Church Testimonies

Stories of Grace

Without baptisms, Grace London wouldn't really be a church. A group of believers, sure, but a church? Not quite. Maybe that sounds over the top, but Christians have agreed throughout the centuries that baptism is integral to our life together. Celebrating salvation in the lives of brothers and sisters is Jesus’ design and delight.

So, here’s a recap from our Together Sunday baptisms. What a day.

I was bracing for rejection, expecting my parents to disown me, but instead, I was met with tears, hugs, and compassion.

My dad later told me that in his anger and disappointment, he prayed to God about how to respond, and God told him to show me unconditional love and forgiveness.

That was unimaginable for me. In that moment, through my father's embrace, I felt God's own embrace.

- Chloe
 


It wasn't until I was 21, in the midst of another dark time, that I experienced God's love and understood what it meant to be forgiven.

I was living in Australia, and started attending a church overflowing with excitement for God. The pastor spoke about how God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west, that we are made new, and when we wake up in the morning, we step onto a floor of God's grace.

That experience was over 10 years ago, but it revolutionised my faith. I still feel the impact today.

- Joanne
 


I was in my kitchen and felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. I was at rock bottom.

​I looked up and she said, ‘God, are you there?' and immediately felt something come over me. I broke down in tears on my kitchen floor. I even distinctly remember the weather outside changing, and a ray of sunshine just washed over the apartment.

​That was the moment when I knew without a doubt that I had to come back to God.

- Josh
 


In one of his last sermons, Jeremy preached about self-reliance, and that message really hit home. I realised how much I had been depending on my own strength instead of God's.

Today, I am here to declare that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. I am choosing to lay down my old ways, die to myself, and live fully dependent on him. I want my life, my marriage, my work, everything that I do to reflect God's grace and goodness.

- Kyle
 


My dad shared something similar to C.S. Lewis' words that Christianity is either false and of no importance or true and of infinite importance.

We realised that if Christianity was true, then it deserved more than just a casual belief, so we decided to try church again, but this time with open hearts. The very next Sunday, I walked into church and cried throughout the worship. I can't explain it. I just knew that this was what I'd been missing.

- Tara-Lynn
 


The topic of baptism has been a big one for me. For nearly two years, it's been bubbling in the background, but it wasn't something I met with excitement or joy. I met encouragement with resistance.

But nothing good comes easy.

The challenges along the way have led me here — speaking in front of you all, about to take part in the very act I was previously not jumping for joy about. That in itself shows how God can work in our hearts over time.

- Tyrone

Harrison's Story | Activist to Evangelist

I heard his voice before I saw him.

I’d arrived early at one of Kennington Lane’s many cafes, and sat out back, in a courtyard of gradually-filling seats. It was a grey but warm morning, and the smell of toasting sourdough and sizzling bacon wafted through the door. So too did the sound of Harrison, an ex-political activist, chatting with the barista.

Harrison is a familiar face here. He and Jeremy regularly met in the cafe for three years, studying the Bible and chatting over a latte (or fresh orange juice, today’s choice). Having joined Grace London as a new believer, Harrison was taken under Jeremy’s wing and eventually joined the staff team as an intern and Evangelism Trainee. Cue the coffee-fueled discipleship. But his story starts further back.

“I come from a single-parent family,” Harrison began. “In some ways, it was a good childhood, but it was also confusing - we moved around a lot, and settled in London when I was 11. That was a big shock, coming from Stoke-on-Trent. A big culture shock.

“It led me to think about my identity, being in a multi-cultural city but coming from a fairly homogeneous town. I became involved in the far-right and joined activist groups from the age of 17. That catapulted me into a pan-European group, and I would travel to different countries doing political stunts. It was a crazy time of life. Looking back, I guess it was fuelled by resentment, anger, not feeling very grounded.”

“So, what changed?” I asked.

“One of the people who raised me was my gran. About a year before she passed away, she became a born-again believer and started inviting us to church and giving us Bibles. Everyone was like, ‘What's going on?’. The Bible she gave me was under my bed for years, but I never touched it. I thought it was a load of rubbish.

“But one Sunday morning, I felt this urge to read it - I don't know why. As I opened it, I was struck by the reality of it. I was like, ‘Whoa, this is actually quite deep,’ especially in Romans, where it gives a diagnosis of the human heart.

“I believed there and then”, Harrison continued, his voice passionate and a smile washing over his face, “and I had this experience where I was filled with the love of God. I was in awe. I remember going to work the next day, and the whole world looked proper different. Colours were more vivid. I know it sounds crazy, but life was now hope-filled.”

 
 


I was curious to connect the dots and find out how he ended up at Grace London. “How did church come into the picture?” I asked.

“I was looking for a young people's church”, Harrison replied, “because I lived just outside London, where a lot of the churches were more elderly. I found Grace, sent a Facebook message, and not long after, spent two hours on the phone with Jeremy.

“It was all super exciting,” Harrison said, chuckling. “I can still remember it now, chatting to Jeremy on the phone for hours. He told me I should join the Salt Course, so I said, ‘Tell me about it.’

“Each week on the course, I’d meet all these different people—a muslim guy, an atheist, etc.—and we’d spend the evening chatting with Jeremy and the other leaders. After a while, I decided I wanted to attend church too, so I went to Grace, and I liked it... I loved it. I haven't stopped going since, except this Sunday, my last.”

By this point in the conversation, our drinks were finished, but I was keen to hear what the future held for this activist-turned-zealot. Since joining Grace, Harrison has been part of the staff team for three years. But after many Bible studies in this cafe, he is moving on to a new role and a new church.

“Tell me about your new job”, I probed.

“Praise the Lord, it’s still a training role”, Harrison laughed. “It’s a pastor-in-training role, and it actually started yesterday. Hope Church, where I’m now working, is based on the Vauxhall Gardens estate, and the vast majority of members live within a five-minute walk. I'll be running some of the evangelism ministries, helping to pastor people, and continuing my studies. It's gonna be full, but I'm ready for it.”

Our time was almost up, but there was one more question I wanted to ask: “How would your younger self react if they met you now - and what advice would you give?”

“I used to have no aspirations for my life. I never saw myself studying, never saw myself in a job I loved. I never saw myself getting married. So, I think my younger self would be like,
’That's pretty cool. I didn't think that would happen.’

“And advice?” Harrison asked himself. “Give your life to the Lord. That’s everything, isn't it?
And read your Bible, mate”, he quipped, laughing. “Open it up and save yourself a lot of heartache.”

One life-changing decision

A look of trepidation-turned-excitement crossed Amy Walter’s face as we sat in a park a stone’s throw from the church office. We were chatting about her upcoming move to Milan. Sun-scorched grass bristled against fidgeting fingers as she shared her plans. Since January, Amy has been making preparations to join Jeremy and Jen as they embark upon a church-plant in Italy’s metropolitan hub. Olive trees and long boulevards will soon replace London’s oaks and park hideouts.

But the decision to uproot herself hasn’t been straightforward. Although Amy has had a growing desire to pursue ministry further afield, she never foresaw Italy. So, when Jen shared their intention to plant a church in Milan last October, she was mostly sad that they would be leaving and felt no inkling to go. “She broke the news, and I was very quiet,” Amy recounted. “Selfish me was heartbroken."

“So, what changed your heart?” I asked.

“In January, I became more and more open to making the move,” she admitted. “I knew that I was past the initial emotional processing. I was praying intentionally and had quite a prophetic journey of seeking God and hearing him speak.”

“I had a prophetic picture of a little rabbit”, she continued, “cupped in someone’s hands, lifted, moved to the side, and placed back down. I sensed that God was going to pick me up, move me, and set me down somewhere completely different. I later realised that I was the rabbit. I didn't understand where God would place me, but I knew this year would be one of real change.

“A week or so after, I was praying again about Milan, and a word popped into my mind. I didn't even know what it meant, but it kept recurring. I really couldn't shake it off. The word was coniglio. I didn't know what it meant, so I decided to type it into Google Translate. I discovered it's Italian for rabbit.

“Almost instantly, I remembered the prophetic picture. When I paired the two together, I can't tell you, I had such a deep fear and felt the weight of what I might be called to. I was like, ‘Gosh, might God be calling me to go to Milan too?’ Everything in me wanted to run in the opposite direction out of fear, but the call felt unignorable.

“From then on, God took me on a journey of growing my heart for Milan. It became increasingly clear that this was what God wanted, and I wanted his will. I felt the internal tension—and the grief, actually—of that gap between wanting God’s will, but not wanting the thing itself. It was a journey of being humbled, choosing to trust, and allowing God to change my heart.”
 


“Now, what excites you looking ahead?” I asked.

“I'm excited for an adventure,” Amy replied. “To see God do crazy things. I have faith that he will do things only he can do. And I’m excited to learn Italian,” she added. “I don't know any, but it's cool.”

“Coniglio!” I interjected.

“Coniglio. First word,” Amy responded with a smile. “I’m looking forward to learning more for sure. It’s a beautiful language. And I’m excited for how God will break through with this small team to see Italians turn to know him. I have faith that God will pour out his Spirit and that the gospel will move powerfully even in such a spiritually barren context.

“Okay, last question”, I said. “How can we support you?”

“Prayer is the greatest gift I could be given”, Amy replied with complete sincerity. “I would love prayer for practicalities, for somewhere to live and all the challenges of moving country. More importantly, prayer for spiritual strength and endurance and forever-increased faith in what God will do... and comfort when it's hard.

“Financially, I’ll be fundraising again. In Milan, I’ll work 1-2 days a week on the start-up business with Jeremy, which will provide some income. But I’ll also need to raise support through Stewardship to cover living costs, visa costs, language learning costs, moving costs, and the many unexpected expenses ahead. It's a humbling and crazy thing to be so dependent on God's provision and others’ generosity. I am also looking for a support group of people not just to support financially, but prayerfully, and to be encouragers." (See below)

In less than two months, Amy will be packing up her stuff and leaving friends and family for a new nation, language, and culture. Big challenges await. But even faced with such uncertainty, Amy has a childlike trust in God's goodness. "His will is so much better than your will for life," she said as we sat in that little park. "What he calls you to, that will be the best way."
 

SUPPORT AMY FINANCIALLY
JOIN AMY'S WHATSAPP GROUP FOR UPDATES
 

Six Baptisms

Last Sunday (17th March), we had the pleasure of celebrating six baptisms. These brothers and sisters shared all that Jesus has done in their lives and were baptised as a public declaration of their faith. Each testimony was vastly different, but the kindness and power of God saturated them all, as you can read below.

Frank

“For my family, everything changed due to the war. We left behind our city, our extended family, and our friends. We found temporary safety in Uganda and became refugees. We did not have consistent access to basic human needs, and there was so much suffering. It was the lowest point of my life.

“During this time, I turned to the living God. I remember praying on my knees one day, feeling so much pain and hopelessness, and asking God to help my family. I could feel God there with me.”

Malachai

“I became obsessed with spiritual warfare and my desire to be a part of the grand plan of things. I was trying to shove my head into a place where it didn't belong, which ended in me going on a journey with psychedelics.

“It's been a year since my last trip. A serious message during that experience and while sober has warned me not to touch psychedelics anymore - and this time, I heeded the instruction. Since then, I have been walking with Christ, who I've fully dedicated myself to.”

Marius

“My week-long trip to Namibia turned into almost three months after a cycling accident. Elandia and her family embraced me with so much love during this time. They continued to share the gospel with me and what it means to follow Christ. I could see their words in action.

“After this, I could not rationalise living for myself anymore. Even though I'd actively defended doing so for so long, it did not make sense after what I had seen from people who truly love Christ. I also personally experienced God's love and grace over my life.”

Miyuki

“I was reintroduced to Christianity during a Grace London carol service. There was something different about that evening. The Christmas carols I remembered from my youth finally made sense, and I wanted to believe the words I sang.

“It took me five months before I had the confidence to ask my friend to invite me again, to which he said, “You do know that you can just turn up, right?” Fine. So I did. They couldn't get rid of me, even if they tried.”

Natasha

“In the depths of my despair, I knew I needed God. So, I gave my life to Christ just before my 21st birthday. I felt hopeful and at peace, and I practically saw God's work at hand in my life in healing and bringing me out of depression.

“Since accepting Christ into my life, my walk has not been easy. I've experienced deep disappointment and grief along the way, and out of my pain, I tried to hide from my heavenly Father. Yet, he did not turn away from me but continued to come after me to comfort my grieving heart.”

Tarell

“I met a girl from Turkey on a dating app, and after a year of talking, I flew out to meet her. When I arrived, she took me to her church as she had recently become a Christian herself. I saw firsthand what a personal relationship with God can look like. 

“I met the pastor there and unloaded all my questions about Christianity. At the end of our conversation, he gave me a gift I'll never forget - a Bible that belonged to his best friend, who had recently passed away. That night, I went home and spoke to God for the first time.”

Let’s thank God for all he has done in these individuals' lives and pray that many more in London will come to know him. If you’re considering getting baptised, please speak to one of the pastors after a Sunday service or mention it to your life group leaders. They would love to hear from you!

Dom & Sabine's Story

Dom and Sabine recently started following Jesus. But their story started a while back, under the warm glow of lamps in a central London cafe. Discussing questions of life and faith - with a plate of food and a hot drink in hand - opened the door to Christ in their lives. They tell us more below about themselves and their experience on the Salt Course below.

Tell us about yourselves.

Dom: I grew up near London, moved to France as a teenager, and returned to the UK to finish my studies. I've worked in London for the last three years and enjoy cooking and going to the gym in my spare time.

Sabine: I'm from New Jersey, right outside New York City, and have lived in London for the last few years. I also enjoy staying active as well as reading, volunteering, travelling, and exploring new restaurants. 

What was your experience of faith growing up?

Sabine: In the US, faith is closely tied to politics. I found the dialogue off-putting, and I didn't like some of what I was hearing from church leaders and others who called themselves Christians. So, although I grew up Catholic, this caused me to distance myself from organised religion. Even so, I felt like something was missing in my life.

Dom: Intellectually, I always believed there must be a God. There had to be some higher being to cause matter to exist or the Big Bang. I knew logically, but that’s where it ended for me.

 

How did you come across the Salt Course?

Dom: My manager told me about a Salt Live talk titled, ‘The Crisis of Masculinity’. I was curious, so I went along and found it interesting. Afterwards, they talked about the Salt Course, starting the following Tuesday. I had the spare time. Free food was on offer. I was there.

Dominic & Sabine

What was your impression of the Salt Course?

Dom: The Salt Course was very different to my previous experiences with religion because it engaged with faith intellectually. It felt like a safe space, and I didn't feel judged for disagreeing, asking questions, or challenging what people were saying. It was a great environment for discussion.

Sabine: I found it really interesting, and it didn't feel like religion was being pushed on you. It left me wanting to come back. I ended up going to every session and wanted to learn and experience more.

 

How has the Salt Course impacted your lives?

Sabine: Thanks to the Salt Course, I began to rebuild a relationship with God, got to know the Grace London community, and started going to Sunday services. I now have God as the anchor of my life. I know that I can go to him no matter what. I know that I have a church community too. That's made such a difference. I live in a city far from my family, where I don't know many people, but because of Salt, I now know God and realise how loving he is and how much he cares for me. I have made him number one in my life.
 

Let's give thanks for what God has done in Dom and Sabine's life and prayerfully consider who you could invite to the upcoming Salt Course, starting Tuesday 13th February, 7.30pm @ Costa Coffee, SE1 8LP.

Walking Miracles

Every testimony recounts a miracle. Only the Holy Spirit can give us a spiritual pulse and exchange our cold hearts for beating ones. We may imagine that our first steps towards Jesus were our own, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Before God breathed on us, we were dead in our sins. A corpse cannot bring itself to life.

Our recent baptisms testify to the miracle-working power of God. Jesus, the dead-raiser, is alive today, and His signature is all over these brothers' and sisters’ lives.

Ambrose


“As I wrestled with God's Word and tried to understand it intellectually, I turned to a friend and asked him, "How can I be sure that God is real and Jesus is who he says he is?” To which he responded, “The proof is in the pudding. If you want to know that God is real, pray to him and ask, 'Jesus, if you're real, reveal yourself to me.'”

“For the first time in over a decade, I knelt by my bed and prayed that prayer.  The very same week, Jesus revealed himself to me in a dream.  He saw that my heart was finally softening, and I was seeking him.”

Angelica
 

“When I was 12 years old, I decided to read a daily devotional my grandmother sent me, explaining the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. I was absorbed in the story. I decided that Easter morning to give my life to Christ, and it was then that I first encountered God's presence. 

“There has not been a moment in my life since when I have not come to face God’s love. It has met me downtrodden in the darkest alleys, where no man can reach. His love has been a reaching hand and has filled me with favour and joy.”

Davinya
 

“I was riddled with self-hatred, shame, and self-pity and no longer wanted to live. In May, I went on a trip to visit my family in Trinidad, and whilst my gran and I were talking, she mentioned church in passing. I said to her that I wanted to go. 

“The second time I went, I walked up to the altar, and as the pastor prayed over me, I started sobbing like never before. I called out to God and kept saying how sorry I was and how much I needed him. That was when I surrendered and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Despite 27 years of rejecting Him, He welcomed me with open arms.”

Eunice
 

“I followed the freshers' craze, trying to fill the emptiness inside of me, but nothing worked. As I lay in bed one night, I felt even more alone. At that moment, God reminded me of Him, and he was gently calling me back. 

“I also started attending church regularly and looked forward to going more each week. Through this, I began to see my sinfulness. I truly understood why Christ had to die and that it was my sin that he bore on the cross. It was no longer just a concept but became personal.”

Faith
 

"The Lord made his love real to me at the height of my shame and condemnation. His healing and cleansing love washed over me, and I finally experienced the liberating power of his love.

“After lockdown, he placed me in an amazing Christian community that pointed me to Christ. During this time, I asked a lot of questions, wrestled with the Bible and church doctrine, and ultimately discovered Jesus for myself.”

Michelle
 

“ I felt lost, so I started attending a local church and learning about Jesus. There, God began to show me that my ‘good girl’ facade was just that, a facade. Underneath, I feared people’s opinions of me, thought horrible things about others, and clung to bitterness.

“But now, every wrong thing I've done has been washed away. Jesus Christ, the perfect man, gave his life for my forgiveness. I don’t have to carry that shame or bitterness anymore. It was a slow process, but eight years ago, I gave my life to Christ.”

Nick

“In my first year at university, I met several Christian friends who invited me to seeker-friendly events, to church, and to have dinner together. These 'strange' Christian friends shared the gospel and themselves, and I was blessed for it. During that summer, I began reading the gospels, and one morning, as I sat typing out my reflections, I heard a voice. The Lord spoke to me in a non-audible way that I do not know how else to explain and said, "You are my son.""

 

Student Stories

I came to London as a student in September 2019. My first few months in London were a blur of activity. Among thousands of other freshers, I had to make new friends, learn new skills - including how to use a washing machine - and find my feet in a new city. Finding a church community was vital as I settled here, as many other students will also testify. We've asked Bekah, Bessie and Brendan to tell us more about their experience as students in our church community...

1. What was your first impression of Grace?

Brendan: During my first service, the zeal and authenticity of the sung worship struck me. People were excited and hungry to praise God together, and it made a deep impression on me. From there, I knew I wanted to be part of the church.

Bessie: I remember Andrew preaching about denying yourself and taking up your cross. I thought I would give myself a few weeks to see if the teaching was rooted in the Bible, but this was a 'say no more!' moment. What a topic for your first sermon at a new church!

Bekah: ​​My first impression was that Grace was a church determined to have counter-cultural and uncompromising faith in the centre of a busy city. The strong sense of community also struck me. People loved and supported one another like family, and I wanted to be a part of that. 

Brendan, Imperial College London & Queen Mary University graduate

2. How have you grown spiritually whilst being part of the church family?

Bessie: Grace has given me a sharp vision of how God’s priorities and ways differ from our culture’s, be it regarding success, purpose, security, or leisure. Here, I am encouraged to think deeply about the implications of biblical truth in my day-to-day life. Grace is also where I fully surrendered my life to Jesus and got baptised!

Bekah: Friendships with people of all life stages and backgrounds have played a huge role in growing my faith. I have learnt the power of being vulnerable with others and coming under Christ to experience his strength through different seasons of life. Jesus’ power is made perfect in our weaknesses, and the conversations I’ve had through deep, honest friendships have grown my dependence on God and refined my understanding of his goodness and grace.

Brendan: I have grown in my love for Christ and gained a richer understanding of what it means to follow Christ. The Bible-focused preaching here at Grace has helped me to develop a fuller understanding of the Word and learn that following Christ involves letting Him work in every area of my life.

Bekah, King's College London graduate

3. What advice would you give new students coming to Grace London? 

Bekah: Commit to coming each Sunday, and join a life group and serving team. Seeing people each week, regularly worshipping together, and hearing the truth were much needed for me. It helped me to settle early on and feel part of what God is doing in the church and city.

Bessie: Make friends with older people! You will benefit from their wisdom and feel more at home in the city. And take every opportunity you can to get to know people, especially outside of Sundays. It’s easier to do in your first year when you have more time. 

Brendan: Join a life group and commit to investing in friendships in the church. Life group is a great opportunity to meet others and discuss God’s Word. I have learnt much from hearing how other Christians think through and apply scripture. Deep friendships in church are also vital for our spiritual health, so take the time to be intentional and invest in them.

Bessie at her University of Arts London graduation day

Leaving home and coming to university is a significant moment of transition in someone's life. It's vital that Christian students find a church community that they can get knitted into. And that non-Christian students find a place where they can explore faith. Don't underestimate the impact of welcoming students into your home and helping them get connected into the church family. Why not consider how you can bless and invest in freshers and other students joining the church? 

Stories from the Salt Course

We're delighted to announce the next Salt Course is starting on the 24th October. 

We've been running the course for a number of years now, and have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of curious Londoners for meaty discussions about life's big questions.

The premise is simple. Each week, we have food together, a thought-provoking talk on the subject and then plenty of time to discuss that week's question in groups. Guests come from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs. For many guests, it's a way of exploring the Christian faith. For others, it's a context to bring their thoughts and objections. Each week explores a different question, including:

Meaning: Isn't there more to life than this?
Satisfaction: How can I be happy?
Truth: Who can I trust?
Morality: How can I be good?
Hope: Is there a future for humanity?
Peace: How do we overcome anxiety?

The next course starts on Tuesday 24th October and runs for six consecutive Tuesday evenings (until 28th November). Find out more at www.saltcourse.co.uk. This week, we asked Chloe & Tom, who did the course last year, to share some of their reflections.

"I grew up Catholic and was always attending church on Sunday, but I felt like it was an obligation and so never really formed a genuine relationship with God. Faith very much felt like something that I should tick off my list as a way to obey my parents. So, I ended up drifting away in my teenage years. 

I heard about Salt at a Sunday service. I'm generally quite open-minded, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just go for one session. I ended up attending the whole course and there was one discussion about practising forgiveness towards other people and yourself which particularly stuck with me. As someone who has grown up lacking in self-compassion and who has experienced church hurt, it was an important conversation to have and I remember the group being very supportive.

It's really cool to see how much I've changed and grown over the last year or so. I have really come out of the other side knowing that God has always been there with me even when I didn't think he was."

Chloe

"Something has always drawn me to the countercultural aspect of Christianity. When I moved away for university, I had a countercultural ‘Christian’ zeal inside of me, but never had a church community or the time to really consider who Jesus was. It just all seemed a bit too complicated for me and I never felt like I had the tools to look into it. That's where the Salt Course really helped me.

The course was an explorative discussion and an environment where you could pose questions that didn't have to sound intelligent. It was for everyone. I was a bit worried that the course wouldn’t properly address common objections to the Bible and Jesus, but the talks actively engaged with these.

The Salt Course played a pivotal role in my Christian journey, as it allowed me to deeply look into Christianity, and led me to acknowledge and love Christ. Now, I truly believe that Christ is Lord and came as God in the flesh to die for us. And I think when you believe that, you're hooked!"

Tom