Archive for the ‘Stories’ Category
Posted on June 29, 2009 - by Tim L
Matt’s story
Two years ago I felt like ending it all, my marriage was on the rocks because of mutual ignorance of each other’s wants and needs, We had moved house twice in a year, I had to live away from home for 12 months and my mother died 2 months after we moved the second time. I didn’t care anymore.
Several weeks later I was watching a play at the bridge, dreading going home when I had a bright flash in my eye. After contemplating this I decided, given my current state, It may well be God saying “Ok bud, come with me, lets sort this out”.
It took several weeks to sort myself out mentally, I had rather fallen to pieces in the previous months. Since then I have viewed life in a very different, better way. I feel comfortable with myself, my relationship with my wife has never been better. After several discussions she has also changed and we are both the better for it.
We went to New Wine which was fantastic, my whole attitude is whatever I do, I don’t have to do it alone.
Matt, 42 year old, Engineer
Posted on June 17, 2009 - by Tim L
Caroline’s ’story’
WHAT ARE YOU?
What are You to the little child?
Christmas
King
Magic!What are You to the hurting?
Medicine
Safe Place
Sleep.What are You to the fearful?
Answers
Strength
Acceptance.What are You to me?
Shoulder
Umbrella
Duvet.
by Caroline, mum, wife, vocalist, performer and poet
Posted on May 22, 2009 - by Tim L
Claire’s story
Claire, 14 year old daughter of Bev. She has the gift of encouragement.
How long have you been involved at the Bridge?
I have been involved with holiday bible club since I was younger, then I came along to the Reckless holiday club and it really helped me. I have been regularly on a Sunday since August last year.
Why do you come?
I want to learn more about what it is to be a Christian. I want to learn how to pray and read the bible. I am going to New Wine in the summer and really looking forward to it. I go to Cease on Thursday which meets in our school. We aim to end poverty and challenge injustice, it is great, and we are making a difference and having an impact.
What do you get out of coming to the Bridge?
“If it wasn’t for the Bridge I wouldn’t be interested in going to Church and wouldn’t be a Christian”
Posted on April 29, 2009 - by Tim L
Bev’s story
Bev Docherty, “who passed out of church at 11 and has learnt more in the past six months at the Bridge than she has ever done in her past ## years!”
How long have you been involved at the Bridge?
We have been coming along to the Bridge since August 2008. We came to support our son and daughter after they had been to the Reckless holiday club. Someone mentioned at the badminton club run by the Bridge that they were running the ‘Bridge Olympics’ on the following Sunday. We came along, had a great time, lots of fun and games and have been coming ever since. We wanted to know more and what it was all about.
Why do you come?
I love that the Bridge is so ‘chilled out’. There is no falseness about it all, no pomp and ceremony. It is easy to understand what is said and talked about, it makes sense to me. We have just been looking at the fruits of the Spirit and it has been so practical and earthy and I have really been able to connect with it. The presentations make use of PowerPoint slides, songs, films, DVD’s, You tube clips and songs, and it is all put across in way that I can understand and make sense of.
The people are so lovely and friendly too. They have made us feel very welcome and ‘at home’.
What do you get out of coming to the Bridge?
I have felt like someone has turned the lights on at Wembley stadium. In the past I have been trying to find my way around with a torch and not doing that well. Now the lights at Wembley are on 70 to 80%. I had remembered that Jesus had said he was the light, Tim showed me where that was in John’s gospel and it has had such an impact on me. I have been reading Tom Wright’s “John,…for everyone” I have found it really helpful. I am now doing an Alpha course too. It is brilliant.
Posted on April 22, 2009 - by Tim L
Josef Yates’ story - Easter Sunday 2009
Well how great is our God?
Can I just take this time to say thanks for coming to the Bridge tonight, even if you have to put up with seeing me.
So why am I here? Why am I going through with this? Well to be honest I am doing this for one person, and he is probably one of most awesome people I’ve met. As well he does so many great things for all of us what some of us might not know about yet. The person who I’m talking about is God. The one and only- the one who can move the mountains, the one who is mighty to save. However I can probably guess that some of you are asking “why are you following him?” and “what are you doing!” and this is what my story is all about. My story begins when I was just a young child, a baby even. I was baptised on this day (Easter Sunday) in a church called Saint Catherine’s where my parents go to church, and all of us made our home there. While I was there my parents always encouraged me to do readings in front of my peers in the congregation and I even became an altar server (which wasn’t my soul aim!) but as time goes on I knew I wasn’t happy there, and I began to fall away from my faith and stopped believing. I then began to put this thought into my head that there is no one that loves me and that if God did love me he’d do something by now.
During this time until the summer 2008 I was your typical 15/16 year old boy- football lover, girls, and not thinking highly of school (them things haven’t really changed!) but I knew that I was putting a front on my life as I going through a break up and some other personal things which nearly dented my own life. Last summer my friend Anna was getting baptised and she motioned it was at the Bridge and it was a Christian place of worship. Then I used to be against it because of past experience - but I went for her sake, but just experiencing her baptism and the bridge itself was mind blowing and I could sense that this could have been a start of something special. Then Saint John’s where running an alpha course where questions of life are put to the people who are on the course. It involves a talk and a discussion. Me being me I went all the funny guy- until I got there and experienced what John was saying and it just shook me that someone could be watching my back. Then when it came to the last day of alpha we had a praying day, where everyone receives prayer and seeks the holy spirit- However I wasn’t sure what to expect so I went up and I received prayer from 2 pairs of people John McGinley and Else Tarrbitt and Liz Cain and Atlee Deeming . But then as soon as they were working their magic with prayer the next thing I was on the floor with a constant voice going through my head saying “you are home, you have come back, and from now on you are disciple” then was the first of many things to come which i can’t get into with limited time available. But as some of you know my Grandmother from Ireland Mary Shannon died on the 28th November 2007, and I thought that was it she’s gone- but now I know after an encounter with God that she is in a better place and if we as his children follow his chosen path for us will be honoured to sit with him when our time is up.
I can conclude by saying why The Bridge? Well first it’s easy to get to being a Burbage boy, but I had a sense that I knew that my growing relationship with the great one can get better. I also consider it as my home as well, and the people who come here are always very good to me and I can’t thank them enough for the continued friendship they offer me. Finally I can conclude with why am I doing this? Well now is the time for me to commit my life to God and make a decision to follow him now and seek his guidance- and
Thanks and appreciation.
Josef Yates, a 16 year old who can do quite a good Peter Kay impression