Hitting all the right notes!

Some folk were definitely praying for this evening's concert at Gartree Prison.  Our reduced choir members arrived after all the visitors had come through prison security and taken their seats.  All were clearly nervous but we made a good start and the whole event went off without a hitch.  Our final choir piece tonight was "God's Choir in the Sky" and brought it to an excellent end.  So thanks for praying for us.

The impact of these choir concerts on everyone is significant.  Most of those that come from outside are prison visitors and they always speak highly of these events.  Prison staff on duty were helpful and appreciative.  The prisoners in the audience find it a highlight - bear in mind all of these prisoners are doing very long sentences.  But the main beneficiaries are the choir members who undoubtedly feel something of God's love through the practices and response of the audience.  Some are already Christians.  All will have gone back to a cell roughly 6ft by 8ft (one small room=bedroom, living room bathroom, toilet and dining room) feeling positive tonight.

All will have committed an horrendous crime in the past and each day they live in a context that reminds them.  A life sentence is not as easy as sometimes parts of the media make out.  Finding God's love and peace in such a context is very precious.

Anxiety among many farmers has been increasing what with bovine TB spreading and what looks like a poor harvest as far as corn and hay are concerned, which will put costs up for beef and dairy farmers at a time when beef prices are falling.  We need to pray for the good work of the Farm Crisis Network.

Doreen worked hard helping me to get various postal mailings out over the last few days.  I am also getting good feedback from those who have visited the new websites.  If you have not already visited www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk and www.ruralevangelism.net please do so soon and leave your comments on the contact pages.

Tomorrow I have two appointments in London.  I meet with a staff member of the URC at 11.00 and then with the Rural Evangelism Network Committee at 12.30.  Sometimes God seems to make additional appointments on the trains.  We shall see!