Interview with a CONNECTer
By way of introduction could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello! My name is Kate and I'm doing Connect this year in Southampton. I graduated last year after studying geology here. I love to bake and eat cake, and try and live life in the outdoors as much as I can.....I also like to laugh, possibly a bit too much!
What have been some of the highlights of the CONNECT year so far?
This is a tricky one! The whole year so far has been truly amazing and it seems like looking back, every week I've had a highlight! I'll try and pick a few out:
Soton Navs Weekends Away: We've had two weekends away as a group this year and they've both been really amazing! They've been a great chance to spend time getting to know one another better and many testimonies of God's Grace in people lives have come out of them. Having the opportunity to have more of a leadership role has given me a chance to ‘practice' some of my new skills, see what goes into the running of a weekend and be pushed out of my comfort zone in many areas.
Connect training days: We've had some brilliant teaching on evangelism, discipleship and establishing on these days. Giving us the opportunity to really delve into Gods word together, grow to know Him more through it and discuss ways in which we can help our groups do the same. They give us the chance to hear what God is doing around the UK in other Navs ministries too, which is always great to hear!
1:1's: Having the opportunity to meet with some of the girls one a 1:1 basis in the group has been great. Studying Gods word and encouraging each other in our daily walks with Him has been really wonderful.
I can honestly say this has been the best year of my life! God has taught, challenged, amazed and provided for me in ways I could never have imagined. He has changed and molded me so much over the past few months especially, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity I've been given this year serving with Soton Navs.
Why were you originally interested in doing CONNECT?
I have to admit, that when my supervisor first suggested that I think about Connect, I wasn't interested at all - in fact I thought he was mad to suggest it! But in the end I came round to his (and Gods!) way of thinking.....I was planning on having a gap year before studying for a masters and it just seemed like a silly opportunity to pass by - A year of serving the group who have been fundamental in my walk with Christ for the past few years, the opportunity to spend a year delving deeply into Gods word and getting some great teaching on it and generally a year of what looked like a lot of fun and fellowship!
What were some of your concerns before you began the year? And how have these worked out?
A major concern for me was that I wouldn't know enough to be of any help to people, I'm still a relatively new Christian with a lot to learn and wasn't really sure what roles I could serve in during the year. But over the past few months of Connect, God has taught me that he can use anyone, and will use anyone for his work and glory. I have grown so much in my faith, relationship with God and my understanding of His word, and He has been teaching me that even the small things I am able to contribute to the group are valued if I am doing them for Him!
Another concern was always going to be finance...I remember thinking once I had signed the application form ‘boy, I've now got to find £8000 out of nowhere!' Fundraising has been tough - there have been some low points, but through all of them God has been such a faithful provider, I have had enough to survive each month, and I'm still alive and well, eating three square meals a day! The year has given me an opportunity to completely rely on God for everything, and now each penny I look at I can see Gods faithfulness through.
What would you say to someone coming up to graduating about doing CONNECT?
DO CONNECT! No, seriously I would really recommend thinking and praying over whether you could spend a year after university serving through Connect. Speak to those that are doing it this year and those who have done in previous years to get some different views of what Connect involves and how they have found it.
Don't let your little worries hinder your thoughts and prayers - God is a faithful God who will help you through each worry, and He will provide!