Mary Roberts (79).  

Mary is retired and lives in sheltered accommodation. She has been coming to Immanuel Church on and off for the six years while she has lived nearby. She had been to Church previously, but something has happened to her.

Sunday morning has usually been a difficult time to come to Church as that is when she sees her family, she does sometimes come on Sunday, but she was interested to hear we have mid week meetings. Mary came along and soon got to know everyone in the small group on a Wednesday evening.

She liked talking about Bible passages and sharing experiences and praying for those who are close to us. It gave her another interest outside her family and the block where she lives.

On 18th October 2006, something new happened. She says she felt she met with Jesus for the first time. We were talking about Jesus, and I said I didn’t really know Him so they all prayed for me and I asked Jesus to come into my life in a new way and I did.

“I had known God through my life and it was like I had played in Church all these years and now as I read my Bible and pray I feel like God is really listening.”

She told me of some of the answers to prayer that she has known. She prayed for her grandson who had a tumour and he has got better. She prayed for her daughter who at that time was having a very bad time, and it is a great weight of Mary’s mind now her daughter is much happier.

It is her relationship with God that changed “I feel closer to God, I feel like He takes an interest in me now. He is with me and I am much happier & content & I can forgive. I also feel I have been forgiven and I have been able to forgive myself.”

 From an Interview with the Vicar on 14th Dec 2006.