Charlotte Chapel family. We hope to allow you to hear a little about the different lives we live, what makes us tick and how we seek to grow in our faith. For our very first lady, we would like you to meet Maureen.
Q: So, Maureen, can you start by telling us your favourite Christian song or hymn? We'll include links to YouTube so readers can enjoy your soundtrack while they read on if they like.
A: My favourite hymns are
'In Christ Alone' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo and
'Be Thou my Vision' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vROU_N-FYdY
A: I was brought up in a loving missionary family and despite not seeing a great deal of my dad from the age of ten, his strong faith and gentle loving nature had a lasting effect on me. I asked Jesus into my heart at a young age and was greatly challenged at a Stephen Olford crusade when I was about 11 years old but rebelled as an early teenager and would definitely have not owned up to having parents who were missionaries!
However God who began a good work in me continued to pursue me and in the early summer of 1970 I realized what a sinner I was and how I needed to repent and receive Christ’s forgiveness following a sermon preached by Derek Prime. I can still remember going down to the front of the church at the end of a baptismal service to re-dedicate my life to God. I was subsequently baptized on 29th November 1970 and God has continued to patiently and lovingly challenge and keep me since then.
Q: Where is your favourite place to be?
A: At a friend’s chalet in Lochgoilhead – scenery is spectacular!
Q: Following on from the Great British Bake-off, what is your signature dish in the kitchen?
A: Mars Bar Crispie Cake
Q: That sounds delicious! While we imagine we're eating it, can we also hear about the different ways you serve in Charlotte Chapel?
A: I feel so blessed to be able to serve in a variety of ways in the Chapel as I only work part time and our family is now grown up and away from home. Barry and I both serve the Chapel and are served by the Chapel through being members of the Mission Family due to the work of TELit.
Apart from being an elder’s wife, marriage preparation (which we have just given up after 25years!) and marriage mentoring which Barry and I are involved with together, most of my other service is with women of various ages in the Chapel.
I have served on Timeout committee for too many years to count and help with a group supporting ladies who have non-attending husbands. Much of my free time during the week is spent in meeting with women either to do 1-2-1 study, pray together or just share fellowship and encourage each other. It is so exciting to see God at work in many women’s lives and a privilege to draw alongside those who are sorrowing or rejoicing!
Q: All of that must keep you busy, Maureen. As a snapshot of the lives of women in the church, we'll be asking each of our interviewees what they do at 2pm on a Wednesday.
A: I’m likely to be meeting with a Christian woman either in her home or outside over coffee.
Q: Another classic question coming up. Other than the Bible, can you tell us what book you would choose to take to a desert island?
A: Don’t have a desert island book I’m afraid and would rather take my iPod full of Christian music – but I guess that wouldn’t work for long without a charger! The book I have enjoyed most recently is The Prodigal God by Tim Keller.
Q: Finally, can you tell us what brings you the greatest joy.
A: My greatest joy is spending time with our family and seeing many and varied evidences of
God’s grace in all their lives.
Our thanks to Maureen for being willing to be the first to share something of herself. Please do feel free to suggest women who you would like to get to know through these interviews (email womenatcharlotte@gmail.com).
