NEWQUAY RESCUE
Amongst the breathtaking rugged coastline of Cornwall with its Atlantic breakers rolling in lies Newquay. This pretty town with many beaches has become one of the most popular venues for hen and stag parties. The clubs and pubs vie for the trade and the sad state of many can be seen. Last year one 16 year old fell over the cliffs to his death after celebrating at the end of his exams. Many visitors to Cornwall also come for the pagan sites of interest. Fistral beach is the home of the UK surf championships and the town’s population swells from 20,000 to 100,000 throughout the summer season.
It is here that we have reached out to these crowds over the past 3 years. Each year we have felt the oppression of the evil one. We have seen opposition; various incidents and some abusive heckling, but have also witnessed the Lord clearly at work in people’s lives. For this reason we have regarded the prayer meetings as the most important part of the mission. The local church, which hosts us, begins with a prayer meeting and we end on the Lord’s Day in praise and worship to Him.
Last year we had very good conversations resulting from the preaching and the book table work. Two ladies came to church the following Sunday as a result and many gospels of John were requested. During an evening session Mark mentioned that his Grandfather was ill and had had to face a court case where he could have received between 3 and 8 years in prison. The judge only gave him 3 years, which Mark felt was a direct answer to prayer. He began to reveal a sensitive nature and told us about his Sunday School days and that he would like to believe what we were preaching. We encouraged him to seek the Lord with all his heart and he said, ‘You are almost convincing me’.