Our Stories

Steve

"Therefore I tell you don't worry about your life... Look at the birds of the air... your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6 v 25&26

I was born in the lovely land of Liverpool. I was brought up in Christian family and was taken along to Bethel Church, Green Lane. For 3 years I lived in Leeds, attending City Evangelical Church, while doing a computing degree. Whilst there I was involed in the church children's and youth work and was also involved with Leeds Young Life.

In September 2002 I joined 3 others in a training programme called 'Trainers'. This was with 5 evangelists Roger Carswell, Jem Hudson, Paul Hinton, Gus Eyre and Andy Stovell. This was based at Stenson Fields Christian fellowship in Derby, where Jem works, but we travelled a fair bit with the other evangelists. In July 2003 I got married to Kathryn and moved to Coventry where I started working for a church in Hillfields as a Youth Worker until August 2004.

I have been interested in the ministry of OM Ships for about 6 or 7 years and felt that was what the Lord was calling us to do so we joined the Logos 2 in September 2004.

How I became a Christian

I was brought up in a Christian family in that both my parents were Christians. This however didn't automatically mean that I was a Christian. Becoming a Christian is something someone has to do by themselves, it's a personal choice. I often use the illustration of if you were born in a garage you would't automatically be a car! The same goes to becoming a Christian. My parents took me along to church, Sunday school, Children's club and Boys' Brigade from a very early age. Going along to these things, reading the Bible and praying also doesn't make someone a Christian. It wasn't until I was 7 years old that I realised that I had done wrong and that Christ died to save me and if I ask Him for forgiveness then I would be saved. So I prayed a very simple prayer along the lines of: Sorry Lord for the wrong things I have done, thank you for dying to save me, come into my life and help me follow you. At the age of 7 I didn't understand the entire Bible and know everything that Jesus did but the Gospel is so simple that I knew what He had done for me. As Christians it is not by following a set of rules or traditions that we live eternally but because of what Christ did for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."John 3:16 (NKJV)

Kathryn

I have been blessed in so many ways during my life, not least beacause I was born into a family that knew and loved God. This meant that from a very early age I was taken to church and was taught all about Jesus and what He had done for me. At the age of 7 I realised that knowing this was not enough. I had to put my trust in the one who had died to save me, I commited my life to Him. When I was 12 I was baptised, confirming my commitment to Jesus publically.

During my high school years I had many ups and downs but all through them I knew that God was with me. My faith grew and I started witnessing for Him each summer with United Beach Missions where I then met Steve during one such mission in Llandudno.

I spent three years studying Graphic Design at Coventry University where I got involved in many things including finding a church, Hillfields Evangelical Baptist Church, where I could be used. This was where Steve then worked once we got married.