THE MAGAZINE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ideaMARCH / APRIL 2021 EAUK.ORG

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Membership queries and updates Welcome [email protected] Advertising From the heart 01892 752 927 ou may have seen our Stories of Hope [email protected] series at the end of the year. We wanted to Design Sarah Fisher close 2020 on a positive note, so we shared [email protected] some of the wonderful work that God is doing through local churches and Christian Evangelical Alliance Y leadership team organisations in these times. One such story, Gavin Calver, from Dundee, Scotland, features in this edition 18 CEO Peter Lynas, (p. 4–5), and it’s encouraging to see the number UK director of people who benefit when we reach out into our As we continue to serve as the church of God in Fred Drummond, communities, just as did. Christ, let’s remember the example set by Jesus. director of prayer and Scotland Siân Rees, Donna Jennings, a member of our Northern Let us also remember that we are empowered and director of Ireland team, looks at the posture of service that enabled by God, who we can call on at any time. Jo Frost, Jesus presented in His earthly ministry (p. 2–3). “Your face, I seek; your grace, all I ever need. Help director of communications and engagement She reminds us that “the Son of Man identified me live out the life of Christ; help me share the love Emrys Jones, not as those who give but in those who were of God to my world,” prays Titilola Ossai, our One director of finance and operations fed, clothed and served”. She goes on to say that People Commission coordinator (p. 24–25). Evangelical Alliance offices “we too remember Jesus’ servant kingship that Head office shaped not just His death but His whole life – and Naomi Osinnowo 176 Copenhagen Street N1 0ST that of His followers”. Editor tel 020 7520 3830 [Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm] fax 020 7520 3850 [email protected] Northern Ireland Serving in the slums First Floor 02 18 Salem’s witness of hope in the slums is Ravenhill House 105 Ravenhill Road bringing people to faith, but so much Belfast BT6 8DR more can be achieved. tel 028 9073 9079 [email protected]

Wales Prayer fuels mission 20 High Street 22 The shows us that we can reason Cardiff CF10 1PT with God in prayer, so let’s do so. tel 029 2022 9822 [email protected]

Scotland Brendon Christian: 100 Borron Street 26 Blair Court, Suite D My conversion story Glasgow G4 9XE Contents I became a Christian during lockdown, tel 0141 353 0150 and this is my testimony. [email protected] The Evangelical Alliance. A company The posture & power limited by guarantee. Registered Faith with deeds in England and Wales No. 123448. 02 of service Registered Charity No. England and 32 Gavin Calver: “Let’s rise and keep Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576. This is why I believe we should stop asking the Lord to help us follow Him Registered Office: 176 Copenhagen giving to the poor – Donna Jennings. Street, London, N1 0ST no matter what.” idea is published in accordance with the Evangelical Alliance’s Basis of Faith, although it is impossible in every The changing face of job clubs article to articulate each detail and 10 With the right help, churches can nuance of belief held by Evangelical Alliance members. Articles in idea adopt a much-needed holistic approach may therefore express views on which to unemployment. there is a divergence of opinion or understanding among evangelicals. idea accepts advertisements and A voice of hope, justice inserts to offset printing costs. Advertising in idea does not imply 14 editorial endorsement. The Evangelical and leadership Alliance reserves the right to accept or If our advocacy is part of us joining in refuse advertisements at its discretion. with God’s mission, what should we Articles may be reproduced only with 22 permission from the editor. sound like? 02 | Theology

THE POSTURE & POWER OF SERVICE This is why I believe we should stop giving to the poor – Donna Jennings, church and mission coordinator, Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland.

stopped giving to the poor some time ago, and I alone, takes shelter on his doorstep and is given the think the church should stop too. By giving to daily leftovers from his overflowing feast. the poor, I mean acts of service that merely shift Common interpretations accuse the rich man material resources in one direction – from those of failing to serve this man in his poverty, but Iwho have to those who have not. this is not the case. How many of us so regularly Service of this kind addresses the immediate feed and house destitute people, right on our front material symptoms but ignores the deprivation doorsteps? So, what is the cause of this rich man’s of relationship, opportunity and equality that condemnation, and what do we learn about service surround those we seek to serve. This form of in Jesus’ social story? giving reinforces the social barriers of ‘them and The rich man is anonymous, allowing Jesus’ us’, forming Christian service as little more than audience to identify with him. However, Jesus good people doing kind things to poor people. gives the poor man a name, and with it an identity, I stopped giving to the poor when I grasped a dignity, a personhood. The rich man gave to the the biblical posture for service requires a radical ‘nameless poor’ – to poverty, to homelessness – but reimagination of social relationships, through the in a detached posture, that denied and overlooked creation of Christ’s new community – the church. their shared humanity. Lockdowns have intensified existing divisions Lazarus is the name Jesus gives this man, in our communities. As we, the church, continue to echoing his brotherly bond with the man whose respond, let us seize the opportunity to explore the Bethany home became Jesus’ place of belonging fullness of Christian service. So, how should the (Luke 10:38–42, John 11). While in death, the rich church serve the real, raw needs man shows concern for five brothers, in life he in our communities? failed to embrace Lazarus as brother and offer him a place of belonging. The rich man gave from Parable #1: Them and us the overflow of abundance but failed to give from The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke the depths of his personhood – his table and time, 16:19–31) has always mystified me. Jesus’ hearers his family and heart, his social connections and are confronted with two men inhabiting both sides opportunities. of a human divide: one who has, one who has not. Reducing Lazarus to an objective recipient of The rich man enjoys abundance of wealth, food, charity, the rich man offered almsgiving without clothing and company; Lazarus, poor, sick and love, which in the biblical vision of service counts idea MAR / APR 2021 | 03

as empty (1 Corinthians 13:3). Jesus teaches us that this: He repeatedly moved His disciples into the service is quintessentially love for another, most highways and byways, instructing them to bring fully expressed in presence and mutual friendship. an individual to Him. Moving towards community May we not in our foodbanks and drop-in centres needs, being present with individuals requires us, perform transactional acts of service, empty of like the disciples, to see faces, use names, place love. May we see beyond the poverty and debt, hands and form words to those who we had served disability and addiction, to perceive, like Lazarus, from a distance. Walking towards Jesus together the image-bearing humanity that flourishes most in thi