“IF SHE'D said it was a church, I probably wouldn't have wanted to come," says Katka, recalling her first meeting with Veronika.

Katka was working in west London as an au pair and had taken a film to a pharmacy. Veronika was an assistant there, and, recognising the name on the docket to be Czech, started chatting to Katka.

'She told me she had some friends living nearby, and if I went to meet her there on Sunday, we could talk more."

Katka was an atheist. A childhood friend had died in a car accident when they were 17. "If God existed, this couldn't have happened," she thought.

Now here she was, standing in the hallway of this big house, Veronika not there and being invited to 'come in and meet everyone.' Strange.

But next week she went back with Veronika and responded to an offer of prayer: "I felt a power starting in my tummy and going up to my head. It was so strong."

Katka gave her life to Jesus and eventually decided to move into Christian community.

"I loved my church but I had some doubts. I read the Bible and saw the verse, 'Sell all your possessions and follow me.' So I said OK. Then, the week before I moved in, we were reading on Psalm 23. The last line jumped out at me: 'and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.' 'I can't,' I thought, 'but I can try it out.' Now I can imagine myself staying for ever!"

"The best thing that has happened in my life is meeting Jesus and His church. My pastor told me, 'You don't have to trust anyone, but trust Jesus.' He is always there when you need Him."

Human friendship is also needed. "When I go evangelising I often meet people who say they believe in God and Jesus, but don't go to church. But the body is important. People bring you purpose."

Katka has even found healing from the pain of losing her friend: "I blamed myself. I should have been at the same party. But even if I had been there, I would probably not have been able to help her anyway.

"Now, if I met someone in a similar position, I would try to say that I know what they have been through. I would also tell them it doesn't help to stay in sorrow. Go out of it and find something new!"