The coffee bar, which was set up by Stalham Baptist Church with the help of other local churches and the Rural Development Commission in January 1996 with the aim of providing a place for young people to meet. It was felt that there was a need to open a place for young people so that they would not hang about the street so much. I believe that since the opening of the coffee bar, there has been a reduction of youngsters hanging around the High Street.

We are open from 10.00 am to 2 pm - Tuesday to Saturday inclusive, and in the evenings, from 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm with longer opening hours during the school holidays.

We have seen an increase in income from the coffee bar which has carried on into the winter, but more importantly we have seen an increase in the number of youngsters using the coffee bar in the evenings, on average, there are 25 with ages from 14 to 20 years of age.

The income from the coffee bar does not cover all our expenses and we do need outside funding. Previously this has come mainly from the Rural Development Commission but is on a much-reduced amount for the year 1998 an on. We are receiving funding from other outside organizations, but this will not make up the shortfall for the year.

I do believe that in the two years that we have been open, we have seen some of the work that a small coffee bar can do. It has made the church more involved in the community and helped us build friendships up that would not have otherwise happened. It has given us opportunity to tell young and old about Jesus. We have also provided help in finding housing and giving advice in many other areas. This all costs money and we know that He will provide.

We are getting involved with other agencies, which will lead to a housing andjob foyer and hopefully a bigger coffee bar, in a more central location. It sometimes seems painfully slow, but we will get there in the future.

If you would like to know more or help to keep the work going , please telephone 01692 581749/581845 and speak to John Hollebon the Project Manager, or write to:- Rev Ron Skivington, The Manse, Brumstead Road, Stalham, Norfolk, NR12 9BD UK.

Prayer Pointers
• That young people would begin to see he truth of the Gospel.
• Funding for the future running of the coffee bar.
• That we would find more helpers so we an open more evenings.

The light shine in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1 v5)

PS - If you are on holiday in Norfolk, then please drop in and see us.

The Trust's Coffee Bar
Was the Old Bakehouse	and	today, upstairs the Trust