Before joining the HTL (Holy Trinity Leicester) community my life felt like it was spiraling downwards. The last year has been the most incredible, topsy-turvy journey that I’ve ever been on. Not only have I been completely transformed, I have made friends that I know will be there for life. Weekends away, cell groups, Alpha course and lots of ‘pubbing’; at times it often felt as if I was not in my final year of university, but in a year full of God. This was topped off with the most perfect week at Momentum. God moved in ways that I could never have dreamt of and I felt his presence every day.
Over the five days, I went from feeling like a lost sheep to a son of God, whose return was joyfully celebrated with a heavenly party. The support that I had from every member of the Holy Trinity Students community was what I needed when I felt overwhelmed or lost. I lost count of the number of times that I openly cried for God to drown me in his love and show me the way home – I even briefly lost hope. However every step of the way I had the community around me, loving me, showing me Jesus’s love and encouraging me to continue to seek Him. On the fourth day, Jesus took off my blind fold and I was welcomed back into the saviours’ arms. I was overcome with laughter and felt like I was a child being tickled by my Holy Father. I couldn’t stop, I kept asking God to stop because it hurt my core so much! Every time I asked, he’d stop briefly then he’d tickle harder! It was exactly how you would tickle a child, and it was amazing.
My friends were there for me every step of that journey. They spent time praying and chatting with me so that I could understand what had just happened. My hands were shaking so much I could feel His spirit running through my veins! I’d never felt such a buzz. The final day forced me to confront my whole reason I came to momentum – my future. I did not do this alone, for I knew God was and is always with me. Further to this, I had scores of people praying for me. God told me the following three items:
- Get rid of the distractions and focus on me.
- Talk to me about everything, no matter how small.
- Read my book; it’s the greatest instruction manual ever!
That night I took care of step one. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I sat in my car and cried, those distractions were more important to me than I’d realised. Thankfully this would not hurt for long because I had God and the HTL community beside me. I cannot understate the support that I have received from the community. I would not have even come back to church without them. It seemed that every time I started to drift they would pull me back in. Events like the Alpha course encouraged me to explore confusions I had about my relationship with God, and the “Questions” evenings really helped to delve deeper into the spirituality of being a follower of Christ.
HTL students aren’t all God, God, God though – they do have lots of fun along the way! Just like my year in HTL, my week at momentum was interspersed with the little pockets of joy that friends bring. We played football, beat our Nottingham rivals 5-0 at ultimate Frisbee and enjoyed a hog roast together. A personal fun-light was the zorb-balling although sadly I lost!
Finally, two weeks ago, I cried out to God that I was going nowhere, I was lost and I needed his help. Two weeks later, I have one job offer and 3 interviews for God-centred gap years. God will never fail, God never changes and God is good (even to those who don’t deserve it). Momentum was the perfect end, to a roller-coaster year. Whilst I had my troubles, God provided me with a community that loves me for who I am and more importantly, a community fully focused on Jesus. If I thanked Him every day it would not be enough.
“The Lord himself goes before you and he will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” – Deut 31 v 8.
Josh studied computer science at DeMontford Uni and graduated with a first this summer. He has been part of Holy Trinity Leicester students for a year.