Page 23 - Good News for EveryoneSpring Summer 2023 magazine

KEEP ON

SOWING,

KEEP ON

GROWING

The Reverend Daniel McCarthy, interim minister of at 21, God’s Word kept coming back. Yes, I had a degree in
Newcastle Holy Cross, Fenham, shares how a seed law but somehow through His Word and Spirit, I felt God
planted in his life grew into something special. was calling me to something else.
From 1976 I was raised in a Christian home in Essex and Between the ages of 21 and 24 I spent time learning about
lived a lovely Christian life in the Catholic faith. At seven church planting and studying at Kensington Temple,
years old I thought everyone loved God and was God’s London. God’s call and passion through His Spirit and
friend. But, at the age of 14, I found things were slightly Word gave me the passion to be part of a team which
different to being in the first year of junior school. I helped plant a church in Basildon, Essex with New
went to a Catholic school but realised it didn’t make me Frontiers in 2002.
a Christian. I started to question things. I prayed that In 2004 at the age of 28, my wife and I felt from reading
dangerous prayer, “God if you are real, show me”. God’s Word again and again, a calling to Newcastle upon
Soon after, a man (who I hope to see in Heaven) came to Tyne. I was afraid, I wasn’t from the area and it seemed
one of our assemblies and at the end of his talk I received to me they spoke a different language! The words from
a red New Testament. I looked at it and thought “thank Matthew 13 however kept coming back to me: sowing
you very much” and put it to one side. I still questioned seeds all the time, keep on sowing, keep on growing.
if God was real, why were there wars in the world; why I
felt anxiety and fears within me. After some time however I was in a different church but God’s Word was still
exciting. God had ordained me through the Anglican
I felt nudged to open this red New Testament and see church in 2010 and I served as curate at St Bartholomew’s
what was inside. At the beginning of it I found the Helps Long Benton. By 2013 I had moved from Newcastle to
section, with Scriptures of “where to go when you are Hertfordshire and was the vicar at St Martin’s Shenley.
worried or anxious, or don’t know what to do next with
your life” very uplifting. There I went through a significant cancer illness but
continued to draw on God’s Word again and again “do not
At nights (pre-internet) I went to bed with my torch and be afraid. I am with you”. I believe the seeds that were put
looked at the Testament, always looking at the pages that in me at age 14 through the New Testament have stayed
gave me hope, such as the beatitudes. I’d love to say the with me and keep on producing again and again.
Bible brought me to faith but, as you know, in life there I am learning deeply that God is a God of movement and
are many parts to it. What I want to encourage you is in 2021 my family and I - Alison (curate at Holy Trinity
that it gave me a seed of faith, it planted within me the Jesmond) and three children (Ben, Caed and Calla)
importance of God’s Word. moved back to Newcastle upon Tyne. Despite the valleys
When I was 18 I came to a living faith at Thundersly at times I still feel God is calling me, speaking to me
Congregational Church who shared the same Jesus I had through His Word. I hope I have many years ahead of me
grown up learning about in the Catholic church but in a to share God’s Word wherever I go.
way that I could relate to. Words of encouragement such
as “I am the light of the world”, “I am the good shepherd” You don’t know what your work achieves this side of
came into my life in a new and powerful way and gave heaven but what I do know is that there are many other
me a saving faith. Daniel McCarthy’s out there, waiting for God’s seeds to
be sown. Your reward in heaven is significant!
But that’s not the end of the story as God has given us a
mission, an adventure to live out. After leaving university Daniel shared his testimony at Connexions 2022.

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