Tim Abbott, team leader with Sanctum in Colchester writes;

Rachel has already done about three prayer space activities before sitting down next to Amy, one of the Sanctum team. Rachel seems upset and is crying a little. To start with all she can say is “‘I just feel so overwhelmed. It's all so overwhelming.” The activities have obviously had a profound impact on her and she’s especially talking about the ones focusing on ‘letting go’ and ‘forgiveness’. But as the conversation with Amy continues it becomes clear that visiting Sanctum is only part of Rachel’s story.

Two days previously Rachel would have described herself as an Atheist. Then, the day before visiting Sanctum, she had what she described as a strange experience which radically challenged her worldview. Now she’s in a place that’s building on that experience in a whole load of new ways which she says has taken yesterday’s experience and, “made that a reality.”

Later in the lesson I’m chatting with the teacher when Rachel comes over to explain in breathless wonder what’s been happening to her over the last couple of days and what being in Sanctum has done for her. I’m humbled to hear someone speaking so passionately about such a personal, spiritual revelation. It’s difficult to gauge what Rachel’s longer term response will be to her experience - she hasn’t become a Christian or made any obvious personal religious decision. But what’s abundantly clear is that in just two days her world has been interrupted, her soul impacted and her spirit awakened by something she wasn’t expecting, but which has brought wonder and joy to her life.

Rachel concludes, “I really enjoyed this, it made me cry with happiness. I am very grateful and I wish I could experience it more often. I would recommend this to other people.”

Posted by Tim Abbott

Tim Abbott leads CYO, a youth and schools ministry in Colchester, Essex and has been involved in schools work for quite a while. He is married, has two sons, and plays bass. Tim has organised three town-wide 24-7 prayer rooms, one in a vacant shop at Christmas. He likes starting new things and in 2007 dreamed up an idea that launched in July 2008 as Sanctum, a Prayer Space for schools in the Colchester area.