Burning Issues - Feb 2013 - Flame International

7/28/2019 Burning Issues - Feb 2013 - Flame International

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flameinternational

BURNING

ISSUES

FEB 2013

PLUS ALL THE NEWS, UPDATES, REPORTS AND FEATURES YOU NEED

10th

Celeb

ration

issue


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OPENING REMARKSIt seems amazing to us that were here in2013 and celebrating 10 years o ministryto those recovering rom post-conicttrauma! In this issue, David Hughesreminds us why its good to celebrate andGareth Barton reminds us why were here.

2012 was a very difcult year or ourbrothers and sisters in DRC. Following anamazing mission to the capital in April, wewere delayed in our plans to send teamsto the east o the country by the uprising

o a rebel group and consequent fghtingin the Kivus. We are thrilled that thetrouble has subsided and were nowhurriedly rescheduling missiondates or this year with ourtrips already in the diary!We need teams to comewith us so have a look atthe dates on p23 and ask

the Lord whether you mightcome and join us to see Himat work in this stunning country.

Conict Zones to Comfort Zones

UPCOMING EVENTS15-17 Feb 10th Anniversary

Supporters Weekend,Ashburnham Place, Battle,East Sussex, TN33 9NF

16 March Mission Training Day - see p2319 Apr - 5 May Mission to DRC11 May Prayer Day - St. Pauls Church,

Camberley, Surrey 9.30am-4pm

IN THE NEXT ISSUESIGNS AND WONDERS: We continue our10th Anniversary celebrations by looking

back on a decade o extraordinary storiesand testimonies rom around the worldthat will inspire and encourage you.

08

11

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CONTENTS02.2013

Cover Image:We celebrate our 10thanniversary this year andRev Canon David Hugheswrites about a God whocelebrates, to help us lift ourspirits in these challengingtimes.

Designed and edited byspreadcommunications.co.uk

[email protected]

Flame International is a Christian ministry with apassion to reach out with Gods love to broken andhurting people, particularly those in the poorestcountries of the world, and to see nations healed andwalking in forgiveness and reconciliation.

Through healing conferences, trauma workshopsand prayer ministry, we equip and train leaders in the

church, the military and in the widersociety, to impact theircommunities.

www.ameinternational.org 02.2013Burning Issues 3

Registered Charity Number 1096374

15

Letters, News & Reviews

Summer Events Team

Remembering: Rev Canon DavidHughes

Prayer Diary

Ray Ransom leaves a legacy

18

04

PO BOX 424,Aldershot,GU11 9ER

Tel: 01252 336509

3 Questions - Dr Chris Higgins

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flameinternational

BURNINGISSUES

FEB 2013


10th

Celebratio

n

issue

10th


4/24REMEMBER

REVC

ANOND

AVID

HUGH

ES


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The tenth anniversary of FlameInternational is an event worthy ofcelebration. It offers an opportunityto look back over the past and

celebrate joining the Lord in hisgreat eternal story. RememberingGods presence and activity willnaturally evoke celebration,thanksgiving and gratitude.

Michelle Guinness begins her book TheHeavenly Party with a quote rom TheoHobson, Our Christian culture needsto cultivate an anarchic lightness, alust or reedom, a celebratory spirit. Itneeds to learn rom the boom in estivalculturewe yearn to join a crowd thatis celebrating Christianity is meant tobe a religion o celebration.

Psalm 126 captures this mood o

celebrating reedom rom captivity.When the Lord brought his exiles backto Jerusalem, it was like a dream! Wewere flled with laughter and we sangor joy. It was their uninhibited joythat caused the surrounding nations tosay that the Lord had done great thingsor his people.

We are all amiliar with celebratinganniversaries birthdays, weddingsand special achievements. Whenwe throw a party or someone weare afrming their worth. Churches,communities and even nations need tofnd occasions or celebration. In 2012the Queens Diamond Jubilee, ollowedby the Olympics and the Paralympics,became a time o partying that tangiblychanged the mood o the nation andlited us above the economic gloom.

Celebration undoubtedly contributesto our health and wellbeing. Perhapsthis is why Scriptures set such store on

remembering.

I am told that the word rememberoccurs 209 times in the Bible. In the OldTestament God set estivals to help hispeople remember his redemptive acts intheir history. Recalling Gods aithulnessin the past gave them aith and hope orthe uture because God was the God oAbraham, Isaac and Jacob and henceevery succeeding generation. The wordremember is repeated in Scripture asa command because we have a Godwho remembers. Keeping a regulardiscipline o occasions when we recallthis will carry us through tough timeswhen our emotions may screamto us that God has orgotten us or

abandoned us. Gods reply to a similarear and emotion in Isaiah 49, verse 15was, Can a woman orget her nursingchild and have no compassion on theson o her womb? Even these mayorget, but I will not orget you. BeholdI have inscribed you on the palms omy hands; your walls are continuallybeore me.

Frequently in the Old Testament whenthe aithul encountered the Lordthey erected a memorial o stones toremind them o an event in which Godhad acted. So Jacob built an altar ostones at Bethel, the place where hehad struggled with God and prevailed.When he saw the stones he wouldremember that God had changed hisname rom Jacob, meaning deceiver,to Israel, meaning Prince with God.


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6 Burning Issues02.2013 www.ameinternational.org

The Hebrew word or remember,zakar, means to have somethingimprinted on ones subconscious.So Israel was called to tell eachgeneration the stories o Gods acts intheir lives until they became a part otheir communal psyche. The Exodus,when God delivered his people out oslavery in Egypt to take them into the

Promised Land, was remembered andcelebrated in the Passover Meal, whichbecame a corporate rememberingo their deliverance. Here the heado the amily would retell the story tothe whole amily gathered around themeal table. The children would ask setquestions which the ather answeredin a way that made the story live and

become experiential. In this meal everyJew was intended to eel or all eternityas i he or she were being reed romslavery in Egypt. Eating bitter herbs likeraw horseradish that sting the mouthand bring tears to the eyes remindedthem o what a terrible experience itwas. They relived the story so that itbecame their journey too.

The notion o God throwing a partyto celebrate is also picked up by Jesusin the story he tells o a Father withtwo sons. The younger sons requestwould have shocked every Jewishlistener because it was tantamount towishing his ather dead. The Father

allows him to leave home in a bid orreedom and sel-discovery, knowingthat the experience will turn out to be

a pseudo-party without real riendshipor commitment and so providing nolasting meaning or satisaction. The realparty is thrown by the ather when hispenitent son returns and is to celebraterestoration, recreation and redemption.The ather goes out to the older brotherwho is angry and resentul about theparty but the ather reminds him that

he too is loved and invited to join thecelebration.

Jesus instituted two sacraments orhis ollowers that involved memory.Baptism reminds us that we have beenplunged into the story o Jesus deathand resurrection this is our storytoo and the means o our exodus

rom slavery. In Communion Jesuscommanded his ollowers to eat breadand to drink wine in remembrance ohim. Remembering in the bible carriesa dynamic sense. It involves reliving anevent in the past in such a way thatthe power and virtue o that event,the Cross, is released into our present.C.S.Lewis comments, God wants touse the sign language o the sacramentto waken us to his love in a deep andmeaningul way.

There are countless ways in which wecan integrate this understanding oremembering with our celebration oFlames 10th Anniversary. Remembering

Gods guidance, recalling his presenceand acts on Flame missions, recountingthe stories o changed lives and the


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REV CANON DAVID HUGHES: REMEMBER


impact o involvement in our lives willall lead to thanksgiving, gratitude andcelebration. Let me encourage you, thereader to write your story, to capturesomething in a poem or a picture andto bring it to the Celebration weekendat Ashburnham in mid-February. TheLord invites us to join his party and tocelebrate his presence, goodness and

aithulness. In remembering, our aithwill be renewed as we seek to discernmore clearly his plans or the uture.

10th

David Hughes retired in 2009 ater 41 years in the Anglican ministry. He served in our dierent parishesin our Dioceses. He is married to Claire who works as a Practice Nurse in Longsight, Manchester andthey have two adult children, Naomi and Jonathan, who is married to Amy, and two grandchildren,Gracie and Joseph. Over the last twenty years David has regularly made trips to Arica, visiting missionarylinks in Kisoro, South West Uganda and Kimilili in Western Kenya. He went with a Rooted in Jesus teamto the Congo a couple o years ago and last July went with a Flame team to Kinshasa and Brazzaville.He enjoys tennis, music, reading, making things with wood and walking and gardening with his wie.

Were excited to have David as the resident bible teacher or our special supporters weekend at

Ashburnham Place in Sussex, 15 - 17 Feb. With expert knowledge and heaps o humour, David willchallenge us on how we go orward and how we can continue to grow.

Call us on 01252 336509 to book your place!


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SUMMER EVENTS 2013


>>>>>

We are expanding our campaign or awareness and support this summer withour rst-class, award-winning exhibition stands at all the New Wine summerconerences and, a rst or 2013, at Momentum - a Soul Survivor conerence orpeople in their 20s and 30s.

Have you got what it takes to join us? Try our checklist to see i you qualiy...

over 18 & under 150

fun & lively

love jesus*

mission mad

free for a week

a little bit crazy**

smile in sun & rain

hard working >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

*ESSENTIAL

**not essential but we find it helps

How did you get on?I you ticked three ormore boxes then wethink youre ready orthe next step!


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JOIN OUR

award-winningSUMMER EVENTS

TEAM IN 2013Royal Bath & West ShowgroundShepton MalletWeek 1 (London & South East)27 July - 2 AugustWeek 2 (Central & South West)4 -10 AugusT

Newark & nottinghamshirecounty showgroun d - newark3 - 9 August

to register YOUR interest injoining the team please visit

our website or call us on:01252 336509

Royal Bath & West ShowgroundShepton Mallet23 - 27 AUGUST

BOOK

NOW

>>


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PHOTOFEATURE

Flames Generation Y team memberKarenza ministers to a teenage mum

and her son during a conerence inSouth Sudan and communicates theFathers heart with a loving embrace.


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PrayerDiary

February - May 2013

Be joyful in

hope, patientin affliction,faithful inprayer.Romans 12:12


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Bishop Sylvestre in Bukavu, Bishop William

in Boga, Bishop Ande in Aru, and Bishop

Isesomo in Butemba as they seek God in

the midst o huge loss o lie, atrocities,

deprivation and injustice against the weak.

10 Mar: Pray or partnerships with

business and charitable trusts. Give thanks

or the partnerships we already enjoy and

pray or deeper relationships. Pray or

wisdom as we investigate micronance

projects and ask the Lord to link us with

experienced people o integrity.

17 Mar: South Sudan: Archbishop Deng

and his bishops as they encourage the

government and international community

to assist in peacemaking along the border.

Pray or the displaced people caught up in

confict and or humanitarian aid to reach

them. Pray Gods leading or Flame to

contribute.

24 Mar: Give thanks or the churches

linked to Flame. Pray more will support us

in prayer and join us on mission.

07 Apr: For Gods protection over the

Trustees and their amilies, particularly

those who have suered great loss andill health. Pray or our pastors, Ken and

Jean; or our co-workers; Les, Brenda,

03 Feb: Give thanks or our time in

Yambio, Nzara, Ezo and Kajo Keji, and or

truth spoken out to take root and multiply

in the regions. Pray or the team to be

rested and strengthened, and or all who

received healing to give testimony and

glory to God.

10 Feb: For our 10th Anniversary

Celebration and rst Supporters Weekend

at Ashburnham Place. Pray or all the places

to be lled; miracles o healing; release o

the prophetic; challenges and blessings as

Canon David Hughes speaks Gods truth.

17 Feb: Give thanks or answered prayer

when Barnabas Fund released unding or

3 years to assist the work in DR Congo.

Pray or peace over the Eastern region

and cessation o violence, bloodshed and

murder. In aith, that prayer will change

the situation, we are planning 4 trips to DRCongo this year.

24 Feb: For women across the world on

1 March. Pray particularly or women who

are physically and spiritually abused and

counted as worthless in their culture. Pray

they will draw strength rom God and rom

ellow Christians.

03 Mar: For DR Congo: Archbishop Henri

Isingoma and his bishops, particularly

Thank you for supporting us in prayer.

Please feel free to remove this guide

if youd like to place it in your bible.



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PRAYER DIARY: FEB - MAY 2013


Joy, Natalie, Gareth, Simon, Wendy, the

Regional Reps and all our valued supporters

who pray, donate, participate.

14 Apr: Give thanks or our young

pioneers and the opportunities available

within Flame. We are planning to take a

Gen Y team to Aru, DR Congo this year.

Pray or young leaders who can develop

this ministry.

21 Apr: For the team in Goma, DR Congo

working with Bishop Sylvestre, Bukavu

Diocese. Pray or all those who attend

the teaching and ministry; or saety and

protection or the participants and team;

and or miracles o spiritual and physical

healing. Pray particularly or the team as

they travel to Bukavu on 27 Apr.

28 Apr: Continue to uphold in prayer the

team in Bukavu and the participants. Pray

this will be a signicant time o healing,

strengthening, drawing closer to God and

restoring hope. Pray too or protection

during travel.

05 May: As the team return to the UK via

Bujumbura, pray or rest and rereshment.

Jan and Val hope to meet with Archbishop

Bernard and Onesphore whilst in

Bujumbura, to discuss uture plans or

Burundi. Pray or this to happen that we

may encourage and be encouraged.

12 May: Pray or the President o Burundi,

Pierre Nkurunziza, Archbishop Bernard

and the Anglican bishops, that they will be

envisioned by God to use those who have

been trained by Flame. That nothing should

be wasted. Pray or Gen Sylvestre and an

opportunity to work with the military.

19 May: For Armenia and our contacts in

the churches. Pray or the situation in Israel

and our contacts. Pray we will know Gods

will or Flame in Armenia, Israel and China

in 2013.

26 May: For our contacts in the Far East

and the opportunity to extend our ministry

in the region. Please hold our Chinese

partners in prayer as they progress Gods

work in South Sudan. Give thanks or

the doors God has opened and pray or

business opportunities so they can be sel-sustaining.


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Prayer Diary Notes:

Pleaseuse

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ghtgiveyo

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pleasepassiton

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ofce!


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A&THREE QUESTIONS...


Tell us about the Ride Across Britain...The Ride Across Britain (RAB) is the longdistance UK cycling challenge, setting o romJohn OGroats on the northeast o Scotlandand riding to Lands End on the west tip oCornwall, through some o the most beautiulparts o these islands. It is a distance o 960miles, to be covered in just 9 days and, Britainbeing a hilly place, involves climbing about15,000 metres in total (not to mention theexcitement o 15,000 metres o descent!)This particular ride is organised, being thebrainchild o James Cracknell o Olympic ameand two riends, so that each day belongingsare transerred ahead to camps set up toreceive the riders in the evening. There willbe about 600 taking part and I think its theclosest Ill ever get to riding a Tour!

Why have you chosen to raise undsor Flame International? Flame rst cameto my attention about 8 years ago when JanRansom came and enabled some ministryin our church home group. Not long aterthat she became a member o St Pauls and

joined our group hersel. We thereore havethe privilege o supporting her in prayer eachtime she goes on mission and then, on herreturn, hearing the amazing stories o healingand restoration which God has brought aboutusing the ministry o Flame. It has also beenan inspiration to meet so many o the peopleon the Flame teams at various times over thelast ew years, and most exciting o all to seemy wie Sandra go on two trips to South Sudan(in act she is in Yambio now, as we speak).There is nothing like praying or the person I

share my lie with whilst they are out on theront line. You really sense the Lords presencedeeply and hear immediate answers to prayerby text rom across the continents. Whilst

o course I love riding my bike and want tostep up to a challenge, I would love to use the

event to raise money or a charity that is quiteunique and addresses a deep need in peopletraumatised by war and confict. I I can alsoraise interest by wearing the Flame logo as Itraverse the British Isles, then bring it on

How can people support your ride?Firstly, please pray or success and or theLords avour!

Then, i anyone would like to sponsor me, theycan visit my undraising page at:

www.sponsorme.co.uk/chrishiggins/chriss-ride-across-britain-or-fame

Alternatively they can send a donation to theFlame oce.

Chris is a GP in Fleet, Hampshire, where he hasworked or the last 22 years. He trained atSt Thomas Hospital in London which is wherehe met Sandra. He is particularly interested

in the healing ministry (seeing the need inhis proessional lie) and has helped start aHealing on the Streets team in his home towno Camberley.

DR CHRIS HIGGINS


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CONFLICT ZONES TO COMFORT ZONES

FRO

CONFLIC

ZONES T

COMFOR

ZONE


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I was recently invited to give a talk to a group o local scouts as part o their Inspireseries. The leaders had asked a number o local proessionals to talk about their work toencourage these young people to dream big dreams and to aspire to good things in theirworking utures. I was fattered and ound mysel in loty company. On the night I was

joined by a orestry estate manager, a paramedic, a surgeon and a police helicopter pilot.I was there in my occasional capacity as a photojournalist. Sounds romantic doesnt it?Adventure, danger, mud-strip landings on tiny aircrat, trips into the bush on the backso motorbikes, cameras hanging o both shoulders, meeting people in tribal areas andsharing stories with those who have experienced lives so dierent rom our own. So Iwas there, in this tiny village, meeting a young lad who had just escaped the LRA, I couldhear mysel saying to these youngsters with stars in their eyes. And there was that timeI was photographing genocide survivors, oh and, And this girl saw her grandatherhacked to death with a machete. Romantic? Hmmm. When someone sent me somepictures o what is happening right now in DRC, I looked back on that talk and shivered.

I was sitting in my comortable oce at home and heard the amiliar ping o an incoming

email. I was expecting some up to date ino on the latest developments in eastern DRCor a report I was writing to a under. I was not expecting to see the pictures they hadattached. Tanks on the street, reugees carrying mattresses, burials in bed sheets andbloodied bodies in the mud courtyard o a house being looked upon by a surviving amilymember. I was shocked. Again. Images are part o my lie and these hit me hard. Itstruck me harder than ever that day, as I looked at the man gazing at the bodies, thatthis is who Flame International are called to minister to, to share Gods love with, so thathe stands a chance o recovering rom this moment, caught on camera and sent to meon email, in my comortable room, with my latte. These images, these lives, beamed via

amazing technology, rom confict zones to comort zones.

Along with these images we received an emergency email rom a Congolese bishop thathas caused us to stop in our tracks.

Due to the ghting in North Kivu, the Congolese people are sad and depressed rom thiswar. Today, so many people are displaced rom their homes; many are raped, injured andkilled. The victims do not get assistance. The war continues and nobody can tell when itwill take end. This same situation is observed in South Kivu where FDLR (Interahamwe)

and other militias are ghting against the loyal army in various villages. In such situation,we realise that it is not easy or people (pastors, women and youth) to travel rom villagesto Goma or the Flame Conerence. Thereore, we would pray you to plan the Flame


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Conerence or next year 2013 in Goma. We assure you that people would be grateuli Flame International may give any support to assist the victims in their suerance. Wethank you or your prayers in this moment we are living hardship in the Kivus.Yours sincerely, Rt Rev BAHATI BALI-BUSANE Sylvestre Bishop o Bukavu Diocese.

The immediacy o whats happening in the east o DRC at the moment has meant thatFlame Internationals programme o ministry there has been delayed. This has onlyhappened once beore, in Malakal, South Sudan. I asked Jan Ransom about that time.

The trip was planned or January 2007. In November 2006 we heard that 136 people

had been killed in the town due to tribal ghting and the UN had been called in. Thebishop was very keen or us to go and the team were really up or it and positive despitethe dangers. However, our Chairman o Trustees at the time had a check in her spirit. Shewarned that she was nervous about a team heading o where there was such lawlessness.She could not quite put her nger on the reason why.

There was a trustees meeting in December 2006 and we were due to discuss it. The daybeore the meeting our Chair went to a prayer gathering where she asked or prayer ora dicult meeting the next day without giving any details. One man who knew nothing

o the circumstances had a spiritual picture o two beings without heads on! Gabbyknew the Lord was saying it was too dangerous or us to go to Malakal. However, at thetrustees meeting she chaired we spent time waiting on God ater which we all sensedthe Lord was saying the timing was not right and we should wait. The Lord spoke to usso clearly.

We delayed a year. It was interesting that the postponement only cost us 50, the Lordhad gone beore us and he made it clear it was the right decision. In retrospect webelieve the Lord was calling us to do his will and submit to our Chair o Trustees, testing

our obedience. We are an organisation that takes risks but they must be taken under theLords direction and we must not be oolish!

When we eventually went to Malakal we had an extraordinary visit and saw amazingmiracles o healing and reconciliation.


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CONFLICT ZONES TO COMFORT ZONES


However, or our second trip to Malakal we were on the sidelines o violence and deathat celebrations o the 4th Anniversary o the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. ThePresident and Vice President were there but prior to their arrival two tribesmen wereshot dead about 500 metres rom where we were sitting and there was a stampede!There was much tribal tension and we elt very vulnerable! Prayer was our weapon andit made us consider what may have happened had we not ollowed the Lords leadingon our rst trip.

Generally the teams visit places which are very post-confict - rom a ew years inSudan and Uganda, to almost a decade in Burundi or even nearer a century in Armenia.

The needs are real nonetheless, despite the time distance, and the ministry challengespeople with the need to orgive old hurts. But here in DRC as it was in Malakal the needis to orgive resh hurts. And these hurts are enormous. People are slaughtered in thestreet and in their homes - not rom long-range but ace-to-ace, oten by neighbours inthe case o Burundi, by people known to the victims and survivors. This isnt the needto orgive a people group necessarily or a nation (although that might play a part) butrather to orgive someone you know by name, who youve lived in community with andyou still see. Or in places like DRC and South Sudan it might be the very present ear omilitia raids in the night with people dragged out o their beds to be executed or raped.

How do you orgive something like that at all, ever, let alone when its happening nowor was just last week or only last month?

I realise this isnt easy reading and not exactly the best subject or Flames 10thAnniversary Celebration Issue. But perhaps its timely in that, ater 10 years o ministry,we are reminded by the images we see and the messages we are mailed that the needor Flames ministry is as real today as it was back then and that it is still shocking,appalling and we wish we werent required. That this is no romantic rescue mission or

adventurous types but rather a humble and painul act o Gods mercy carried out bythose who are called to move his kingdom orward on their knees.

I eel like returning to the Scouts to apologise, and to tell them that covering post-confict zones as a photojournalist is awul, wonderul, heart-breaking, humbling, tear-lled, attitude-adjusting and lie-changing. It is not romantic.

Gareth Barton


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Flame International was ounded by Jan tenyears ago, in response to a God-given visionto take the Christian message o orgiveness,o healing and deliverance, o reconciliation, tothe oppressed, the spiritually imprisoned and

the traumatised in the poorest parts o theworld Sierra Leone, Sudan, Congo, Rwandaand other desperate countries in Arica. Andmore lately to churches in parts o the WestBank, in Armenia, and in China.

Jans mum Ray will be remembered or herselfess support o Jans ministry, her limitlesshospitality, her rich, Durham sense o humour.

Ray was totally and selfessly supportive oFlame International; she was deeply committedto the Flame mission. In spite o a mothersnatural concern about some o the places towhich Jan led her teams, she was always agreat encourager, never finching. Just a ewweeks ago, and ollowing her diagnosis, shewas emphatic that Jan should leave her andgo on the latest Flame mission to South Sudan.

Indeed she was in many ways a ounder oFlame, there at the beginning with a signicantnancial git that went towards meeting manyo the start up costs o the organisation.

Rays hospitality was legendary; her door wasalways open - or Flame trustees, or Aricanbishops, and or overseas cadets at the RoyalMilitary Academy, those rom Sudan, Botswana,

Kenya, Namibia and China, some o whomstayed or weeks at a time over the Academystand down periods. Many visitors rom

around the world will have lasting memorieso Rays kindness. We will always rememberthe wonderul meals and the endless supplyo coee and cake, both at her home and ocourse at the many Flame International prayer

events and training days.We will never orget Rays down to earth,cheerul sense o humour that lasted to thevery end. And I personally will never orgetreading with her a week beore she died thewords rom Ps 121:

The LORD will watch over your coming andgoing both now and or evermore.

Well she has gone now, but gone to jointhat great cloud o witnesses, in a ar, arbetter place, ree rom the limitations o pain,sickness and advancing years, a lie well lived,her work well done.

Mark Leakey14th November 2012

Ray Ransom was a hidden ounder and silent partner o Flame International.Her amous hospitality and extraordinary generosity leave a lasting legacy

or all those whose hearts are stirred to action in this ministry. Her passing inOctober 2012 was mourned and celebrated in equal measure by many acrossthe country. Mark Leakey refects on a lie o selfess giving...

1923 - 2012Ray Ransom

IN MEMORIAM


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For all those who exalt

themselves will be humbled,and those who humble

themselves will be exalted.

Then Jesus said to his host,

When you give a lunch ordinner, do not invite yourfriends, your brothers orsisters, your relatives, or

your rich neighbours; if you

do, they may invite you backand so you will be repaid.But when you give a banquet,invite the poor, the crippled,the lame, the blind, and you

will be blessed. Although theycannot repay you, you will berepaid at the resurrection of

the righteous.

Luke 14:11-14


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LETTERSto Flame...


Dear Flame, last night I was reading the

October 2012 issue of Burning Issues. Thank

you for this. I was truly blessed particularly

by your opening article surveying the last ten

years what an incredible blessing you have

been to so many people. Congratulations on

your 10th Anniversary. You must be fullled

in the knowledge that the Lord has used Flame

in such miraculous ways and perhaps ignited

for more!

Murray, Hants

Dear Flame, I have just visited my friend

Jane who knows one of the ladies that came

from our church to the Flame day. Jane said

that this lady has given testimony that she has

been totally changed as a result of the worship,

teaching from you and Nicola, and ministry

that she received on Saturday 24th. Evidently

she cried during the worship as it touched her

deeply, and then in the teaching went from

darkness to light. She said, I now understand

so much. Jane took her out for coffee this

morning and they sat from 10.15 12.20 and

Jane said she did not stop talking about Jesus.

I asked Jane, Do you think she was born

again that day? Jane said, Denitely, as she

is transformed. Praise the Lord, feel free to

share this with anyone that you think it may

bless.

Thank you, both to you and Flame for this new

venture to the churches in the UK. I pray it

will really take off and be a wonderful blessing

to Flame as well as the churches that you visit.

Jean, Surrey

Dear Flame, the Ministry and Healing Day

was amazing. We had 65 people come, about

twenty from our church but the rest from other

local churches. There were several testimonies

at the end of what God had done that day.

Brenda taught well and the dramas made the

atmosphere relaxed. People did not hesitate

to come forward to nail the red discs on the

cross I guess 20/30 did. The cross was on the

platform which was hollow underneath so the

banging was resounding as if from heaven! It

was very moving.An orphan lady said how she had been

ministered to as Brenda spoke about the

orphan spirit. Another said how she was

convicted about coming out from under Godly

authority. Another was so moved by it all and

said the teaching should go into the schools as

there is so much bullying etc going on with

hurt and rejected children. A ministers wife

whose husband had died 2 years ago had been

unable to cry since and she testied, rejoicingand crying at the same time.

A lady phoned me on Monday for an hour and

said the whole day owed and she equated it

to Christs seamless garment. She had a friend

who was quite controlling and she used to

cringe when the lady phoned her. However on

Sunday she did phone and she felt strong and

no timidity to take the call!

And theres more! One Roman Catholic lady

came to the Lord. Another said she felt much

more secure and now has more faith for the

circumstances of her life.

I had an email Sunday night to ask me to go to

a church to take the service and tell them all

the activities going on in our church! Someone

must have gone there and told the leadership

about it! With love and every blessing.

Elizabeth, Poole

Dear Jean, how abulous to hear o a lietransormed by Jesus. Thank you or your letter oencouragement - we look orward to hearing morestories like this as we minister to churches in the UKand prepare people or mission overseas.Flame International

Send your letter to us at theofce by post or on emailand well send a small git tothe writer o our star letter.


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NEWS & REVIEWS

The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind -

Bill JohnsonSince Bill and Beni Johnson became pastors o mega-church,

Bethel, based in Redding, Caliornia, the supernatural has

become normal, with healings and other maniestations

o the Spirit. Bill Johnson reckons that the supernatural

should be normal throughout the church. Its a ascinating

book and best described by just one o the points he makes:

We are co-labourers with God and we underplay our role.

He would much rather listen to your dream than have you

cower beore him asking or your next task.

Dreaming with God unlocks deep areas o creativity in

each and every person in dierent areas o giting andtalent....religion, cruel and boring, bottles up the creative

impulse God has put inside o every person. Each o us has

a responsibility to express ourselves creatively in whatever

area o lie interests us.

When our minds wander in prayer times God may be

nudging us into creative thinking rather than the Devil

wrecking our prayer time. God works with our desires

as we draw closer to him, rather than supplanting them.

Your desires, ar rom being evil, are intended to make you

strong and healthy in all areas o your lie. The

Bible calls ulfllment o your desires a treeo lie. Proverbs 13:12 says, Hope deerred

makes the heart sick, but when the desire

comes, it is a tree o lie.

Jonathan Ligginswww.ameinternational.org 02.2013Burning Issues 23

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