Violets Story

We first met Violet in 1997. She was brought in to our Sunday Family Worship Service by two friends. There seemed to be a sense of desperation about them and from what they shared with us very briefly they had run out of options of where to settle Violet into the body of Christ. We were used to receiving people who had nowhere else to go, I looked around the congregation to see a family of believers of who knew even if no-one else loved them Jesus did. Violet looked agitated and nervous, but certainly did not seem to us to be the woman in trouble that we later discovered her to be. Our Churches have always had every member involvement where possible so at the end of the Meeting we asked Violet to help with teas and coffees.

Anyway in her own words .........

'From a very early age I was what I call Used and Abused, because of this I grew up to be a person who lacked in confidence and was very inward looking.
I cut myself to try to relieve the pain I was feeling and took solvents as well but none of these things helped. The more I did these things the worse I felt. Then one day in 1997 a friend of mine told me about Steve & Elaine's Ministry and the Church they had set up called Aphesis Christian Fellowship. I went along with them and the first thing after the meeting I was asked to help with teas and coffees, Which I thought strange, but I carried on going.

In 1998 I was heading towards another breakdown, Aphesis had a Family Centre in Norwich which was what they called a Half Way House and Steve offered me a room there. I also had counselling outside the church as well. With everybodys help and some healing and deliverance prayer within the Family Centre, I was able to stop taking the solvents and stopped cutting myself.

I had also become a member of the worship band and had begun to have self worth for the first time in my life. For the last five years I have lived again on my own and things are looking up.

Steve and Elaine are not just Pastors but are good friends and I have supported their ministry after they moved to Swaffham by being a prayer warrior for them. When you have Jesus in your life and genuine friends to help you nothing is impossible and everything can be done to the glory of God.

Footnote: I have now rejoined Aphesis in its new town Swaffham and am an active member of Aphesis Community Church, again I am involved in worship and am enjoying all that God has for us here.

Maybe you have been in the place of Violet, Over ten years we have taken her on mission to the Ukraine, she has done street work here and in the Ukraine, helped set up Youth Ministry and has helped lead and support in worship. She has with God's help forgiven those that abused her and has drawn closer to her natural family and closer to God. She also taught me [Steve the Pastor] to drive and as she has stated, has become a good friend and co-worker in Christ. It was never easy either for Violet or for us, but with faith and trust in Jesus it can be done.

If you need help or would like to know more e:mail us below and we will get right back to you.

Jesus is the answer - Ask Violet!