The place where I live, Croydon, is quite depressing. We have massive crime rates, a lot of race wars, particularly black on black, black on white, and black on asian violence.
Croydon is a large city, just outside of the capital of London, and the capital stations can be reached by train in 15 minutes. Croydon is the home of the Home Office and Imigration, leading to a huge diversity of cultures in Croydon, but with this, comes high crime.
We have regular stabbings and murder reports, as well as thefts and muggings. Croydon is not a safe place to live. We also have the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the whole of London, and one of the highest in Britain.
Croydon is becoming notorious for loutish behaviour, crime, and unsavoury people, especially due to it's massive nightlife scene.
HOWEVER, the encouraging thing is, when the doomsday book was written in ye olde times, one thing written about Croydon was "There is a church in Croydon". God definately has his hand over Croydon.
In recent times, Croydon churches have realised the need for God to move in Croydon, and regular prayer meetings have been set up between Croydon churches to pray for Croydon on the whole. The first one is being hosted next Wednesday at my church! It's a very exciting time!
Schemes like the one I've just mentioned have been started in some locations around London, and in Manchester, and crime rates have dropped, just through prayer!
I can't wait to come back and tell you all of how God is moving in Croydon!
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