Sarah

Sarah, who worships at St Thomas’ Church in Brambles Farm, Thorntree and Netherfields shares her story and her journey towards joining Stepping Up.

My name is Sarah and I started Stepping Up in September 2025.  My faith journey started when I was 5 years old. There was a church at the end of our street where I would attend Sunday school and learned all the stories from the Bible. When I was 8, we moved and the closest school was at St Augustine’s RC School. The head sister, Victoire said I was welcome even though I wasn’t catholic. I attended mass every week, I was in the choir and life was good. I knew God loved me.

When I was 13 years old my dad got cancer and he died 2 years later. I think I was angry with God. Around this time, I was introduced to drugs. (It felt like this) took all the pain away. I got further and further away from God. This led to 36 years of hell – addiction, abusive relationships and brokenness. I was lost.

I know now that God was with me throughout. It was my own stubbornness thinking I could do it on my own. One day my friend, Sharon, asked me if I wanted to go to church. I did and it was totally different to what I’d been to before. Sharon bought me a Bible and even though I still wasn’t fully ready to surrender; I felt God was back in my life.

I got baptized on 19th January 2000, but addiction got me again. It led me to being rushed to Freeman’s hospital with a 40% chance of survival. This is where I met Jesus, in that chapel in the hospital. I came hope and saw rev. Jane doing a baptism. I messaged her and went to her service in Markby Green (St Thomas’) – and I’m thankful every day!

I started helping out at the service and the eco shop and attending Bible study. Jane asked if she could put me forward for Stepping Up and I’m so thankful she did. I’ve learnt so much and it has helped me grow closer to God. Now I just want to be a light in someone’s darkness. Jesus pulled me out of that pit; He can do the same for others.

I am currently on my last term in stepping up. I now have my son and my partner back in my life, which I thank God for every day. I’m excited to see what the Lord has planned for me in the future, when I once felt I didn’t have a future. Jesus has given me my life back!