God answered a prayer with amazing consequences for a group of SEND mums. Counties Evangelist, Martin Korkinsky explains.

Martin & Angie Korchinsky

Martin is the pastor of Brinnington Community Church, which is located in a housing estate in Stockport. He preaches and oversees youth clubs, drop-in sessions, a food bank, Neighbourhood Chaplains, and various mission weeks in the area. Martin is married to Angie and has three adult children and two foster children. He was introduced to the Counties through the Church Planting Initiative.

MARTIN’S STORY

We recently got funding to build a sensory garden at the back of the church, and work has commenced. Even though six months ago, nothing was farther from our thoughts!
It happened through one of the Lord's "God-incidences."

About six months ago, a group of mums of SEND children started meetings in our building for two hours on a Friday afternoon. They call themselves ‘Different But The Same’ and operate as a support group for one another. I have a great relationship with them as the lady who runs it volunteered at our youth club some years ago.

At the same time, the "official group" Brinnington SEND, which is focused on organising events for the children, hired our building for their fun day.
(Due to the relatively high number of special needs children on the estate and the lack of support available, mums decided to take matters into their own hands)

After speaking to the groups, they both lamented the local lack of a sensory space. The nearest one takes two buses to get there, and that's a problem for kids with sensory issues.
The events group talked about long-term campaigning for funding but had other more pressing issues to deal with before they could even consider starting that.

I wanted to help but decided to leave it with God.

Two weeks later, I was meeting with a trustee of the Foodbank that we'd hosted weekly for the last 12 years. He told me they had received a large amount of funding recently to expand their impact on the communities they are already active in but wanted to know if I had any ideas for Brinnington as I was the man on the ground.

I was caught off guard and had no idea how much he was talking about, but I just blurted out: "This community really needs a sensory garden."

Six months later, with a £23k budget, work has begun on the garden I designed for them (my background was in gardening)

The groups are excited, and the Community will be greatly blessed by this. The church also works with 3 dementia Care Homes in Brinnington, and my thinking is it will be a blessing for them to use as well.