Karen’s Story

“I don’t worry about the future, I don’t worry about money, and even when my husband was out of work for some years somehow God carried us through bringing opportunities I could not have imagined and answering our prayers. God really equipped me to get through.

 

I have learnt that being a Christian does not prevent you from experiencing suffering because we live in an imperfect world, but God gives you what you need to enable you to get through. I learnt that you may not understand why you are in the situation you are in at the time, but afterwards God reveals that whatever hardship you may have suffered, He can make good come out of it. I have experienced that God is generous and loving.”

What’s your faith story?
stories@camberleyconnections.org.uk

Sam’s Story

“I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember and there are so many examples of God’s work in my life that I could share. For now I’d just like to share the part of my story called the ‘6th form years’. This one’s for any 16 - 18’s out there!

The media constantly tell us that if only we had this or that, we’d feel content. For me, as I moved to a new area and a new school at the age of 16, I had this lie floating around in my heart. I’d never consciously thought, “I don’t want to follow Jesus anymore,” but the idea that I’d have a better life if I lived it my way had slowly crept up on me. I thought I’d be content if I was accepted by the popular kids and drank a lot and got myself a girlfriend. The trouble was, all the time it was as though I was pushing against something. I wasn’t feeling content; just frustrated. Life wasn’t flowing the way it had in the past and I wasn’t happy.

But looking back, I can see how God took me down that road to show me that contentment wasn’t found by living life the way I thought best. Just as I was learning this, he provided me with friends who I could be myself around and someone who invited me along to a youth Bible study. My auntie bought me a book about God that helped me remember his love for me and I got Confirmed at church; recommitting my life to the Jesus who loved me so much he died in my place to set me free. Frustration at chasing for acceptance amongst people made way to a wonderful peace and contentment in God’s unconditional love.

A friend then invited me to a Christian youth camp which spurred me on to live for Jesus. I then went off to University and the next exciting chapter in the adventure!”

What’s your faith story?

stories@camberleyconnections.org.uk

Russ’s Story

“I grew up in a family that had nothing to do with church. Nine years ago, I thought all Christians wore white socks and sandals, sung Kum ba Yah, didn’t drink, smoke, go clubbing or do any of the things I enjoyed! I thought that church was boring and irrelevant to my life.

I was considered very successful. By the age of 25 I was the Deputy Chief Executive of a local council. I had a good salary, a girlfriend, a house, and a 1979 Mark II Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

The truth was I was anything but happy. I was working all hours, very stressed and the more material stuff I surrounded myself with, the more I wanted, and the less it satisfied.

Then I found out my girlfriend was seeing someone else, because I was always at work. I became seriously depressed and tried to take my own life.

I found out that it breaks God’s heart when we suffer. He didn’t want me to live a shallow, self-centred, materialistic life. He actually wanted me to live in a relationship with him and one another. When someone told me about this I suddenly realised that all the material stuff was not what life was about. I decided to ask God to forgive me for ignoring him and living life my own way.

Now my life couldn’t be more different. I joined a church and have experienced a depth of friendship, support and love, the like of which I have never experienced before.”

 

What’s your faith story?

stories@camberleyconnections.org.uk

Penny’s Story

“I had a hip operation that went wrong, which made me physically very incapacitated. It was thought that I had an infection in my hip joint. My friends prayed and much to everyone’s amazement, no infection was found.

People remarked how well I looked. I was never ill, only inconvenienced in my movements. I had a marvellously caring husband, a most wonderful circle of friends, and the most amazing God looking after me during all this time.

My leg is not completely normal now, but I am not prevented from doing anything I want to, even if it’s a bit slower than before. I can’t thank God enough for His love for me, directly and through friends. He is astounding in his generosity of love so freely given. We do nothing to deserve this, He just gives.”

What’s your faith story?

stories@camberleyconnections.org.uk

Anne’s Story

“In January 2002 my husband was admitted to hospital and I was told it was unlikely he would survive, 2 weeks later the hospital chaplain asked if I would like to talk and I told him where to go, not very politely. A couple of days later I had to make the decision to turn off life support and I said I would like to talk to the Chaplain, I spent about 45 minutes shouting and swearing and telling him what I thought about his God, he listened.

 
The day my husband died the Chaplain phoned me at home asked how I was and if I needed anything, I didn’t understand how someone who I had been so horrible to could have done that.

The next few months were desperate, I had been drinking too much for years and I wanted to kill myself. In July I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital to dry out and what I thought would be the end of my life was the beginning of a new life.

I came out and joined a 12 step fellowship where I developed a faith that I saw as very personal and non-religious. A lady became my sponsor and we spent hours talking about faith, God and spirituality and eventually organised religion. About 3 months after agreeing I would try attending a Church service I went to the Church on the hill that I always seemed to notice when I was going to Tesco’s and then I found myself in the car park. The bells were ringing and I walked up the hill and went in just before 10.30 on the third Sunday of Lent 2008. I sat on my own, no one talked to me and I think this helped me to return the following week.

On Easter Saturday my friend was Confirmed at the Cathedral, I went along to the service and found myself queuing for a blessing but not really knowing why. This was the start of my journey within the Church, on 30th November 2008 I was Baptised at St Michaels in the morning and then Confirmed at St Paul’s in the evening. I completed the Alpha course, Growing Leaders and trained to become a Pastoral Assistant. I feel it is important for me to give back some of what I have received.

My life is very different because I live in a different area, have a different career, think differently and treat others well, I live a full and contented life.”

 

What’s your faith story?

stories@camberleyconnections.org.uk

What is Camberley Connections?

I’m glad you asked! Well this video explains it really….

There are a whole bunch of churches in Camberley, of all shapes and sizes. We’ve been tweeting, facebooking, chatting and generally getting to know people the last few years, and have become, we hope, useful contributors to Camberley. Street Angels, Besom, Frontline and SVP are a few of the Christian organisations in the town that are helping people everyday, for free.

We hear what you are saying. We know a lot of people don’t like coming to church. That’s cool, there are lots of reasons why. We thought for a while, and prayed (Christians do a lot of that), and then someone said, “Let’s just have a week of hanging out with people, wherever we are, whatever we’re doing. Then if they really do have questions about God, Jesus and all that stuff, they can just ask”. Instead of expecting you to come to us, or beating you over the head with bibles, we hear what you are saying,  we just want to be there for you, when you’re ready to ask.

Check out our Events tab on the website to find out what’s going on from March 9-17 2013. Join us on Twitter @ConnectionsCamb hashtag #CamConX or find us on Facebook.