My name is Jacob Chase. I have been involved with TVYFC since 2012. I did my first gap year after I graduated high school and I just wanted to take the first part of this blog to tell you a little about how I ended up here and England and God’s faithfulness throughout this 4 ½ year journey.
I would say my journey to England began in the summer of 2011 after my dad passed away after struggling with illness for many years. After his passing away, I completely abandoned my faith. I wanted nothing to do with church or God. I was angry, confused, lost and alone. I spent the year trying to distract myself with things the world said would make me happy, but really they left me feeling more empty than I already did. Toward the summer of 2012 my mom and I came across a post from Mike Taylor about doing a Gap Year in England. For some reason, in that moment, it seemed like the only possible thing for me to do- not college, or work, but living overseas as a missionary for a year. If that seems crazy, that’s because it is, but to truly have faith that Christ’s plan for your life is best takes a little crazy sometimes. After meeting Mike Taylor for the first time in an Apple store in The Woodlands, Texas, I hopped on a plane not knowing what to expect, not knowing anyone else doing a gap year, all I knew was that if this was what God wanted me to do, it’s what I was going to do. My plan for my life was full of ruin, but His plan for my life was growth, improvement, and blessing.
Soon, what was supposed to be one year in England turned into two years, and after my second year I moved back to Houston to face old wounds which I found hadn’t yet completely healed. I felt disconnected with home, it wasn’t the same place it was when I left two years earlier. In all this confusion and disconnection I quickly fell away from church again. Living back in Houston became more difficult for me than living in England was. Even though it was a difficult year, I learned more about humility and to really look at my motives for serving; were they focused on Christ or focused on self? In July of 2015, I once again felt it was time for me to move back to England, but I knew from the start that this year would be different than past years. This would be a year of personal growth both spiritually and mentally for me. It’s been a year of healing for me personally. A year that God has used to prepare me for my next steps in ministry.
As 2016 winds down to a close, and as my time in England comes to an end, I know I will be going back to a different Houston, Texas than I left only a year ago. But I know that Christ's plan for me is perfect. I know He has given me vision and purpose in ministry. I know that He will be with me each step of the way.
In the Northeast we run a youth camp called Kairos Christian Youth Camp. This past year, I had the pleasure of running the media team that was responsible for creating the promo video, plus any other videos for Kairos. Take a look at this promo video, it will give you some great insight into some aspects of Christian ministry here in England!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JACOB CHASE
Houston, TX | 23
PROJECT: Stockton
Jacob first moved to England in 2012 after high school. He spent two years serving in Stockton before moving back to Texas for a year. He moved back to Stockton in January 2016.
