The Magazine of Church Army
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The Magazine of Church Army 40 shareWinterit! 2014/Spring 2015 Contents Welcome Welcome Shareit! 40 Winter/Spring 2014/2015 ear friends, Throughout our lives as Christians we are continually Dsowing gospel seeds with people we meet day-to-day, yet more often than not, we never find out if those gospel seeds have grown and flourished. As it says in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, some seeds fall on rocky ground, some fall among thorns and are choked, while others fall on good soil and prosper. Yet as I read Leslie’s story, which is part of our ONE series, I was once again reminded of God’s faithfulness as he journeys with us through life and how it is never too late to turn to him. 8 14 25 Leslie from Shrewsbury is 84 years old and came to faith a few years ago while taking part in an Alpha course at his church after years of rejecting God. He is now sharing his new-found 4 News 18 Review of the year 28 Now a Christian faith with others thanks to the encouragement of our Evangelist, Gordon Lamb. Amazing! All our latest stories From our Annual Report App and website relaunched (pages 12-13) 8 Christmas Angel appeal 22 Stepping into evangelism This edition of Shareit! is also very exciting as you can find out more about becoming a Barbara’s journey on Resourcing your church 30 Church Army Champions member of our mission community, which is open to anyone with a heart for evangelism the streets of London Join the team and seeing people come to know Jesus (pages 14-17). Our mission community is a 24 Research funding movement of Christians across the United Kingdom and Ireland and is a place where you 10 ONE series for fresh expressions 31 The last word can be encouraged and resourced in evangelism and meet with other people who share Craig and Leslie of church A reflection from your passion. We hope you’ll consider joining us. share their stories Peter Graystone 25 Xplore Finally, I’d like to thank you once again for your continued support of our work. Together 14 Be part of the journey Evangelism training we are having a real gospel impact across our nation and I hope you are encouraged to for young adults be a part of it. Join our mission community Yours in Christ The Magazine of Church Army 40 15 /Spring 20 Winterit! 2014 Canon Mark Russell share Chief Executive www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo Is this the first time you’ve read a copy of Shareit!? Would you like to receive your own edition regularly? Patron: HM The Queen Shareit! is the magazine of Church Army To sign up and to find out more about our other resources, Church Army is a mission-focused community of and it is available free upon request. please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/res Alternatively people who are transforming lives and communities Please let us know if you would prefer not email [email protected], telephone 0300 123 2113 through the work of evangelists, staff and supporters. We are committed to sharing the Christian faith to receive further issues of Shareit! or other or write to Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, through words and action in a variety of contexts communications from Church Army. If 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ. across the United Kingdom and Ireland. you have a story for Shareit!, or suggestions The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by on how we can improve this magazine, Colourwise who have 14001 accreditation. then please contact Hannah Gray. Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ Editor: Hannah Gray 0300 123 2113 Front cover: Evangelist, Nick Russell, at our Greenwich Centre of Mission in London leading Tel: 0300 123 2113 Email: [email protected] Sub-editor: Bethan Hill www.churcharmy.org.uk Design & Print: CPO 01903 264556 the Coffee Stop drop-in for vulnerable people. Registered Charity Nos: 226226 & SC040457 ISSN 1751-3960 2 Shareit! Shareit! 3 News RUNNERS STEPPING OUT IN THE capital DUNDEE CENTRE OF MISSION lAUNCHEd A team of 16 runners has taken the licensing of Church Army Evangelist, to the streets as part of The Craig Dowling, took place along with the British 10K london Run, raising ordination to the priesthood of Church Army more than £5,000 for us. Evangelist, Rev Kerry Dixon. The run took them past some Craig and Kerry will both be based at of london’s biggest landmarks the new Centre of Mission, which will have three including Big Ben, Tower Bridge key objectives: to reshape mission and ministry and Westminster Abbey. at St luke’s Church, downfield; to develop a Alex Seymour, who took fresh expression ministry at St Paul’s Cathedral part in the race for the first in dundee; and to grow new expressions of time, said: “I was nervous Christian community and inspire mission and on the day and the run was left to right: Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, evangelism within the Scottish Episcopal Church. Church Army Evangelist, Kerry dixon, The Bishop of tough, but the support from the diocese of Brechin, Nigel Peyton, Church Army The Bishop of the diocese of Brechin, the crowds was immense. Evangelist, Craig dowling, Church Army Operations Nigel Peyton, said: “Our exciting new Manager, Neville Willerton. Church Army projects bless so partnership with Church Army brings fresh many vulnerable people and A new Church Army Centre of Mission has ideas and personnel. The contrasting projects it is a cause I feel personally If you’d like to join the Sunday 12th July, please email been launched in dundee with the aim of at St luke’s and the Cathedral dundee are a connected with. I’d definitely Church Army team for The [email protected] developing and growing new expressions beginning. My vision is for the whole diocese to take part again!” British 10K London Run 2015 on or call 0300 123 2113. of Christian community and inspiring the become a more effective centre of mission!” church in evangelism. Mark Russell, Church Army Chief Executive, The Centre of Mission is a partnership said: “Church Army is committed to serving between Church Army, St luke’s Church, communities all over the United Kingdom and downfield, in dundee, the diocese of Brechin Ireland and we are thrilled to partner with the POlICE FUNdING FOR YOUTH FILM PROJECT and the international development agency diocese of Brechin to launch this new Centre Signpost International. of Mission. We hope many people in dundee after getting into serious debt The launch event saw people gather at will have their lives touched by this exciting through a loan shark. St Luke’s Church for a special service where new initiative.” The youth group’s previous film, Despair to Hope, told the story of a young person whose life got into a mess after taking drugs. THANK yOU – BUTTERFLY APPEAL JOY It’s hoped the project will build the young people’s We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of self-esteem, help them explore you who sent us your butterfly messages and issues they are facing day-to- donations as part of our ONE summer appeal day and engage them with featuring our project in the North of England, the Christian faith. which works with vulnerable women and Evangelist and youth group those involved in prostitution. To date we’ve leader, Neil Walpole, said: raised more than £17,000. Brilliant! “Our young people loved “Hannah” who leads the project said: The dNA youth group at our a new filming project exploring making their first film and are “We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for Selby Centre of Mission on the difficult issues of debt, very excited because the your prayers and encouraging messages, the Flaxley Road housing addiction and abuse. grants will enable us to make some of which will carry us through the estate has been awarded The money will be used to many more. Using drama in tough times while others remind us of God’s a grant of £1,050 from North buy filming equipment and will this way allows us to explore goodness and love.” yorkshire Police’s Community see the young people produce the heartbeat of Jesus in the One of the women at the project said: “It’s Another said: “I can’t believe people have Fund and a grant of £500 from a film following the story of a issues that our young people lovely to know that people know we are here taken the time to post us nice letters from Selby Town Council for family who suffer a breakdown face on a daily basis.” and actually care about us.” all over the United Kingdom.” 4 Shareit! Shareit! 5 News NEWS FLASH! WEBSITE RElAUNCHEd DESMOND TUTU STEPS dOWN AS PRESIdENT We’re very excited about our new website that’s resource and inspire you theologically and After seven years as Church Army’s just been launched! It includes a new evangelism practically. If you have a few minutes to spare, President, Archbishop Desmond blog which we will be updating regularly to visit www.churcharmy.org.uk and take a look. Tutu, is stepping down from the role and we would like to wish him every blessing for the future and thank him for all that he has given. He said: “Church Army has shown and continues to show just how relevant and up-to-date the Good News is.