Category: Past Events

Our “More to Life” series got off to an unexpected start on Sunday 1st March.

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce explained how she had achieved a good deal of success in terms of her education and career, and yet felt deeply unhappy. In her words, she specifically remembered thinking that “there must be more to life.”

The theme of “more to life” surrounds us all in so many ways, but the answer is always the same: Fiona gave a clear testimony of how she encountered God’s grace and forgiveness, accomplished through the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

You are warmly invited to contact us or come to any of our More to Life events at the end of March / start of April.

We were grateful to have Aled Seago interviewed by George Crowder at our “Diary of a Downcast Soul” event, on the subject of depression among Christians.

Aled was helpfully frank about how medication and counselling have benefited him, and we also gained an insight into how church and friendship can help someone to keep going through the darkest of days. Aled also spoke about the particular challenge of suffering depression as a Christian, grappling with why God permits suffering at all. In the end, there is hope in Christ as we look forward to a day when God will wipe away every tear.

George was also questioned about his role as someone who had helped Aled in his depression. George explained his own feelings of inadequacy for the task, yet he simply stayed in close friendship throughout.

A great number came along to hear LFC Chaplain and Liverpool pastor Bill Bygroves speaking on Faith and Football.

Bill pointed out the many similarities between football and normal life – how both are affected by the need for rules, both have penalties, both need referees, and how both have a final whistle. But most beautiful of all was God’s answer for a Substitute, Jesus.

Everyone was challenged to turn to Jesus for themselves and some who were present did just that for the very first time on the night.

We were treated to some challenging examples of how knowing Jesus has changed the lives of local people.

Thank you to everyone who came, to All Saints Church Thornton Hough for their hospitality, and to John, Tina, Christopher and Pauline for sharing their experiences of Jesus with us.

Over 300 people came to hear the fascinating story of Jonathan Aitken in his own words.

He spoke of the pain of being sent to prison and the terrible toll it took on his family. He also spoke about his search for meaning in Jesus Christ, and how he shared that search with fellow inmates in prison. Over time, he and other inmates were transformed by faith in Jesus – evidenced by genuine changes in character and lifestyle.

If you missed the event or would like to be reminded of it, you will find a similar talk given at another event on YouTube.

Debbie came to Wirral to speak about her life, her sport, her career, and what matters most. While many around her find identity and purpose in their sport, Debbie finds hers in her faith in Jesus. That means she has been able to compete at the highest levels in world sport and retain balance and purpose in the face of difficulties and set-backs.

Prof John Wyatt led us through some of the ethical challenges being raised by developments being made in technology and culture.
He then also gave a Christian response to those challenges, and then provided gracious and wise responses to some very helpful questions in the Q&A.

Nobody gave Chris and Tony a chance. Married at 17, two children by the time they were 18. No job, no prospects.
Later on, Tony was an alcoholic prison officer, while Chris was a “nominal Roman Catholic disillusioned by Church.”

But when the time was right, God moved powerfully in both their lives.

If ever you needed evidence that the Good News of Jesus still changes lives, this is it. Tony and Chris were very open about their lives and how they had been transformed by faith in Jesus.

We had a fascinating evening hearing Leeds Rhinos player Jamie Jones-Buchanan being interviewed about his life and faith.

How does a professional sports player in an aggressive game like rugby maintain a lively faith? How does he even come to have faith in the first place?

Jamie answered these candidly and made it clear that his trust in Jesus is stronger than anything and better than any prize.

We were treated to two brilliant talks from Dr Kirsten Birkett of Oak Hill College London.

She spoke on recent studies on ‘happiness’ and urged us not to base our happiness on something that can be lost.

Her second talk was on the essential harmony between science and faith, and how they cannot be in conflict.