MULTI-STOREY CARPARK, 3AM >>> Jon Oliver [Cambridge]

I think some of the best nights out with the street team were not just those when we had amazing conversations, or prayed with people, or helped people, or got them home safely - but those nights when we were able to reach into people's lives and offer them something far more. I remember one night in particular, it was about 3am and a couple of us were walking past a multi-storey carpark behind one of the biggest clubs in town, when we heard the sound of crying from far above us. We hurried into the building, and climbed several floors before we found the source of the deafening wails: a young woman collapsed on the floor, convulsed with tears. When this woman - Stephanie - saw us approach, she just about managed to get to her feet, and then my friend threw her arms around her in a big hug, and simply held her until the sobs subsided. It turned out that Stephanie had been in an abusive relationship, which had ended badly that night and, as we talked to her, it became apparent that Stephanie assumed she had to have a boyfriend in order to feel validated, that she needed the affirmation (however distorted and abusive) of a significant other in order to feel good about herself. She really didn't seem to think she had any other option. However, through our conversation I really feel she began to realise that her value as a human being is not dictated by how much sex (or how many partners) she has, and that she didn't actually have to sell herself short this way.

It seems to me that, if we are called to make the teachings about our Saviour attractive (check out Titus 2v10), this isn't just about fancy lighting or new technology in our church services; this has to be about presenting the good news in a light which truly reflects the fact that it is good news. To the majority of the people we meet, for example, the idea of pre-marital celibacy is not particularly attractive, and is not our number one selling point. However, to others, such as Stephanie, the possibility often simply hasn't occurred to them – and the opportunity, the permission almost, not to have to give themselves up so easily, is genuinely and deeply attractive.

[ This Bournemouth club chaplaincy story can also be found in NIGHT VISION ]