Shareit! 43 by Church Army

shareit! The Magazine of Church Army

Summer/Autumn 2016

Welcome

ear friends, I love hearing stories about how people come to faith. Stories like David Hamilton’s, a convicted terrorist in Northern Ireland who smoked the pages of his Gideon Bible before deciding to read Matthew and ended up giving his life to Christ. Church Army’s mission is all about placing Jesus at the centre of communities. We want to encourage, enable, support and challenge men, women and children across the British Isles towards a living faith. I am thrilled to announce that from September 2016, Church Army training will be opening up to individual students, who can study part-time with us while continuing in their ministry. You can find out more in the interview with our Training Manager, Jane Truman, on page 8. In this edition, you can also read about the life-changing work our Dundee Centre of Mission is doing among the homeless and the marginalised (page 11). This issue also features an interview with the mother of two-year-old Maddison, who is fighting cancer and is being supported by Church Army Evangelist, Kathy Green (page 16); a Q&A with the Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton (page 22); The Amber Project Coordinator, Caryl Stock, talks to us about her work with young people who self-harm in Cardiff (page 26) and Jasper Rutherford chats to us about his role in Ireland’s biggest Christian festival, Summer Madness (page 28). Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you. Thank you for all you do to help further the work of Church Army. Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Thank you for your commitment to our vision and ministry. I wish you and those you love a truly happy and blessed summer. Yours in Christ,

Canon Mark Russell Chief Executive and Community Leader www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo Patron: HM The Queen Church Army is a mission-focused community of people who are transforming lives and communities through the work of evangelists, staff and supporters. We are committed to sharing the Christian faith through words and action in a variety of contexts across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by Colourwise who have 14001 accreditation.

Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ Tel: 0300 123 2113 Email: info@churcharmy.org.uk www.churcharmy.org.uk Registered Charity Nos: 226226 & SC040457

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Shareit! is the magazine of Church Army and it is available free upon request. Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive further issues of Shareit! or other communications from Church Army. If you have a story for Shareit!, or suggestions on how we can improve this magazine, then please contact Michelle Pellegrino. Editor: Michelle Pellegrino 0300 123 2113 Sub-editor: Bethan Hill Design & Print: CPO 01903 264556

ISSN 1751-3960

4 News All our latest stories 8 Open to all Study part-time with Church Army 11 A heart for the homeless Dundee Centre of Mission 16 Hospital Healing A Sheffield mother shares her story

shareit! zin The Maga

Summer/Autumn 2016

18 A right royal birthday Celebrating the Queen’s 90th

26 The gift of hope Supporting young people who self-harm

20 Church Army September Don’t miss out on the action

28 Summer Madness Leading Ireland’s biggest Christian festival

22 Q&A A window into the life of the Bishop of Truro

30 Family news Growth of the Mission Community

24 Quiz How well do you know Church Army?

31 The last word A reflection from Peter Graystone

h Army e of Churc

tumn 2016 Summer/Au

Is this the first time you’ve read a copy of Shareit!? Would you like to receive your own edition regularly? To sign up and to find out more about our other resources, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/res Alternatively email info@churcharmy.org.uk, telephone 0300 123 2113 or write to Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ.

Front cover: H er Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the 2010 Royal Tour of Canada.

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Contents

Shareit! 43

FIRST CENTRE OF MISSION OPENS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Church Army has launched its first ever Centre of Mission in the Republic of Ireland in partnership with the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. The new centre was launched in April 2016 and is based in the town of Ballina, County Mayo. Irish-born Emma Rodrigues has been appointed as Lead Community Evangelist for the centre. Emma was previously working as a missionary in Brazil. The Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, Patrick Rooke, said: “The Tuam Centre of Mission offers the diocese a wonderful opportunity to work together in partnership with Church Army and our ecumenical neighbours in Ballina, known locally as Ballina Churches Together. Under Emma’s leadership, I am confident that the centre will quickly become a source of outreach and spiritual support to those on the margins of the local community.” Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, said: “As an Irishman, I am delighted to be

(L-R) Church Army National Operations Manager, Neville Willerton; Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell; Lead Evangelist for the centre Emma Rodrigues; the Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, Patrick Rooke and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killala, John Fleming

launching our very first Centre of Mission in the Republic of Ireland. We fully intend to engage with the local community, especially young people, and ‘give a voice to the voiceless’ to respond to the social justice needs, as identified by the Ballina Churches Together Report.”

THE MARYLEBONE PROJECT ON TV

Rapper and songwriter, Professor Green

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Our Marylebone Project, one of the largest projects and homeless hostels for women in the UK, was featured on BBC3 as part of its hardhitting documentary on homelessness, entitled Hidden and Homeless. The programme was presented by rapper and songwriter Stephen Paul Manderson, better known by his stage name, Professor Green. As part of the documentary, Professor Green visited the Marylebone Project in London and interviewed Residential Services

Manager, Bex Bellingham, as well as a formerly homeless young woman that is being helped by the project, Soceena. You can see the documentary at http://ow.ly/ZNJXd (the Marylebone Project is featured at 31m 20s). The project offers vulnerable women a range of services including accommodation, counselling, practical support and educational opportunities to empower them towards independent living. Visit www.maryleboneproject.org.uk

Church Army has launched a new Centre of Mission in the south west corner of Wales, in partnership with the Diocese of St David’s. Launched in May 2016, the St David’s Centre of Mission aims to provide a focus for the local diocese in shaping strategy, engaging in contemporary evangelism and establishing new models of Christian community. The centre is based on the Merlin’s Bridge estate in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, an area with high levels of poverty and unemployment. Church Army Evangelist, Val Legg, has been appointed as the Lead Evangelist for the centre and Xplore graduate, Ian Roulston, will be working alongside Val in his role as Pioneer Evangelist. This is the third Church Army Centre of Mission to be opened in Wales, following the launch of the St Asaph and Llandaff Centres of Mission last year. The Bishop of St David’s, Wyn Evans, said: “Our diocese is delighted to be part of this

(L-R) Church Army National Operations Manager, Neville Willerton; Church Army Dean of Community, Andrew Chadwick; The Bishop of St David’s, Wyn Evans and Lead Evangelist for the centre, Val Legg

exciting and innovative venture. God calls all his people to be of service and we are charged to go and make disciples of all nations. Our partnership with Church Army will strengthen us in this pioneering ministry.”

TAKING THE LEAP OF FAITH Church Army will be holding its first ever Skydive Challenge in Nottinghamshire on Saturday, 3 September, to raise vital funds for our work. “I can guarantee that it will be the most fun you’ve ever had whilst fundraising,” says Fundraising Officer, Beth Burras, “Come and experience for yourself the exhilaration of jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet, and the thrill of freefalling then parachuting over fields!” Bring along your friends and family to support you and enjoy a picnic, cake stalls and games. A deposit of £60 is required by 23 July to secure your place. For more information, please contact Beth on tel. 0300 123 2113 or email b.burras@churcharmy.org.uk

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News

CHURCH ARMY LAUNCHES THE ST DAVID’S CENTRE OF MISSION

CHURCH ARMY TO LAUNCH THE TORBAY CENTRE OF MISSION

(L-R) Jeff Hill and Adrian Prescott

Church Army will be launching the Torbay Centre of Mission, in partnership with the Diocese of Exeter, in September.

The Torbay Deanery in Devon is home to some of the poorest parishes in the country. The centre’s objectives are to nurture faith in the local community and to establish fresh expressions of church. Jeff Hill has been appointed as the Lead Evangelist for the centre. He has been working in the area since August 2014. His ministry will continue to be focused on serving children and families on the Foxhole Estate in Paignton, Torbay. Adrian Prescott will be working as Community Evangelist for the centre. His ministry will be centred in and around Torquay. By basing the evangelists in two different areas, Church Army hopes to connect with a larger number of people currently unreached by the church.

CHAPLAIN WITH A GOAL

The Lead Evangelist of our Scottish Borders Centre of Mission, Paul Smith, has recently been appointed Chaplain of Gala Fairydean Rovers Football Club.

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The club competes in the Lowland League and is based in the Scottish town of Galashiels. “We’re delighted to have Paul on board and we’re sure he will be invaluable to the whole club,” said its Chairman, Kevin Temple. “Paul will seek to get alongside everyone connected with the club, giving pastoral support to people of all faiths and no faith, and providing help and advice on a range of issues.” Paul said: “I have always been passionate about football and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Gala Fairydean Rovers family. My prayer is that I can be a trustworthy and valuable friend to everyone associated with the club, including its supporters.”

News

BOLLYWOOD FUN

A big dhanvaad (thank you in Punjabi) to Church Army Evangelist Kinder Kalsi and his team, who have raised £900 through their Bollywood night at St Polycarp’s Church in Sheffield.

The evening brought together more than 70 people of different ages, cultures and religions. It included a threecourse meal, a raffle and lots of dancing to the beat of festive Bhangra music. Kinder has been holding Bollywood fundraising events for Church Army since 2010. He has also organised Bollywood nights for the Lord Mayor of Sheffield as well as numerous local schools as a way of getting schoolchildren to learn about different cultures. Kinder said: “My advice for anyone thinking about holding a fundraising event is to think about what your talent is – whether it’s gardening, singing or writing poetry – and creatively use that gift to fundraise for a worthy cause.”

EASTER BAPTISMS IN SELBY Five young people from the Flaxley Road Estate in Selby were baptised and confirmed by the Bishop of Selby on Easter day. The young people, aged between seven and 18, are part of the St James’ Edge Community, a church that runs a bus outreach project on the estate. The project is led by Church Army Evangelists, Richard Cooke and Neil Walpole, from Nine-year-old Sam being baptised by the Bishop of Selby our Selby Centre of Mission. Around 30 to 40 young people living on to keep this relationship with God for the the estate attend the bus get-togethers. rest of my life.” One of the young people baptised was The Bishop of Selby, John Thomson, said: nine-year-old Sam, who said: “God shows “It was wonderful to see these young me the way, helps me and teaches me people publicly saying that they’re friends to understand him more every day. I want and followers of Jesus.”

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Open to all

Jane Truman

From September 2016, Church Army training will be opening up to independent students, who will be able to study part-time while continuing to live and work in their home town. People will also be able to do individual modules based on their specific needs and interests. Training Manager, Jane Truman, tells us more: Could you tell us, in a nutshell, what are the main changes that have been made to the training programme? We will be running a part-time programme, instead of a full-time programme, so that individuals are able to learn with Church Army from their home context while continuing in the ministry they are already engaged in. The programme aims to help people reflect on their practice,

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so the training runs alongside and complements their active ministry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; enabling, encouraging and nurturing the work they are doing. What are the advantages of learning with Church Army? We pride ourselves on the diverse and creative aspects of our programme. Our tutors work hard to ensure that the module

Training

training sessions are lively, interactive and incorporate a range of learning styles. Our Soul Space sessions provide students with the opportunity to experience different styles of prayer – prayer through nature, music and using the senses, for example – and to consider how they will nourish their relationship with God over the long-term. Our weekends together are so much more than what happens during the programme sessions. There is a strong sense of fellowship and community within our learning group – we eat meals together, pray together, support each other and learn from one another’s experiences. What type of person is the training most suited for? Our training programme is tailored particularly for people who are practitioners in pioneer ministry. Our modules focus on mission and evangelism within the pioneer context, what it means to be a pioneer minister in relation to the broader church and contemporary culture and how to create and sustain Christian communities. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds and ages and from every Christian denomination.

shares about his or her particular area of ministry. These visits will help those in training to gain insight and understanding into the particular module they are studying at that moment. In terms of the number of assignments, this depends on how many modules you choose to do with us but, generally speaking, there are six assignments to complete during the year. The assignments are all about putting theory into practice and give students the opportunity to reflect on their own personal context. How long is the training course and what qualifications will I have at the end of it? If you successfully complete the twoyear programme, you will be awarded the Certificate of Higher Education in Theology, Mission and Ministry. If you decide to study for four years, you will obtain the Diploma of Higher Education in Theology, Mission and Ministry.

How many residentials and assignments are there during the year? There are a total of six weekend teaching residentials over the year that run once every two months. The residentials are held at the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield, the home of Church Army. People who are interested in doing just one particular module can join the group for either one or two residentials, depending on which module they select. Each residential includes sessions with an experienced Church Army Evangelist who

F or more information or to

request an application form, please contact Training Administrator, Joanne Spink, on 0300 123 2113 or email j.spink@churcharmy.org.uk Shareit! 9

Our training team members say: “Most courses offer mission and evangelism as one part of their course, Church Army is probably the only training programme that specialises entirely in mission and evangelism across the whole variety of subjects and skills covered.” Steve Hollinghurst

“One of the strengths of the training is our close working relationship with Church Army’s Research Unit. What we teach about pioneering practice in evangelism and fresh expressions of church is well-informed by hot-off-the press research findings.” Claire Dalpra

“I love the fact that we’re such a diverse learning community: catering for both academic and less academic approaches, and working with people from a range of church traditions.” Mike Starkey

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“Church Army prides itself on its hospitality and residentials are no exception. We see residentials as both a treat and a retreat, our times together are a wonderful way of learning community, when we share refreshment and companionship at our home in the Wilson Carlile Centre.” Joanne Spink

“Church Army training offers a really good mix of theory and practice. It helps people who are involved in mission and evangelism on the ground to reflect on what they are already doing and to learn from the wisdom and experience of others.” Andy Weir

“To have a theological library that specialises in mission and evangelism is one of Church Army’s hidden gems. The quality of the Wilson Carlile Centre’s accommodation, offering both en suite single and double rooms, is also second to none!” Liz Bentley

Stories

A heart for the homeless The Dundee Centre of Mission was launched in September 2014. Michelle Pellegrino followed Lead Evangelist for the centre, Kerry Dixon, around for two days to find out more about our ministry in Scotland’s fourth largest city:

DUNDEE’S ALARMING STATISTICS

• Dundee has the highest rate of

drug-related deaths in Scotland, at double the national average (National Records of Scotland).

• Dundee had Scotland’s highest rate of mums-to-be abusing drugs (Information Services Division, NHS Scotland).

• By September 2015, Dundee

City had the lowest employment rate of any Scottish local authority area, with only 63.3 percent of its working-age population in employment (Dundee City Council).

With a biker’s jacket over his clerical collar, Kerry doesn’t pass unnoticed while doing outreach in Dundee’s city centre

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A heart for the homeless continued

Day 1 – Feeding the body and soul 9am: Meet at St Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee city centre to pray for the outreach in the streets before the Soup ‘n’ Soul event. The event is held weekly and offers food and friendship for people with difficult life

circumstances, including the homeless and those with substance abuse problems. The nave of the nineteenth-century church is set up with tables and chairs. Kerry does outreach in the city centre, inviting people in need to the event.

Alan (50) was formerly homeless and now sells The Big Issue in Dundee’s city centre. He has a history of substance misuse. All three of Alan’s brothers died of heroin overdoses. “People think that if you live on the streets you must be lazy, but I’m not,” Alan said, “I’ve done many different jobs, including road digging, cleaning, welding and construction work. “If someone had told me that one day I would end up eating and chatting with priests, I would never have believed it! But everyone at St Paul’s is really nice and friendly and to be inside such a beautiful church really expands my mind.”

A former fitness instructor, Jason lost his job during the recession and eventually ended up on the streets. He suffers from depression and other mental health issues. Jason said: “Dundee is absolutely freezing in winter, but I had no choice but to sleep on the streets, so I just had to learn to up with it. “My diet is poor, so it’s good to get a nourishing plate of soup at Soup ‘n’ Soul and they give me food to take away as well. I come every week, these are good people and they’ve helped me feel closer to God. I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

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Stories

Day 2 – Preparing for baby, painting and pirates 10 am: Kerry and volunteers, Bruce, Mike and Jack (see Jack’s story, page 16) take a large chest of drawers, a stroller and other baby necessities to Diane, who is eight months pregnant.

12 pm: Kerry and the volunteers head off to paint the flat Jack has recently moved into. 7.45 pm: Meet at St Luke’s Church Downfield for Pirate Monks, a weekly group meeting that encourages and challenges men in their daily walk of faith.

Diane (30) has already had four children taken away by the authorities as a result of her addiction to heroin. She is now on methadone to try and get over her addiction, so that she can keep the baby boy who’s on the way. Methadone is a synthetic drug, similar to morphine, used as a substitute drug in the treatment of heroin addiction. Diane’s parents were travellers and she grew up in a caravan. Her father was physically abusive to her mother. It was her older sister who first introduced her to heroin, while Diane was still in her teens. Before her recent move into a council flat, Diane had been homeless. Kerry met Diane a few weeks ago and has been supporting Diane both practically and emotionally. “Kerry’s been brilliant, he comes with me to the appointments with the social worker and has helped me in so many ways. We have some good conversations and what he says always makes a lot of sense. I’ve never been to church before but I’m going to go with Kerry this Sunday.”

Kerry said: “One of the saddest aspects is that the baby will be born already addicted to heroin and will suffer from withdrawal symptoms. It’s hard for people trying to recover from their addiction, as they often live in a world where everyone they know takes heroin.

Kerry and Diane

“It’s often a vicious circle with parents who suffer from substance misuse. Their children are taken away because of their addiction, so the parent suffers from a huge sense of guilt. The pain eats away inside them and so they take more drugs, as it’s the only coping mechanism they know.” Diane has been attending Kerry’s church and during the Easter day service, she gave her life to Christ.

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Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story: Onc

Jack has been in and out of prison and a slave to drugs for most of his life. By the age of 16, he was sleeping on the streets of Dundee. But praise God that even the bleakest of circumstances can be turned around with faith, perseverance and loveâ&#x20AC;Ś Jack and Louise

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Stories

e lost, now found My name is Jack, I’m 41 years old and I live in Dundee. I had a difficult childhood, I was never close to any of my family members, and I spent a large part of my youth in a children’s home. I’ve been addicted to drugs since I was very young. My stepfather was an alcoholic and I started stealing his Valium when I was nine years old. At first, I took drugs as a way of having some fun; it’s really easy to get drugs in Dundee. However, I soon reached a stage where I became addicted.

“ People treat you as if you’re worthless” I ended up living on the streets when I was 16. Being homeless is a very lonely life. One of the worst things about it is that people treat you as if you’re worthless. Most people will just ignore you, but some people can be really mean. I’ve been laughed and sneered at, spat on and kicked in the face. Thankfully, there were also some good people who would stop for a chat. I remember how much it used to cheer me up when someone gave me the time of day. About a year ago, while I was begging on the streets, I met Kerry. We got talking and he invited me for a coffee with him the next day. I started going to Soup ‘n’ Soul and Pirate Monks meetings for men as well. We talk about lots of different things at Pirate Monks, we can choose the topic we want to discuss, then we look at what the Bible says about it. The way that everyone in the group talks about their own personal experiences, struggles and addictions so openly and honestly has really helped me to deal with my own problems. On my 40th birthday, I decided to get baptised. Kerry performed the baptism

Jack’s baptism

and it was absolutely great, the best feeling ever – it gave me much more of a buzz than any drug I’ve ever taken! Since I came to faith, I’m not interested in heroin anymore. It’s also been more than four years since I was in prison, which is a record for me. I’ve been in and out of homeless hostels, but a few weeks ago, I got my own little place, a one-bedroom council flat. It feels so nice to have that security, it’s something that’s been missing my entire life. My dream is to have my own house one day. I am also in love. I met Louise six months ago and things are going really well, we’re there for each other. Kerry has really been there for us as well. Anything he can do to help us, he does. Kerry is like a dad to me.

“ Baptism gave me more of a buzz than any drug I’ve ever taken” Before I met Kerry, I always believed there was something out there, but I was never quite sure what it was. Certainly, things are much clearer now. Kerry has taught me that it doesn’t matter if I pray out loud or in my heart, God will always hear me. I really believe that the Lord is looking after me, now and forever.

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Shareit! Reader Survey It’s been a while since we last asked for your views… What’s your opinion? Please Shareit! Last time we heard from you we were able to implement a number of the suggestions that you gave us. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your answers will help us to provide you with the kind of magazine you want. Please return your completed survey in the envelope provided to arrive by Friday, 30 September 2016 for your chance to win one of the following fabulous prizes:

• A free night’s accommodation in a double room at the Wilson Carlile Centre in the heart of Sheffield’s city centre. Dates subject to availability

• A signed copy of Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief by the former Archbishop of Canterbury and Church Army President, Rowan Williams

• A signed copy of Meeting God in Paul by Rowan Williams • A signed copy of Christ in the Wilderness written by the Bishop of Chelmsford and Church Army Chair, Stephen Cottrell, in which he reflects on five of the Christ in the Wilderness paintings, revealing them to be a rich source of spiritual wisdom and nourishment (two copies available)

• A copy of the book, 99 Things To Do Between Here & Heaven, written by Peter Graystone, who

is the Coordinator of the Christianity.org.uk website and Church Army’s National Project Officer. The book features graphics and interactive boxes for checking your spiritual progress and offers a series of activities that will awaken your senses and broaden your horizons (two copies available)

• Fairtrade food hamper worth £40 • £ 20 Give as you Live Cards for Causes M&S voucher • £20 Give as you Live Cards for Causes Argos voucher • £ 20 Give as you Live Cards for Causes Tesco voucher About you Are you:

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What is your age? 15 or under

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About Shareit! 1. How much of each magazine issue do you read? All of it Most of it Some of it I read the shorter articles only I read the longer articles only I don’t read it but pass it on to others who do

2. How long do you typically keep an issue of the magazine? Less than one month Between 1-2 months Around 3-6 months Over 6 months

3. How much total time do you usually spend reading each issue of Shareit!? 60 minutes or more 30 to 59 minutes 10 to 29 minutes 1 to 9 minutes I don’t read it but pass it on to others who do

4. How many people read your copy of Shareit!? Just me My family members read it as well I share it with my neighbours/colleagues/church members (please circle the one that applies)

5. What is your main reason for reading Shareit!? It keeps me in touch with what Church Army is doing It informs me on how Church Army is spending the money I donate It helps me understand what evangelists do I use it to help explain to others about Church Army It’s just an interesting read

6. Please rate your interest in reading about the following topics Very interested Interested

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News in Brief (pages 4-7) First-hand accounts from the people we help Interviews with our evangelists The Marylebone Project & other homeless projects Training news & updates Research into fresh expressions & church planting Work with children and young people (including The Amber Project and Xplore) Ideas & resources for your mission & evangelism Mission Community people & news The Last Word by Peter Graystone (page 31)

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Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this survey, your opinion is very important to us. Please complete the section below and return the survey in the envelope provided to reach us by 30 September for your chance to win one of the fantastic prizes! Alternatively, you can complete the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CAshareit Name: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ Tel. no.: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... Email: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... Using your personal information (Data Protection): If you would like Church Army to also hold your information for marketing purposes, in order to provide you with updates on how you can pray for and support our work, please tick this box We are always happy to hear your comments or suggestions on how we can improve your experience of our magazine. Please contact Shareit! Editor, Michelle Pellegrino, on 0300 123 2113 or email comms@churcharmy.org.uk

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8. S hareit! currently comes out twice a year, in June and December. Do you think that it should come out more frequently?

Hospital Healing

(L-R) Kerry, Maddison and Kathy

What could be more devastating than finding out your child’s life is in danger? Church Army Evangelist, Kathy Green, is Chaplain at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where she provides emotional, spiritual and practical support to the young patients and their families. Kerry, the mother of two-year-old Maddison, who was diagnosed with leukaemia, shares her story with us: My name is Kerry, I’m 30 years old and have three children, Jessica (10), Andrew (3) and Maddison (2).

“ Our world just fell apart” In many ways, Maddison is like any other two-year-old. She loves animals, painting, baking and the Disney animated film, Frozen. Like all children, she also likes to make a mess! However, when Maddison was 17 months old, she was diagnosed with leukaemia. I had noticed that she always seemed tired, then she started having seizures. Her little body would shake uncontrollably,

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her lips would turn blue and her eyes would go completely white. I took her to the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and initially, all the tests came out normal. We stayed in hospital over the weekend and on the Monday they confirmed that Maddison had leukaemia. We were devastated. My partner Derek suffers from numerous health issues and walks on crutches. Just the week before, we had buried Derek’s father, who lost his battle to cancer, and now this. Our world just fell apart. Maddison would just lie in her bed lifelessly. She didn’t want us to hold or touch her,

Stories

she just wanted to be left alone. It was terrible – our little girl was suffering and we couldn’t do anything to help her. Meanwhile, the tests at the hospital continued. They had to take more blood tests, as well as bone marrow tests, so that we could establish what type of leukaemia Maddison has. She has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Since she has no immune system, she catches every virus possible and gets infection on top of infection. I remember the first time Maddison had to go down to the operating theatre. It was just me and her, as Derek was looking after our two other children. I felt that I simply couldn’t go through this by myself. Derek told me to go to the hospital chapel and look for Kathy. Kathy and Derek’s mother had been friends since he was a little boy. His mum had a photo of Kathy in the lounge, so I had no problem recognising her.

“ It was an incredible day of joy and tears…” Kathy has been absolutely fantastic, she’s been like a sister to me. I don’t know how she does it, she sees so much suffering, yet she is always upbeat and smiling. We come to the hospital at least two or three times a week for Maddison’s chemotherapy treatments and bone marrow transplants and Kathy or someone from her team will always come and sit with me. They’re there for me if I want to have a chat, cry, rant and rave, or if I simply need a cuddle. All my children call Kathy ‘Auntie Kathy’. It’s been hard for my children to cope with it all. Andrew is extremely protective of his little sister, and Jessica has had a particularly hard time with it all. Her biological father was religious but physically abusive to us, which put me off religion for a long time. But when I met Kathy, I thought: “God must be amazing if he has people like Kathy on his side!”

Two-year-old Maddison

I asked Kathy to baptise my three children in the hospital chapel. It was an incredible day of joy and tears and we managed to squeeze 28 people into the tiny chapel. I often go into the chapel now; it’s got such a lovely atmosphere, so calm and peaceful. I say a prayer for Maddison and other people I know in need of prayer. Kathy also talks to my children about Jesus. She tells them that he’s their special friend and, even though things are sometimes not easy, he is always there for them. Little Maddison has never been on holiday but hopefully we will have our first weekend away as a family very soon. My biggest wish is that she will get well soon and be a healthy, happy-go-lucky child, like every child should be.

Almost 4,000 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. The most common childhood cancer is leukaemia, which accounts for almost one third of all cases. The Sheffield Children’s Hospital is one of only four specialist children’s hospitals in the UK (Children with Cancer UK statistics). Shareit! 17

A right royal The Queen has been Church Army’s Patron for over 60 years. As we celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday, our Chief Executive, Mark Russell, takes us on a trip down memory lane and explains why she is both an inspiration and an amazing evangelist in her own right

Elizabeth II is the Queen regnant of 16 independent states and their overseas territories and dependencies

The past year has been one of significant milestones for Her Majesty the Queen. On 9 September 2015 she became the longest serving British Monarch, succeeding her great great grandmother Queen Victoria, and on 21 April 2016 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday. The Queen is arguably the most recognised person in the world and still follows a demanding work schedule.

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“ The Queen is arguably the most recognised person in the world” Each year, she makes hundreds of public visits, dozens of walkabouts, and reads thousands of official government papers. During her reign she has seen 12 different British Prime Ministers and seven different Archbishops of Canterbury. Yet British broadcaster and journalist Andrew Marr

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birthday notes that there are no incidents of her ever losing her temper, using bad language or refusing a duty expected of her. She has modelled faithfulness and devotion in her duties throughout her life. The Queen has been Church Army’s Patron for over 60 years, and has taken a close interest in our work. Every year, she makes a donation to Church Army from the Privy Purse as a sign of her support for our work and she sends greetings to all our teams each Christmas. I also have the privilege of recommending people to attend her garden parties at Buckingham Palace and over the past ten years over 100 people have represented Church Army at these very special occasions. I spoke to The Queen myself at a garden party a few years ago and she was well-informed about our work. She told me she held Church Army in her prayers. Of course we are very proud of our Patron, for she is also an amazing evangelist. Each year her Christmas message tells us something new about her faith in Jesus Christ. She has spoken of how God has been faithful in her life, and in 2002 she said: “I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel.” Our Queen always speaks about Jesus and the impact of his message of love and hope for the world. At the turn of the millennium she said: “The true measure of Christ’s influence is not only in the lives of the saints but also in the good works quietly done by millions of men and women day in and day out throughout the centuries. Many will

have been inspired by Jesus’ simple but powerful teaching; love God and love thy neighbour as thyself – in other words treat others as you would have them treat you.”

“ She told me she held Church Army in her prayers” In 2014, the Queen said: “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace…is an inspiration and anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect all people of whatever faith or none.” Six months before her coronation, she asked the people of the Commonwealth to pray for her, saying: “Pray that God will give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making and that I may faithfully serve him and you all the days of my life.” God has answered those prayers and all of us at Church Army pay tribute to our wonderful Patron, and wish her a blessed and happy 90th birthday.

To celebrate the Queen’s birthday, Church Army will be donating a tree and a commemorative plaque, which will be planted in the garden at Buckingham Palace

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Help us extend beyond church walls and support those most

Church Army September is all about highlighting how lives are being transformed, especially among the most broken, rejected and hurting people in our society. Please get involved with Church Army September by booking one of our speakers so that we can rejoice together in our part in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work! You can book a Church Army speaker for you church in three easy steps:

1 2

Telephone 0300 123 2113 or email speaker@churcharmy.org.uk telling us which dates are convenient for you

e will find an evangelist local to W your area, then provide his/her contact details so that you can liaise directly to make all the arrangements

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A few weeks before the visit we will send you some resources to whet your appetite

To order free resources for your event or service visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/ speakers

Churches

in need by getting involved in Church Army September

Would you consider holding a fundraising event for us? You could:

You will find plenty more great fundraising ideas at www.churcharmy.org.uk/fundraise We are so grateful for your support as we engage in mission and evangelism together. Your partnership with us means that we are able to reach out to many more with the transforming love of Christ. What better reason to celebrate?

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Q&A with Bish Could you describe a typical day in the life of the Bishop of Truro? Every day is different, thank the Lord! What remains constant is that I start and end each day with prayer. I travel to London regularly and I’m often in Cornwall attending meetings or visiting people and parishes. My Methodist colleague and I spend some time each year knocking on doors together and listening to what the people have to say. We are also working on a Cornish Camino, a network of pilgrimage walks and trails linked to the Camino in Santiago.

What are the biggest rewards of your vocation?

Bishop Tim Thornton is Church Army’s first ever Episcopal Visitor. For this role, he visits Church Army regularly and acts as a sympathetic and critical friend. He also provides a relational connection with the wider church and its mission. He has strong ties with Church Army, so much so that Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, says of him: “He has Church Army in his DNA.” He chats to us candidly about his life, views and his role as the Bishop of Truro 22 Shareit!

The biggest rewards are taking risks for the gospel and seeing people respond to God in their lives. I have the privilege of witnessing people’s confirmation and hearing their testimonies as well as ordaining people and seeing their lives change.

“ Institutions will come and go…but God will go on” In 2013, you became a Lord Spiritual in the House of Lords. Could you tell us more about this role? Twenty-six bishops sit in the House of Lords and we take turns to open business each day with prayers. We speak on a variety of matters when on duty, and each bishop has specific issues on which they take a

lead. I take the lead on issues concerning children and young people as well as welfare reform. I had the privilege of co-chairing an enquiry into the rise in the number of foodbanks, which resulted in a Feeding Britain report.

There has been a lot of press coverage recently on the decline in church attendance, yet you have declared your optimism for the future of religion. Why is this? God is good and God is faithful, so we as Christians should always display the key distinctive characteristic of hope. Institutions will come and go and the ways of doing things will keep on changing, but God will go on and, if we listen to him, we will find ways to engage with the everchanging world around us.

Your connection with Church Army goes back a long way, one could say from before you were born! Could you tell us a bit about it? My mum and dad were both Church Army officers, they trained just after the war in Maiden Erlegh, Berkshire. My father was involved in caravan, beach and parish missions. As part of their work for Church Army, my parents also travelled to Canada and the USA. Much later on, I became Vicar of St Mary Abbots in Kensington, London, where Church Army founder, Wilson Carlile, used to be Curate. I also served on the Church Army Board from 1999 to 2005.

Community

op Tim Thornton What do you see as Church Army’s role within the church? The role of the Church Army is to keep the ‘e’ word in front of us all. I know countless Church Army Evangelists of widely different backgrounds, yet all of them understand the importance of evangelism. Church Army has never been afraid to take risks and continues to inspire individuals to share their faith with others.

“ My mum and dad were both Church Army officers” Who is your favourite Biblical character and why? Am I allowed to choose two? One is Job, because he asked a lot of questions and I think that asking questions is crucial. The other is Timothy, because he wasn’t afraid to speak out and always did his best to help.

What are the most important lessons God has taught you? Keep listening and keep smiling.

What does the Bishop of Truro do to relax – what are your hobbies and interests? I love sports, especially rugby and cricket. I also like running, but don’t do it enough! I enjoy reading novels, especially the works of Sebastian Faulks, and Church Army’s Shareit! magazine.

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Church Army Quiz Sure, you read Shareit! and pray for our work using Prayer Diary… but how well do you really know Church Army? Take this quiz and find out! 4. W hich of the following statements about Church Army founder, Wilson Carlile, is not true? a) He was the eldest of 12 children b) H e spoke French, German and Italian fluently c) H e was a gifted musician and played the trombone, piano and organ d) H e loved animals and owned a horse, a parrot and three dogs e) H e was nicknamed by the then Bishop of London as “Archbishop of the Gutter” owing to his slum missions f) He died in 1942, aged 95

Wilson Carlile and the Queen Mother

1. What year was Church Army founded? a) 1903 b) 1899 c) 1882 2. In which year was Church Army officially recognised by the Church of England? a) 1984 b) 1910 c) 1883 3. How many independent Church Army societies make up Church Army International? a) 6 b) 11 c) 18

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5. W here is The Amber Project, which helps young people who self-harm, based? a) b) c) d)

Cardiff Scottish Borders Swansea Dublin

Quiz

9. T he Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield has been the home of Church Army since 2011. Where was the head office located before this date? a) Birmingham b) Manchester c) London d) Plymouth 10. T he first Church Army Centres of Mission were launched in 2008. Which one of the centres below was not among the centres opened during that year? a) Newcastleton b) Chester c) North Belfast d) Craigavon e) Bradford f) Greenwich

6. A pproximately how many active Church Army Evangelists are currently working across the British Isles? a) Less than 100 evangelists b) Just over 200 evangelists c) Around 300 evangelists 7. W hich of the following is not a Church Army evangelism resource? a) Faith Pictures b) Now a Christian c) Stepping into evangelism d) Hanging out with Jesus 8. W hich celebrity is also Patron of the Marylebone Project? a) Sting b) Ellie Goulding c) Adele d) Rebecca Ferguson

Church Army pro: Congratulations, you know our charity inside out – you’re a true Church Army champion! 7-10 Score 1. C 2. C 6. C 7. D

3. B 8. B

4. D 9. C

5. A 10. C

Answers: Give yourself a point for every correct answer.

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Keep on journeying with us: You are probably a new supporter and haven’t had a chance to dig deeper and discover Church Army’s rich heritage and colourful variety of work. Visit www. churcharmy.org.uk to find out more about our history, key projects and Centres of Mission. 0-3 Getting there: You have a good knowledge of Church Army, but you have more to discover yet! Keep reading Shareit! and you’ll become an expert in no time… 4-6

The gift of The Amber Project’s theatre workshops are designed to help young people explore issues related to self-harm

Young people hurt themselves in all sorts of different ways and for all sorts of different reasons. The UK has one of the highest self-harm rates in Europe and statistics reveal that it’s on the rise, yet the subject remains taboo. We speak to Caryl Stock, who runs The Amber Project, about this worrying trend According to NHS figures, in Wales alone more than 1,500 patients aged between 10 and 19 underwent hospital treatment between 2013 and 2014 as a result of self-harm. And this is just the tip of the iceberg – there could be tens of thousands more young people who self-harm but have never seen a doctor about the problem, says ChildLine. “There is increasingly more pressure put on young people, ranging from pressure to achieve academically to family problems, bereavement and loss. In most cases, selfharm is a coping mechanism for the young person – it’s a way of masking

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the emotional pain they are experiencing,” The Amber Project’s says Caryl Stock, Coordinator, Caryl Stock who has been the Coordinator of Church Army’s Amber Project since its inception in 2002.

“ Self-harm is a coping mechanism” Based in Cardiff, The Amber Project provides advice and information for young people aged 14-25 who have experience of self-harm. They offer support in a number of different ways

including one-to-one counselling, group work and theatre workshops.

“Dancing is my therapy” “Increasingly, we are working with young people who feel suicidal. When the project began this was very unusual. We are now frequently working with two to three young people a week who tell us they feel that life is hopeless and that they think about suicide. This is quite frightening, and I think that society as a whole needs to be looking at this: how we are nurturing, or failing to nurture, our children and young people.”

Stories

hope

project has made a massive difference to my life. At first I didn’t want to be on stage, now I am part of ACT and I’ve discovered my passion for dancing. Dancing is my therapy, it’s how I can express myself without Hollie saying a word. I’ve made some friends for life here – I have no family, but Amber is like a family to me.” “It’s absolutely amazing to watch a young person, who at the beginning can’t even make eye contact with another person, grow in self-esteem and confidence. Usually we find that as their self-worth increases, the self-harm lessens,” says Caryl. “I have a big dream – to replicate The Amber Project in other parts of Wales, and throughout the British Isles, so we can reach out to many more young people.” With the Mental Health Foundation predicting that one in 10 young people will self-harm, there certainly seems to be a need to provide a wider support network for hurting young people and their families. F or more information, visit

www.amberproject.org.uk You can also watch a recent video on The Amber Project on www.churcharmy.org.uk/ SpringAppeal

The Amber Project aims to be a vital safety net for high-risk young people by creating an environment that is safe, welcoming and non-judgemental. The theatre workshops are led by skilled workers, volunteers and members of the Amber Creative Team (ACT).“ The team is also made up of young adults who were formerly helped by the project, and want to give something back. Hollie, who came across The Amber Project five years ago while attending a group for sufferers of eating disorders, said: “The

When I feel I’m getting nowhere, When I’m stuck with hurt and pain, And the same scary thoughts Are in my head again. I try and see the bigger picture Of the journey I am making And be proud of myself For each little step I’m taking. Excerpt from poem written by one of The Amber Project’s young people

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Making sense of

Jasper

Church Army Evangelist, Jasper Rutherford, leads the stage celebrations for Ireland’s largest Christian festival, Summer Madness. The event brings together thousands of young people across the country to celebrate, connect and explore the significance of faith in today’s world. Jasper tells us what led him to God – and why he has such a heart for bringing young people to Jesus

grew up on a Protestant council estate in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. I had been running away from God all my life; he had revealed himself to me many times, but I was scared of being labelled a nerd if I became a Christian. I was used to being the cool guy, the captain of the football team and so on.

“ I was scared of being labelled a nerd” My mother, sister and brother were already Christians. I remember crying for an hour and a half during my brother’s baptism service. I knew God was real but the

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enticement of partying, drugs and drink continued to be the stronger pull. I came to faith when I was 23 years old. It was during a simple service at Lynne’s church, who was my girlfriend at the time, and is now my wife and mother of our three children. I remember the vicar saying: “Are you for or against God?” It was at that moment that I decided to give my life completely to him.

Streetreach From the very beginning, I felt a calling to work with young people. I worked in a notorious area of Belfast with young

Stories

the madness people who grew up with a similar combination of crime, paramilitary presence and substance misuse that I had faced as a teenager. One of the initiatives, called Streetreach, got teams of young people out into the community to do acts of kindness and show God’s love in practical ways. Whether it’s cutting grass, painting fences or picking up litter, it’s a way of sharing the Good News with others. It is estimated that every year between 2,000 and 3,000 young people across Ireland take part in Streetreach. Through a combination of meeting some great Church Army Evangelists, prayer, prophetic words and coincidences, it soon became obvious that God was telling me to become a Church Army Evangelist. I decided to leave Ireland and my future as a physiologist to start my Church Army training in Newcastle upon Tyne.

“God was telling me to become a Church Army Evangelist” Summer Madness For the past three and a half years, the main focus of my work has been to help lead and develop Ireland’s biggest Christian festival, Summer Madness, which brings thousands of young people together. Summer Madness recently surveyed over 1,000 Irish people from across a broad range of churches and contexts and the results are very interesting. We discovered that 75 per cent of the people surveyed came to faith before the age of 18. Summer Madness exists to enthuse, engage and equip the young adults of

Ireland, particularly those aged 14 to 18, in the Christian faith, so that a positive change can be made in churches and communities. The event also plays a crucial role in inspiring hundreds of young people to take up full-time ministry. I lead the main stage celebrations for the event. It is my privilege to witness hundreds of teenagers and young adults give their lives to Jesus every year, which is simply amazing. It seems ironic, but often young people have the most intimate times “alone” with God amongst masses of people. God has this wonderful ability of picking us out among the crowd. I think a lot of young people – and older people too – really struggle to understand God’s unconditional love for them. I want to do all I can to help as many individuals as possible know that God cares for them in a very deep and intimate way. S ummer Madness 2016 is being

held 1-5 July in Glenarm in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Visit www.summermadness.co.uk/ festival Shareit! 29

Community

Family news: growth of the Mission Community

ver the past year, we have seen 26 people join the Mission Community. Seven of these members are Commissioned Evangelists and include Nick Green (Rector of Dunblane) and Chigor Chike (Vicar in Forest Gate, London) whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had their Church Army commissions restored. We are pleased to welcome an additional 19 people into the Church Army Mission Community and have them journey with us. In June we are hoping to see another former Church Army Evangelist, now ordained, have his commission restored. Two other individuals are also exploring this option. Eight trainees are expected to start their Church Army training in September and will be joining the Mission Community in July. Around 25 people are currently exploring their vocation as Church Army Evangelists. The year has also seen a number of our Commissioned Evangelists move on to enjoy the company of saints. We have given thanks for the lives and ministries of Dorothy Almond, Martin Garner, Ethel Paskin, John Richards, Eileen Roberts, Bill Waters, and Margaret Wightman. Since 2013, Church Army has been holding Discovery Days, where you can meet the team and find out more about joining the Mission Community. The next Discovery Day is scheduled for Saturday, 10 September.

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Chigor

For more information, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/mc or contact Community Facilitator David Craig on 0300 123 2113 or email d.craig@churcharmy.org.uk

Do you work for an organisation that may be able to partner with Church Army? Many businesses and employers support charities through financial giving, fundraising and volunteering. More and more this is becoming employee-led by those who work within the organisations. We are keen to grow our corporate partnerships and would love to hear from you. Please contact Becky Forder, tel. 0114 252 1657, email b.forder@churcharmy.org.uk

Marilyn Monroe by Kandinsky

The Last Word

What would you say?

“ The woman said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did.’” John 4:29

have an excellent dentist. She’s Romanian and knows all about twentieth century art. So when I’m horizontal with my mouth open, she talks about East European painters and her assistant holds a book of pictures. Honestly, it’s the truth! Last Monday I was in the dental chair. My dentist asked me: “What did you do this weekend?” I only had half a second to think, so I said: “I went to the theatre on Saturday.” That was that, as tools were probing! She launched into Kandinsky’s use of colour during his abstract period. And all the time I was thinking: “Why didn’t I say I went to church on Sunday?” As I walked to reception I heard a voice from the Bible in my head: “Peter, this very night you will deny me three times.” I heard a bird tweeting louder and louder, and thought: “My goodness, that’s the cock crowing.” I then realised it was the ringtone on someone’s phone! It’s left me thinking: “Why do I find it easier to talk about the theatre than

about Jesus? After all, I love them both.” The woman quoted in the Bible verse had just met Jesus by a well. She hurried away thinking: “That was lovely, people are going to be so interested, I can’t wait to tell them.” She didn’t have to. She wasn’t told to. It couldn’t have been in depth. But she did. I think we all need something ready at the back of our minds to say about Jesus if we get the opportunity. Then we won’t flunk it when we have a ‘dentist moment’. If someone asks us: “Why are you a Christian?” We’ll know what we’re going to say. What would you say? I follow Jesus because I know I’m loved...because he answered my prayer...because death is no longer the end... because he stood for justice for the poor... because he gives me peace. Choose the one that’s true for you, and have it ready. Or choose the one the woman by the well chose: “I follow Jesus because he completely understands me. He told me everything I ever did.”

By Peter Graystone

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