Hi there, I'm Siabrae (Emma) and I'm from Northumberland, England. I've been a Christian for about ten years now and I'm currently attending a Church of England church.
I was led to God really because I became profoundly depressed while at uni and, although I knew quite a bit about the Bible and God, it had never seemed real. When I went through that dark time, I found I believed in spite of myself really! My heart reached out, although my mind was otherwise occupied. That was when I realised that my doubts about Jesus (I had been a somewhat evangelical atheist at one point, Wiccan at another) were...unimportant. That it's about trust most of all. And I found that I did indeed trust him, and although I still had a hard time with the illness (turns out I'm bipolar) and still do, and although my life has not gone according to plan, I still believe, even if I do not, and may never, know.
That's maybe a bit serious for a first introduction, but I thought it might be interesting. Now I'm trying to find some way of working for God/the church as a job as well as attending services & events. Hopefully should be doing some volunteering as a pastoral assistant soon - when my priest gets back from sick leave!
Anyway I hope this is a fun, friendly forum and I look forward to meeting you all!
~Emma
I was led to God really because I became profoundly depressed while at uni and, although I knew quite a bit about the Bible and God, it had never seemed real. When I went through that dark time, I found I believed in spite of myself really! My heart reached out, although my mind was otherwise occupied. That was when I realised that my doubts about Jesus (I had been a somewhat evangelical atheist at one point, Wiccan at another) were...unimportant. That it's about trust most of all. And I found that I did indeed trust him, and although I still had a hard time with the illness (turns out I'm bipolar) and still do, and although my life has not gone according to plan, I still believe, even if I do not, and may never, know.
That's maybe a bit serious for a first introduction, but I thought it might be interesting. Now I'm trying to find some way of working for God/the church as a job as well as attending services & events. Hopefully should be doing some volunteering as a pastoral assistant soon - when my priest gets back from sick leave!
Anyway I hope this is a fun, friendly forum and I look forward to meeting you all!
~Emma
