Keith Williams and Shane Harrison were both confirmed at the Cathedral on Sunday evening. Both men only came to faith over the last few months after joining the ‘Worship Wednesday’ sessions at The Community Link, Cradley Heath.
Keith walked into The Community Link after seeing that they could help him put together a CV and Shane was referred by his support worker when he was on the point of going of the rails. Both started volunteering in the shop front on Cradley Heath High Street and began to also take part in Worship Wednesday. Neither had been to church much before in the past.
Shane said: “To start with, the worship was all new to me, but as time went on I started to get into it. I have been very anti-religion in the past, but at The Community Link I saw things that I liked and surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the worship.”
“I attended Sunday School as a child and also went to church with Scouts, but I’d definitely stopped believing,” said Keith. “I now feel like I’ve got my faith back. Before finding the Community Link I tried taking my own life, but I am now a different person.”
When confirmation was discussed at Worship Wednesday, both Shane and Keith asked if they could be confirmed. Keith had been baptised as a child, but Shane hadn’t so this also took place at the Cathedral on Sunday.
“I was feeling very nervous about being in the spotlight – it’s quite a big thing to happen, but I’m very happy about it,” said Shane. “If you’d met me 12 months ago, you wouldn’t have believed that this would happen! I’ve now started the Bishop’s Certificate course and I’d like to become a deacon, travelling the world to share my faith. I’ve already told all my friends and they’ve started to come into The Community Link and see what it’s all about.”
Keith said: “I feel happier now than I’ve ever been, and others have commented on that. I’m not so angry now and I try to help people as much as possible. I want to keep learning and growing in my faith. I’ve got a job which means I’ll probably have to leave The Community Link but have been to Christ Church in Brierley Hill on a couple of occasions and will probably go there more often.”
Worship Wednesday at The Community Link is led by Paul Latham and Kath Davis.
Kath said: “Both Shane and Keith came with no faith. They came in because we were open, began volunteering and then started to join in with worship. In our Bishop’s Certificate group, Shane recently said that he came with no expectations because the bible meant nothing to him – it was just a book. However, he saw how we worked at The Community Link and the relevance that having a faith had and said that was what he wanted.”
Paul said: “When I started at The Community Link we sat down and looked at the Five Marks of Mission and started Worship Wednesday as a result. The group has grown over the past year, but to be able to lead people to baptism and confirmation is a real milestone. Keith in particular brings so much to the worship group, exploring the bible on his own initiative and bringing his views each week. It was an emotional evening at the Cathedral. We’ve been talking about it over the past few weeks within the group and will also celebrate with Keith and Shane next Wednesday!”
