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www.eauk.org/idea NEWS 2018 MARCH/APRIL COMMENT FEATURES THE MAGAZINE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE MISSION IN DEPTH THEOLOGY Two women share 20 years since the The hope of their hope in Christ Good Friday Agreement Jesus’ return IDEA MAGAZINE / 2 Heather Tomlinson: At a time when many people feel negative about the future and have despair at current events, it’s more important than ever to really reflect on what we have our hope in. CONTENTS FIVE THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW INSIDE THIS ISSUE: UNTIL THIS idea-torial ISSUE 8 Mission: idea speaks to Marilyn Harry, an evangelist in Wales for more than 30 years. The considerable progress that 10 Testimony: Hope and has been made We hear how Jesus transformed a Kenyan woman’s in Northern life from despair to love and hope Ireland over the transformation past 40 years, 12 Theology: and the urgent It’s a great privilege to be asked to ‘guest edit’ this edition need for spiritual Reflecting on Jesus’ second coming, by Calvin Samuel, principal of the London School of Theology of idea magazine. I’ve particularly enjoyed working on the transformation and reconciliation 10 theme of ‘hope,’ which has inspired and encouraged me. 14 Spotlight: How evangelicals Some of the subjects discussed in this edition are not The work of Open Doors of the 1840s were with refugees in Jordan normally associated with hope: Northern Ireland and the brought together and Iraq Middle East refugee situation in particular. Yet, the stories by the Evangelical demonstrate that it doesn’t matter how dark a situation Alliance following years of division 22 In depth: seems; God is at work. Sometimes the light shines most Hope in Northern Ireland, clearly when in contrast to the darkness. That being a female 20 years after the Good evangelist in the Friday Agreement ‘I have so much hope’ If I ever need an injection of hope, I tend to turn to 1980s was unusual biographies and testimonies of Christians who have seen How the One 26 From the archive: 14 great transformation in their lives or the lives of those People Commission The meeting that began around them. In particular, I love stories of the old revivals is working towards the work of the of the 18th and 19th centuries, and reading the writings greater unity in the Evangelical Alliance Church of Christians such as Evan Roberts, Andrew Murray and 28 Advocacy: The range of Charles Finney. So I was particularly excited to read about How the Evangelical Alliance inspiring Christian missional work in Wales, both the Higher tour of schools books that are still is nurturing leaders within (p.4), and the ministry of evangelist Marilyn Harry and for me to read! the public sphere How art is helping the ‘Love Wales’ campaign (p.8). Wales has such a strong As a result of our traumatised refugees heritage of revival, I have hope that there will a fresh move recommendations 30 Reviews: (p.30) I picked Five books to inspire hope of God there. up Immaculée 22 As well as the hope of more hearts turning to Christ, as Ilibagiza’s account 32 Short story: of her faith during The winner of our under 18s believers we have the great hope of Jesus’ return. Should the despicable competition we reflect on this more, as a Church? I really enjoyed Calvin horrors of the Samuel’s reflection on the second coming (p.12) and how Rwandan genocide, and found it 34 Last word: it anchors our hope in the present. incredibly Our director, Steve Clifford, reflects on his hope Ultimately the hope for the world is Christ, his future powerful. for the church coming and his work through the Church at present: the Northern Ireland and hope faithful prayers and evangelism of ordinary Christians, sharing Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, Head Office Email address changes to Wales Office 176 Copenhagen Street, [email protected] 20 High Street, bringing transformation, one heart at a time. There are so London N1 0ST Northern Ireland Office Cardiff CF10 1PT tel 020 7520 3830 First Floor Ravenhill House tel: 029 2022 9822 many ways we can reflect on this great hope and build our [Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm] 105 Ravenhill Road, [email protected] fax 020 7520 3850 faith. Belfast BT6 8DR Scotland Office [email protected] tel: 028 9073 9079 Evangelical Alliance Scotland, www.eauk.org [email protected] Blair Court, 100 Borron Street, Heather Tomlinson Evangelical Alliance Port Dundas, Glasgow, G4 9XG leadership team tel: 0141 353 0150 Guest editor Steve Clifford, Gavin Calver, [email protected] Fred Drummond, Jo Frost, Elfed Godding, Emrys Jones Dave Landrum, Peter Lynas, We’re on Twitter! Follow us @idea_mag The Evangelical Alliance. A company limited by guarantee Registered in England & Wales No. 123448. Registered Charity No England and Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576. Cover design: Tim Coysh Registered Office: 176 Copenhagen Street, London, N1 0ST MARCH/APRIL 2018 IDEA MAGAZINE / 3 CONNECT News from the Alliance across the UK Seeking the ‘greatest move of God’ in Wales By Gethin Russell-Jones photo credit: Hannah Owens credit: photo Veteran evangelist Luis Palau encouraging believers to share the gospel at the launch of ‘Higher’. ‘This generation will see the greatest Smith said the teams will be “delivering to respond. With Higher, we want to see move of God that this nation has ever innovative lessons and inviting young young people added to the local Church seen,’ said Gary Smith, evangelist and people to local gigs that will include live and those who respond to the gospel will director of Message Wales, a member music and a bold presentation of the be encouraged to join discipleship groups organisation of the Evangelical Alliance. gospel, with an invitation for young people being run by churches in their communities.” Gary was speaking in November at the Hawthorne, who is the founder of The launch of Higher, a youth evangelistic tour Message and the Eden Network, told a that boasts the slogan: “The largest youth packed audience of church leaders that mission to the UK for a generation.” The “…we want to the recent Higher event in Manchester launch took place at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, had resulted in hundreds of young people with speakers including evangelists Andy see young people coming to a personal faith in Christ and Hawthorne OBE and Luis Palau. added to the local joining church-based discipleship groups. ‘We want to see a culture-shifting number of Veteran evangelist Luis Palau also spoke of young people encounter the gospel of Jesus Church and those his involvement in the tour, and of Wales’ Christ and become life-long disciples with evangelistic and revival heritage. He urged the help of the local Church’, Smith said. who respond to this generation of Christians to make known Higher will tour schools in Wales from 5 - 23 the gospel will be the good news of God and work together November 2018 and there will be a youth across churches for the sake of the gospel. conference on Saturday, 29 September 2018. encouraged to Luis was involved in a mission to Cardiff in The tour will involve teams from Message join discipleship 1977. Wales, the Welsh arm of Hawthorne’s youth To learn more about the Higher tour in Wales ministry The Message, visiting more than groups being run or to partner with Message Wales contact 50 secondary schools across South Wales. Caitlin Woodington at 02920 512 247 caitlin. Higher is also visiting Cambridgeshire in by churches in their [email protected] Check out early October and the Midlands in February highertour.com for more information about and March this year. communities” the initiative. IDEA MAGAZINE / 4 CONNECT Northern Ireland Prayer points In this issue focused on encouraged to hope, thank God that whatever is happening in the world, that we ‘Be Reconciled’ have the sure hope of Christ’s return and A new small group resource is being She said that the videos will ask the local our deliverance in the launched to encourage Northern Irish Church to: look in - to understand their future. Christians to look again at the Bible’s present context; look up - to what God is teaching on reconciliation and apply it in calling the local Church to do, and to be Pray for the evangelistic initiatives on their local communities. led by the Holy Spirit in responding to God; these pages: the Higher tour and ‘Hope “Be Reconciled” is a DVD resource that and then look out - into their community, Together 2018’, that they will inspire and features interviews with key Christian and to call others to reconciliation with equip Christians around the country to leaders from the region, including former and through Jesus. work together to bring the Good News Methodist president Rev Dr Heather Morris, “We want the evangelical churches to see of Jesus to those who have never heard. Baptist minister Alan Wilson and the Bishop reconciliation as an imperative to how we of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller. It aims better bear witness to Jesus in this context,” to encourage Christians to think about their Pray for God to use the new small group said David Smyth, the public policy officer context and how to bridge the sectarian resources: the updated Discipleship of the Evangelical Alliance Northern divide. Explored and the new ‘Be Reconciled’ Ireland. “It’s the heart of the gospel: the series, to help believers grow closer to “Be Reconciled is a gospel initiative to reconciliation of God to man and us to Christ.