Nurturing rooted believers in Newry
The Grove is a vibrant and growing worshipping community that emerged from the mission and ministry of the Newry Centre of Mission. Established in June 2025, it is led by Pioneer Minister, Natalie Trainor.
Natalie shares The Grove's vision for growing rooted believers and how presence, story, and shared journey have shaped their life together.
Rooted not rushed
In Newry, faith carries complexity. This is a city shaped by resilience, but also by deep wounds, from conflict, mistrust, and harm experienced within church settings. Many people haven’t rejected Jesus, but they remain cautious of church. Still, the spiritual hunger is there.
When we began The Grove, we didn’t start with a building or a big launch. We began with Scripture, with the image of a tree planted by water. A tree that bears fruit not because conditions are easy, but because its roots run deep.
That vision shaped everything.
We chose to value rooted growth over rushed growth. Instead of asking how to attract people, we asked how to cultivate a Christ‑centred community where people could belong and from that place, slowly and honestly become rooted.
At The Grove, our life together is shaped by three simple practices: presence, story, and shared journey. Showing up without pressure. Honouring people’s stories alongside God’s. Walking together at different paces.
One of the clearest illustrations of this journey is Noel’s. After more than fifty years away from church following childhood abuse, Noel found a place where faith felt safe again. With no pressure — just time, trust, and grace — he recently chose to give his life to Jesus and shared Communion for the first time in decades. There was no spectacle — just bread, a cup, and a man taking his place at the table in his own time.
Alongside Noel is Alan’s story. Alan’s curiosity about faith was first sparked through TikTok videos exploring Christianity. That curiosity led him to The Grove, where he completed Alpha and began exploring faith within community. What began online is now becoming embodied discipleship, as his faith grows more rooted and established through worship, conversation, and shared life.
We also see this rooted growth in Ilona’s journey. As Ilona became more deeply rooted within the community, she began to discover her gifts and sense a growing call to serve. Through intentional training and encouragement, her confidence and expectancy have grown, particularly the belief that God could use her. She now serves on the prayer ministry team, leads Sunday School, and plays a key role in the Rooted youth group. Through faithful presence, service, and relationships, Ilona embodies evangelism as lived faith rather than pressure or performance.
Together, these stories reflect a growing culture within The Grove, where evangelism is shaped by prayer, service, and everyday discipleship.
This is what growth looks like for us.
Not speed.
Not pressure.
But roots going deep enough to bear fruit in every season.
Because when people are rooted in Christ, God gives the growth.
Natalie Trainor