Well, last Tuesday was our first since opening the Drop-In this year that took place without a fight spilling out onto the road (youth, not team members!)
Again we had a great team, all working together. Robert was back!!
Andrew and Jo have started a low-key nurture group for the teenagers that wanted to become Christians a few weeks ago. We never thought that within three weeks we would actually have the makings of a nurture group. This is something we have prayed for for years!! These are un-churched teenagers learning about Jesus!!
Nick (team leader) has brought the drop-in alive with ideas for activity and with his catering skills is exploring the idea of food on a Tuesday night, much to the teenagers' enjoyment.
We are looking to get various activities going, like playing the drums, drama, talent contest etc.
I'd like to draw your attention to two youngsters who are coming along regularly.
One is a young lad who has a troubled background who has latched onto the team members and last week asked if he could become a team member and have an Outside Light t-shirt. We have seen this lad a few times. Please pray that we would be able to give him what he needs in the way of friendship and love.
Also a young girl studying for GCSEs. She has anger issues and struggles because of this to complete her schooling. She is a bright girl and could easily get good results if it wasn't for the things that hold her back and that are on her back.
These are just two of the many youths we see each week. There are many more, all made in God's image, all there to be loved even when they wind us up and behave badly.
But we are few! So, please get involved as a helper-volunteer if you can or join our prayer support team. We've noticed how this past couple of weeks there's been a more positive atmosphere over the Drop-In, and that's largely, we believe, because of the additional prayer support we've been receiving. But we also know that Satan won't let things be. He'll ramp up his activities, so we'll need to shore up our defences with yet more prayer. Prayer supporters aren't a luxury add-on, they're an absolute necessity, so please get behind us and please let us know that that's what you're doing.
If you can help in any way please contact me, (Phil), George or John and show your support. We are pushing forward. We face challenges and hurdles, even amongst ourselves we have doubts sometimes; this is all part of the battle. The more loyal people we have joining that battle the more we are able to press forward together in the footsteps of Jesus.
We want to be surrounded by the miraculous in what we do. Praise God for a team that is united in it's effort. Nothing will stop us if this remains. Join in if you can.
Inside/Out(side)
In 25 years as a Christian and church goer, I have not been part of a team like this, with its unity, love, acceptance and enthusiastic approach but most of all, its commitment to the un-churched and to Jesus Christ.
Rather than replying via your e-mail, I thought I'd post a comments as I wanted to say to the whole team how evident it is that God is with each of you. I've followed your journey, have laughed, groaned and prayed with each of your blogs and have seen the progress and evidence of God's blessing on both Gloster Rd and The Cabin. Even if I haven't (as yet) been able to commit to joining you as I'm involved in other stuff, I just wanted you to know that each of you are in my prayers, as are the youngsters you are bringing to Jesus. Your blogs are a really important part of what you're doing, so keep up the good work. Bless you and may God continue to give you the strength, the resources and the encouragement of his love and protect you, your families and the youth from any of Satan's schemes - our God is so good! Jo x
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