Becky Davies
Are you being challenged to leave your comfort zone?
When God told new mum Becky Davies to ‘get out of the church’, a whole new world was to open up. But it wasn’t an easy thing to do at first, as she explains
On 17 November 2016, my life changed forever. At 7.25pm that day, Harriet Jean Grace Davies entered not only the world but in particular, my world! Not only did our routines and our lifestyles have to change, but in my case, God wanted to change a few other things too.
My family has attended our church in Porth since I was seven and I have been involved in the church for as long as I can remember. I have taught Sunday school, run youth groups, led Bible studies and am now involved in leading the Aspire women’s group in our church. I love it!
But God spoke to me after I had Hattie, and he told me it was time to get out of the church! What? Don’t panic! God wasn’t telling me to leave the church, but he was telling me to get out of the church. See, everything that I’ve been involved with has been within the church.
However, now that I have Hattie, a new world has opened up to me. A world of playgroups and play dates. A world that is totally out of my comfort zone. My comfort zone is the ‘cosiness’ of my church; the familiarity of my Christian family. So this was a big step for me.
In July last year, I felt led to set up a mother and baby group. I had no idea what I was doing, but I felt that the idea was from God, and so I went with it. Straight away I saw it as an amazing opportunity to connect with women in the community. Within three months, we had outgrown the space we had in the church, and we found a new venue in the local community centre. It was ideal!
Since the conception of the group in July, I believe God laid Matthew 5:13-16 on my heart:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Notice that Jesus says you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! He doesn’t say you are the salt of the church and the light of the synagogue. He says the earth and the world! We cannot be salt and light by staying within the four walls of the church!
Over the past year, I’ve been challenged by the book of Acts, and the question that I have considered regularly is, why did God add to the early Church daily? And why doesn’t he add to our numbers daily?
One of the many reasons why the early Church grew was because they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Aren’t you glad that the disciples didn’t stay in the upper room in Acts 1?
If they had, the chances of us knowing Jesus today would be slim! Jesus told his disciples to GOOOOOO! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19).
In Acts 1:8, before Jesus returns to heaven, he tells his followers to be his witnesses ‘in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’.
There is no doubt that Jesus is expecting the disciples to get out of their comfort zones, and go where the people are.
Jesus didn’t stay inside the four walls of a building. He was where the people were at. At the wedding party. At Zacchaeus’ house. Talking to the woman at the well.
Jesus mixed with people better than anyone! He didn’t stick to spending all his time with ‘churchies’. He spent his time with some proper characters!
But when he went into situations, he changed them. When he spent time with people, their lives were never the same again.
Why not us? Come on church. It’s time to go!
Becky Davies is a qualified teacher and is married to Owen and lives in Pontypridd, South Wales. She is a member of Porth Elim.
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