I heard about God from childhood but it was after joining a youth group that my faith came alive at the age of 17. I had an encounter with God that convinced me that Jesus is alive and real, and it is possible to know him. I discovered I was forgiven, loved and completely accepted by God. The adventure of following Jesus has been what life is all about since. I love seeing Jesus transforming lives. I’m passionate about God’s Word and seeing the reconciling Spirit of God at work.

I’m married to Will and have two young children. Previously I served as Associate Vicar for the Parish of Aston and Nechells, Birmingham and was Curate at Coventry Cathedral. I’ve also worked for charities and have degrees in Biochemistry and Theology. In my spare time I enjoy quality time with family, sharing meals, photography and crafts. I love a good curry.

I was bought up in a Christian home but went off the rails in my late teens, getting involved in drugs and toxic relationships.  In desperation for my life to change I cried out to God and from that day onwards He has been faithful to me.

I came to St. Mary’s very broken and ended up doing Pathway and surrendering my life to Christ.  My life is now totally transformed.  I am married to Darren and our 3 children are amazing.  All praise to God who lifted me out of the miry clay to be a new creation in Him.

I was a member of the choir and youth club at my local church until my mid-teens. Then I fell away from faith and was lost in a wilderness of drink and drugs for many years. Looking back now I am sure that God tried to reach out to me many times but I “saw through a mirror darkly”. In autumn 2004 I came to St Mary’s Church seeking help from Pathway for my then boyfriend. It was I who ended up doing Pathway, then Alpha and giving my life to Jesus. Since then I’ve grown in faith in God and confidence in myself and now love serving God by reaching out to disadvantaged adults.

For 31 years my life was so far away from God. Through my misspent youth and early twenties I was frequently involved with criminal activities as well as  being addicted to drugs and alcohol. I then became involved with drug dealing with led to a prison sentence in 2001. I felt such an emptiness and void in my life that in my desperation I cried out to God while in my prison cell. I asked God if He was real. To my amazement He showed me that He was.  I was immediately filled with His love through His Holy Spirit. He then gave me a promise through the Bible that He would set me free from the past and all that I had been through. I’ve now been free of alcohol and drug addiction for 11 years, married for 9 years to Rebecca with three amazing daughters.  So God is good and keeps all of His promises.

I have been part of the Church of England all my life. My parents were actively involved in their local church and I was brought up in a close Christian home. Although I had been baptised and confirmed by the time I went to University in 1971 I had unresolved questions about God and was without a  faith that had become ‘my own’. I realised that it was impossible to live up to Jesus’ teaching and the standards he had set in my own strength and one Sunday I was challenged in a Service to accept Jesus for myself. I found new direction from inviting Jesus anew into my life and I believe that has led me on a journey of growing closer to God day by day.