Spotlight on Tabita, our Impact Intern

We caught up with Tabita Pfaender, who is giving up a year to serve Hope Church as an Impact Intern. 

Tabita, can you tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and how did you come to know Jesus?

I’m from Steinen, a village near to the black forest, near to the border of Switzerland and France. Just a two hour drive to Italy for a great holiday on the Lago Maggiore...

So, that was the bit to make you jealous. But aside from that it’s a normal village, much smaller than Ipswich and therefore Ipswich is a big place for me although that may sound strange to you! 

I grew up in a Christian Family and when I was older, I totally fell in love with the church, it became my second family. I went regularly to the kids club and then to youth and small group, that was not just normal for me, it was a great thing to do. I can’t tell you a time when I had a big encounter with Jesus but I got to know him better and better through the years and understood what it really means to follow him with unconditional surrender.

And how did you come to be here in Ipswich? What are you up to here at Hope Church? 

I planned to take a gap year before my last school year started and doing an Impact year sounded good to me. First I wanted to do it in London but after a few things happened I wasn’t sure about that. At this time Maurice came to visit my Family in Germany for an evening because he knows my father and was in the country. We got on really well and started joking that I could do my Impact Year in Ipswich. That all sounded great and after he left I had to decide which church to go but deep in my heart I knew that the decision was made. 

In Hope Church I’m involved in some of the Tots-Sessions, I’m part of the youth team on Tuesdays and Fridays and I have the privilege to help Susan and her Team in Oasis where God has given me lots of grandparents. 


I help Jeni and her team in Kickstart and on Sundays I help in Jelly Beans and in Glue. Every other month I go to Bedford for a week of training with 18 other Impacters from England (and some others from Germany too). We learn about the Bible, the Holy Spirit, Worship, Kids and Youth work, Prayer. I had three of these weeks already and they've been amazing!

What’s the best thing about England? 

THE SEA!!!! And Hope Church, of course ☺ 

Would you recommend an Impact year to other people? 

Yes, definitely! The teaching is awesome and you build great relationships with the other Impact students, we’re like a big family. 


It’s amazing to work for a whole year in a church and to get the chance to get involved in things you have never done before. It’s good to get to know another church so closely, you get so much experience and you learn a lot about yourself. I am getting to know God in a way I could never imagine. You can’t expect to walk on the water like Peter did if you’re still standing on the beach. You have to step out of your comfort zone, out of the boat, with your trust in God and you will never stop being amazed what he is doing. And Impact is a great opportunity to go for it!

Impact is changing slightly next year to become I.D (Intentional Discipleship. There's more information to be found here - please contact Tom Scrivens if you're interested in serving with Hope Church for the year. We're looking for more amazing people like Tabita to come on an adventure with us. 

Tabita Pfaender