My Journey of Faith - Nic 
Where are you from and what do you do?
Originally from Blackpool, I now live in Lancaster and work at the University of Cumbria as an administrator within the School of Educational Partnership and Enterprise in support of project activity.
What is your family’s faith background?
My family have been faithful Christians for generations both on my Father and Mother’s side. My parents grew up post war; with both their parent’s (my grandparents) having an impact on them coming to faith. My Dad regularly attended church as a young boy and my Mum experienced God initially through the Blackpool Mission before finding a new personal faith through an invitation of a friend to a confirmation service. My sister and I were therefore introduced to God from an early age and I have attended church for as long as I can remember.
When did you start attending church and what did it mean to you?
I was baptised as an infant and welcomed into the family of my local church in Blackpool from a young age; attending Sunday School regularly along with a church youth organisation called Campaigners. Church was very much a part of my life but at the time I didn’t appreciate what it meant to truly be in a relationship with God.
Can you describe something of your own personal journey of faith?My own personal journey to faith has been one of taking small steps towards Jesus. I haven’t had a big revelation of God that has turned my life upside down. My early years were informative; I knew a lot about religion and who God was and accepted that Jesus was my saviour but it was all very much an understanding than anything real; something was missing. I strived to be loved by this God I knew about. I thought I must do something to deserve the sacrifice of Jesus for me. And as for the Old Testament; I wasn’t sure if God was to be feared. Religion gave me a structure to have God in my life but I very much kept Him on the fringes.
Were there any key turning points that had an impact on your faith?
 When I was 17 one of the Campaigner leaders organised a trip to Spring Harvest. It was in one of the meetings that I had my first experience of God on a personal level. The meetings had been telling us about the Holy Spirit and how we could be filled with the Spirit of God. I’d heard of Pentecost and read in the bible about the early experiences of the disciples in being filled with the Holy Spirit but I didn’t know it was something I could have and experience today. The meeting at Spring Harvest ended with a call for those who wanted to receive the Holy Spirit and I went forward expectantly to be prayed for. My experience wasn’t dramatic; I didn’t fall to the ground; no great revelation; just a warm sense of peace and the unmistakable knowledge that my Father was there and He loved me…
Away from Spring Harvest I fell back into the old routine of church. God felt a million miles away as struggles in my personal life left Him out in the cold. Mixed messages from the church of love, forgiveness and grace alongside condemnation and intolerance of anything or anyone not seen to be “on the right path” left me confused and isolated; not really trusting God or the church. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda and I feared I was in danger of losing myself in trying to be the person it seemed people expected me to be.
Were there any people who made a particular impact on your journey of faith?
A big turning point for me was when I met someone going through some of the same struggles I was but who had such a faith and an amazing personal, one to one relationship with God. I always joked that it was like they had a hot line with God at the end of the telephone. My prayers seemed to bounce off the ceiling and whereas I had my one experience at Spring Harvest to look back on; they had an incredible experience everyday. They lived and breathed God in everything they did and I saw it was possible for something more, so much more. God wasn’t a religion; He was real! And His one desire was that I let Him love me and allow myself to love Him. No rules to follow, no laws to obey; just plain and simple love.
What do you make of the Church now?
I find church difficult and struggle to really open up to my fellow believers. Church can get in the way of my truly knowing Jesus as so much is based on traditions and by following religious practices.
How has your faith been reflected in your life-style?
My faith and relationship with God is the most important aspect of my life. I can’t imagine life without Him. Being in a relationship with God as opposed to striving for acceptance through religion has been a slow and painful process at times but one that allows true freedom to be myself. Now I don’t “do right” because I’ve been told to or because I’m seeking approval; but because God lives through me and He’s changed my heart.
How does your faith uphold you during periods of difficulty?
Having such a close relationship with my Lord doesn’t mean life isn’t hard at times. There will always be struggles to bear and sacrifices to make but my faith upholds me through them. I accept that God uses circumstances to help me grow and be more like Him in sharing my love. My journey of faith has been slow at times but I find encouragement from the story of the hare and the tortoise. It’s one step at a time but I know that God will see me across the finish line.
What would you now say to others about faith, religion and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord?
 Don’t confuse God with religion. Faith is about having a relationship with God and isn’t based on a set of rules. If you don’t know Jesus today then I urge you to consider what you might be missing out on. The proof is in the pudding. Until you take a chance on Jesus; you’ll never know how real and exciting the journey can be.
Is there a particular scripture, prayer or teaching that holds particular significance for you?
“… You, Lord are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand” Isaiah 64:8 We don’t always understand how God works in our lives or why we go through such traumatic times but looking back we can see why they were necessary and how God uses our experience to shape us.
If you could change one thing about the Church what would it be?
If there were one thing I could change about the church it would be to bring it back to what’s it’s all about. Jesus! I pray to see the day when the church puts our differences to one side and accepts all into the love of God with no questions asked or judgements made; opening our doors wide to welcome in the lost and lonely; the poor and needy and show His love to each other and in our communities.
If you could make a difference in the world what would it be?
To encourage people to experience the love of God for themselves. To walk with them on their journey of faith and help build an environment that allows them the time and space to find themselves; without fear of rejection or condemnation. To support them in meeting their full potential and realising their gifting. I can make a start in my day-to-day life with the people I meet.
How do you think your life would have been different without coming to faith and acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord?
Had I not come to faith I can’t imagine how my life might have been. Unfulfilling? Directionless? Without hope? Every day He opens my eyes to something new that without my faith would go unnoticed. Life would be passing me by in a whirlwind. In sharing my journey with God; every day is special.
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