Ben Barker

My first memory of St Stephen’s was in the autumn of 2017 following my family’s move to Birmingham from London. It was becoming unaffordable for us as a young family renting there and after securing a job in Birmingham, our relocation was certain.  We rented a house in Selly Oak after another property fell through elsewhere just 3 weeks before our moving date and we had to scramble to find another place to live.  If that hadn’t happened, we may never have become part of the church family so I am so pleased it did!

Following a tough couple of months adjusting to our new home and questioning whether we had made the right decision to move (our rental place had fleas!), we came across the church online and decided to give it a go.  We felt very welcome as soon as we arrived as lots of people realised we were new and wanted to spend time getting to know us.  This really meant a lot to us coming from a busy city where the pressure of time could sometimes detract from the opportunity to cement friendships.   

Since those first few days, we’ve felt very blessed making some really good friends who we’ve been able to do life together with and encourage each other in our faith in Jesus.  Dads Stay and Play has been a big hit on Saturday mornings for me and my daughter as a chance to connect with other dads from the local area and for the kids to charge around the building together.  Plus plenty of coffee and bacon baps on offer to keep you going.  How could you refuse that?!