No Judgement
Interserve was formed by a community of women who helped women.
To this day, Interserve is still very much involved in working amongst communities of women.
Here is the story of one woman, who encountered Jesus through the love, care and support of an Interserve Partner in a community centre in the South of England.
“One of my friends told me about this place I could go to with my kids. They could play in a safe place, while I could just sit and think or talk over my current issues with the other ladies who were there.
“It was a very different kind of place. They didn’t quiz me on my life; they didn’t want to know anything really, but just let me be myself and talk when I wanted to. I had the freedom to say nothing if I felt like doing that. I could sleep or I could cry, it didn’t matter. I was accepted. No one had ever treated me like that before.
“My relationships had taken away all my confidence and I just ‘knew’ everything was my fault. The ladies who ran that group were so loving and understanding – I knew I could trust them.
“I was accepted. No one had ever treated me like that before.”
“I can’t remember who told me that the ladies running the group were Christians who came from several different churches. I was amazed that they gave up their time to be with me and others like me.
“Knowing they were Christians encouraged me to ask them to pray for me and my family. They were always happy to pray for me and then, sometimes, when it was quiet, they would pray with me – that was so special.
“I just knew their prayers worked. They were ‘connected to God’ in some way that I wasn’t and their prayers were often answered. Even when the group itself was closed for the day I knew there was always someone I could contact to ask for prayer.
“I have a good job now which has improved my confidence. And the ladies in the group were so supportive as I tried to transform my sad life to a life with purpose.
“They told me about the power of Jesus.”
“Life is still not easy, but I now have somewhere I can go and offload, somewhere I know I’m not judged by anyone – but I know they are praying for me. These ladies have shown me that I don’t need to stay in my dark life, but that there is another way. They told me about the power of Jesus.”
The centre has been running for more than 20 years and has a reputation in the community for being a place where women can come freely without finding judgement.
It now runs out of a church building and has maintained good relationships and reputation, so that local services and many husbands encourage their partners to come to us when they know they are lonely, depressed or in need.
Jesus has used his people to impact the local community. Our Christian faith is evident; but still, those who don’t know Jesus come along and share their lives with us, as we share our stories and prayers with them. God is doing an amazing thing!
Written by an Interserve Partner in Great Britain.
