If you have been part of Grace for any length of time, you have probably been greeted at the door by the beaming smile of Andrea Rugasira. Andrea joined the staff team as Events and Hospitality Coordinator this September. She heads up the Welcome team and helps organise our Sunday and mid-week events. Andrea tells us more about her story and her role below.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up with my parents and four siblings in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. In 2014, after spending a year in Kenya, I moved to England to attend a school in Great Malvern, a small picturesque town in the West Midlands. A few years later, I moved to Reading to study for a degree in Geography and graduated in 2022. Shortly after, I accepted a job offer in London as a Graduate Engineer.
My loved ones would say I am a frequent crier, wide smiler and girly giggler. I spend my free time watching cooking shows, hanging out with friends/family, going on walks, and singing along loudly to music, mostly in key.
Many may not know, but Andrea came to faith relatively recently. Andrea, could you share your story?
My childhood was marked by insecurity and self-consciousness. I wanted to be carefree and ‘normal’ but instead obsessed over what others thought of me and doubted whether I was truly loved. I had a skewed understanding of God, believing that if I were ‘good’, God would make things work out. I tried my best to follow the rules and respect my elders, and on the surface, I seemed like a mature, well-adjusted child. But I was not the good person I strived to be and felt inwardly torn in two.
During my teenage years, my parents divorced, and my family began to experience emotional and financial hardships. This unsettled my worldview as I didn’t believe I deserved any of it. So, I gave up striving to be good and rejected God entirely. I began to indulge the lusts of the flesh and opened the door to them. Yet, my preoccupation with ‘being good’ still lingered, and I developed a deep sense of shame and crippling anxiety as I wallowed in thoughts of regret. I felt defeated and hopeless.
In 2020, my brother Cezar became a Christian and began sharing the good news of the resurrection. For the first time, I heard I could be made new in Christ and washed of all my sins. The Holy Spirit began to connect this truth with my heart and mind - the sinless perfection I was looking for in myself, I found in Christ Jesus. Finally, I found rest, peace, and joy. Jesus filled my empty heart and dead life with himself. Shortly after my conversion in 2021, my older brother invited me to visit Grace and almost immediately, I decided to settle here.
What made you switch from your previous job to the church staff team?
After joining Grace, I developed an overwhelming love for the church. Separately, I felt God was preparing me for a hospitality-centred role, but I didn't know when or where this would be. I began praying into this, and shortly after, Grace started advertising for an Events and Hospitality Coordinator. After careful discussion and prayer, I knew I had to apply for the role.
The role involves planning events, leading church hospitality and everything in between. I am passionate about meeting newcomers and helping them find their place in the church family, which is central to the role.
Tell us more. Why is Sunday hospitality important for the health of the church?
On Sundays, anyone walking through the doors falls into one of two groups: visitors and those who consider Grace their home. It can be overwhelming as a visitor walking into a hall of strangers who look like they all know each other. Meeting newcomers as they arrive, connecting with them, and introducing them to others is a joy and helps them find their place in the family. It's equally a joy welcoming those already part of the church at our Sunday and midweek gatherings. Ultimately, we are a family gathering to enjoy God’s presence and each other.
How can we pray for you and the ministry?
I would appreciate prayer for healthy rhythms of rest and activity. Please also pray that the Lord will bring more volunteers to serve in the Welcome team as the church grows.
My prayer for the Welcome team is that we have an increasing missional focus and display something of the gospel as we draw near and serve at church gatherings.
If you're interested in joining the Welcome team, please get in touch. The team are responsible for greeting newcomers and setting up refreshments for our Sunday services. Volunteers serve usually no more than once a month and play a vital role in the church family.