I am a professional ballerina from Buckinghamshire and have lived in London for nine years of my life, having trained and worked with The Royal Ballet and ROH2. I decided to take a big step of moving away from Covent Garden (London) and all that I was familiar with to take up a new position with a ballet company based in Leeds which tour extensively around the UK and abroad.

I had no doubt in mind that this was the right decision, I prayed and felt that God had lead me to this city for a reason and in doing so everything fell in to place for my move. One of my church leaders introduced me to Matt Hatch and Mosaic and ultimately I received the contract I wanted from my new company which had put the final stamp on my move and left me nothing else to question.

Now on paper, my move from London to Leeds sounds really easy and that I had no problems at all. Which in part is true but even though I am quite a laid back and easygoing person, this move really tested me. I had never stepped one foot in this city before coming here, I didn’t really know anyone who lived in the city and it wasn’t like I was going to university where I would meet loads of people of the same age range, doing the same course… I was once surrounded by a big network of close friends of whom I had grown up and lived with for years to suddenly being alone and having to meet and make new friends in a city I didn’t know.

I found the first five months really hard and often felt that I wanted to pack up and move back to London. Work was tough as I wasn’t used to constantly touring and finding the time to meet new people was proving quite impossible as I was so busy balancing the time of moving in and settling in to the new regime at work. But with God, there is always a light at the end of a dark tunnel. If I didn’t have my faith and if God had not lead me to Mosaic, I certainly wouldn’t be here writing this now.

Matt and his family were really welcoming when I first arrived in Leeds, I felt such warmth from them, that I knew that the Church he leads would convey that too. I now see Mosaic as part of my family and it was this church during my hardest few months that kept me going, not only was the teaching great but the people too.

Coming from such a big church in London and having attended some other churches in Leeds, I feel that Mosaic is the right church for me at this time and it’s great to be part of such a dynamic and growing church in Leeds. I definitely feel this church has helped me grow spiritually and as a person since being here and believe that God has great plans for Mosaic.

I now feel fully settled in Leeds and have found a somewhat healthy balance between work and my personal life. I have also made some really great friends, God is great and I am now just going to trust him with my future and wait excitedly to what it may entail.”

In the Summer of 2007, believing God was wanting me to move to Leeds, I started looking into where to live and what churches were around. I started searching on the internet for churches, and soon came across Mosaic's website. I downloaded some of the podcasts, and off the back of it, decided to check it out in person.

My first impressions were of a friendly, modern church with a deep love for God - something that has definitely been confirmed in the months since then!

Upon moving to Leeds, I was able to quickly get involved in their mission groups and teams, which made it even easier to make friends. Six months on, I love belonging to a church which is actively welcoming the community in. I’ve built lots of great friendships, and enjoy having the church as a base for really delving deep into Christianity. Mosaic really helped me to get settled into Leeds, to such an extent I now call it home!”