WHEN I joined Cornerstone in 1995, there was a good buzz around the place. The brothers' section of the house was full and there were a few young sisters around. It was a balanced and healthy scene.

But around 1999 we hit a downturn. A few brothers left; Cornerstone seemed to lose its life. After that things felt like they were sliding downhill. Things got worse till I - and a few fellow leaders, especially Mick, our main leader - started to become really desperate for a new movement to turn things around.

It was a Tuesday evening in 2006.I entered the Great Hall - where we hold our weekly Agape, a fellowship meal for committed members. I found myself thinking, "Unless something changes we'll be extinct!" I didn't know it then, but this was the time when things were about to change.

In a meeting at Wolverhampton, I recalled the words of Noel, the Jesus Fellowship's main apostolic leader: "I don't want to be a part of something that is not working". Something clicked in my heart and I renewed my faith for young brothers to join us - and I wasn't the only one finding fresh faith at that time. A number of us shared a rekindled flame of vision for change.

We prayed! And in 2007 Greg, Paul, Pete, Hamid and Sam came around: young men joining us with a vision for radical Christian movement. This was what we'd prayed for!

The movement still continues in 2009. Not only has the air changed at Cornerstone - this fresh increase has had, and is still making, a great impact on the whole of mJa Birmingham.

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or read some more articles:

The movement rolls on Broad Street to the narrow way Growing a youth tree Young people 'mean business'