This is Part 2 of my convo with the lovely Taya Patel who is living in Harpenden and currently working as a full-time missionary in the UK with YWAM Harpenden. Her heart burns to see young people finding their true identities in Christ, and she is equally as passionate about seeing revival in the UK. She has the honour of incorporating her faith into my career, and spends most of her time travelling up and down the country (with @neighboursandnations) sharing the purity and freedom that is found in relationship with the Father, inviting youth and young adults to step into a fully surrendered lifestyle with Jesus.
She feels so stirred for what God is doing in the UK right now. She believes that through the power of the undiluted gospel, we will see Generation Z, youth and young adults, walking in their true identities in Christ and the calling God has placed on their lives.
She was raised in a Christian family, (with a fiery, praying mother), however her external family have roots in Hinduism and New Age practices. Throughout her school years she was in constant struggle with her identity, her friendships and trying to fit her relationship with God into her lifestyle. She was surrounded by an over-sexualised world, filled with comparison, drug culture and the overwhelming desire to fit in and be perfect in the eyes of others around her.
This led to a hard path of addiction, self-hatred, depression and anxiety, only made worse with social media, She truly was in a pit unable to see a way out. But, God. In her second year at university she then truly experienced God’s extravagant love for her, as He reached down and pulled her out of darkness, where she had seen no escape. He showed her a life she had never imagined for herself, one that set her apart and called her into intimacy, vulnerability, purity and biblical womanhood. One that gave her a deep sense of belonging and purpose. The world never makes us feel secure, confident or beautiful but Jesus does.
A lovely episode.
Episode Links:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @tayapetal https://www.instagram.com/tayapetal/?hl=en
N&N instagram: @neighboursandnations https://www.instagram.com/neighboursandnations/
YWAM Harpenden: https://ywamharpenden.org/
YWAM Instagram: @ywamharpende https://www.instagram.com/ywamharpenden/