Beautiful Mess By Steve Lawton at the Stanford & Corringham Boiler Room To clean up the streets but not only that. To stand side by side with our God and prophetically take up the challenge to help put back the pieces and fragments of broken lives. The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives,  pardon all prisoners.   We hit the streets with the delightful welcome of Kate and Sylvie to assist in the mission. As the locals saw us we heard shouts of “that won’t make any difference” and “this town will always be a mess”, if we needed any encouragement that was is. I think on some level there’s something really special in letting people see us picking up litter. Why would anyone want to do that? Someone asked us if we had anything better to do on a Friday evening. This is the best thing I can think of, helping Jesus clean. We headed back to the prayer house where Ang inspired the team with the notion of creating something beautiful out of the mess. Made for a purpose is the phrase that rang true. All these things we had collected were made with a purpose, but now had been chucked aside as worthless. The message – one of hope that we are all made for a purpose and God himself wants to show us and everyone else just what that is. The art piece is now on display at 217 to be prayed over. Next week, under the cover of darkness, we will plant this demonstration of Jesus in the middle of the town and just wait and see. See what response comes through, see what heads turn, see what comments are made, and just wait and see if maybe, someone will see it in a different way, in a new way, in a Jesus way? Thank you God. Steve Lawton is 27, based at the Corringham Baptist Church manse where he lives with the 24-7 Prayer Transit students, young people from around the globe on a year out course. They pray, learn and create together with the Boiler Room Community. All are welcome to visit the prayer house at 217 Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

Tim Harrold, 08/02/2010