Mike Braniff

… and could see their perspective with a “I see what you mean” or “That sounds convincing” point of view, without holding myself to the same concrete level of my own beliefs.

“Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8

These words have always stuck a cord with me and I thought on them often. But it wasn’t until I met my wife Sara-Jane and came along to one of her Young Adults groups at Trinity Boardmills that I began to understand their meaning.

The concept of young people being so sure in their faith was a foreign concept to me, all these people the same age as me, coming together, sharing food, praying for one another and rejoicing in God’s word that we have been saved. I was out of my comfort zone of plodding through life and being a ‘Sunday Morning Christian’.

At the time this was something I had taken for granted and looked upon with a cynical mindset, but through engaging the with the people at Trinity Boardmills, and hearing their stories, I began to see that these weren’t people with a level of faith out of my grasp, looking down on me with judgment as an outsider, but rather individuals all with their own struggles and turmoil’s who through this church family, this fellowship in Christ, genuinely care and offer their help and prayers to me without anything in return.

As I’ve progressed along my journey, with stress, grief and anxious thoughts, the members of Trinity Boardmills have helped along the way & been an anchor in my faith.

Their love and support as a thriving Church Family have helped me bolster my beliefs and understand the words I had once said without thought each week to tick a box, to now knowing the hope & joy these words now instil in me. A glorious reminder that Jesus walks with us in all that we do & has forgiven all already.