Refresh Coffee House (our cafe project that adjoins the showroom) was managed by Ellen from 2023 until her departure at the end of 2025. She has kindly shared with us her lasting thoughts on Renewal North West, and how God’s faithfulness has shown itself throughout her life.
Ellen joined Refresh after a career centred around language and Mission. She studied languages at university, then worked for herself teaching evening classes, tutoring children, and supporting the sponsors of children in projects in South Asia. One of her enduring connections has been with the Dohnavur Fellowship, a children’s home and community project established by missionary Amy Carmicheal in Dohnavur, India in 1901.
In Scripture, we see that Jesus has a heart for children and His heart was clearly seeking out Ellen’s as at 15, when given a free Bible by The Gideons (a Christian organisation), she prayed that if God were there, would He help her? This heartfelt request was the start of a special journey of walking by faith: as a child’s learning to walk is full of wobbles and falls, Ellen’s spiritual legs needed time to strengthen, and she would often reach for God’s steadying hand. She trusted that God would help her stand until she was strong enough to do it unaided.
This is a certainty she’s held throughout her Christian life, despite experiencing hardships along the way. In her 20s, Ellen struggled with her mental health, but today she uses that experience to empathise and connect with others. In fact, that was one of the things Ellen enjoyed most at Refresh! As someone living alone, feeling part of a community meant a lot to her and reminded her that God would be there for her every day.
But how did she come to Renewal? In her own words, Ellen says this:
“I applied for the job at Refresh after stepping down from a busy administration role, as I had to get care in place for family members. A friend who was volunteering at Renewal told me someone was needed for the cafe. Initially, I thought it wouldn’t be for me, but then I decided to apply, as during the months I wasn’t working, I had continued to volunteer at a cafe on the other side of Manchester.
At first, I found it quite hard, as I was learning on the job; I wasn’t used to using a proper coffee machine, so I just had to think on my feet! The prayers of friends, near and far, helped a lot, and Becky, our main volunteer, was a fantastic help.
It now makes me smile that, at nearly 60, I have gained a whole new skill set! I have loved building our team and encouraging our volunteers. It has been very positive to see how our different gifts and talents have come together to make an effective and hardworking team. We are now a busy, popular cafe, selling a nice menu which the public really seems to appreciate. He has taken the pieces of our lives and woven them together to make something special. It has been a privilege to be part of that. It has felt like a meaningful journey, and I have been grateful for the experience. God is good.”
Looking back, Ellen describes her season at Refresh as a precious time with the Lord, as she had to lean on Him with every new challenge. However she needed the Lord that day, He answered. And God didn’t just answer! Now that Ellen is thinking, “what next?”, she can see how God used Refresh to prepare her. As mentioned earlier, Ellen has supported the Dohnavur Fellowship her whole Christian life and is seriously considering going to India to support the community there. Her main concern would have been withstanding the heat, and the impact that would have on her body, but the hard work in the heat of the coffee shop has given resilience and stamina that will help withstand the climate. She can see how God may have used her time at Refresh to shape and prepare her for whatever He has next.
We believe that God has some wonderful things prepared for Ellen, and we want to thank her for her service to the charity and the local community. Refresh has been left in the capable hands of Becky, a long-time volunteer who has been with Refresh from the beginning. May God cover the plans of His people as they seek to serve Him, and we wish Ellen all the best in her next chapter.
