An inspiring spiritual journey
Craig Bailey on a path in the countryside.
ON PALM SUNDAY, 13th April, Craig Bailey was baptised and confirmed as a Christian at Open Table Chester.
This Holy Week he is walking the 92 mile Two Saints Way pilgrimage on foot from Chester to Lichfield, arriving at Lichfield Cathedral on Easter Sunday.
Craig says the Open Table communities in Chester and Nantwich ‘have inspired me on my spiritual journey, through challenging homophobia, championing inclusivity and promoting the word of the Lord and embodying the ethos of “come as you are, all are welcome”. He is crowdfunding for the Open Table Network as a thank you for their generous hospitality, and has raised more than £400 so far.
Craig sharing his testimony at Open Table Chester
“it felt like I was meant to go to church that day. I believe it was Holy Spirit that led me to discover Open Table, and for that first service to be on the very topic I was struggling with.”
Here is Craig’s testimony from his baptism service:
Since childhood, I’ve always been seeking approval and I worried what people think of me. Growing up, me and my brother were home educated, and we spent most of our time on a holiday park in Prestatyn. Although spending each day by the sea and all the many activities we did was wonderful, I never had any permanent real friends. I was really good establishing short-term friendships with people on holiday for a week, but I knew that in just a few days’ time they’d be gone.
As a result, my goal and main priority has generally been to make an impression quickly, and to be liked. For many years I have struggled to maintain healthy long-term friendships. I would often become disengaged with existing friends, and instead I would look for new friends, but also short-term sexual encounters to satisfy my inner needs. Often my actions have been selfish, insensitive and hurtful to those around me.
One of my friends commented around 14 months ago that he didn’t feel he knew the real me, and felt that I would mimic those around me to fit in and be liked. This then made me question who I am, what am I about. I had started to develop sustained friendships, but I had a feeling something was missing.
There have been two points in my life where I have been drawn to God.
18 years ago, I met a girl at college who later became my girlfriend. She was an evangelical Christian, and it was her mum who first introduced me to the Lord. Each time I was at their house, I heard how Christ was alive and at work in her lives!
On the walls in the house were several verses of scripture. But there were two which resonated with me then and still now. One was Matthew chapter 7 verse 7-12:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
It was these words around seeking God and her love for God which motivated me to buy a Bible in 2010. Later that year I started to explore my sexuality, and commenced a journey of accepting that I was gay. I would seek out guidance from the Bible, and take comfort in reading scripture - especially Matthew, chapters six and seven around not worrying and prayer.
Over the years at various points, I questioned if I had a faith, but I would rarely pray or read my Bible.
In August 2023, I was at Chester Pride and I went into the marquee where all the stands were. Here I found Micheal and Mark who told me about the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester which meets there.
It was this encounter, and my questioning who I am, which led me to come to the Open Table Chester service in March last year. The theme of that service was identity and finding yourself. There was a powerful energy, and I had feeling of peace and joy which I hadn’t experienced before. I remember telling a friend that it felt like I was meant to go to church that day. I believe it was Holy Spirit that led me to discover Open Table, and for that first service to be on the very topic I was struggling with.
Every time I am here, I feel the same peace, joy and energy as I did that first time... You’ve all made me feel so welcome and thank you for your fellowship and sharing God’s love.
I am now at a point where I don’t worry what people think about me, and I have some wonderful friends who I love dearly.
Over the past year I feel I have found myself, and in doing so I have also found God. I speak to the Lord each day, and I see His will at work and guiding me in my life. I thank Him for His love, and for all that is good.
Earlier, I mentioned there were two pieces of scripture which have always resonated with me. The second I feel sums up my journey, and my commitment today, in inviting Christ into my life:
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.’ - Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11-13
