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Our own Urban Heroes
On Saturday 11 June over 900 people attended the Urban Hero Awards night. It was a dinner to honour people whose lives have been changed as a result of the amazing work that the Message Trust does. If you would like to know more, check out their website at www.message.org.uk or go to their Enterprise Centre (34 Benchill Rd, M22 8LF) and take a look around.
We were at the event to support three young women who were confirmed at St Mary’s last November—Lauren Wilson, Sophie Wilson and Emily Huetson. They were being recognized for the transformation in their lives since they made the decision to become Christians last year. Eighteen months ago they were troublemakers at school, who were very close to being expelled. They were causing their parents much anxiety. One of their teachers told them to spend a lesson with Brightline, a creative team that works for the Message Trust. The band performed songs which told of the good news of Jesus, and promised redemption and forgiveness to anyone who committed their lives to him.
Something so powerful made them want to hear more, and so they came to see the band when they played in the Parish Centre at our Street Academy’s fifth birthday party. They signed up to join Street Academy and quickly became part of the Mettle Group that meets for Bible study just after the Academy. Their lives changed dramatically over the next few months. The people closest to them saw that they were living with a different moral code and seemed be lit up from inside. As a Parish we congratulate all three of them not only for the award but also for being fine role models for us all.
To read about the transformation in their lives, read the rest of Jo’s article here and see message.org.uk.
Jo Oughton
Parish Development, Youth Work
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