As Big Ben (and smaller clocks) struck midnight on 31^st December 2011 the BBC wished its viewers a Happy New Year and enthusiastically encouraged them to look forward to an exciting 2012…a leap year, the Olympic Games and celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!

For many of us the beginning of a new year provides good opportunity to think about the year past and the year ahead … to thank God for His provision and faithfulness and to ask for His guidance and enabling as we seek to live for and serve Him wherever we are. We hope you will use this prayer letter to join with us in doing just that for God’s work with boys and girls and the community of Sandy Row.

The Story so far…

In the summer of 2004 some newly qualified students and those still studying in Belfast organised a 5 day club in Sandy Row and after it finished felt led by God to pursue the possibility of running a weekly meeting during term time. Some eight years on God has kept the doors of Sandy Row Community Centre open where every Wednesday night from 7pm – 8pm boys and girls come to Sandy Row Good News Club, often locally referred to as “the wee meetin”.

The club is similar to most Good News Clubs and children’s meetings in that it provides opportunity for fun, games and craft and focuses on sharing the message of God’s love, grace and hope through songs, memory verses and a bible lesson. We also have great opportunity to get to know the children (and their parents) as we collect and walk many of them to and from club.

As in previous years, this year has seen some changes with old and new faces (both children and leaders) joining us. We have been sad not to have some children return to the club this year but also greatly encouraged by a group of new children that have started to attend and come faithfully every week. In December we sent out invites to our Christmas Party and were delighted that 31 children and a number of parents attended. We are very much looking forward to returning to Sandy Row in 2012 and thank you for your prayerful support in the weeks ahead.

Give thanks for

• God’s provision of enough leaders each week and the enthusiasm of new leaders

• The relationships that have been built with children and parents

• Continued use of the Community Centre

• Each boy and girl that comes to club

• Safety week by week and generally settled clubs

• Good attendance at the Christmas party

• God’s grace and the power of Gospel to transform lives in Sandy Row

Please Pray that

• Each leader would know and seek God’s help as they serve Him and as they try to juggle other commitments of study/work

• We would make most of every opportunity whether at front or one to one with a child to share God’s love and truth in word and example

• Children and whole families would be saved

• Christian children would be encouraged in their walk with God

• Leaders would know God’s guiding as they start to think about summer outreach in Sandy Row and elsewhere