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Page title: Discipleship Title: Road to recovery Standfirst: Many of us have experiences that hinder our ability to form healthy relationships. As we connect with God through prayer and scripture, we can surmount these struggles, says psychotherapist and minister Giles Lascelle.MARCH / APRIL 2020 THE MAGAZINE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE Healthy relationships are vital for our emotional wellbeing, but as we all know, relationships of all kinds, whether romantic, friendship, work or church-based, are also the source of some of our greatest struggles. Our experiences in childhood, whether

WE ARE RELATED MADE FOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND OTHERS Keynote Speakers: Bill Johnson Andrew Cannon Robby Dawkins Jean-Luc Trachsel and others

Tim & Sue Eldridge Co-Hosts of ELA Venue: Life Church Bradford BD3 0EQ Dates: 27-29 July 2020 Book: europeanleadersalliance.org evangelicalalliance

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Membership queries and updates [email protected] Advertising Candy O’Donovan [email protected] 07966 539777 Design Darren Southworth S2 Design & Advertising Ltd 020 7093 1978 2 The way God sees it We thrive A relationship with God is at the heart Evangelical Alliance leadership team of all relationships Gavin Calver, together CEO 4 We build together Peter Lynas, young lady’s head If it’s spiritual transformation we want, UK director hung low because the Fred Drummond, we must unite in prayer and action director of prayer and Scotland challenges faced by her Siân Rees, and her family had started to take 6 As one director of Wales Church unity – a conduit for God’s power Dr David Landrum, their toll. I told her: we are here if director of advocacy you need to talk, or if you’d like a hug. I heard her Remembered in the time of old age Jo Frost, A 8 laughing with others by the end of the day. director of communications God is using local churches to create a “It’s not good for the man to be alone” and membership place of belonging for the elderly Emrys Jones, – God’s words, not mine; and these director of fi nance and operations brief moments spent with this young 10 Road to recovery Evangelical Alliance offi ces lady reinforced the beauty and How can we stop relational pain and Head offi ce diffi culty from ruining our relationships? 176 Copenhagen Street importance of relationship – London N1 0ST relationship with God and relationship A godly initiative in Stornoway tel 020 7520 3830 with others. 14 [Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm] The way we ‘do church’ puts fl esh on the Rev Canon Yemi Adedeji, director fax 020 7520 3850 bones of God’s message [email protected] of our One People Commission, shares that Northern Ireland “relationship is at the heart of the Christian faith 18 Will you share yours? First Floor and is the biblical base that fuels our witness to Our testimonies are stories worth telling Ravenhill House others” (p. 2). Siân Rees, director of Evangelical 105 Ravenhill Road Someone to talk to Belfast BT6 8DR Alliance Wales, echoes this sentiment as 21 tel 028 9073 9079 Premier Lifeline – a connection for the lonely [email protected] she reminds us what is possible when we work together for the salvation of Wales 22 In harmony 20 High Street others (p. 4). Worship songs – more than a pleasant tune Cardiff CF10 1PT And there are many local tel 029 2022 9822 Prayer, purpose and politicians [email protected] churches and Christian organisations 24 doing exactly that, to provide a What can we do to form better Scotland relationships with our politicians? 100 Borron Street listening ear for the lonely (p. 21), Blair Court, Suite D friendship for the elderly (p. 8), godly Glasgow G4 9XE 26 Crucial connections neighbours in challenging communities tel 0141 353 0150 How can we become faithful disciples [email protected] (p. 12), and a safe haven for the young (p. 14). and leaders? The Evangelical Alliance. A company We hope through this ‘We are related’ edition limited by guarantee. Registered Going further together in England and Wales No. 123448. you will join us in celebrating what the UK church 28 Registered Charity No. England and is doing and identify more opportunities to Jesus is the reason 12 major mission Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576. Registered Offi ce: 176 Copenhagen refl ect our relational God as you nurture organisations have teamed up Street, London, N1 0ST existing and establish new The Father’s heart for family idea is published in accordance with relationships. 31 the Evangelical Alliance’s Basis of Have you ever considered off ering Faith, although it is impossible in every Yours truly, article to articulate each detail and a child a home for good? nuance of belief held by Evangelical Alliance members. Articles in idea What’s stopping us? may therefore express views on which Naomi Osinnowo 32 there is a divergence of opinion or Editor We can impact our nations, so let’s do it, understanding among evangelicals. says Gavin Calver idea accepts advertisements and inserts to off set printing costs. Advertising in idea does not imply editorial endorsement. The Evangelical Alliance reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from the editor.

MAR / APR 2020 01 THEOLOGY

Our restored relationship with God opens our hearts to relate upwardly with the Father, inwardly with self and outwardly with others, writes Rev Canon Yemi Adedeji, director of the One the way People Commission.

GODalk of ‘a relationship with SEESconstitutional persons expressedIT as Father, God’ is familiar language Son and Holy Spirit, but of one substance, within the Christian culture. essence and nature. The relationship is co- One of the frequently equal and co-powerful, and clearly strategic used statements within From love in engaging with humanity. God could have Tevangelical, charismatic or pentecostal to hate, relationship created the world and redeemed humanity circles is often centred around a personal is at the depths of sin by Himself, but He demonstrated the power relationship with Christ. It’s further and at the heights of unity and relationship in a distinct co- stressed that Christianity is about having of moral virtue. existence with a united purpose in creating a relationship with God and not an the universe. THE WAY GOD observation of a religion or religious order. Relationship is at the heart of the Relationship and humanity Christian faith and it is the biblical base that Human beings are made for relationship, fuels our witness to others. Relationship and outside of relationship human beings is central to God, and God as the initiator the creative order of the universe. cannot truly be themselves. God knew this of relationship is evidenced in scripture The gospel writing of John highlighted after creating the first human being. God from the creation in Genesis right the way a relational co-creation between God and Himself noticed that it’s not good for a man SEES IT through to the last jot in Revelation. Jesus from the beginning, demonstrating to exist alone but he needs to engage and that God started off in relationship, co- relate to fulfil purpose. “The Lord God said, Relationship and creation exists in relationship and co-created in ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. In creation, we saw the image of the Spirit relationship. “In the beginning was the Word, I will make a helper suitable for Him’” of God hovering over the waters similar and the Word was with God, and the Word (Genesis 2:18). to a mother bird caring for and protecting was God. He was with God in the beginning. God is a social God who delights in a its young. “Now the earth was formless Through Him all things were made; without relationship with His creation, which is why and empty, darkness was over the surface Him nothing was made that has been made” He created man and woman in His image. of the deep, and the Spirit of God was (John 1:1-3). But the nature of sin has since separated hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). The God the Father created in relationship humanity, diluted our relationships, and presence of the Holy Spirit reveals God’s with His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. ultimately created segregation, racism and relational nature, and it is from this position It’s this relationship that helps to define the other forms of discrimination, and amplified of relationship that He formed and shaped term ‘Trinity’, which identifies God as three our differences.

02 MAR / APR 2020 The Genesis creation story describes Our personal relationship with Christ Adam and Eve as the originators of the Our redemptive helps to communicate the gospel in a whole of humanity. Adam and Eve are relational way which helps to convince distinguished from the rest of the created relationship is the people of the reality of the saving Jesus, realm and placed in authority over it. Later in bible that people if we indeed take into heart the gospel of Genesis, we come to the passage that has read. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that been most ill-used for racist purposes, the He gave His one and only Son, that whoever account of Ham discovering drunken Noah’s believes in Him shall not perish but have nakedness (Genesis 9:22). Noah cursed eternal life.” Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, as “the This could be likened to an interplay of a lowest of slaves” (Genesis 9:25). It is diffi cult deep relationship between father and son to to believe, but this curse was used as one absorbing. From love to hate, relationship is at redeem humanity for a renewed relationship of the prime justifi cations for Europeans’ the depths of sin and at the heights of moral both here on earth and in the world beyond. enslaving black people, which has created virtue. Compassion, sacrifi ce, forgiveness, It is of the truth that we were once detached a gulf in relationship. trust, betrayal, murder, adultery, revenge from this relationship, but a new relationship are all rooted in relationship. Therefore, with God in Christ Jesus is aimed to help Relational identity the beginning of an authentic relationship us live this out before people and show His Human beings have a relational identity, a involves not only a change in action but a grace by our lives. social self that may be seen as superior or change in our identity as being truly human – Our redemptive relationship is the inferior. From childhood we all begin life as created in the image of God to love. bible that people read. What we are self-focused and gradually see ourselves Relationship is the cornerstone of the communicating is relational, and how we as people in relationship as we learn to Christian faith, and it points to the fact that we communicate is also relational when put love and be loved. Just like God to man, have been made for relationship with God and in the context of speaking the truth in our the relational love from our parents shapes with each other. Jesus summarised the central relationships with others in order to open our self-image, and who we eventually message of the law and echoed the relational their hearts for a relationship with God. become. Our very identity as humans and narrative in the gospel. “‘Love the Lord your An understanding of a relationship that GOD SEES IT what it means to be human are found in God with all your heart and with all your soul creates separation only indicates that our relationship. and with all your mind.’ This is the fi rst and solution will not be found through the lens Our relational identity is not only found greatest commandment. And the second is of this world, nor the laws, or performance, in our fundamental need to be loved but in like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All or assumed theology, but only in a restored our need to love others and to break out the law and the prophets hang on these two relationship that opens up our heart to relate of our autonomy and understand who we commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). upwardly with God, inwardly with self and are as we grow into maturity. In life some outwardly with the world. of our orientation often takes the shape of Relationship and redemption insecurity, self-pride and selfi shness, which The gospel story is about reconciling people are the very root causes of the breakdown into relationship with God. It is not so much The One People Commission is an initiative in our relational identity. about conveying information or expounding of the Evangelical Alliance, established For many people the nature of sin has theological narrative, but it’s about people to support the UK church as we journey cut us off from our relational identity and encountering Jesus personally and towards greater ethnic unity. Find out more has made us become self-focused or self- relationally. at www.eauk.org/onepeoplecommission

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MAR / APR 2020 03 SOCIETY

What do we want for our nations? If it’s spiritual transformation, we must unite in prayer and action, says Siân Rees, director of Evangelical Alliance Wales. WE BUILDtogether ithout question, the and women giving up their lives on these Lord’s prayer is surely the shores to share the gospel across the world. most famous prayer of However, by today, with a few exceptions, all time. Many of us will The more we we are predominantly a missionary receiving have learnt it at church or determine to love nation. At the Evangelical Alliance’s base in WSunday school, others will have recited it in a God, the easier it is Cardiff, we share office space with (amongst school assembly, and many millions will have to love others. others) Missional Links Wales, which is a core used it as part of their daily devotionals with initiative of Evangelical Alliance Wales. Out of the Lord. the many connections he has with churches in Every word of every phrase has been the USA, their founder and director Rob Burns commented upon, interpreted, explained, has been running internships for nearly 20 meditated upon multiple times, and yet every the gospel with those who don’t yet know years, enabling young Americans to work with utterance remains profound and invites the Him. Truly, it’s Christ’s love which compels us local churches to bring spiritual transformation believer praying it to a closer relationship with to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him. in multiple towns and cities in both south and the Lord. The opening words “Our Father” It’s His love for us that stirs up a relentless north Wales. not only acknowledge to whom we come in passion in a believer for making Him known prayer but remind us that as lavishly loved to others. Nehemiah, an example children of God (1 John 3:1), we share one Back in November 2019, I had the As I enter my second year as director of the divine heavenly Father with all our Christian immense privilege of attending the World Evangelical Alliance in Wales, I’ve been both brothers and sisters across the globe. Evangelical Alliance General Assembly in captivated and challenged once again by the The greatest commandment given Jakarta, Indonesia. Towards the end of the account of Nehemiah. Here was a man living to us by Jesus in Mark 12:30-31 explicitly conference, just as my body was in the full in the citadel of Susa, far removed from the revolves around relationships, firstly with throes of jet lag and my mind saturated with city of Jerusalem which had been demolished God and then with one another: “‘Love the the teaching we’d received, a woman called by Nebuchadnezzar’s armies. On hearing Lord your God with all your heart and with Mary took the microphone in what had until from his brother Hanani of the physical state all your soul and with all your mind and with then been a mere business meeting. of Jerusalem’s broken-down walls, it’s burnt- all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love It wasn’t long before my eyes were down gates and of those who had survived your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no welling up as she spoke of her deep gratitude the exile, we are told that that Nehemiah sat commandment greater than these.” that many generations ago, missionaries from down and mourned, fasted and prayed for The truth is, the latter commandment Wales had arrived in Northeast India with the some days. is surely an outworking of the former. The sole purpose of sharing the gospel with her The level of ownership and responsibility more we determine to love God with all of people. Such was the impact of what they Nehemiah takes over the spiritual and our heart, soul, mind and strength, the easier shared, that at one stage an estimated 80 per physical condition of Jerusalem is profoundly it is to love others. Likewise, the deeper cent of the Mizoram population had become challenging. I wonder when you and I last our understanding is of what Jesus has Christians. mourned, fasted and prayed for the condition accomplished for us by laying down His life in Mary’s testimony is, of course, not unique. of our towns, cities and nations? There are order to reconcile us to the Father, the more Wales was once renowned for being a days when even watching the news can we should be stirred with a passion to share missionary sending nation, with scores of men be difficult as we hear reports of the rise

04 MAR / APR 2020 in mental health illnesses, suicide, human What Nehemiah wanted was an humbled and inspired by the willingness of traffi cking and the many beautiful souls who opportunity to rebuild. Not only was he willing people to partner with us and with each other have died in transit to other countries. What to take ownership before God for the state of for the sake of the gospel. We can’t wait to about the increase in homelessness, or the the city and of God’s people, he was willing see what the Lord has in store for us as we fact that many live in such poverty that they to be used in a practical way to do something look to work together to make Jesus known. rely on foodbanks for emergency packages about their restoration. I think there’s a The truth is that if we’re going to of food? Does it trouble you and me that challenge for us all here in that Nehemiah see spiritual transformation across the so many church buildings across the UK lie was fully prepared to be a part of the answer UK, then we need to work together. The empty while a nation goes about its’ business to his own prayers. As Nehemiah declared Bible describes us as being one body not knowing that there is a God in heaven his willingness to rebuild (Nehemiah 2:17), (1 Corinthians 12) with each part of the who loves them, has great plans for their lives the people replied, “Let us start rebuilding” body designed to play diff erent parts and and longs to be in relationship with them? (Nehemiah 2:18), and they began the work contribute diff erent things. Nobody has ever Let’s not allow ourselves to become so together. lived this day, this week, this month before. accustomed and accepting of the condition At the end of 2019, we established The world is looking to the church to rise up of our nation that we become numb. four regional HUBS in the south, west, mid and be all that she has been created and Nehemiah’s passion for God’s people turned and north of Wales and invited a number called to be; a people who are able to read into prayer and action, and I’m convinced of key leaders, whether church leaders or the seasons, pray fervently for their villages, that this is a template for how we too should bi-vocational Christians, to speak into the towns, cities; a people who love God with together approach spiritual transformation. When the work and vision of the Evangelical Alliance all their heart, soul, mind and strength; time fi nally arrived for Nehemiah to approach in Wales. In order for us to ascertain a broad a people who love their neighbours as the king and request that the walls be rebuilt, representation of the church here in Wales, themselves; a church who loves those who Artaxerxes asks him a critical question: “What we deliberately invited leaders from a broad don’t yet know Jesus; and a people who is it you want?” (Nehemiah 2:4). Knowing range of evangelical theological viewpoints, are willing to bring transformation in society what we want for our towns and cities surely men and women, Welsh and English in whatever sphere of infl uence they informs our prayers. What is it that we want for speakers, and representatives from black have been placed in. A church that works the nations? and ethnic minority churches. We were so together to make Jesus known. ORDER THE 2020 A great way to share the REAL EASTER EGG NOW Easter Story 10TH ANNIVERSARY DESIGNS The Real Easter Egg was launched Special Edition PALM OIL RRP £9.99 in 2010 as a way to share the Easter FREE Dark RRP £5.50 story and support Fairtrade. Crowd Original RRP £3.99 funded by churches and schools it has reached millions of people. Ten years on, out of the 80 million Easter eggs sold in the UK, The Real Easter Egg is still the only one which has a copy of the Easter story in the box, is made of Fairtrade chocolate and which supports charitable projects. Buy Now Fun Pack PLASTIC see below for details. RRP £5.00 FREE Order on 01948 831 043 or at ** www.realeasteregg.co.uk 10 **10 **10 YEARS YEARS YEARS 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 2 0

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Easter 2020 76, 56, 71 half pages WA, EA, Christianity 130x185.indd 1 MAR / APR 20201/30/2005 9:57 AM CHURCH LIFE

We’re bringing together different churches in east Belfast and the power of God is flowing through our unity, says Gareth MacLean, minister at Orangefield Presbyterian Church.

n Sunday 2, June 2019 the AS That day, and in the days that followed, sun was shining as more ONEwe witnessed God move in the most than 2,000 people gathered incredible way, as a group of people in the iconic C. S. Lewis We witnessed God move stepped into friendship with Jesus for the Square in east Belfast to in the most incredible way. first time. We witnessed hundreds more Ohear local celebrities discuss their faith and begin a journey of faith-filled conversations evangelist Cannon J. John invite people to with Christian friends and colleagues who give their lives to Jesus. had the courage to take a risk and invite The vision for this event was prayed, promised, prophesied, that if we them to an event about Jesus. birthed as the leaders of five local in east Belfast could find a way to come Another legacy of the event is the churches – Willowfield Church of Ireland, together as one in Jesus’ name, people friendship, and with it the trust, that has Newtownbreda Baptist, CFC, UT Elim and would believe in Him. been birthed across tribal lines between Orangefield Presbyterian along with Crown Here in Northern Ireland we are the churches involved and, in particular, the Jesus Ministries – came together. Sitting famous for many things: our hospitality, leaders of those churches. In times of illness down over coffee, doughnuts and prayer, our potatoes, our Guinness and, more or wrestling over a calling to a new level we reminisced about the great revivals in recently, our singing at European football of influence, or simply to encourage one Northern Ireland’s history: St. Patrick in the matches. Sadly, though, our enduring legacy another, we have found ourselves gravitating fifth century, the 1859 revival when more tends to be what has been named ‘The together to laugh, to weep, to dream, to than 100,000 people gave their life to Jesus, Troubles’, and with them the toxic division pray, and to continue to cry out to God for an and R. A. Torrey’s crusades at the turn of the that permeates our politics and even our outpouring of His Spirit on our land. last century. As the Holy Spirit opened our churches with a spirit of fear and mistrust. This year we have come together once hearts, we began praying, “God, do it again It happens because of our tendency to again to call the churches in east Belfast to in our time.” make our primary focus that which makes us gather around the vision to pray 24/7 for 100 As the idea started to gain momentum, different, and the truth is, whenever Baptists, days for an awakening of God in our souls, we gathered our congregations together Anglicans, Pentecostals, Presbyterians our city and our land. As we wait before to pray, and each time we did the words of and Independents come together, it would God, we are equipping our congregations Jesus’ prayer in John 17 kept emerging: “I be easy to focus on those differences. for the journey, using prayer journals and pray also for those who will believe in me However, when your heart’s desire is to see home-group resources along with agreeing through their message, that all of them may God’s kingdom come; when your prayer a shared preaching plan that each of our be one, Father, just as you are in me and I is to see the least, the lost and the lonely churches are embracing Sunday by Sunday. am in you. May they also be in us so that the encounter the Father heart of God and We are gathering our people together to world may believe that you have sent me” know His hope and forgiveness; when your worship and pray in expectation at our City (John 17:20-21). honest desire is to see Christ’s name lifted Hall, a political epicentre for our land, and St We were awestruck, breathless and up rather than any of our individual churches Anne’s Cathedral, a religious epicentre. Along humbled by the weight of the realisation, or personalities, that kind of unity seems to the journey we are engaging in a range of that just hours before going to the cross, provide a catalyst that heaven offers its ‘yes’ missional activities to bring life and hope to Jesus stood with His disciples and prayed and ‘amen’ to, and enables Jesus’ prayer to individuals and communities, and the joy is for our different churches in east Belfast – gather momentum in our midst. that we are doing it together as friends.

06 MAR / APR 2020 AS ONE CHURCH LIFE

REMEMBERED IN THE TIME OF

God is creating a place of belonging for older people in Tameside through the local OLDchurches. Might He be able to do something similarAGE where you live? asks Debs Fidler, community worker at Hope Community Church, Mottram.

n 2014, one year into my community an enthusiastic team of volunteers. worker role with a brief to focus on Fast-forward to present day and we older people, I attended an event where have a rolling programme of events at our someone shared their vision for a now- God gives us the weekly ‘Monday Matinee’ including quizzes, global youth ministry: “I was standing courage to keep day trips, sing-a-longs, chair aerobics Iover the city and I felt like everything needs stepping out in faith and even a retro cinema. Through all to be poured into the young people!” knowing ultimately, these activities, we have looked for ways I would never argue with the way God to communicate our hope in the gospel continues to use this ministry in remarkable He is the rescuer. (testimonies, the stories behind hymns, and ways, but I couldn’t escape my inner offering prayer). We also tour three local reaction: What about the older people?! care and residential homes each month, Three words dropped into my thinking: silver exploring with me what God was stirring providing afternoon entertainment in the cord ministries. in my heart: it was issues of loneliness and communal lounges. This has developed into Ecclesiastes 12 starts “remember your isolation that I felt God breaking me for. monthly church services in one care home creator in the days of your youth”, followed I had such a loving upbringing, belonged and biblical exploration in another using by a poetic description about aging, before to an incredible church family, and now Pilgrims’ Friend’s ‘Brain and Soul Boosting’. it concludes with “before the silver cord is experienced the reality of being in the grip Being involved in youthwork seemed to snapped”. As I read this, I felt God give me of a loving God. The thought of the many be part of God’s plan for me (no surprises a glimpse of His heart for ministries that will local people who knew none of the above there then!) as we realised the potential to point older people back to their creator, with felt almost unbearable. Also… my grandad bridge the gaps between generations – a the same gusto we apply to youth ministry. had been my best friend growing up, and challenge faced by many churches around My role in the church didn’t begin as a I’ve always had a general love of all things the country. At our annual ‘Big Night Out’ community worker. I was first employed as a old: films, furniture, songs and people. The event, for example, around 70 people from youth worker, but around the time of my own community worker role then took shape with the community mix with young people from ‘spiritual awakening’, the leadership were a freedom to develop the ministry, alongside the church who are serving their tables and

08 MAR / APR 2020 then dance the night away together to a live haven’t just been for older people. For jazz band. some, including addicts and those living Something magical happens on with acute mental health issues, the vital occasions like this. Our older friends services have reached the limit of what report back a strong sense of being they can offer. But through connecting valued because of the love shown to into church community, some have them by the young people. These described finding a family to be a part intergenerational links have increased of, and with it, a new hope in Jesus. over the last 18 months, with children It has also been pure joy that most from the local primary school regularly of our befrienders are retirees who attending our Monday Matinee. One are energised by having a front-line of our events left an older lady in tears. position on the mission field. They offer “I don’t see any of my grandchildren,” she deep levels of empathy through lives said. “It’s just so nice to spend time with shaped by their own tragedies but can still children here; they bring so much joy.” We say “God is good”. are told the children are positively affected We are now planning to develop Silver by these new relationships too; they go Cord into a charity so that we can develop back to school saying they have made it even further. We pray God gives us the new best friends. courage to keep stepping out in faith knowing ultimately, He is the rescuer. We stepped into the gap I am convinced that, other than the We don’t have to look far in the gospel, one of the greatest things scriptures to understand God’s heart we can offer others is the power for the isolated, do we? The only of presence. So, what three things thing in all His glorious creation that might you want to take away from our God deemed “not good” was “to be journey? alone”. God Himself is community, and people, created in His likeness, are made ● Simple listening affirms the value of OLD AGE for community. Surely, then, it is inherent to any person created in God’s image. If human nature to long for connection and an you are wondering where to start, start assault on our humanity when it is absent? with this. Simple but effective. It doesn’t In response to this, we set up Silver have to be flashy. Make a welcoming Cord Befriending Service, training space to connect and be heard, fuelled volunteers from two local churches. by prayer to a magnificent God who What can you do in your context? longs to bring life. Yes, it’ll not be easy, and it’ll test ● Remember that healthy church your patience and resolve, but, as doesn’t value one age group over we’ve found, God is faithful. Our initial another (though I do feel there is publicity didn’t seem to attract the much to recover in how we honour referrals we expected, but we knew older people in the way God instructs). the need was real. So many times on ● Let others know that our new this journey God has brought us to the life in Christ is a welcome into the same position… our knees. ‘Don’t push most beautifully diverse family of all, – pray!’ has been a recurring theme. But, comprising people of every culture and sure enough, before long, a door opened age group. Far from perfect, but united through the police connecting us to all the regularly with our befrienders to reinforce with Christ at the centre – that is our vital local services. Through GPs, social boundaries, pray and remind ourselves that unique gift to the world. services and others, the referrals started there is only one hero in this story – and it’s coming in thick and fast. not us. The church can walk the long road Now we have partnered with five local It has also been a delight to host a where the services aren’t able and in that churches in our area and have responded Christmas day lunch over the last two we have never been more needed. “God to more than 90 referrals. Befrienders were years for our Silver Cord friends who would places the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6), trained initially for cosy cups of tea and otherwise have spent Christmas Day alone. wrote David. The challenge ahead is how coffee with old people, but God had other I’ll never forget one person’s comment we be that family to a world that is watching plans. We have seen scales of deprivation afterwards: “It made me feel human again.” and demonstrate His love to the many who we vastly underestimated. So now we meet A twist in this story is that these referrals are so longing to be a part of one.

MAR / APR 2020 09 DISCIPLESHIP

Many of us have experiences that hinder our ability to form healthy relationships. As we connect with God through prayer and scripture, we can deal with these struggles, says psychotherapist and Road to minister Giles Lascelle.

RECOVERYealthy relationships are Everyone is worthy of love vital for our emotional and inclusion wellbeing, but as we all know, Our experiences Jesus treats everyone as being worthy of relationships of all kinds, in childhood have love and inclusion, possibly because He whether romantic, friendship, a strong impact on still sees the image of His Father in each Hwork or church-based, are also the source the relationships we person. All of those who were traditionally of some of our greatest struggles. excluded by society – lepers, prostitutes, Our experiences in childhood, whether form as adults. those who were disabled, those who were positive or negative, have a strong impact from other cultures, and so on – are treated on the relationships we form as adults. If with respect, care and love. Their differences we were hurt in our family relationships or We are wired for connection and struggles are not seen by Jesus as were exposed to relationship struggles, and relationship an opportunity to exclude them, but as an we ourselves may experience conflict, Relationship and connection are at opportunity to show even greater love and social isolation or relationship breakdowns. the very heart of God, in the mutual respect. How would our relationships change Whether we like it or not, these issues affect interdependence of the three persons of if we were able to view ourselves and others Christians just as much as others. The only the Trinity. We were originally made in the as already worthy of love and inclusion? difference is that all too often, it is more image of God, and therefore His plan and difficult for Christians to talk about their intention for us is to be in relationship and Taking the other’s viewpoint struggles, because we sometimes wrongly connection with others. usually helps communication believe that as followers of Jesus we should Sometimes you may feel that you and connection be all sorted out and fixed. aren’t able to relate with or connect Most conflicts happen because we do not Perhaps because of this unwillingness with others easily; perhaps past hurts see the other person clearly. When we to talk about relational pain and difficulty, we have damaged your sense of self, or look at the things that upset or irritate us often do not learn some of the very simple the way you see others, but the truth is about them, it obscures our view of them attitudes and ways of thinking that can help that you were made for connection and as a person. Jesus tells us to get the plank us to connect with others, or to restore relationship. Simply knowing this and out of our own eye before we try to get relationships when they have been broken. choosing to believe it can make a huge the splinter out of another person’s eye However, as we connect with God through difference in how you feel about yourself (Matthew 7:5). We are often blinded both to prayer and scripture, we will discover a and how you approach your connections what is valuable about another person and number of helpful insights that make good with others. what may be less helpful about ourselves spiritual and psychological sense. because we are stuck in the view that they

10 MAR / APR 2020 need to be fi xed and we are all sorted. chosen a rough and ready bunch of Galilean How would it change things if we were to fi shermen with deep character issues as His recognise that our own wounds may also The only thing we closest companions. be contributing to any confl ict or relational have to do is to allow The good news is that none of us qualify, breakdown? Him to connect none of us are sorted out enough, and with us. none of us behave as well as we should. Forgiveness releases us and Nevertheless, we are all included as family others to love and connect in Christ. The only thing we have to do is Jesus tells us to forgive others, not just to allow Him to connect with us. We don’t because it’s a matter of justice – we have What impact would it have if we were to have to put pressure on ourselves to be been forgiven, so we should forgive other face the hurt we feel and try to understand all sorted out to be worthy of relationship people – but because not forgiving is a it, before making a choice not to continue and connection with others. Neither do we recipe for fractured relationships. We usually to hold on to resentment and bitterness have to require it of other people in order fall out with people because they have towards the one who hurt us? for them to be worthy of relationship and upset us in some way. The longer we hold connection with us. on to that off ence, the more it fuels our hurt. We do not have to work for How much might our lives and our We become unable to see past the hurt to inclusion or connection relationships change if we come from the get to what is good in the relationship. Sometimes we labour under the belief that starting point that we are already irrevocably Of course, forgiveness is also a journey. to be worthy of connection with others we related through God to one another? In order to be able to forgive we need to be have to work at it or change who we are in able to face and understand our own pain. some way. The price of belonging is that we Giles Lascelle’s latest title Breakthrough, We need to know what hurt us and why. Only have no character issues and behave well. published by Instant Apostle, is now then can we make a realistic choice to let the However, this is not the gospel. If Jesus had available from Christian bookshops and other person off . This is even more the case wanted sorted out, well behaved people online retailers. if the person who hurt us was ourselves. as His disciples, He would never have

Take the gospel beyond your church’s comfort zone this Pentecost

For over 2,000 years Christians have spread the gospel around the world. Today however, we often throw more gospel seeds into the same plots of soil, going to places where there is already a Christian witness.

But there is more ‘good soil’ where the gospel could be planted: in remote areas, bustling cities, refugee camps and other places, where three billion people are living and dying without knowing Jesus. Now it’s time to take the gospel beyond our comfort zone to the genuinely unreached. This Pentecost Sunday, join in this vital mission work with Reach Beyond.

Get your FREE Church Resources Pack at: reachbeyond.org.uk/pentecost Email: [email protected] Call: 01274 721810

MAR / APR 2020 11 SOCIETY

WHERE YOU LIVE loveFor the past 22 years Eden has been sending and supporting urban missionaries to some of Britain’s toughest neighbourhoods, but there’s still more to do, says Sarah Small, head of the Eden Network.

ast spring I took a walk around need to be deploying our resources to the Blackpool with Steve, a local vicar. margins, to those areas where the church is Prior to joining the ministry, he had Blackpool is a place weakest, and the need is greatest in order been a policeman, patrolling the beat where many come to see the church truly flourish into all that it that he now served as his parish. to party, drink and is called to be. LAs we briskly walked the terraced streets, set back from the seafront, he told indulge their senses. Going in me stories of visits that he had made, crimes Eden is working to change this. We believe committed, victims and perpetrators, and that God’s view of these places, and of their his own reflections of the area. Many of know about you, but this is something that people, is significantly different. He operates the stories were sadly familiar; and yet as stirs me into action. an upside-down kingdom in which the last we walked and talked, I was struck by an Across the UK there are many other will be first and the least will be greatest. overwhelming sense of the injustice that places like Blackpool, outer estates, These are the places we must focus our was present in this town. inner-city neighbourhoods, seaside towns, attention and give our best to, for the growth Blackpool is a place where many come and valleys. Places that our government of His kingdom. to party, drink and indulge their senses. ranks as deprived, our media portrays in a At its heart Eden has three core They come to get their fill, leaving chaos persistently negative tone, and even our values: the transformational nature of the in their wake. It’s a place where people churches have been guilty of overlooking. gospel, the imperative to live sacrificially, are moved temporarily whilst awaiting And whilst this happens, the gap between and the necessity of building and being somewhere else to go. A place where some the ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ continues to widen. part of authentic community. To see that make their fortune, whilst many struggle In 2015 Talking Jesus research reported worked out we form teams of up to 12 to make ends meet. A place government that the British church is overwhelmingly people, mostly volunteers, who commit figures showed as having 8 of the 10 most middle class, with 81 per cent of to living long term in the heart of tough deprived neighbourhoods in England. churchgoers holding a university degree communities. Partnering with a local church As I prayed and listened to God, my (compared to 27 per cent of the entire passionate about seeing transformation overwhelming sense was that many people British population). Whilst some would see come to their home town, our teams run had lost sight of the true value and worth this as a cheering statistic, it is also troubling. youthwork, prayer groups, community clubs, of this place, seeing it as somewhere they Our predominantly middle-class church cafès, church services, Alpha courses, could exploit for their own purposes. I don’t needs to work harder to reverse this. We mums’ groups, men’s groups, art classes,

12 MAR / APR 2020 environmental groups, foodbanks, debt family for example: his sons are now heavily counselling, and all sorts of other activities, involved in The Shack, bringing their friends in order to meet the needs in their specific All those who join and neighbours their age to faith. Our communities and, more than that, to build Eden make a clear constant prayer for our work is Luke 10:2: relationships. At the heart of all this is the prophetic statement to “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but desire to truly love our neighbours, and to their communities. the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the see our communities flourish, to reverse the harvest, therefore, to send out workers decline, and to help to bring in a new hope into His harvest field.’” Please do join us in in our areas. Our cornerstone verse is found praying this too. in Ezekiel 36:35: “They will say, ‘This land them to move to Netherton in Liverpool, the For the past 22 years Eden has that was laid waste has become like the estate where she had grown up and still had been sending and supporting urban garden of Eden; the cities that were lying family members living nearby. missionaries to some of Britain’s toughest in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now And then there are those who have neighbourhoods. Birthed in Wythenshawe, fortified and inhabited.’” always been there. People like Paul who Manchester, in 1997, which at the time was This vision of the reconciliation and came to faith through a combination of the most deprived ward in England, Eden restoration of all things is compelling, and receiving debt support from Christians has so far planted more than 60 teams, our hope is that all things will be made new, Against Poverty and getting to know a sending more than 700 urban missionaries. and that we will have some small part to play local evangelist called Pete who just kept Eden is an initiative of the Message in God’s plan to make that happen. on telling him about Jesus. Pete went on Trust, an evangelistic movement based Our workers are a mix of characters, to lead the Eden team in the estate where in Manchester and headed up by Andy ages and stages, who choose to either Paul lived and had grown up, Ragworth and Hawthorne. relocate, return to, or remain in an area of Primrose Hill in Stockton-on-Tees, and over In September 2020 we plan to launch deprivation. People like Lewis, who joined time got involved in the work of the team, an Eden team in Blackpool, based in the a team in Salford as a new Christian, fully deepening his faith all the time. When after Revoe area, in partnership with Christ assured that his faith was a light, a small light years on the team Pete stepped down, Church All Saints. We’re looking for people he would say, but one that would shine most Paul was his natural successor. A leader to join us to be part of changing this story brightly in the darkest of places. Over the with an authentically local voice, who has by living long term in the community and next 10 years he saw neighbours come to been transformed through his relationship sharing their faith with those who live faith, crime rates fall locally, and the launch with Jesus. Pete and Paul have set up a around them, motivated by John 1:14 and of a new church – Langworthy Community community centre called The Shack and beautifully paraphrased by theologian and Church – right in the heart of the community. regularly run community meals, men’s Presbyterian minister Eugene Peterson, who Having lived in Salford for a decade, last ministry, and a church plant. Even more wrote: “The Word became flesh and blood year Lewis and his family felt called to go powerful than their activities is their own and moved into the neighbourhood.” again and relocated to Bradford to launch a passion and presence in their community. If you’re interested in exploring further new Eden team in West Bowling. All those who join Eden make a clear the call to Eden, in Blackpool or in one of We also have those who are called to prophetic statement to their communities – more than 40 other places where we’re return to the places they thought they had that there is hope, and that transformation working in around the UK, then get in touch. left behind. Emma had married and was is possible. Where individual lives begin You can email us at [email protected], and happily living with her husband and small to transform, then whole families and you can find out more about applying to join children in the South East, when God called communities start to follow. Take Paul’s Eden on our website www.joineden.org

Bible-based teaching in the heart of the Lake District Faith in the Second Half Church Members: 4th to 7th May 2020 Leaders: 5th to 6th May 2020

Speakers include: Debs Fidler, Rev Roger Hitchings Book Today www.keswickministries.org/events/fish Dr Garry Williams, Louise Morse and Dave Fenton Keswick Ministries, The Rawnsley Centre, Keswick

MAR / APR 2020 13 CHURCH LIFE

Through our various initiatives we’re putting flesh on the bones of God’s message of restoration and relationship, shares Rev Thomas MacNeil, minister at Martin’s Memorial Church, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

A INITIATIVE godly IN STORNOWAY obody cares how our faith, then we gladly share the good news much you know, with them and tell them that God has a better until they know how Like God the Father and brighter future for them (Jeremiah 29:11). much you care.” This did with His Son, we is a sentiment that is Making a difference needed to put flesh “Nattributed to the former American President One of the unique aspects of the work of The Theodore Roosevelt. It may not have been and bones on our Shed is that it is both youth and community originally associated with the church, but message. focused. For example, we run drop-ins for it’s been a driving force for us in our work those with current or former challenges locally, especially through The Shed Project. with alcohol and drugs, a playgroup for The gospel is the good news of the Lord came through the doors of our or any other parents and toddlers, a monthly ‘meet-up’ Jesus Christ. As with any good news, it is church, they would have the opportunity of for dads, grandads and male guardians worth sharing, even more so when people encountering His love through His people. and their toddlers, and an extensive youth struggle with their own sense of bad news All of our community work, including The programme. And this is to name just a few of about themselves. When people are left Shed Project, runs under the ethos of ‘No our initiatives. to make up their own mind about God, Strings Attached!’ We don’t have a hidden The Shed is already having a positive especially in a more religious setting, they agenda or an ulterior motive in looking to effect on individuals. A young woman was tend to view Him negatively. God can be journey with people in their lives. We believe due in court. She was fully expecting to have known more for what He’s against than for Jesus led by example for us in this respect to go away at Her Majesty’s pleasure. On what He’s for. As a result, they are reluctant to in the way He fed the 5,000. Before He appearing before the judge, she was found want to know Him or experience His love. fed the crowd, He didn’t ask who went to guilty but was given a deferred sentence. In order for us at Martin’s Memorial a synagogue (church) or who was ready to She was bewildered and even fearful about Church in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, to share commit to following Him. He simply “saw a her next steps. Where would she go? What the good news, we had to make God’s large crowd, had compassion on them, as would she do? love more real, visible and tangible. Like they were like sheep without a shepherd,” Her social worker could see this and was God the Father did with His Son (John 1:14), and fed them (Mark 6:34). This expression of reluctant to leave her. After a few moments we needed to put flesh and bones on our God’s love was real, practical and tangible. the social worker came up with the solution. message about His love and our love for God has commissioned us to love people She invited the young woman to come people. That’s the heart and vision behind in similar ways, to have compassion on them, with her to her car, and to The Shed. She The Shed Project. Our vision was to move and in His name to show them care and offer knew that this would be a safe place for her. from being a ‘one day a week service church’ support. Our goal is not to get more people Not only that, but she had already found to being a ‘seven day a week serving church’. in church; our goal is to let people know they community and acceptance there, and the We needed to show and share God’s love have been made in God’s image and that He social worker knew she would find a safe in such a way that even if a person never loves them. If they want to know more about place that provided the support she needed.

14 MAR / APR 2020 INITIATIVEIN STORNOWAY

On another occasion, during Impact one and go and purchase gifts with a value of Sunday morning, one of the leaders was £5-10 and return the gift to the church with called to the main door, where a policeman the card attached. This enabled us to give was waiting. It transpired that a concerned This tells me that a the gifts to the social services who then mother had contacted the police after waking project like The Shed distributed them to their service users. up on Sunday morning to discover that her can be replicated in This opened the eyes of our people young teenage son was not in the house. any community. to the very real needs that were on our She panicked as she had no idea where doorstep and opened their hearts to have he was. The police managed to contact compassion on those in our community the friends of the young lad. One of them who faced struggles in their lives. It let our mentioned The Shed and how their pal our community, but I was also aware that people know that if we worked together, we would often go there. The policeman gave the church was somewhat blind and even could do something about this and make a a description of the lad and sure enough he oblivious to such need. difference in the lives of people around us. was upstairs with Impact. God began to speak to me about Were it not for the Giving Tree it is unlikely The leader suggested to the policeman showing His love to people in practical that The Shed Project would have been that she would gladly go and get the boy for ways. I read the book Conspiracy of established. them, to which the policeman replied “No – Kindness – A unique approach of sharing This tells me that a project like The Shed it’s okay. Leave him where he is. If he’s got the love of Jesus by Steve Sjogren and saw can be replicated in any community. Start himself out of bed and here this morning, he how an important aspect of the ministry of small, start where you are, start with that you obviously wants to be here and is benefitting Jesus was expressing the love of God in have, and watch God do great things. Let from it. We’ll contact his mother to reassure practical ways. your community see what God looks like, her that we’ve found him and that he’s okay, regardless of whether or not they ever go and that we’ll drop him off in due course. Small beginnings to church. One of the greatest compliments When do you finish so that we’ll call round to In response to this we ran our first ever we’ve had about our work came from a collect him?” ‘Giving Tree’ initiative. We contacted social community leader who commented, “The The policeman went on to say that he services (social work, homelessness, alcohol Shed is helping put something fresh on the had heard about The Shed and because he and drug partnership, etc) in our community face of the church.” Why don’t you do the was aware of the great work we were doing and asked them to provide us with the basic same where you are? in the community, he was happy to leave the details of individuals they were working with To support the church as it works lad at Impact with his friends. Our community (such as single man in his 40s / single mum together for spiritual transformation, you are know that we care. with two young children). We then attached invited to our Awakening Youth conference The Shed Project began some 13 years these basic details to a Christmas tree in in March (www.awakeningyouthconference. ago when I came to be minister of Martin’s our church and invited our people to take a com) and our Hebrides Revival conference in Memorial Church. I was aware of needs in card from the tree with the basic information June (www.hebridesrevivalconference.com).

MAR / APR 2020 15 Deliver envelopes your way

No need to knock, Big Brekkie no need to collect! Tuck into a Big Brekkie this Our new delivery-only envelopes Christian Aid Week. make fundraising this Enjoy a fry-up with friends at home, serve Christian Aid Week easier than ever. pancakes in church, or pastries in your office and help us create a world free from poverty. Stamp, print, label or write on your Visit caweek.org/brekkie envelopes to tell supporters where to get started and order to drop off their donations instead. your free fundraising pack. • No knocking on doors. • Envelopes returned to a location of your choice. • Deliver at a time that suits you. • Reach more homes in less time.

For more information, visit caweek.org/deliveryonly Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Eng and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scot charity no. SC039150 Company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Printed exclusively on material sourced from responsibility managed forests © Christian Aid February 2020 J168432

J168432 Idea CAW BB DPS reactivation ad Church warm up 426x303mm AW.indd 1 10/02/2020 14:44 Deliver envelopes your way

No need to knock, Big Brekkie no need to collect! Tuck into a Big Brekkie this Our new delivery-only envelopes Christian Aid Week. make fundraising this Enjoy a fry-up with friends at home, serve Christian Aid Week easier than ever. pancakes in church, or pastries in your office and help us create a world free from poverty. Stamp, print, label or write on your Visit caweek.org/brekkie envelopes to tell supporters where to get started and order to drop off their donations instead. your free fundraising pack. • No knocking on doors. • Envelopes returned to a location of your choice. • Deliver at a time that suits you. • Reach more homes in less time.

For more information, visit caweek.org/deliveryonly Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Eng and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scot charity no. SC039150 Company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Printed exclusively on material sourced from responsibility managed forests © Christian Aid February 2020 J168432

J168432 Idea CAW BB DPS reactivation ad Church warm up 426x303mm AW.indd 1 10/02/2020 14:44 EVANGELISM

Will you YOURS? SHAREThe Evangelical Alliance’s head of mission to young adults, Phil Knox, has written his fi rst book, keen to empower Christians to share their stories of how they fell for Jesus. Eve Paterson, Great Commission lead, fi nds out more.

aving studied law and worked Was there a particular story, perhaps of and by living our story, telling our story and for several years at Youth for someone in the Bible or a fellow believer, constantly inviting people further on the Christ, Phil Knox joined the that you remember having a big impact on journey of faith, we see real transformation. Evangelical Alliance in 2018 you and your faith? It often takes a long time, with lots of to kick-start our work for and The stories that have always meant the disappointment on the way, but it is worth it! Hwith young adults. most have been family stories – I think we Alongside his research and resourcing underestimate their power. I quote some As a community of believers, how do at the Evangelical Alliance, Phil has also research in Story Bearer that found that the you think the church can use the art of been carefully putting into words the children who are most resilient are those storytelling? passion he has always felt for sharing Jesus who have the strongest sense of their I think we have a poverty of storytelling and sharing stories. family’s story. in the church. We should be known for His fi rst book, Story Bearer, encourages I remember hearing the stories of my our storytelling. In over 10 years of training all Christians, whatever age and life stage, mum, dad and grandparents, the joys and people in evangelism, I have met a worrying to treasure their story and to learn how to challenges of growing up in a diff erent era, number of Christians who are unable to articulate it for the growth of God’s kingdom. their journeys of faith, their struggles and share naturally and relationally how Jesus accomplishments. Those narratives gave me makes a diff erence in their lives. Phil, you’ve created some powerful spoken a grounding and rooted me in my own story. I’m excited by the potential of what could word pieces in the past, particularly the As Christians, our family story is the greatest happen if every Christian had the language ‘Instead of You’ video you made for Great story ever told and we have to treasure it and confi dence to tell their story to their Commission last Christmas. When did and allow it to shape us in the same way. friends, who are often more interested than you fi rst discover you had this passion for we think. Secondly, I think we need to tell communicating and storytelling? Do you remember a time when you shared our story as the church better. Christians That’s a great question! I have always your own story with someone and it make an astonishing diff erence to society loved stories. I vividly remember reading impacted their journey? – foodbanks, toddler groups, Christians Enid Blyton and the Narnia series under One of the key characters in Story Against Poverty, youthwork, Street Pastors – the duvet late at night as a child. I also had Bearer is my best mate Adam. I met him to name a few. Let’s tell that story better. a few leadership roles at school, where on the fi rst day of secondary school and I fi rst got the chance to do some public after nearly 10 years of friendship, sharing What do you think holds people back from speaking, and I remember really enjoying stories and talking about faith, he became a sharing their story more readily? crafting speeches. Stories and words have Christian. There is a whole chapter in Story Bearer always been important to me – I’ve always This kind of journey I see as the way on this, but here are some highlights. Firstly, observed their power to captivate people that we, as Christians, change the world. We I do think, and I wholeheartedly include and change situations. should be the best friends in the universe, myself in this, we care what people think

18 MAR / APR 2020 and like to be liked. I am often afraid that if I it look like if all of us were committed to share my faith my friends will like me less. I wrote Story Bearer praying regularly for a few friends to come Secondly, I think we lack confi dence because I believe to faith? What if we all had the language in ourselves. We are afraid of being asked God has always used to naturally and authentically tell our story questions we don’t know the answer to and ordinary people to and share the gospel with humility and we lack the language to articulate our story. make a diff erence. confi dence? I think that could make a Thirdly, I think we have a crisis of friendship. massive diff erence in the lives of so many. Our increasingly busy lives and the That’s my prayer. phenomenon of conducting relationships through screens can mean that we have God has always used ordinary people to Finally, what’s the top piece of advice fewer close friends and more superfi cial make a diff erence in His world. Evangelist you’d give to someone who doesn’t know conversations, which means we talk less Billy Graham preached to more than 2.2 where to begin when it comes to sharing about the ‘deep and meaningfuls’. billion people, but he was led to Christ their story (other than buying the book, of When we are authentic and vulnerable by his friend Albert, who prayed for him, course)? with others and listen well to their story, befriended him and invited him to fi nd out If you haven’t got one already, write a we get the opportunity to share our story more. We can’t all be a Billy Graham stadium list of a few friends who you want to see with them. The heart of Story Bearer is to evangelist, but we can all be an Albert come to faith and begin to pray for them address these issues. McMackin story bearer. regularly. Alongside almost every changed life is a praying friend. Learning to share So, what then led you to put your passion What is your prayer for what God would your story is the comparatively easy bit; the for good storytelling into a book? do through this book? bit we all need to be committed to is being a I am absolutely desperate to see In our challenging times, I am so full wholehearted, lifelong friend who prays for our nations choose to follow Jesus. I of hope that we will see a massive move their mates. love the gospel, I love the church, and of God in the coming days and signifi cant I have observed that when we pray, I love relationships. I believe that in our numbers of people coming to know Jesus. it not only makes a diff erence, but does hearts and in our hands we hold the most I wholeheartedly believe that if that is going something in us to make us care more contagious message of hope the world to happen, we will all have a part to play. deeply about our friends coming to faith. has ever known. I believe that the job of My deepest hope for Story Bearer is that it When we have that motivation in us, we will being good news people in a bad news inspires and equips every Christian to share be far more likely to take the time to learn world and bearing our story is too big and their faith more eff ectively. and practise how to tell our story. too important to be left to the ‘professional’ What would it look like if all of us were Christians. We all get to play. better friends, with deeper relationships and Story Bearer by Phil Knox is published by I wrote Story Bearer because I believe more meaningful connections? What would IVP and released in March 2020.

YOU HAVE A STORY. TELL IT.

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‘THIS BOOK IS A MUST.’ STORY BEARER Paul Weston 978 1 78974 155 1 • £9.99

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MAR / APR 2020 19 DISCIPLESHIP

What attitudes and behaviours might we adopt to better relate to others? asks Ayoola Bandele, executive assistant, Evangelical Alliance. Fruitful

FRIENDSHIPSuthor Rick Warren shared reach out to those who are hurting? We’d some surprising statistics in do well to look beyond our own situations the foreword he wrote for Being in relationship is and circumstances and prioritise another Ken Costa’s book Know Your person’s comfort over our own. Why: it is estimated that the easier said than done, Be humble. Jonathan, son of Saul, King Aaverage person will spend 150,000 hours even for Christians, isn’t it? of Israel, could have chosen to lord his at work in his or her lifetime – around 40 position as heir to the throne over David. But per cent of their life. he didn’t. He humbled himself and formed That’s a lot of time to spend with an alliance with David. Their enduring strangers. But as remarkable as it is that we better at being relational and surmounting friendship was characterised by mutual may spend more time with colleagues than the challenges as we glean from godly deep affection, admiration and loyalty. So our friends, relatives or spouse, I believe the wisdom in the Bible and from the godly solid, it could not be stopped by Saul, who workplace is one of many aspects of God’s people around us. So, since we are created despised David. In building or maintaining plan for humanity so that no one will live for relationship and we are co-workers in a relationship, we often need to be humble, life alone. God said of Adam at creation: “It God’s plan to build one big happy family in show respect and remain loyal, even if the is not good that the man should be alone” His kingdom, what can we learn from the other person is incapable of doing the same. (Genesis 2:18). In the chapter before it’s Bible on how to build relationships? Learning from these stories and the noted that He told Adam and Eve to “be Start with God. God Himself exemplified many others in the word of God, and fruitful, multiply and fill the earth and subdue relationship at the beginning of creation heeding my pastor’s exhortation to be it” (Genesis 1:28), which they could only after He formed Adam and put him in the intentional about being in relationship with accomplish through their relationship with Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3). God gave people, even if it means I have to leave my one another. Adam all he needed to be in relationship comfort zone, I have been blessed with If I use myself as an example, I joined the with Him, others and the wider natural many fruitful friendships in recent years. Evangelical Alliance as executive assistant world. This tells me that, to build better Would you believe that one started with in June 2019. It soon became apparent relationships with people, we are to first a conversation on a train, with a complete that, as with my previous role at the RCCG deepen our personal relationship with our stranger? I have now been friends with UK Central office, I had not just joined an heavenly Father. What might this look like? this person for more than seven years. organisation but a nationwide team of In short, setting aside regular time to simply Additionally, I have become friends with people with whom I could form relationships. hang out with Him, and discovering who He a group of German nuns, and through a Yet, being in relationship with people for is and who you are as you do. Christian house group outside of my home a wholesome shared objective or otherwise Put others first. Ruth and Naomi church I have connected with a group of is easier said than done, even for Christians, were strangers until Ruth married one likeminded professionals. isn’t it? Relationships with colleagues, of Naomi’s sons. They would have gone I now journey in this life on earth with friends, family, spouse, church folk and their separate ways if Ruth had returned to these individuals, sharing the love that God others can be complicated, difficult, painful, her parents’ house after the death of her has shed abroad in my heart. Shall we all one-sided, seasonal, superficial, self-serving husband – the common bond between her reach out and fulfil God’s mandate to spread – the list is endless. Even if we try our best and Naomi. Instead, Ruth stayed with the the love? In Jesus we have become a part to build or maintain healthy relationships, aggrieved, even though she was grieving of one big family, and He’s ever so keen they can just go wrong. herself, and kept Naomi’s company until for us to love our brothers and sisters and But, by God’s grace, we can become she was comforted. To what extent do we welcome outsiders in.

20 MAR / APR 2020 SPOTLIGHT

We are surrounded by people, yet it’s still common to feel lonely, which is why we founded Premier Lifeline 25 years ago, says Jonathan Clark, its director. SOMEONE TO

itting alone in a room, life is not TALKwhat you expected, issues of TO family, work, social and church weighing upon you. As a Christian, surely you Sshould be taking these to God, but what if one of the issues is the relationship between you and Him, a sense of failure, guilt or shame? He may be no further from you, but He seems so distant, as if a dark cloud is separating you from Him. What do you do? You might normally share with someone in the fellowship about stuff like this, but you cannot face them today, owing to embarrassment, awkwardness or fear. At a time like this, someone might call more than 1.5 million calls will have been Premier Lifeline: the National Christian answered by the Lifeliners. Each call is unique: Helpline. The line is confidential and the caller for prayer, for themselves, for their loved retains total anonymity. Whoever makes the They never know the ones or the wider world, someone to talk to, call, young or old, church member or minister, nature of the call in a listening ear, human company at the end has the confidence that whatever they share advance, but God does. of the line. Some are at their wits’ end, even remains between them and Lifeline. contemplating whether life is worth it, and It can take a great deal of courage needing to find a sense of hope and peace. to make that first call, a step into the Others want to begin a relationship with God, unknown. What response will I receive, first contacted Lifeline as callers and later felt ask questions, deal with doubts, or return caring, compassionate, respectful? Will they called by God to train. to Him after a time away. Others request understand me? Will they give me a chance John Donne, English poet and cleric signposting to specialist help. to speak? in the Church of England, wrote in the 17th Each caller is important: what matters Many dial the number for their first call century, “No man is an island, entire of is for them to be the focus throughout their and just listen for the tone of the response: itself...”. This is as true today as it was 400 call to Lifeline. Many call just once and that “Hello, this is Premier Lifeline, the National years ago. We are designed by God to fulfils their need. Others call over a period of Christian Helpline, my name is ..... How can I be relational and need relationships. God time, through a particular stage in their life’s help you?” On the basis of the voice they hear, observed Adam in the garden and said: “It is journey. Some call regularly and may have they decide whether to speak. not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis mental health issues. Each Christian volunteer, known as a 2:18). Adam had a close relationship with Looking back over the last 25 years, we Lifeliner, has undergone in-depth training to God but needed more. This verse applies to thank God for the privilege of being there for prepare them to be at the end of the line for each of us, designed for relationships with people at their time of need, offering human the call. They never know the nature of the God and with others. When something limits interaction at the end of the telephone line call in advance, but God does. The Lifeliner relationship, we suffer. We live in a world and sharing God’s love. We are thankful for the believes God has called them to serve Him where there are possibly more human beings highly committed and loyal team of Lifeliners in this way, to be there for whoever calls, alive today than have ever lived before. We as well as those who pray for the ministry. We sharing something of the love, hope and are surrounded by people, yet it is still very are excited, looking forward to God’s leading peace they have received from God with the common to feel isolated, lonely and alone. over the next 25 years in His ministry. person God has sent at this specific time. We Premier Lifeline was founded in June Premier Lifeline is open 9am to midnight truly trust that God prompts the callers to call 1995 to meet this need. Lifeline is celebrating every day on 0300 111 0101. Our web address and directs the calls. In fact, some Lifeliners its 25th birthday in June 2020, by which time is www.premierlifeline.org.uk

MAR / APR 2020 21 PRAISE & WORSHIP

HARMONYorship songs have long In helped us to connect with God, fellow ALL OUR MUSIC believers and wider t’s striking to read of the intimacy between God and Jesus in John 17. society. There are such beautiful and poetic descriptions of their relationship. This should come as no surprise as the I Then Jesus describes His relationship with us and His desire for our W relationships with each other. As He and the Father are one, so He wants Bible contains many verses that encourage us to sing to the Lord and address each the church united and bound in love. other in hymns and spiritual songs. But, it doesn’t end there. He ultimately had the world in mind, As members and friends of the because if our relationships with God and each other are strong enough, Evangelical Alliance release new music we will draw the world to Him. He said: “I am praying not only for these and launch digital platforms to help bring disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their the church together and minister to others message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as through song, we invited three to share you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the how they use godly music to relate to God world will believe you sent me” (v. 20-21). The more we come together, and others. the stronger our message is to the world, and the more powerful and productive we are. Our music is such a powerful mechanism to bring us together and to draw the world to God, because it transcends most boundaries, strikes Music is one of the our core, moves us, and makes us feel. A friend of mine once said music only mediums that has is one of the only mediums that has the power to affect your mood the power to affect without your permission. A song comes on the radio and before you your mood without know it, you’re tapping your feet or humming along without being aware of it. A song heard often enough can work its way into your memory your permission. without you knowing the lyrics or even understanding the language. So, how much more powerful a tool is it when we are intentional about our music in worship and as an evangelical tool? I do mean all of our music. If we want to draw closer to each other, understand each other better, work through our differences, learn from each other, reach the seven continents, 195 countries and over 7.5 billion people in the world, we need all of our different expressions, languages and styles of godly music. At Our Songs, we want to provide resources for Christian songwriters and churches alike to refresh and cross-pollinate our worship so that we can unite, inspire and learn from each other and impact the world. Find out more at oursongs.co.uk

Anu Omideyi, worship leader, choir director, singer-songwriter

22 MAR / APR 2020 HARMONY PAIN INTO PRAISE KEEP SINGING remember years ago being yet again rebuffed in my work – this ince I saw Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music I’ve loved to time written off singing at a concert programme. As I sat at home sing and I’m so grateful that God has given me a voice that has Ifeeling low and rejected, a holy presence became tangible, and in Senabled me to sing with others in choirs since I was a child. my inner spirit I was given these words: “I know that my Lord laid His I love these words from Zephaniah: “The Lord your God is with hand upon you, and I know what He says is true, and even though you, the mighty warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; sometimes you’ve been down, and you’ve felt so rejected, I know in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you you’ll get up, you will get up.” with singing” (3:17). I’m bowled over that God would delight in me so Within moments, the joy of our Lord had filled my soul and there I much that He would sing about it. was singing out the words in His divine presence – the fullest concert As Christians, God wants us to be in relationship not only with hall in the world is as empty if God is not present. God used that Him but also with others, and I’ve found that singing Christian songs which was meant for my hurt for good, and I will continue to allow and hymns has, throughout my life, been an important part in my Him to use me to pour out a timely blessing on people. relationship with others and in deepening my relationship with God. God has made provision for the body of Christ with giftings to I sing in an inter-denominational, inter-generational choir. Our delight, soothe, empower and help unite, and He is closer than many shared love of music and singing has meant that we can support of us may think, helping us all, through the ministry of music, to rid each other through the ups and downs of life and visit anew God’s ourselves of those things that separate us and embrace those things word in the songs and hymns that we sing. The words and music that draw us closer to Him and others. “For heaven is a perfect place often bring new insight into biblical truths or enable me to experience and darkness will not the light embrace, so earth is the place to on a different level what God has to say at a particular time. prepare to live together happily there.” (This is a snippet from Heaven Yet songs and music have a wider context in God’s ministry. God is A Perfect Place, a reflection I wrote.) calls us to use our gifts collectively to share the good news of God’s I once sat in an ancient, empty church in Kent. My heart filled with love with those around us and, when the choir come together as song and I sang several hymns. Ahead of me near the alter was a one, what we get is a unified sound with voices blended together hymn board showing hymn numbers. Moved to do so I picked up a that enables us to use the gifts that God has given us to serve others. hymn book and looked up all the numbers. To my great wonder and Singing gives others pleasure, enables us to share God’s word, helps delight every song I had sung matched with those displayed and others to worship God, and enables us to raise funds to help others. were in the same order. That’s why Girls’ Brigade Ministries has partnered with Same Boat God has graced me with the giftings of singer, receiver and Music to offer an EP of songs for use in GB’s local community groups. composer of songs, to play my part in strengthening the church and Singing songs with words and actions helps children and young ministering to a hurting world. My catalogue of songs for worship people to grasp the gospel truths, to hear of a God who loves and and every occasion is open as a resource. To access and explore cares for them, and encourages them to shine Christ’s light and hope the Heaven Direct Music Catalogue and to listen/sing along to audio on themselves and others. So let’s keep singing – “Sing to Him, sing tracks, go to heavendirectmusic.com praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts” (1 Chronicles 16:9).

Ruthie Thomas, creator of Heaven Direct Music Jules Murdy, director of Girls’ Brigade Ministries

MAR / APR 2020 23 POLITICS

LET’S CONNECT PRAYERWITH OUR PURPOSE &

WePoliticians long to see Christians engaging with their politicians in a productive and loving way, and our initiative ‘Pray for your MSP’ shows what can happen when we do, say Kieran Turner and Bethany Macleod. round a year ago I found honest disagreements at times, and myself having dinner with ultimately to allow our nation to flourish. John Swinney, the Deputy It was clear from our The relational road can be hard. It’s First Minister of Scotland conversation with the far easier to sit on the sidelines and shout (pictured), and we discussed from a distance. But it is neither gospel Deputy First Minister Athe challenge of relationships between nor effective. We worship a relational God government and Christians. that he recognised the who, as part of both creation and salvation, We had invited him to our Deep Impact challenges. sought a relationship with humanity. We youth and children’s work conference to follow an incarnational Jesus who taught meet Christians from around Scotland and us to love our enemies whilst getting dirty to share some encouragements with the amongst the mess of human life. It’s an delegates. Crucially, we wanted to pray for Evangelical Alliance selling out for some example for us when we think of the mess of him, and one of the young leaders present government airtime? Had we gone soft in our public and political life just now. had the chance to lead our prayer, in front of order to be nice? So, what does it look like to ‘do the 300 attendees. It was clear from our conversation with relationship well’ with our political leaders We knew that inviting such a senior the Deputy First Minister that he recognised locally and nationally in our current moment? member of the Scottish Government to our the challenges but also the importance It was this desire that led us in June 2019 to conference would generate some criticism, of relationship in this current context. For engage with our members in running our which duly came our way. The Government his part, attending an Evangelical Alliance- first ever Pray for your MSP Sunday. This had recently led the way in promoting ‘LGBT sponsored event was an act of bridge- date marked 20 years from the founding inclusive’ education and was developing building with a constituency he knew wasn’t of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and new relationships education which always on board and had been bruised by was marked with a number of events and had caused significant concern among some recent events. celebrations across civic society. evangelicals. We had also just recently The conversation ended with an As the church we recognise that what had the notorious ‘Dear Bigot’ hate crime agreement that both sides (government and our nation and politicians need more than posters that raised concerns across the UK. church) needed to work at the relationship, anything is prayer, and so there were three Was inviting John Swinney evidence of the to understand each other better, to have main aspects to the campaign.

24 MAR / APR 2020

1. Encourage our members to invite an MSP to church on the Sunday with an The relational road off er to pray for them – or to send prayer can be hard. It’s far PRAY FOR YOUR requests if they could not attend. Take easier to sit on the MSP SUNDAY fi ve minutes in the service to pray for THE PILOT parliament and MSPs, whether or not sidelines and shout any were in attendance. from a distance. his campaign was fi rst piloted 2. Produce a resource for our members to on Sunday, 23 June 2019, know how to engage and connect with with at least 25 churches their local MSPs. Email them participating across Scotland 3. Send every MSP a card from the It’s good to be in regular contact with your and 37 MSPs invited to attend Evangelical Alliance to let them know politicians and sending an email is the Ta service that day. they were being prayed for by Christians. easiest way. Get into the habit of sending an Parkhead Nazarene in the east end email to encourage them, not only when you of Glasgow was one such church that It was encouraging to hear the response have a complaint. You could let them know decided to participate in the initiative. of many of our member churches as prayer that you are praying for them, and you could They reached out to their MSPs and times took place around Scotland and also ask for specifi c prayer points to share one took up the invitation to attend a Christians reached out to build relationships with your church. You may be surprised by service. Though from a diff erent faith with their MSPs. Particularly encouraging how much they will appreciate this. background himself, the MSP shared were a few stories of non-Christian MSPs that he was warmed to have received attending evangelical churches and having Take them a gift an invitation and was encouraged by the their perceptions changed as they met Being a politician is stressful, and the positive impact that faith groups have in with and spoke to Christians during and overtime and community work that are part communities all across Scotland. after the service. Most encouraging of all, of the job often go underappreciated. So, This particular service was focused though, was to know that across Scotland why not give them some baked goods or a on social justice in regard to human God’s people were taking time to lift up small gift, to show your appreciation for the traffi cking, something a group borne out of government and politicians in prayer as we eff ort they are making? Parkhead Nazarene have been passionate are commanded to do (1 Timothy 2:1-4). about tackling in Glasgow, and the MSP Although this is a Scottish initiative, Send them a card commented that this was a positive everything in it is transferable across the UK Like an email, a letter or card can be used to common issue we could all get behind. at every political level, from local council to encourage your political leader, and it is more The church took the opportunity to pray Westminster, and we hope God will use this likely to be remembered. Lots of politicians over a couple of points he’d raised. in the coming years to see a step change put cards up in their offi ce as reminders of Another church that joined in with in both prayer for and relationships with our the support and encouragement they receive the initiative was Woodhill Evangelical in political leaders. from their constituents. Bishopbriggs. As well as taking a slot in So, how can you practically engage your the service to pray for their parliamentary political leaders where you are? We have six Invite them to church representatives, they also encouraged practical suggestions: Politicians want to know what’s happening a recent politics graduate within the in their local communities and will often congregation to share with the church Know who they are accept an invitation to an event at your her passion for politics, and why the Bible This is pretty basic but it’s amazing how church. Even those with no faith will calls for us to support and pray for our many of us don’t actually know who our recognise the valuable role of a church in government. This was a great opportunity local politicians are. All our parliamentary a local community. So, invite them along to encourage members to consider their and local council websites will have easy to a Sunday service, a special event or a personal engagement with their politicians ways to fi nd out who represents you and community project that you run, and let them in a new way. www.writetothem.com has a handy tool see for themselves the gospel in action. to help you see on one page who all your representatives are. Print this off and use it Kieran Turner is the Evangelical as a prayer guide. How can you Alliance Scotland’s public policy offi cer, and Bethany Macleod is the team’s Pray for them practically engage administrator. Begin to support your politicians by bringing your political leaders them before God’s throne of grace. In where you are? addition to your personal prayers, you could hold church prayer meetings specifi cally for your political leaders.

MAR / APR 2020 25 PUBLIC LEADERSHIP If we are to be faithful disciples and leaders, we must both understand and stand apart from the cultures around us, says Abi Jarvis, Public Leadership coordinator.

rucialCONNECTIONS

hen I was baptised at 16 them for. In Romans 12:2, Paul instructed years old, I mentioned in C the early church: “Do not conform to the my testimony my affinity In our relational pattern of this world but be transformed by with the concept of ‘in world, our the renewing of your mind. Then you will be the world but not of it’. able to test and approve what God’s will is – connection to other WI had moved several times, and have His good, pleasing and perfect will.” The call moved many times since, and the feeling of people is essential. was not to disappear out of the world but to being present in a community that I didn’t remain holy within it. quite fit into was very familiar. I remember the effort to which my brother and I went In community to fit in. We even changed our accent; the infiltration of culture. It has led to strategies, For this reason, one of the objectives of the words ‘come’ and ‘done’ from the Lord’s programmes, books and podcasts. Evangelical Alliance’s Public Leader course Prayer, which we recited in assemblies, John told the early church: “Do not is to help Christians understand the cultural sound very different in East Anglian and love the world or anything in the world … context of their leadership and consider Derbyshire accents. For everything in the world – the lust of the their role within it. This includes learning Christians have been out of sync with flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of about key institutions like parliament, the world since before we were known by life – comes not from the Father but from meeting community-focused leaders such that name. Israel, too, was a nation set apart, the world” (1 John 2:15-16). It’s easy to argue as Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor, which unlike the nations around them were that we should avoid all ‘worldly’ inputs and and considering the spiritual disciplines called to worship a single God (Exodus just stick with Christian content. Don’t watch that help us keep our eyes on Jesus. If we 19:6, Deuteronomy 12:29-30, 2 Kings 17:15). any TV series with sex scenes; don’t read are to be faithful in our leadership, we must But unlike biblical Israel, we do not live in books with an ambiguous moral message; both understand and stand apart from the our own separate nation; we are dispersed don’t work in a sector that could be called cultures around us. across different communities taking in the greedy; don’t have friends who will promote Of course, sometimes we will fail. Our same stimuli – books, education, music, different views than yours. In fact, we’d thoughts will conform, and our actions will politics – as everyone else. better become desert hermits with only the betray Christ’s teaching. The good news We are friends with, and related Bible for company, because it’s impossible is that we follow a God who forgives our to, people who don’t share our faith or not to take part in the world around us. And sins. We are not expected to never sin, worldview. Our relationship with the world even then, we’d probably fail. but to repent when we do so and try not around us, and the people who inhabit it, is There is no question that monastic to repeat our actions. And that’s where one of consumption and affiliation but also lives have a purity to them that is difficult another relationship becomes critical: our alienation and separation. This tension has to obtain when you live in the world. But I relationship with each other – because ignited countless discussions about cultural don’t think that is the primary route Jesus cultures are created, sustained and changed infiltration of the church and the church’s expected His followers to take or prepared by people.

26 MAR / APR 2020 When the time comes, will you lead? Research has suggested that the the wealth, connections or time that they longer someone is a Christian, the less had to infl uence society. But we can still be We believe that you are part of God’s non-Christians remain part of their close inspired by their example of mutual support plan for this world and the Public Leader social circle. In our relational world, our and God-fearing obedience. Whether course will equip and encourage you to connection to other people is essential. we’re attempting to be Jesus-hearted team lead with confi dence and faithfulness in Ending homelessness requires knowing leaders or Holy Spirit-infl uenced artists, it the places where God has called you. the issues faced by people who live on the is God who will change the world – we just Join a growing network of leaders streets. Improving the healthcare system play our part. in their twenties and thirties including requires listening to both patients and health Christian friends and mentors help us to fi lmmakers, entrepreneurs, educators, professionals. Being in the world isn’t just stay faithful; they hold us to account and are community leaders, writers, civil servants, a cultural exercise – it’s living alongside loving in rebuke; they let us know we’re not lawyers and others seeking to be salt and people daily who disagree with us, who alone. They can be cheerleaders, standing light in the workplaces and communities don’t share our faith, but who we desire to at our side as we follow the path God is in which God has placed them. serve with the ideas, creativity, skills and guiding us along. One of the most rewarding eauk.org/publicleadercourse calling that God has given to us. parts of the Public Leader course has We also need a strong Christian been the friendships that have developed community. The wonderful ‘fi rst follower’ between participants, mentors and speakers video by writer and musician Derek from across diff erent sectors. Jesus sent us into the world, knowing that we Sivers demonstrates that movements Towards the end of His life, Jesus said: would face temptation and risk. But He gave rucial begin with a small group of people, like “My prayer is not that you take them out of us the gift of biblical truth and the Spirit’s the much-vaunted Clapham Sect. We at the world but that you protect them from the guidance to aid us in navigating this world the Evangelical Alliance often debate the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I and helping us to stay faithful to His will. helpfulness of their example. They had a am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your Whatever cultural context you are world-changing impact that is beyond the word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I leading within, may you do so with scope of most of us because we don’t have have sent them into the world” (John 17:14-18). faithfulness, obedience and confi dence.

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MAR / APR 2020 27 GLOBAL © Operation Mobilisation

GOING FURTHER

JulieTOGETHER Knox, content editor at Operation Mobilisation, shares why 12 major mission organisations are united for a purpose bigger than their own.

f you want to go fast, go crew shares knowledge, help and the hope alone. If you want to go found in Christ through events on board far, go together.” This African and outreaches on shore. 2018-19 saw more proverb drives home the than two million people climb the gangways challenge Seelan Govender, A key thrust of in 11 countries: individuals and families, “Ithe CEO of OM Ships, is laying down to the ship ministry church groups and young offenders, believers across the UK. is mobilisation shipyard workers, civic dignitaries and As Operation Mobilisation’s global mission homeless people. “We pray that each one vessel sets her course for Europe for the first for mission. has been impacted by their encounter with time since the current ship was launched us and the God we serve,” says Seelan. in 2009, Seelan calls for partnership in the A key thrust of the ship ministry is gospel: “I believe Logos Hope’s visit is going mobilisation for mission. Manned by to be a catalyst, drawing people to work 400 young people from 70 countries, together in order to accomplish something the vessel is a vibrant example of what they could never do as an individual church, That’s been borne out in the past two venturing out to serve God overseas looks denomination, or even mission agency. We years as Logos Hope has circumnavigated like. Coming alongside OM’s Latin American feel this is a momentous opportunity for Latin America, collaborating with partners offices and strategic partners including something hugely significant to take place, on a scale that hadn’t been seen before. COMIBAM International (an umbrella for as we come together and focus on what God As well as offering affordable literature more than 600 mission agencies) and wants us to do.” from a vast floating bookfair, the volunteer Crown Financial Ministries (teaching biblical

28 MAR / APR 2020 foundations for giving and fundraising), out love. Pastor Tony Uddin, from Tower Logos Hope spearheaded an initiative to The task is not Hamlets Community Church in London, inspire 2,000 Latino believers into mission only OM’s – it’s says, “Our multicultural community is within a decade. a calling for the excited to get involved with Logos Hope. Crewmember Margot Pira (France) The emphasis on least-reached people says, “Initially, I didn’t understand why we whole body of Christ. is a no-brainer for us in our activities and visited churches, as people were already outreach. Bangladeshi people in this area Christians there. I came to see that it’s first came over as sailors – so I’m sure the by mobilising believers that the work of ship will be a draw and will open up ministry reaching three billion people who don’t opportunities.” know about Jesus will be done.” In Panama, The ‘big white’ floating home to a José Cárdenas has run the OM office for a country other than the USA led the total diverse, inspiring community is a fascinating four years. “Before the ship came, my wife downloads list. venture. Thousands testify to it being Christ’s and I were the team,” he says. “The month- Across two years of (not always easy, kingdom in microcosm. People disembark long visit of Logos Hope helped us create but powerful) partnership, more than 13,000 challenged – changed. But Logos Hope is momentum. Now, 10 people are working Latino Christians enquired about short- or merely a platform, insists Seelan Govender, with us to mobilise Panamanians into long-term mission. More than 23,000 where a jumble of Jesus-followers strive mission to the least reached.” expressions of participation in the great to demonstrate unity, acknowledge their Twenty-year-old Iván Vallejo from commission by praying, giving or going dependence on the Lord, and serve Buenos Aires, Argentina, wasn’t sure he are being followed up. “We long for those wherever they are led, for His glory. could commit to help out while the ship was responses here: a movement of God’s “We live, in many ways, a miracle every in his city. He was sitting his final exams at people to be mobilised to engage in reaching day: the only reason this thing works is the time. “My dream for the future was to be those who are yet to hear of the love of because of God,” says Seelan, who spent rich and have a good job – and also to be Christ,” says Matthew Skirton, UK CEO of OM. 14 years on board the organisation’s ships a good Christian,” says Iván. “On the ship, before taking the helm. “There’s nothing I really felt the presence of God and I felt Mobilised for God attractive about us except the fact that useful for God. I saw the emptiness of what To this end, 11 additional organisations will young people come together to learn, grow, I was aiming for. Now, I want to serve God help make Logos Hope’s visit to Britain love and forgive one other. They commit to with my whole life, and I know that I will be a possible. “We do not want this to be a visit one mission of seeing this world changed blessing in the lives of others.” where we seek to raise awareness, prayer, through our lives, because of who God is.” Through an event on board Logos Hope, finance and recruits for OM ministries,” Matthew Skirton hopes the Live Out a Colombian couple received confirmation explains Matthew. “Rather, we want to Love campaign will stir British believers: that God was calling them to serve in North demonstrate what we say we believe: “Nowadays, we can tend to have a self- Africa. Their pastor was under-equipped but mobilising people for God’s mission. The centred approach to our Christianity. Like honoured to send the first missionaries from task is not only OM’s – it’s a calling for the Iván, the port volunteer in Argentina, we’re his church – and rejoiced that a network of whole body of Christ. We’re delighted to be concerned about our own relationship with local partners with expertise was in place. strengthening our relationships with major God, our own needs – maybe the needs of Roberto Façanha, who coordinated OM’s mission-sending agencies whose special those close to us; but what about the billions work across Latin America until recently, focus is on communities least reached with who know nothing of the wonderful life- likens the response during Logos Hope’s the gospel.” transforming gospel of Jesus Christ? We are time in the region to the result of Jesus telling Ministries including Frontiers, Interserve called to live out the love we have received. His disciples to throw their empty nets over UK, OMF International, Serving in Mission “Our prayer is that the outreaches the other side of their boat: they caught and WEC UK are joining OM in a national and events surrounding the ship’s visit will so much fish that the nets were breaking. mobilising campaign under the banner Live help Christians in the UK to lift up our eyes “The disciples had to call other fishing Out Love, with the ship’s visit the catalyst and look beyond our own situation. May boats to help them with the nets. We have for the initiative. Matthew reveals: “We are thousands of us be challenged to experienced that we cannot do this alone; we praying and preparing for between 150,000 (re)consider the calling the Lord has placed need many others,” explains Roberto. and 200,000 visitors to come on board on our lives so that British Christians In Luke 5:7, the partners’ boats were more during the 90 days the vessel will be in continue to play a significant role in taking than filled as well. Last November, as OM’s ports nationwide, and our aim is for them the gospel to the ends of the earth.” vessel toured ports in Brazil, crew promoted to be challenged to engage in living out a Logos Hope will visit the Republic of the Joshua Project mobile phone app, which missional lifestyle among those who are yet Ireland from late May to mid-June, with encourages and informs prayer for the to hear the gospel.” port calls scheduled in Northern Ireland, world’s least-reached people groups. The The collaboration will tap into, connect Scotland, England and Wales between number of downloads of the app from Brazil and boost individuals and movements October 2020 and January 2021. To find out increased eightfold. It was the first month that around the British Isles already living more visit www.liveoutlove.co.uk

MAR / APR 2020 29 Nearly 40% of the world’s population (that’s 3 billion people) have never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. The need couldn’t be greater and the need is now.

Discover the journey God has planned for you at the Live Out Love Tour on board Logos Hope.

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Live Out Love is a partnership initiative coordinated by OM.

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THE FATHER’S

HEARTFOR FAMILY God stirred my heart to adopt a little boy; might He be moving you to open up your family too? asks Amy Burns, head of communications and fundraising, Home for Good. y four-year-old son had his of Jesus. Looking out and seeing His mind blown recently at a heartbroken mother and closest friend, He family party. Discovering spoke words of family over them, calling that the two ladies he calls I believe He is calling us John to care for Mary and “from that time on, Aunty are mummy’s sisters to ensure our families the disciple took her into his home” (John Mand we all grew up in the same house are similarly open and 19.26). Jesus’ brother James understood this together was almost too ridiculous for him welcoming. calling too and encourages us to care for to comprehend. vulnerable children and older people as part He spent the next few days repeatedly of our worship (James 1.27). As I said, God’s asking why we couldn’t all live in the same heart is unmistakable. place now, because he was sad not to be I believe He is calling us to ensure our able to play with his cousins every day was, for once, incredibly straightforward. families are similarly open and welcoming. Nearly 40% of the world’s population as they live too far away. Seeing my little God’s compassion for vulnerable children This will look different for each of us. It led boy play with my sisters’ children is always and His heart for family is unmissable in my husband and I to adoption and we now (that’s 3 billion people) have never had special. They’re close in age and, despite scripture. From the second chapter of the have the privilege of parenting a wonderful the opportunity to hear the Gospel. their very different characters, close in Bible we know it is not good for humans little boy. It is not without heartache and The need couldn’t be greater and the relationship too. His next birthday isn’t until to exist in isolation – in the very core of challenges as he, like all children who come the summer, but he’s already decided the our being we are made for connection, into care, has experienced trauma, loss and need is now. party plans and his cousins are top of the for relationship, for family. And yet God’s separation. But more families who can care guest list. What makes this all so extra- understanding of family is broader, deeper for vulnerable children through fostering Discover the journey God has planned precious is that my little boy joined our and more inclusive than any of us can or adoption are desperately needed, with for you at the Live Out Love Tour family through adoption, yet for him and his comprehend. 40,000 children entering the UK care on board Logos Hope. cousins, there is no difference. They are Psalm 68:6 tells us that “God places the system this year. If you feel similarly stirred related. They are family. lonely in families”, so we know that families to respond and want to play a part in caring My husband and I came to adoption can be joined – not just born into but placed for these children and meeting their needs, through our best friends who foster. I had into a family. We are all invited into His Home for Good would love to hear from virtually no awareness of the care system family and it is through adoption that we are you. We want to resource you and your REGISTER TODAY FOR prior to them welcoming in two little boys, welcomed. Loved and chosen (Ephesians church to ensure every child has the family MORE INFORMATION FOR who were part of their family for almost 1:4-6), intimately connected with our and support they need. two years. It was a such a joy to play a tiny Abba Father (Romans 8:14-16) and deeply As we consider the extraordinary YOU AND YOUR CHURCH role in the lives of those boys – as a friend, cherished as children and heirs (Galatians welcome that we have each received playmate and babysitter – and journeying 4:4-7). We don’t have to do anything and through adoption into God’s family, let’s also with them opened my eyes to the great yet we receive everything. The most perfect consider how we can extend this welcome LIVEOUTLOVE.CO.UK need there is for families who can care for example of beautiful and radical hospitality. to others and ensure our earthly families the most vulnerable children in our society. The most powerful image of family. echo the beautiful hospitality and heart of LONDON EDINBURGH BELFAST LIVERPOOL CARDIFF As someone who had never felt a pull to And this is a family that is never closed our heavenly Father. have birth children, I was suddenly stirred. or finished; there is always room for more. Visit homeforgood.org.uk or call 0300 Praying and seeking God on the matter Even at the cross, this was on the heart 001 0995 if you’d like to find out more. Live Out Love is a partnership initiative coordinated by OM.

MAR / APR 2020 31

OPER_TDA33504_OM Ships IDEA advert_AW.indd 1 06/02/2020 12:04 LAST WORD

By Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance WHAT’S STOPPING few years ago, my wife The whole thing US? got me thinking… what Anne and I were both does it really mean to be the church? Have sitting in a familiar spot, the we been a little blunted in this country? front row of the main adult Even the hardest of hearts How would we respond if such persecution venue at Spring Harvest. in the room couldn’t avoid came our way? Do we really need that in AWe were having a great week and being being deeply moved. order to live as the church fully in the UK? blown away by all the Lord was doing. What might it look like for the church in our The theme of ‘Only the Brave’ exploring country to be fully unleashed? Off the back determined discipleship from the book of of this huge challenge Anne and I began to James was having a huge impact on the write. We wrote about the lessons we can event and we were settling down to hear learn from the early church in Acts as well as another message. The diminutive fi gure of would whisper quietly the truths of God, Christians all over the world. We wrote about Hae Woo unassumingly made her way onto knowing their very lives depended on not how the church in the UK could really impact the stage. She was being interviewed by our getting caught. our nations and minister in words, works and friends from Open Doors, Eddie Lyle and The church in the labour camp wonders. It’s this material that will form the Emma Worrall. Nothing in our ministry up especially loved it when it would rain. basis for this year’s Spring Harvest. to this point had quite prepared us for the This provided the only real opportunity Every one of us has an opportunity to be challenge that was about to come from the to worship in song without fear of being part of such a church in our day. Standing mouth of this heroine of the faith. caught. As the rain lashed down, the on the shoulders of the many giants that Hae Woo is from North Korea. She Christians would cry out in worship with the have come before, we could see something had been incarcerated for her faith in a kind of unbridled freedom that they were amazing happen in our land at this time. The labour camp and was one of the bravest denied the rest of the time. The interview church is wonderful, I love it, I’m an active and most ‘sold out’ Christians we had ever with Hae Woo lasted about 45 minutes but and committed member within it, and I take met. The power of her words was not lost the time fl ew by. You could hear a pin drop my role as an ordained church minister in translation, and as she explained about as the whole crowd of thousands hung onto seriously in seeing the UK impacted. There starving in North Korea and all that it meant this incredible woman’s words. are so many possibilities in front of us and to be a Christian there, even the hardest As she drew to a close, she rose to her it’s a genuine privilege for all of us to have of hearts in the room couldn’t avoid being feet and sang in what was little more than the opportunity to be in active service of deeply moved. As Hae Woo shared what it a whisper ‘Amazing Grace’ in her native the saviour of the world. The one remaining looked like to plant a church in the labour tongue. There was not a dry eye in the question for me is this: if there’s more camp where she was imprisoned, the house as we all realised quite how diff erent available to us, what is stopping us stepping true cost of following Jesus in her context it would be to live out our faith were we into that? seemed strikingly real. The church had to to instead live in her homeland. This small be planted in the toilets as this was the only North Korean woman instantly became Unleashed: The Acts Church Today by place you could ever realistically gather a spiritual hero to the gathered crowd of Gavin and Anne Calver is published by IVP together in a queue. The congregation thousands of western Christians. and released in March 2020.

32 MAR / APR 2020 UNLEASH YOUR FAITH and discover what we can learn from the book of Acts today

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Encountering God Together

Spring Harvest is one of the longest Minehead One 4-9 April running teaching and worship events in the UK, gathering together all Minehead Two 13-17 April kinds of people from many church backgrounds to encounter God and Skegness 13-17 April be inspired in their faith. #SH2020 Find out more at springharvest.org Harrogate 14-18 April

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