Film of Hope Follows Brain Tumour Shock
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Inside L Recipe for life - 3 Strictly star - 4 Pioneer surgeon -5 GOOD NEWS Pitch for pulpit - 7 FOR NORWICH & NORFOLK Winter 2016/17: FREE Sister act - 8 Film of hope follows brain tumour shock When told he had an inoperable brain tumour, Dan Lawrence, a Christian youth worker from Dereham , set about making an inspirational 80-minute film about death, faith and hope. Jenny Seal reports. n early 2015, Dan, recently married to Kim, found out he I was suffering from an aggres - sive and inoperable brain tumour. His response to the devastating diagnosis was in keeping with his passions, his creativity and James Corden. Picture by iDominick. positive character. Dan wrote a screenplay called “Looking into Eternity”, with the intention of turning it into a project to engage James Corden and benefit young people, and be filmed and acted by them. “There’s always been a says prayer difference in the way we do things and we would never just sit around,” said Dan. “I don’t think saved him there has ever been a point where I thought: ‘I can’t be bothered’. I James Corden, the British comedian who has There has always been something.” successfully crossed ‘the Pond’ to host The Late Dan, 25, has always had a faith, Late Show in America, has revealed a critical growing up attending Sprowston moment in his life. Methodist Church. Since 2010 he Corden credits the prayers of his Christian parents with saving him from a life of has been a youth worker for North depression, partying and alcohol. Breckland Youth For Christ (YFC), He told BBC Radio 4 that he was raised in a specialising in projects where he Christian home, but realised how far he had can gently and patiently engage fallen from his upbringing after exhibiting and encourage young people in Dan and Kim Lawrence at the premiere of Looking to Eternity in Dereham on November 4. "ungracious, ungrateful and brattish" behaviour media and creative initiatives, such at the 2008 BAFTA Awards. as BreckFest Youth Radio, a filmed impressively professional, and the The 80-minute film, shot over over it at every stage. His timing "The person I had become wasn't the person version of the Passion story and a difficult subject matter is handled seven days, is an incredible and provision all the way through I wanted to be," he told the Daily Mail. new pantomime. with sensitivity, intelligence, achievement, given that the has been amazing. We had an Alone and depressed in his London With the full support of North humour and uncompromising majority of the characters are £8,000 budget and we came in on apartment, his devout Christian parents made Breckland YFC, Dan focused on honesty. played by young people who had budget.” an "out of the blue" visit, as they had been the script through his early never previously acted and many “If you talk to anyone in the in - worried about him. radiotherapy treatment. of the technical roles were carried dustry they wouldn’t believe it and "My dad said, 'I'm going to say a prayer for Now, following almost two years "So we fix our eyes not on out by young people learning as the quality that has been produced you’… He just put his arms around me and said, of hard work, Dan, North Breck - what is seen, but on what is they went. in seven days is a miracle. The 'You've just got to get through this, son.' I land YFC, a cast and crew of young unseen, since what is seen is The inspiration for the film was young people have been amazing. started to cry… Dad said a prayer as he kissed people and other key volunteers temporary, but what is unseen a verse Dan read in his Bible. 2 They have learned such a lot and my forehead, and Mum came over and joined the hug. I've no idea how long we stayed there, have turned that screenplay into is eternal". Corinthians 4:18: " So we fix our eyes they have shown a real example of the feature length film Looking to not on what is seen, but on what is un - what it is to work in unity and but it felt like a lifetime.” Eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:18 seen, since what is seen is temporary, work towards a purpose.” Four years later, Corden has turned his life The film is the story of a grumpy but what is unseen is eternal" . It has The film was funded by The around, has two children with his wife, Julia, and young man called John who is Dan said: “It is a complicated been a great source of comfort for Jerusalem Trust with grants for has become one of the most popular presenters in the US with his Late, Late Show carpool diagnosed with terminal cancer. It matter but something that needs to the team during Dan's illness. equipment awarded by Breckland karaoke sketch featuring luminaries such as follows the journey that he and his be dealt with I think. And some - Ang Fox, Director of North Youth Advisory Board, Barnham Michelle Obama, Britney Spears and Stevie wife, Edy, go on through his thing that needs to be dealt with in Breckland YFC and the producer of Broom Trust and Red House Youth Wonder. illness, finding faith and ultimately a way that almost makes it comical ‘Looking to Eternity’ describes the Project. A professional film direc - Article courtesy of www.goodnews- joy. at the same time, but in a way that film as ‘a miracle’. tor, Jeremy Higham, gave guidance paper.org.uk The quality of the production is there is a definite reason for it all.” She said: “God’s hand is just all I Continues on page 4 2 Good News for Norwich & Norfolk, Winter 2016/17 www.networknorfolk.co.uk NEWS GOOD NEWS FOR NORWICH & NORFOLK What is the true meaning of Christmas? I treating their families to lovely I Good News for Norwich & Norfolk is The middle of winter has long Network Norfolk published by Celebrate Norwich & Norfolk. been a time of celebration content editor food, giving to charity, helping Registered charity no 1141245. around the world. Centuries others, or just chilling out after a I Website: www.networknorfolk.co.uk before the arrival of Jesus, early Tony Rothe hard autumn at work. To them, I Editorial (01508) 488318. e-mail stories to Europeans celebrated light and reflects on the that is their reality, and each of [email protected] or birth in the darkest days of mid- many ways these activities is fine in itself. send copy to Pear Tree Farmhouse, winter and the winter solstice. Should we chastise and con - Wymondham Road, Wreningham, Norwich The Scandinavians celebrated people choose demn folks for simply wishing to NR16 1AT. Yule by burning logs, the have a good time, if that’s what I to celebrate the Advertising: Helen Baldry (01603) 926120 Germans honoured the pagan Christmas means to them? Is I Christmas Distribution: Les Champion (01603) god Oden, and the Romans our criticism likely to introduce 402310 observed Saturnalia, a season. them to God’s love and grace? I Editor and designer: Keith Morris hedonistic worship of their god Let us joyfully celebrate the I Regular writers: Kevin Gotts, Mike Wiltshire, Sandie Shirley, Helen Baldry, Les Saturn. birth of God’s Son in whatever Champion, Jenny Seal. In the early years of way is right for us, both in I Printed by Archant Print. Christianity, Easter was the commercial opportunities, ever best friend Jesus. church and by joining in more I Churches, Christian organisations and main holiday - the birth of Jesus since. But not everyone will agree – secular activities, but invite oth - individuals from within Norwich and Norfolk are was not celebrated in England So, what is the true meaning The “true” meaning of Christmas ers to join us in our celebrations. invited to send news, events and pictures which until the end of the sixth century of Christmas? To Christians for them might be meeting up Let our positive enthusiasm relate to the demonstration of the Gospel in and, apart from a break during the answer is obvious – the with family and friends, giving for worshipping the Light of the social action, community care and evangelism. Cromwell’s reign, has been celebration of the birth of our and receiving gifts, decorating World prove infectious as we gaining in popularity, and Lord, saviour, mentor, guide and their house with light and colour, share a very happy Christmas! I The deadline for material for the Spring edition is Friday March 3. Distribution is from Thursday March 23 . I While every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained within are believed to be correct, the Life-changing mission publishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. I Stories and pictures in this publication are A Norwich teacher has devoted copyright. If you would like to reproduce them, please contact the editor, as we are usually her retirement to raise tens of happy to agree for a credit line. thousands of pounds to fund life- changing facilities for a camp of war victims in northern Uganda. Jenny Seal reports. reda Lewis, a retired infant school teacher from Thorpe St Andrew, started F the charity The Oasis of Life in 2004 to fundraise for the small camp of Ambalal in Northern Uganda, which then provided shelter for around 200 displaced people fleeing war- torn communities. Freda, 73, who attends St Francis Church in Heartsease, began by collecting toys to take out to the children.