Council Wards: Each month we feature briefly one of the 22 local wards for our prayer: Gillingham North: amongst the Government's list of most deprived wards in England, pray for Councillors Chishti, Last and Price; for an increase in the educational standards that are well below average ( as is the primary health care ) and community spirit and a greater openness to the Gospel. Pray over the proposed plans to re-site Mid Kent College (with potentially 5,000 students ) on the Lower Lines and for The Sunlight Centre which is the only community gathering point and for the many Christians working there.

Vines Centre Trust: Pray for the VCT as they are having to relocate from Rochester Riverside to new premises in Strood; that funds would be given to enable the new site to be purchased rather than rented; for a swift transfer without too much disruption of ongoing projects ( Cyber Ark, Home From Home etc ); continued favour with local business and the Council; vision for new projects and an increase in dialogue and further involvement with Medway’s churches.

The following items are abridged versions of stories and reports published in the Medway Messenger. Please pray and intercede as the Lord leads:

" University bid to buy Buckmore " - ( page 1, May 3 ) " The University of Kent has revealed it is bidding to take over the troubled Buckmore Park. The university confirmed that they were trying to negotiate ownership of the centre for the benefit of students, Scouts and the community. The university, together with the University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College, is pressing ahead with a GBP100 million investment in education in Medway."

" How green was our valley " - ( page 1, May 14 ) " A huge housing estate on the fields between Walderslade and Hempstead has been proposed by a group of landowners who want to build more than 9,000 houses on the green space and develop the Capstone Valley. Top planners from Medway Council have said that the development is not needed. "

" Thanks a ton for your kindness " - ( page 7, May 21 ) " The story of a pensioner who lost her life savings when her handbag was pinched prompted a police support officer to give the victim her holiday money. ( The officer ) said 'I was brought up to respect people around me and more so the elderly who have given us direction in life'. "

" GBP1m lift for stroke patients " - ( page 10 May 24 ) " A ground breaking service for stroke patients was launched at St Barts Hospital, Rochester ( which ) will give a more efficient service for stroke sufferers in Medway. ( It ) is an exciting development which has already provided tangible benefits to patients and their families with improved recovery, independence maximised and mortality reduced."

" Scum of Society " : ( page 6, May 28 ) - " Meet Medway's drug dealers ( 24 mug shots shown on page ) and every one of them is now behind bars. All 24 who were dealing in Class A drugs were removed from the streets during a series of raids across Medway in March ( and jailed ). ."

" College plans are scrapped " : ( page 6, May 31 ) - " Plans for new colleges to replace Medway's sixth forms have been scrapped after an outcry from head teachers, governors and parents. ."