Journeys of Faith: Steve Lock

Throughout Lent we'll be hearing stories of faith from across the Diocese. This week we hear from Steve Lock, one of our Young Faith Matters Team...

I wonder whether my own personal testimony of growing up within a church environment in South Wales, my wandering away from ‘the trappings of church’ as a teenager, before my re-discovery of the reality of the Christian Faith at seventeen, is reflected in the lives of many young people today.

My own faith story is one of asking questions, demanding answers, and pushing boundaries.

I was eleven-years-old when I first "made a commitment" to following this Jesus I'd spent my childhood hearing about. In secondary school however, I clearly remember the disconnect between my own encounter with God, and my experience of local church. It was after a children’s meeting at a summer camp where I first decided to "accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour" - (I’m still not sure I really understood what that meant)

However, it was here that I first really encountered the presence of God. I and two young friends were playing in a children’s play park after a meeting on that camp when we began praising Jesus in a language we had never been taught. This first remarkable spiritual encounter I had was tangible and yet not mirrored upon return to ‘normality.’ I believe this played a dramatic part in that young boy’s story that led to his disconnect with church as a teenager - interestingly, not with faith, but with Church.

I am genuinely relieved that, that later 17 year old Steve reconnected with church but my younger disconnect has fuelled my life ever since!

Happy days!!