By Emily Beater2023-11-28T09:40:00
Being a single parent in the Church can be a challenging experience, says Emily Beater, as she recalls her own journey towards Jesus
I certainly didn’t intend to go to church that day, or any other day for that matter. It was the January of my return to university, and the ground was ice-cold; the trees still rusted with dirt and gold. The year before, an unexpected pregnancy in Freshers’ Week (and the mental health crisis that followed it) had led me to temporarily suspend my degree.
When I returned to the University of Oxford twelve months later, I was living with the father of my child, our three-month-old baby and the firm conviction that I had let everyone down. Now, only the most stellar academic success, combined with perfection as a mother, could redeem me. I adored my daughter, with her grey-green eyes and gurgling mouth, and would weaken with love at the scent of her head. But the stereotypes of failure we attach so instinctively to young mothers had sunk, like rot, into my bones. I was convinced that a faultless performance in every aspect of my life was my only option.
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2024-03-08T09:50:00Z By Emily Beater
In honour of International Women’s Day, the female staff at Christian publisher, SPCK, share their favourite books by women authors
2024-01-15T11:38:00Z By Sharon Hastings
Christians are not immune to feeling overwhelmed during these short, dark January days. On Blue Monday, Dr Sharon Hastings offers her top tips for improving your mental wellbeing in 2024
2023-12-21T12:16:00Z By Lizzie Harewood
The government’s draft guidance for schools on gender-questioning children has been a long time coming, says Lizzie Harewood. It’s far from a victory for Christians when it comes to trans issues, but it is definitely a step in the right direction
2024-10-11T08:19:00Z By Lani Charlwood
Could you forgive the man who nearly killed your father? That’s the journey Lani Charlwood has been on. As this weekend marks 40 years since the Brighton bombing, she explains how forgiveness and reconciliation are possible, even in the most painful of circumstances
2024-09-27T14:13:00Z By Heather Tomlinson
Short-term mission has come under heavy criticism in recent years, with concerns ranging from white saviourism to doubts over motivations and priorities. But Heather Tomlinson discovers another side to the story
2024-09-27T13:52:00Z By Dr Richard Roberts
With a surge in interest in spiritual formation, ancient paths and prayer rituals, Celtic Christianity is enjoying a moment. Richard Roberts shares the fascinating tale of the first missionaries to these shores
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