General News

• The groups are well established again after the holiday break.
• There is now a good team to help with a couple of new young volunteers helping with the Wednesday night teens.
• Thursday SU is around 30 between the two groups, with a new volunteer through SU.  She had had a bit of a difficult experience when speaking about prayer last week, with some young people talking over her and asking awkward questions.
• Friday drop in is going well with two good teams of volunteers alternating fortnightly so they only need to be there every month.
• Northfield SU is going well too, numbers vary, although only one YP last week, but she watched the video ‘Why does the resurrection matter’ and agreed with the content when asked about it, which was encouraging.

The two teen boys who we have been praying for and who came to know the Lord and were baptised have now joined the membership of the local church.  This is hugely encouraging to us and we see the Holy Spirit continue His work in them.

 Our various groups were closed over the Christmas and New Year season from 16 Dec 22 and will reopen in week commencing 16 Jan 23. Matthew returned to work today 9 January, however this week was required to prepare the restart, and meet up with and allocate new volunteers who were coming on board to help with the groups.

•  All of the Christmas parties/events went very well –
•  Radiate kids – Christmas party – all of the kids were really excited at having a party to go to and enjoyed the fun, food and games.
•  Illuminate – Teen kids were very well behaved and enjoyed a very special night with pizza (their request), games and a short Christmas talk.
•  Sunday Christmas Service – went very well with a good turn out and a good number of families and infrequent church attenders coming along.
•  Riverbank Primary Christmas Assembly – went ahead with Matthew, JohnMerson and Abi Rankin (her last event before she left The Lighthouse).Matthew spoke to around 400 kids on the real gift of Christmas.

 Front End Youth Work

• The groups are well established again after the holiday break.
• There is now a good team to help with a couple of new young volunteers helping with the Wednesday night teens.
• Thursday SU is around 30 between the two groups, with a new volunteer through SU.  She had had a bit of a difficult experience when speaking about prayer last week, with some young people talking over her and asking awkward questions.
• Friday drop in is going well with two good teams of volunteers alternating fortnightly so they only need to be there every month.
• Northfield SU is going well too, numbers vary, although only one YP last week, but she watched the video ‘Why does the resurrection matter’ and agreed with the content when asked about it, which was encouraging.

The two teen boys who we have been praying for and who came to know the Lord and were baptised have now joined the membership of the local church.  This is hugely encouraging to us and we see the Holy Spirit continue His work in them.

• Matthew has been off for 2 weeks, and it has been school October break so it’s been quiet so far.
• The Weekend away takes place 11^th-13^th 19 young people are going. Matthew Laurenson is speaking on ‘Identity in Christ’ - What the world tells us and What the Bible says.Unfortunately one leader who had been going to transport the luggage has pulled out, so prayer is needed for a replacement.
• Within the schools the Tuesday after school football has been continuing through term time. We are also pleased to be about to start a seven week block of Bible Alive from this Wed with a P6 class (Genesis- Rev). These sessions meets the curriculum requirements.
• Wednesday night groups start again this week.
• One of the young men who had lost contact with the groups has been coming back to church. He had been to Shetland Soccer School when the Cage went up with Matthew Laurenson, and he has been back on track since meeting someone from Ambassadors for Football. They had given him a 2 week internship at a soccer camp in Nottingham, and also one in Lancaster for 1 week. He has stopped drinking now too. This is an answer to prayer