EA0002 Idea Mag Jul-Aug 09 4.6:8081 Halcyon …

How to bea mentor

p27ideauniting to change society july/august 2009

Churches model life discipleshipin everyday places

EA0002 Idea Mag Jul-Aug 09 4.6:8081 Halcyon 4/6/09 14:46 Page 1

Living out your faith in Western societycan be a challenge, especially when workrequirements clash with time we’d rather spend

with friends or family, or volunteering for a goodcause. Even more stressful are those instances where our jobs strainour ethical and moral standards.

But Jesus’ example is bracingly clear and simple: we make themost difference in the world when we live out our message. As Hewent about His ministry, He was literally salt and light in a societythat was hurting. He offered hope at everyday places like water wellsand marriage feasts, from smelly fishingboats to bustling temples. EverywhereHe went, He was the message.

This is a concept that ripples rightthrough this issue: churches stepping intothe gap to speak up for migrants (p4),Christians adopting a simpler life to benefit people poorer thanthemselves (p8), farmers in Zimbabwe helping their nation find itsfooting (p18), a young woman using her gift of dance (p18), brightleaders-in-training learning their way around the halls of power (p20).

This is the core of the Square Mile’s life discipleship strand, andit’s also profiled in the third part of our M-I-L-E series (p22), wherewriter Seren Boyd profiles people who simply live out Jesus’ messagein places that are both unusual and mundane.

I may never have tried jumping from building to building like theParkour for Jesus guys. And for a California native I’m ashamed toadmit that I’ve never tried surfing anything like our cover boy TomGood of Christian Surfers UK. But I try to live out my own walk withGod wherever I find myself. And as a Londoner, I’m not too bad atsurfing the Northern Line, if I do say so myself.

Parliament p5Simple life p8Biblefresh p11Media Matters p12Global: Zimbabwe p16First Person p18

L is for lifediscipleship

p22

Your voice p36

Guest essay p37

Last word: Steve Clifford p38

6

22

Learning one-to-onep27

how-to

voice

36

27

Talking aboutholidays p30

Film clips p33

The Basics: Christianbrotherhood p34

culture

30

idea july/august 2009 contents 3

Editor’s note

We make the mostdifference whenwe live out ourmessage

ideaEditor Rich Cline ([email protected])Contributing Editor Hazel SouthamHead of Communications Miles GiljamAdvertising ManagerJack Merrifield ([email protected])Design DomainPrinter Halcyon Print & Design

idea magazine is published bimonthly and sent freeof charge to members of the Evangelical Alliance.Formed in 1846, the Alliance is the largest bodyserving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has amembership including denominations, churches,organisations and individuals. The Alliance’s mission isto unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly asgood news for spiritual and social transformation.There are around 2 million evangelical Christians inthe UK, according to a 2007 Tearfund survey.idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’sBasis of Faith, although it is impossible in every articleto articulate each detail and nuance of belief held byAlliance members. Articles in idea may thereforeexpress views on which there is a divergence ofopinion or understanding among evangelicals.Story ideas from members are welcome, and willbe considered by the editorial board. Unsolicitedmaterial will not be returned unless a stamped,self-addressed envelope has been provided.Articles may be reproduced only with permissionfrom the editor.idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offsetprinting costs. Advertising in idea does not implyeditorial endorsement. The Alliance reserves the rightto accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion.

Head Office186 Kennington Park Road,London SE11 4BTtel 020 7207 2100 fax 020 7207 [email protected] • www.eauk.org

General Director Steve CliffordPublic Policy Executive Director Dr R David MuirFinance & Operations Executive DirectorHelen CalderChurches in Mission Executive DirectorKrish KandiahConference bookings Maggie Jonestel: 020 7207 2100 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance Northern IrelandNational Director Rev Stephen Cave440 Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 9RUtel: 028 9029 2266 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance ScotlandNational Director Rev Fred Drummond29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0ADtel 0141 332 8700 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance WalesNational Director Rev Elfed Godding20 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PTtel: 029 2022 9822 • [email protected]

Email address changes to [email protected]

Registered Charity No.212325

news

feature

Salt that flavours the campus

Christian Unions are right at the heart of campuses across Great Britain, with students living and speaking for Jesus in all aspects of the student experience.

Going to university for the first time can be both exciting and daunting. Why not give school leavers a helping hand to connect with other Christians on campus and sign them up to our freshers link-up? Use the link below and register their details or call the UCCF office 0116 255 1700. They’ll be welcomed by a friendly face from the local Christian Union, helped to find a church and be encouraged in their faith by like-minded Christians.

www.uccf.org.uk/freshers

cover story

20Tomorrow’s leaders p20


Living out your faith in Western societycan be a challenge, especially when workrequirements clash with time we’d rather spend

with friends or family, or volunteering for a goodcause. Even more stressful are those instances where our jobs strainour ethical and moral standards.

But Jesus’ example is bracingly clear and simple: we make themost difference in the world when we live out our message. As Hewent about His ministry, He was literally salt and light in a societythat was hurting. He offered hope at everyday places like water wellsand marriage feasts, from smelly fishingboats to bustling temples. EverywhereHe went, He was the message.

This is a concept that ripples rightthrough this issue: churches stepping intothe gap to speak up for migrants (p4),Christians adopting a simpler life to benefit people poorer thanthemselves (p8), farmers in Zimbabwe helping their nation find itsfooting (p18), a young woman using her gift of dance (p18), brightleaders-in-training learning their way around the halls of power (p20).

This is the core of the Square Mile’s life discipleship strand, andit’s also profiled in the third part of our M-I-L-E series (p22), wherewriter Seren Boyd profiles people who simply live out Jesus’ messagein places that are both unusual and mundane.

I may never have tried jumping from building to building like theParkour for Jesus guys. And for a California native I’m ashamed toadmit that I’ve never tried surfing anything like our cover boy TomGood of Christian Surfers UK. But I try to live out my own walk withGod wherever I find myself. And as a Londoner, I’m not too bad atsurfing the Northern Line, if I do say so myself.

Parliament p5Simple life p8Biblefresh p11Media Matters p12Global: Zimbabwe p16First Person p18

L is for lifediscipleship

p22

Your voice p36

Guest essay p37

Last word: Steve Clifford p38

6

22

Learning one-to-onep27

how-to

voice

36

27

Talking aboutholidays p30

Film clips p33

The Basics: Christianbrotherhood p34

culture

30

idea july/august 2009 contents 3

Editor’s note

We make the mostdifference whenwe live out ourmessage

ideaEditor Rich Cline ([email protected])Contributing Editor Hazel SouthamHead of Communications Miles GiljamAdvertising ManagerJack Merrifield ([email protected])Design DomainPrinter Halcyon Print & Design

idea magazine is published bimonthly and sent freeof charge to members of the Evangelical Alliance.Formed in 1846, the Alliance is the largest bodyserving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has amembership including denominations, churches,organisations and individuals. The Alliance’s mission isto unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly asgood news for spiritual and social transformation.There are around 2 million evangelical Christians inthe UK, according to a 2007 Tearfund survey.idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’sBasis of Faith, although it is impossible in every articleto articulate each detail and nuance of belief held byAlliance members. Articles in idea may thereforeexpress views on which there is a divergence ofopinion or understanding among evangelicals.Story ideas from members are welcome, and willbe considered by the editorial board. Unsolicitedmaterial will not be returned unless a stamped,self-addressed envelope has been provided.Articles may be reproduced only with permissionfrom the editor.idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offsetprinting costs. Advertising in idea does not implyeditorial endorsement. The Alliance reserves the rightto accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion.

Head Office186 Kennington Park Road,London SE11 4BTtel 020 7207 2100 fax 020 7207 [email protected] • www.eauk.org

General Director Steve CliffordPublic Policy Executive Director Dr R David MuirFinance & Operations Executive DirectorHelen CalderChurches in Mission Executive DirectorKrish KandiahConference bookings Maggie Jonestel: 020 7207 2100 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance Northern IrelandNational Director Rev Stephen Cave440 Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 9RUtel: 028 9029 2266 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance ScotlandNational Director Rev Fred Drummond29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0ADtel 0141 332 8700 • [email protected]

Evangelical Alliance WalesNational Director Rev Elfed Godding20 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PTtel: 029 2022 9822 • [email protected]

Email address changes to [email protected]

Registered Charity No.212325

news

feature

Salt that flavours the campus

Christian Unions are right at the heart of campuses across Great Britain, with students living and speaking for Jesus in all aspects of the student experience.

Going to university for the first time can be both exciting and daunting. Why not give school leavers a helping hand to connect with other Christians on campus and sign them up to our freshers link-up? Use the link below and register their details or call the UCCF office 0116 255 1700. They’ll be welcomed by a friendly face from the local Christian Union, helped to find a church and be encouraged in their faith by like-minded Christians.

www.uccf.org.uk/freshers

cover story

20Tomorrow’s leaders p20


At the first Bible by the Beach event, heldover the first long weekend in May inEastbourne, Nigerian Archbishop Rt RevBen Kwashi told his audience that theyshould not be afraid of suffering if itcomes. Having survived the burning downof his house and his church, death threats,

an attack on his wife and one occasionwhere men came to his house to kill him,Kwashi said that these experiences hadstrengthened his faith.

“Persecution has enabled me to besharpened in my focus to get peopleinto heaven. Every minute is extra time;I should have been dead long ago,so anything I do I have to do urgently,”he said, noting that persecution is oftennecessary for Church growth.

After thanking the West formissionaries who went to Africa in thepast, Kwashi commented on the stateof the Church in the UK, apologising inadvance for his harsh words. “Westernculture has grown to such an extent that itis above the Gospel – and it is hard to getyour people moving,” he said. “Their joy

ought to be seen and known, but it issuppressed. Fervour and zeal for theGospel seem to be dying out.”

Bible by the Beach drew more than1,100 people to the Congress Theatrefor worship, Scripture readings, seminars,a concert and meetings for childrenand young people. Sessions challengedattendees to break out of “safe” Christianityand avoid the subtle idolatry that existsboth inside and outside the Church.

The event’s chairman, Bishop of LewesRt Rev Wallace Benn, led a session on thesupremacy of Jesus. “It was a fabulous firstevent and the feedback has been hugelypositive,” he said. “We can build on theenthusiasm for the event now in futureyears.” Plans are already underway for2010. biblebythebeach.org

5news idea july/august 20094 idea july/august 2009 news

EQUALITY BILL. The Government finallypublished its long-awaited Equality Billat the end of April. It contains a widerange of measures, many of which arecontroversial. The Alliance has been closelyinvolved with the lengthy gestation of thisbill, working with Government and otherbodies over several years and making itscase for the form the bill should take.

The Equality Bill will apply mainly toEngland, Wales and Scotland and revisitsevery aspect of historical equality legislationto consolidate it into one place. It will alsointroduce new duties to promote equalityfor public bodies and all those who receivepublic funding to deliver services.

Existing equality legislation will beextended from gender, race and disabilityto include sexual orientation, religion andbelief, and transsexuality. Virtually no aspectof society is left untouched by the proposalsto extend the outlawing of discriminationand include areas such as employment, theprovision of goods, facilities and services,and clubs and societies. All public bodiesand those who benefit from publiccontracts will also have a duty to promoteand practise socio-economic equality.

If the bill succeeds in consolidatingexisting law without creating additionalred tape, this is a positive move. Likewise,we welcome the extension of equality toinclude religion and belief if this resultsin a more constructive framework forengagement between faith communitiesand public authorities.

Nevertheless, it is important forChristians and others to remain activeas the bill progresses, since there willinevitably be attempts by stronglymotivated interest groups to disrupt afair balance between the various strandsof equality rights. In particular, we areconcerned that the bill narrows theemployment exceptions that currentlyallow churches and organisations tospecifically hire Christians. In its currentform, the bill’s “general occupationalrequirement” would effectively be limitedto ministers.

CORONERS AND JUSTICE BILL. Currentlyunder consideration by the House of Lords, theCoroners and Justice Bill, which aims to delivermore transparent and responsive services,has received its second reading and iscurrently being subject to detailed scrutinyin committee before the final votes. In theCommons, supporters of free speech includeda Labour backbencher, Tom Harris, who hadnever voted against the Government beforedespite a three-line whip. A number of gayMPs still voted in favour of free speech, as didDavid Cameron.

The result represents a small shift infavour of a free speech clause. When theHouse of Commons debated the same issuein January 2008 in the Criminal Justice Bill,a similar clause was rejected by 338 votes to169. The Commons amendment proposed inMarch to keep the free speech protectionwas tabled by Labour MP David Taylor andhad cross-party support.

Insisting that the Government had failedto justify removing the protection, Taylorsaid, “It simply makes it clear that discussionor criticism of sexual conduct is not caughtby the homophobia law. We need freespeech about sexual conduct to be putbeyond doubt. Joe and Helen Roberts, theBishop of Chester, Iqbal Sacranie, the RomanCatholic Archbishop of Glasgow, and LynetteBurrows – I could go on – are all namessynonymous with vexatious complaints tothe police and with heavy-handed policeintervention against people whose actionswere not inciting hatred against anyone.”eauk.org/pq

Alliance member charity Care reports thatgovernment statistics are showing that childpoverty in couple families is on the increase.A recent analysis from the Institute forFiscal Studies demonstrates the changesin child poverty over the last three yearsfor which detailed figures are available(2004/05 to 2007/08). It says there hasbeen a large rise in the risk of child povertyfor children in couple families while therisk for children in lone-parent familieshas remained virtually unchanged. Thepercentage of children in poverty who livein couple families has risen from 57.4 percent in 2004/05 to 61.8 per cent in 2007/08,and the percentage in poverty who actuallylive in couple families with someone inwork rose from 48.5% to 51.4%.

Care Fiscal Policy Consultant Don Drapersaid, “This should be no surprise. Care hasbeen pointing out for many years thatmost children in poverty live in two-parentfamilies and that the tax credit system isfailing these children. Government measuresof poverty take account of the needs ofall family members but, bizarrely, taxcredits – the solution – only have regardfor one parent.”

Dan Boucher, Director of ParliamentaryAffairs, added, “While we appreciate thatit will be difficult for the Treasury tofind extra money for families, it is surelyunacceptable that this problem can beignored until the public finances are on asound footing. Failure to act will cost moremoney in the long run.” care.org.uk

Child poverty on the rise

Challenging immigration myths

The Alliance will host a second dayof interactive training in July forchurches that are working with

asylum seekers. As part of the Don't Bea Stranger initiative, the London trainingday will examine false assumptions aboutrefugees and discuss ways churches cansupport asylum seekers as they cope withcomplex legal issues.

The first training event in Cardiff inMarch was attended by 18 representativesfrom churches in Swansea, Cardiff,Newport and Bristol. “For most churchesinvolved in asylum work, it hasn’tbeen a case where they thoughtbeforehand, ‘Should we consider gettinginvolved in this area?’” said Jim Stewart,who coordinates the training from theAlliance office in Wales. “Experience hasbeen that refugees have just started toturn up at their services; they’ve beenthrust into it. So a lot of the pastors inparticular are on a steep learning curve,often with little or no experience ofrepresenting asylum seekers in court andyet aware that their testimony couldhave an important effect on the outcomeof cases.”

The event will be led by SianSummers, who was trained thoughAsylum Justice, a charity comprised

wholly of volunteers that has processedmore than 2,500 cases in Cardiff aloneand also works in Newport and Swansea.Summers also headed up the Marchevent, at which refugees from Sudanand Pakistan mixed with representativesfrom Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal andArabic churches.

“I once met an Ethiopian inTredegarville, who said that in hiscountry, and other African nations, if youever have any kind of problem you go to

a church, because no one trusts anyone insuits or uniforms. But when they get tothis country, they rarely find any usefulhelp at churches because the churchesdon’t know what to do or who to go to,”said attendee Neil Phillips. “It is useful todiscover just how many other churchesare involved in the plight of these people.It helps to find one is not an isolatedcase, and it’s good to know there isa recognised way of seeking help.”nostrangers.org.uk

Archbishop welcomes sufferingJim

Stew

art

Design

Pics


At the first Bible by the Beach event, heldover the first long weekend in May inEastbourne, Nigerian Archbishop Rt RevBen Kwashi told his audience that theyshould not be afraid of suffering if itcomes. Having survived the burning downof his house and his church, death threats,

an attack on his wife and one occasionwhere men came to his house to kill him,Kwashi said that these experiences hadstrengthened his faith.

“Persecution has enabled me to besharpened in my focus to get peopleinto heaven. Every minute is extra time;I should have been dead long ago,so anything I do I have to do urgently,”he said, noting that persecution is oftennecessary for Church growth.

After thanking the West formissionaries who went to Africa in thepast, Kwashi commented on the stateof the Church in the UK, apologising inadvance for his harsh words. “Westernculture has grown to such an extent that itis above the Gospel – and it is hard to getyour people moving,” he said. “Their joy

ought to be seen and known, but it issuppressed. Fervour and zeal for theGospel seem to be dying out.”

Bible by the Beach drew more than1,100 people to the Congress Theatrefor worship, Scripture readings, seminars,a concert and meetings for childrenand young people. Sessions challengedattendees to break out of “safe” Christianityand avoid the subtle idolatry that existsboth inside and outside the Church.

The event’s chairman, Bishop of LewesRt Rev Wallace Benn, led a session on thesupremacy of Jesus. “It was a fabulous firstevent and the feedback has been hugelypositive,” he said. “We can build on theenthusiasm for the event now in futureyears.” Plans are already underway for2010. biblebythebeach.org

5news idea july/august 20094 idea july/august 2009 news

EQUALITY BILL. The Government finallypublished its long-awaited Equality Billat the end of April. It contains a widerange of measures, many of which arecontroversial. The Alliance has been closelyinvolved with the lengthy gestation of thisbill, working with Government and otherbodies over several years and making itscase for the form the bill should take.

The Equality Bill will apply mainly toEngland, Wales and Scotland and revisitsevery aspect of historical equality legislationto consolidate it into one place. It will alsointroduce new duties to promote equalityfor public bodies and all those who receivepublic funding to deliver services.

Existing equality legislation will beextended from gender, race and disabilityto include sexual orientation, religion andbelief, and transsexuality. Virtually no aspectof society is left untouched by the proposalsto extend the outlawing of discriminationand include areas such as employment, theprovision of goods, facilities and services,and clubs and societies. All public bodiesand those who benefit from publiccontracts will also have a duty to promoteand practise socio-economic equality.

If the bill succeeds in consolidatingexisting law without creating additionalred tape, this is a positive move. Likewise,we welcome the extension of equality toinclude religion and belief if this resultsin a more constructive framework forengagement between faith communitiesand public authorities.

Nevertheless, it is important forChristians and others to remain activeas the bill progresses, since there willinevitably be attempts by stronglymotivated interest groups to disrupt afair balance between the various strandsof equality rights. In particular, we areconcerned that the bill narrows theemployment exceptions that currentlyallow churches and organisations tospecifically hire Christians. In its currentform, the bill’s “general occupationalrequirement” would effectively be limitedto ministers.

CORONERS AND JUSTICE BILL. Currentlyunder consideration by the House of Lords, theCoroners and Justice Bill, which aims to delivermore transparent and responsive services,has received its second reading and iscurrently being subject to detailed scrutinyin committee before the final votes. In theCommons, supporters of free speech includeda Labour backbencher, Tom Harris, who hadnever voted against the Government beforedespite a three-line whip. A number of gayMPs still voted in favour of free speech, as didDavid Cameron.

The result represents a small shift infavour of a free speech clause. When theHouse of Commons debated the same issuein January 2008 in the Criminal Justice Bill,a similar clause was rejected by 338 votes to169. The Commons amendment proposed inMarch to keep the free speech protectionwas tabled by Labour MP David Taylor andhad cross-party support.

Insisting that the Government had failedto justify removing the protection, Taylorsaid, “It simply makes it clear that discussionor criticism of sexual conduct is not caughtby the homophobia law. We need freespeech about sexual conduct to be putbeyond doubt. Joe and Helen Roberts, theBishop of Chester, Iqbal Sacranie, the RomanCatholic Archbishop of Glasgow, and LynetteBurrows – I could go on – are all namessynonymous with vexatious complaints tothe police and with heavy-handed policeintervention against people whose actionswere not inciting hatred against anyone.”eauk.org/pq

Alliance member charity Care reports thatgovernment statistics are showing that childpoverty in couple families is on the increase.A recent analysis from the Institute forFiscal Studies demonstrates the changesin child poverty over the last three yearsfor which detailed figures are available(2004/05 to 2007/08). It says there hasbeen a large rise in the risk of child povertyfor children in couple families while therisk for children in lone-parent familieshas remained virtually unchanged. Thepercentage of children in poverty who livein couple families has risen from 57.4 percent in 2004/05 to 61.8 per cent in 2007/08,and the percentage in poverty who actuallylive in couple families with someone inwork rose from 48.5% to 51.4%.

Care Fiscal Policy Consultant Don Drapersaid, “This should be no surprise. Care hasbeen pointing out for many years thatmost children in poverty live in two-parentfamilies and that the tax credit system isfailing these children. Government measuresof poverty take account of the needs ofall family members but, bizarrely, taxcredits – the solution – only have regardfor one parent.”

Dan Boucher, Director of ParliamentaryAffairs, added, “While we appreciate thatit will be difficult for the Treasury tofind extra money for families, it is surelyunacceptable that this problem can beignored until the public finances are on asound footing. Failure to act will cost moremoney in the long run.” care.org.uk

Child poverty on the rise

Challenging immigration myths

The Alliance will host a second dayof interactive training in July forchurches that are working with

asylum seekers. As part of the Don't Bea Stranger initiative, the London trainingday will examine false assumptions aboutrefugees and discuss ways churches cansupport asylum seekers as they cope withcomplex legal issues.

The first training event in Cardiff inMarch was attended by 18 representativesfrom churches in Swansea, Cardiff,Newport and Bristol. “For most churchesinvolved in asylum work, it hasn’tbeen a case where they thoughtbeforehand, ‘Should we consider gettinginvolved in this area?’” said Jim Stewart,who coordinates the training from theAlliance office in Wales. “Experience hasbeen that refugees have just started toturn up at their services; they’ve beenthrust into it. So a lot of the pastors inparticular are on a steep learning curve,often with little or no experience ofrepresenting asylum seekers in court andyet aware that their testimony couldhave an important effect on the outcomeof cases.”

The event will be led by SianSummers, who was trained thoughAsylum Justice, a charity comprised

wholly of volunteers that has processedmore than 2,500 cases in Cardiff aloneand also works in Newport and Swansea.Summers also headed up the Marchevent, at which refugees from Sudanand Pakistan mixed with representativesfrom Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal andArabic churches.

“I once met an Ethiopian inTredegarville, who said that in hiscountry, and other African nations, if youever have any kind of problem you go to

a church, because no one trusts anyone insuits or uniforms. But when they get tothis country, they rarely find any usefulhelp at churches because the churchesdon’t know what to do or who to go to,”said attendee Neil Phillips. “It is useful todiscover just how many other churchesare involved in the plight of these people.It helps to find one is not an isolatedcase, and it’s good to know there isa recognised way of seeking help.”nostrangers.org.uk

Archbishop welcomes suffering

JimStew

art

Design

Pics


Good news onlineThe fifth annual InternetEvangelism Day in April wasreceived with a wide range ofcoverage, not just online butalso in print and by radio,as it examined the power ofthe Gospel on the web. Thegoal is to help the Churchmake better use of digitalevangelism to reach society.

Outside the UK, Christiansin Singapore arranged a wholeweek of meetings and seminarsin the run-up to the day itself,and a Portuguese-languageversion of the website waslaunched in Brazil inassociation with MinistérioAvivamento Já.

The Internet EvangelismDay website is a year-roundresource for online evangelism,including access to speakers,networking, web-basedseminars, an issues-orientedblog and downloadable videoclips, PowerPoint presentations,newsletter articles, dramascripts and music.internetevangelismday.com

The Leprosy Mission has launched a newcatalogue to help supporters choose how theirmoney is spent to help people coping withleprosy around the world. The Gifts for Lifecatalogue includes a range of items to supportthe Leprosy Mission's hospitals, from patients’food and medicine to doctors’ and nurses’salaries.

One recipient of this assistance is8-year-old Ritu (pictured above) in India, whoexperienced the early warning sign of numbpatches on the skin. “We saw a spot on hercheek and we took her to hospital,” said herfather Rohit. “Some laboratory tests were donethere: a blood test, a skin test and theydiagnosed leprosy.”

Thankfully multi-drug therapy can cureleprosy in the early stages, avoiding the nervedamage that causes disability and deformity.Because Ritu’s family recognised the signs andtook her to the Leprosy Mission’s hospital inChampa, she was able to get the treatment sheneeded and is now cured.

Ritu’s village is an ex-leprosy colony; bothsets of her grandparents have been affected bythe disease and were exiled there. Facilities andstandards of living there have been fairly lowfor the family in the past, but they now have a

lovely home, built with help from the LeprosyMission. Gifts for Life lets supporters pay thecost of someone’s entire house or pay for partof it, like the roof or the installation of waterand electrics.

At the hospital Ritu was also recommendedfor education support (another Gift for Life),which pays for school resources and fees whererequired. Rohit is very enthusiastic about hisdaughter’s education: “She’s intelligent andgood in her studies.”

Suchita (pictured below at the LeprosyMission’s hospital in Naini) says, “I have beenblessed so much working with people affectedby leprosy. What a beautiful experience toserve people who have been rejected by thecommunity and their own families. I feel proudand satisfied when I am doing a daily dressingfor an infected ulcer or sharing in a patient’ssocial and emotional pain.

“Although giving good holistic care everyday is a big challenge, at the same time I amfull of joy that we are following in the footstepsof our master, the Lord Jesus Christ. He caredfor people affected by leprosy during Hisministry – they were special for Jesus andHe paid special attention to them.”tlmgiftsforlife.com

A 950-mile challengeAt the end of May, five bravemen cycled the length of theUK to raise funds for Youthfor Christ’s work among youngpeople. YFC’s National DirectorGavin Calver joined the team,which set a goal of £25,000in sponsorship and stoppedto pray together in locationsalong the route for the youngpeople of Britain.

The gruelling two-weekride from Land’s End to JohnO’Groats required serioustraining. Before departing,Calver said, “The training hasbeen really hard, and it is ahuge challenge, but one thatwe are excited about tacklingand that we hope will make adifference to the ministry ofYouth for Christ. We want toraise as much as possible sothat more young people canbe given the opportunity toencounter the love of Jesus.”www.yfc.co.uk

news idea july/august 20096

A gift for life

Lepr

osyMission

MunniI am nine years old and I live in Bangladesh. I want to be a nurse when I grow up.

I love going to school and learning poems and stories. If it wasn’t for the support of my Compassion sponsor my parents would never be able to afford to send me to school.

For less than 70p a day you can ensure a child like Munni receives education, healthcare, food, clothing and the opportunity to hear about the transforming love of Christ.

TO SPONSOR A CHILD AND CHANGE A LIFE, CALL COMPASSION ON 01932 836490 OR VISIT

WWW.COMPASSIONUK.ORG/munni

Munni Akter,Compassion sponsored child from Bangladesh

Registered Charity No. 1077216


Good news onlineThe fifth annual InternetEvangelism Day in April wasreceived with a wide range ofcoverage, not just online butalso in print and by radio,as it examined the power ofthe Gospel on the web. Thegoal is to help the Churchmake better use of digitalevangelism to reach society.

Outside the UK, Christiansin Singapore arranged a wholeweek of meetings and seminarsin the run-up to the day itself,and a Portuguese-languageversion of the website waslaunched in Brazil inassociation with MinistérioAvivamento Já.

The Internet EvangelismDay website is a year-roundresource for online evangelism,including access to speakers,networking, web-basedseminars, an issues-orientedblog and downloadable videoclips, PowerPoint presentations,newsletter articles, dramascripts and music.internetevangelismday.com

The Leprosy Mission has launched a newcatalogue to help supporters choose how theirmoney is spent to help people coping withleprosy around the world. The Gifts for Lifecatalogue includes a range of items to supportthe Leprosy Mission's hospitals, from patients’food and medicine to doctors’ and nurses’salaries.

One recipient of this assistance is8-year-old Ritu (pictured above) in India, whoexperienced the early warning sign of numbpatches on the skin. “We saw a spot on hercheek and we took her to hospital,” said herfather Rohit. “Some laboratory tests were donethere: a blood test, a skin test and theydiagnosed leprosy.”

Thankfully multi-drug therapy can cureleprosy in the early stages, avoiding the nervedamage that causes disability and deformity.Because Ritu’s family recognised the signs andtook her to the Leprosy Mission’s hospital inChampa, she was able to get the treatment sheneeded and is now cured.

Ritu’s village is an ex-leprosy colony; bothsets of her grandparents have been affected bythe disease and were exiled there. Facilities andstandards of living there have been fairly lowfor the family in the past, but they now have a

lovely home, built with help from the LeprosyMission. Gifts for Life lets supporters pay thecost of someone’s entire house or pay for partof it, like the roof or the installation of waterand electrics.

At the hospital Ritu was also recommendedfor education support (another Gift for Life),which pays for school resources and fees whererequired. Rohit is very enthusiastic about hisdaughter’s education: “She’s intelligent andgood in her studies.”

Suchita (pictured below at the LeprosyMission’s hospital in Naini) says, “I have beenblessed so much working with people affectedby leprosy. What a beautiful experience toserve people who have been rejected by thecommunity and their own families. I feel proudand satisfied when I am doing a daily dressingfor an infected ulcer or sharing in a patient’ssocial and emotional pain.

“Although giving good holistic care everyday is a big challenge, at the same time I amfull of joy that we are following in the footstepsof our master, the Lord Jesus Christ. He caredfor people affected by leprosy during Hisministry – they were special for Jesus andHe paid special attention to them.”tlmgiftsforlife.com

A 950-mile challengeAt the end of May, five bravemen cycled the length of theUK to raise funds for Youthfor Christ’s work among youngpeople. YFC’s National DirectorGavin Calver joined the team,which set a goal of £25,000in sponsorship and stoppedto pray together in locationsalong the route for the youngpeople of Britain.

The gruelling two-weekride from Land’s End to JohnO’Groats required serioustraining. Before departing,Calver said, “The training hasbeen really hard, and it is ahuge challenge, but one thatwe are excited about tacklingand that we hope will make adifference to the ministry ofYouth for Christ. We want toraise as much as possible sothat more young people canbe given the opportunity toencounter the love of Jesus.”www.yfc.co.uk


A gift for life

Lepr

osyMission

MunniI am nine years old and I live in Bangladesh. I want to be a nurse when I grow up.

I love going to school and learning poems and stories. If it wasn’t for the support of my Compassion sponsor my parents would never be able to afford to send me to school.

For less than 70p a day you can ensure a child like Munni receives education, healthcare, food, clothing and the opportunity to hear about the transforming love of Christ.

TO SPONSOR A CHILD AND CHANGE A LIFE, CALL COMPASSION ON 01932 836490 OR VISIT

WWW.COMPASSIONUK.ORG/munni

Munni Akter,Compassion sponsored child from Bangladesh



Rev Roger Gayler, the vicar of St Mark’s Church at Mark's Gate inBarking and Dagenham, went about his normal weekly schedule withhalf his face shaved as part of Christian Aid fundraising week in May.“Half a beard is a reminder of how the other half lives,” said the65-year-old, who preached in his church, met the Scouts, studied withthe Bishop, spoke to schoolchildren and collected envelopes door-to-door like this. “It’s a bit of a shock when I look in the mirror,” he said,“but I don’t mind as much if people laugh at me at this age.”

Barber Jason-Lees Riches wielded the razor for the stunt, sayinghe had never before been asked to shave just half a face. Gayler grewhis beard when he was at college and says he hasn’t been clean-shaven for 42 years.

Christian Aid works in some of the world’s poorest communities in49 countries where the need is greatest, helping people build the lifethey deserve. caweek.org

New membersThe Alliance welcomes the following members...

ORGANISATIONSAbaana, Bangor, County Down

Assemblies of God Property Trust,Nottingham

Be Who You Can Be in Christ,Wolverhampton

Caleb Ministries,Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff

Derby City Mission, Derby

Kings Arms Around the Valleys,Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent

Open Arms International,Stockport, Cheshire

Scripture Union Northern Ireland,Belfast

This Way Up Youth Project, Solihull

Turning the Tide, Hove, East Sussex

CHURCHESArran Baptist Church,Brodick, Isle Of Arran

Artos-Zaho Global Vigil ChristianMinistries, Croydon

Barnwell Baptist Church, Cambridge

Bearsted Community Church,Maidstone, Kent

Centro Cristiano de Alabanza yAdoracion, Manchester

Charis Christian Centre,Leyton, London,

City of Peace Community Church,Isle of Dogs, London

Connections Church,Machen, Caerphilly

Disciples of Christ Ministries Inc,Clapham, London

Dominion House International,Thornton Heath, Surrey

Faith, Hope and LoveChristian Centre,Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Gateway Church Ashford,Ashford, Kent

Harvest Community Church, Leicester

Hope Church - Greatham,Liss, Hampshire

House of Judah (Praise) Ministries,Croydon, London

International Ministries for theLiving Word, Tottenham

St Giles Christian Mission,Lower Holloway, London

The Lighthouse, Witney, Oxfordshire

The Potters House Croydon,Thornton Heath, Surrey

Town Centre Community Church,Basingstoke


charities in Southampton, includingChristians Against Poverty and Basics Bank.

Take the challengeWhat would this kind of giving look likeif churches and individuals across the UKtook up a similar challenge? It would mostlikely challenge our lifestyles and cause usto re-align our priorities.

These are all issues addressed by theBreathe network, which encourages people

to take space to think about how tohandle money, time and possessions ina Christian way. Its aims are to help usappreciate life more fully, refuse theconsumer dream, connect with othersand choose a more generous lifestyle.

At the Breathe Conference in April,more than 150 people committed to looktowards breaking the consumer mouldtogether and accepted the promise of lifeprayer. A significant benefit from this kindof collective commitment will be stories ofthe impact living more simply makes onindividual lives.

Inspired by and based on the exampleof Southampton Vineyard’s Fab Feb

The face of inequality

Choosing tospend less

Design

Pics

Church Mortgages�DIRECT�turning visions into reality

We talk your language�Buy, build, extend or develop�

Up to 90% loan to value�Competitive interest rates�

Interest only option available�Churches, halls, social action projects�Flexible mortgage up to 30-year term�

TALK TO US TODAY0115 921 7250

[email protected] www.churchmortgagesdirect.co.uk

Kingdom Bank Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 4346834. Authorised andRegulated by the Financial Services Authority. Kingdom Bank Limited, Ruddington FieldsBusiness Park, Mere Way, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6JS

To request a membership information pack for an individual,church or Christian ministry, contact [email protected]

Now is the time thatthe Church must stepup not step down‘ ‘

campaign, the Alliance is encouragingchurches and individuals to take part inSimplify, the challenge of living as ifon benefits for the month of October.Alliance General Director Steve Cliffordwill be leading the way and bloggingabout his experiences. And the Alliancewill collect inspiring stories fromparticipating churches and communitiesacross the country.

Simplify is a practical outworking ofSquare Mile (see p22); the mercy strandhighlights our calling to give generouslyand address the needs of others, while lifediscipleship encourages us to live simply,become financially disciplined and goabout daily life in God’s way.

Resources will be made available toaddress occurring questions and outlineexpenses that are included and excludedin the scheme. There will be assistancein calculations, as well as tips concerningbudgeting to help people address whatthis will mean in practical terms for them.

Lucy Cooper

� Watch for more on Simplify in thenext idea.� For help with living simply, visit:lifebeyonddebt.org� To find out more about othercampaigns in this article, visit:southamptonvineyard.org.uk andibreathe.org.uk

During a recession, many of us feelthe strong instinct to cling ontoevery penny we have, but one

church has been leading the way in acounter-cultural move that has inspiredthe whole Evangelical Alliance. A groupof Christians from Southampton choseto spend less for a completely differentreason: to identify with the poor.

Sacrificing daily comforts by decidingto live as if receiving benefits for a wholemonth, the individuals and familiesdiscovered a new dimension to whatit means to live simply, ethically andgenerously. This has inspired the Allianceto challenge other churches to do thesame thing.

The leadership team of SouthamptonVineyard and more than 40 churchmembers committed themselves to theFab Feb challenge, earlier this year, as partof a Jubilee 2009 series with a focuson justice, radical giving, ethical auditsand distinguishing need from greed.Participants signed up to donate leftovermoney, once their budget limit had beenreached, to a selection of agreed local andinternational charities.

Senior Pastor Matt Hyam said, “We choseto live on need rather than on want and wemade sacrifices in the way we lived our livesin order to identify with those who have tochoose what to sacrifice rather than whetherto sacrifice. At a time when the country isstruggling financially, now is the time thatthe Church must step up not step down.

“Living this way made us realise howmuch we spend money just because wecan. Everyone who took part has been leftseriously reviewing how we spend ourmoney, and some have even taken theradical step of continuing with it.”

So as not to betray the whole ethosof Jubilee 2009, participants agreed thatthey would endeavour not to compromiseethical principles just because it wascheaper. Therefore they continued topurchase fair-trade food and drink andshop at more ethically minded businesses,incurring an even greater financial sacrifice.

Impressively, more than £23,000 wasraised over and above regular giving to thechurch. This was distributed between suchinternational causes as children’s homes inIndia and Zimbabwe, as well as local


Rev Roger Gayler, the vicar of St Mark’s Church at Mark's Gate inBarking and Dagenham, went about his normal weekly schedule withhalf his face shaved as part of Christian Aid fundraising week in May.“Half a beard is a reminder of how the other half lives,” said the65-year-old, who preached in his church, met the Scouts, studied withthe Bishop, spoke to schoolchildren and collected envelopes door-to-door like this. “It’s a bit of a shock when I look in the mirror,” he said,“but I don’t mind as much if people laugh at me at this age.”

Barber Jason-Lees Riches wielded the razor for the stunt, sayinghe had never before been asked to shave just half a face. Gayler grewhis beard when he was at college and says he hasn’t been clean-shaven for 42 years.

Christian Aid works in some of the world’s poorest communities in49 countries where the need is greatest, helping people build the lifethey deserve. caweek.org

New membersThe Alliance welcomes the following members...

ORGANISATIONSAbaana, Bangor, County Down

Assemblies of God Property Trust,Nottingham

Be Who You Can Be in Christ,Wolverhampton

Caleb Ministries,Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff

Derby City Mission, Derby

Kings Arms Around the Valleys,Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent

Open Arms International,Stockport, Cheshire

Scripture Union Northern Ireland,Belfast

This Way Up Youth Project, Solihull

Turning the Tide, Hove, East Sussex

CHURCHESArran Baptist Church,Brodick, Isle Of Arran

Artos-Zaho Global Vigil ChristianMinistries, Croydon

Barnwell Baptist Church, Cambridge

Bearsted Community Church,Maidstone, Kent

Centro Cristiano de Alabanza yAdoracion, Manchester

Charis Christian Centre,Leyton, London,

City of Peace Community Church,Isle of Dogs, London

Connections Church,Machen, Caerphilly

Disciples of Christ Ministries Inc,Clapham, London

Dominion House International,Thornton Heath, Surrey

Faith, Hope and LoveChristian Centre,Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Gateway Church Ashford,Ashford, Kent

Harvest Community Church, Leicester

Hope Church - Greatham,Liss, Hampshire

House of Judah (Praise) Ministries,Croydon, London

International Ministries for theLiving Word, Tottenham

St Giles Christian Mission,Lower Holloway, London

The Lighthouse, Witney, Oxfordshire

The Potters House Croydon,Thornton Heath, Surrey

Town Centre Community Church,Basingstoke


charities in Southampton, includingChristians Against Poverty and Basics Bank.

Take the challengeWhat would this kind of giving look likeif churches and individuals across the UKtook up a similar challenge? It would mostlikely challenge our lifestyles and cause usto re-align our priorities.

These are all issues addressed by theBreathe network, which encourages people

to take space to think about how tohandle money, time and possessions ina Christian way. Its aims are to help usappreciate life more fully, refuse theconsumer dream, connect with othersand choose a more generous lifestyle.

At the Breathe Conference in April,more than 150 people committed to looktowards breaking the consumer mouldtogether and accepted the promise of lifeprayer. A significant benefit from this kindof collective commitment will be stories ofthe impact living more simply makes onindividual lives.

Inspired by and based on the exampleof Southampton Vineyard’s Fab Feb

The face of inequality

Choosing tospend less

Design

Pics

Church Mortgages�DIRECT�turning visions into reality

We talk your language�Buy, build, extend or develop�

Up to 90% loan to value�Competitive interest rates�

Interest only option available�Churches, halls, social action projects�Flexible mortgage up to 30-year term�

TALK TO US TODAY0115 921 7250

[email protected] www.churchmortgagesdirect.co.uk

Kingdom Bank Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 4346834. Authorised andRegulated by the Financial Services Authority. Kingdom Bank Limited, Ruddington FieldsBusiness Park, Mere Way, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6JS

To request a membership information pack for an individual,church or Christian ministry, contact [email protected]

Now is the time thatthe Church must stepup not step down‘ ‘

campaign, the Alliance is encouragingchurches and individuals to take part inSimplify, the challenge of living as ifon benefits for the month of October.Alliance General Director Steve Cliffordwill be leading the way and bloggingabout his experiences. And the Alliancewill collect inspiring stories fromparticipating churches and communitiesacross the country.

Simplify is a practical outworking ofSquare Mile (see p22); the mercy strandhighlights our calling to give generouslyand address the needs of others, while lifediscipleship encourages us to live simply,become financially disciplined and goabout daily life in God’s way.

Resources will be made available toaddress occurring questions and outlineexpenses that are included and excludedin the scheme. There will be assistancein calculations, as well as tips concerningbudgeting to help people address whatthis will mean in practical terms for them.

Lucy Cooper

� Watch for more on Simplify in thenext idea.� For help with living simply, visit:lifebeyonddebt.org� To find out more about othercampaigns in this article, visit:southamptonvineyard.org.uk andibreathe.org.uk

During a recession, many of us feelthe strong instinct to cling ontoevery penny we have, but one

church has been leading the way in acounter-cultural move that has inspiredthe whole Evangelical Alliance. A groupof Christians from Southampton choseto spend less for a completely differentreason: to identify with the poor.

Sacrificing daily comforts by decidingto live as if receiving benefits for a wholemonth, the individuals and familiesdiscovered a new dimension to whatit means to live simply, ethically andgenerously. This has inspired the Allianceto challenge other churches to do thesame thing.

The leadership team of SouthamptonVineyard and more than 40 churchmembers committed themselves to theFab Feb challenge, earlier this year, as partof a Jubilee 2009 series with a focuson justice, radical giving, ethical auditsand distinguishing need from greed.Participants signed up to donate leftovermoney, once their budget limit had beenreached, to a selection of agreed local andinternational charities.

Senior Pastor Matt Hyam said, “We choseto live on need rather than on want and wemade sacrifices in the way we lived our livesin order to identify with those who have tochoose what to sacrifice rather than whetherto sacrifice. At a time when the country isstruggling financially, now is the time thatthe Church must step up not step down.

“Living this way made us realise howmuch we spend money just because wecan. Everyone who took part has been leftseriously reviewing how we spend ourmoney, and some have even taken theradical step of continuing with it.”

So as not to betray the whole ethosof Jubilee 2009, participants agreed thatthey would endeavour not to compromiseethical principles just because it wascheaper. Therefore they continued topurchase fair-trade food and drink andshop at more ethically minded businesses,incurring an even greater financial sacrifice.

Impressively, more than £23,000 wasraised over and above regular giving to thechurch. This was distributed between suchinternational causes as children’s homes inIndia and Zimbabwe, as well as local


11idea july/august 2009 news

remove its cultural blinkers and read theBible with a global perspective.

The event was also the launch ofBiblefresh, an initiative that will culminatein a year-long campaign in 2011, focusingon four tracks that churches can sign up to:1. Bible reading. How can Christians beencouraged to read the Bible moreregularly? This track will providesuggestions and resources for readingthrough the whole Bible, readingtogether as a church, in groups, one-to-one and individually, as well as sifting

Leaders call for a fresh approach

in your busy life...

www.wordlive.org

Try today by visiting www.wordlive.org

Thousands of people are already using WordLive to transform their experience of the Bible and deepen their relationship with God. You could too!

“I really like WordLive. I know that it has not only rejuvenated my quiet times, but really helped me in my relationship with God!Friends I’ve recommended it to love using it too” WordLive subscriber

It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget to spend time reading the Bible. WordLive has been created to fit into your life and deliver God’s word to you where you are.WordLive is an exciting online experience that puts the Bible at your fi nger tips. It’s fl exible, interactive and completely free. WordLive’s range of creative approaches help you to meet God through the Bible and prayer. Watch a video, listen to a podcast, dig deeper into further study or dip into creative prayer and meditation.

grab a God moment

The Church mustremove its culturalblinkers and read theBible with a global

perspective

‘ ‘through the wide range of Bible notesand translations.

2. Bible training. How can Bible teachersdeepen and enrich their knowledge andunderstanding? In 2011, festivals aroundthe UK will focus on training people inhandling, applying and teaching theBible through a variety of coursesdesigned for those who want toimprove their understanding of theBible but can’t do a full-time course.

3. Bible translation. How can wetranslate the Bible into our biblicallyilliterate culture? This track will help theChurch gain confidence in conveyingthe message of the Bible, especiallyin the face of secularist arguments.Beyond the UK, Biblefresh will leave alegacy by encouraging a proportion ofchurches’ charitable giving in 2011 tofund a Bible translation project.

4. Bible experiences. The Bible isn’t justwords on a page – it’s a living text.This track will encourage churches to beinvolved in creative experiences to helppeople engage with the Bible in a varietyof ways, including music, art and drama.A short-film contest will not only providepeople with an opportunity to immersethemselves in a particular book in theBible, but also offer a YouTube-styleBible resource.Backing Biblefresh are a number of

high-profile Bible champions, includingRev Dr Chris Wright, Canon Dr ChristinaBaxter, Rev David Jackman, Rev Dr DavidWilkinson, Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, Rev NimsObunge, Rt. Rev NT Wright, Dr RobertBeckford and Terry Virgo.

Field Director of Friends InternationalDr Olu Ojedokun said, “Biblefresh is animportant initiative because the Bible is thekey tool for reaching contemporary society”.

Rev Greg Haslam, minister atWestminster Chapel, said, “Decades ofsceptical scholarship and popular bookslike The DaVinci Code have marinatedboth the public and the church in thedeep suspicion that the Bible is no moreinspired than Aesop’s Fables, full of errorsand dangerous beliefs - so why botherwith it? Biblefresh will let the Bible looseagain in the minds of both rookie novicesand jaded old hands. Masses of people willbe enchanted to rediscover the big pictureof the Bible’s world-shaking worldview.”

Alexandra Lilley

� A Biblefresh website launches thisautumn, followed by events around theUK and a resource manual in 2010.

Arecent survey of churchgoersindicates that our understanding ofthe Bible and our confidence in its

trustworthiness is poor. And when we thinkof both the lack of availability of the Biblein many parts of the world and the cost bywhich the Bible came to be in ourlanguage, this is surely a tragic situation.

The survey, which was commissionedby the Alliance and Bible Society, revealedthat only 14 per cent of non-leaders were“very confident” (and 51 per cent “fairlyconfident”) about their Bible knowledge.This is perhaps no surprise when only athird of churchgoers read the Bible dailyand only two-thirds reported that the Biblewas regularly taught at their churches.Crucially, only 39 per cent of people in thepews stated that the Bible had affected adecision they made in the previous week.

Against this, the overwhelming majorityrecognised the value of the Bible andwanted it to be more of an influence intheir lives and wider society.

To help address this situation, theAlliance is working in partnership with40 agencies, including Bible Society,Scottish Bible Society, London Institute forContemporary Christianity, Scripture Unionand Wycliffe Bible Translators, to entice,excite and intrigue people into turningback to the book.

At a consultation with Bible agenciesand colleges on 28 April, Rev Joe Kapoloyoof Edmonton Baptist Church delivered akeynote address challenging the Church to


11idea july/august 2009 news

remove its cultural blinkers and read theBible with a global perspective.

The event was also the launch ofBiblefresh, an initiative that will culminatein a year-long campaign in 2011, focusingon four tracks that churches can sign up to:1. Bible reading. How can Christians beencouraged to read the Bible moreregularly? This track will providesuggestions and resources for readingthrough the whole Bible, readingtogether as a church, in groups, one-to-one and individually, as well as sifting

Leaders call for a fresh approach

in your busy life...

www.wordlive.org

Try today by visiting www.wordlive.org

Thousands of people are already using WordLive to transform their experience of the Bible and deepen their relationship with God. You could too!

“I really like WordLive. I know that it has not only rejuvenated my quiet times, but really helped me in my relationship with God!Friends I’ve recommended it to love using it too” WordLive subscriber

It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget to spend time reading the Bible. WordLive has been created to fit into your life and deliver God’s word to you where you are.WordLive is an exciting online experience that puts the Bible at your fi nger tips. It’s fl exible, interactive and completely free. WordLive’s range of creative approaches help you to meet God through the Bible and prayer. Watch a video, listen to a podcast, dig deeper into further study or dip into creative prayer and meditation.

grab a God moment

The Church mustremove its culturalblinkers and read theBible with a global

perspective

‘ ‘through the wide range of Bible notesand translations.

2. Bible training. How can Bible teachersdeepen and enrich their knowledge andunderstanding? In 2011, festivals aroundthe UK will focus on training people inhandling, applying and teaching theBible through a variety of coursesdesigned for those who want toimprove their understanding of theBible but can’t do a full-time course.

3. Bible translation. How can wetranslate the Bible into our biblicallyilliterate culture? This track will help theChurch gain confidence in conveyingthe message of the Bible, especiallyin the face of secularist arguments.Beyond the UK, Biblefresh will leave alegacy by encouraging a proportion ofchurches’ charitable giving in 2011 tofund a Bible translation project.

4. Bible experiences. The Bible isn’t justwords on a page – it’s a living text.This track will encourage churches to beinvolved in creative experiences to helppeople engage with the Bible in a varietyof ways, including music, art and drama.A short-film contest will not only providepeople with an opportunity to immersethemselves in a particular book in theBible, but also offer a YouTube-styleBible resource.Backing Biblefresh are a number of

high-profile Bible champions, includingRev Dr Chris Wright, Canon Dr ChristinaBaxter, Rev David Jackman, Rev Dr DavidWilkinson, Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, Rev NimsObunge, Rt. Rev NT Wright, Dr RobertBeckford and Terry Virgo.

Field Director of Friends InternationalDr Olu Ojedokun said, “Biblefresh is animportant initiative because the Bible is thekey tool for reaching contemporary society”.

Rev Greg Haslam, minister atWestminster Chapel, said, “Decades ofsceptical scholarship and popular bookslike The DaVinci Code have marinatedboth the public and the church in thedeep suspicion that the Bible is no moreinspired than Aesop’s Fables, full of errorsand dangerous beliefs - so why botherwith it? Biblefresh will let the Bible looseagain in the minds of both rookie novicesand jaded old hands. Masses of people willbe enchanted to rediscover the big pictureof the Bible’s world-shaking worldview.”

Alexandra Lilley

� A Biblefresh website launches thisautumn, followed by events around theUK and a resource manual in 2010.

Arecent survey of churchgoersindicates that our understanding ofthe Bible and our confidence in its

trustworthiness is poor. And when we thinkof both the lack of availability of the Biblein many parts of the world and the cost bywhich the Bible came to be in ourlanguage, this is surely a tragic situation.

The survey, which was commissionedby the Alliance and Bible Society, revealedthat only 14 per cent of non-leaders were“very confident” (and 51 per cent “fairlyconfident”) about their Bible knowledge.This is perhaps no surprise when only athird of churchgoers read the Bible dailyand only two-thirds reported that the Biblewas regularly taught at their churches.Crucially, only 39 per cent of people in thepews stated that the Bible had affected adecision they made in the previous week.

Against this, the overwhelming majorityrecognised the value of the Bible andwanted it to be more of an influence intheir lives and wider society.

To help address this situation, theAlliance is working in partnership with40 agencies, including Bible Society,Scottish Bible Society, London Institute forContemporary Christianity, Scripture Unionand Wycliffe Bible Translators, to entice,excite and intrigue people into turningback to the book.

At a consultation with Bible agenciesand colleges on 28 April, Rev Joe Kapoloyoof Edmonton Baptist Church delivered akeynote address challenging the Church to


12 13idea july/august 2009 newsnews idea july/august 2009

A new course has been launched by Jubilee Centre to help Christians developa biblical understanding of money and how to use it. The Bible and Money:Managing One's Money in the End Times is a practical course of eight lessonsasking such questions as: how can we fight a desire to acquire material things?How does an attitude of stewardship’ change how money is to be used fromthat of the world? And how do we accumulate treasure in heaven?

The social reform charity came up with the course in response to the currenteconomic meltdown as well as questions of integrity in the financial industryand, more recently, the government. The course was designed by internationaleconomist Dr Paul Mills, who found that the Bible has a lot to say about useof money today. He suggested that Christians should takea lead in using money to build relationships within extended families and theircommunities, for instance by investing in local businesses or providing housingequity for family members or others in their congregations.

Further issues explored in the course include whether it is acceptable todefault on debt payments in order to tithe and whether a local church shouldborrow to fund missions or to buy property. The course is free to download at:jubilee-centre.org REDMAN IS ON SONG. British worship leader Matt Redman was named

Christian Songwriter of the Year by the American Society of Composers,Authors and Publishers (Ascap) at the Christian Music Awards in Nashville inApril. In addition to the top honour, Redman and his wife Beth also receivedawards for the most-played songs on Christian radio, Blessed Be Your Nameand Never Let Go. The Christian Song of the Year trophy was awarded toYou Are Everything, written by American singer Matthew West and SamMizell. Ascap is the world's leading performance rights organisation.

Leaders discussbiblical challengesOn 30 April, a group of 30 theologians andchurch leaders from across the country met todiscuss how to help people in churches betterunderstand and interpret the Bible. The Alliance’sHead of Theology, Dr Justin Thacker, said,“Much lively debate and discussion took placeand we look forward to seeing how this workcan feed into the wider work occurring in thisimportant area.”

Two papers were presented at the meeting.The first looked at challenges people facein reading the Bible and how it can beunderstood as relevant for today. Small groupdiscussion then considered ways to increaseconfidence in reading and interpreting the Bible.In the afternoon the focus was on the issue ofviolence in the Old Testament, particularly inthe book of Judges, and how to help othersinterpret this.

This was a joint event between the Allianceand Bible Society and will contribute towardsthe Biblefresh initiative (see p11), as well as BibleSociety’s work in this area.

The Bible and money

Design

Pics

King

sway

MASSIVE SKATE PARK BIBLE TEACHING LIVE MUSICFAMILY FUN ON-SITE CAMPING*HOTLINE: 0870 609 1656 EMAIL: [email protected]: WWW.CREATIONFEST.ORG.UK

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL

*PRE-BOOKING & CAMPING FEES APPLY

Christian jargon and customs can often be confusing tojournalists, questions asked of the press office in recent monthsshow. “How many creationists are there in the UK?” “Can we

interview an evangelist leader?” “What do Christians do when theytake a vow of chastity?”

Religious correspondents often have the necessary expertise,but they are few and far between, particularly as financial constraintson the media industry make paying for specialists less attractive.So general reporters are flung headlong into the murky depthsof religious stories, sometimes expected to explain a theologicalcontroversy within the hour when they last saw the inside of achurch at their own christening.

Lapido Media, a charity that aims to improve religious literacy inpublic affairs, recently published a book arguing that the media’s lackof religious understanding can have much more serious ramificationsthan confusing the words “evangelical” and “evangelist”.

Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion says religion is amajor, growing factor in human affairs around the world, and thus inmajor news stories. However, it argues that the media often miss ormisunderstand major news stories because the secular industry doesnot take religion seriously and fails to grasp the religious context ofthe news.

So how can this change? Blind Spot’s challenges to news editorsinclude hiring people who are sensitive to religion and givingreporters the right training. At the Alliance, we’re also developingways we can help journalists by providing training and an easilynavigable web resource to help them report on Christianity.

And the Bible Society’s Ruth Gilson, speaking at the Blind Spotlaunch, also put out a challenge to Christians: “It’s not just journalistswho have no theology; believers have none either. The problem forthe Church is that we just don’t know how to live our religion.”

Head of Channel 4 Andy Duncan, who attends a Baptist churchin Croydon, has also been challenging Christians to engage betterwith the media. He told The Baptist Times that churches need tobe more aware of rapidly changing media technologies and theinfluence they are having on the lives of youngsters. “It’s reallyimportant for churches to be media savvy, to understand theimportance of things like social websites for the younger generation,”he said.

The Alliance staff team has been looking at online technologyand how we and our members can best utilise this. As well as hostinga day for Christian bloggers last year, we have set up two Facebookgroups and two Twitter feeds.

We have also begun producing video for the internet, whichwe are offering as a service to our members at reduced cost. Ourvideographer uses industry-standard equipment and editing softwareto produce videos, including vox-pops, illustrated feature interviews,case studies, speeches or sermons, promotional videos, conferencehighlights packages and more. For information about the AllianceVideo Service, contact Lucy Cooper: [email protected]

mediamattersby Charis Gibson, Senior Press Officer

The last issue of idea makes a surprise appearance on the 2 Juneepisode of Blue Peter, as actor Anthony Head reads up on injustice.


12 13idea july/august 2009 newsnews idea july/august 2009

A new course has been launched by Jubilee Centre to help Christians developa biblical understanding of money and how to use it. The Bible and Money:Managing One's Money in the End Times is a practical course of eight lessonsasking such questions as: how can we fight a desire to acquire material things?How does an attitude of stewardship’ change how money is to be used fromthat of the world? And how do we accumulate treasure in heaven?

The social reform charity came up with the course in response to the currenteconomic meltdown as well as questions of integrity in the financial industryand, more recently, the government. The course was designed by internationaleconomist Dr Paul Mills, who found that the Bible has a lot to say about useof money today. He suggested that Christians should takea lead in using money to build relationships within extended families and theircommunities, for instance by investing in local businesses or providing housingequity for family members or others in their congregations.

Further issues explored in the course include whether it is acceptable todefault on debt payments in order to tithe and whether a local church shouldborrow to fund missions or to buy property. The course is free to download at:jubilee-centre.org REDMAN IS ON SONG. British worship leader Matt Redman was named

Christian Songwriter of the Year by the American Society of Composers,Authors and Publishers (Ascap) at the Christian Music Awards in Nashville inApril. In addition to the top honour, Redman and his wife Beth also receivedawards for the most-played songs on Christian radio, Blessed Be Your Nameand Never Let Go. The Christian Song of the Year trophy was awarded toYou Are Everything, written by American singer Matthew West and SamMizell. Ascap is the world's leading performance rights organisation.

Leaders discussbiblical challengesOn 30 April, a group of 30 theologians andchurch leaders from across the country met todiscuss how to help people in churches betterunderstand and interpret the Bible. The Alliance’sHead of Theology, Dr Justin Thacker, said,“Much lively debate and discussion took placeand we look forward to seeing how this workcan feed into the wider work occurring in thisimportant area.”

Two papers were presented at the meeting.The first looked at challenges people facein reading the Bible and how it can beunderstood as relevant for today. Small groupdiscussion then considered ways to increaseconfidence in reading and interpreting the Bible.In the afternoon the focus was on the issue ofviolence in the Old Testament, particularly inthe book of Judges, and how to help othersinterpret this.

This was a joint event between the Allianceand Bible Society and will contribute towardsthe Biblefresh initiative (see p11), as well as BibleSociety’s work in this area.

The Bible and money

Design

Pics

King

sway

MASSIVE SKATE PARK BIBLE TEACHING LIVE MUSICFAMILY FUN ON-SITE CAMPING*HOTLINE: 0870 609 1656 EMAIL: [email protected]: WWW.CREATIONFEST.ORG.UK

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL

*PRE-BOOKING & CAMPING FEES APPLY

Christian jargon and customs can often be confusing tojournalists, questions asked of the press office in recent monthsshow. “How many creationists are there in the UK?” “Can we

interview an evangelist leader?” “What do Christians do when theytake a vow of chastity?”

Religious correspondents often have the necessary expertise,but they are few and far between, particularly as financial constraintson the media industry make paying for specialists less attractive.So general reporters are flung headlong into the murky depthsof religious stories, sometimes expected to explain a theologicalcontroversy within the hour when they last saw the inside of achurch at their own christening.

Lapido Media, a charity that aims to improve religious literacy inpublic affairs, recently published a book arguing that the media’s lackof religious understanding can have much more serious ramificationsthan confusing the words “evangelical” and “evangelist”.

Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion says religion is amajor, growing factor in human affairs around the world, and thus inmajor news stories. However, it argues that the media often miss ormisunderstand major news stories because the secular industry doesnot take religion seriously and fails to grasp the religious context ofthe news.

So how can this change? Blind Spot’s challenges to news editorsinclude hiring people who are sensitive to religion and givingreporters the right training. At the Alliance, we’re also developingways we can help journalists by providing training and an easilynavigable web resource to help them report on Christianity.

And the Bible Society’s Ruth Gilson, speaking at the Blind Spotlaunch, also put out a challenge to Christians: “It’s not just journalistswho have no theology; believers have none either. The problem forthe Church is that we just don’t know how to live our religion.”

Head of Channel 4 Andy Duncan, who attends a Baptist churchin Croydon, has also been challenging Christians to engage betterwith the media. He told The Baptist Times that churches need tobe more aware of rapidly changing media technologies and theinfluence they are having on the lives of youngsters. “It’s reallyimportant for churches to be media savvy, to understand theimportance of things like social websites for the younger generation,”he said.

The Alliance staff team has been looking at online technologyand how we and our members can best utilise this. As well as hostinga day for Christian bloggers last year, we have set up two Facebookgroups and two Twitter feeds.

We have also begun producing video for the internet, whichwe are offering as a service to our members at reduced cost. Ourvideographer uses industry-standard equipment and editing softwareto produce videos, including vox-pops, illustrated feature interviews,case studies, speeches or sermons, promotional videos, conferencehighlights packages and more. For information about the AllianceVideo Service, contact Lucy Cooper: [email protected]

mediamattersby Charis Gibson, Senior Press Officer

The last issue of idea makes a surprise appearance on the 2 Juneepisode of Blue Peter, as actor Anthony Head reads up on injustice.


15idea july/august 2009 news50 million Chinese Christians

are without a Bible today.

“...what we want is more Bibles, as many as you can send.”

It is estimated that half of China’s 100 million Christians are without a Bible.80% of these live rurally where there is only one Bible for every 70 believers.

Many Christians are arrested, imprisoned, tortured and brutally killedbecause they believe in Jesus Christ. They are praying for God’s help - butmany of them are not just praying for an end to persecution. They are pleading for fellow believers to send Bibles. Please join us in sending Bibles to persecuted Christians today.

The Bible Network, Dept. A,87 High Street, HeathfieldEast Susses, TN21 8JAwww.thebiblenetwork.org.ukEmail: [email protected] Charity No. 299943

Christian film festival hits LondonThe I Will Tell Film Festival ran over five nights at the end ofMay in several London cinemas with films, speakers, specialperformances and post-screening discussions designed to challengeaudiences. The festival, run by Christian production companyJericho Films, was set up to raise awareness of global andlocal issues, giving a voice to people who need to be heard.Key issues addressed through the films include poverty, hunger,violence, disenfranchisement and racism.

The opening film was the documentary What Black MenThink, in which filmmaker Janks Morton (pictured, right, withNadia Denton of the Black Film Makers Association of London)examines stereotypes and misperceptions that have affected blackrelationships and culture. Tearfund, Jubilee Debt Campaign,Christian Aid, Divine Chocolate and other charities participatedin the event. jerichofilms.com

TARGETING TUBE TOURISTS. Through their annual Tell-A-Tourist mission, OAC Ministriesand London City Mission take the Gospel to those who travel around Greater Londonby Tube. This summer, from 27 July to 1 August, teams will set up sketchboards anddistribute leaflets in the hottest spots in the city, including Oxford Circus, Covent Garden,Hyde Park and Piccadilly Circus. Participants come from various locations and represent awide range of ages and backgrounds, and the evangelists are all trained in how to presentthe Gospel in the open air, as well as how to handle objections from the public.

“We expect to speak to people from 50 to 60 countries (72 is our record) and tellthem of the love, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Many of them tell us thatthey have never heard this message before,” said Peter Kennelly, OAC’s London Director.“In the summer months, more than ever, London becomes the capital of the lost world,and Tell-A-Tourist is a powerful, productive and spiritually strategic week of missionreaching out to every nation on earth.” oacgb.org.uk

Alliance member Trans World Radio hasjoined forces with child-advocacy agencyCompassion International to help combatthe global food crisis. Working to raiseawareness and resources for the world’spoverty-stricken countries, Compassionrecently held a one-day radio campaignthat was carried by more than 1,000Christian radio stations in North America.The effort raised more than £2 milliontoward a global food relief initiative.

In an interview with CompassionPresident Dr Wess Stafford, TWR PresidentLauren Libby focused on the extremecircumstances countless children face dueto a growing shortage of food. Libby laterproposed that TWR air short featuresegments on its numerous broadcastoutlets around the globe to promoteawareness and advocacy opportunities.“God has given us resources so we canhelp eradicate hunger from the earth,”Libby said.

Stafford added, “We have a goldenopportunity to reach out and share God’slove, and we dare not miss this chance tolive out our faith.” twr.org.uk

Charities address food crisis

OAC

Searching for a great Bible study resource?Book by Book has the answer!

Book by Book is a uniqueDVD-based Bible studyresource.

What’s different is it takesyou through whole booksat a time. It’s so accessiblewith six to ten 15-minuteprogrammes on DVD,complete with a fantasticStudy Guide – ideal forgroup or individual orwhole church study.

Just look at what Book by Book offers:• Outstanding Bible teachers – such as Joni Eareckson

Tarda, Anne Graham Lotz, Rico Tice, Paul Blackham,Joseph Steinberg, and Richard Bewes

• Superb content

• Flexible to use

• DVD and 100 page Study Guide all for just £9.99

• Special deals for churches

Each title comes complete with one or two DVDs and a100+ page Study Guide

Order now: By web: www.bookbybook.co.uk By phone: 0845 166 8462

What our customers say:

“No other study resourcematches Book by Book”

“I found it so inspiring andchallenging”

“Book by Book madeeverything fit into place”

“So versatile – it works sowell in a group or in individualstudy”

£9.99+ppSPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER

£59.99+pp for box set of all 9 titles

Keswick Convention11-31 Jul, KeswickIn an age ofspin, people longfor authenticity.Do Christians offer an attractiveexample of faith that works? TheKeswick Convention confronts thischallenge. keswickministries.org

Asylum Seeker Training11 Jul, LondonHosted by the Alliance, this event isled by Sian Summers, co-ordinator forDisplaced People in Action, who willchallenge myths about refugees andtalk about how to support asylumseekers (see p4). [email protected]

On the Road Together:A-mazed by Migration17-19 Jul, SwanwickThe annual Justice and Peace Networkconference will bring together peoplefrom all denominations to discuss themigration issue. The Alliance’s Don’tBe a Stranger photo exhibit will be ondisplay. justice-and-peace.org.uk

New Horizon18-24 Jul, BelfastThis year’s theme is Enjoying God, ledby Ray Ortlund and Don Carson. Theaim is that that those who attend willdiscover afresh the grace of God forthe world and His joy in His Church.newhorizon.org.uk

The Big Lunch19 Jul, nationwideImagine a summer’s dayon which millions havelunch together on every

patch of common ground in the UK.Use this day to remind ourselves thatcharity begins at home, or at most acouple of doors away.thebiglunch.com

New Wine Conference25 Jul-8 Aug, nationwideThis year’s conference, Step Out, isabout being envisioned, equipped andempowered to overcome fears andengage in fruitful mission to changelives, churches, communities and ournation. new-wine.org/summer

Greenbelt Festival28-31 Aug, CheltenhamExpressing love, creativity and justicein the arts and contemporary culturein the light of the Christian Gospel.Activities include music, film, literature,talks, art workshops, comedy andperforming arts. greenbelt.org.uk

Building Foundations18-19 Sep, BelfastThe 95th Irish National ChristianEndeavour Convention will feature RevAlan McCann, rector of Holy TrinityParish Church, Carrickfergus, plusactivities for children, young peopleand seniors. ceireland.org

events


15idea july/august 2009 news50 million Chinese Christians

are without a Bible today.

“...what we want is more Bibles, as many as you can send.”

It is estimated that half of China’s 100 million Christians are without a Bible.80% of these live rurally where there is only one Bible for every 70 believers.

Many Christians are arrested, imprisoned, tortured and brutally killedbecause they believe in Jesus Christ. They are praying for God’s help - butmany of them are not just praying for an end to persecution. They are pleading for fellow believers to send Bibles. Please join us in sending Bibles to persecuted Christians today.

The Bible Network, Dept. A,87 High Street, HeathfieldEast Susses, TN21 8JAwww.thebiblenetwork.org.ukEmail: [email protected] Charity No. 299943

Christian film festival hits LondonThe I Will Tell Film Festival ran over five nights at the end ofMay in several London cinemas with films, speakers, specialperformances and post-screening discussions designed to challengeaudiences. The festival, run by Christian production companyJericho Films, was set up to raise awareness of global andlocal issues, giving a voice to people who need to be heard.Key issues addressed through the films include poverty, hunger,violence, disenfranchisement and racism.

The opening film was the documentary What Black MenThink, in which filmmaker Janks Morton (pictured, right, withNadia Denton of the Black Film Makers Association of London)examines stereotypes and misperceptions that have affected blackrelationships and culture. Tearfund, Jubilee Debt Campaign,Christian Aid, Divine Chocolate and other charities participatedin the event. jerichofilms.com

TARGETING TUBE TOURISTS. Through their annual Tell-A-Tourist mission, OAC Ministriesand London City Mission take the Gospel to those who travel around Greater Londonby Tube. This summer, from 27 July to 1 August, teams will set up sketchboards anddistribute leaflets in the hottest spots in the city, including Oxford Circus, Covent Garden,Hyde Park and Piccadilly Circus. Participants come from various locations and represent awide range of ages and backgrounds, and the evangelists are all trained in how to presentthe Gospel in the open air, as well as how to handle objections from the public.

“We expect to speak to people from 50 to 60 countries (72 is our record) and tellthem of the love, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Many of them tell us thatthey have never heard this message before,” said Peter Kennelly, OAC’s London Director.“In the summer months, more than ever, London becomes the capital of the lost world,and Tell-A-Tourist is a powerful, productive and spiritually strategic week of missionreaching out to every nation on earth.” oacgb.org.uk

Alliance member Trans World Radio hasjoined forces with child-advocacy agencyCompassion International to help combatthe global food crisis. Working to raiseawareness and resources for the world’spoverty-stricken countries, Compassionrecently held a one-day radio campaignthat was carried by more than 1,000Christian radio stations in North America.The effort raised more than £2 milliontoward a global food relief initiative.

In an interview with CompassionPresident Dr Wess Stafford, TWR PresidentLauren Libby focused on the extremecircumstances countless children face dueto a growing shortage of food. Libby laterproposed that TWR air short featuresegments on its numerous broadcastoutlets around the globe to promoteawareness and advocacy opportunities.“God has given us resources so we canhelp eradicate hunger from the earth,”Libby said.

Stafford added, “We have a goldenopportunity to reach out and share God’slove, and we dare not miss this chance tolive out our faith.” twr.org.uk

Charities address food crisis

OAC

Searching for a great Bible study resource?Book by Book has the answer!

Book by Book is a uniqueDVD-based Bible studyresource.

What’s different is it takesyou through whole booksat a time. It’s so accessiblewith six to ten 15-minuteprogrammes on DVD,complete with a fantasticStudy Guide – ideal forgroup or individual orwhole church study.

Just look at what Book by Book offers:• Outstanding Bible teachers – such as Joni Eareckson

Tarda, Anne Graham Lotz, Rico Tice, Paul Blackham,Joseph Steinberg, and Richard Bewes

• Superb content

• Flexible to use

• DVD and 100 page Study Guide all for just £9.99

• Special deals for churches

Each title comes complete with one or two DVDs and a100+ page Study Guide

Order now: By web: www.bookbybook.co.uk By phone: 0845 166 8462

What our customers say:

“No other study resourcematches Book by Book”

“I found it so inspiring andchallenging”

“Book by Book madeeverything fit into place”

“So versatile – it works sowell in a group or in individualstudy”

£9.99+ppSPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER

£59.99+pp for box set of all 9 titles

Keswick Convention11-31 Jul, KeswickIn an age ofspin, people longfor authenticity.Do Christians offer an attractiveexample of faith that works? TheKeswick Convention confronts thischallenge. keswickministries.org

Asylum Seeker Training11 Jul, LondonHosted by the Alliance, this event isled by Sian Summers, co-ordinator forDisplaced People in Action, who willchallenge myths about refugees andtalk about how to support asylumseekers (see p4). [email protected]

On the Road Together:A-mazed by Migration17-19 Jul, SwanwickThe annual Justice and Peace Networkconference will bring together peoplefrom all denominations to discuss themigration issue. The Alliance’s Don’tBe a Stranger photo exhibit will be ondisplay. justice-and-peace.org.uk

New Horizon18-24 Jul, BelfastThis year’s theme is Enjoying God, ledby Ray Ortlund and Don Carson. Theaim is that that those who attend willdiscover afresh the grace of God forthe world and His joy in His Church.newhorizon.org.uk

The Big Lunch19 Jul, nationwideImagine a summer’s dayon which millions havelunch together on every

patch of common ground in the UK.Use this day to remind ourselves thatcharity begins at home, or at most acouple of doors away.thebiglunch.com

New Wine Conference25 Jul-8 Aug, nationwideThis year’s conference, Step Out, isabout being envisioned, equipped andempowered to overcome fears andengage in fruitful mission to changelives, churches, communities and ournation. new-wine.org/summer

Greenbelt Festival28-31 Aug, CheltenhamExpressing love, creativity and justicein the arts and contemporary culturein the light of the Christian Gospel.Activities include music, film, literature,talks, art workshops, comedy andperforming arts. greenbelt.org.uk

Building Foundations18-19 Sep, BelfastThe 95th Irish National ChristianEndeavour Convention will feature RevAlan McCann, rector of Holy TrinityParish Church, Carrickfergus, plusactivities for children, young peopleand seniors. ceireland.org

events


programme, has meant that Zimbabwecan no-longer feed itself. While manyclamour for the re-establishment ofthe commercial farms, Foundations forFarming is showing that with biblicalprinciples such as excellence, sowingon time and working with nature,even subsistence farmers can produceyields as high as commercial farmers.

Its aim this year is for churchesaround the country to plantenough to feed their surroundingcommunities, preventing wide-spreadstarvation. In coming years theagricultural industry of Zimbabwewould be revolutionised through theempowerment of the common man,rather than just an elite of large-scale

farmers. Teaching farmers to make a profitwill also help eliminate the current culture ofcorruption and begging.

According to Steve Blaber ofNewfrontiers, Foundations for Farming yieldsresults that are typically 10 times higher thanconventional farming methods. “A mobileroad show has visited Zimbabwe's majortowns and cities ahead of the plantingseason,” he said. “Thousands have beentaught these farming methods and have beengiven instruction booklets. A TV series hasbeen produced and aired at prime times on

Zimbabwe TV. Mission is a fundamentalfocus of the churches as they seek todemonstrate Christ’s love for the peopleof Zimbabwe.” Miles Giljam

� A network of Zimbabwean Christiansliving in the UK are speaking at churchesabout how to best pray and supportZimbabweans both here and in Zimbabwe.To organise a visit, email:[email protected]� The Love Zim coalition includes theCouncil of Zimbabwean Christian Leadersin the UK, Evangelical Alliance, Tearfund,Newfrontiers, African Enterprise, PeaceAlliance and Global Connections, withsupport from World Vision. For informationand updates, visit: lovezim.org

process of national reconciliation. Peoplein Zimbabwe are calling for the truth tobe made known about the past, and theonly institution they trust with the truthis the Church.

Forming relationshipsThe Love Zim coalition is calling onUK churches to form relationships withZimbabwean churches, as help with practicalneeds, prayer and encouragement will helpchurches rebuild their nation from the

ground up. Zimbabwean churches can alsoteach us from their experiences of being saltand light in a nation in crisis.

One of the projects promoted by LoveZim and its member agencies is Foundationfor Farming, run by local Newfrontierschurches with support from Tearfund andthe Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.Designed and implemented by Zimbabweans,Foundations for Farming aims to train anetwork of trainers, each based at a church,who can train the local community in Biblicalprinciples while teaching them best-practicefarming. The goal is to help people – andthe country – to become self-sufficient infood production.

The collapse of the commercial farmingsector, caused by the land redistribution

global idea july/august 200916

Over the past decade, the mediahave reported the long decline ofZimbabwe. This has included stories

of unfathomable inflation, thuggery andcorruption, and calls for the removal ofPresident Mugabe.

Yet things are changing in Zimbabwe.In mid-February a unity government wassworn in. And Qobo Mayisa, generalsecretary of the Council of ZimbaweanChristian Leaders in the UK, has observedsigns of hope and renewal in his homeland.Mayisa, a former activist who fled politicalpersecution in 2001, recently visitedZimbabwe with representatives of theAlliance and Tearfund, members of theLove Zim coalition.

“Change is still slow and the newgovernment is fragile,” Mayisa said. “WhereGod is working there is always hope, andseeing the amazing unity and work beingdone by the Church in communities is areal testimony of God’s faithfulness evenin the most trying times.”

Even as the Church is doing importantwork at the grassroots level, there isdisunity between senior leaders. Many ofthese relationships have been poisoned byparty politics, and accusations of briberyare common. Yet even at this level, newleaders of character and influence areworking to rebuild relationships.

Mayisa and his team met with thePrime Minister and other governmentministers in Zimbabwe, many of whomcalled on the Church to lead the processof reconciliation. It is crucial the Churchis healed in Zimbabwe if it is to lead the

Foundationsfor farming

22 – 26 AUGUST 2009 Bath & West Showground, SomersetSPEAKERS INCLUDE: Mike Pilavachi, Andy Croft, Ken Costa, Roy Crowne, Pete Broadbent, Bishop Graham Cray, Roger & Maggie Ellis, Tim Hughes, Mike Erre, David Westlake, Jo Saxton, Mark Greene, Frog & Amy Orr-Ewing, and the list goes on!!PRICE: £92For more info and to book online visit: www.soulsurvivor.com/momentum Or call: 0303 333 1333 Charity Number:

1080720

HaveyoursayWe want to hear from you.

We want to know what you think about us,your involvement with us and other Christianministries. We want to give you anopportunity to tell us more about yourself.

To help us on this road of discovery we arecarrying out a postal survey with our friendsMcConkey � Johnston international � UK.Its part of our ongoing commitment to serveyou better.

If you are part of the survey sample you wouldhave received your copy by now, so please dotake some time to fill it in and return it to us.If not you can still Have your say atwww.eauk.org/survey

It is crucial the Church is healed inZimbabwe if it is to lead the process

of national reconciliation

‘ ‘

The Alliance’s Head of CommunicationsMiles Giljam meets with Craig Deall ofFarming God’s Way in Zimbabwe.


programme, has meant that Zimbabwecan no-longer feed itself. While manyclamour for the re-establishment ofthe commercial farms, Foundations forFarming is showing that with biblicalprinciples such as excellence, sowingon time and working with nature,even subsistence farmers can produceyields as high as commercial farmers.

Its aim this year is for churchesaround the country to plantenough to feed their surroundingcommunities, preventing wide-spreadstarvation. In coming years theagricultural industry of Zimbabwewould be revolutionised through theempowerment of the common man,rather than just an elite of large-scale

farmers. Teaching farmers to make a profitwill also help eliminate the current culture ofcorruption and begging.

According to Steve Blaber ofNewfrontiers, Foundations for Farming yieldsresults that are typically 10 times higher thanconventional farming methods. “A mobileroad show has visited Zimbabwe's majortowns and cities ahead of the plantingseason,” he said. “Thousands have beentaught these farming methods and have beengiven instruction booklets. A TV series hasbeen produced and aired at prime times on

Zimbabwe TV. Mission is a fundamentalfocus of the churches as they seek todemonstrate Christ’s love for the peopleof Zimbabwe.” Miles Giljam

� A network of Zimbabwean Christiansliving in the UK are speaking at churchesabout how to best pray and supportZimbabweans both here and in Zimbabwe.To organise a visit, email:[email protected]� The Love Zim coalition includes theCouncil of Zimbabwean Christian Leadersin the UK, Evangelical Alliance, Tearfund,Newfrontiers, African Enterprise, PeaceAlliance and Global Connections, withsupport from World Vision. For informationand updates, visit: lovezim.org

process of national reconciliation. Peoplein Zimbabwe are calling for the truth tobe made known about the past, and theonly institution they trust with the truthis the Church.

Forming relationshipsThe Love Zim coalition is calling onUK churches to form relationships withZimbabwean churches, as help with practicalneeds, prayer and encouragement will helpchurches rebuild their nation from the

ground up. Zimbabwean churches can alsoteach us from their experiences of being saltand light in a nation in crisis.

One of the projects promoted by LoveZim and its member agencies is Foundationfor Farming, run by local Newfrontierschurches with support from Tearfund andthe Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.Designed and implemented by Zimbabweans,Foundations for Farming aims to train anetwork of trainers, each based at a church,who can train the local community in Biblicalprinciples while teaching them best-practicefarming. The goal is to help people – andthe country – to become self-sufficient infood production.

The collapse of the commercial farmingsector, caused by the land redistribution

global idea july/august 200916

Over the past decade, the mediahave reported the long decline ofZimbabwe. This has included stories

of unfathomable inflation, thuggery andcorruption, and calls for the removal ofPresident Mugabe.

Yet things are changing in Zimbabwe.In mid-February a unity government wassworn in. And Qobo Mayisa, generalsecretary of the Council of ZimbaweanChristian Leaders in the UK, has observedsigns of hope and renewal in his homeland.Mayisa, a former activist who fled politicalpersecution in 2001, recently visitedZimbabwe with representatives of theAlliance and Tearfund, members of theLove Zim coalition.

“Change is still slow and the newgovernment is fragile,” Mayisa said. “WhereGod is working there is always hope, andseeing the amazing unity and work beingdone by the Church in communities is areal testimony of God’s faithfulness evenin the most trying times.”

Even as the Church is doing importantwork at the grassroots level, there isdisunity between senior leaders. Many ofthese relationships have been poisoned byparty politics, and accusations of briberyare common. Yet even at this level, newleaders of character and influence areworking to rebuild relationships.

Mayisa and his team met with thePrime Minister and other governmentministers in Zimbabwe, many of whomcalled on the Church to lead the processof reconciliation. It is crucial the Churchis healed in Zimbabwe if it is to lead the

Foundationsfor farming

22 – 26 AUGUST 2009 Bath & West Showground, SomersetSPEAKERS INCLUDE: Mike Pilavachi, Andy Croft, Ken Costa, Roy Crowne, Pete Broadbent, Bishop Graham Cray, Roger & Maggie Ellis, Tim Hughes, Mike Erre, David Westlake, Jo Saxton, Mark Greene, Frog & Amy Orr-Ewing, and the list goes on!!PRICE: £92For more info and to book online visit: www.soulsurvivor.com/momentum Or call: 0303 333 1333 Charity Number:

1080720

HaveyoursayWe want to hear from you.

We want to know what you think about us,your involvement with us and other Christianministries. We want to give you anopportunity to tell us more about yourself.

To help us on this road of discovery we arecarrying out a postal survey with our friendsMcConkey � Johnston international � UK.Its part of our ongoing commitment to serveyou better.

If you are part of the survey sample you wouldhave received your copy by now, so please dotake some time to fill it in and return it to us.If not you can still Have your say atwww.eauk.org/survey

It is crucial the Church is healed inZimbabwe if it is to lead the process

of national reconciliation

‘ ‘

The Alliance’s Head of CommunicationsMiles Giljam meets with Craig Deall ofFarming God’s Way in Zimbabwe.


caring for each other as well aslearning and creating differentways to use dance in the world,supported by our faith.

The year was a great learningstep, not only in terms of dancetraining and the experiences ofteaching, performing and touringas a company, but also in ourfaith. I loved that the apprenticescame from all sorts ofdenominations and backgrounds,and yet we could all still praytogether and learn from eachother. It enabled us to be moreopen to different ideas andconsequently more creative in ourapproaches to life and dance.

Firsthand experienceSprings was a great foundationfor me as it provided me withthe technical and performanceexperience which I am nowbuilding on while studying atLaban. It was also incrediblyinsightful to experience what lifeis like in a professional dancecompany, as we were able to assistthe Springs Dance Company ontour, watch rehearsals and helpin workshops. We experiencedfirsthand the incredible amountof hard work and time that goesinto keeping the company andits projects going, and why thoseinvolved really have to do itbecause they love it.

I had the most amazing yearwith Springs; I learnt so much,met some incredible people andhad so much fun. I would reallylove to be able go back and do itagain.

I am now in my secondyear at Laban dance college insoutheast London, and I still havea year left. The course is verydemanding, but it is a great timeto consolidate the things I learnedwith Springs and then go intomore training in greater depth.The apprenticeship gave me an

idea of what life would be like in a dance company and openedmy eyes to different ways of using dance in the church and widercommunity.

I'm still exploring options for what I'd like to do in the future.At the moment I'm looking into dance movement therapy, whichuses dance to further emotional, physical and social integration.However it would be great to be able to continue to perform aswell. springsdancecompany.org.uk

Thermo Serve System

PremiumFilter Coffee

SystemIdeal for use

after Church and at midweek meetings

Just 71/2p per cup!

• FAIR TRADE FILTER COFFEE

• A FREE DEMONSTRATION

• NO LONG TERM CONTRACT

• FREE DELIVERY

• ONLY PAY FOR THE

COFFEE USED

Our system is �� and is

available on �� if you use 75 cups of

coffee a week or more. ��

��

��

Where great traditions meet real lifeCertificate/Diploma (Theology; Urban Ministry) 1/2 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology: Youth Work & Ministry 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology & Pastoral Studies 4 yearsMA in Theology 1 year

Christian Holiness streamUrban Mission streamGlobal Mission stream

M Phil/PhD 1-3 years

CONTACT US FOR A PROSPECTUSwww.nazarene.ac.uk

A Partner College of The University of Manchester

Nazarene Theological College Dene Road, Didsbury Manchester M20 2GUTel: 0161 445 3063 Fax: 0161 448 0275 E-mail: [email protected]

Emily Sutton is a 21-year-old dance studentat the contemporary dance conservatoire Laban.To prepare for her course, she completed aone-year apprenticeship with Alliance memberSprings Dance Company...

My hometown is Portsmouth. I grew up in that area andmoved away from home for the first time in order to dothe apprenticeship with Springs Dance when I was 18.

I started dancing when I was little and went to baby ballet classes,then just kept going, taking more classes in different styles as I gotolder. When I was about 16 I took up contemporary dance and joineda local youth dance company, where I discovered how diverse thecontemporary dance world is.

I had discovered the Springs apprenticeship a year or so before Ifinished my A-levels, and it stayed in the back of my mind as somethingI might like to do in the future. By the time I had finished college, bothmy faith and my interest in dance had reached a stage where I wantedto take a year out to explore them further.

What made my time with Springs so rewarding was the senseof community that the course engenders. In my year, there were11 apprentices on the course and we met together each day, worked,danced, prayed together and became a sort of family. It was anincredible environment to be in. The long days and schedules were oftenchallenging, but we were all part of this group that was committed to

A firmfootingFellow Springs Dance apprentice Esther Lim is studying with Emily at Laban.

Simon

Rich

ards

on

Theapprenticeshipgave me an ideaof what life would

be like

‘

‘


caring for each other as well aslearning and creating differentways to use dance in the world,supported by our faith.

The year was a great learningstep, not only in terms of dancetraining and the experiences ofteaching, performing and touringas a company, but also in ourfaith. I loved that the apprenticescame from all sorts ofdenominations and backgrounds,and yet we could all still praytogether and learn from eachother. It enabled us to be moreopen to different ideas andconsequently more creative in ourapproaches to life and dance.

Firsthand experienceSprings was a great foundationfor me as it provided me withthe technical and performanceexperience which I am nowbuilding on while studying atLaban. It was also incrediblyinsightful to experience what lifeis like in a professional dancecompany, as we were able to assistthe Springs Dance Company ontour, watch rehearsals and helpin workshops. We experiencedfirsthand the incredible amountof hard work and time that goesinto keeping the company andits projects going, and why thoseinvolved really have to do itbecause they love it.

I had the most amazing yearwith Springs; I learnt so much,met some incredible people andhad so much fun. I would reallylove to be able go back and do itagain.

I am now in my secondyear at Laban dance college insoutheast London, and I still havea year left. The course is verydemanding, but it is a great timeto consolidate the things I learnedwith Springs and then go intomore training in greater depth.The apprenticeship gave me an

idea of what life would be like in a dance company and openedmy eyes to different ways of using dance in the church and widercommunity.

I'm still exploring options for what I'd like to do in the future.At the moment I'm looking into dance movement therapy, whichuses dance to further emotional, physical and social integration.However it would be great to be able to continue to perform aswell. springsdancecompany.org.uk

Thermo Serve System

PremiumFilter Coffee

SystemIdeal for use

after Church and at midweek meetings

Just 71/2p per cup!

• FAIR TRADE FILTER COFFEE

• A FREE DEMONSTRATION

• NO LONG TERM CONTRACT

• FREE DELIVERY

• ONLY PAY FOR THE

COFFEE USED

Our system is �� and is

available on �� if you use 75 cups of

coffee a week or more. ��

��

��

Where great traditions meet real lifeCertificate/Diploma (Theology; Urban Ministry) 1/2 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology: Youth Work & Ministry 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology & Pastoral Studies 4 yearsMA in Theology 1 year

Christian Holiness streamUrban Mission streamGlobal Mission stream

M Phil/PhD 1-3 years

CONTACT US FOR A PROSPECTUSwww.nazarene.ac.uk

A Partner College of The University of Manchester

Nazarene Theological College Dene Road, Didsbury Manchester M20 2GUTel: 0161 445 3063 Fax: 0161 448 0275 E-mail: [email protected]

Emily Sutton is a 21-year-old dance studentat the contemporary dance conservatoire Laban.To prepare for her course, she completed aone-year apprenticeship with Alliance memberSprings Dance Company...

My hometown is Portsmouth. I grew up in that area andmoved away from home for the first time in order to dothe apprenticeship with Springs Dance when I was 18.

I started dancing when I was little and went to baby ballet classes,then just kept going, taking more classes in different styles as I gotolder. When I was about 16 I took up contemporary dance and joineda local youth dance company, where I discovered how diverse thecontemporary dance world is.

I had discovered the Springs apprenticeship a year or so before Ifinished my A-levels, and it stayed in the back of my mind as somethingI might like to do in the future. By the time I had finished college, bothmy faith and my interest in dance had reached a stage where I wantedto take a year out to explore them further.

What made my time with Springs so rewarding was the senseof community that the course engenders. In my year, there were11 apprentices on the course and we met together each day, worked,danced, prayed together and became a sort of family. It was anincredible environment to be in. The long days and schedules were oftenchallenging, but we were all part of this group that was committed to

A firmfootingFellow Springs Dance apprentice Esther Lim is studying with Emily at Laban.

Simon

Rich

ards

on

Theapprenticeshipgave me an ideaof what life would

be like

‘

‘


idea july/august 2009 feature 21feature idea july/august 200920

Tomorrow’s leaders

Every Friday in a corner of Westminster,just a stone’s throw from the Houses ofParliament, 20 young graduates try to

develop a Christian mind. And no, this is notsome strange exercise in eugenics. It’s theCare Leadership Programme.

“Care is privileged to be involved inpreparing the leaders of tomorrow for alifetime of Christian engagement,” said NolaLeach, Care’s chief executive, who getsvisibly excited when talking about thissubject. “When talking to the 190 who havegraduated from the Leadership Programme,it is clear that this was a life-changing yearfor them, which resulted in their being inpositions of influence around the world.”

The programme offers young graduatesa range of placements for four days a week,which is supplemented by teaching andvisiting speakers on a Friday and occasionalstudy weekends. A few years ago I took partin the programme and had the privilege ofworking for a Member of Parliament fromMonday to Thursday each week. Then onFriday I had my opinions and viewsrigorously tested - and often found wanting.

At its inception the programme focusedpurely on the political realm, but it now alsoworks with media and non-governmentalorganisations to offer a breadth of

experience, reflecting the need for aChristian presence in all aspects of publiclife. Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretaryto the Treasury, notes that it “providesrecent graduates with great hands-onexperience of working in politics, as well asthe opportunity to connect the realities ofpublic service with their Christian faith.”

Addressing the gapRegular Christian activities sometimes leavea gap, meaning that we often struggle toarticulate what our faith has to say about theworld outside the stain-glassed window. Thatworld, oriented on values and priorities rarelyin tune with Christianity, provides us withthe challenge of matching the faith that weespouse and the society that we are engagedwith. The Care Leadership Programme is oneway of addressing this gap.

Communicating a Christian worldviewin the public square is no small task. Butbuilding on the conviction that our faithshould not be sidelined, the programmeprovides an opportunity to address how ourvalues can be communicated to a world thatdoes not understand the reasons for whatwe believe.

A critical first step for all of us is simplyto be present, because at a time when

politicians are tainted by allegations ofsleaze, it would be easy to duck out ofpolitics altogether. But Jesus came to healthe sick, because those who are well don’tneed a doctor.

The programme focuses on howChristians can have an impact on a culturethat doesn’t place Christ at its centre. Internsgather together to take an intensive look atwhat and how Christians think about thecritical contemporary issues in the world.Whether this is the justification behind goingto war, or considering the ethics of whenwithdrawing treatment from a dying patientbecomes assisting suicide, the difficultquestions are not dodged.

Tom Quinn, currently an intern inParliament, said, “It has been wonderful tobe surrounded by like-minded Christians,all passionately committed to making adifference in the world, and considertogether how an active faith shouldinfluence all of our values and choices,from the small to the eternally significant.”

Although for each one of us ourinvolvement in public life will take ona different form, it is often the small,seemingly insignificant, actions that areof eternal value. Paul Woolley, Directorof Theos and a senior lecturer for the

programme said, “The course challengesstudents to really think about what theybelieve, why they believe it and how theirbeliefs should shape the way they engagein society.”

Lessons learnedOn one occasion during my year, we werediscussing the establishment of the Churchof England. I thought my views on thematter were quite firm, but during thecourse of the debate my arguments justdid not hold together, so I switched sides.I'm still not sure that I've got that particularsubject nailed, but the lesson I learned wasmore important.

The society we live in - our family, ourculture, our education - all create a framethrough which we see the world. If I am notcareful, my viewpoint becomes static, centredon these influences, and I forget that myexperiences are peculiar to me. Everyone willhave a different perspective on just aboutevery issue imaginable. It is just not possibleto articulate a coherent view of the worldwhen we take as our starting point the worldaround us. This is why developing a Christ-centred mind and a worldview based on theBible is so crucial.

“My faith is an important part of who I

when I started. But I am absolutely certainthat disengagement is not an option.

Towards the end of my year I foundmyself walking into Parliament astonishedthat this had become a mundane exercise.It shouldn’t be mundane, but it alsoshouldn’t be exceptional to see Christiansactive every day in Parliament, the mediaand in all areas of public life.

� The application deadline for the2010-11 Care Leadership Programmeis 7 December. For a prospectus, visit:care.org.uk or tel 020 7233 0455.

Last year’s crop of internsand tutors outside Parliament.

Daniel Webster writes about an important opportunity for young people...

am, and it affects the way I interact with theworld around me,” said current intern TanyaSrokosz. By engaging with many complexissues and how the Bible can help usunderstand them, the Care programmehelps young graduates develop a biblicalworldview and enables them to see all of lifeas within the reach of faith.

Reflecting on the programme, Tanyacontinued, “My understanding of what

active Christian engagement can look likein public life has increased during the year.It has highlighted to me the importance ofChristians being actively involved in all areasof culture and society to ensure that theChristian faith is not privatised or sidelined.”

Personally, I still do not have all theanswers to how Christians should engage inthe public square. In fact I probably finishedthe programme with more questions than

Care

We often struggleto articulate whatour faith has to sayabout the world

‘ ‘ Daniel Websteris the Alliance'sparliamentaryofficer.


idea july/august 2009 feature 21feature idea july/august 200920

Tomorrow’s leaders

Every Friday in a corner of Westminster,just a stone’s throw from the Houses ofParliament, 20 young graduates try to

develop a Christian mind. And no, this is notsome strange exercise in eugenics. It’s theCare Leadership Programme.

“Care is privileged to be involved inpreparing the leaders of tomorrow for alifetime of Christian engagement,” said NolaLeach, Care’s chief executive, who getsvisibly excited when talking about thissubject. “When talking to the 190 who havegraduated from the Leadership Programme,it is clear that this was a life-changing yearfor them, which resulted in their being inpositions of influence around the world.”

The programme offers young graduatesa range of placements for four days a week,which is supplemented by teaching andvisiting speakers on a Friday and occasionalstudy weekends. A few years ago I took partin the programme and had the privilege ofworking for a Member of Parliament fromMonday to Thursday each week. Then onFriday I had my opinions and viewsrigorously tested - and often found wanting.

At its inception the programme focusedpurely on the political realm, but it now alsoworks with media and non-governmentalorganisations to offer a breadth of

experience, reflecting the need for aChristian presence in all aspects of publiclife. Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretaryto the Treasury, notes that it “providesrecent graduates with great hands-onexperience of working in politics, as well asthe opportunity to connect the realities ofpublic service with their Christian faith.”

Addressing the gapRegular Christian activities sometimes leavea gap, meaning that we often struggle toarticulate what our faith has to say about theworld outside the stain-glassed window. Thatworld, oriented on values and priorities rarelyin tune with Christianity, provides us withthe challenge of matching the faith that weespouse and the society that we are engagedwith. The Care Leadership Programme is oneway of addressing this gap.

Communicating a Christian worldviewin the public square is no small task. Butbuilding on the conviction that our faithshould not be sidelined, the programmeprovides an opportunity to address how ourvalues can be communicated to a world thatdoes not understand the reasons for whatwe believe.

A critical first step for all of us is simplyto be present, because at a time when

politicians are tainted by allegations ofsleaze, it would be easy to duck out ofpolitics altogether. But Jesus came to healthe sick, because those who are well don’tneed a doctor.

The programme focuses on howChristians can have an impact on a culturethat doesn’t place Christ at its centre. Internsgather together to take an intensive look atwhat and how Christians think about thecritical contemporary issues in the world.Whether this is the justification behind goingto war, or considering the ethics of whenwithdrawing treatment from a dying patientbecomes assisting suicide, the difficultquestions are not dodged.

Tom Quinn, currently an intern inParliament, said, “It has been wonderful tobe surrounded by like-minded Christians,all passionately committed to making adifference in the world, and considertogether how an active faith shouldinfluence all of our values and choices,from the small to the eternally significant.”

Although for each one of us ourinvolvement in public life will take ona different form, it is often the small,seemingly insignificant, actions that areof eternal value. Paul Woolley, Directorof Theos and a senior lecturer for the

programme said, “The course challengesstudents to really think about what theybelieve, why they believe it and how theirbeliefs should shape the way they engagein society.”

Lessons learnedOn one occasion during my year, we werediscussing the establishment of the Churchof England. I thought my views on thematter were quite firm, but during thecourse of the debate my arguments justdid not hold together, so I switched sides.I'm still not sure that I've got that particularsubject nailed, but the lesson I learned wasmore important.

The society we live in - our family, ourculture, our education - all create a framethrough which we see the world. If I am notcareful, my viewpoint becomes static, centredon these influences, and I forget that myexperiences are peculiar to me. Everyone willhave a different perspective on just aboutevery issue imaginable. It is just not possibleto articulate a coherent view of the worldwhen we take as our starting point the worldaround us. This is why developing a Christ-centred mind and a worldview based on theBible is so crucial.

“My faith is an important part of who I

when I started. But I am absolutely certainthat disengagement is not an option.

Towards the end of my year I foundmyself walking into Parliament astonishedthat this had become a mundane exercise.It shouldn’t be mundane, but it alsoshouldn’t be exceptional to see Christiansactive every day in Parliament, the mediaand in all areas of public life.

� The application deadline for the2010-11 Care Leadership Programmeis 7 December. For a prospectus, visit:care.org.uk or tel 020 7233 0455.

Last year’s crop of internsand tutors outside Parliament.

Daniel Webster writes about an important opportunity for young people...

am, and it affects the way I interact with theworld around me,” said current intern TanyaSrokosz. By engaging with many complexissues and how the Bible can help usunderstand them, the Care programmehelps young graduates develop a biblicalworldview and enables them to see all of lifeas within the reach of faith.

Reflecting on the programme, Tanyacontinued, “My understanding of what

active Christian engagement can look likein public life has increased during the year.It has highlighted to me the importance ofChristians being actively involved in all areasof culture and society to ensure that theChristian faith is not privatised or sidelined.”

Personally, I still do not have all theanswers to how Christians should engage inthe public square. In fact I probably finishedthe programme with more questions than

Care

We often struggleto articulate whatour faith has to sayabout the world

‘ ‘ Daniel Websteris the Alliance'sparliamentaryofficer.


We’ve all done it – hollered ourselves hoarsewith Christmas choruses in the shoppingmall or burned ourselves out with missions,

programmes and projects. And we’ve all beendisappointed when we don’t see hordes surrenderingtheir lives to Christ at the mere mention of the annualchurch outreach event.

Most of us learn the hard way that people outthere are not waiting for a tract; they’re waiting for asign, evidence that God exists. But most of us are notyet well-practised in miracles and wonders. So the bestevidence most of us can offer is what our lives sayabout the One who lives in us.

And this is “life discipleship” – living out our faithin the ordinary and everyday stuff of life, whetherthat’s in the office, on the sports field, at school orin the supermarket. It’s a key strand of the Alliance’sSquare Mile initiative, which is helping Christians havean impact on their immediate community. And whatlife discipleship looks like in practice is as complex andvaried as life itself.

In the case of Sam Fowler and Dean McDonald,it looks pretty spectacular. These two 18-year-oldsfrom London defy gravity, leaping over railings andback-flipping off walls in a form ofurban acrobatics known as parkour,or free-running. And they are usingtheir extraordinary art to talk toother teenagers about what Jesushas done in their lives.

They’ve given their movement aname, Parkour for Jesus, and they’vehad T-shirts printed, but it’s nothingheavy. They’re just doing what theylove to do and pointing people toChrist in the process.

“I love the freedom of parkour because it’s allabout getting over obstacles,” says Sam, who had thevision for a Christian team even before he knew anyother Christian free-runners. “God is a very liberatingGod because He came to save us, and parkour speaksto me about that.”

For Dean, his sport has taken on a new dimensionsince he became a Christian two years ago. “Nowparkour has suddenly become about more than just

developing myself: it’s become an opportunity to talkabout Jesus,” he says.

Common groundBringing God into what you love best is precisely whatPete Nicholas of Christians in Sport is passionate abouttoo. His job is to persuade and equip amateur andprofessional competitors to see sport as a missionfield. It’s as much about honouring God on the pitchas about speaking of Him in the changing room.

“We create secular and sacred divides, but weshouldn’t separate our everyday activities from ourfaith,” says Pete, a former Division 1 rugby player.“Many people don’t see how their faith relates to theirsport, and it gives them quite a sense of release whenthey see that something they love can be reconciledwith the God they love.”

Christian Surfers UK was aresponse to a similar case of “neverthe twain”, an attempt to bringJesus into a world consideredout-of-bounds for Christians.For Director Phil Williams, the workis all about serving the sport heloves – whether that’s laying onbarbecues or clearing up litter –and building relationships with acommunity with whom he sharesa common passion.

“A lot of surfers have some kind of spiritualthoughts at some stage,” he says. “It’s often said,‘There’s never an atheist in Hawaii when the wavesget above 20 feet.’ Further out, between the waves,it can be very peaceful and very beautiful, and yousometimes get the chance to chat with people aboutcreation and God.

“And it’s about how you surf too. If someonedrops in on you when you’re just about to surf a great

We shouldn’tseparate oureveryday

activities fromour faith

The Alliance’s Square Mile initiativeis about equipping churchesand individuals to impact theircommunities through mercy,influence, life discipleship andevangelism. In the third of ourfour-part series, freelancejournalist Seren Boyd talksto Christians who are living outtheir faith everyday…

is for lifediscipleship

Above: “Sitting out theback, waiting for thenext set, it’s impossiblenot to be impressed bythe creation around us.”

Opposite: Seva Fowlerperforms a “kong toprecision” manoeuvreunder Waterloo Bridge.

On the cover: Tom Goodtakes on a wave at theJesus Surf Classic inCroyde Bay, North Devon.

22 idea july/august 2009 cover story 23cover story idea july/august 2009

‘

‘

Ross

Spea

rman

Chris

tianSu

rfers


We’ve all done it – hollered ourselves hoarsewith Christmas choruses in the shoppingmall or burned ourselves out with missions,

programmes and projects. And we’ve all beendisappointed when we don’t see hordes surrenderingtheir lives to Christ at the mere mention of the annualchurch outreach event.

Most of us learn the hard way that people outthere are not waiting for a tract; they’re waiting for asign, evidence that God exists. But most of us are notyet well-practised in miracles and wonders. So the bestevidence most of us can offer is what our lives sayabout the One who lives in us.

And this is “life discipleship” – living out our faithin the ordinary and everyday stuff of life, whetherthat’s in the office, on the sports field, at school orin the supermarket. It’s a key strand of the Alliance’sSquare Mile initiative, which is helping Christians havean impact on their immediate community. And whatlife discipleship looks like in practice is as complex andvaried as life itself.

In the case of Sam Fowler and Dean McDonald,it looks pretty spectacular. These two 18-year-oldsfrom London defy gravity, leaping over railings andback-flipping off walls in a form ofurban acrobatics known as parkour,or free-running. And they are usingtheir extraordinary art to talk toother teenagers about what Jesushas done in their lives.

They’ve given their movement aname, Parkour for Jesus, and they’vehad T-shirts printed, but it’s nothingheavy. They’re just doing what theylove to do and pointing people toChrist in the process.

“I love the freedom of parkour because it’s allabout getting over obstacles,” says Sam, who had thevision for a Christian team even before he knew anyother Christian free-runners. “God is a very liberatingGod because He came to save us, and parkour speaksto me about that.”

For Dean, his sport has taken on a new dimensionsince he became a Christian two years ago. “Nowparkour has suddenly become about more than just

developing myself: it’s become an opportunity to talkabout Jesus,” he says.

Common groundBringing God into what you love best is precisely whatPete Nicholas of Christians in Sport is passionate abouttoo. His job is to persuade and equip amateur andprofessional competitors to see sport as a missionfield. It’s as much about honouring God on the pitchas about speaking of Him in the changing room.

“We create secular and sacred divides, but weshouldn’t separate our everyday activities from ourfaith,” says Pete, a former Division 1 rugby player.“Many people don’t see how their faith relates to theirsport, and it gives them quite a sense of release whenthey see that something they love can be reconciledwith the God they love.”

Christian Surfers UK was aresponse to a similar case of “neverthe twain”, an attempt to bringJesus into a world consideredout-of-bounds for Christians.For Director Phil Williams, the workis all about serving the sport heloves – whether that’s laying onbarbecues or clearing up litter –and building relationships with acommunity with whom he sharesa common passion.

“A lot of surfers have some kind of spiritualthoughts at some stage,” he says. “It’s often said,‘There’s never an atheist in Hawaii when the wavesget above 20 feet.’ Further out, between the waves,it can be very peaceful and very beautiful, and yousometimes get the chance to chat with people aboutcreation and God.

“And it’s about how you surf too. If someonedrops in on you when you’re just about to surf a great

We shouldn’tseparate oureveryday

activities fromour faith

The Alliance’s Square Mile initiativeis about equipping churchesand individuals to impact theircommunities through mercy,influence, life discipleship andevangelism. In the third of ourfour-part series, freelancejournalist Seren Boyd talksto Christians who are living outtheir faith everyday…

is for lifediscipleship

Above: “Sitting out theback, waiting for thenext set, it’s impossiblenot to be impressed bythe creation around us.”

Opposite: Seva Fowlerperforms a “kong toprecision” manoeuvreunder Waterloo Bridge.

On the cover: Tom Goodtakes on a wave at theJesus Surf Classic inCroyde Bay, North Devon.

22 idea july/august 2009 cover story 23cover story idea july/august 2009

‘

‘

Ross

Spea

rman

Chris

tianSu

rfers


idea july/august 2009 cover story 25cover story idea july/august 200924

wave, there are two ways to respond: you can eithertell them where to go or ask them to be a bit morecareful.”

What Phil shares in common with Sam, Dean andPete is an awareness that we need to think outsidethe box about how we point people to Christ. Phil,a vicar’s son, is all too aware that much of what theChurch does makes little sense to people outside itswalls. “Surfing can be a pretty hedonistic place,” hesays. “You just can’t expect surfers to come into churchwith sand between their toes.”

Words of comfortChristine Bull has wrestled with the same dilemma,but for her it is art, not sport, that has helped her

communicate God’s love in an unobtrusive way –almost despite herself.

Christine had been a potter in West Sussexfor years when one day in 2005 she heardGod speak to her: “Put my Word on yourwork.” She clearly felt God was tellingher to paint Bible verses onto herceramics and she knew that her targetmarket should be a secular one.

She started with familiar verses –“safe ones that people might haveheard at weddings or Princess Di’sfuneral” – verses that speak of comfortand hope. Although she test-marketedthem through the local Christian

bookshop, her pieces were soon beingaccepted for display in art exhibitions.

And they sold well. One bowl bearingthe Old Testament blessing from Numbers

6.24-26 (“The Lord bless you and keep you....”)was shown at a prestigious local art exhibition in2006 and sold five times in two weeks.

“One lady saw my work exhibited in a local physicgarden and she got in touch to say how much it hadcomforted her to read, “The Lord bless you and keepyou....” on one of my pots. She had recently lost herhusband.”

One of Christine’s most recent projects was towork with a 12-year-old boy with terminal cancer,creating an urn for his ashes. Christine knows thepower of God’s word to sustain. As a child, shewatched her father struggle with MS. Then in 1995,her husband Richard suffered near-fatal head injuriesin a car crash. “People are seeking and it’s soimportant to have the Word out there,” she says.“It sinks into people in a way that other things can’t.”

Chris Gibson is someone else who has just madethe most of where God has put her to direct peopleto Jesus. But that place hasn’t always been acomfortable one. For Chris, a gentle Geordie nowliving in Hampshire, has been dealing with mattersof life and death both as a nurse and recently as acancer patient.

During her 40-odd years as a nurse, Chris wouldalways pray for her patients, though rarely with theirknowledge. Then in 2005, Chris was diagnosed withbreast cancer and began two years of chemo- andradiotherapy. During the long hours spent waiting forchemo, she met many people wrestling with fear. Nowshe was on the other side of the NHS, and she couldbe open about her faith.

“Often I’d just listen to people and Godwould show me what to pray for them,” she says.“Sometimes I would get the chance to talk to themabout what God had said and they’d say, ‘How doyou know that?’ One lady called Carol was dying oflung cancer. One day I prayed with her, then she wentdown to the chapel. She told me later, ‘I just gave itall to God.’ Her son rang me later to say she’d died ‘apeaceful death’ – as if she knew where she was going.

I just want to be someone who helps people hearGod. The best thing I can do is just be myself.It’s much easier when God does it.”

An irrational faithMartin Flatman may not be dealing in matters of lifeand death, but he treads a difficult line. He is a seniorproject manager in a major education support services

company, surrounded by rational, professional people.And he is bursting with an irrational faith in aninvisible God.

Martin chooses not to let that put him off. Heworks long hours away from his home in Manchester –his company is based in Surrey – so work, he hasdecided, should be where he witnesses. He set up aprayer group with a couple of Christian colleagues andwith senior management’s permission (“as long as therewere no tambourines”). They advertised it on thecompany’s intranet and waited. And waited.

In terms of take-up, the prayer meeting was a“wonderful, catastrophic failure”: only a handful ofpeople ever came. But then something unexpectedbegan to happen. “People started to sidle up to us inthe office and say, ‘I saw your ad. I don’t believe inprayer, but could you pray for me because I’ve justbeen diagnosed with cancer’; or, ‘My mum and dad areill’. Now I’ve discovered people really want you to prayfor them,” he says. “I feel I’m depriving people ofsomething fabulous if I don’t.”

All these Christians have realised that the Bible isjust a big old dusty book unless Christians are livingout its message through their lives 24/7. Or as the poetJohn Keats put it, “Even a proverb is no proverb untilyour life has illustrated it.”

You could become burdened by the enormity ofthis responsibility, but it’s best not to look at it likethat, says Pete Nicholas. “The real danger is that youcan become self-righteous and then you’re bound totrip up,” he says. “I need to let Him take care of whatI look like to other people.”

Much better, Martin Flatman says, is to look onevery conversation as an opportunity: “It’s a privilege,actually. I’m a child of the living God, and how canI not tell everybody about that?’

Applied Theology For the Workplace - 98% of

Moorlands graduates move into employment*

One Year Courses, BA & BA (Hons) In Applied Theology, MA In Applied TheologyChristian Leadership, Youth Work, Community & Family Studies,

Children & Schools, Pastoral, Evangelism and Cross Cultural Studies

www.moorlands.ac.ukMoorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch BH23 7ATTel: 01425 674500 Email: [email protected]

YOU’RE HIRED!YOU’RE HIRED!

Degree Courses Validated by

* Source: Moorlands graduate occupations 2008 statistics.

You just can’t expectsurfers to come intochurch with sandbetween their toes

‘ ‘Sculptor ChristineBull weaves scriptureinto the patterns ofher work.

New term, new challengePlan to transform your Square Mile this September alongwith churches up and down the UK using the latestresource from the Alliance and Community Mission.There are four levels of engagement...

1. YOU. The Square Mile journal is designed forindividuals to work through over four weeks.Each day includes a Bible reading, questionsand reflections and simple actions suggested inresponse.

2. YOUR SMALL GROUP. The Square Mile DVD consistsof four thought-provoking sessions, ideal for use ina home group or youth group setting.

3. YOUR CHURCH. As well as being able to adapt thematerial on the DVD for a Sunday, service outlinesare coming soon to tie-in with the series.

4. YOUR COMMUNITY. Implement what you’ve learnedto benefit those around you. For example, sign up forthe Alliance’s Simplify challenge in October (see p8).

To get equipped, visit: eauk.org/squaremile

Chris

tineBu

ll


idea july/august 2009 cover story 25cover story idea july/august 200924

wave, there are two ways to respond: you can eithertell them where to go or ask them to be a bit morecareful.”

What Phil shares in common with Sam, Dean andPete is an awareness that we need to think outsidethe box about how we point people to Christ. Phil,a vicar’s son, is all too aware that much of what theChurch does makes little sense to people outside itswalls. “Surfing can be a pretty hedonistic place,” hesays. “You just can’t expect surfers to come into churchwith sand between their toes.”

Words of comfortChristine Bull has wrestled with the same dilemma,but for her it is art, not sport, that has helped her

communicate God’s love in an unobtrusive way –almost despite herself.

Christine had been a potter in West Sussexfor years when one day in 2005 she heardGod speak to her: “Put my Word on yourwork.” She clearly felt God was tellingher to paint Bible verses onto herceramics and she knew that her targetmarket should be a secular one.

She started with familiar verses –“safe ones that people might haveheard at weddings or Princess Di’sfuneral” – verses that speak of comfortand hope. Although she test-marketedthem through the local Christian

bookshop, her pieces were soon beingaccepted for display in art exhibitions.

And they sold well. One bowl bearingthe Old Testament blessing from Numbers

6.24-26 (“The Lord bless you and keep you....”)was shown at a prestigious local art exhibition in2006 and sold five times in two weeks.

“One lady saw my work exhibited in a local physicgarden and she got in touch to say how much it hadcomforted her to read, “The Lord bless you and keepyou....” on one of my pots. She had recently lost herhusband.”

One of Christine’s most recent projects was towork with a 12-year-old boy with terminal cancer,creating an urn for his ashes. Christine knows thepower of God’s word to sustain. As a child, shewatched her father struggle with MS. Then in 1995,her husband Richard suffered near-fatal head injuriesin a car crash. “People are seeking and it’s soimportant to have the Word out there,” she says.“It sinks into people in a way that other things can’t.”

Chris Gibson is someone else who has just madethe most of where God has put her to direct peopleto Jesus. But that place hasn’t always been acomfortable one. For Chris, a gentle Geordie nowliving in Hampshire, has been dealing with mattersof life and death both as a nurse and recently as acancer patient.

During her 40-odd years as a nurse, Chris wouldalways pray for her patients, though rarely with theirknowledge. Then in 2005, Chris was diagnosed withbreast cancer and began two years of chemo- andradiotherapy. During the long hours spent waiting forchemo, she met many people wrestling with fear. Nowshe was on the other side of the NHS, and she couldbe open about her faith.

“Often I’d just listen to people and Godwould show me what to pray for them,” she says.“Sometimes I would get the chance to talk to themabout what God had said and they’d say, ‘How doyou know that?’ One lady called Carol was dying oflung cancer. One day I prayed with her, then she wentdown to the chapel. She told me later, ‘I just gave itall to God.’ Her son rang me later to say she’d died ‘apeaceful death’ – as if she knew where she was going.

I just want to be someone who helps people hearGod. The best thing I can do is just be myself.It’s much easier when God does it.”

An irrational faithMartin Flatman may not be dealing in matters of lifeand death, but he treads a difficult line. He is a seniorproject manager in a major education support services

company, surrounded by rational, professional people.And he is bursting with an irrational faith in aninvisible God.

Martin chooses not to let that put him off. Heworks long hours away from his home in Manchester –his company is based in Surrey – so work, he hasdecided, should be where he witnesses. He set up aprayer group with a couple of Christian colleagues andwith senior management’s permission (“as long as therewere no tambourines”). They advertised it on thecompany’s intranet and waited. And waited.

In terms of take-up, the prayer meeting was a“wonderful, catastrophic failure”: only a handful ofpeople ever came. But then something unexpectedbegan to happen. “People started to sidle up to us inthe office and say, ‘I saw your ad. I don’t believe inprayer, but could you pray for me because I’ve justbeen diagnosed with cancer’; or, ‘My mum and dad areill’. Now I’ve discovered people really want you to prayfor them,” he says. “I feel I’m depriving people ofsomething fabulous if I don’t.”

All these Christians have realised that the Bible isjust a big old dusty book unless Christians are livingout its message through their lives 24/7. Or as the poetJohn Keats put it, “Even a proverb is no proverb untilyour life has illustrated it.”

You could become burdened by the enormity ofthis responsibility, but it’s best not to look at it likethat, says Pete Nicholas. “The real danger is that youcan become self-righteous and then you’re bound totrip up,” he says. “I need to let Him take care of whatI look like to other people.”

Much better, Martin Flatman says, is to look onevery conversation as an opportunity: “It’s a privilege,actually. I’m a child of the living God, and how canI not tell everybody about that?’

Applied Theology For the Workplace - 98% of

Moorlands graduates move into employment*

One Year Courses, BA & BA (Hons) In Applied Theology, MA In Applied TheologyChristian Leadership, Youth Work, Community & Family Studies,

Children & Schools, Pastoral, Evangelism and Cross Cultural Studies

www.moorlands.ac.ukMoorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch BH23 7ATTel: 01425 674500 Email: [email protected]

YOU’RE HIRED!YOU’RE HIRED!

Degree Courses Validated by

* Source: Moorlands graduate occupations 2008 statistics.

You just can’t expectsurfers to come intochurch with sandbetween their toes

‘ ‘Sculptor ChristineBull weaves scriptureinto the patterns ofher work.

New term, new challengePlan to transform your Square Mile this September alongwith churches up and down the UK using the latestresource from the Alliance and Community Mission.There are four levels of engagement...

1. YOU. The Square Mile journal is designed forindividuals to work through over four weeks.Each day includes a Bible reading, questionsand reflections and simple actions suggested inresponse.

2. YOUR SMALL GROUP. The Square Mile DVD consistsof four thought-provoking sessions, ideal for use ina home group or youth group setting.

3. YOUR CHURCH. As well as being able to adapt thematerial on the DVD for a Sunday, service outlinesare coming soon to tie-in with the series.

4. YOUR COMMUNITY. Implement what you’ve learnedto benefit those around you. For example, sign up forthe

Desperately racking my brains for a biblicallyintelligent answer to one of the most difficultquestions I had ever been asked, I found myself

wishing that I had a theologian accessible at the pushof a panic button.

A young Iranian woman – I’ll call her Maryam –had posed the question (on pacifism). She hadattended an Alpha course and was keen to understandmore about the Bible. I stumbled through a half-adequate answer for my new friend, and she wantedto meet up again. I was daunted to discover that I hadbegun discipling her.

Significant moments in my own spiritual growthhave been shaped by discipleship or mentoring, as amore mature believer helped a younger Christian todevelop spiritual faith or skills. Now the roles hadchanged, and I saw the potential of this fresh believer.I wanted to make a go of it.

I sought guidance from Andy Peck, a tutor withCWR ministries who is keen on encouraging peoplelike me to have the courage to disciple others.“Discipleship is becoming more like Christ in ourbehaviour and in our life – a lifetime process,” he said.“There is a sense in which all of us could benefit from

being discipled by someone who is more spirituallymature than us.”

Life experienceBy far the biggest barrier was my own sense ofinadequacy. Did I have the qualities needed for thejob? “The discipler needs to have transparency

about their own walk with God, experience ofcoming through life’s ups and downs, and theability to discern somebody else’s spiritual life.”Andy said. “We all have learner badges on andnone of us feel worthy, but we are always pointingto Jesus. If we are looking to progress in our

idea july/august 2009 how-to 27

What do you do when you’re trying to help disciple someone andthey ask you a seemingly impossible question? Lucy Cooper looksfor the answers...

Learningone-to-one

Much of Christianlife is caught and

not taught

‘ ‘

emphasising the heart of the gospel at the heart of our church

underpinning everything with God-centred worship and prayer

encouraging fresh ways of being church

developing confidence in evangelism

supporting action for justice

proclaiming and affirming our conviction of God’s love in Christ, for all the world

Evangelical and Methodist? Join us!

www.met-uk.org For your free copy of our quarterly magazine, email your name & address to [email protected]

‘Consider carefully how you listen' says Jesus in Luke 8 v 18.

The fact is, there is more involved in listening to God's word than you might

think and this short, easy-to-read book by Christopher Ash makes it much

more achievable.

Listen Up! contains practical hints and tips for healthy listening, as well as

advice on how to respond to bad sermons and how to encourage our Bible

teachers to give sermons that will really help us to grow as Christians.

A fantastic new resource for new and not-so-new Christians alike.

'A great resource to help grow a new generation of believers who both

tremble at God’s word and are changed by it'

Vaughan Roberts, St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford

Available from Christian bookshops. To order call 0845 225 0880 or visit

www.thegoodbook.co.uk/listenup

LISTEN UP!A practical guide to listening to sermons

Design

Pics


how-to idea july/august 200928

Take it furtherThese resources can get you started with one-to-one discipleship:

� One to One: A Discipleship Handbook by Sophie Peace (Authentic).

� Foundations21, produced by the Bible Reading Fellowship, is a flexibleonline course for small groups or individuals, covering the basics anddelving deeper into application: foundations21.org.uk

� Discipling, Coaching, Mentoring by Bryn Hughes (Kingsway).

� Life Issues or Cover to Cover Bible study guides, produced by CWR –ideal to working through in pairs.

� Freedom in Christ: Discipleship Course Workbook by Neil Andersonand Steve Goss (Monarch).

� 21st Century Discipleship Course is run by CWR at Waverley Abbey:cwr.org.uk

Accredited one and two year courses leading to a BA in Theology and Ministry, with a wide range of electives and modules available.

Interested? Join us at our open day on July 11th

Central England

Theology programmes for those whose desire is to be thoroughly trained for ministry and outreach

Visit: www.trinityschooloftheology.org.uk Or call: 01792 203 463

Engaging your mind; developing the whole person

Association ofChristian Teachers

Are you a Christian?

Do you work in education?

Have you joined ACT yet?

To find out more, please contact:ACT94a London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1NXT: 01727 840298E: [email protected]: www.christian-teachers.org.uk


THERE ARENO LIMITS

TO WHAT YOU CAN

ACHIEVEThere’s a world to win. Is God calling

you to play a key role in reaching it?With full time and part time BAprogrammes specialising in leadership,mission and crosscultural ministry aswell as biblical studies and theology,Mattersey Hall is the best place todiscover and refine your gifts and to beequipped for serving God in the 21stcentury.Call for a prospectus today on 01777817663 or see our website.

Mattersey Hall, Retford Road, Mattersey DN10 5HD, England, UK

t: 01777 817663 f: 01777 816195 e: [email protected]

ww

w.m

atte

rsey

hall.c

om

Christian life ourselves, then we can helpothers less far along the road than us.”

The key, he said, is to know matureChristians who have further biblicalwisdom or who can point you in thedirection of the answer. “Express fromthe outset that you know enough, carefor them, will pray for and love them,and that if they ask something youdon’t know, you will do some research,”he said.

The reassurance that God is workingthrough me as I point towards Him,even in my weakness, has given mepeace and a sense of the bigger picture.It also made me wonder if perhapsfeelings of unworthiness could bedepriving the Church of great potentialdisciplers.

Keeping watchTo prevent common mistakes suchas pride or isolation from church life,Andy also stressed how important it isto keep reviewing our situation. “Becareful not to create a dependency onyourself, but help the person thinkfor themselves spiritually,” he said.

“This may take time, so it’s important that it takes placewithin a range of relationships with other Christians whothey will benefit from in different ways.”

He emphasised that every church leadership teamshould prioritise working out their own strategy ofdiscipleship to fit with who they are as a church:“If a church is not making disciples, what is it doing?”

It excited me to see Maryam’s thirst to understand theBible and her eagerness for us to study together. Constantlychallenged and inspired, this has reignited my own love forthe Bible.

In her book One to One: A Discipleship Handbook,Sophie Peace writes about the benefits of applying God’s

All of uscould benefit frombeing discipled bysomeone who ismore spiritually

mature

‘

‘

word in a more intimate setting: “One-to-one studiesoffer more time for wrestling thoroughly with the bigpoint of the passage, without many voices cloudingthe issue and making for a more superficial study ofthe text.”

Andy agreed: “One-to-one work enables adiscussion of real-life practical questions anddecisions and then a review to assess what workedand what didn’t. It is not one size fits all. It isbespoke, unique and tailor made.”

As Farsi is Maryam’s first language, she praysout loud in her mother tongue, so I must find waysof leading simple prayers. This is unique to ourcircumstance and each situation will be different,allowing freedom for flexibility. My process oflearning to sit more comfortably with silence andtake longer to listen and observe has begun.

Friendship-basedAs I have talked with people about this issue, manyhave told me that the best experiences have comewhen the discipleship relationship has arisen naturallythrough a genuine friendship. Of course, with life’sbusy schedules and communication so often beingconducted via Facebook or text, time spent face-to-face sharing life and deepening friendships is an evermore precious commodity.

It may seem obvious, but it is evident thatmeaningful discipleship for the whole person doesn’thappen through training sessions or a book. It can’tbe rushed. Just as children become like those theyassociate with, investing in someone’s life conveysnot only what we know, but also who we are.

As Sophie Peace says, “Much of Christian lifeis caught and not taught. Through friendship we aremodelling what it means to persevere in the Gospeland to strive to live of God in every area of our lives.”

Enjoying social activities together and exchangingculture has become a valuable part of my experiencewith Maryam, and this is an indication that I see heras a valued and loved person and not a project.

As the sessions unfold I haveseen major benefits beginto emerge – the process ofdiscovery for both of us,the accountability we canestablish, the trust wecan build on and mostdefinitely a mutualencouragement aswe learn fromGod together.

Lucy Cooper is a pressofficer at the Alliance.


idea july/august 2009 culture 31culture idea july/august 200930

Summer is here at last. We spent the cold,wet winter yearning for it to arrive, and nowcomplain about the cold and wet ruiningbarbecues, camping trips and cricketmatches. Then maybe we’ll have thepredicted heatwave, and we’ll moan aboutthat instead. But at least it’s time for abreak, which is what really matters.

Many of us crave holidays in the sun. In2007, Brits took around 70 million overseasholidays, which is more than one each, and athird of those were to Spain. Thanks to thecredit crunch, this year will be very different

with many choosing to holiday in the UK,even remaining at home for a “staycation”.In his book The Art of Travel, Alain deBotton gives a primary reason why peopletravel: the desire for something different,for the exotic. This is why the average Brithas visited only 2 per cent of UK townsand cities, and why a Mamma Mia-inspiredGreece appeals so strongly. De Bottonsuggests that we have this desire becausewe are dissatisfied with life as it is. “Whatwe find exotic abroad may be what wehunger for in vain at home,” he writes.

holidays

Talking about...

Whether we are talkingfrom a pulpit or over agarden fence, Tony Watkinshelps us to give relevantanswers to the big issuesraised by contemporarypopular culture...

Something freshOur lives feel mundane. When everything isfamiliar, we start taking it for granted. Wecan’t imagine that our environs have anycharms since we see them every day. Werarely visit local tourist attractions becausethey are always there and we could gowhenever we like. We long for somethingfresh, something we’ve not seen before.

Meanwhile, even those of us who enjoyour work find parts of it a drag and we longfor a break. Back in 1955, psychologist ErichFromm suggested that Western society is

profoundly unhealthy because of work’simpact on mental health. It’s more stressfulthan ever today, with more than 2 millionpeople a year suffering work-relatedill-health.

And don’t get me started on day-to-daylife’s frenetic pace. Nobody seems to haveany time to relax. No wonder the urge toescape, if only for a short time, is such astrong one.

Part of the joy of holidays for manypeople is the escapism of a good book.Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code sequel, The Lost

Symbol, comes out too late for the beachthis year. But the Richard & Judy Book Clubsummer reads, including Bateman’s MysteryMan and Janice Lee’s The Piano Teacher,will be packed in many suitcases. Thesummer is also a time for escapism in themovies, with sequels like Harry Potterand the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age 3and Terminator Salvation sure to drawin big audiences who relish being taken,albeit briefly, to another time or place.

But at the heart of the holiday is theprospect of peace. That’s exactly what thePearsons are about to enjoy in the familythriller Aliens in the Attic: a perfect familyvacation. Unfortunately, their holiday iswrecked by, well, aliens in the attic. And thehoneymooners in A Perfect Getaway havetheir tranquility shattered when two killersstalk them.

A right to happiness?Ordeals like this are an exaggeration ofa fear that we all face. We dread havingour holiday ruined, whether by buildersfinishing the hotel, noisy campers in theneighbouring tent or a deluge turning thegreat outdoors into a soggy swamp. We feelcheated of our right to some happiness.It’s more fundamental than that, though,since we don’t actually have a right to

What we findexotic abroadmay be what

we hunger for invain at home

‘

‘


32

Film clipsCinema appeals across society’s boundaries. And films that examine importantthemes can spark lively conversation with neighbours about something moreimportant than the weather. The following aren’t for family viewing, but theycan ignite discussions...

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (15) takes a female approach tothe same themes examined in American Beauty: namely, a sense ofsuburban dislocation, like life has gone the wrong way. Robin Wrightis excellent in the title role as a wife and mother who feels as if she’ssleepwalking through life now that her kids have left the nest. As sheexamines decisions she made in her youth, the film quietly builds to aresonant emotional climax (10 Jul).

Icon

FROZEN RIVER (15) stars the remarkable Melissa Leo in her Oscar-nominated performance as a woman struggling to cope after herhusband leaves her. In desperation, she reluctantly befriends a sparkyMohawk girl (Misty Upham) who offers quick cash for illegallytransporting immigrants across the frozen Canadian border.This gripping film makes us understand the risks this woman feelsforced to take to protect her two sons (17 Jul).

COCO BEFORE CHANEL (PG) is a fascinating look at the life of thefashion icon (superbly played by Audrey Tautou), from her orphanedchildhood through her emergence as the first major female designer.Beautifully shot, the film tends to wallow in her misery, as she’scrushed by a system that discriminates against both women and thepoor. But there are complex relationships along the way, and hertenacious resilience is deeply inspiring (31 Jul). RC

SKIN (12) is based on a true story from Apartheid-era South Africaabout an Afrikaaner couple (Sam Neill and Alice Krige) whose daughterlooks more black than white. The film grapples honestly and openlywith potent racial and political issues, but never becomes a polemic,because it keeps the story rooted in the characters and relationships.This makes it powerfully moving. And as the woman at the centre ofthe story, Sophie Okonedo is simply wonderful (24 Jul)

ICA

Axiom

SUNSHINE CLEANING (15) stars Amy Adams as a single motherwho has never managed to achieve any level of self-confidence. Hertroubled sister (the terrific Emily Blunt) joins her to start a companythat cleans up grisly crime scenes. This lets the filmmakers indulgein some pretty gruesome black comedy as they tell a quirky andremarkably heart-warming story about a woman trying to break badhabits and do something meaningful with her life (26 Jun).

Delanic

MOON (15) is a subtle sci-fi thriller that echoes such classics as 2001,Silent Running and Solaris as it tells the offbeat near-future story ofa lonely man (Sam Rockwell) serving a three-year solo stint on a lunarmining station. And just as his term is finishing, he meets himself inthe station. What follows is a provocative exploration of what makesus human, beautifully played and written as one man’s perplexingexistential crisis. The result is riveting and haunting (17 Jul).

Sony

idea july/august 2009 culture 33

For more information visit www.ccli.co.uk/healthcheck and make sure you are acting legally.

Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1BF

Tel: 01323 436103 Fax: 01323 436112

Email: [email protected]

Is your church covered?Whatever activities you are running in your church, CCLI can provide a simple, legal and affordable solution to your copyright needs:

Reproducing Song Words

Photocopying

Playing/Performing Music

Showing Films

Recording Music

Downloading Song Lyrics and music

cIs your churWhatever activities you ar

dfora simple, legal and af

ed?ch coverch, CCLI can pre running in your churar

dable solution to your copyright needs:

e information visit For mor

dfora simple, legal and af

dorrdsoducing Song WReprroducing Song W

Photocopying

Playing/Performing Music

t .ccli.co.uwww

dable solution to your copyright needs:

ds

sic

Showing Films

ding MusicRecor

Downloading Song yrics and musicL

culture idea july/august 200932

Optim

um

the sight of a clogged inbox. Even whilewe’re on holiday, we know that our failingsremain part of us.

The truth is that this world cannotdeliver the deep, lasting peace we long for.And yet we thirst for it because we werecreated to experience it in a relationshipwith God. This is why we travel in searchof new places and new experiences. As CSLewis wrote, “If I find in myself a desirewhich no experience in this world cansatisfy, the most probable explanation isthat I was made for another world.”

� Find out more about the issues raisedin this article at: damaris.org/ideamagazine� Toolsfortalks.com contains quotesand illustrations taken from the latestfilms, music, magazines and TV – updatedweekly.

happiness. The real issue is that our desirefor peace has been thwarted.

This yearning is deep inside each ofus. It is not necessarily a hankering forquietness, since some of us relish activity.But we all hunger to feel at peace with theworld, our families and ourselves, and that

can be very elusive in the normal dailyround. Time spent in rest and recreation cancertainly help us rediscover something ofthis, enabling us to find some inner calm.

But of course nothing really changes inthe long run. Our equanimity is sometimesdisappointingly short-lived, evaporating at

Tony Watkins is managingeditor of Culturewatch.org

Escapism? In A Perfect Getaway, Milla Jovovich’sHawaii honeymoon goes terrifyingly wrong.

We all hunger tofeel at peace withthe world, ourfamilies andourselves

Mom

entu

m

W

e’re turning aroundth

elivesofthosemost

inn

eed.

Chapter 1 is a Christiansocial charity offeringhuman compassionand practical support.We help vulnerablepeople change and enjoya fulfilled life throughour work, which focuseson accommodation andrelated support services.

We offer our servicesto anyone in need

respecting their faith,culture and social

background. We workin partnership with

28 local authorities andhave a growing network

of over 35 projectsacross the UK.

If you’d like to help us in any way or for more information, please call us on 020 7593 0470 or visit www.ch1.org.uk now.Chapter 1 is the trading name of Christian Alliance Housing Association Limited. Charity No. 293232. Company No. 1937003. TSA Regulator of Social Housing Registration H 3658.

Changing livesone by one


To give just one example, in our ongoing debates aboutsexual sin, one of the things worth bearing in mind is that ifwe take Jesus’ words about lustful looks in Matthew 5.27-29seriously then most men (and possibly most women) have atsome point in their lives been guilty of sexual sin. And if weconsider ourselves, despite this sin, as among those who haveexperienced new birth, then this means we should be cautiousbefore prematurely declaring others to be outside God’s kingdom

simply because they struggle with, for instance, same-sexattractions.

The bigger issue in all this, though, is simply the fact thatif we preoccupy ourselves with defining ever more preciselythe boundaries of who is and who is not a genuine Christian,or who is and who is not a genuine evangelical, then we will bespending our energies on a relatively small number of people andcompletely ignoring the masses who undoubtedly are at presentoutside God’s kingdom.

It strikes me that our first call is to reach out to thosesignificant swathes of people who do not in any sense know“the grace of new birth”, rather than endlessly sweat overprecisely how much “new birth” people need to have beforewe label them as “in”.

Moreover, if we got on with that first command and calling –to reach the lost – and if we did it with the unity to which weare called, then it would seem, at least according to Jesus, thatthis is how people will recognise both that we are His disciplesand more importantly that God sent Him to save them.

� The Practical Resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance can befound at: eauk.org/resolutions

We welcome as Christian brothersand sisters all who experience thegrace of new birth, bringing themto that fear and knowledge ofGod which is expressed in a lifeof obedience to His word.

This is the first in a series relating the Alliance’s Practical Resolutions to the taskof mission. Justin Thacker discusses...

him that those who were not born Jews, or did notexplicitly convert to Judaism, were outside of God’skingdom. They were the “dogs” of Revelation 22.15.Yet in his vision in Joppa, the Lord instructs Peter thathe should “not call anything impure that God hasmade clean” (Acts 10.15). So Peter visits Cornelius,witnesses the Spirit fall in power on these Gentilebelievers, and in that moment his understanding ofwho is in and who is out is transformed.

When called to defend his actions, Peter says,“If God gave them the same gift He gave us whobelieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to thinkthat I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11.17).

Similarly, at the Council in Jerusalem, Peter makesthe same defence: “God, who knows the heart,showed that He accepted them by giving the HolySpirit to them, just as He did to us ... for He purifiedtheir hearts by faith” (Acts 15.8). For Peter, then, itwas this gift and transformation by the Spirit thatdemonstrated their inclusion in the kingdom of God.

In a similar manner, this first practical resolutionattempts to capture the truth that we should welcomeand recognise “all who experience the grace of newbirth”. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, this isfar from how we behave. Instead, like Peter, we arequick to decide who is in and who is out, not usingthe criteria that Scripture provides, but rather byestablishing our own walls of division.

Defining boundariesAt times, this can manifest itself doctrinally wherebywe specify with such rigidity the beliefs to whichpeople must subscribe that frankly I’m amazed thatanyone without a PhD in systematic theology can besaved. At other times, we do it behaviourally in such away that even Jesus Christ would fail to pass the testsof the most ardent moral purists.

Justin Thackeris the Alliance’sHead ofTheology

Next issue:A dutyof trust

Living out our faith does more to promotegenuine Christianity than merely professing it.So we seek to promote good Christian practice,

as well as true Christian doctrine, not least by themanner in which we conduct our relationships witheach other.” So begins the preamble to the PracticalResolutions adopted by the Alliance and the thenBritish Evangelical Council (now Affinity) in 1997.

The preamble continues: “It is intended to standalongside our Basis of Faith, and to express how weshould be treating each other. It should be seen as anintegrated expression of the responsibilities we oweeach other in the Body of Christ. The Executive ofthe BEC and the Council of EAUK commend thiscommitment to members as a reminder of our basicChristian duty towards fellow Christians, and inparticular as a guideline when making comments inthe media, in book reviews and in public ministrygenerally.”

In John 17.20-23, Jesus directly links our unitywith each other and our unity with God to our visiblewitness in the world. Jesus prays that as believersdisplay such unity “then the world will know that yousent me”. In a similar vein, Jesus also says, “By thiseveryone will know that you are my disciples, if youlove one another” (John 13.35).

So if we are concerned about mission, if we desireto reach those outside our church, then necessarily wewill also be concerned about visible unity. The firststep on that road, at least according to these practicalresolutions, is to “welcome as Christian brothers andsisters all who experience the grace of new birth”.

Coming to termsThis was the classic challenge that Peter faced ashe came to terms with the salvation of the Gentiles.Almost everything he knew until that point had taught

the basics idea july/august 200934

Faithful to the Bible• Plan and manage your children's group

like never before

• Access a bank of activities and ideas

• Enrich your programme with multimedia resources

• Search, save and print - all from one website

Over 650 activities are added every three months - that's in addition to the archive of over 10,000!


Quality, Bible-based resources for children’s, youth and all-age ministry.

Using the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.

Help children in yourchurch engage with theBible. This FREE resourceis available now, just visitwww.lightlive.organd register your group today

We are quick to decide whois in and who is out


To give just one example, in our ongoing debates aboutsexual sin, one of the things worth bearing in mind is that ifwe take Jesus’ words about lustful looks in Matthew 5.27-29seriously then most men (and possibly most women) have atsome point in their lives been guilty of sexual sin. And if weconsider ourselves, despite this sin, as among those who haveexperienced new birth, then this means we should be cautiousbefore prematurely declaring others to be outside God’s kingdom

simply because they struggle with, for instance, same-sexattractions.

The bigger issue in all this, though, is simply the fact thatif we preoccupy ourselves with defining ever more preciselythe boundaries of who is and who is not a genuine Christian,or who is and who is not a genuine evangelical, then we will bespending our energies on a relatively small number of people andcompletely ignoring the masses who undoubtedly are at presentoutside God’s kingdom.

It strikes me that our first call is to reach out to thosesignificant swathes of people who do not in any sense know“the grace of new birth”, rather than endlessly sweat overprecisely how much “new birth” people need to have beforewe label them as “in”.

Moreover, if we got on with that first command and calling –to reach the lost – and if we did it with the unity to which weare called, then it would seem, at least according to Jesus, thatthis is how people will recognise both that we are His disciplesand more importantly that God sent Him to save them.

� The Practical Resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance can befound at: eauk.org/resolutions

We welcome as Christian brothersand sisters all who experience thegrace of new birth, bringing themto that fear and knowledge ofGod which is expressed in a lifeof obedience to His word.

This is the first in a series relating the Alliance’s Practical Resolutions to the taskof mission. Justin Thacker discusses...

him that those who were not born Jews, or did notexplicitly convert to Judaism, were outside of God’skingdom. They were the “dogs” of Revelation 22.15.Yet in his vision in Joppa, the Lord instructs Peter thathe should “not call anything impure that God hasmade clean” (Acts 10.15). So Peter visits Cornelius,witnesses the Spirit fall in power on these Gentilebelievers, and in that moment his understanding ofwho is in and who is out is transformed.

When called to defend his actions, Peter says,“If God gave them the same gift He gave us whobelieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to thinkthat I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11.17).

Similarly, at the Council in Jerusalem, Peter makesthe same defence: “God, who knows the heart,showed that He accepted them by giving the HolySpirit to them, just as He did to us ... for He purifiedtheir hearts by faith” (Acts 15.8). For Peter, then, itwas this gift and transformation by the Spirit thatdemonstrated their inclusion in the kingdom of God.

In a similar manner, this first practical resolutionattempts to capture the truth that we should welcomeand recognise “all who experience the grace of newbirth”. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, this isfar from how we behave. Instead, like Peter, we arequick to decide who is in and who is out, not usingthe criteria that Scripture provides, but rather byestablishing our own walls of division.

Defining boundariesAt times, this can manifest itself doctrinally wherebywe specify with such rigidity the beliefs to whichpeople must subscribe that frankly I’m amazed thatanyone without a PhD in systematic theology can besaved. At other times, we do it behaviourally in such away that even Jesus Christ would fail to pass the testsof the most ardent moral purists.

Justin Thackeris the Alliance’sHead ofTheology

Next issue:A dutyof trust

Living out our faith does more to promotegenuine Christianity than merely professing it.So we seek to promote good Christian practice,

as well as true Christian doctrine, not least by themanner in which we conduct our relationships witheach other.” So begins the preamble to the PracticalResolutions adopted by the Alliance and the thenBritish Evangelical Council (now Affinity) in 1997.

The preamble continues: “It is intended to standalongside our Basis of Faith, and to express how weshould be treating each other. It should be seen as anintegrated expression of the responsibilities we oweeach other in the Body of Christ. The Executive ofthe BEC and the Council of EAUK commend thiscommitment to members as a reminder of our basicChristian duty towards fellow Christians, and inparticular as a guideline when making comments inthe media, in book reviews and in public ministrygenerally.”

In John 17.20-23, Jesus directly links our unitywith each other and our unity with God to our visiblewitness in the world. Jesus prays that as believersdisplay such unity “then the world will know that yousent me”. In a similar vein, Jesus also says, “By thiseveryone will know that you are my disciples, if youlove one another” (John 13.35).

So if we are concerned about mission, if we desireto reach those outside our church, then necessarily wewill also be concerned about visible unity. The firststep on that road, at least according to these practicalresolutions, is to “welcome as Christian brothers andsisters all who experience the grace of new birth”.

Coming to termsThis was the classic challenge that Peter faced ashe came to terms with the salvation of the Gentiles.Almost everything he knew until that point had taught

the basics idea july/august 200934

Faithful to the Bible• Plan and manage your children's group

like never before

• Access a bank of activities and ideas

• Enrich your programme with multimedia resources

• Search, save and print - all from one website

Over 650 activities are added every three months - that's in addition to the archive of over 10,000!


Quality, Bible-based resources for children’s, youth and all-age ministry.

Using the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.

Help children in yourchurch engage with theBible. This FREE resourceis available now, just visitwww.lightlive.organd register your group today

We are quick to decide whois in and who is out


36 your voice idea july/august 200936

Putting it plainlyCongratulations to Justin Thacker on hisarticle (The Basics, May/Jun) about the lastthings. It may reveal the limitations of myreading but I have never before readanything from an evangelical writer thatput it so plainly as he does when he states,“It is interesting that the majority of Jesus'discourse on hell was directed either at thePharisees or His disciples, both of whomwould have assumed that they were notespecially in danger of going there… Hence,the reality of hell is a reminder that noneof us should take our own salvation forgranted, and it should also drive us tomission for the sake of others.”

The question this leaves us with, ofcourse, is whether we now follow JohnWesley rather than John Calvin. Or perhapswe should follow the Scriptures rather thanany interpretation?Brian Pemberton, Barry, Cardiff

Still more optionsUnder the title Other Options, David Taylor(Your Voice, May/Jun) addressed the problemsgenerated by the credit crunch. While hisarguments were persuasive, the core ofthe problem lies with the excessive debtmountain of the public and private sectors.

The Christian Council for MonetaryJustice advocates the controlled issue ofinterest-free monies by an independentagency of the government (similar to theBank of England) and that banks be barredfrom issuing debt (subtly called “credit”) inexcess of their assets and monies depositedwith them. This move would have abeneficial effect of removing much of debtand the burden of interest payments fromthe economy, enhancing its efficiency andremoving in time the worries of many whoare currently in debt and whose problemsI try to ease during my duties at a localDebt Advice Centre (not single handedly,of course).

Obviously there is more to this subjectthan this summary states, but it justoutlines the main features. Perhaps ideacould feature an article from the CCMJ,or readers could visit: ccmj.orgSam Pearce, Burgess Hill

The burden of debtDavid Taylor (Your Voice, May/Jun) suggestsoptions he believes would ease the present

pointing out that government debtwill eventually have to be repaid by thetaxpayer. However, the alternative is unlikelyto be painless. The cost of recovering fromthe recession will have to be paid bysomeone. The choice is whether we sharethe burden through general taxation,or whether we allow the burden to falldisproportionately on those who areunfortunate enough to lose theirlivelihoods. I know which alternativefeels more consistent with my faith.Chris Robins, Kidlington, Oxon

Check the numbersIn your cover story (I is for Influence,May/Jun), the writer notes that “fewer thana million people attend weekly Sundayservices”, but I think you’ll find that thisrefers only to Church of England attendance.The total is actually around 3 million. In aMay 2007 Church of England newspaperarticle, Peter Brierley gives a weekly overallattendance figure of 3.2 million.

Please check this, as it is important wedon’t add to the myth of the marginalisedChurch.Richard Mortimer, by email

NOTE: The figures from the last churchcensus in 2005 put Sunday churchattendance at 3,166,200. The more recentTearfund Churchgoing in the UK report(2007) puts weekly church visits at 4.9million, which includes both Sunday andmid-week services.

Continue to prayEven though the recent events in Sri Lankamay have fallen from the headlines, it’simportant that UK Christians continue topray for the country and support agenciesthat are working on the ground there.By the end of May there were more than250,000 civilians displaced by the conflict.More than 70,000 have been killed, which ismore than twice the number who died inthe country’s last humanitarian disaster,the 2004 tsunami.

It is the Church that must initiatereconciliation in Sri Lanka. This is the hourfor the Church to demonstrate the truelove, unity and oneness in Christ acrossevery possible barrier. The whole countryhas suffered, and the Church has theresponsibility to demonstrate the waytowards a lasting peace. Working andsupporting each other through collectiveprayer and immediate practical support forthose affected in the Wanni area would bethe immediate priority.Pastor Surekha Hulugalle, London

economic problems. Sadly, however, theeconomy is more complex than he imagines.It is wise advice to suggest that those withlong-term debt repay some of it. The costof borrowing is nearly always greater thanthe interest rate on savings. For that reason,however, most of those who are able torepay part of their debts are likely to havedone so. It is not realistic to suppose thateveryone with debt will be in a position torepay £1,000.

Furthermore, even where it is possible,we need to consider where that £1,000would come from. Either they must draw it

from savings, in which case the net effect onthe banks’ balance sheet is nil, or they musttake it out of other expenditure, in whichcase the banks’ balance sheets benefit at theexpense of the retail sector. Either way, thenet effect on the economy is nil.

Similarly with his suggestion that wespend £1 more a week on UK goods andservices instead of imports, we need toconsider where that £1 will come from.Either it will come from another developedcountry, in which case the citizens of thatcountry may well respond in a similarmanner, so that the effects cancel eachother out, or it will be taken from a lessdeveloped country whose citizens are lessable to retaliate, in which case we would bebenefiting our own economy at the expenseof those whose plight is even worse.

That, I suspect, is why he cannot find anymainstream political party voicing his views.Whatever they may promise at election time,most politicians are sensible enough to knowthat, in reality, you can’t get something fornothing.

Mr Taylor is, of course, correct in

Letters should be sent to [email protected] or idea, 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT.Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the rightto edit letters for length and clarity. We regret that we are not able to engage in personalcorrespondence. Everyone who has a letter printed on this page will receive a thank you gift.

Fightingviolence

p20

uniting to change society may/june 2009

37idea july/august 2009 guest essay

Islam are a small minority. The temptationis to argue that the silent majority is just asresponsible for the violence. But that failsto appreciate that many more individualMuslim scholars, imams and groups are nowspeaking out against the murderous views ofthe fanatics.

To understand the silence of ordinaryMuslims, one has to wonder why ordinarycitizens did not turn up on the streets inNazi Germany or Communist Russia, China

and Cambodia to demonstrate against theirmurderous regimes. The silent majoritymay be complicit in their silence, but inthe end it is the fanatical minority who areresponsible for their acts of violence.

A way forwardThose who blame Islam for violencecommitted by Muslims are by implicationsuggesting that the Koran as a text, or Islamas a religion, should be banned. But religioustraditions themselves neither speak nor act.It is adherents who speak and act in thename of their traditions.

Millions of Muslims around the worldrecite the same texts daily but do not go outto kill others. There are tough texts and acts

of violence in almost all religious scriptures,traditions and histories. And it must beremembered that, over the period of timethat Muslims generally glorified the traditionof jihad as religious war, other religioustraditions like Christianity and Zoroastrianismalso drew inspiration from their traditionsand engaged in violent conquests too.

So the issue is not the mere fact thatthere are violent texts or examples ofviolence by religious figures. The issue is theway people of faith have chosen to interpretthe source books of the religions.

During the reformation, the ChristianChurch went through a painful processaimed at redeeming its traditions bychallenging the interpretative frameworkof earlier generations. In 1965, the RomanCatholic Church, in its Second VaticanCouncil, had to revise and set aside centuriesof unhelpful traditions. To redeem theIslamic tradition, Muslim scholars todayreserve the right to consider establishinga new interpretative tool that takes intoaccount the realities and demands of the21st century.

Islam is what Muslims choose to makeit. There may be a high price to pay, andwhether Muslims are prepared to pay thatprice to redeem their traditions is theirdecision to make.

Also there is the need to disabuse youngMuslim minds of centuries of indoctrinationagainst non-Islamic ways of lives. Forinstance, young people in Pakistan aretaught in mainstream schools and madrasasthat Jews, Christians and Hindus are likepigs: dirty and corrupting. Such prejudicesserve as detonators to the poisonous cocktailof extremists’ dogmas.

The Common Word document issued bya group of leading Muslim figures in October2007 called upon Christians to dialogueon “love of God and love of neighbour”.However, if this is to be a serious overture,the same gesture should be extended tofollowers of other religions and people of noreligion. It should not be treated as a subjectof dialogue among specialists but should betaken into schools and madrasas.

John Azumah is director of the Centre for Islamic Studies andMuslim-Christian Relations at London School of Theology.

Is Islam a religion of violence?

Atheological student in India once saidto me, “I am confused. We hear Islamis a religion of peace, but we also

read about and see Muslim suicide bomberschanting Koranic verses, Muslims praying withAK-47 assault rifles and teenage girls shotdead or disfigured for not wearing a veil.”

One key verse from the Koran oftenquoted to back the thesis that Islam is apeaceful religion is: “There is no compulsionin religion” (2.256). Yet there are also verseslike this: “So when you meet those whodisbelieve, smite at their necks till you havekilled and wounded many of them” (47.4).

At the very least, this situation isconfusing. Some experts argue that violentacts committed by Muslims are deeplygrounded in the Koran, traditions,Muhammad’s example (sunnah) and Islamicjurisprudence. Others say that the roots ofMuslim anger and violence are basically geo-political, particularly due to American foreignpolicies. Islam, they argue, means peace.

Making sense of confusionThere is no question that violence is writteninto the source books of Islam. Indeed,Muslim societies down the centuries havetaken these texts and the conquests theyinspired as testimony of not only divineapproval but of a divine hand in these acts.

Having said that, it’s actually notlegitimate to argue that, because there aretexts of violent import in Islamic sourcebooks and that Muslims have used thesetexts to justify violent attacks, Islam as areligion is violent. One can’t simplisticallydraw a straight line between an historictext and current practice. Individual humanchoice intervenes, as do circumstances.

Similarly, not all Muslim anger andgrievances against the West are borne outof religious convictions. Many non-Muslims(including Christians) in the developingworld share anti-Western sentiments withMuslims. And many non-Muslim minoritiesin the West share the same grievancesand resentment with Muslim minoritiestowards their host countries. Theseinclude perceptions and experiences ofdiscrimination and racism.

The truth is that the Muslims who arewilling to engage in violence in the name of

You can’tsimplistically draw astraight line betweenan historic text andcurrent practice

Rev Dr John Azumah calls for a balanced approach to a thorny issue...

Han

sMas

t


36 your voice idea july/august 200936

Putting it plainlyCongratulations to Justin Thacker on hisarticle (The Basics, May/Jun) about the lastthings. It may reveal the limitations of myreading but I have never before readanything from an evangelical writer thatput it so plainly as he does when he states,“It is interesting that the majority of Jesus'discourse on hell was directed either at thePharisees or His disciples, both of whomwould have assumed that they were notespecially in danger of going there… Hence,the reality of hell is a reminder that noneof us should take our own salvation forgranted, and it should also drive us tomission for the sake of others.”

The question this leaves us with, ofcourse, is whether we now follow JohnWesley rather than John Calvin. Or perhapswe should follow the Scriptures rather thanany interpretation?Brian Pemberton, Barry, Cardiff

Still more optionsUnder the title Other Options, David Taylor(Your Voice, May/Jun) addressed the problemsgenerated by the credit crunch. While hisarguments were persuasive, the core ofthe problem lies with the excessive debtmountain of the public and private sectors.

The Christian Council for MonetaryJustice advocates the controlled issue ofinterest-free monies by an independentagency of the government (similar to theBank of England) and that banks be barredfrom issuing debt (subtly called “credit”) inexcess of their assets and monies depositedwith them. This move would have abeneficial effect of removing much of debtand the burden of interest payments fromthe economy, enhancing its efficiency andremoving in time the worries of many whoare currently in debt and whose problemsI try to ease during my duties at a localDebt Advice Centre (not single handedly,of course).

Obviously there is more to this subjectthan this summary states, but it justoutlines the main features. Perhaps ideacould feature an article from the CCMJ,or readers could visit: ccmj.orgSam Pearce, Burgess Hill

The burden of debtDavid Taylor (Your Voice, May/Jun) suggestsoptions he believes would ease the present

pointing out that government debtwill eventually have to be repaid by thetaxpayer. However, the alternative is unlikelyto be painless. The cost of recovering fromthe recession will have to be paid bysomeone. The choice is whether we sharethe burden through general taxation,or whether we allow the burden to falldisproportionately on those who areunfortunate enough to lose theirlivelihoods. I know which alternativefeels more consistent with my faith.Chris Robins, Kidlington, Oxon

Check the numbersIn your cover story (I is for Influence,May/Jun), the writer notes that “fewer thana million people attend weekly Sundayservices”, but I think you’ll find that thisrefers only to Church of England attendance.The total is actually around 3 million. In aMay 2007 Church of England newspaperarticle, Peter Brierley gives a weekly overallattendance figure of 3.2 million.

Please check this, as it is important wedon’t add to the myth of the marginalisedChurch.Richard Mortimer, by email

NOTE: The figures from the last churchcensus in 2005 put Sunday churchattendance at 3,166,200. The more recentTearfund Churchgoing in the UK report(2007) puts weekly church visits at 4.9million, which includes both Sunday andmid-week services.

Continue to prayEven though the recent events in Sri Lankamay have fallen from the headlines, it’simportant that UK Christians continue topray for the country and support agenciesthat are working on the ground there.By the end of May there were more than250,000 civilians displaced by the conflict.More than 70,000 have been killed, which ismore than twice the number who died inthe country’s last humanitarian disaster,the 2004 tsunami.

It is the Church that must initiatereconciliation in Sri Lanka. This is the hourfor the Church to demonstrate the truelove, unity and oneness in Christ acrossevery possible barrier. The whole countryhas suffered, and the Church has theresponsibility to demonstrate the waytowards a lasting peace. Working andsupporting each other through collectiveprayer and immediate practical support forthose affected in the Wanni area would bethe immediate priority.Pastor Surekha Hulugalle, London

economic problems. Sadly, however, theeconomy is more complex than he imagines.It is wise advice to suggest that those withlong-term debt repay some of it. The costof borrowing is nearly always greater thanthe interest rate on savings. For that reason,however, most of those who are able torepay part of their debts are likely to havedone so. It is not realistic to suppose thateveryone with debt will be in a position torepay £1,000.

Furthermore, even where it is possible,we need to consider where that £1,000would come from. Either they must draw it

from savings, in which case the net effect onthe banks’ balance sheet is nil, or they musttake it out of other expenditure, in whichcase the banks’ balance sheets benefit at theexpense of the retail sector. Either way, thenet effect on the economy is nil.

Similarly with his suggestion that wespend £1 more a week on UK goods andservices instead of imports, we need toconsider where that £1 will come from.Either it will come from another developedcountry, in which case the citizens of thatcountry may well respond in a similarmanner, so that the effects cancel eachother out, or it will be taken from a lessdeveloped country whose citizens are lessable to retaliate, in which case we would bebenefiting our own economy at the expenseof those whose plight is even worse.

That, I suspect, is why he cannot find anymainstream political party voicing his views.Whatever they may promise at election time,most politicians are sensible enough to knowthat, in reality, you can’t get something fornothing.

Mr Taylor is, of course, correct in

Letters should be sent to [email protected] or idea, 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT.Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the rightto edit letters for length and clarity. We regret that we are not able to engage in personalcorrespondence. Everyone who has a letter printed on this page will receive a thank you gift.

Fightingviolence

p20

uniting to change society may/june 2009

37idea july/august 2009 guest essay

Islam are a small minority. The temptationis to argue that the silent majority is just asresponsible for the violence. But that failsto appreciate that many more individualMuslim scholars, imams and groups are nowspeaking out against the murderous views ofthe fanatics.

To understand the silence of ordinaryMuslims, one has to wonder why ordinarycitizens did not turn up on the streets inNazi Germany or Communist Russia, China

and Cambodia to demonstrate against theirmurderous regimes. The silent majoritymay be complicit in their silence, but inthe end it is the fanatical minority who areresponsible for their acts of violence.

A way forwardThose who blame Islam for violencecommitted by Muslims are by implicationsuggesting that the Koran as a text, or Islamas a religion, should be banned. But religioustraditions themselves neither speak nor act.It is adherents who speak and act in thename of their traditions.

Millions of Muslims around the worldrecite the same texts daily but do not go outto kill others. There are tough texts and acts

of violence in almost all religious scriptures,traditions and histories. And it must beremembered that, over the period of timethat Muslims generally glorified the traditionof jihad as religious war, other religioustraditions like Christianity and Zoroastrianismalso drew inspiration from their traditionsand engaged in violent conquests too.

So the issue is not the mere fact thatthere are violent texts or examples ofviolence by religious figures. The issue is theway people of faith have chosen to interpretthe source books of the religions.

During the reformation, the ChristianChurch went through a painful processaimed at redeeming its traditions bychallenging the interpretative frameworkof earlier generations. In 1965, the RomanCatholic Church, in its Second VaticanCouncil, had to revise and set aside centuriesof unhelpful traditions. To redeem theIslamic tradition, Muslim scholars todayreserve the right to consider establishinga new interpretative tool that takes intoaccount the realities and demands of the21st century.

Islam is what Muslims choose to makeit. There may be a high price to pay, andwhether Muslims are prepared to pay thatprice to redeem their traditions is theirdecision to make.

Also there is the need to disabuse youngMuslim minds of centuries of indoctrinationagainst non-Islamic ways of lives. Forinstance, young people in Pakistan aretaught in mainstream schools and madrasasthat Jews, Christians and Hindus are likepigs: dirty and corrupting. Such prejudicesserve as detonators to the poisonous cocktailof extremists’ dogmas.

The Common Word document issued bya group of leading Muslim figures in October2007 called upon Christians to dialogueon “love of God and love of neighbour”.However, if this is to be a serious overture,the same gesture should be extended tofollowers of other religions and people of noreligion. It should not be treated as a subjectof dialogue among specialists but should betaken into schools and madrasas.

John Azumah is director of the Centre for Islamic Studies andMuslim-Christian Relations at London School of Theology.

Is Islam a religion of violence?

Atheological student in India once saidto me, “I am confused. We hear Islamis a religion of peace, but we also

read about and see Muslim suicide bomberschanting Koranic verses, Muslims praying withAK-47 assault rifles and teenage girls shotdead or disfigured for not wearing a veil.”

One key verse from the Koran oftenquoted to back the thesis that Islam is apeaceful religion is: “There is no compulsionin religion” (2.256). Yet there are also verseslike this: “So when you meet those whodisbelieve, smite at their necks till you havekilled and wounded many of them” (47.4).

At the very least, this situation isconfusing. Some experts argue that violentacts committed by Muslims are deeplygrounded in the Koran, traditions,Muhammad’s example (sunnah) and Islamicjurisprudence. Others say that the roots ofMuslim anger and violence are basically geo-political, particularly due to American foreignpolicies. Islam, they argue, means peace.

Making sense of confusionThere is no question that violence is writteninto the source books of Islam. Indeed,Muslim societies down the centuries havetaken these texts and the conquests theyinspired as testimony of not only divineapproval but of a divine hand in these acts.

Having said that, it’s actually notlegitimate to argue that, because there aretexts of violent import in Islamic sourcebooks and that Muslims have used thesetexts to justify violent attacks, Islam as areligion is violent. One can’t simplisticallydraw a straight line between an historictext and current practice. Individual humanchoice intervenes, as do circumstances.

Similarly, not all Muslim anger andgrievances against the West are borne outof religious convictions. Many non-Muslims(including Christians) in the developingworld share anti-Western sentiments withMuslims. And many non-Muslim minoritiesin the West share the same grievancesand resentment with Muslim minoritiestowards their host countries. Theseinclude perceptions and experiences ofdiscrimination and racism.

The truth is that the Muslims who arewilling to engage in violence in the name of

You can’tsimplistically draw astraight line betweenan historic text andcurrent practice

Rev Dr John Azumah calls for a balanced approach to a thorny issue...

Han

sMas

t


over 50 years, was whispering that there will be a day whenthere is a new heaven and a new earth and He will make allthings good.

The greater contextOf course my story is just a small part of a far bigger story:the story of God. The Bible provides us with a record of a Godwho didn’t abandon the cosmos but has been wheeling and

dealing in the affairs of humanity to causeHis purposes to be fulfilled. Our littlestories begin to make sense only in thecontext of this big story. And when wegather together as communities of faith,we read the story, we sing the story andwe even act out the story.

When I was 17, I had a summer jobin a Christian conference centre calledCapernwray Hall. One evening I listened tothe preacher - I can’t remember his name -who simply told the Easter story. Eventhough I had heard it before, this time itmade sense to me. I knew at the core ofmy being that it was true.

The apostle Paul writes to the Romans,“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, becauseit is the power of God for the salvationof everyone who believes” (Romans 1.16).That night the Gospel, through the simpletelling of the story, had power to changemy life. On the day of Pentecost, Peter’sgreat sermon was a re-counting of thesame story, which provoked the crowd toask the most important question: “Whatshall we do to be saved?”

Throughout 2008 I had the privilege of travelling thecountry and seeing the Church at work as part of Hope08.I saw the Church demonstrating the Gospel as well asproclaiming it. We were being as well as preaching the goodnews through city-wide events and small-scale communityprojects - schools missions as well as digging neighbours’gardens, clearing rubbish and cleaning graffiti. It was soencouraging to see the Church with fresh confidence, doingthe business of Church, positioning itself at the heart ofcommunities.

Part of the Alliance's role is to tell these stories. So oftenthe attitude to Christians and the Church in the press andeven in government is negative, but these stories paint a verydifferent picture. I am absolutely convinced that Christiansuniting together in their faith is good news for the healthand wellbeing of our nation - physically, emotionally andspiritually. Christ has called us to be the hope of our nation,so with prayer and godly confidence let’s give ourselves to thisnoble task.

By the time you read this, I will have been in post atthe Alliance for nearly three months. I have received awonderfully encouraging welcome and I feel profoundly

thankful to God. It is a privilege to be asked to bringleadership to an organisation with such a history of significantinfluence both across our nation and the world.

As I am sure you will appreciate, once the announcementof my appointment was made, I was inundated with emails,letters, texts, phone calls and cards, manyof which included invitations to speak.One particular invitation jumped out atme: an invitation to speak at BradfordCathedral for an across-church celebrationon Easter Sunday.

A personal connectionI was born and brought up in Bradford.My father, Albert, grew up just a fewhundred yards from the cathedral. As ayoung lad he attended services there,came to faith and met my mother there.She recalls her first encounter with myfather when he was taking up thecollection, singing heartily, and shethought, “I could marry that man.”I’m not sure whether it was the singing orthe money that attracted her, but in duetime they were married at the cathedral.

My father was sent from the cathedralto train in theology at Oakhill College,returned and was ordained. He took uphis first parish as a vicar less than a mileaway, and within a short period myyounger brother and I were born.However, when I was 5 my father was tragically killed by adrunken lorry driver. How quickly life can change.

We were living in a house that belonged to the churchand didn’t know if we would be able to keep our home.My mother had to go out to work, my brother to nursery,I started school. Life became very different from the one wethought had been mapped out for us.

So when the invitation to preach at Bradford Cathedralarrived, I felt compelled to accept. It would be my first publicengagement and, as I thought it through, I realised that itwould be 50 years almost to the month from the date of myfather’s death. What do you make of events such as these?

I arrived at Bradford Cathedral on Easter Sunday eveningalongside my mother, brother, wife, son and daughter-in-law,with a wonderful sense of God’s endorsement. I felt it was asign of the amazing truth that He is with us and in a strangeway is able to draw a far bigger circle around the tragic eventsthat surrounded the death of a husband and a father.

Our Father in heaven, who has proven Himself faithful

last word idea july/august 200938

A far bigger circleGeneral Director Steve Clifford finds that his personalstory is tied in with a noble task... Pwllheli, Wales

13 April – 18 April 2010New Word Alive is a Bible holiday week for all Christians. Uniting around the central truths of the gospel we join together for a week of great Bible teaching, fellowship and worship. Come and join us!

Bookings Open 16 JuneTo request a brochure visit www.newwordalive.org or call 02074075863

God has beenwheeling anddealing in the

affairs of humanity

AnnCliff

ord


over 50 years, was whispering that there will be a day whenthere is a new heaven and a new earth and He will make allthings good.

The greater contextOf course my story is just a small part of a far bigger story:the story of God. The Bible provides us with a record of a Godwho didn’t abandon the cosmos but has been wheeling and

dealing in the affairs of humanity to causeHis purposes to be fulfilled. Our littlestories begin to make sense only in thecontext of this big story. And when wegather together as communities of faith,we read the story, we sing the story andwe even act out the story.

When I was 17, I had a summer jobin a Christian conference centre calledCapernwray Hall. One evening I listened tothe preacher - I can’t remember his name -who simply told the Easter story. Eventhough I had heard it before, this time itmade sense to me. I knew at the core ofmy being that it was true.

The apostle Paul writes to the Romans,“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, becauseit is the power of God for the salvationof everyone who believes” (Romans 1.16).That night the Gospel, through the simpletelling of the story, had power to changemy life. On the day of Pentecost, Peter’sgreat sermon was a re-counting of thesame story, which provoked the crowd toask the most important question: “Whatshall we do to be saved?”

Throughout 2008 I had the privilege of travelling thecountry and seeing the Church at work as part of Hope08.I saw the Church demonstrating the Gospel as well asproclaiming it. We were being as well as preaching the goodnews through city-wide events and small-scale communityprojects - schools missions as well as digging neighbours’gardens, clearing rubbish and cleaning graffiti. It was soencouraging to see the Church with fresh confidence, doingthe business of Church, positioning itself at the heart ofcommunities.

Part of the Alliance's role is to tell these stories. So oftenthe attitude to Christians and the Church in the press andeven in government is negative, but these stories paint a verydifferent picture. I am absolutely convinced that Christiansuniting together in their faith is good news for the healthand wellbeing of our nation - physically, emotionally andspiritually. Christ has called us to be the hope of our nation,so with prayer and godly confidence let’s give ourselves to thisnoble task.

By the time you read this, I will have been in post atthe Alliance for nearly three months. I have received awonderfully encouraging welcome and I feel profoundly

thankful to God. It is a privilege to be asked to bringleadership to an organisation with such a history of significantinfluence both across our nation and the world.

As I am sure you will appreciate, once the announcementof my appointment was made, I was inundated with emails,letters, texts, phone calls and cards, manyof which included invitations to speak.One particular invitation jumped out atme: an invitation to speak at BradfordCathedral for an across-church celebrationon Easter Sunday.

A personal connectionI was born and brought up in Bradford.My father, Albert, grew up just a fewhundred yards from the cathedral. As ayoung lad he attended services there,came to faith and met my mother there.She recalls her first encounter with myfather when he was taking up thecollection, singing heartily, and shethought, “I could marry that man.”I’m not sure whether it was the singing orthe money that attracted her, but in duetime they were married at the cathedral.

My father was sent from the cathedralto train in theology at Oakhill College,returned and was ordained. He took uphis first parish as a vicar less than a mileaway, and within a short period myyounger brother and I were born.However, when I was 5 my father was tragically killed by adrunken lorry driver. How quickly life can change.

We were living in a house that belonged to the churchand didn’t know if we would be able to keep our home.My mother had to go out to work, my brother to nursery,I started school. Life became very different from the one wethought had been mapped out for us.

So when the invitation to preach at Bradford Cathedralarrived, I felt compelled to accept. It would be my first publicengagement and, as I thought it through, I realised that itwould be 50 years almost to the month from the date of myfather’s death. What do you make of events such as these?

I arrived at Bradford Cathedral on Easter Sunday eveningalongside my mother, brother, wife, son and daughter-in-law,with a wonderful sense of God’s endorsement. I felt it was asign of the amazing truth that He is with us and in a strangeway is able to draw a far bigger circle around the tragic eventsthat surrounded the death of a husband and a father.

Our Father in heaven, who has proven Himself faithful

last word idea july/august 200938

A far bigger circleGeneral Director Steve Clifford finds that his personalstory is tied in with a noble task... Pwllheli, Wales

13 April – 18 April 2010New Word Alive is a Bible holiday week for all Christians. Uniting around the central truths of the gospel we join together for a week of great Bible teaching, fellowship and worship. Come and join us!

Bookings Open 16 JuneTo request a brochure visit www.newwordalive.org or call 02074075863

God has beenwheeling anddealing in the

affairs of humanity

AnnCliff

ord


The power of a simple giftOperation Christmas Child impacts everyone who touches it. It teaches children in the UK that giving can be much more rewarding than receiving. And each shoebox tells a child overseas that they’ve not been forgotten and that Jesus loves them. Why not unleash the potential of Operation Christmas Child in your church and in your community. It’s easy to get involved – visit our website or call us on 0870 011 2002 or 01392 455036.

www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

UK Charity No 1001349 Scottish Charity No SC039251 Company No 2462257


Documents

EA0002 Idea Mag Jul-Aug 09 4.6:8081 Halcyon …