| Bright lights, dark streets |
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I  t’s a step into the unknown for a West Midlands pair, writes Ian WhiteTwo young teachers are “leaving behind their lives” to pioneer a home for recovering female drug addicts in New York City. And despite facing brand new territory, Gemma Till, 28, and Lea-Ann Jones, 25, believe God has been preparing them for the daunting challenge ahead. The volunteers, who have already given up salaried jobs, left their comfort-zone of close family and church life in the West Midlands this summer to serve in Astoria, Queens. “It’s no exaggeration to say we are leaving behind our lives,” says Gemma. “We are saying goodbye to our families, jobs, cars and even our mobile phones! “It’s also very new to both of us as we have no personal experience of the drugs scene from any angle.” And while she has previously lived away from home – working in Vancouver, Canada, with an organisation providing after-school care and summer programmes for children of disadvantaged families – it will be the first time Lea-Ann has been away for longer than a holiday. Since both quitting their jobs in January, it has been far from a vacation for the dedicated duo as they immediately started training at Birmingham-based Betel of Britain. The charity is a caring, not-for-profit Christian community aimed at restoring homeless and addicted people to productive, independent lifestyles. Gemma was first told of its American branch by a fellow worshipper at her church in Walsall, West Midlands, when she heard it was looking for people to develop its music section. “This was the perfect opportunity for the worship team to move out of their comfort zones and enter the mission field using God-given gifts,” she says. “Seven of us travelled to New York last February for a week and quite simply didn’t want to leave. “Betel of America has become an extension of our families.” Deeply saddened at the separation felt when they returned to the UK, they quickly arranged to spend a longer period in the summer, working in shops where the men sell newly-restored antique furniture, looking after “Betel Babies” (children of full-time workers) and completing other administration tasks. The two women knew at about the half-way point of the summer visit that God was “calling” them back for the longer haul. “Betel has a vision to expand its ministry in New York and we knew immediately this is where our gifting fits,” Gemma says. “From comments of residents, to the planned expansion of Betel and to the way God began to work our finances, we knew this was what we had been leading up to in our previous jobs.” Gemma, who lectured in English, communication studies and research methods in Birmingham for three years, admitted she never wanted to teach, but knew it was part of a bigger plan to prepare her for the new venture. Lea-Ann, spent much of last year working with special needs children, said she knew her job needed to be more than work. “I needed to be totally invested and thus never settled into any long-term commitment until now,” she said. Gemma will set up and run internships for people wishing to spend anything from a few weeks to a year working with the organisation. She will also lead worship and help develop music at the centre’s church meetings. Lea-Ann will develop community and family work with local families, spend one day per week with another children’s ministry and set up a Sunday School for Betel Babies and others. |
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