Maureen's Story

People who sign up for mission trips expect to serve and minister.  They hope their service will be an inspiration and a blessing to others.  But inevitably, the greatest blessings flow back to those who came to serve.  People touch our lives and humble us with their stories.  Maureen is one of those people.

Maureen worships at Royal Docks Community Church and works with the under-5 children in the community center.  On Wednesday she cooked dinner for the 12 volunteers who are assigned there.  While we enjoyed afters (desserts), she gave her testimony.

Maureen and her pastor, David Mann

As a young woman with three small children, Maureen found herself in a violent and abusive marriage.  When she went to her parents for help, they turned her away, telling her “You made your bed and you lie in it”.  Her second relationship began with promise and soon twin boys were born, but it was not long before she faced domestic violence again.

Depression took over Maureen’s life.  She stopped taking care of herself and rarely went out.  She even felt that she had nothing to live for and that even her children would be better off without her.

On her own with five children, Maureen was seeking help, and gradually she found her way to God.  She attended Friday Breakfast group with a friend and started staying behind to pray and ask others to pray for her.  She started going to church on Sunday, and even though her family didn’t encourage her, they could begin to see the changes in her life.  Maureen says “My new faith wasn’t instant.  It grew.” 

More and more Maureen looked forward to attending church, praying, and studying the Bible.  An important milestone in her walk of faith was a church mission trip to Romania.  She says “The disabled children and their families broke my heart.  I know what desperation feels like. I cried when we had to go home. I was baptized there to show others that God was now in my life.”

One of Maureen’s greatest treasures is a gold locket containing a picture of her children.  They don’t attend church with her, but her grandchildren are coming and learning about Jesus. 

Pray for Maureen as she continues to grow in her faith and pray for her family that they will also come to know Christ.