The Scripture Union (SU) team, along with a small army of fantastic volunteers, have been developing Prayer Spaces in schools across the London Borough of Havering for four years. SU intern, and Bower Park Prayer Space team leader, Sam Fowler reflects on another special week.

Reflections on the Bower Park Prayer Space

"During one of the lessons, a Teaching Assistant (TA) commented that the prayer room was an amazing space to give both students and teachers time to reflect and think about the bigger questions in life. She went on to talk about faith in general and then her own personal faith. By the end of the conversation, she said she wanted find out more about God and would go to church to do so.

A girl left the Forgiveness Stones activity in tears after letting go of the stone - clearly it had meant a lot to her. She went across to the Big Questions activity where her friends gathered around her and they wept together. These all seem signs to me that God is at work.

At the end of one lesson a student who had been particularly difficult said that his favourite zone was the Forgiveness Stones. “I just felt lighter when I dropped the stone, it was hard but I felt better for doing it,” he said when we asked for feedback.

To be honest, I was shocked by the amount of young people who gave similar feedback with regards to the Forgiveness Stones activity and our Lament Box activity as well;

“It’s personal, between me and God; and its dealt with now.”

“I loved the stones, it helped me get over things.”

“I managed to write down something I couldn’t tell anyone else and put it in the box.”

Perhaps my favourite comment from the week was this though;

“I feel I can be real here.”

Prayer is about being real with God, being simple and honest. It is a privilege to offer these opportunities to young people to reflect on their lives and to 'try praying'."

Sam Fowler is an intern with Scripture Union and a member of re:generation church in the London Borough of Havering. He is also a free-runner.

Posted by Phil

Phil Togwell is preparing to move North (Whitley Bay, near Newcastle, UK) with his family (three daughters - Megan, Poppy and Angel, and one wife - Emma). Phil is learning to cook, slowly. He likes curries, mountains, lengthy late-night conversations and reading books. He dislikes cats. Phil is part of 24-7 Prayer's GB team and leads the Prayer Spaces in Schools team.