New Life City Church: Cross Vigil Day 19

DAY 19: Wednesday 30 September

If I mention Catholics and Protestants it is only to identify the side of the wall they are from. Yesterday the main contacts and talks were with people from the Protestant community; today it was almost exclusively from the Catholic community.

Three young men came through the gates from the Falls side of the wall (Catholic side) looking for an Angling Store on the Shankill side (Protestant side). We gave them directions to it, but as they were heading back through the gates they stopped to talk. I explained what we were doing and asked if they knew what the text on the cross was. Two of them said "No"; one said "Yes". I asked him what it was. He said "I don't know, but I've seen it somewhere". I had an amazing chat with them, telling them about John 3:16 and then explaining New Life City Church and the future plans of the building to them. We invited them to the concert and to the church.

Totally unrelated to the young men, there was an unusual amount of police activity today. Police cars drove past several times; one with its alarm sounding and lights flashing. Some managed to sound the horn and give us a wave. The heckler came past again today. This time letting us know he was warm and dry in his van, while we were standing outside in the rain; although it was only a drizzle. Thomas (nickname Boneyard) stopped by for a good chat; staying for almost an hour.

Our two lady friends from the Falls Road came through the gates again today to go shopping on the Shankill Road. Two hours later they came back through the gates on their way home after having had fish and chips (fries) in Beaties. They stopped and chatted for a while. We explained all that's going on regarding the church and the Human Peace Wall and Peace Pole etc, and invited them to the concert.

Another five young Catholic lads came through the gates from the Falls. They were not passing by, but specifically came to talk with me. They live near the gates and had seen me with the cross. They wanted to know what it was all about. One of them began by saying "You're @x#@ Mad!" But he soon, with the others, began to show great respect and interest.

I asked if they knew what the text on the cross was. Not one of them knew! I explained it to them. They not only listened, but asked questions like "What does it mean to follow Jesus?" "Can you be a Christian and still be a joy rider?" (a joy rider is someone who steals cars and speed in them for fun). We had a fabulous talk. When they were going they shook my hand and said they would be back. The sad thing is, here I am standing on the street outside a building that no one is giving us funding for, where these young men could be inside with others from both sides of the wall and with those who would work with them and influence them for good), but we have again proved our ability to connect with people on both sides of the divide.

I was then approached by a French reporter doing a story about the walls. He was brought to me to hear what I was doing standing in the gates with a cross.