1. Home
  2. News & events
  3. News
  4. Stories from Stepping Up: Phil Sainty

Stories from Stepping Up: Phil Sainty

Date:
Wed 14th October 2020

This week’s story comes from Phil. St John’s Bransholme does not currently have a vicar but Phil and other local people are at the heart of the church serving within the local community.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Phil’s Story

My name is Phil Sainty, I'm 44 married to Sadie and we have Chloe our daughter who is 11. We live on Bransholme in Hull and I work full time at a local bakery making cakes.

My journey to faith started late in life as it was my daughter who asked about why she hadn't been baptised, I said ‘I haven't been baptised either’ but she answered with ‘Can I get baptised?’ I said I would look into it and so I spoke with Rev Matt at the local church, St John's. We agreed to a naming service first, then to get baptised and confirmed. In the end both me and my wife and child got confirmed about a year later with Bishop Alison, it was wonderful to do this together as a family.

I go with my daughter every Sunday to St John's. I love being part of St John's it’s a small church but really feels like home. I also run St John's Foodbank every Tuesday, with other volunteers from the church. We recently received a letter of thanks from our local MP for all that we do in the community, and a grant from the local council to support the Foodbank, this was an answer to our prayers for the resources that we need.

I enjoy developing my faith with the Mustard Seed programme to learn more about listening to God. I hope it will not only benefit me but the next generation like my daughter as well At St John’s it is our mission to help anyone, we are a church in the community and running the foodbank is part of our outreach. It’s what I love about being part of St John's we always try to make everyone and anyone feel welcome.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Find out more about Mustard Seed on our website, www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/SteppingUp

Or follow Mustard Seed on Social Media