Can you believe it 24 hours before the event we transfered it lock, stock and bouncy boxing ring to another location. Funny how God has a way of intervening in these things because as it turned out Ripley school hall was the perfect venue. Right size, right shape, right price!!!!!!!!!! Our fears that people would be running around the town looking for us and give it up as a bad job were unfounded as some 230 young people descended on us from around the region. Many of them christians bringing their non-christian friends, the feedback we got was positive and our aims had been met.
Our night had been a mix of comedy, drama, dance, live music and the recorded variety with T shirts, Tuck Shop, Christian Bookshop and information desk all doing a respectable trade. We had one frantic moment when our guest speaker hadn't arrived from Birmingham 10 minutes before his slot. A call to his mobile phone found him almost asleep at the wheel "somewhere between Manchester and Preston" at least 45 minutes away. Once again God intervened and provided us with an alternative speaker who hit exactly the right spot.
As a first event we were encouraged at the apparent success of the night, even more so when it was revealed we had made a reasonable profit from which we can fund the next event. Most importantly though was the fact that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, even the guys who came to set up and man the velcro fly wall and the bouncy boxing ring said they'd had a most enjoyable night and it made a refreshing change to be around such nice young people.
So brothers and sisters it is hoped b:real will become a regular event, as long as we remain relevant to the needs of our young people and faithful to God, who knows where it may lead.