Journeys of Faith: Angela Clarke

Throughout Lent we'll be hearing stories of faith from across the Diocese. This week we hear from Angela Clarke our Lead Growth Enabler...

My faith story, a story that’s still a journey... I was born into a Christian family, of different denominations. I was baptised as a baby at two months, the week of the Aberfan disaster, where my Father was a rescue worker, and in the same Church where I still worship.

My faith and belief are something that has been with me from a child, as long as I can remember. Taking my promises at my confirmation at age 11, I knew that this was lifelong, knowing that God was part of me in my life, his design was me.

Prayers and conversations with God, watching and waiting for the Holy Spirit (or Ghost when I was a child)’s guidance and knowing that Jesus died but is alive were normal things in my childhood, as they were in my children’s and now my grandchildren.

I was, and still am, comfortable worshipping in any denomination as we are one Church, and one extended Christian family, though I am rooted as an Anglican.

I currently work as a Growth Enabler for the Diocese, a job which I love, helping people, places and Churches, to join the dots and grow. The job is different every day, starts in prayer, and really is my dream job. I still volunteer as warden, children and youth worker in my home Church as I want others to know the Good News and come to Faith. This was the journey I was going to tell you about, but there is always a BUT...

So, how is this journey still a faith journey? It looks complete?

In January of this year, the unexpected happened.

I was taken seriously ill.

It was a life changing event over two days, which resulted in me being told that I had a spinal cord injury, that I was a paraplegic, and I couldn’t move anything from my chest down.

I will admit that it’s a scary situation, when you are in hospital totally reliant on other people for everything.

So is my faith journey as it is happening now, the faith of the promise “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '” — Jeremiah 29:11.

When faced with any life changing event situation or loss, who would you anchor to? I looked to Hebrews, “Hope and anchor for the soul, ….

I have read and re read the story of the paralysed man and it’s the version from Luke that has spoken to me. In particular how this man was carried by the faith of his friends. These friends who took his weight, shouldered his burden, were with him when he was at his lowest point, their faith supported this man. He, in turn, had to rely on these friends for everything, and I have found myself doing the same in the nursing staff, who have become my friends, caring and loving me.

I have also been supported by prayers for healing, for support, for comfort.

And these prayers have been answered, in the way of the promise to Jeremiah, “plans to prosper and not to harm.”

I am currently in my third hospital. This is my faith journey, where people see me praying, see me taking communion in the ward, see my holding cross on my table, and ask me questions.

I am now on my faith journey for the hope and the future that God has planned for me a journey that I never expected to take, but I embrace it with my love for God the Father, Son and Spirit, and a new connection to Mary…but that’s another faith story, for another time.