Lee-Anne

Lee-Anne is part of Stepping Up in Middlesbrough. She shares her journey from popping in to her local church to discovering that God has a plan for her life.

Hi, my name is Lee-Anne; I live in North Ormesby with my 16-year-old son. When we moved to North Ormesby in 2015, I said we would ‘pop in’ to Holy Trinity to see what was going on and make connections. I had always felt that church was a safe place from a young age and so it seemed a good thing to do. Soon after that, it became clear to me that Holy Trinity was our church, but I was pretty sure I’d be a back seat worshipper, and just turn up and go home.

During my second Christmas there, the vicar was talking about Mary and how she said yes to God’s call. The leaving thought was ‘what will you say yes to?’ That question stayed with me and niggled me, so I started getting more involved in the life, and what I now know, to be the ministry of the church. I became part of the Godly Play team, and was later elected as Churchwarden, even though when I was first asked to pray about becoming Churchwarden I laughed! Single mum, 30 years old did I really think I fit the ‘bill’ to be a churchwarden? I now lead Tot’s Praise and love meeting new families to hear their stories. I love being out and about in the community reaching out with God’s love, especially with local families.

Years ago, I would have never imagined God had a plan for me; I was happy coming to church and working as a receptionist in a Car show room. Through time with other people, encouragement, and deepening my faith I came to realise there were gifts and qualities I could use and God really is helping me step out of my comfort zone.

I joined the Stepping Up programme because it is allowing me time to think about where I have been, where I am with God and to explore where God is leading me. It is great to have a few hours each week with likeminded people on their own journey and to see them growing in their gifts and confidence too.