Time and again, we see how one person meeting Jesus can transform whole families. As lives are changed by God’s love, the impact spreads through generations, like it has in Claire’s family.
‘Even though I went to Sunday school as a child, church didn’t really feature in my life until recently. One afternoon, my nephew Tyson was in a local park and the Message Bus was there.
‘As he went onboard, he couldn’t believe what he found and had a great afternoon playing video games and football. As Tyson left, the bus team told him about a youth group at Message Community Church the next Monday – the church planted to make sure that Community Grocery members in Sharston have a place where they can hear about Jesus and grow in their faith. Always up for doing something different, Tyson agreed to go along.
‘That Monday, he had a great time, and as I chatted to Tyson I could see something was changing in him. Each time I saw or spoke to him over the next few days, he told me I needed to go to church with him that Sunday. I tried to put him off, but that was impossible when he turned up on my doorstep at 7:30am on Sunday morning for a church service that started four hours later!
‘As soon as I walked into church, there was something different about the place. Everyone was so happy, and I knew I needed that for myself as life has been tough the past few years.
‘I’m a single mum of twins and last year my Nan, who’d been my rock and like a mum to me, passed away. Around the same time I lost my partner too. I felt totally lost and had sometimes found myself turning to alcohol to try and cope. It had got to the point where I spent days wondering how I was going to carry on.
‘As I got to know people at the church, I opened up about how hard life was and they told me more about Jesus and the hope he offers.
‘At this time, my son was really poorly. This, combined with the fact that the price of everything keeps going up, meant I was constantly worrying about money. I didn’t know whether to have the gas and electric on or to put food in the cupboard. It was then that someone at church mentioned the Community Grocery to me. And it’s been a life saver. When I think about it, I just smile.
‘The fact I no longer have to worry about food and where it’s coming from means more than you’ll ever know, but the courses are helping make my life easier too.
‘Because of the grocery and the church, I’ve found Jesus and the hope he offers me. I now know I’m never alone, and whatever I go through, Jesus is always with me. Without God, there’d be no hope for me or my family, I can’t believe how good life now is. I wanted to show people how much I love Jesus, so decided to get baptised recently.’
Claire’s story alone should make us all celebrate the way God’s transforming lives, but as they came along to church with their mum and cousin, Claire’s twin sons also heard the gospel and responded to it!
Twelve-year-old Riley says, ‘Before coming to the grocery and church, I was having a really bad time. My behaviour at school was not good. My cousin, Tyson, told me I needed to go to church, I said I would because they gave out cake! But as I listened to what they were telling me about Jesus, something clicked, and I knew I needed to pay attention as it was important for me.
‘I love Jesus. He’s always there for me. I’m one of his and he’s the dad I’ve never had.’
And it doesn’t stop there. Seeing the change in Claire and the boys, a number of other members of her family have also started coming along to church services too.
More and more we’re hearing stories like Claire’s, of whole families being impacted as people discover God’s love for them in groceries, through Eden or creative mission.
