirit and love that he has shown to me throughout my life.

I personally wrote about the journey with my faith a few years ago thinking that it was now the time to do so. I am am average Joe child of God like everyone else. I have sshared what I wrote with several church members as well.

You can read my journey here with the following link with more detail. I am not intending to answer questions on this article. Feel free to start a thread if it ignites debate. . https://racheltestimony.blogspot.com/2022/09/my-testimony-of-gods-grace.html?m=1

Below is the free ebook version without any prrsona video footage af the end.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11oJoRtaTfU3K30Iz7OK2IwTbt0AxmC70GLdz9LTaeo/edit?usp=drivesdk

I discuss there about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit acting in my life and my walk to today. I have updated since 2022.

May your walk and journey continue as well.

Thank you for sharing @Justmerach . I have not yet read your links, but will do so. You will forgive me for not sharing any more of my journey than I already have on other threads. This board has proved itself as a captive fish in a barrel shooting exercise for those who love the sport, which is sad.

I gave my life to Christ as an adult. As an adult I have been baptised by the Holy Spirit and by full immersion in water. It was a challenging and complicated journey up to the point I stopped running away from Him. Since accepting my Lord and Saviour, life is no less challenging and complicated, but it is full of gratitude, joy, and the peace that passes all understanding. Thanks be to God 🙏

Thegreatestoftheseislove that is a great testimony that you shared. I
just saw a post yesterday about your journey. I just had a detour to find out who posted it to that thread just now and it was you. It was lovely to see a more expanded account here.It was a strong account there and now as well.

With some peoples sensitives like one of my nephew was due to be baptised, he had to pull out of it as his sensitives couldn't take a full immersion baptism, whereas his younger brother was ok with it. Different things for different people.

I thought you were being litreal there about this captive fish game and feared for the worst for a few moments and then thought it could not be litreal. I haven't been around that long to know about that or spent enough time here to notice. Good warning though. Christians need to be as bold as they can, but they need to keep safe as well.

Thank you @Justmerach

The captive fish in a barrel, as easy game for preying hunters is not literal, but a metaphorical view on what happens on this board. It is not a safe space for Christian Mumsnetters.

Shame about the one nephew, but as we know, water baptism does not need to be by full immersion. I hope it was able to be done some other way for him. The bottom line is that God knows our heart and is gracious towards our sensitivities.

I have now read some of your wider journey - powerful and interesting. To protect your own privacy (and my own) I won’t say any more here, due to the circling wolves. It is always edifying to share in another’s story.

Thegreatestoftheseislove thank you for your thoughts and that is very concerning about what has been going on and thank you for illuminating me about that.

My nephew hasn't been baptised yet. Last I heard it needs to happen in another church now, but I know it will happen at the right time.

I love it when someone asks a question, like who are you and what brought you here. As for in the Bible people would knock on peoples doors and be asked that same question, who brought you here but I read added on and what house are you from as well..

Hi. I'm a lifelong Christian. I was Christened into the Church of England as a baby, and confirmed at 13. As a child I regularly attended Sunday school, and then once I started secondary school was allowed to help as a "young leader." I also went to Brownies/Guides and did church parade and so on. I did a shirt stint the the choir, and was often given the lead role in the nativity play. I regularly did readings in church too, which I absolutely would not do these days.

As a teen I was in a church based dance group, run by my friends mum and based at the local methodist church. We were called The Christian Dancers and performed at a few Church events including a wedding and a baptism.

I drifted away from church for a while, whilst I was still doing the dance group and the occasional service. I never stopped believing, but I was busy being a teen.

I had my own DC really young, they were both Christened at the same church as me, despite it not being my local. They went to the local CofE nursery and primary school, and from there I started attending the church 'Cafe', and then the church. I'm still an active member of both. We have a midweek discussion group, which is loosely faith based and midweek communion at the Cafe, as well as various activities like craft and toddlers. On Sundays I'm on the chalice rota, so take my turn at offering the wine. My eldest son is on the creche rota, and I also help with the children's groups in an emergency. I'm in my second year as a PCC member.

I've been through some really really bad times in my life. I've tried, at times to stop believing. But ultimately I couldn't. I've raged and shouted at God. I've hated him at times.

But I've also found the most incredible love. When I was at my lowest, I felt like I was at the bottom of a deep, dark well
Friends would sit at the top and we could chat. Sometimes I could reach their fingertips. But they couldn't lift me out. Then one day I realised that I had never been alone. Jesus had been there all along, just waiting for me to be ready.

So that's my journey so far. Sometimes I feel like God is calling me. But I'm not sure what for yet.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam thank you so much for sharing your journey, it was very strong.

It sounded like a good time in the world early on that you was relaying. I remember about Easter bonnets how we used make them in school and I haven't seen any in such a long time, but perhaps they still do them in school.

I was going to suggest doing the Chalice for you and you had moved to that when I read on further. I know someone who started to do this to and it is so lovely to watch their journey considering their life struggle as well.

You have walked this far, may you continue to walk to the end with Christ who has always been there for you.

I like meeting to when I can on a Wednesday for a coffee after mid week service. I had my Christmas lunch with them this year and it was so much fun.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful journey of faith. It's inspiring to see how, even through your challenges and doubts, you've held on to your belief and found strength in God’s love. Your story reminds me that we are never truly alone, even in our darkest moments. Trust that God’s plan for you will be revealed in His perfect timing, and He will guide you to the purpose He’s calling you to. Keep listening and walking in faith you’re probably making a difference in ways you may not even realize.

My sister who is also a Christian mum, a mum to 4 now and a foster mother as well. She is a long-term Christian.

I never knew I would do this when I started this thread. After reading the posts I just gave out the link to this thread to my sister to read yesterday to gain strength and encouragement from as a Christian. I said do not worry about joining the forum and I don't give out my online activity to family who can just come to me in person or pick up the phone and speak to me. She knows my story inside and out I would expect and has lived with me. What a blessing she has been in my life.

Our journeys here though show that it is not easy for anyone, whatever stage of your journey you are on.

We have not been many here in numbers so far, but any Christian could gain something.

I highlighted a song also to her yesterday that was linked to here. I described it as being on a longterm journey and the song to be appreciated and listened to when needing a refreshment also to the tired body and spirit, so thanks for that as well.

May all your light keep on shining.

I was baptised in a Congregational Church and attended Sunday School for some years. I joined the church when I was a teenager.Shortly afterwards I started attending a nearby Church of England which had a big and friendly youth club. It was there that I worked out what I’d been hearing for years and committed my life to Jesus.
I returned to the Congregational church and started to train to be a lay preacher. After a year or so I moved to Glasgow to attend Bible College and was a student there from 1969 to 1971.
After that I worked for Scripture Union for a couple of years and married another staff member.We then worked for the Anglican Church in Israel for seven years.
When we returned to the UK we lived and worked in a Christian Conference centre for a few years until it closed. I then was a self-employed builder for years.
I went to University when I was 44 and followed a degree with a post grad diploma in Drug & Alcohol studies. I worked in a few places helping people deal with addictions.
My wife and I split up and divorced and I expected to remain single but met someone else and fell in love and we got married and I moved into her house. The nearest church was a URC and we started attending it and joined.I then started lay preacher training again and this time I completed the course. This keeps me busy. I am booked to lead 48 services this year.
I am sure I am where God wants me to be and am happy to be here.

OldJohn, thank you for sharing. I grounded myself by prayer before I read your account as I had been quite busy with my day previously. I did this to give your account the attention it should get. From the get go as I was reading I was saying Amen and I didn’t stop saying that until the end. Jesus is your shepherd and you have been fruitful and as you say you are where God wants you to be. I hope your endeavours next are fruitful also. I know already they will be.

Lifelong Christian but was drawn into a church community after a significant bereavement just over a year ago. I loved it, grew spiritually and became closer to Jesus than ever before.
2 months ago, I was turned on and torn apart in the church environment in the worst way. I am heartbroken and too afraid to engage at the moment. I am trying to reconcile how to forgive when no remorse is shown, redefine what care for each other looks like when trust is shattered.
Not sure why I am contributing really. I just feel a massive church shape hole in my life and miss my found friends there. Most of all I miss the one who did this to me.

Another lifelong Christian here, although I did not really find Christ until my early 20s. Before that I went to Church occasionally and was always interested in reading bits of the Bible, believed in God but didn't know Jesus as my personal saviour. It only took reading John 1:1-14 to believe and accept Christ into my life.

After that I had many ups and down with my health/career and by the time I reached my early 30s I let my own desperation to find a marriage partner take over so rather than asking God, I took matters into my own hands and chose someone who turned out to be abusive. I had 5 years of hell with them. During that time, my belief stayed strong, but I never went to Church nor read my Bible. He was not a believer, in fact, he came from a Muslim background although he said he hated religion because it caused wars. I eventually had the opportunity to break free and got divorced. I had no family to turn to which made things very hard.

So now in my 40s I was still 'going my own way' you might say, and met another man. We didn't get married but lived together - we're still together now, some 30 years later. He has been very good to and for me, but again he's not a Christian, I think more of an agnostic. During all this time my health got worse.

Funnily enough lockdown was the turning point for me, God is persistent and led me back to Himself via YouTube! I am pretty much housebound now so it was a fitting way to do it! I found myself for the first time really getting into Bible study and journaling, and then the Holy Spirit prompted me to find other believers as it's not good to be on one's own. I asked God and He must've thought, 'ooh easy request' and within a few hours I'd found a great online Church, in fact I now attend two online Churches, one in the UK, the other in the US! I love how the Internet has enabled this.

I do know God's purpose for me, in a way I have known it for a long time, it's always been in the field of the healing ministry. I asked Him how can I do this when housebound? Of course, He is not limited and prayer can reach anywhere, so I am reassured I can still work for His earthly Kingdom. Then there's the call to evangelise. Again, if you're housebound, that doesn't stop you, and Mumsnet is clearly in great need of Jesus. So I will try to do God's business here or wherever else He calls me. I just pray He gives me long enough as I feel I am far behind where I should be, and I do mourn those lost years even though I know God can use everything for His glory.

@Nextyearhopes I am so, so sorry that happened to you. Perhaps engaging here may help in a small way to build yourself back up again slowly.

Nextyearhopes, I am sorry for the pain you experienced with the significant bereavement.
I am sorry that you have also been hurt through having a bad experience at the church as well. AlteredStater covered it all in their reply to you. However, I wanted to reply to you as well because of personal experience. I too have experienced difficulties with a church. I was very unwell in 2015 and went to inpatient. I was very closely located to the church I attend and the hospital wasn’t that far away and they didn’t offer to come and see me in the person in a needy time. I was considered end point. I attended once nearly ready to be discharged and all I got from them after not seeing me for so long was that, oh it is good you have not kicked the bucket. The leaders who were doing their best but they left and a set of new rectors took over. I can say I have had a fantastic experience under their leadership and they have gone above and beyond for me. I am thrilled with where I attend.
There are other church’s out there and may be if you are demontional consider another church or demomination to attend even in the intermin. The spirit of God can manifest in any church if they are worshipping appropriately. I would say as well and I do not know your needs. You can attend like an Anglican/Catholic service and be very discreet and just worship and leave whilst your trust levels are being rebuilt.

AlteredStater thank you for sharing. I relate to some aspects of your story as well with my health challenges etc. I am glad you have joined this online church. Your story reading between the gaps I can see that you have experience and older than myself but holding on and that gives me courage to do the same as well.
I just myself emailed my local diocese to ask about evangelising. This forum was not in my target forum as such. I just joined for discussion and trying to support others. I wrote my testimony in 2022. I have updated it since to today. However, we are drawn usually to a particular community. Like with the Saints they different feast days. Some will be like a patron to the sick etc. I set out to reach those from neurodiverse community (but limit nobody), which I did in four neurodiverse communities from my home on the computer.
I also looked into a healing course myself, but it was too alternative for me and not Christian I had to leave. I had though about setting up may be my own studio and praying for people. That was a shame and I will leave that to the church leaders to do so like in their Healing and Wholeness service or a similar service which I would encourage to try and attend to be anointed in the person with Holy Oil. I am not saying have to take regular membership with them. It may help you in the body. Keep on doing what and doing and going with God’s grace. Keep on doing what you do from your heart and put God first and it is acceptable.

Now I will say this, I may not able to personally reply to anyone further. The thread though will stand for itself. I do not want to add as well more to be read in this busy world and keep it essential, I will certainly though like and be reading if anyone comments further.

I am Orthodox also non denominational. I came to read here because I do not believe there are true Christians on mumsnet but forgive me, there might be. I do believe that we need to share with others some form of fellowship and I have never found this in any UK church , apart from once had a very specific home group with some astonishingly beautiful souls

Mumsnet is definitely not a safe space for Christians or any people with morals also

How are you defining "true Christians" just out of interest?

A person who follows Christ and His commands as presented in the New testament, rather than specific denomination or specific church doctrine

Thanks. There's definitely lots of us here.

Sadly there are few safe spaces for Christians. Not even my beloved church was safe.

i concur but pass no comment about the church. We read it earlie and are aware those who have read it, it seems pointless stating that again and now it seem negative like you want to break something up and adding additional negativity to the thread and it sticks not in a good way I might add. There has been no postcodes posted etc and you will puzzled why a child of God would do so when it has always been stated.

People can determine their own precautions in all situations. I was thankful for being alterted though the first time. My safety I can do all that I can and I entrust my life to God. This can be bounded in scripture and we need to be aware. Everything we do is for God which is noted and God is aware.

I end this by writing that Jesus said to us to go into the world to meet. 1st the lost tribes and if unwelcomed leave. My experience has been ok, and it seems pointless at times going to those who appear well sorted out as Christans they can hold their own as a group..Sometimes looking at it you may think who can be helped when seem perhaps already saved. Let us be real.

What concerns me a little about this is where you get your teaching from, are you just reading the Gospels yourself or are you getting input from anywhere? I'm asking because on your own it's possible to misunderstand parts of the Bible or miss some real gems. I find teaching from others is incredibly valuable, because I do think we humans have the tendency to ignore things we don't like in the Bible or parts we don't understand.

I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick though so apologies if so!

Lol

I was saying to myself yesterday and they said this forum wasn't Christian.
Well it seems it quite to me a good mixed up bunch with so many different stories as well.

I must say it seems not much mums with children posting at the moment or dad's as well. I stumbled on this having been aware for sometime and started my first post just looking for those struggling with the faith.and I had to stop personally going into the philosophy and religion forum as well.

So, there are many people that can be supported as when I joined it was a bit quiet. That is a great time for me to back out and go somewhere who may need to be supported but I may always check by here. Also, I have a question myself and think it fits this forum best then I will post. Also, I like uploading the scripture sheet on Sunday. May be I can offer some new information I will, but there is no point two people repeating it.

I like Romans 12 instrusts us well on this to be humble and to be sober minded and do things out of love and service and stick within our parameters of safety if you feel you must. Although many of the disciples risked their lives to try and help others.

So you beautiful souls. I will leave this here. This is the carving of Mother and Child that I spoke of in another thread that I wanted to light a candle in their behalf. I wish light will be on all of you as well.

Hi all, I thought I would link this for you as well below. I wrote it a few days as an update to the community for one of my co conditions. I testified more about my journey and how I feel my life was saved. It is just a short read. No comments are expected. I hope you are all doing very well.

I also most likely have a job as a hospital chaplain volunteer. I am just updating you with what I wrote. I go for a tour of where I could be working on Friday. It is strange how things work, but it looks like mine. I would be listening to people who want to see me in hospital.

https://www.racheltalks.com/2025/02/a-lazarus-story-of-its-own-my-update.html

Hi everyone. Hope life is treating you well.

A little bit of an old thread, but I wanted to share with the story that I took for my blessed mother about her faith. She is a mother of 4 children. It was a joy to take her story and now I have done my own, I enjoy taking others and encourage them as well and help them construct it to. I want to help someone who I know is deaf write their story as well for the community. I do it for joy and free love. I am free to answer her more questions for her if you desire to ask more.

Hi everyone, I am sharing with you my mother’s story today. She is woman of God and is a Christian who has a story to tell and share with others. God has blessed my mother with many gifts. She is in her late 70s now and is a great age. She has been a Christian since childhood and attended a Catholic School. I have seen that through my mother’s life that she has had tremendous faith and has surely the gift of faith which is one of the 8 Holy Spirit gifts. She has the kind of faith that can move mountains like the days of old.

She has gone through four pregnancies with children and some have been more difficult than others. One time when I was 11 she nearly didn't survive an Epidural which went into the wrong vein that could have ended her mortal life with the procedure and she nearly died. Her condition horrified me at the time, but God was there with US and came and marched through. She has said that the Lord was with her and I know that he was. She was in labour for three days. The negligence was found with my mum and she made a recovery and went back to her old self. God has always put her under his wing to prosper her because she is loving, charitable and pure in heart and faithful to him over adversity.

Today she has been going to Healing and Wholeness services as a non demontional Christian and has received great support. She went for leg pain with osteoarthritis and the leg pain stopped and she is more mobile now and describes herself as being perfect and now walks freely. In these services you are blessed with the Holy Spirit via touch. This is called the laying of hands and a part of the healing process and then oils which are given to everyone anointed on the head. I myself have attended to for Wholeness opposed to healing and have made strides. My rector has told me that she is receiving very good feedback at the results of these services from others too. These service take place usually every month.

My mum has stood beside me when I was unwell with an eating disorder and has been one of my biggest supporters. She trained as a Chef in her life for Scotland Yard. She likes attending church and being a role model to others. I have met some of her friends from church and they seemed delightful as well. My mum also likes to give out simple prayer bookmarks to people who may be deprived and she works in a voluntary kitchen and has had four children and eight grandchildren. There is nothing more special than an elder giving out prayer bookmarks freely to those who may not own a Bible or a phone. She likes reaching out to people too who need comforting and gives alms generously. She has grace now and has learnt to control her negative attributes.

                               Keep up the good work mum.                

Sometimes I have said to her after prayer that mum you seem so clean and light and free of sin. This is Christ and her new creation has come. I like to see her to and she is a brilliant light for us all as members of Christ.

Her message to others is to hold onto your faith at all costs and go out and hold your head up and be happy and smile

I like to keep things ordered and in a category and easy to find if you are looking for information.
I saw this thread and read a strong post by LunaLarkin79 and wanted to recommend in here to for others. Well done LunaLarkin79 for writing such a helpful post.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/5410052-finding-faith