‘What made it even better was having some “now-not-so-young” people there who first encountered the team when they were children. It was a real privilege to witness the difference that the team had made on their lives all these years on. But, wonderful as that was, what really struck me was hearing stories of the impact that being part of Eden made on each of one of the team in different ways. 

‘It changed the way we viewed the world and ourselves. In some cases, it changed the whole direction of our lives. 

‘Being on Eden was hard and it would be wrong to say it was a positive experience for everyone, but as we came together and got past the initial nervousness it felt like the last 20 years just disappeared and we were carrying on as before. The bonds we made, whether we were on team for two years or are still living in the area today, run a lot deeper than we realised and it was wonderful to reconnect and share so many brilliant memories. 

‘We often focus, and rightly so, on the community transformation that Eden teams bring as they share the love of Jesus in word and action in some of the toughest estates in the UK but, as is so often the case with God, He doesn’t just use us to bring change to others, but grows us in the process! It can be hard to see at the time, especially when things go wrong, but it is so worth it!

Why not try it and see what God can do in and through you?’