Peace works . CONTENTS Peace works is a simple phrase which can mean several things. News News from around our Union 4 Peace works are those things we do as individuals, or as the Christian community, to bring around calm in the midst of a world, environment or life engulfed in a Working for Peace storm. It is the work of bringing a word of hope, a gift of love, water to the thirsty, People of peace: the gospel challenge 6 food to the hungry, clothes to the naked. Works that are the hug to the lonely, the Baptists and Syria 8 protection to the fearful and rescue to those who are abused. They may be across the UK (p5), Syria (p8-10), Uganda (p21), or how we encourage our young people Healthy Community (p26-27) - these are peace works, our personal actions. General Secretary Lynn Green 11 Peace works are the direct actions we make to turn around a conflict situation. History Shaping our Today They could be the march of protest, the travelling to the frontline in rescue or WW1 and reconciling the inner world 12 bringing the listening ear to parties who have long since stopped communicating. Children connecting with WW1 20 It is carrying the vision of reconciliation, as Nelson Mandela so effectively gave to South Africa and beyond. How do we do this? (p6-7 and p18-19). Prayer and Spirituality Be still and know 14 Peace works when we stop talking, stop asking, stop demanding and open Praying for Peace 30 ourselves up to being in God’s presence; when we exchange our own thoughts and words for a deep listening to the still, small whisper, that calms, values and makes Real Life Stories us whole. Psalm 46:10 says: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ What happens when From pilot to pastor 16 we meditate on the Psalms? (p14-15). Peace works, and we can be still. The Big Question Peace works are the actions of the brave, the pioneering; the works of those Keeping the faith when there’s 18 who put self last, to engage proactively in a confusing world. Jesus said ‘I have conflict at work told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33). Together Transforming Lives we work for the coming kingdom; that is peace works. It may be moving into a God’s land: Uganda 21 tough neighbourhood (p4), a commitment to those who are different (p22-24) or Home Mission Stories pioneering discoveries about the human mind a century ago (p12-13). There’s something about the 22 Cotswolds Peace works, and we spend our lives enjoying it. We so often take it for granted. But it works only if nurtured and cared for. It is a careless act, lazy words or unconscious Baptist People action that can bring chaos and rob the peace from our lives. As Christians, we Interview with Amy Slennett 25 proclaim that we live in joy, but often that is not so because the wings of peace have been broken. Let us not take it for granted. Peace works, but we need to Faith in a Confusing World guard and commit to it (p11). The challenge is to love them 26 Attitude - poem 27 2014 is the anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. As preparations for the commemorations of that centenary begin, in this edition of Baptists Together we Justice in Worship explore some different ways of being engaged in works of peace. A Welcome for Everyone 28 May you discover, in God’s presence, fresh meaning to that small phrase: Events 30 peace works. PRODUCERS: Baptists Together Ian Bunce Producer is produced three times per year by: Paul Hobson Writer and Editor The Baptist Union of Great Britain Mary Parker Designer Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Tracey Vallance Production Coordinator Didcot, OX11 8RT Tel: 01235 517700 EDITORIAL GROUP: Email: [email protected] Website: www.baptist.org.uk Dotha Blackwood Phil Jump Stephen Keyworth Registered Charity Number: 1125912 Colin Norris Ruth Whiter Further copies Contact [email protected] for a plain text or braille version of any articles. For additional copies and subscriptions, see www.baptist.org.uk/shop LETTERS: For an electronic copy, see We welcome your views and ideas for future editions of Baptists Together. Write www.baptist.org.uk/baptiststogether to the Editorial Group at [email protected] or using the Baptist House address. Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .ai Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .ai To advertise in future editions Please contact Fiona on 07724 721747 or email www.facebook.com/baptistuniongb @baptistuniongb [email protected] 3 Baptists Together is printed on paper which is fully FSC Certified ‘We are ready for Mission’ Bringing peace in Andover High levels of drug use, underage Andy explains they deliberately target a There is a greater readiness for mission NEWS pregnancy and unemployment - ‘person of peace’, someone with natural among Baptist churches in the UK – King Arthur’s Way in Andover is a leadership qualities and influence. ‘The that’s according to the current President neighbourhood with many problems. idea is to invest in someone who would of our Baptist Union of Great Britain. It also happens to be home to a draw other people around him. It comes Now more than two thirds of the way Baptist church plant inspired by Celtic from Jesus sending out his disciples in through his year as President, Ernie Christians. Luke 10. Whalley has travelled to, and preached Thin Place is a church planting “It’s a case of finding at, churches across the country. ministry of Andover Baptist someone with whom We interviewed Ernie about his Church led by minister-in- we can engage, and background in peacemaking and training Andy Fitchet and we’ve always found reconciliation for this issue of Baptists his wife Zoe, offering hope it to be a person of Together, but also took the opportunity and love in an area with high influence. If someone to ask him for his reflections on the indicators of social deprivation. like that comes Baptist community. There was a realism to Christ, others “After we were married we concerning the challenges they face, he follow. This is what felt our calling to move to this said. happened with this estate and be a safe place, guy, he brought “In the churches, I am sensing a greater where we could offer hope and others to us, and acknowledgement of the challenges of love,” said Andy, explaining when he left, that post-Christendom and the need to ‘turn that the concept of a ‘thin had an impact. the tanker’, he said. place’ comes from ancient Celtic Christians, used to describe places “But we’re still in contact with many of “I detect more openness to exploring where the divide between heaven and them. Some have made commitments, fresh ways of being church and the need earth feels narrower. others moved away. The important thing for pioneers. is they are getting out of their apathetic The couple moved into a flat in early “I also see a greater readiness for mission culture.” 2012 and set up a youth group, opening across our denomination – in some of our up their home to disaffected youngsters Andy, who became the youngest town smaller churches, too, with diminishing for a warm meal and Bible study on a councillor in the country when elected financial and human resources.” Sunday afternoon. to Whitchurch aged 20 in 2010, and Zoe Despite these diminishing resources, he still feel a strong call to the estate. Andy This happened for the first 10 months of has been seeing some ‘amazing projects’. is now helping run a youth club on a Andy and Zoe being in King Arthur’s Way, Saturday night, ‘the most problematic “Many of our smaller churches are and their influence prompted the leader night’, in partnership with the local punching well above their own weight of the group to seek reconciliation with Anglican church. They are moving out and it’s a special joy to see how many his father. This reconciliation proved so of their rented flat and buying a house of them are deeply engaged as hubs in successful he decided to move back - and are now wondering what God has their own communities.” with his dad, in Nottingham. Following next in store for them. this move the rest of the group tailed off He says he has a particular burden and stopped coming on a Sunday. “Is this going to be a new phase?” about leadership in some of these smaller churches, which are often ‘in our Pioneer Collective Launches toughest neighbourhoods’. An initiative which seeks to identify and The Collective will provide mentors for “I urge our whole Baptist community support 400 new Baptist pioneers over pioneers, signpost training and enable to look at how we can ‘associate’ and the next five years has launched. pioneers to access Equipped to Pioneer, ‘accompany’ more effectively to enable the training framework for national and equip missional congregations.” The Pioneer Collective aims to encourage, recognition within our Baptist Union of equip and release pioneers - those who For an interview with Ernie, in which Great Britain. are called beyond the fringe of church he shares his insights for churches in to share the good news of Jesus in fresh To find out more visit www. conflict situations, see pages 6-7. and creative ways.