New Life City Church: Cross Vigil Day 17

Sorry, I thought New Lifer's got this yesterday!

DAY 17: Monday 28 September

Today was the start of the fourth week, but was perhaps the quietest day so far. Yet I am still so conscious that just standing between the dividing gates with the cross is having such an impact on people's lives, and is achieving something in the heavenlies.

Before heading out I received an email to state that some of our Vietnamese Christians had said if they were in Belfast they would come and stand alongside me, but not just for three hours, but for all day! I think of them and everyone who is standing with me in prayer during these days of witness.

Three of our men popped by after having spent an hour in prayer beforehand. My sister in law Sally stopped by for a few moments as she is heading to Spain for a week. Pastor John Legge came along for a while and brought encouragement. One of our "past members" stopped and chatted for a good 40 minutes. An elderly man who walks past everyday, and whom we greet everyday, stopped for a chat. He asked me if my mother's name was Hammond, to which I replied yes. He then told me he knew her and that he use to live in Brown's Square where I lived as a boy and as a young man in my teens.

I pray that all those who passed by, be they tourist or terrorist; known or unknown; Catholic or Protestant; Prince or pauper, will continue to see the cross as a symbol of God's love and of his desire to forgive rather than judge.