Our God Has Sustained Us By His Grace

For the last 20 years Phil and Helen Weaver have been leading Loughborough’s New Springs City Church. But the success of the ministry hasn’t come without its challenges

There are few greater tragedies than having to bury your own son – but that’s what Phil and Helen Weaver had to do when 29-year old Matthew died suddenly four years ago.

But despite the shocking and traumatic experience, Phil is praising God for his faithfulness and comfort throughout.

“Matt died suddenly and quickly and it was the last thing any of us expected,” Phil tells Direction. “It was devastating. No parent expects that one day they will bury their own child. The pain deep inside is indescribable, which anyone who has lost a child will understand.

“Yet our God has sustained us and kept us by his grace. We can truly say that as we have gone through the water and walked through the fire he has been with us, walking every step of the journey with us.

“Bad stuff sometimes happens to good Christian people, and when it does there is only one place to run and that is to the Lord.”

Phil has been passionate about Christ for ma y years. He met Helen – who hails from Scotland – at Bible College over 40 years ago.

“Our eldest son Nathan is an ordained minister and leads another church that is affiliated to Elim in Sunderland with his wife, Jenny,” he says. “Matthew, who went to be with the Lord, was survived by his wife, Sarah, and two young sons. Helen and I have three grandchildren and I am totally besotted with them – Zach, Josh and Finley. They are a real gift from God.”

The son of a working men’s club manager, Phil grew up in the Potteries and discovered his own relationship with God after joining a local youth club football team.

“At that time no one in my family had committed their lives to Christ and they had no interest in church whatsoever,” he recalls.