As I move into a new week, which will be a shorter one as I m taking some days off for half term, I have done a little reflecting on the last couple of weeks. I have been staring at the sky a lot and mulling things over.

It seems things are happening quite quickly and I am learning that through a mixture of waiting, observing and praying that God can do some pretty amazing things.

Some tales from the last two weeks:

A guy that has not even been able to give me eye contact for the months that I have been around, even when I sat near him at a council meeting, has suddenly starting talking to me. I asked him a question the other day based on something I knew he was interested in and now the flood gates have opened and when I see him he talks loads – it is amazing and I am quite excited.

I have come into contact with two young men in their 20’s that I worked with when I was a YFC worker. One has just got out of prison and they are attending the gym I go to daily. They were amazed that I could remember who they were after 10 years and I wonder if God has caused our paths to cross again.

Just on Friday two blokes came into ‘Spoons and were having a loud conversation with loads of ‘f-ing’ this and that. People sat near them and moved away. As I started to leave they smiled and called me over. I expected a hard time but after an initial bit if banter asked some very deep searching conversations and a little mickey take became the most spiritual conversation I have ever had with anyone in a pub.

When I arrived one morning a lot of the locals were gathered around a couple of tables and I made some comment about them being a great club. One person piped up ‘well you are a member now!’ That was an amazing thing to hear. I got my coffee and chatted a bit with them, hoping to be asked to join them, but that did not happen. Maybe this will happen one day.

This week I will cautiously enter a new phase of the ministry. It seems God has gathered together 6 people that want to explore a new way of being church. A few things have happened (like meeting all of the people ‘by chance’ in a 24 hour period) that cause me to think God is saying gather, eat and pray. This week I need to find and suggest some dates for us to do just that and explore what could be. While I am excited, I’m a bit terrified too! Talking about moving on is one thing, actually starting is another.

I shall continue with my mission of presence and waiting, and it seems that God is suggesting that both can happen side by side. So … watch this space!