Living Hope Stories

“My advice to anyone who is going through a rough time is to look for hope” Brad would have called himself a ‘spectator in faith’ having grown up occasionally going to church with his grandparents. When he and his wife faced marital difficulties leading to him temporarily moving out of their home, they decided to give church a try, where they found welcome and ultimately, faith. Brad and his wife went on to complete The Marriage Course, which transformed and restored

“My heart felt warm, there’s goodness and peace and I want more of this.” It was a joy to hear Jerome’s story of finding faith. Returning home after uni, Jerome felt prompted to start reading the Bible, and as he began to explore he decided to try church. Jerome had spent years looking for rational proof for the existence of God, but in church he encountered a community that welcomed him and loved him, helping him instead experience God in a

“There is hope” It was so special to sit down with Dawn to hear the story of the transformation Jesus has brought in her life. Dawn’s found herself at rock bottom, full of fear and struggling with addiction. She encountered the grace of Jesus through the church and began a journey of transformation and rehabilitation. Dawn describes a simple prayer she prayed, and the peace she immediately encountered. Dawn continued on this journey of healing and found the community at St Swithun’s

"I was overwhelmed with love and joy, it was bursting out of me" For years, Dave had rejected the idea of faith and God. As a police officer, the pressures of his work gradually took their toll, leaving him struggling with anxiety and PTSD for many years. Then, last year some family friends invited him to Alpha at his wife's church, and to everyone's surprise, Dave said yes. During one of the sessions, his friends offered to pray for him. And

“It felt like a world had been lifted off my shoulders” It was so special to sit down with Cat as she shared her story of finding God in the midst of a dark season in her life. Cat didn’t grow up in church, but after losing a baby at 24 weeks, she began a journey of exploring faith as she wrestled with why this had happened to her. Cat found community at her local church that made her feel that

“Jesus died for my sins, I am forgiven.” Hannah sat down with us to share her story of receiving God’s redemptive grace and forgiveness. Hannah grew up in a loving Christian home, but drifted from her faith in her teens and early adulthood. Hannah went on to make some regrettable decisions, but found God in the midst of her brokenness when searching for hope and comfort. Despite everything, Hannah’s family were reconciled together again and she has since rediscovered the impact

“I found comfort in the Bible” It was so good to sit down with Ryan and hear his story of finding faith in the midst of loss. Ryan didn’t grow up with any experience of church, but a few years’ ago, he faced two huge bereavements which led to him questioning the meaning of life. Through the loss of his baby, Ryan and his wife connected with their local church, and after sharing his questions with the vicar, decided to try

“You can dance in your storm, because Jesus dances with you if you invite him to the party” It was so inspiring to hear Loretta’s story of finding Jesus in the midst of addiction, and the transformation that has since taken place in her life. Loretta was out running when she hit a crossroad. Despite having no previous experience of faith, she heard the voice of God invite her to make a choice: continue on the path she was on or

"It is possible, God can heal me" When we sat down with Chloe, as well as telling her story of how she came to faith, she shared powerfully of her experience of receiving God’s healing. After suffering with a health issue for 5 years, although she had been seeking medical help, she knew something had to change - so Chloe prayed. Within weeks, she began to see breakthrough. Chloe kept praying, inviting others to stand with her, and has experience transformation

“The only person I felt I could trust and rely on was God…so I asked him to save me.” Sitting down with Joe to hear his story was so moving. Joe had experienced church as a child but pulled away as he got older. He found himself constantly seeking new highs and distractions, but when he burnt out and life his a story, the only person he turned back to God. On his knees, Joe asked God to save him, and