We recently caught up with Angela Pratt, a member of St Mary the Virgin, Leigh and participant in the Foundations for Ministry course to find out about her story of returning to faith and the impact this has had on her life.
My journey started in October 2021 when I think I was going through the worst years of my life. I just felt drawn to the church, like I needed to come. I don't know why - I hadn't been to a church for any reason other than weddings or baptisms since I was 7 years old when I used to go to Sunday school. So, I’d say I lost touch with God when I was very young.
But, in October 2021, I walked into Christ's Church in Harwood with my daughter who was 17 months old at the time. I didn't know anyone there, and my mind was as far from peaceful as it could ever have been. But for some reason, and I wasn't quite sure why at the time, my mind quieted when I was sat there. I now know that it was God helping my mind to feel at rest. One thing I was sure of was that there was a reason why, when I was sat here in church, my mind felt at peace, and everyone here was so warm and welcoming. My oldest son was then born in April 2022 and both my son and daughter were baptised there shortly after.
I went on to do the Alpha course last year which I really enjoyed. I was sometimes very conscious that I was asking a lot of questions, but Julia, Gail and Rebecca from the course were very nice and patient in answering all of my questions, and I began to understand more about my faith. After completing the Alpha course, I started doing Bible study with Gail as I wanted to know and learn more. I really enjoy learning about Jesus and the Bible, and the more I learn the more I want to know and understand. I moved to Leigh last year and started attending St Mary the Virgin in Leigh, but I still do Bible study in Harwood on a Monday. I also joined the choir at St Mary's church and help with the Sunday school once a month, which I enjoy very much. I have just started the Diocese of Manchester’s Foundations for Ministry course which I am really excited about.
Following this I wanted to be confirmed to feel closer to God and the Church, having felt that God gave me a great sense of comfort when I needed it and knowing that he continues to give me comfort, strength and a huge feeling of belonging now. I feel stronger walking with God, and I've even managed to get my other half to come with me to church with the children; he's not a churchgoer so that's definitely an accomplishment! It's hard to put into words, but I know that church is special for me and that I am meant to have a relationship with God. Not because I have to, but because I want to. I just wish I had found my way back sooner.
Since doing the Alpha course and being certain that I want God back in my life, I pray and talk to God and feel like my prayers have been answered. I don't ask for major things, just for him to help my mind feel less full if it feels too busy, or to help someone who is ill to get better soon, and I always make sure I pray to thank him for helping me too. Another thing I’ve learned along the way is that God might not always answer everyone's prayers in the way they might like him to. Sometimes it might feel like he's not helping, but that's not true, God is always helping and ready to help anyone who asks and wants him to; he just does it in different ways.
Over the Christmas period there were a couple of weeks that I didn't attend church, and when I went back it felt like my batteries were being recharged whilst I was there. Church feels like a home to me - one of God's many homes - because it is, and my life feels fulfilled with God in it. Something a lot of people have said to me is "Slow down, have some 'you' time and don't take too much on", and my response is that anything involving church and God is my ‘me time’. I am so grateful that I am walking with God, and I still thank him frequently for guiding me and helping me to be where I am today.
These two quotes resonate with me when looking back at my journey from 2021 when I felt stressed and lost, compared to now when I know I can come to church and feel replenished:
Philippians 4:7: ‘And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.’
Romans 5:1 to 5:5: ‘Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live. And so, we boast of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory! We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and his approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.’