25 and Rising

Monday was another great night with numbers up from 17 to 25! All of these young people get on really well together and appear to enjoy each other's company. A few have started asking why we're doing this, so next week we'll probably start off with a couple of minutes' talk. It'll also give us the chance to tell them about the possibility of The Vyne opening soon, which will be a bigger venue in case the numbers continue to rise. This is being sponsored by Knaphill Residents' Association who have no problems with us talking about God. We're likely to have one of us inside of the facility, with the others outside - although using The Vyne as a base to return to if there are no kids outside (if they're all in The Vyne, in other words.) A highlight of Monday was George praying for an 18-year old lad, and the lad giving George a big hug before leaving. You just don't see that every day.

Tonight I had a call from Mary, because Chill and Chat, which normally attracts 7 or 8 young people, had 20 or so turn up, so there weren't enough adults to cope. Of course the extra kids were the 'usual suspects' who appear to have become really comfortable in The King's House. We're blessed that we have the coffee shop and Eric's support, because as a result of a regular booking, The Vyne will be opening only 3 out of 4 Mondays in the month, so it's likely that we'll open the 4th at The King's House, I suspect.

We need to pray for the 10-year old, a lad we know, who allegedly helped set fire to the derelict house in The Broadway and whose mates allegedly locked him in so that he had to be rescued and taken to hospital. We don't know the full story but we know he's recovered.

Pray too for the ongoing building of good relationships with these great kids. One of them came up to me this evening and chatted for a good 20 minutes about school, life and stuff like that. I felt really privileged. I tend not often to approach the kids in case they think I'm a bit old to chat to them, I'm happy pottering around and serving; but it's cool that they're happy to chat to me and I suspect that as we see each other's faces more often, there will be other occasions when we'll be able to chat. Please pray for that too.

Much love

John