Meet the Women at Charlotte: Selassi

This post marks the next in a series of interviews with different women who are part of the 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.  This time, we would like you to meet Selassi. 

Thank you Selassi for agreeing to share and congratulations to you and Alex on your new marriage!  How did you become a Christian? 

I became a Christian when I was 16.  We'd been taught well at Sunday Focus each week and friends and I were planning on going to a Christian Music Festival at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.  At the concert we were singing out to Hillsong and I found myself thinking about Christ and why I was there.  I was thinking about the fact that we were singing praises to God yet my heart was not fully God's.  The band stopped singing and shared the Gospel briefly, and prayed, and I prayed too, asking for forgiveness for my sins that had crucified Christ and asked God to be in control of my heart and life.  We were told to leave the main hall if we had repented and given our lives to Christ that day and we sat in small groups with other Christians and prayed again.  It was all very corporate but very personal at the same time, and an emotionally intense with the worship and people there - I remember being so full of joy.  We were strongly encouraged to tell someone when we left that day so besides my friends I told my Dad in the car home.  Becoming a Christian though has been something that has and is happening in the days since - in the cycles of repentance and forgiveness, making mistakes and trying/learning to die to self, live for Christ and live with faith.

Do you have a favourite Christian song - what is it?

Rock of Ages. Old but timeless words.

If you knew you were going to a desert island and could take only one book (in addition to the Bible) what would it be?

I enjoy most books.  I read too much to choose! 

What is your youngest memory?

I think it's the memory of getting lost at church in Ghana. No one came to get me from Sunday School so I left by myself. My aunt found me wandering in the crowd and I think I burst into tears when she came up to me. 

Where is your favourite place to be?

Anywhere I have good memories-mainly places in Ghana and certain places in Scotland like Achiltibuie.

What is your signature dish in the kitchen?

Pancakes, not exactly substantial...! 

What brings you the greatest joy?

Too many things to put!

What are you usually doing on a Wednesday afternoon?

I am usually doing siting at my desk in the office working on a Wednesday afternoon. Probably snacking too.

What challenges does being a Christian bring to your personal situation?

I find being a Christian challenging with old friends and at work - probably because I find the Gospel is best shared in those situations by actions instead of words.  But the challenging places are also a good place to be accountable, to see whether my actions are just to try and fit in, or whether what I say and do is distinct for Christ.

If you have enjoyed reading Judith's interview, please do let us know if there are other women at Charlotte that you would like to hear from.

Meet the Women at Charlotte: Judith

This post marks the next in a series of interviews with different women who are part of the 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. This time, we would like you to meet Judith.

Judith, thank you for agreeing to share some of your story with us. How did you become a Christian?
I am so blessed to have been taught about God and the gospel from an early age, both by my parents and at faithful Bible-believing churches. I don’t ever remember not believing in God, and never doubted the truth of the gospel. When I was young I remember hearing a sermon about how Jesus would one day separate the sheep from the goats, and realising that I had to make a personal decision to trust Him as my saviour. I didn’t, however, have any real sense of a living growing relationship with God at that stage. It wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I came to an understanding of the depths of my sin, the amazing thing Christ had done for me on the Cross, and the need to truly repent and live my life for Him.

Do you have a favourite Christian song that you would like to share?
Too many! It changes all the time. One that has meant a lot to me recently is ‘There is a hope that burns within my heart’ by Stuart Townend. The lyrics have been such a good reminder, amidst life’s difficulties, that Christ is the one solid hope in life and death.

If you could only take one book (in addition to the Bible!) on a desert island what would it be?
Markus Zusak’s ‘The Book Thief’. I love everything about it – the beautiful language, the style, the characters, the subtle humour, the sadness… it’s wonderful.

Hmm, I might have to look that one out. What is a piece of advice that you wish you had worked out earlier?
“You should ‘talk’ to yourself much more than you should ‘listen’ to yourself.” Listening is often to sinful, negative thoughts; I should speak God’s word to myself all the time, instead. I’m still working this one out!

Where is your favourite place to be?
The north coast of Northern Ireland, with my family.

What are you usually doing at 2pm on a Wednesday?
I am attempting (and for that period, it often does feel like only an attempt!) to teach English to a small class of challenging S2s at Forrester High School.

What brings you the greatest joy?
Talking about Jesus to my non-Christian friends. It doesn’t happen nearly enough! 

How did you meet your husband?
At the Chapel.

What challenges does being a Christian bring to your personal situation?
It’s challenging in every area of my life to be a Christian because my selfish sinful nature always wants its own way. Whether it’s being patient with my pupils at school, respecting and submitting to my husband, putting aside my own wants so that I can do what my son needs, speaking about Jesus to people who may think I’m weird… it’s all tough. But praise be to God who gives more and more grace, who is faithful and just to forgive, who always loves and accepts me in Jesus!

If you have enjoyed reading Judith's interview, please do let us know if there are other women at Charlotte that you would like to hear from.

Meet the women at Charlotte - Lorna

This post marks the next in a series of interviews with different women who are part of the 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.  This time, we would like you to meet  Lorna.

First of all, could you tell us how you became a Christian?

I grew up going to church and Sunday school but it was just something that we did on a Sunday and I stopped going when I was a teenager.  It was only when I went away to University that I realised that I wasn’t a Christian by default.  A good friend Caroline patiently and lovingly challenged me about what I believed.  Rubbish at saying no to things, I attended a few CU events and went to church a few times.  I still didn’t get it but I was struck by there being something different about the Christians that I met that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.  I grew increasingly uncomfortable and realised that I had to look into things myself.  I went to a course at her church exploring Christianity and it was there for the first time that I understood the gospel.  I was faced with the reality of my sin, that I needed a saviour and subsequently put my trust in Jesus.

Thanks for sharing that, if you have a favourite Christian song - what is it?

It’s very hard to choose just one!  Although I listen to a lot of contemporary Christian music, I would choose an older hymn like “When peace like a river”.  The writer’s story behind the song is very moving and reminds us that no matter what we are going through, if we have Christ then we can joyfully sing “it is well with my soul”.

If you knew you were going to a desert island and could take only one book (in addition to the Bible) what would it be?

Something by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoy reading his 44 Scotland Street series for light relief.

Where is your favourite place to be?

The Isle of Skye.  My parents have a cottage there so I love going when I can to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

What is your signature dish in the kitchen?

Friends might say Tiramisu.  It was tasted by enough people at University to get a mention in my yearbook entry so it has stuck with me since!

What brings you the greatest joy?

Spending quality time with family and friends.

Finally, what challenges does being a Christian bring to your personal situation?

I work as a GP which is a great privilege but brings many challenges.  It is hard being a good witness for Christ in a busy and stressful job, as well as dealing with some of the ethical situations that arise.  I am thankful for the support of Christian friends and colleagues as we encourage one another in the ups and downs of work and life.  The following verses remind me who we are ultimately serving which can keep me going through a long day!

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Thanks to Lorna for sharing some of her story.  Do feel free to suggest other women who you would like to get to know through these interviews.

Meet the women at Charlotte - Hannah

After a brief hiatus, this post marks the next in a series of interviews with different women who are part of the 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.  This time, we would like you to meet Hannah.

Q - Thank you for agreeing to spend some time sharing a bit about your story, Hannah.  First off - how did you become a Christian?

A - My dad has always taken us to church and we started coming to the chapel when I was six.  I prayed to ask Jesus into my heart when I was not much older, after my sister suggested that I did.  I would have considered myself a Christian before that and always have since but I honestly can't remember whether I fully understood the gospel then.  I think it was most likely a gradual process over the next ten years or so!

Q -  What would be your desert island book (you can have your Bible, of course!)?

A - My instinct is to say Harry Potter but then I would have to choose one of them!  If I was being sensible about packing though it would have to be 'The Power of a Praying Wife' by Stormie O'Martian.  No other Christian book has changed me so much and it's always my first recommendation now.  It's intensely practical, entirely based on Scripture and definitely one that I will keep re-reading.  It would probably be even more important to use if I was that far away too!

Q - That sounds like a book to look out for! Where is your favourite place to be?

A - The isle of Harris. My mum grew up there so most of her family are still there. Going up was always my favourite part of the summer holidays.

Q - The women at Charlotte Chapel all lead very different lives, what are you usually doing at 2pm on Wednesday?

A - I work at Krispy Kreme so that can change a lot depending on what shift I'm on.  This week I was just starting work, other times I'll be just finishing work.  On night shift weeks I'll hopefully be soundly asleep.

Q - What is the funniest thing you have seen or heard recently?

A - At YPM girls' weekend last week we had breakfast at 9am and found out on the Sunday morning that the boys had been getting up for 7:15.  That was probably funnier than it should have been.

Q - What challenges does being a Christian bring to your personal situation?

A - I'm naturally inclined to shy away from/ terrified by one to one conversations and situations and I've been challenged many times in the last few weeks that my lifestyle needs to be backed up by words and how few the opportunities will always be if I'm not willing to really talk to people.

Q- Last but not least, what brings you the greatest joy?

A - Sunday.  It sounds cheesy but it's true.  When I was growing up I would only be at church every other morning service and always felt a bit like a visitor.  When WeePM started it was an excuse to go to the evening services sometimes too but it was often a fight to be allowed to go on 'mum weekends.'  If it wasn't for that I would probably never have realised what a blessing and a privilege going to church is.  WeePM was a great opportunity to get to know people my age properly and now that we're all in YPM they are still my closest friends and my greatest encouragement.  I'm lucky enough to always have Sunday off work and I love the whole day, from the sermons to the afternoon banter and especially YPM in the evening.

Thanks to Hannah for sharing some of her story. Do feel free to suggest other women who you would like to get to know through these interviews.