Natalie

Natalie is part of the community at Emmanuel Church, Bridlington and joined Stepping Up in 2022, she shares her story below.

A few years ago, I went through one of the worst times in my life, broken, in therapy and nowhere to turn. As a non believer for 39 years I never considered going to church. On one of my worst days I fell to my kitchen floor in tears of grief. I kept hearing the words “To heal from this you need to go to church” over and over, so I called a Christian friend and asked to go to church with her.

I went into church for help and told the vicar "I don't believe but I need support." He told me that didn't matter, and they would support me through it.  A short time after I joined The Alpha course and opened my heart to Jesus. I started to read the Bible & started to slowly heal. I was baptised at age 40 and started the Stepping Up programme. 

As I started Stepping Up, I was still a little broken, had no confidence in myself and a low opinion of myself. During the year I began to love myself like Jesus loves me. I learned how to love others, not to judge but to care just like my church had for me. I learned how to confidently share my faith with others in hard times & share my story to help them. The group was very close and became an extended family. We all held each other up. The most challenging part was learning to love myself and see my worth. 

It's very good that even after Stepping Up finished, the support & guidance doesn't stop. I love our group get togethers as a Mustard Seed community. God, church, my church family, Alpha and Stepping Up have all changed my life from a broken person to a more confident, caring and happy person. Jesus is my saviour and forever will be. I am always listening to what God's wants me to do next & I have been invited to do a course called LEAD, which will only further my confidence in leading & whatever may come next.

Let Jesus into your heart, open that door to him, it will change your life!