Why not Teesside?

I LOVE Teesside.

I love Yarm. I love Saltburn. I love Roseberry. I love Durham and York.

I love the people. Oh, my days how I love the people. You can talk to anyone; and everyone is family. You get on a bus and by the time you get off you know the person sat behind you and their step daughter’s first dog’s last owner’s name.

Okay that’s an exaggeration, but I’ve grown up in the best place on earth. Don’t get me wrong the Great Barrier Reef is rather pretty – but have you seen Saltburn Cliff at sunset? And yes, Mount Everest might have a cool view from the top - but can you see across the Tees Valley like at Roseberry?

I always knew I wanted to move away at 18, I wanted to live somewhere else and experience a new place. I also understand that everyone misses home and struggles to leave it behind, whether that be due to family, friends or the native food. But for me – as a Christian - it’s the lifelong ministry I’ll miss. Leaving Teesside behind is leaving a place where kingdom work is in full swing. Where revival is not a far-off idea but tangible in Churches, schools, lunch clubs and youth centres. I’m convinced that the next generation of servant hearted lovers of Jesus will stem from Teesside.

That’s why it was hard to leave. Not in a tearful goodbye kind of way but in the very real conversation with God kind of way. The conversation where you sit down and ask “Why not Teesside?” See I’ve built relationships there. I have a place in the body of Christ there. And there’s still so much more to do!

But last Friday as I sat at the side of a football game at a youth club, I realised my time was up. It was a rather abrupt realisation. Minutes before I was chatting with a young student who is on the brink of a relationship with Jesus, a student who I’ve spoken to at least twice a week for two years. Yet in that moment I knew that this was no longer my ministry. Yes, I will go back and love on that place again but it won’t be the same. In that moment I knew that it never really was mine but always His. He invited me to be a part in His great plan for that place and those people for a season – and what a great privilege it was. But now He is inviting me elsewhere.

But that isn’t why this is - in all consideration - an easy move. It’s ‘easy’ because at that same youth club there are another dozen leaders who give up their Friday night to love the young people of Teesside. They do this because Jesus loves them, and Jesus loves them because He loves them. And that was one youth club of many across the Tees Valley. There are lunch clubs that will have served a few dozen families this lunch time, families for whom this is invaluable. There are discipleship groups reading scripture in coffee shops. Today a rising generation of young people declared Jesus in their classrooms, facing ridicule, because they know they are the only one in 250 students who can speak of true freedom.

I am where I am because of those youth leaders at All Saints’ and TVYFC; I pray one day they realise what an incredible part they played in my spiritual walk. But for now I am secure in the knowledge that there is a Church of Teesside loving Teesside. A church from America and Iran and all corners of the world. It doesn’t include me but I’m confident this is the best way. It is his way. I can’t love my home right now so thank you for loving it too.

So, I no longer ask Why not Teesside? I’m asking…

“God, Why Oxford?”

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PRAYER

Jesus, I thank you for the Church of Teesside. I thank you for your tangible presence in that land. I pray for youth club Friday. For the leaders there. I pray for patience and unconditional love as the students release their anger/sorrow/joy from the week. I pray for the new TVYFC serve team as they begin working with their placement Churches. God I thank you for the leaders and mentors who loved me and continue to love your people. Holy Spirit I ask that you move through that land and release your freedom.

Amen.

Saltburn // 📷: R.Wingate