shareit!Winter 2013/Spring 2014

The Magazine of Church Army

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Welcome from the Chief Executive

Dear friends,As I’ve read the stories in this edition of Shareit! I have been reminded afresh of the power of the gospel

to change lives and to bring hope to those in need. I hope you too are encouraged by all that you read.

As our Inside Out campaign continues, turn to pages 8-12, where you can read about Bernie, who was helped by our Craigavon Centre of Mission in Northern Ireland after his marriage broke down and he was left unemployed. Also, Tim Smith, at our Sheffield Centre of Mission tells us more about the youth club he runs at the Edward Street flats.

Another highlight in this edition is Carl Firth’s story of coming to faith through our Sorted Project in Bradford after getting involved in Satanism as a teenager. Carl is now a youth leader at the project – a church run by young people for young people (pages 24-25).

Our Research Unit has also been very busy the past few months and has seen the release of two new books; Messy Church Theology (pages 16-17) and Authentic Faith: fresh expressions of church amongst young adults (pages 28-29). We hope you and your church find them useful in reaching others with the gospel.

Finally, as 2013 draws to a close, we look forward to the launch of HOPE 2014 who we are partnering with in a year of mission (pages 22-23). Find out how you can be part of this exciting, nationwide movement, as Christians join together to share their faith through words and action.

Mark Russell Chief Executive

www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo

Patron: HM The Queen President: The Most Revd Dr Desmond Tutu

Church Army Evangelists share the Christian faith through words and action and equip others to do the same. Evangelists and staff are devoted to a wide range of service in Anglican churches, projects and teams throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by Colourwise who have 14001 accreditation.

Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ Tel: 0300 123 2113 Email: info@churcharmy.org.uk www.churcharmy.org.uk Registered Charity Nos: 226226 & SC040457

Editor: Hannah Gray 0300 123 2113 Sub-editor: Bethan Hill Design & Print: CPO 01903 264556 ISSN 1751-3960

Shareit! is the magazine of Church Army and it is available free upon request. Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive further issues of Shareit! or other communications from Church Army. If you have a story for Shareit!, or suggestions on how we can improve this magazine, then please contact Hannah Gray.

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Shareit! 38 Winter 2013/Spring 2014

4 News All the latest from Church Army

8 Inside Out campaign The Sheffield and Craigavon Centres of Mission

12 Light in the dark Maureen Greaves talks about her husband’s murder

16 Messy Church Theology a new book from Messy Church

18 Menu for Change have fun fundraising

20 A week in the life of an evangelist meet Phil Baul in Plymouth

22 HOPE 2014 – join us in a year of mission

24 “Sorted” with Jesus Carl’s testimony

26 Open Arms Shena Moray talks about a new project in Scarborough

28 The “missing generation” – find out how the church can reach young adults

30 Movie moments Michael Amos’ film evangelism

31 The last word a reflection from Peter Graystone

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shareit!Winter 2013/Spring 2014

The Magazine of Church Army

38

Is this the first time you’ve read a copy of Shareit!? Would you like to receive your own FREE edition regularly? To sign up and to find out more about other Church Army resources, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/res Alternatively email info@churcharmy.org.uk, telephone 0300 123 2113 or write to Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ. We will be more than happy to help.

Front cover: Antonio at the Edward Street youth club which is part of Church Army’s Sheffield Centre of Mission

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Three Royal Navy recruits at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall have been baptised by Church Army Evangelist, Nikki Thornhill, David Roissetter, and Father Matt Godfrey, who are part of the chaplaincy team at the military training base.

Recruits Jake Segrove, 21, and Adam Geddes, 19, and Able Rate Rebecca Costin, 20, were baptised in the sea at Cawsand beach following a six-week baptism preparation course.

During the past year, Nikki has led 67 young recruits to faith and has seen them baptised or confirmed.

Rebecca said: “I didn’t have a strong faith before I came to HMS Raleigh and, being away from my family, I found

that the church became very important to me and gave me the strength to push through my training. Learning about Jesus and Christianity has been very enlightening and being baptised seemed to me the right thing to do.”

Nikki said: “This was a fantastic way for the chaplaincy team at HMS

Raleigh to end the summer term. The setting was beautiful with a rainbow in the sky and three Royal Navy ships in the background. The three young sailors were plunged into the cold water as they declared their faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ; this was followed by a celebratory chip supper.”

A 77-year-old pensioner from Oxfordshire has got back in the saddle and cycled more than 400 miles to fundraise for Church Army’s Amber Project in Cardiff which supports young people who self-harm.

Retired Evangelist, John Richards, from Wallingford, cycled coast-to-coast from Felixstowe in Suffolk to St David’s in Wales. He completed the ride in 19 days and his wife, Gloria, supported him along the way. He’s raised more than £1,200.

John said: “When telling people about the ride, they’ve asked me, ‘Ride across the country! Why would I do it? Why do it for Church Army?

Why do it at 77 years of age?’

“It’s simple really. Church Army is a magnificent community of people who are telling people about Jesus; especially those who might never find their way into a church and are in great need.

“I also have another reason. As a young man in 1962, I found myself as a student entering Church Army’s Training College in Marylebone, London. They took the risk. There was no way of knowing if I would be of any use, but they took me, trained me and set me loose

in ministry for nearly 50 years. I don’t know if I was worth it, but I have always tried to serve my Saviour and Church Army to the best of my ability.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so generously.”

PENSIONER CyCLING CHALLENGE

BEACH BAPTISMS fOR NAvy RECRuITS

Becky frankham and Hannah Gray from the Marketing Team and Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, with their awards

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GIvE AS yOu LIvEDo you shop online? Whether it’s your weekly supermarket shop or gifts for friends and family – you can raise money for us at the same time, with no extra cost to you!

We are working with a great website called Give as you Live which allows you to raise money for us while shopping on the internet. you won’t pay any more for the things you buy but, on average, 2.5 per cent of every pound you spend will be donated to Church Army by the retailer.

More than 3,000 retailers are already signed up, including Amazon, Marks & Spencer and many of the leading supermarkets. Many airlines, train companies and hotel chains have also signed up.

Give as you Live®

It’s a really user-friendly website and setting it up is easy…

1. visit www.giveasyoulive.com/church-army2. Sign up for a Give as you Live account so

any money raised supports Church Army.3. visit your favourite retailer through Give

as you Live’s website or download their convenient add-on to your internet browser.

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Church Army’s Marketing Team is celebrating after their Inside Out campaign film was shortlisted at the Jerusalem Awards in the short form video category.

The Jerusalem Awards promotes Christian involvement in broadcasting and the awards ceremony took place at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAfTA) in London.

The four-minute film was produced by Watering Can Media and featured the work of evangelists in various communities across the United Kingdom.

Becky Frankham, Marketing Support Officer, said: “We were thrilled to be nominated for the award and it was great to see Church Army’s name up there with some really high quality entries. We had a really inspiring evening at the awards ceremony, among some of the Christian media’s most creative minds and it was great to be part of it. We also hope the film encourages Christians and churches in their own evangelism.”

To watch the film, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/insideout

Newsflash! We are also really pleased that Church Army’s Chief Executive, Mark Russell, won the Tweeter of the year award at the Christian New Media Awards organised by Premier Christian Media. you can follow Mark on Twitter at @markrusselluk

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Eleven students from our Xplore gap year have graduated at the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield.

Family and friends gathered for the service, which was led by Xplore Programme Leader, Neville Barnes.

The gap year has seen the students take part in mission placements in Romania and in deprived communities across the United Kingdom. Alongside this they have received Bible teaching and learned what it means to make disciples of Jesus.

Looking back on Xplore, Cherith Collins said: “Xplore has ‘set a fire down in my soul’ to serve the least, the last and the lost. Romania was an eye-opener for me; working with

Roma gypsies and, of course, getting to be part of a team which was more like a family. It was amazing and God was at work in all our lives. Then off to Guildford I went to work with Evangelist, John Marrow, and his ministry KidsAlive 325. I truly felt at

home working with children right up to teenagers.

“I have enjoyed Xplore, it has changed my life and I see things from a different view. I have learned a lot and have now started a job as a youth and children’s worker in Hindhead, Surrey.”

If you enjoy running and are looking for a challenge – we need you! Here at Church Army we are excited to offer you the chance to take part in the British 10K London Run while raising money for us. More than 25,000 runners take part in the annual event and you’ll get to see London’s landmarks as part of the route. The run will take place on July 13 2014 and is open to runners of all abilities.

Last year, five runners took part on behalf of Church Army, raising more than £3,000 between them.

One of the runners, Denise Cartledge, from Sheffield, said: “Having completed the Bupa Great Manchester Run last

year for charity, I was actively looking for another challenge. When it was announced that Church Army had places available in the British 10K London Run I was really keen to take part, especially as Church Army does so much good work in the capital.

“I would encourage anyone to take up the challenge and join people of all ages and fitness levels participating in this event - whether a regular runner looking for a personal best, a “fun” runner or even someone who wants to walk the course – you won’t be out of place here. And you can raise money for a great cause!”

To get involved or find out

more please contact our fundraising team by emailing fundraising@churcharmy.org.uk or telephoning 0300 123 2113.

BEST FOOT fORWARD

GAP yEAR GRADUATION

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ANNUAL REPORT – 2012/2013

We are delighted that our Annual Report for the year ending March 31 2013 has now been published and is available to download from our website www.churcharmy.org.uk/annualreport

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to you and the rest of our supporters who selflessly give their time, money and prayer to make our work possible. And we’re pleased to say that, despite the tough economic climate, our donation income from individuals and churches has remained steady. However, there are of course significant challenges, and like many other charities we have seen a drop in our legacy income from £692,000 to £550,000 and so we would like to encourage you to consider Church Army in your Will.

We’ve also worked hard to reduce our costs, and following a staff restructure at our central offices in Sheffield, we’ve made savings of £300,000 going forward for 2013/2014.

Therefore, as we look ahead to the coming year, we hope and pray that together we can reach thousands more people on the margins of our society with the Good News about Jesus Christ.

How we raised the money£5,692,000

Projects we funded this year£7,378,000

How each £ is spent

This information represents a summary extracted from the full financial statements of Church Army. The full accounts, signed by BDO LLP, are available on request from Church Army’s registered office. Copies of these accounts and the trustees’ reports have been filed with The Registrar of Companies.

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As our Inside Out campaign continues, we find out more about our Sheffield Centre of Mission’s work with families living in the Edward Street flats

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“I live in the Edward Street flats with my mum and have been coming to the youth club for two years, which is run by Tim who always spends time chatting with me. The games, crafts and activities are really fun and it is a place where I can relax and enjoy myself. There is such a joyful and happy atmosphere. It is a place where I feel safe and secure.” Antonio, aged 12.

“I have been going to youth club since I was seven years old and it is really fun. I love drawing and playing games. I also really enjoyed it when we made lollipops and bread. In the summer we had a barbecue and there was a bouncy castle. The youth club keeps us off the streets and gives us something to do.” Ellie, aged 9.

Youth club connections

Antonio and Ellie are just two of the 15 young people who benefit from the Edward Street youth club which is run each week by Evangelist, Tim Smith, from our Sheffield Centre of Mission.

Tim began leading the youth club four-and-a-half years ago after being called by God to reach out to the Edward Street

community, and is supported in his work by volunteers from The vine church in the Netherthorpe area.

Tim said: “When I first began working with the Edward Street community, it was spiritually a very dark place. The flats were part of the city’s red-light district and therefore prostitution and drug dealing were commonplace. However, thanks to the redevelopment of the area, things have greatly improved and the flats are becoming a vibrant and multicultural community.

“The youth club is a great way to connect with families and to support the young people – many of who are from troubled backgrounds. As Christians, we are there to represent the ultimate parent, our Father God – his faithfulness, constant love, forgiveness and peace.”

Alongside the youth club, Tim and his volunteers also carry out home visits, attend the flat’s Tenants and Residents Association meetings, lead assemblies at Netherthorpe Primary School and run special events such as carol singing, picnics and fun days. Over the next year, Tim also intends to set up Bible study groups in people’s flats.

Ellie and Leona at the youth club

Evangelist, Tim Smith, with Saba and her family at the Edward Street flats

Antonio at the youth club

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“The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14

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Enabling volunteers

Kevin, a doctor and youth club volunteer, said: “My wife, Lucy, and I have lived in Netherthorpe and attended The vine church for nearly 20 years since graduating from university. The Edward Street flats are in our parish but can often get forgotten because they are tucked away and because they are circular in shape with a garden in the middle, so the community is quite insular.

“Lucy and I are passionate about the area so I decided to help with the youth club and Lucy is Chair of Governors at the local primary school. Working alongside Tim is brilliant and as a team we are committed to the community for the long-term. We don’t want people to feel they are the church’s ‘project’; rather we want them to see us as their friends.

“One of my favourite youth club memories is when we held a peace vigil which proved to be really powerful. It was an autumn evening so was getting dark and there had been various world conflicts reported in the news which the young people had been talking about. So after youth club ended we all gathered in the flats’ gardens, lit candles and stayed in silence for 30 minutes. The kids really got into it and we were able to introduce the idea of prayer to them. It was very special.”

To watch a film about Inside Out, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/insideout

Bernie at the community lunch club

As part of our Inside Out campaign, we find out how our Craigavon Centre of Mission in Northern Ireland helped bring hope to Bernie, Noel and Kathleen

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“I found myself drinking a lot…”

“The first time I met Brian from Church Army was during a really low point in my life. My marriage had recently broken up and I found myself drinking a lot. My world felt pretty empty and I had little to fill my days with as I didn’t have a job.

“During this time, Brian set up a lunch club at St Saviour’s Church in Craigavon, where people from the nearby estates could get together and share food. I decided to go along, and over the past year-and-a-half

it has been a really good place to meet new friends. It is also one of the only times of the week that I can enjoy eating a meal with other people.

“I’ve also started going to the men’s breakfast each month and there have been some really interesting people telling us about their faith, including a rugby player, kick boxer and a former prisoner. Throughout all of this Brian has gone out of his way to visit me each week and has helped me sort myself out. I can’t thank him enough.”

Good News for the community

These incredible words of hope from Bernie are just one story of a life altered by our team at our Craigavon Centre of Mission in Northern Ireland. As part of our Inside Out campaign, we are highlighting their transforming work and how, person by person, the gospel is changing their neighbourhood.

As it says in John 1:14: ‘The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’. So here at Church Army, we too are motivated to share the Good News with those we live among.

Noel and Kathleen who have recently become Christians

Josh at the parent and toddler group

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“I realised that going to church just wasn’t enough...”

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Our Craigavon Centre of Mission is based at St Saviour’s Church, which is surrounded by housing estates constructed in the 1960s as part of a new town development. However, sadly the development failed to meet expectations, with less than half of the building work being completed due to unemployment, a lack of new residents and the start of The Troubles. All of this has left a legacy of hopelessness and deprivation.

yet our team of Evangelists, Myrtle Morrison, Matt Rowley, and until recently Brian Wisener, are working hard to change this as they share their faith through words and action. By working with the local church, Myrtle and Matt are continuing to reach and unite the community through ministries including school assemblies, hospital chaplaincy, children’s and youth work and house-to-house visiting.

Giving their lives to Jesus

Noel and Kathleen from St Saviour’s share with us how they have recently become Christians thanks to our work.

Noel said: “years ago when our children were growing up we went to church regularly, but as they became older we drifted away. Then, quite recently, we began to think about our lives and the choices we’ve made, and we decided to go back to church hoping it would make us better people. So we started going along to St Saviour’s where we met the Church Army team.

“Then one day, as I was about to go out to football, I was reading the Bible and I realised that going to church just wasn’t enough. Instead I realised Kathleen and I needed to accept Jesus into our lives and a make a commitment. So we went forward for confirmation and haven’t looked back since.

Evangelist, Myrtle Morrison, outside Craigavon Hospital where she is on the chaplaincy team

volunteering at the community lunch club

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“Myrtle, Matt and Brian have really helped teach the Bible to us in a way we can understand and relate to. And we’ve become more and more involved at St Saviour’s. Our daughter has even commented she can see the change in us and how we live, which is just brilliant.”

Will you join us in this work and help more people like Bernie, Noel and Kathleen?

How you can help

£30 could pay for 10 people to enjoy a meal together at the community lunch club

£15 could help pay for a parent and toddler session bringing young families together and sowing gospel seeds

£7.50 could help pay for home visits to help those struggling on the estates

To donate to Inside Out, please call the fundraising team on 0300 123 2113 or visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/insideout where you can also watch a film about the campaign and order resources.

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On Christmas Eve last year, Church Army Evangelist, Maureen Greaves, had her world turned upside down when her beloved husband Alan was murdered on his way to play the organ at a midnight service in Sheffield. Here she speaks about the journey that’s followed and how, despite everything, she firmly believes God has used the situation for good

On Christmas Eve last year, Alan presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and gave me a kiss. “We’ll

have a lovely Christmas together,” he said, “Love you lots. I’m really glad I married you.” These were some of the last words he said to me.

Just a few hours later, Alan, 68, was found collapsed on the pavement just minutes away from our home in High Green, having been savagely beaten with a pickaxe handle. He’d been walking to our church to play the organ for the midnight communion service. He died three days later from his head injuries at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Police investigations found that Alan, a former social worker, had been attacked at random by two young men in their

twenties, Ashley Foster and Jonathan Bowling. Witnesses described seeing the two men, who had been drinking that night, laughing shortly after the attack.

Jonathan pleaded guilty to murder and received a minimum 25-year jail sentence while Ashley, following a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for nine years.

One year on

Now, nearly one year on from Alan’s murder, I’m still staggered by all that’s gone on and the journey God has taken me on – particularly with the media interest and the opportunities I’ve had to share the gospel.

Light in the dark

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At first, when the telephone calls from journalists began to come through on Boxing Day to my vicar, Simon Bessant, at St Saviour’s Church, I didn’t want anything to do with them. I just couldn’t face it.

However, a few weeks later, when two newspapers got in touch with me personally, I began to wonder, could this be of God? So I began to pray, Lord what’s going to happen with all of this? I also asked friends, family and Church Army’s Chief Executive, Mark Russell, to pray as well, as I felt very scared about it all.

yet, I truly believed that God had a greater purpose in allowing Alan to die that day and that He would work all things for His good as it says in Romans 8:28. There are also so few stories in the media about ordinary Christians that it thrilled me to be able to speak about Jesus into a terrible situation. So I decided to face the media.

Facing the media

And I have to say, over the past year the interviews I’ve done have turned out to be a real blessing. The journalists I have dealt with have been absolutely wonderful and have treated me with great sensitivity and compassion – particularly during the trial which they journeyed through with me. They were always there with words of encouragement for me each day at court.

I have also been really pleased with the way journalists have included my faith in their reporting and it has been very healing to speak about Alan and all that he meant to me publically.

It hasn’t always been easy for me, as the media is a new world to me. And I did find getting used to the camera quite daunting. you are very much in the journalist’s hands and, when the interviews are live, you can’t alter anything. But I’ve just kept praying continually that the Lord would speak through me.

Honesty with strangers

Other blessings that have come from all of this are the wonderful faith conversations I now have with total strangers! Suddenly, when I go

out to the supermarket or into the city centre, everyone knows me.

People come up to me to chat and hug me. They also share their difficulties with me and how they too are facing grief.

It has been very humbling to have people opening up their lives to me, just for a few minutes, and being able to pray with them.

And I think a lot of this has come from me trying to be honest about my situation. I haven’t pretended that being a Christian makes things all right. And if someone asks me “How are you?” I’ve tried to be genuine in my reply, perhaps saying “Well, I’ve had a shocking morning, but this afternoon has been better.”

Growing in forgiveness

Perhaps one of the hardest things for my four children and I to deal with this year has been forgiving Alan’s killers, Ashley and Jonathan.

Alan and Maureen with their twin grandchildren, Marta and Naccio, who were adopted by Maureen’s daughter Alison who is a missionary in Mozambique

“I haven’t pretended that being a Christian makes everything all right...”

Maureen’s looking ahead to a family Christmas

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I have not had a good journey of forgiveness throughout my life and it has been a weakness of mine. It is something that Alan, in his love for me, worked with me on. I remember our first argument of married life and, afterwards, when I was sulking, he said to me: “Maureen, we must never give ourselves permission to behave in such a way.”

Over the years it is something that I have become better at and it is as if God was getting me ready for the ultimate test – having to forgive the people who killed the person I loved the most in the world and had been married to for 40 years.

And on Christmas Day as I sat by Alan’s bedside alone, I heard Alan urging me to forgive as he would have done. So in honour of God and Alan, I chose to forgive.

This decision has proved costly for me and, at two moments in particular, I’ve struggled; the first time was when I saw Ashley and Jonathan together at the Magistrates Court and I thought to myself: “What have you two done?”

The second time was when they were sitting together in the court waiting to be sentenced and I’d just heard the evidence of the injuries they’d inflicted on Alan.

But despite these moments, there have been tremendous benefits to forgiveness and I can honestly say that I have not gone to bed at night with them on my mind.

Unexpected blessings

Forgiveness has allowed me to see Ashley and Jonathan as two men who God loves, who are made in His image and who He is at work in. Forgiveness has allowed me to see that they have families who love them and that they too are grieving, and I pray for them.

Forgiveness has allowed me to carry this journey in a helpful way for my family, children and community that is not full of hatred. So when people in the streets come up to me and say: “I hope they rot in hell”, I can say: “Now, let’s not talk like that.”

Forgiveness has also enabled me to go back to my work with Church Army at St Saviour’s in High Green, reaching out to those in need with the gospel and running our Community Project Shop, which Alan helped me to set up in 2012 to provide for people practically. The project has been greatly used and next year we plan to start debt counselling, job seeking support and a credit union.

A family Christmas

And now, as our first Christmas without Alan approaches, the family and I look forward to celebrating the coming of Jesus.

On Christmas Eve, we will hold a memorial service for the community at the railings where Alan was attacked, and there will be tears and grief.

But on Christmas Day, God willing, we’ll be enjoying time together as a family doing the usual things with all the normal traditions. We will have a Christmas. It’s what Alan would have wanted.

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“There have been tremendous benefits to forgiveness...”

At Church Army’s Gathering, popular author and Dean of St Mellitus College in London, Graham Tomlin, spoke about the importance of spiritual fitness. Here he shares some of what was learnt

Messy Church Theology

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Church Army’s Research Unit is celebrating the release of a new book, Messy Church Theology, which has been edited by its Director, George Lings.

The book examines the phenomenon of Messy Church, which since its outset in 2004 has become established in many countries worldwide, with more than 2,000 churches currently registered. Messy Church is a fresh expression of church aimed at all ages that offers families the chance to enjoy a time of food, craft, games and Christ-centred worship. Such growth has generated much response

and debate. Therefore, the book is made up of a collection of essays from a wide range of contributors to provide theological reflection.

Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, explains in his foreword: “I first heard about Messy Church early on in its life. It sounded great because it was creative, all-age and committed to reaching out to the de-churched and non-churched. Back then though it appeared as one more idea amongst several that were floating around. The way it then took off, and has continued to grow across the world has been

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phenomenal. Rightly this has attracted masses of interest, and research. This book offers some great insights into what has made Messy Church the phenomenon that it is.”

The essays in the book look at the impact of Messy Church: how it amends views of what church is, how it builds discipleship, how it sits within the wider church and what the future might hold. All the contributions add to the debate showing that Messy Church is much more than crafts and food for children.

The team from Church Army’s Research unit have contributed to four chapters. These include “When is Messy Church ‘church’?” by Claire Dalpra, “When is Messy Church ‘not church’?” by Steve Hollinghurst and “What is the DNA of Messy Church?” by George Lings. Evangelist, Kevin Metcalfe, who ran a Messy Church at Christ Church Primacy in Northern Ireland, is also featured as a case study.

Claire Dalpra says in her chapter that while working with Church Army’s Research unit: “…a good number of the practitioners I have spoken with are Messy Church leaders and I continue to be impressed by their commitment, creativity and passion to reach those beyond the fringes of our existing churches. However, from my phone calls, I discern that despite all the efforts of people like ourselves, the national Fresh Expressions team and the wealth of resources that have been made available since 2004, what can be legitimately labelled a fresh expression of church is still a topic of ongoing debate.”

Both Claire’s and Steve Hollinghurst’s chapters contribute significantly to this discussion.

In explaining his reasons for editing Messy Church Theology, George Lings says: “When Lucy Moore, the founder of Messy Church,

asked me to work on this book I was more than happy to agree as I I believe the Messy Church phenomenon has much to teach us about the nature and practice of church. I hope it will be a real encouragement to existing Messy Church practitioners and advocates, but will also serve as a helpful examination for theological students, interested outsiders, those not yet convinced about Messy Church and even those who are deeply suspicious of it.

“This is the only book so far that takes a serious, theological look at Messy Church and what it says to us about the nature of church, discipleship and leadership. This is part of rescuing Messy Church from the false stereotype that it is only activities and food for children. There is a lot to be learnt from it.”

What does Lucy Moore, the founder of Messy Church, think of the end result? “I am deeply pleased with this book. The authors of the different chapters have written in a clear, powerful, often passionate and playful way on their areas of expertise, making it an enjoyable book to read as well as one packed with thought-provoking material and challenges for the way we make our Messy Churches even more effective. Overall this book feels to me like lights being shone onto the Messy Church ‘body’ by benevolent companions: we might wince and blink a little under their glare but we are delighted they have taken the trouble to shine for us.”

n To buy a copy of Messy Church Theology and to find out more, visit www.messychurch.org.uk/resource/messy-church-theology

What we’re asking you to do

It’s pretty simple! We want you or your church to host an

event where people can enjoy time together over some

food – whether it’s a picnic, coffee morning, barbecue,

breakfast or five-course gourmet meal – all in support

of Church Army. And most importantly we want you

to have fun while fundraising.

We’ve got some great Menu for Change

resources available to help you organise

your event, including posters, invites,

placemats and takeaway cards.

To find out more visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/menuforchange where you can register your event and download our fun range of resources.

We think it’s wrong that there are people in

our country who are homeless, living in poverty

and marginalised for all sorts of different

reasons. That needs to change, so here at

Church Army we’re doing something about it.

Will you join us? Good!

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Janet Rourke and her friends Ann, Liz and Elaine organised a Menu for Change afternoon tea party for those at St Nicholas Church in Whiston, Merseyside. They raised a delicious £260.St Emmanuel in Plymouth raised a brilliant £274 at their Menu for Change Harvest lunch. Thanks to Michael Cooke for organising it! A massive thank you to all those at St Luke’s Church in Skerton, Lancaster, who raised £130 at their Menu for Change lunches organised by our Parish Representative, June Hebden.Thank you to all those at St Oswald’s in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, who joined in with the Menu for Change lunch and for the 10 people who took part in a sponsored run, cycle and walk on behalf of Church Army as part of the event. They raised more than £1,000!

Staff, evangelists and their families gathered at Church Army’s Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield for a Menu for Change bake off raising a scrumptious £250.

So what’s on the menu? Change!Around the country Menu for Change events have been taking place and we’d like to say a big thank you!

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Fundra

ising

20 Shareit!

Phil Baul works in Plymouth on the Chaucer Way housing estate and also helps churches in the area grow their children and families outreach. He tells us more...

MondayBuilding good links with the primary schools in the area has been really important since I started work here in 2008 and it is always so encouraging to see children discover the gospel. Today I led the fROG (fully Reliant on God) after school club at St Budeaux Foundation Junior School. We had around 40 children come along and had great fun looking at characters from the Old Testament who found themselves in difficult situations, such as Joseph, Jonah and Moses.

TuesdayPart of my job here in the Devonport Deanery is to help churches grow their outreach to children and young families. So this morning I visited St Michael’s, which I’ve supported in setting up a parent and toddler group. It was great to see members of the congregation serving at the group and getting to know young families in their community.

During my visit one of the volunteers was also telling me how the church has been holding family services and inviting those who’ve been recently baptised along to them. Despite being quite an elderly congregation they have a real desire to reach out beyond the church and it is brilliant to enable them in this.

WednesdayThis morning I visited the team at the yMCA centre near the Chaucer Way estate and led them in their monthly prayer and reflection meeting. It was good to encourage them in their faith and build on our partnership. Later on my wife, Chris, and I led an after school club at Shakespeare Primary School which was good fun. I also lead regular assemblies at Pennycross Primary School and am very thankful to God for the good links I have with them.

ThursdayToday has been really encouraging as we’ve had our final faith and football session this season held at the yMCA centre. This outreach initiative is aimed at children aged eight to 12 and sees them take part in a five-week five-a-side football league. As part of our final session we had a presentation which the children’s parents and families were invited along to. Medals and trophies were handed out and Derek, one of our volunteers, did an excellent gospel presentation explaining how the best team to be on in life is Jesus’ team. Over the five weeks we’ve had some really great conversations with the parents as many of them stay for a cup of coffee while the football is taking place. We can’t wait for the next season to begin and pray that some of

A week in the life of an evangelist

Phil Baul works in Plymouth on the Chaucer Way housing estate and also helps churches in the area grow their children and families outreach. He tells us more...

to become a mobile community centre and church. Currently there are no buildings on the estate where people can meet, so we hope the bus will become a gathering point for people and can be used for special events such as at Christmas. It has taken 18 months to fundraise for the bus and get it up and running – so it is a real answer to prayer to see it out on the streets being put to good use for God’s kingdom.

SundayToday I attended the morning service at St Barnacles Church which is part of the Devonport Deanery.

those we’ve reached will come along to church to find out more.

FridayEach year, Chris and I help to lead a Hants and Dorset Explorer youth Camp for children aged nine to 13. We’ve been doing this for the past 23 years and it is always really special to see children put their trust in Jesus for the first time. Today, I’ve been looking ahead to summer and planning some teaching for the camp. The camp is always fun-filled and action-packed – just how the kids like it!

SaturdayToday, a group of volunteers from St Pancras Church and I took our community bus out onto the Chaucer Way estate which is home to around 2,500 people. We served refreshments and had opportunities to chat with people. Our vision for the bus is for it

Phil Baul

Leading the after school club at Shakespeare Primary School

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A week in the life of an evangelist

Evang

elism

22 Shareit!

Truro’s Bishop has set up a Dragon’s Den-style forum so local church activists can bid for funds to help them in mission. A mission coordinator has been appointed in Rochester where parish churches are each being given £100 for mission projects. Chelmsford Diocese has a similar mission focus linked to the diocesan centenary. The common factor is HOPE 2014 – a year of mission – the whole church, reaching the whole nation for a whole year using words and actions.

HOPE is a catalyst that brings churches together to transform communities. It began

as Hope08 – a one-year initiative involving 1,500 areas. After 2008 ended, national church leaders asked HOPE to continue.

HOPE provides free resources and lots of ideas on its website www.hopetogether.org.uk and through fortnightly email updates. young people are given a lead with HOPE Revolution Mission Academies training groups of teenagers and their youth leaders to see mission as a lifestyle rather than a one-off activity.

Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director, says: “Momentum is building towards a whole year of mission in 2014 when thousands of projects will be running to bless local communities as churches put their faith into action, living out God’s love, proclaiming the gospel in word and action, and doing it all in unity with other Christians.”

Rooted in prayer

Prayer is at the heart of all HOPE does. HOPE launched in October this year with an all-night prayer event for 40,000 people hosted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, followed by a reception hosted by the Archbishop

Volunteers cleaning up their neighbourhood

Face painting at a community event in Leeds

Faith , words and action are at the heart of all

that Church Army does. Find out how we are

partnering with HOPE2014 to help churches

across the country catch the same vision

2014’s mission momentsHOPE invites churches to focus on key mission moments – a rhythm of mission through the church calendar:

• Lent and Easter

• Pentecost, the Big Lunch and summer festivals

• Harvest

• Remembrance

• Advent, Christmas and New year Find out more at www.hopetogether.org.uk Follow HOPE @Hopetogether and on Facebook

Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director, with the Heartbeat of Mission resource

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of Canterbury for the leaders of Britain’s churches and ministries. HOPE’s season of prayer to usher in the year of mission started on October 18. More than a million copies of HOPE’s Mission Prayer calendar are being distributed in print and online by HOPE’s partners. The prayers are also available as daily emails from www.ucb.co.uk/prayer

The Heartbeat of Mission is HOPE’s 224-page directory for churches that want to make a difference in their neighbourhoods. It brings together more than 150 tried-and-tested mission ideas,

resources and funding links for food banks, homeless shelters, debt counselling services and more. The goal is to see local churches at the heart of their communities being Good News and bringing transformation.

The huge variety of projects linked by the HOPE banner include a New Forest summer family fun day which, this year, attracted 4,500 people. One of the marquees gives a platform to visiting Christian artists and entertainers, so the event combines practical community action and gospel proclamation. HOPE Nottingham links local churches which have set up a café for vulnerable people, a furniture recycling project and a food bank among other community mission projects. In Bristol churches pool their resources for a weekend serving the community with kids’ clubs and rubbish clearance for example.

Sports chaplaincies are working with HOPE to stage huge community Christmas carol events in stadiums this year and next. HOPE is also working with denominations and ministries to prepare resources for churches to use in 2014’s World War One commemorative events. These

include Silent Night carol service ideas to link with the Christmas truce in the trenches.

HOPE’s distinctive logo gives a common identity to the projects and groups of churches working together to serve their villages, towns and cities. The logo is free to use on any project that communicates the Christian faith in words and actions.

HO

PE 2014

“Sorted” with Jesus

24 Shareit!

I first heard about the Sorted project when I was 13 years old – although at that point in my life I hadn’t ever really thought about God or faith. Instead I was more interested in skateboarding and spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends practising our skateboarding tricks.

One day at school, Immanuel Community College, my friends were in the playground when a Church Army Evangelist, Andy Milne, who was visiting the school, came and chatted with us. He told us about a new group he was starting on Friday evening for young people to get together and skate, play football, listen to music and talk about God.

Andy himself was a great skateboarder and we wanted to learn from him, so a friend and I decided to go along, although that first

evening when Andy did a short talk about faith, we did wonder what we’d got ourselves into!

After that, my journey of coming to faith was a bit of a bumpy road. For a while I was in a really dark place and got in with a group of friends who were into Satanism. Things began spiralling out of control and eventually I reached a point where I realised what it was doing wasn’t any good for me and it was messing my head up.

One night at Sorted, when I was 16, I asked Andy to pray for me as I couldn’t keep living that way anymore. When he prayed for me it felt like I was being released from all the

Having dabbled in Satanism as a teenager who knew nothing about Jesus, Carl Firth, 21, shares with us how he came to faith through our Sorted project in Bradford and has recently started work there as a Christian youth leader

Sorted leadership team

Carl in 2006 playing his guitar at Sorted

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bad stuff and afterwards things seemed beautiful, light and joyful.

Life after that night was still up and down, but slowly God began to change me, and as my love for Jesus grew so did my love for others. My sense of self-worth also grew as I realised I was valuable to God. And my family, none of who are Christians, could see the change in me.

At this point, Sorted as a project had also been growing, and had now become an established youth church run by the young people for young people. So as my faith grew I began to get involved in volunteering and helping to lead groups.

Andy and another Church Army Evangelist at the project, James Hawksworth, really invested time in me and eventually taught me how to write and give talks for Sorted and how to pray for people. I am so grateful to them, because if it wasn’t for Sorted I wouldn’t have been saved.

This past year has also been really important

for me, as I’ve been employed as a Sorted youth leader which is brilliant. I just love it! Sorted has now grown to two youth church congregations and was officially recognised as a church in 2010 with a Bishop’s Mission Order.

As part of my role I help to lead Sorted 2 which includes a Friday evening youth club, Sunday night worship and Bible study groups. The team and I also go into the nearby secondary schools two or three times each week to spend time mentoring the pupils and running lunch clubs. Another highlight so far for me has been taking a group of young people to the summer festival Soul Survivor, where several of them made commitments to Jesus for the first time.

I’m really excited about what the future holds for Sorted – it is providing young people with a fresh and relevant Christian community and a gateway for them to find out about Jesus. Most of the teenagers and young adults we work with have no clue about Christian things and many of them have troublesome home lives.

But here at Sorted, we tell them that they aren’t worthless, and my dream for each young person we work with is to see them come to faith and grow and be nurtured into the Christian leaders of the future.

Testim

ony

“ I got in with a group of friends who were into Satanism…”

Evangelist, Andy Milne (centre) with Carl (far right) in 2005 when Sorted was first established

26 Shareit!

four years ago my colleague, Rev Sam Foster, who is part of the fresh Expressions Team in Scarborough with me, was on a mission trip in South Africa. While praying one day, God gave her a vision of setting up a Christian project in the deprived Eastfield area of the town - a project that would serve the community practically, while introducing them to faith. Sam returned to Scarborough and since then we’ve been working and praying hard to make God’s vision become a reality.

The Diocese of york had a disused vicarage available for us to use and with a team of enthusiastic volunteers from the local churches we set about renovating the building. It was brilliant to see Christians from across the town coming together and pitching in with a paint brush. Barclays bank even sent in a volunteer team to help us.

Now the centre is open, we are pleased

to be offering people access to debt and budgeting advice, pregnancy crisis counselling, a food bank and employment support. On day one, we had a man come into the centre who was homeless and by

the end of the first evening we had arranged for him to be re-housed and gave him a substantial food parcel to set him up.

Alongside all of this, we run a community drop-in twice a week where there are refreshments and crafts available. So far, this has attracted a really wide variety of people

Open ArmsEvangelist, Shena Moray, is celebrating the opening of the Westway Open Arms Centre in Scarborough, sponsored by York Diocese. The centre offers people support with unemployment, debt, and pregnancy crisis. Shena tells us more

“ Shena is very good at being a presence in the heart of the community and making God real in people’s everyday living”

Sam foster, Bishop of Hull, Richard frith, Shena Moray Foodbank

Outside area

Evang

elism

and has also proved popular with people with learning disabilities and their carers.

As we look to the future, we are planning to offer people the chance to take part in a Start course exploring the basics of Christianity and to run faith Through film events. This Christmas we’ve also been invited by the parish council to lead carols on the high street and we’re going to construct an advent prayer tent where residents can come and share their hopes and dreams for the community as 2014 approaches.

Sam says: “Having Shena as a Church Army Evangelist based at Westway Open Arms means that as well as serving people in need in very practical ways we can also offer spirituality and arts. Shena is very good at being a presence in the heart of the community and making God real in people’s everyday living.”

A volunteer’s story

viv Allen, volunteer Coordinator, said: “I can honestly say that Westway Open Arms has made a profound difference to my life. It has given me the opportunity to meet other Christians and to live a life focused on others; a Christian life in action. It has become a shared endeavour that is so much greater than the sum of our individual labours.

“Our days start with prayers, calling for God’s help and blessing on efforts and giving thanks and praise. Thus God is at the centre of all we do and say. Westway has brought forth gifts I didn’t realise I had. Painting and decorating, enabling others, administrative tasks, desktop publishing and team building for example. But perhaps its greatest gift to me has been that it has magnified God’s light within me so that with other volunteers, we can shine like a beacon pulling others towards God’s healing love.

“Westway has also empowered me to ‘get out of the boat’ and move out of my comfort zone. If my faith is like a mustard seed, then Westway Open Arms is like a greenhouse.”

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28 Shareit!

The “missing generation”New research released by Church Army and Fresh Expressions has identified five types of churches which are bucking the trend in reaching and discipling the “missing generation” of people in their 20s and 30s

Beth Keith, an associate member of Church Army’s Research unit, conducted the study, and her report, authentic faith: fresh expressions of church amongst young adults, explores the ways in which churches are tackling the fact that only 11 per cent of regular churchgoers are between the ages of 25 and 34.

Over 12 months, Beth surveyed leaders of parish churches, traditional church plants and new forms of church. The aim was to look at churches based in different contexts reaching young adults from a range of backgrounds.

The research found that some larger churches, with young adult congregations gathering for a Sunday service alongside midweek groups, are effectively reaching middle class, well-educated young adults who previously attended church as children. They act as gathering points and are highly effective in attracting, retaining and discipling Christian young adults for a vocational life of mission in the world and ministry in the church. These

young adults tend to move on to family-based congregations as they grow up.

But the churches managing to reach young adults with no prior faith or church experience - and from a broader socio-economic background – are very different. They meet more often around the dining table than the church building and eating together is the new Sunday service. For these small communities, access to communal spaces, such as cafés, large vicarages and community houses, can make a crucial difference to their growth and sustainability.

The report goes on to identify five distinct types of young adults’ church:

Church planting hubs are contemporary in style with a specific service or congregation for young adults. Church life is organised around a Sunday service alongside other community-based activities including small groups. There is an emphasis on shared missional activities and personal evangelism. Some of these churches

Beth Keith from Church Army’s Research unit

Shareit! 29

The “missing generation”run year-out discipleship courses which feed into the life of the church. These churches tend to reach educated, middle class young adults with a Christian upbringing and are usually located in student areas.

Youth church grown up, as the title suggests, begin life as youth ministries or youth churches. Ten years on, with their members growing up, but not connecting to other forms of church, they begin considering how their church could become a place for young adults.

Deconstructed churches meet regularly but not necessarily on Sunday and probably not in a church building. They place a high value on community with church practices based around meals. Prayer, thanksgiving, communion and discipleship happen during the meal. Deconstructed churches are likely to have started by accident and are least likely to be connected to the wider church.

Churches on the margins are reaching young adults marginalised by wider society and from non-church backgrounds. Many of the young adults in these churches struggle with illness, mental health, addictions, suicide, homelessness, violence and criminal activity. The churches in this category focus on transforming the lives of the young adults with coaching groups, cell groups and one-

to-one mentoring. Meeting together over food and providing practical support for the young adults is also important.

Context-shaped churches are intentionally shaped through direct interaction with their context. Therefore, practices are very different between the churches looked at in this category. Gatherings are regular but will not necessarily happen weekly or on a Sunday. While traditional elements of church, such as communion, teaching, worship, prayer, discipleship and fellowship are evident, there is often no clear service, preaching or singing. These context-shaped churches use a mixture of sacred and secular buildings, for example a café with a chapel. By using a range of spaces, these churches cross the sacred/secular divide.

Conclusions. The more experimental forms of Christian community found in deconstructed churches, context-shaped churches and churches on the margins are greatly affected by the level of support and connection with the wider church, particularly during times of change. But their unconventional style can be a stumbling block to this. Issues also remain for them about their future and how to sustain themselves long-term.

young adults attending these types of churches may struggle to make the leap to more traditional forms of church as they get older. This suggests the determining factor here is not their age or life stage, and that these new forms of church will continue to grow and develop. The recognition of these small communities as church is vital, both for the sustainability of these fledgling churches and for the building up of the wider church.

n authentic faith is available both as a booklet and a downloadable PDf. To buy a copy visit www.freshexpressions.org.uk/resources/authenticfaith or telephone 0300 365 0563.

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30 Shareit!

Hannah Gray speaks to Retired

Evangelist, Michael Amos, about

the film club he runs at St Aidan’s

Church in Cannock, Staffordshire

Movie moments

A Church Army Mobile Cinema, similar to the one that visited Michael’s village when he was a child

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your work with Church Army?

I was commissioned with Church Army back in 1961 and over the years have worked as a parish evangelist in Lancaster, Mansfield and Leicester. I’m also a qualified teacher and have taught at several boarding schools. I now live in Staffordshire with my wife Eileen.

How did your interest in using film for evangelism begin?

I’ve always been passionate about films and I grew up with them as my father ran the village cinema. In fact he was screening a film the night I was born! Also, my first contact with Church Army came through their cinema vans when one of them visited my village in Northamptonshire as a child and it made a real impact on me. Therefore, when I became an evangelist I naturally wanted to find ways

to use film to engage people with the gospel. As General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once commented regarding music: “Why should the devil have all the good tunes?” I ask, regarding technology: “Why should the devil have all the good inventions?”

How does the film club at St Aidan’s work?

The film club meets once a month on a Saturday evening in the church

lounge. We have refreshments, time to chat and then watch the film. We then have a short discussion afterwards about the themes and messages of the film. We have watched a really wide variety of films including Chariots of Fire, Nativity, The Bucket List and Evan Almighty. It’s a pretty simple concept – I’m not reinventing the wheel!

What advice would you give to others about setting up a similar club?

Practically, a good quality sound system and projector are helpful, although not essential and you could even run a club in your own home on a small scale. Spiritually, aim to help people look at films with a different mindset, not just as entertainment or as educational. Also, remember that films affect people powerfully. We’ve had some really deep discussions at our film club with people opening up about their struggles. Films really can act as God’s mouthpiece into the community.

Evang

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instructing his followers to say a certain prayer or recite particular words. But he didn’t. He chose something which virtually every human can do effortlessly. He asked to be remembered by eating and drinking.

Since bread was broken and wine poured on the evening before Jesus died, Christians have always taken sharing food together seriously. It has been part of the way they create community. The New Testament urges people many times to be hospitable. And repeatedly Christians are told not just to enjoy their meals together, but to be generous at the same time.

Good old Church Army! Their new Menu for Change initiative on pages 18-19 has got it spot on. Eat together, have a load of fun, be generous on behalf of those who need Good News, and remember what is being done to make Jesus known. It’s a great scheme. It works because it gives a new flavour to something Christians have done since Jesus’ time, day after day after day.

I’m in training to become the oldest man alive. I take it seriously. I work constantly on the endurance

needed for the world record. Today I managed 20,160 days. That’s a new personal best.

There is one thing I’ve done on every one of those 20,160 days. I have eaten. Sometimes alone; sometimes in company. The worst times were when I had to gulp something down because I was late for an appointment. The best times were when I was with friends and the conversation was as sweet as the dessert.

About 10,000 days ago I took several trips to the developing world and spent time with people who don’t eat every day. It was sobering. Since then I have thanked God for my food before every single meal. No exceptions in all that time. I don’t do it because I’ve become religious; I do it because I’ve become grateful.

Jesus must have thought hard about how he wanted to be remembered. Maybe he considered

Be faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:12-13

By Peter Graystone

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