Those of you who, for some amazingly weird reason, come here and read regularly will know I have talked a little of heroes recently. I have a concern as to where our spiritual heroes such as Nouwen, Shepherd, Watson, Wigglesworth are today. There seems to be a lack of people to whom we look to for examples.

Last night I went to talk to about 60 people about the possibility of developing Gravesend YFC. This was a positive time and I hope things will develop. In fact, I think I will be quite surprised if the churches don’t develop a YFC work – but we shall see.

At the end of the meeting I met a lovely man called James. James is in his 60’s and is one of the leaders of a local church. James feels he is very out of touch with young people. In fact I thought James looked a bit like a younger Billy Graham as he had the hairstyle.

James’s church has no young people. In response to this they decided to run a Youth Alpha. James ran this with others in the church. 12 young people attended each of the 10 weeks. AT th end of the course no on wanted to accept Jesus and they all left.

A few week later James got a phone call from one of the mums of one of the girls who attended. She had returned from uni and could he come round please. He went, fearing the worst. To cut a lot story short, the girl wanted him to pray with her so she could become a Christian. He did, and she did.

immediately after she texted 10 of her friends: ‘I’m saved. Yippee!’ 1 texted back ‘I don’t believe you’. 3 other texted back to say they wanted to be saved to. These friends lived in Uxbridge and as James left he said he would be available if needed to help.

A few days later James joined a group going to Uxbridge and prayed with these girls friends in a local church hall of a pastor he knew. Within 48 hours James saw 4 new Christian teenagers – who know how many more of this group there are now as each went off to text their friends!

James is old. James does not speak the language of young people. James admits he is out of touch. James even wears a bright red ‘Jesus lives!’ badge on his lapel. James does, though, clearly have a heart for young people. James is in love with Jesus. James is one of the coolest people I have met in a long time. I think James is a hero.