Sunday evening in Alway | James Henley

Jun200809

Community Stories, Culture, Society & Mission

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Sunday evening in Alway

Went out to Alway again last night with some guys from the Lab and the YWAM team who have been with us this week. It was a really positive night. The twenty or so of us grouped off to pray outside the house, and then headed up into the middle of the estate and chilled out by the playing courts.

Played a couple of games of football with a group of local boys who arrived at the courts just after us, and got to have a couple of short chats. Some other guys also chatted with the group of girls who were hanging around the court. Another team went off and bought bags and gloves and did a litter pick around the area around the courts.

The big thing that hit me was how we have an awesome opportunity to be distinctive – in the way we act and the way we relate to each other. When some of the guys started litter picking, the boys playing football were thrown off a little – wondering why we would be doing that. Also, when myself and Ben played a second game of football with them and got to pick teams, they were thrown off when Ben chose the smallest guy first who always got picked last.

Felt a little awkward at times, especially when some of them started beating up on another guy – and we had to respond, but I think that it’s this completely different way of acting and being that is going to make the biggest effect on people.

One little girl stood on a piece of glass and cut her foot, and there was loads of glass and rubbish around the playing courts. I think that might be our first little project – to regular come out and keep the area around the court safe and clean for them to play in, and then hopefully to get them involved in doing it themselves with us.

All in all, a really excited night for me. It’s going to be a big job, but I really think God is going before us and presenting us with these opportunities to bring shalom to the estate, piece by piece.

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