AS YOU DRIVE into Norwich, the signs welcome you to "a fine city". Branding itself a "city of culture", the pristine pedestrianised centre abounds in metropolitan cafes and bars. The architecture is an attractive mixture of ancient and state-of-the-art.

House prices have rocketed over recent years and Norwich is named one of the country's top ten shopping venues. Little wonder that we sensed a self-assured spirit. We prayed, asking that we would meet people with an awareness of their need of something more.

The weather was sweltering and each morning we spilled out of the double-decker Jesus coach with our guitars and bottles of ice cold apple juice! We just enjoyed being together and found that our enjoyment of one another soon attracted others. Some of the people who joined us were friends already who were keen to get more involved. Because we were not doing formal 'church' the campaign was a good opportunity to bring their friends along to check us out.

Like most British cities, Norwich has a huge crowd of goths and boardies. Despite the dark images they festoon themselves with, most of them were friendly and brimming with questions. One guy, Gareth found it hard to believe that Jesus was anything more than an ordinary man. He reckoned his mum, who is a reike healer could do everything that He did. Another lad, Stephen was keen to join in with our music. He had his own guitar and launched into a bit of Eminem! He was quite embarrassed when he realized our music was about Jesus but he hung around and joined in with our worship.

One of the team met a man who is a renowned character in the city's crime scene. Although still in his twenties, he has spent fifteen years in prison and other institutions. He confided that he had cried out to God during his last prison term and was desperate to sort his life out, realizing that he would quite simply die if he carried on the way he was going.

A man called Jerry had met God while in prison and through that encounter had found freedom from his violent past. Despite his changed life, he still felt unsure that God had saved him and we were able to pray with him to find the assurance he longed for. We came across a similar craving for inner peace in a young woman from the Ukraine. Marita had been seeking for truth for years and despaired that she would ever find God. She, too, appreciated our friendship and received prayer.

On the last night we met Anthony who was in a bit of a fix. He had come down to Norwich from up North for a job with accommodation. When he arrived, the whole thing fell through so he was stuck with no work, nowhere to stay and no cash! We were able to help by offering him a place to stay for a few days and a lift home with some friends.

So, in a city marked by material prosperity, we demonstrated the real richness and beauty of brotherhood love. We met many who didn't fit into Norwich's unrealistic ideal. We're glad that those who don't or won't conform to today's middle class culture can find their place in His radical church.