VIKKI'S JOURNEY

Hey everyone!

We miss you all! It has been great connecting in new and different ways but we’re patiently awaiting the day we can be together again for chats, laughs and (of course) food!

If you don’t know me, I’m Vikki and I’m 24 (aka OLD). I have grown up in mighty Lurgan all my life. I went to school in Lurgan and then went to uni in Belfast to study English. I completed a Masters in Counselling at the end of last year and have been working with an amazing charity called Aspire for over a year now. Some of my biggest loves in life are Nandos, Justin Bieber and hugs. 

My faith journey began when I was very young. I was brought up in a Christian family and attended church - and every meeting associated with it - for as long as I can remember. As a child, I always knew that God loved me and that one day I wanted to go to Heaven to be with Him. After a Sunday afternoon at Lurgan Baptist Sunday School, I realised I had a choice to make if I wanted to live for Jesus. At the age of 5 my parents led me to Him in our living room (I remember hiding under a blanket while asking Jesus to come into my heart).

As I grew up and entered my teenage years, I began to explore what it really means to follow Jesus; how to live like Him and display this in my daily life. Disclaimer - I am still learning and figuring this out every day! I started attending a youth club at a different church to the one I’d grown up in, which resulted in me moving churches completely. This was tough as church had always been a family orientated thing for me. There weren’t many Christians in my year group, but this gave me the opportunity to show Jesus, primarily through relationship and loving well (side note - if this is something you find difficult, I’d love to chat with you about it!)

On leaving school at 18, I found this transition period really hard. I had always loved school and felt within my comfort zone so the move to uni was daunting. Alongside this uncertainty, I had started attending the church I’d grown up in again but didn’t feel sure about where God wanted me to be. I started coming to Emmanuel the odd Sunday evening and felt more challenged than ever in my faith. I felt God tell me this was where I was supposed to be. The best thing I did on joining Emmanuel was quickly getting involved and serving in different ministries - and so here I am 5+ years later!

As mentioned earlier, I went to Queens and studied English. I was never 100% sure what I wanted to do as a job, which is why I ended up picking a subject that I enjoyed. For any of you guys considering the future, or a job or heading to uni/having to make your choices etc - this is HARD. You don’t have to know or be 100% sure. Pray about it! I used to squirm when I was asked ‘what do you see yourself doing in later life?’ - I had no clue! The only response I could give was ‘I want to work with underprivileged kids but I have no idea what that looks like’. 

Fast forward 6 years from leaving school and I now work for a charity called Aspire. At Aspire we work with kids and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them achieve in education. God had placed this passion in my heart years before and now I find myself working in a role directly related, with a charity that didn’t even exist back then.

I suppose the point I want to make is - God is working in the little details of your life, whether you can see it or not at the time, eventually you will reflect back and see His hand at work. 

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

- Jeremiah 29 v 11

Sending love & prayers your way and I hope to see you all soon!

Lots of love, 

Vikki