LYNNE Ferguson is grateful for the mini-stroke she suffered from three years ago – because it made her think about God.

Her brush with mortality made her re-evaluate her life. Within a few months she’d started attending St Mary’s Church, Brading. And she has now publicly declared her faith in God by being confirmed there.

She was one of 22 people from across the Isle of Wight who were confirmed by Bishop Jonathan at St Mary's, Brading – as well as two more who reaffirmed their faith. Each candidate confirmed the vows made on their behalf at their baptisms. Then the bishop laid his hands on each of them and prayed for God’s Spirit to strengthen them.

And for Lynne (pictured above being confirmed), the service was especially significant. The bishop’s words about being called to serve God as a Christian minister resonated so much that she was left in tears.

“I’d always had some kind of faith and attended Sunday School as a child,” said Lynne. “I’ve always had a Bible and sat down to try and read it and to pray, but never quite engaged with God properly. Then three years ago I had a mini-stroke.

“It’s quite a frightening thing, especially as I needed speech therapy for a while afterwards, and you wonder what the future holds. But I’m actually glad it happened. It made me re-evaluate my life. I’d often gone past St Mary’s Church as I live in Brading. But one Sunday morning, I decided to go in.

“I was greeted with open arms. From the first moment I sat down, I felt at home. I started going regularly. I was baptised there, I found myself joining the PCC and the social committee, and even becoming a churchwarden. I’m now going through the process and hope to become a lay minister.

“I have this sense of purpose now that I didn’t have before, and also a sense of belonging. There was something missing from my life beforehand, and I didn’t know what it was. Now I feel I’m part of something bigger and I have this real happiness in my life. It also shows God does work in mysterious ways, as I never would have dreamt of being in the situation a few years ago.

“The confirmation service was beautiful, but by the end I was a huge blubbering mess! What the bishop was saying about feeling called to ministry – it felt like he was talking to me personally, and the tears kept coming. It reaffirmed to me that sense of calling to become a lay minister.

“It was also special because my partner – Sharron Jones – was also being confirmed at the same service. I work as her full-time carer, as she is disabled. I wondered what the future held for us both when I had that mini-stroke, but there is clearly someone who did know all about our future.”