After years and years of prayer and working day in and out with our guests, we have seen God do amazing things in people’s lives. But last week, Barnabus was able to celebrate another first, we got to baptise our friend Grace* during last week's God Slot session. 

After years and years of prayer and working day in and out with our guests, we have seen God do amazing things in people’s lives. But last week, Barnabus was able to celebrate another first (of what we hope will be many), when we got to baptise our friend Grace* during last week's God Slot session. 

Grace came to us a few weeks ago, a new believer, full of hope and the joy of her salvation. She has been working with one of our caseworkers, Eleisha, and had expressed an interest in getting connected to a Christian community, after radically giving her life to Christ through a miraculous encounter when she was alone in her room. 

Grace is currently living in temporary accommodation and has been experiencing homelessness for years. She’s struggled with addictions and mental health issues and in her desperation, one day cried out to the Lord- and praise God, He heard her cry! After encountering His love for her, she felt led to repent and give her life to Christ and as she tells it, she was led by the Holy Spirit to give up smoking and drugs and has since stayed clean.

When we met her at God Slot at the start of last month, she was eager to learn more and grow in her faith; she has come to God Slot every single week. She expressed an eagerness to get baptised and so Enyo, our Dwell project leader, was able to sit down with her and do some discipleship and a pre-baptism class with her. 

Thanks to one of our partner churches, Vinelife Church Manchester, we were then able to borrow a baptistry. Last week in the presence of friends, our team baptised her into a new life in Christ Jesus! We were also joined by Anthony Delaney from Ivy Church who shared his testimony and an encouraging word about God’s faithfulness and love despite our pasts. 

It was a truly special day for all of us and such a beautiful picture of the power of partnership within the body of Christ. This was truly a team effort and we were reminded once again, that, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16

* Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our guests.