AT A RECENT staff and volunteers' session Steve Jones, manager of Northampton Jesus Centre, asked:

"How has volunteering or working at the Jesus Centre changed you?"

Answers varied:

"More confidence with people", "A different way to show the gospel", "Supporting the team and using our skills".

Su Parker first started volunteering at Northampton Jesus Centre in 2004, but when the pilot project first opened she admits she had a bad attitude towards it:

"I felt some people were obsessed with it - but then I realised that it was the vision of the Church, and I had to be part of all of the Church's vision."

She now works full-time in administration and is responsible for 200+ volunteers. She loves seeing "unlikely" people find their place. She also finds that the Jesus Centre enables her to live her faith every day in a more real way.

As Volunteer Coordinator, she supports and enables the volunteers. She is amazed at how God fits all kinds of people together to make a team.

Working at the Jesus Centre has also taught her to rely on God more:

"It's impossible to plan everything, which is hard for an admin person. Also, you carry the responsibility more than you might in an 'ordinary job'. You have to say 'Ok, I'll do it', not 'Actually I'm just off home'."

When Su applied for the job she didn't expect to be successful, but now her work is helping her to accept herself and her role:

"I didn't see myself as a 'central person', but God has given me a place in the life and mission of the Church that I don't think I'd have found otherwise."