written by Ned Liley | Bedford, England
“After 6 months of being on community, it’s odd to look back and think about how I first viewed Lee Abbey. I guess the concept of a Christian community intimidated me just a bit, because surely only the holiest people would dedicate a whole year of their lives to service, right?
“In many ways; yes. Lee Abbey has truly taught me what the church is as the unified body of Christ on earth, set apart to be a radically different culture to that surrounding it. But I’ve been struck most of all by how real (to put it bluntly, how normal) the people working and living here are. Everyone is ‘working out their salvation’ in real time, and the pressure-cooker nature of community life 24/7 proves to be simultaneously the most challenging and most rewarding environment for growth to happen.
“In my own experience, this has honestly looked less like ‘learning’, and more like ‘unlearning’. My own comfort in my faith has often been tested – for the best – being put in positions drastically different to where I might naturally want to be, but discovering that that’s exactly where God wants me. My structures for the day – when to pray, when to work, when to rest – were completely demolished and had to be rebuilt entirely to accommodate for the rhythms of service-oriented community life. All of this will go with me beyond Lee Abbey, and I imagine it will impact my whole life.
“The main blessing of being a volunteer at Lee Abbey, though, is the people. It seems obvious to say, but being in a family of believers all there simply to serve and to worship Jesus is continually inspiring, unendingly encouraging, and deeply refining. Whether in explosive corporate worship evenings, in silent prayer at the start of the day, or just chatting over coffee with a teammate, every aspect of life here oozes with the possibility of encounter, as long as you’re willing to push into it. I’m more sure in my faith as a result of Lee Abbey, and more open to God’s transformation work in me.”
