Andrea

Andrea, who worships at Holy Trinity, North Ormesby, shares her story and her journey towards joining Stepping Up.

My name is Andrea Jenkinson and I started the Stepping Up program in September 2024 and have just recently completed.  

I found my faith later in life after growing up in a family who really only went to church for weddings, funerals and Christenings. I was baptised in 1966 at St. John’s Church in Birtley, County Durham. 

After leading a reasonably chaotic life, I eventually settled and qualified as a teacher in 2010 and went to work in a Church of England Primary School in 2014. This was the beginning of my relationship with God. My headteacher was the daughter of a retired vicar and she made faith come alive for both the pupils and particularly myself. As my relationship with The Lord became deeper I embarked on confirmation classes with my pupils and we were confirmed together in October 2019 at the parish church of St. Andrew’s in South Otterington , N. Yorkshire by the then /bishop of Whitby, Bishop Paul. 

Whilst I was teaching in the school I didn’t attend Sunday services as I worshipped daily at school; however in November 2023 I became unwell and unable to work, so I decided to take early retirement. At first I was too unwell to think about my worship but as my health improved, I realised that there was something missing from my life…my love of God. I visited many local churches but the moment I walked through the doors of Holy Trinity in North Ormesby, my local church, I knew where I was meant to be.  

I have become a very active member of the church, starting with taking the collection then helping in children’s church, the cloister café, becoming a member of the PCC and Trustees of the Trinity Centre. Recently I took on the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer for the church.  

One Sunday in August 2023, during Sunday worship we heard testimony from parishioner’s who had completed Stepping Up and I knew instantly that this is what I needed to do. My vicar Bridget recommended me and I began the course with Paul in September last year.  

When the group met for the first time it was clear that we were going to be life long friends, relationships bonded in our love of God. This group of people have been truly amazing, over 12 months we have loved and supported one another through times of trauma and celebration and will continue to do so.  

Throughout the year I have had an opportunity to reflect, pray and learn about, not only God but myself as well. I have spent the whole year and longer wondering why I stay in Middlesbrough, a town that I didn’t grow up in, where until recently knew very few people and was quite frankly lonely in. My family called for my return to live closer to them but I stubbornly dug in my heels, not really understanding why. Now after my year Stepping Up I have realised that God has work for me to do in North Ormsby, Middlesbrough and this was the reason for my reluctance to return to the locality of my family.  

After a lot of prayerful thought I have realised that I can offer so much to my parish and would love to embark upon developing better relationships with families, schools and nurseries through Children’s church at Holy Trinity.  It’s early days and a lot more prayer and thought must go into my plan but I now know that this is what my mission is and the reason for my presence in this town and parish.