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Despite sadness in its first year, Christ Church Hemel (CCH), launched in December 2014, has seen the Lord’s guiding and sustaining hand throughout.

Spicer Street Church in St Albans were keen to plant another church and, three years ago, the door opened with an opportunity to plant into the neighbouring town of Hemel Hempstead. A core group was quickly identified, money was raised and Sam Buckley was given the opportunity to lead the plant. Lots of time was spent planning and praying in the lead up to the intended start date – early October in 2014.

November 21 and 22 saw the open day and dedication service for Netherside Hall, Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Camps venue that featured in April’s en.

After two weeks of torrential rain it was yet another answer to prayer that the official opening of Yorkshire Camps’ new venue was on a weekend which was dry, even if the countryside was dusted with snow.

On 4 November, Moorlands College welcomed Christian campaigner Baroness Caroline Cox to open the new Wessex Auditorium and Community Hub.

The building project saw the demolition of a ‘temporary’ dining hall and chapel built in the 1970s to make room for a Community Hub that has already revolutionised student life at the college. The Wessex Auditorium, which seats up to 300 people, is a focal point for student worship throughout the week, epitomised by the ten-foot tall steel cross standing to the north.

The ‘Talking to Jesus’ report presented to the Anglican Synod in late November showed that 40% of people don’t believe Jesus was a real person. But it also showed that younger people are actively sharing their faith.

However, more than half of non-Christians have had a conversation with a practicing Christian about faith in Jesus (57%). Having had that conversation, of those who had not become a Christian, one in five (19%) still wants to know more about Jesus Christ.

Greenisland Baptist Church is an evangelical congregation meeting seven miles from Belfast along the north shore of Belfast Lough, with its building about to undergo demolition and rebuilding.

It was founded in 1996 after seven local people started to meet to pray for the community. The church had a number of temporary venues until 2000 when it purchased and renovated the old health centre at the heart of the village. Within a short space of time the Lord blessed the congregation, which grew fourfold. For the past ten years, a capacity of 200 for Sunday services has been severely strained. In 2006 the possibility of meeting in a replacement building at the current location, or elsewhere in the village, was explored.