Kia Ora!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16: 13-14)
Our Story….
On the 2nd of July 2011, on a beautiful sunny day, two strangers met at Café Nero for the first time after talking online for a few weeks. Lucy arrived first, she was a bit worried about who she was going to meet, and so hid in the WHSmith shop opposite to see what Glen looked like. Thankfully she breathed a sign of relief when she saw him and walked out to greet him. The first date was supposed to be just meeting for a cup of tea late morning for about an hour. Instead it turned into a 7-hour long date spent talking and falling in love. One of the first conversations they had that day was about a mutual love for New Zealand. Glen had been out a few times due to having family in the North Island and had tried to move there permanently in his 20's. Lucy had gone for a few weeks when she was 19 due to a life-long friend who lived there. It was wonderful to talk together about a country they loved so much.
Our Story at the moment....
Fast forward 13 years, they have now been married for 11 years, and have been blessed with 2 beautiful children, Ollie and Elizabeth (aka Bug).
Their first chapter of married life has been filled with many challenges, including life-saving operations, coming to terms with abuse from childhood, family relationships falling apart, extreme financial hardship, multiple miscarriages and severe health issues. Through all the trials and dark days, they have held onto each other, knowing that God has them even when it feels as if He’s far away. Four years ago, when the world was in the midst of the pandemic, they started talking about New Zealand again. And a flame was lit.
God's calling to Aotearoa and to Church....
Since then, the idea of emigrating to New Zealand has gathered momentum. They have spent hours of prayer, hours of research, hours wondering if they were completely nuts, but they’ve realised and are certain that this is God’s calling on their life for many different reasons, and that He wants them there. He has work for them to do there- both in Church and in the community. For Glen it is working with vulnerable people and people with disabilities in Health and Social Care- https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-richards-82a44a230. For Lucy it is working with women and changing the narrative around sexual abuse- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-richards-23861824a .
They believe that the main reason that God is calling them to Aotearoa is to be an active member in a Vineyard Church. They've been part of the Church whanau since the pandemic, but it is time for them to be there in person and not just online. They believe that this is the Church where God wants them to raise their children and the generations to follow, and to be rooted there. They are inspired how God is at the centre of the Church, the values, the outreach in the local community, in New Zealand and internationally, the mission work of the Church and how they strongly believe that everyone has a worthy purpose and is loved by God.
Christchurch is a city and area that they believe answers what they are looking for. As well as being part of an exciting church community, they are also looking forward to exploring the city and area, experiencing the food culture of Christchurch, being part of the community, of living near the ocean 🌊 which they love and miss dearly, and being within easy reach of the mountains 🏔️ They are looking forward to going on hikes, learning about the Maori culture, seeing the wildlife and getting involved in conservation. Bug is looking forward to learning Maori dancing and Ollie is looking forward to the ice-cream! As a family they are beginning to learn Maori and studying the history of the nation.
Some words from Glen....
"For me personally, it is about the Church's mission to reach those that are feeling broken and without hope. For many years I have worked in Health and Social Care. During this time, the work has enabled me to work with some amazing people and lead some great projects. Although my main focus has been working with people with disabilities, I have also spent several years working with people to prevent hospital admissions, people with Dementia, people undergoing rehabilitation, people experiencing homelessness, mental health and those approaching End of Life.
More recently, alongside my main job, I have been working with young people who are detained in hospital institutions across the UK. Many of these are young people, who are deeply troubled, left broken from a life in and out of care, many have been through the courts and the prison system- whilst suffering abuse due to undiagnosed conditions. The hospital was supposed to be a place of safety, recovery and restoration before they could then return to life in their community. However, these institutions have left a lot of people even closer to feeling despair and that they have no hope. They are often disconnected from their family and community, and wondering if they will ever have a place where they will feel safe and be able to call it home.
Thankfully the work I have been doing has planted a seed of hope back into these young people's lives and it is a privilege to see these young people start to grow and think about their life beyond hospital. They have been able to talk, to think and dream of a better future, and they have been able to find their voice.
It is my hope that I will be able to with our Church whanau behind us, and to lead us to mission throughout the world, demonstrating God's love for the broken."
Some words from Lucy....
"I remember listening to my first podcast from the Vineyard Church. I was ironing, feeling very fed up with the world locked up in the pandemic. Glen and I had been talking about New Zealand as we were now entering our 40s. However, we hadn't really brought God into the conversation (!) and I had realised that I hadn't even thought about Churches. This Vineyard was the first church I found on Google and I instantly felt very drawn to the Church. Which was weird. I am normally very cautious about Church. The first podcast was teaching in a way that I had never heard before. It made me look at the Bible differently, and for the first time, what I was listening to felt relevant, I could connect with it, and most importantly, I could understand it. I got Glen to listen to the same podcast that day and we made sure to join their online service that week. It's been our Church and whanau ever since- which is bizarre as they are on the other side of the world!
Since then, I have renewed a friendship in Christchurch, who also goes to the same Church, and made new friends with promises of meeting for a cup of tea when I get there. We attend a monthly prayer meeting about missions in Uganda and look forward to being part of the team that goes out there. I also attend a weekly course learning what the vineyard church is all about and leadership. (I must admit that there have been a couple of times that I was too tired to stay up and do the course which is live!)
I come from a background of working in Running Wardrobe at Glyndebourne Opera House and English National Ballet, and then having my own wedding dress alterations business. Since then I have worked for a couple of charities, but my main job is being Mum to Ollie and Bug. We Home Educate so all the days throughout the year are pretty full on, but it's an utter joy and privilege to be able to do it and spend so much time with them. We're probably going to continue Home Education (or rather Home Schooling) in New Zealand, and have already started to get an idea of what is on offer. Christchurch offers everything that we as a family are looking for and praying for.
One of my biggest passions is being an advocate and trying to change the narrative around women and sexual abuse. Sadly I have had a lot of experience of this in my personal life, but I believe that God has brought me through such hellish darkness to help others and to change the bewildering acceptance that society has about it. New Zealand has always been a shining light for women's rights and I hope that this will be something that I can be a part of. Women have a voice- and they have a voice in the Church.
Glen and I are very passionate about breaking generational chains of abuse, so that we do not pass it onto our children and for us to start a new legacy. We believe that we will be able to do this more succinctly at this Church. Personally I know that I will find a real freedom in New Zealand, one where I am free from the fear of my past and will be able to heal from the deep scars that I have. I will be able to be me. This is an exciting new chapter for my family and I, one where I will be able to fully breathe. I look forward to seeing and embracing what God has in store for us"
Getting there in reality....
They have set aside this year in preparation for going to New Zealand and are gradually ticking things off their to-do list, with a view to moving out there early in 2025. Passports are done, ready and waiting to be used. Belongings are being sorted. Jobs are being applied for and the visa worked out ready to go once a job is secured. Unfortunately, one of the big hurdles they have to overcome is to financially pay to get out there. They don’t have a house to sell, or a car, or anything of real value. There are no family members or friends to ask for help. They live month-by-month so there are no savings. On paper, it’s ridiculous that they are even entertaining the idea of emigrating out there. However, they believe that God is calling them, and God is bigger than their non-existent bank account, so they are taking this rather scary step of faith and reaching out for help.
They are praying that when a job is secured, that the company will pay a little towards their relocation. However, even if that works out, they still need money to move out there and set up home. There is money needed for:
-taxi to the airport
-flights
-Baggage
-sending their sentimental items, books, clothes and special toys
- Getting a car
- Airbnb for the first 2 weeks in New Zealand and a rental car
- Renting a house and the upfront costs needed
- setting up home- food, household items, furniture, bedding, kitchen stuff, crockery, fridge/freezer, washing machine, lamps, curtains, rugs, etc
- setting up Home Education
- hoping to bring their beloved cat, Snowy
- Health and travel insurance
- having an emergency fund
- and of course, the Visa!
Why would you want to help?....
And this is the point of this Crowdfunder plea. Glen and Lucy have looked at their limited options and resources. They know that crowdfunding is usually used for very well-deserved causes such as charities and helping people who are ill. It is also used though, to help people realise their dreams when they have no other resource to turn to. This is what this is. It’s to realise the Richards’ family dream to move to New Zealand and do the work that God has for them there. For the family to heal, to be able to move forward in freedom, for their children to be first generation where they will have the chains of abuse broken. In an ideal world they wouldn't dream of making themselves vulnerable and ask for help this way. However, any amount that you would be able to give, would be very gratefully received. If you’re not able to give any money, maybe you could possibly share their Crowdfunder plea and they would greatly appreciate prayer for this exciting journey they are embarking upon. If there is any money left over, this will be donated to Home for Hope and Aroha Ministries, which supports projects in Uganda and where they hope to go to in the next couple of years with their New Zealand church.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. We really appreciate it.
God bless, Love Lucy, Glen, Ollie and Bug (and Snowy the cat)
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:22)
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exalt His holy name.” (Psalm 105: 1-3)