Lacey & Fred

We first sensed a call in 1998 to live and serve in Europe someday, and the Lord moved our family to England in 2015.

From a 4-bed house in the States to a 3-bed house with our 2 girls and 3 boys, it was tight, but we loved it, as we had spent 8 months on sleeping bags in Fred’s mom’s attic, preparing to move and waiting for visas, then 1 month on sleeping bags in the little church offices here while looking for a rental home.

Our fourth son joined us in late 2016, and in July 2018 the Lord moved us to work with another church plant on a different estate nearby. In May 2019, when a 4-bed house came up for rent on the estate where we were now serving, we jumped at the chance to move. Our new landlord said, “Maybe you’ll buy it from me someday.”

Long story short, in May 2023, our landlord said he wanted to sell the house - we either needed to buy or move. With no other 4-bed homes available in the area, and a heart to continue serving in this estate, we began praying and exploring options. The Lord connected us with Mission Housing through dear friends, and granted us favour with our landlord, who was willing to give us until September to see if we could fundraise the amount needed, before he put the house on the market. With the amazing grace of Jesus, the expert help of Mission Housing, and the generous support of our donors, we were able to make our landlord an offer in October and complete the shared ownership purchase in February 2024.

Through all the ups and downs of this journey, we know the Lord has confirmed our call and rooted us here, which encourages us greatly on the challenging days. We are eager to see what He will continue to unfold, as we seek to live each day loving those around us, from diverse backgrounds, with the love of Jesus.