We celebrated one year at Hope centre on Friday and it was a chance for a few of us to meet with some of the men and women who use the centre. Here are some of my impressions:
Drew and Marion outside Hope Centre- It is a fast moving place with all kinds of people coming and going. When I got there S. was in crisis and was expecting any minute to be arrested. Maybe a future customer for St. Barnabas chapel.
- The sister of one of our chapel guys was there asleep. N. woke up eventually from the effects of her methodone to have a lively chat with me.
- Z., newly released from New Hall prison said that her five months in prison had saved her life. She agreed to use her computer skills to give N., a dyslexic some lessons on the Cen
tre computer.
K. a shy partially hearing deaf man has started attending,(pictured here with Roy) he was in tears as regular, D. told him the Christian story and how Jesus had been nailed to a cross.
- D. arrived with a gorgeous red dress which she had just purchased and gave us a fashion show.
- A. and D. popped in and Hilary whizzed off with them to help them set up their flat with their possessions which had been in store at Hope Centre.
- Marion, Cynthia, Roy, Marise and Hilary are obviously much loved by those who come to HC and as we sat and worshipped with a song which said, "This is God's house, this is his God's home" Hope Centre felt just that.
D told me that when she first came to HC she thought that all the Christian stuff, as she put it, was something that Marion and the others did. They had offered to pray for her, she had let them because "if they wanted to do it then I'd let them". She had experienced the real physical presence of the Spirit on her life. God is very real to her now. She has loads of problems and a poor life-style to sort out but God is in control.- W. called in for some food and told us tales of selling the big issue.
- S. called in to get some food and use the computer, we want to encourage him with his art-work.
The love of Christ controls us, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians. We no longer think of anyone from a human point of view. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation ... we are ambassadors for Christ.
We give thanks for Hope centre and pray that its work will become even more effective for the next year and that lives will change as men and women meet with Christ
.
We enjoyed a really good evening with Ann at a restaurant in Sheffield this week. Ann had to retire on health grounds in February and we still miss her very much in the chaplaincy. The picture shows my daughter Heather, Lee (who left prison last November), Ann and Marc Fairweather. Lee and Heather attend the crowded House church in Sheffield which supports ex-offenders coming out of prison and will be supporting our latest 'export' Tim as he comes out this weekend. Tim became aChristian in prison last February.
