From where I sit - with Rachel Oatridge

Rachel Oatridge is a Missional Listener and Enabler in Lincolnshire, along with her husband Jonathan. They are Co-Principals of The Light College & Collective (training, equipping and connecting disciples for mission), and as qualified coaches, they run Oatridge Coaching. They also parent two amazing daughters.

Where are you in the UK?

We live in a village in North Lincolnshire, but the College which we lead is nationwide – meeting virtually and in-person for residential weekends – so we travel to various locations across the UK with that role.

Who or what has had the biggest impact on your faith?

Aside from Jesus, I think it would have to be my parents. They brought myself and my four brothers up in a house where faith was an everyday, whole life practice. My Mum instilled the Word of God in us through her example of reading the Bible and praying every morning and in teaching about how to obey it through daily occurrences. My Dad helped me to think about my faith, expanding my understanding through questions and discussion of different views. They both live out what they believe in everyday life and I’m so very grateful for them being in my life.

What do you know now about Jesus that you didn’t ten years ago?

Lots of things that I’ve learnt in the last ten years are aspects of Jesus that I thought I knew, but which I have come to understand at deeper levels. One of these is Jesus’ radical obedience to his Heavenly Father. Jesus spent time with his Father and then lived out what He commanded Him to do and say. As a disciple of Jesus, I’m also called to this. The path of listening obedience isn’t glamorous, easy or rich in monetary terms, but it’s exciting, adventurous and fulfilling. It’s also the path of incredible liberty – dwelling in Jesus’ presence and living out of this relationship means I don’t need to worry about results or proving something. Loving relationship and radical obedience are the path to fulfilment and joy.

Tell me your favourite story about connecting in your community.

I had a conversation with someone in the business community who does renewable energy assessments for organisations (which often include churches) and is a self-confessed atheist. He observed that many people in church seem to “worship the building”, and as I shared my own understanding of Church being a community of people, he became increasingly curious. This led to a conversation about whether or not it mattered whether Jesus was just a good teacher or the Son of God. The next day, he said in passing that I had, “made him ask himself existential questions.” I love that! We don’t need to force the gospel on people, just have conversations that relate faith to a person’s everyday life.

What does pioneering where you are look like to you?

How long have you got? For me, mission or pioneering is not an event, it’s a lifestyle. It’s about dwelling in God and recognising that He dwells in me wherever I go, and immersing myself in the community that God has called me to which, at the moment, is the business community in our region. Currently, that’s being intentionally physically present, immersing ourselves in the business community (of which we are a part, as we run our own business growing people through coaching and training), sensing where God is at work and curating our diary so that there are margins where we are available to love and listen to people in the business world.

If you’re not at work, where am I most likely to find you?

In the wild! Jonathan and I both love being in nature so we try to get into the hills, mountains and to the coast when possible. I especially love borrowing my parents’ camper and just roaming around Scotland. It brings me an incredible sense of freedom and perspective and I’ve learnt it is essential for my spiritual wellbeing.

First published in MOSAIC Issue 20, September - December 2026