I hope the Lent appeal has inspired you to think about the people in your life to whom you owe a lot for the simple things they did that kept you engaged in church at a time when many can struggle. It has of course got me thinking about my own journey and the people who invested their time in me as I grew up.
In the newsletters this month, I mentioned Dave, a Sunderland fan living in the south who took me to watch them play at some of the most hideous away grounds the lower leagues had to offer. As well as Dave, a major influence on my early teens was a man from our church called Pete.
Although the purpose of this blog isn’t to construct some kind of ‘influence on me’ league table, I’d say Pete was the biggest single reason I stayed in the church as a young person. He just gave me a lot of time, talked to me and gave me lifts to stuff even if my parents were going anyway. He rejoiced in my successes and supported me when life was tough, which it often was as I found school very difficult at that time.
Pete is not an example of cutting edge of youth work at its most extraordinary, but the simple power of caring for someone, praying for someone and being there for them whenever they need you, and for that I owe him a lot.
A few weeks ago, I was formally installed as leading the children’s ministry at my current church (I know, I’m not sure how I got that job either). Some of the church leaders prayed for me, but Pete who had come to pray too. I’m not ashamed to say that I spent the whole time choking back tears as I saw him there still praying for me now. And I’m so very grateful that he still is.