How do you know if you have a calling?

How do you know if you are in the right place?

How do you know for sure that you are doing the thing that God wants you to do?

I am thinking for me it was like a gradual revelation till I got the the point of “come on Jo you must get it by now!”

In my home parish of St Mary’s de Houra in Shoreham by Sea in Sussex, I aged out of children and youth offering as soon as it was set up. I immediately became a young leader helping to set and shape the direction of our youth activities which followed a similar pattern to Y7+ we have here at St John’s with times of teaching and times of fellowship.

I then moved to mid Sussex and with my friends in my new church The Good Shepherd in Haywards Heath where Andrew Cunnington was the vicar. I took on the running of their Friday night youth club with my friends from church. We were 3 young couples with no children ministering to a wide range of children a mix of church children and children from the local community.

In moving from there to Redhill as a mother of 3 I ‘hid out’ in the congregation for a while participating in church life as a mother.

Once my youngest was old enough to leave sparklers I agreed to start leading the youngest group at junior church after Andrew Cunnington now Rural Dean mentioned to Nicholas Calver that I had a ministry with children and that he should encourage me to get involved.

That youngest child is now 23 and I have been involved with children a youth ministry here at St John’s since she was 3 or 4.

When the opportunity arose to take part in the Aurora children’s church training I felt that with grown up children it was time for me to return to studying. I didn’t realise how much studying and essays that would involve as I was required to also do the Bishops certificate as well.

With both of those courses under my belt I felt confident

to answer yes when John asked if as part of the family service I would do the talk.

I think we have come to about a year of covering the talk for the family service. It’s not always gone well - think exploding lemonade but it has always been fun.

I think that lots of little steps have brought me to the point where I am now in St John’s. I hope that the work I have done has helped some children and families come to know God and given you a few smiles along the way.

Jo Hales