Over the last six months, through a mixture of tragedy and triumph, Mary's story has spawned a sequel. At our Kidz Klub Mum's Night, in November 2002, Mary's daughter Pauline was among three women to become Christians. The life of God was immediately apparent in Pauline, and people commented on how excited she was about the year to come. 2003 was going to be her year, the year that God was going to change her life. But in January tragedy struck. Without any warning, 29 year old Pauline suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and died the same night. In the midst of Mary's grief, it was God's love that gave her the strength to continue.
Pauliine's funeral gave clear testimony to the new hope and life she'd found in Jesus. Beneath the pain, God was beginning a whole new work in Mary's family. Over the next four months no fewer than nine family members gave their lives to Jesus. And for them there's been no looking back. Four were baptised in June and Mary's niece, Karen is now a Kidz Klub visitor.

Marvin's story
Marvin and his older brother first came to Kidz Klub in 1997, after seeing a poster in their local shop. Their Kidz Klub visitor still remembers their enthusiasm, openly singing Kidz Klubs songs in their street and neighbourhood. Despite ridicule from older youths, they stuck at it and in September 1999 Marvin gave his life to Jesus at a Youth Alpha course. For a year or two everything was great, but as Marvin reached his mid-teens, the strain began to grow.
Marvin's older brother turned away from God. Left as the only Christian in a family that was openly opposed to his faith, the price he needed to pay just seemed too high. Marvin drifted away from church and began to pursue his own path. But Jesus would not let him go.
Over the next year he was aware of 'something inside' urging him to make himself right with God. Twice he set off to walk to churhc in a Sunday morning. Both times he started to feel ill on the ten minute walk, once even being sick in the street. There was something trying to hold him back.
Finally, in desperation he wrote to his old Kidz Klub worker and passed the letter to a mum at the Kidz Klub bus stop. That relationship, built through hundreds of childhood visits, was the link that brought him back. Through meeting with his old visitor he plucked up the courage to come back to church and two weeks later made himself right with God.
Marvin turned 16 this summer. He loves Jesus, helps to lead worship at church and is planning to open a Christian Union in his school in the autumn.

Leigh's story
In our first ever Kidz Klub report, Dave Sharples talked about nine year old Leigh Davies. Living in one of the most run down, drug-infested blocks of flats in our city, Leigh attended Kidz Klub every single week. Not only that, he accompanied Dave through the urine-soaked corridors of local housing blocks to visit other children. Rain or shine, Leigh was there and the faithfulness he showed as a child is still evident in Leigh's life today.
As Leigh matured, he progressed from Kidz Klub to Youth Alpha and it was hear that he made a firm commmittment to Jesus. Leigh hasn't had it easy; his older brother has been in prison for dealing drugs and Leigh lives in an area where the mere mention of Jesus produces ridicule. But Leigh has stuck at it.
In that first report, Dave said his dream was that one day Leigh would grow up and minister to kids who were just like him and he's doing just that. Twenty year old Leigh is an adult member of our Kidz Klub team. His faithfulness and committment are second to none. So much so, that he spent two years training as a Sound Engineer so that he could these skills to serve the church.

Emma's story
On a freezing December night in 1998, Kidz Klub Visitor Celia Thurgood was not looking forward to four hours of visiting. Her second stop was at Emma Tucker's house and as usual Emma asked if she could come too. Ten year old Emma was one of the more shy Kidz Klub members and walking around the visiting area gave her one-to-one time with her Kidz Klub worker. As the evening progressed the conversation turned from girly chat to spiritual matters until finally Emma asked, "So why did Jesus have to die on the cross?"
What an opportunity! Celia spent the next 45 minutes explaining the gospel and at the end of that time, Emma sat on the wall of a derelict house and in the cold and rain, gave her life to Jesus.
Over the last five years Emma has gone from strength to strength. She recently felt convicted about watching too many 'soaps' and so started reading her bible instead. Not bad for a fifteen year old! Emma is currently training to be a cell leader and one day wants to open a cell for younger girls who are just like her.

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