shareit! The Magazine of Church Army
34
Winter 2011
shareit! The Magazine of Church Army
Patron: HM The Queen President: The Most Revd Dr Desmond Tutu Church Army Evangelists share the Christian faith through words and action and equip others to do the same. Evangelists and staff are devoted to a wide range of service in Anglican churches, projects and teams throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. 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. 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 Editor: Hannah Gray 0300 123 2113 Sub-editor: Bethan Hill Design & Print: CPO 01903 264556 ISSN 1751-3960 If you have a story for Shareit!, or suggestions on how we can improve this magazine, then please contact Hannah Gray. The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by Bishops who have 14001 accreditation.
Evangelist Support Scheme This symbol identifies those Evangelists who, through the Evangelist Support Scheme, seek support for their ministry through prayer and giving. It may be that you are drawn to an Evangelist in this issue and would like to find out how you can partner with them in their ministry. To receive further information about the scheme, please email ess@churcharmy.org.uk or call 0300 123 2113.
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Welcom From the Chief Executive
Dear friends, ecently I’ve found myself reflecting on Jesus’ meeting at the well with the Samaritan woman in John 4 – an encounter which sees the woman putting her trust in Jesus as the Messiah. Overwhelmed with this news, she goes into the town to share her testimony and as a result, people believed. An individual life used by God to reach out to many. What an encouragement! Here at Church Army we are continually amazed at how God is using our evangelists throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland to bring hope into the lives of those who are marginalised. It is our desire to share the gospel with them, so they too can come to a living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are also committed to communities for the longterm. That is why you’ll find our evangelists living among those who are disadvantaged and walking alongside them through life’s ups and downs. With those who are homeless, struggling with addiction, living on deprived housing estates and many more. In this edition of Shareit! you can find out more about our new home in Sheffield, The Wilson Carlile Centre, which was officially opened by His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex (pages 8-11). This building project has seen Church Army’s former training college renovated to house a wide range of community facilities, including a café, library, bookshop, chapel and 30-bed conference centre which are all open to the public. We pray that it will become a place of welcome and hospitality where people can encounter God and grow in their faith. Training future evangelists continues to be an important focus for us and on pages 12-13 we introduce the firstyear trainees who are taking part in our mission-based training programme. This four-year course sees them working alongside a team of experienced evangelists at our Centres of Mission throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. We give thanks for their God-given gifts and for the enthusiasm they bring. You can also read about our Xplore gap year for 18 to 25-year-olds which gives them the chance to learn about modern mission alongside our evangelists and in Romania (page 20). Do you know anyone who would be interested in applying for these
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ome...
programmes? If so, please do get in contact with us for more information. In this issue we also feature Jon Price who reaches out to rural communities in Shropshire (page 30), our Newcastle Centre of Mission (pages 26-27) and our Now a Christian email course for those wanting to find out more about the Christian faith (page 19). And don’t forget to read what happened when Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire paid a visit to The Rainbow’s End Project run by Evangelist Yvonne Hayes (pages 22-23). Finally, I would like to thank you once again for your ongoing partnership in the gospel.
Your prayerful and financial support is absolutely vital in maintaining the work of our evangelists as they share their faith through words and action. I pray that this edition of Shareit! will be a blessing to you as together we seek to extend God’s Kingdom.
Mark Russell Chief Executive www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo
STOP PRESS! A new Director of Education and Training, Rev Dr Kon Apokis, has been appointed by Church Army to lead its Mission-Based Training Programme. Kon will be taking over from Dr Elaine Storkey and brings with him a wealth of experience. He is originally from Australia and, while working as a self-supporting priest for more than 20 years, he pioneered a series of mission initiatives among the disadvantaged in Melbourne. Alongside this ministry, Kon also developed a career in academia. He holds a Masters and a Doctorate in Theology, and has previously worked as a researcher for World Vision and as the Executive Director of the Victorian Council of Christian Education. In 2009 he moved to England and since then has been the Clergy Training Officer for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. He said: “It is humbling to be invited for this role and I can’t wait to see all that God has in store for us in this adventure.” Mark Russell
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Contents
Shareit! 34
Winter 2011
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18
24
News
Faith
Words
6 News The latest news from Church Army
18 First steps to faith Dorothy Needham’s work with children and families
16 Spirituality exposed Theologian Brian McLaren at Church Army’s conference
8 Home sweet home The newly renovated Wilson Carlile Centre opens its doors
19 Now a Christian A free email course for those exploring 28 On-screen evangelists Christianity Church Army on Fresh Expressions DVD 22 Hidden treasure Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire visits Yvonne Hayes at Rainbow’s End
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24 Revisiting the story so far… Encounters on the Edge team celebrates 50th edition 31 Jesus on the high street Peter Graystone has the last word
29 Bringing hope Christine Goodger helping carers and those with dementia
Is this the first time you’ve read a copy of Shareit!? Would you like to receive your own FREE edition regularly? To sign up and to find out more about other Church Army 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 Road, Sheffield, S3 7RZ. We will be more than happy to help.
Front cover: The team at Church Army’s newly opened Wilson Carlile Centre.
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Action 12 Mission possible, Mission pioneering, Mission excitingi– Meet our new Evangelists-in-Training
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14 Breaking down barriers Willowfield Centre of Mission in Northern Ireland 20 A year on the edge Church Army’s Xplore gap year 26 Pioneers for Christ Meet the team at the Newcastle Centre of Mission 30 A countryside community Jon Price in the village of Churchstoke
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Archbishop visits homeless bus project The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has visited a Church Army bus project which reaches out to homeless people in Derbyshire. Church on the Bus is a fresh expressions community which was set up by Evangelist Alan Park. Each week Alan and his team of volunteers offer practical and spiritual support to more than 60 people in Chesterfield, Matlock and Clay Cross. As part of his three-day visit to the Diocese of Derby, the Archbishop was given a tour of Church on the Bus and
was then driven to his next engagement by Alan and his volunteers. Alan said: “It was great to tell the Archbishop about Church on the Bus and how we are
building a Christian community among those who are experiencing homelessness. Since the project was set up in 2004, many people have given their lives to Jesus.”
African adventure
Des Scott, Church Army UK’s Director of Strategy and Development, has visited Church Army Africa where he spent three
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weeks in Kenya and Uganda. During his time there, he visited a primary school and a project which runs practical apprenticeships for
adults in skills such as carpentry and tailoring. He also preached in various slum communities and led a retreat for new evangelists at Carlile College, which is based in Nairobi. He said: “What inspired me the most was how Church Army Africa is enabling people to help themselves. It was also really challenging for me personally to see how people who have very little materially are spiritually very rich and have such a strong desire to bless other people.”
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Church Army is partnering with Give as you Live – an innovative website which enables you to donate money to us while you shop on the internet. You won’t pay any more for the things you buy, but on average, 2.5 per cent of every pound you spend will be donated to Church Army by the retailer. If you’re struggling to buy a last minute present you’ll find everything from socks to Champagne available through Give as you Live. More than 1,000 retailers have already signed up including: Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Play.com and Debenhams. It’s a really user-friendly website and setting it up is easy… 1. Visit www.giveasyoulive.com/church-army 2. Sign up for a Give as you Live account so any money raised supports Church Army. 3. Visit your favourite retailer through Give as you Live’s website or download their convenient add-on to your internet browser.
Festival fundraisers!
Regeneration film scoops broadcasting award
A Church Army film about the Regeneration Youth Summit has scooped a silver prize at the Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) Awards. The CBC Awards are held annually to celebrate the achievements of the Christian media industry in the United Kingdom. The Regeneration Youth Summit film secured second place in the best viral or web-based film category. It was produced by Watering Can Media on behalf of Church Army to give an overview of the summit, which was held in Sheffield earlier this year.
Church Army’s work has received a boost thanks to the parishioners of Ponteland in Northumberland. Hundreds of people attended their Summer Festival, which raised more than £3,500 for Church Army. Attractions included a flower festival, art exhibition, circus skills in the vicarage garden, three evening concerts and some special services. Festival organiser and Church Army Parish Representative, June Colvin, said: “I’ve been helping to organise the festival now for nearly 30 years and it has become very popular with people in the village.”
The judges said: “Regeneration Youth Summit was a well planned and filmed short piece that has good production values. It was captivating and easy to watch. Good all round.” The awards ceremony took place in London at St Mary’s Church, Marylebone. To watch the film please visit www.regenerationsummit.org
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Home sweet home The past year has seen Church Army relocating from its Sidcup offices in Kent to its new home in Sheffield – the Wilson Carlile Centre. Situated in the heart of the city centre, this community facility was officially opened by His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex
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or the past few years, Church Army’s leadership team has been developing an ambitious vision. To create a missional home for Church Army, where evangelism would be researched, taught, led, supported and practised. They wanted it to be a place of hospitality and welcome, where the hope of the gospel was shared and taken out to those on the margins of our society. The result of this vision is the newly renovated Wilson Carlile Centre (WCC), which was formerly Church Army’s residential training college. The building project has seen a wide range of facilities added to the centre, including a café, library, bookshop, chapel and 30-bed conference centre, which are all
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open to the public. Church Army’s training department, research team and office staff are also based there. His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, officially opened the centre and during his visit he toured the building, met with Church Army evangelists and staff, planted a tree in the centre’s garden and signed a Bible. As part of the opening, the Bishop of Doncaster, Cyril Ashton, led a service of thanksgiving. It was truly a day of celebration and marked a new chapter in Church Army’s 129-year history. Mark Russell, Church Army Chief Executive, said: “I’m so excited that Church Army is now in Sheffield! It has been a busy year relocating the charity, but I’m looking forward
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to seeing what the future holds for us. We hope the Wilson Carlile Centre will be a blessing to the community and that it will become a welcoming home for anyone who visits. I would like to thank everyone involved with the building project for making this vision become a reality.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Church Army President, said: “Church Army has staff working all across Sheffield making a difference in many people’s lives. So I am delighted that the Wilson Carlile Centre will be the new home for Church Army. The building will serve the mission of God across the United Kingdom and Ireland and we hope it will make a difference to the people of Sheffield.” As part of the centre’s outreach to the community, each member of staff has been allocated 10 per cent of their working time to mission. Centre Evangelist, Louise Yaull, has been appointed to help with this and to establish new evangelism initiatives. She said: “I feel very privileged to have been called to this new role and I’m hoping to find imaginative ways to serve people in Sheffield. I see my role as very much facilitative – I’m there to inspire those who are using and working in the building and seeing what God has put on their hearts.” Paula Barker, Administration Manager, has been using her 10 per cent of mission time to help with a Messy Church on the Wybourn Estate run by Evangelist Clynt French. Each fortnight families gather at the local school to enjoy crafts, games, food and worship. She said: “I decided to help with Messy Church because my son attends the school it is held at and
I really wanted to give something back to the community. It is great to get out of the office and to get involved with the work of our evangelists. I always come away from Messy Church re-energised with lots of encouraging stories to share with my colleagues.” The Earl of Wessex at the official opening
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Come and visit us... The Wilson Carlile Centre has a newly renovated accommodation block, which includes six self-contained apartments, each with five bedrooms, and a modern kitchen/living space where breakfast is provided. The 30 bedrooms are all en-suite, made up of 10 double rooms and 20 single rooms two of which are fully equipped for guests with disabilities. All of our rooms are equipped with towels, bed linen, everyday toiletries and free wireless internet access. Free car parking is also available.
The Wilson Carlile Centre (WCC) incorporates a modern, relaxing conference centre, which has been fully refurbished to a top standard. Hospitality is high on our priority list and you will find that we offer the ideal venue for any event, conference, retreat, workshop or church weekend away. Tucked away next to the newly developed Devonshire Quarter of the city, the WCC offers a perfect location for your urban retreat.
Comfortable accommodation
Wilson’s Café is a place where everyone is welcome to drop in for a bite to eat or for a chat. It serves fair trade drinks and there is a wide selection of home-made cakes, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, paninis and soups. In the warmer weather visitors can also enjoy dining outside on the café’s decking area.
Wilson’s Café and catering
The Bookshop has an excellent range of Christian literature in stock and customers can take their time browsing in comfortable surroundings.
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The chapel is at the heart of the Wilson Carlile Centre providing a space for quiet contemplation and prayer. Its modern design enables a configuration suited to either a small or a large group, seating up to 150. It is also fully equipped with sound and audio visual equipment.
Chapel
Library
The Wilson Carlile Centre is home to the most significant theological library in South Yorkshire, containing more than 15,000 volumes. For a residential sabbatical or private study, the library can be used in conjunction with the Wilson Carlile Centre accommodation. Alternatively, for those just looking for a tranquil place to work, away from the distractions of everyday life, the library can be used for reference purposes free of charge. Annual membership with borrowing rights is available at a very competitive price of ÂŁ20.
The Wilson Carlile Centre’s experienced team will work with you to tailor a package to your individual conference requirements. Our ground floor conference suite seats up to 100 people for a larger event. As you would expect, it has all the latest audio-visual equipment, data projector with screen and an induction loop. If required, the suite can be partitioned into two or three smaller rooms, each holding from 25 to 50 people. Upstairs, (accessible by a lift) a further seven seminar rooms are available. Our catering team can also provide you with a variety of tasty food and refreshments if required.
Conferencing
For more information and to watch a film about the Wilson Carlile Centre, please visit www.wilsoncarlilecentre.org.uk Shareit! 11
...If you are possible
Four new Evangelists-in-Training have joined Church Army as part of its mission-based training programme. Shareit! introduces them
Stephen Ramshaw
Training Base: Newcastle Training Enabler: Suzette Maguire
pioneering
Stephen is married to Lynn and has five grown-up children and five grandchildren. He has worked as a building labourer in the Newcastle and Gateshead area for the past 17 years. He became a Christian after taking part in an Alpha course which his mum and sister invited
“Esther”
exciting
Training Base: North of England Training Enabler: “Sue” “Esther” has moved to the North of England from London where she will be working with “Sue” and “Hannah” who reach out to women who are experiencing prostitution. She joined Church Army after having dinner with her vicar who told her about our work and showed her our website. She said: “The diversity of Church Army’s work is brilliant and I’m so blessed to have this opportunity to share Jesus with other people. I hope that I will be able to build strong and trusting friendships with the women I meet.”
Prayer point: Please pray for “Esther” that during her training, she would rely on God’s strength by his Holy Spirit. May she also love the people she meets unconditionally and demonstrate the gospel to them through words and action.
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“The diversity of Church Army’s work is brilliant and I’m so blessed to have this opportunity to share Jesus with other people...” him to. He first heard about Church Army when an evangelist came to speak at his church. He said: “Church Army’s work really appealed to me as it is so outward looking. I’m really looking forward to working with the team at The Newcastle Centre of Mission. It will be a great opportunity for me to grow and learn.”
Prayer point: Please pray for Stephen and his family as they settle into a new community and make new friends. Pray that God would bless him with lots of energy and the ability to cope with his academic and practical learning.
Karen Webb
Training Base: Lisburn Training Enabler: John O’Neill Karen lives in Lisburn with her husband, Tim, and her two daughters Amy, 18, and Caroline, 16. She has been working as an assistant to Evangelist John O’Neill for the past seven years, helping him with outreach to children. As part of her ministry, she spends time reaching out to children at Lisburn Cathedral and in schools. She enjoyed her job so much that she decided to make a bigger commitment to Church Army and train as an evangelist. She said: “I’m really excited about the learning that is ahead of me and having the time to study the Bible in greater depth.”
Prayer point: Please pray for Karen as she travels from Northern Ireland to Sheffield for her residential training weeks – may these trips go smoothly and safely. Pray too, that she will easily adapt to studying without compromising her practical ministry.
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called to accept it...
Keith Baker
Training Base: Selby Training Enabler: Richard Cooke Keith is married to Sarah and has seven children and six grandchildren. Before moving to Selby, they lived in Birmingham where Keith worked as a caretaker at a business complex. As a young man, Keith struggled with drug addiction but when he became a Christian, God turned his life around. Ever since, he has had a passion to tell people about Jesus. He said: “I can’t wait to get started in Selby! I will be working with people from a similar background to me and I want to share the life changing news of the gospel with them.”
Prayer point: Please pray for Keith, Sarah and their youngest daughter Rebekah,16, as they settle into a new home and community away from their family. Pray that God will help them to establish new friendships quickly where they will be able to enjoy fellowship and encouragement.
“I’m really excited about the learning that is ahead of me and having the time to study the Bible in greater depth.”
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Breaking Down Barriers Willowfield in East Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a broken community dealing with high levels of deprivation and the effects of sectarian violence. Evangelist George Newell explains how the hope of the gospel is being shared thanks to Church Army’s Centre of Mission
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or the past six-and-a-half years I’ve been living and working in Willowfield – a place which is in the top 10 per cent of most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. The parish borders the sectarian flashpoint of the Short Strand and troubles continue to flare up. However, despite all of this, God is clearly at work in people’s lives. Evangelist, Richard Waller, and Evangelist-in-Training, Gordon Lamb, work alongside me at the Willowfield Centre of Mission, where we seek to find relevant ways to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our ministry is extremely varied and is supported by more than 100 volunteers from the local church and community. Some of the projects we help to coordinate include: youth work, Kidz Klub, lunch clubs, street outreach, English language classes for those from Eastern Europe, a fresh expressions gathering called Just 55 and community outreach events in the church.
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The Archbishop of Armagh, Alan Harper, has described what we do as: “working where the spiritual and social are hardest to unite, quietly working small miracles through the grace of God.” Street outreach is an important part of our ministry and each Saturday morning I lead a team of volunteers who offer prayer for healing on the
The Willowfield team
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streets using a double-decker bus as a drop-in. Two other mornings in the week, Gordon, with the help of volunteers, offers tea and coffee at the local bus stops as people are going to work. Both of these projects allow us to be a visible presence, break down barriers and build relationships with people. A lady who we have come to know through these ministries summed up what we are trying to do. After receiving prayer for a family member, she said: “Praise the Lord for our church.” What is so remarkable about that statement is that she does not attend Willowfield Parish Church, but through the care she has received on the streets she has met with God through the team and sees herself as part of the church. We also help to run a Food Store Ministry which distributes home-cooked freezer meals, non-perishable items and Christmas hampers to families experiencing difficulties. This has become increasingly important as the effects of the recession impact upon people’s everyday lives. Practical projects such as this enable us to gain respect in the community and to have a voice that is listened to. Alongside this practical mission, I have a responsibility for training Gordon as he works towards a Foundation Degree in Evangelism with Church Army, which is a fouryear course. He is now in his third year of training and it has been a real privilege to see him grow in his faith
Richard Waller involved in street outreach
as he seeks God’s will for his future. Gordon said: “It is so exciting and an immense privilege to be part of Church Army’s training programme. Here at Willowfield I am learning not just how to live within a new culture but also how to listen and to be obedient to God’s calling on my life.” So, as a team, we give thanks to God for all that He is doing in Willowfield and the way He is changing the lives of those who are hurting, broken and marginalised. May Jesus Christ be at the heart of everything we do. n
“ Street outreach allows us to be a visible presence”
T o read more about the Willowfield Centre of Mission please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/ comwillowfield
How can I help? Please pray for George, Richard and Gordon as they reach out to thousands of people each year in East Belfast who have never heard the gospel. May people’s lives be transformed by Jesus Christ and the community restored.
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Spirituality exposed... Public theologian and popular author, Brian McLaren, is one of the leading thinkers on mission in a postmodern context. Here he speaks to Hannah Gray about his time at Church Army’s Conference and his new book Naked Spirituality
Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your background? I grew up living on the east coast of the USA and my first job was as a college English teacher. Then I got married to my wife, Grace, and we had four children. Eventually I left teaching and helped to start Cedar Ridge Community Church which I pastored for 24 years. During that time I started writing some books and now I travel, speak and get a chance to try and contribute to ongoing conversations about mission and the world.
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You have been speaking at Church Army’s biennial conference – why did you decide to join us? I first encountered Church Army at Greenbelt when I was here in the United KIngdom and I really hadn’t been familiar with it before – but I love your strapline of sharing faith through words and action. I just think it is the most comprehensive and beautiful mission statement I’ve heard of. And I’ve also heard wonderful stories about your work. So it has been great to meet everyone at conference and I’m very glad I was invited.
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things and get down to the naked essence of things. At conference we have been reflecting on Micah 6:8 “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God”. What have you personally learnt from this passage?
During conference you’ve been speaking about your new book, Naked Spirituality. Why did you decide to write it? I’ve written a lot of books about the church and culture, and especially what it means to be the church, proclaim the gospel and make disciples in a post-modern context. But in the process I’ve realised that many people, once you raise questions about theology and the ways of doing church, they have very little left of spirituality. And I realised that we can’t have the courage to face our theological questions or to face the challenges in the church unless we have a much deeper and robust spiritual life. So that’s why I decided to write about spirituality. And I chose the title Naked Spirituality because I think that all of us have this experience that we have to try and strip away distractions and secondary
To me there’s a beautiful balance in that Micah passage – we might say walking humbly with God is the dimension of spirituality, we might say loving kindness and compassion is the dimension of neighbourliness, and then seeking justice is the dimension of our public grappling with the systems that continually throw people into oppression and vulnerability. So what a beautiful balance of the internal, the inter-personal and the public. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? My two great loves are music and the outdoors. I love music, I write music, I listen to music and I love to go and see live music. And my other great love is the outdoors – I’m a nature guy. I’m not a twitcher, but I love birds and wildlife. I live in Florida now which is a great place. So I throw my kayak in the back of my car and can go paddling on the water. It restores my soul. If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Is there a way to eat more delicious food without gaining weight?
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faith
First steps to faith
Dorothy Needham is an evangelist in the Bolton and Salford area where she spends time working in four local primary schools and with families
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s part of her work she participates in weekly school assemblies, a lunchtime club and helps to organise school services for the major Christian festivals, including Christmas, Easter and Harvest. Dorothy said: “It is such a joy to work with children and to share in the whole of school life. Developing creative ways for pupils to think about their faith is always exciting and challenging at the same time. “It is so important to be a visible Christian presence in school and it means that when children meet me in other contexts, in church or at their grandma’s funeral, they see a friendly face they recognise. “I also help staff and pupils during times of crisis and can be a listening ear for those who want to talk or pray. Recently at one school, a teacher died after a very short illness. The vicar and I were asked to be there when the news was given to the staff and to talk about what had happened in assembly.” Each month, Dorothy also runs TRIPLE SSS –
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a fun-filled gathering for families which takes place on a Sunday afternoon. She said: “TRIPLE SSS has become a real family community where people can learn more about Jesus. The children help me to plan the service by writing prayers and poems, leading worship, choosing the music, and taking part in dramas and readings. “Recently a mother and daughter joined us who were new to the area. The lady had just gone through a divorce and said she had been in a ‘bad place’. She said belonging to TRIPLE SSS had encouraged her and her daughter to join a church again near their home.”
How can I help? Give thanks for the good relationships Dorothy has built with the schools and for the opportunities she has had to talk about Jesus. Please pray that God will continue to bless her with creative ideas to engage with the children and families.
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...but what next?! taken part in e v a h le p o e p 0 since it More than 1,50 hristian course C a w o N ’s y ore Church Arm Gray finds out m h a n n a H . 9 0 0 2 was launched in will then receive an email every day for five weeks that will help them make their own decisions about the Christian faith. The emails also deal with everyday concerns about living as a Christian and include references to some really helpful verses in the Bible. At the end of each week, people are invited to record their thoughts on an interactive website.
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“Adam”, who recently completed the course, said: “I have found Now a Christian to be really helpful. The emails I have received are well written and really make me think about my faith and my relationship with Jesus. I have now started to go to a local church. The emails from Now a Christian have been very important to me.”
ow a Christian is a free online course which has been specially designed to help people explore the basics of Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus. It is To sign up for Now a Christian or for more particularly helpful for those who information, please visit www.nowachristian.org have recently become Christians or who want to re-engage with If you would like to receive some their faith. literature to promote Now a Christian please email comms@churcharmy.org. People can sign up by visiting the uk or telephone 0300 123 2113. Now a Christian website and they
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A year on th “
gap year urch Army’s Xplore is Ch 18 to ich provides scheme wh e to learn h the chanc it w s ld o ra 25-ye e United mission in th rn e d o m t u abo ern Europe. nd and East la Ire , m o d g Kin ille Barnes, Leader, Nev e m m ra g ro P tells us more
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plore isn’t just another gap year – it will impact the rest of your life! We are looking for young adults who want to be motivated, trained and equipped for relevant 21st century mission and who want to live their lives to the full for Jesus. “The programme starts with a six-week placement in Romania where the Xplorers work among some of the poorest people in Europe and learn what it really means to live as a mission community. They will get involved in practical outreach such as: building projects, youth and children’s work and outreach to families. “On returning to the United Kingdom and Ireland they are then placed with an experienced Church Army Evangelist at a mission base. These bases are located throughout the country and work with people on the edge of society who have little or no experience of church. “Alongside these practical placements, the Xplorers receive teaching which will help them explore the Bible further, understand what it means to live in community in a broken world and discover what it means to make disciples of Jesus.” Church Army’s Chief Executive, Mark Russell, who spent 10 years in youth work, said: “I am very excited about Xplore. As a youth leader I was always looking for gap year programmes that would transform young people for mission. Xplore is one such programme!”
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I f you would like to apply for Xplore or to find out more, please visit www.xplore. org.uk, telephone 08445 853575 or email xplore@churcharmy.org.uk
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he edge What the Xplorers say
Tim Cottingham, 21, from Wigton in Cumbria, graduated from Xplore in July 2011. Here he reflects on his time in Romania. “I think for the whole team, the experiences we shared in Romania were some of the most incredible times of our entire training period. Our exposure to the poverty and injustice of life in Romanian villages was a massive blessing and has allowed the Holy Spirit to further dislodge us from our love of the world. “There is only so much that classroom tuition and Biblical theory can teach us. While our studies provided a solid foundation of understanding, it was our time in Romania that made bringing the Kingdom of God a tangible reality. “Most days were spent outside clearing land and digging trenches for water supplies. My aching back at the end of the day was a great reminder of the call to offer each day as a sacrifice of worship. “I also had the opportunity to work with people in the ghetto in the city of Arad, where I got involved in youth work, a local school and visited families.”
Felicity Pennington, 21, from Norfolk, also graduated from Xplore in July 2011 and spent a large part of her year working with vulnerable homeless women at Church Army’s Marylebone Project in London. “Spending time at The Marylebone Project as a Community Enhancement Volunteer was a real honour. I was given the opportunity to work in all areas of the project including the day centre and residential centre. “I helped to organise activities for the women that included coffee mornings and discussions about faith and spirituality. I also really enjoyed working with a project called Sweet Notions which reaches out to deprived women through jewellery making workshops. “Overall Xplore really helped me learn who I was in relation to God and how to live as a Christian outside a family context.”
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Yvonne Hayes runs the community charity shop, Rainbow’s End, in the Burngreave area of Sheffield. Shareit! discovers what happened when Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire came to visit
Hidden treasure
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ainbow’s End is a charity shop with a difference. It is a place where smiling faces greet you, offer you a cup of tea and if you’re lucky, a chocolate biscuit. But more than that, it’s a place where everyone is welcome and a listening ear is always on hand. Its 36 volunteers describe each other as “family”. The fresh expressions project was the brainchild of Evangelist Yvonne Hayes and Lynn Snow, who wanted to bring the hope of God to the people of Burngreave – an area which is ranked in the top one per cent of most deprived wards in the country. The shop helps people who often feel isolated, including asylum seekers and refugees, to make a positive contribution to society. It also provides training for people who are finding it hard to get back into work. Money raised from the shop is used to benefit local community projects which help to relieve poverty. Recently, it attracted the attention of millionaire and interior designer, Simrin Choudhrie, 29, who went undercover as a volunteer at the shop as part of Channel 4’s hit series Secret Millionaire.
22 Shareit!
The filming of the show saw Simrin, who is descended from Indian royalty and heiress to a fortune, pose as a vulnerable mum-to-be who was moving to Sheffield and wanted to get involved in the local community. At the end of the week she revealed her true identity to Yvonne and donated more than £100,000 to the project. Yvonne said: “We are amazed and thrilled! The volunteers and I were so impressed with Simrin and the way she got involved in the day-to-day running of the shop.
Yvonne Hayes
faith
“She worked really hard, was fun to be with and quickly became part of our Rainbow’s End family. She showed great integrity throughout the whole experience. When she revealed her true identity on the last day I was left absolutely speechless and that’s unusual for me.” Yvonne, Lynn and the other trustees, Jackie Willerby and Val White, hope to use the money to buy an additional building for the project. This will allow them to develop further training opportunities and create a quiet space for people to reflect and relax. Yvonne also needs an office! Yvonne said: “We run Rainbow’s End on a shoestring budget, so this money will help us develop the project and fulfil some of the dreams of our volunteers. “Simrin has helped people in Burngreave to feel valued – I’m so proud of our volunteers and those who support us in so many ways. It is brilliant for them to be recognised in this way.” One of the volunteers, Andrew, has been helping out since the shop opened in 2008. He said: “When I first heard about Rainbow’s End I thought it was a brilliant idea as there wasn’t a charity shop nearby. Many people in the area struggle to make ends meet so it is helpful for them to be able to come and buy much-needed items such as furniture.”
Another volunteer, Firas, has been helping at the shop for more than two years after he fled war-torn Iraq. He said: “Leaving my home and family behind wasn’t easy. When I arrived in the United Kingdom I was put in touch with Yvonne as I didn’t want to just stay at home all day and do no job. She helped me to become a volunteer.” n
For more information about Rainbow’s End, please visit www.rainbows-end.org
Shareit! 23
Revisiting the story
Church Army’s research unit, The Sheffield Centre, is celebrating the 50th edition of its Encounters on the Edge booklets. Andrew Wooding reports on this milestone publication 24 Shareit!
T
he popular Encounters on the Edge booklets – a series of quarterly publications looking at new forms of church – reached a golden milestone this year. Produced by Church Army’s research unit, The Sheffield Centre, the series has now racked up a total of 50 issues and shows no signs of stopping.
Yet George Lings, Director of The Sheffield Centre, admits that when he wrote the first issue back in 1999, he had no idea that it would last as long as it did. “When the Encounters on the Edge series started, I only had a handful of case studies up my sleeve. However, I’ve found myself constantly surprised and pleased at how the publication has developed.” Since then it has gained a loyal subscriber base, with readers from all over the world. It has sold more than 35,000 copies and its supporters include Revd Eric Delve, Vicar of St Luke’s Maidstone and founder member of the College of Evangelists. He said: “I have been thrilled by what I have read in Encounters on the Edge. These pithy and concise reviews of experiments on the cutting edge enable me to stand apart and aside from the church and see things from a different perspective. Long may these little booklets continue to infuriate, challenge and stimulate.” Encounters on the Edge does exactly what it says in the title. Rather than presenting dry and dusty theology, in each issue, George and Assistant Researcher, Claire Dalpra, tell the
The booklets aim to spot emerging trends, identify good practice and offer strategic thinking for pioneers. Its 50 issues include encounters with café churches, rural projects, innovative community work, Messy Church, skateboarders, youth and children’s churches, new monasticism as well as church plants begun by various traditions.
words
so far...
story of a church that is attempting to work on “the edge”.
George has enjoyed his many encounters with pioneers over the years: “As a Christian and as a researcher, I have been profoundly influenced by my contact with these young churches. Every time I go out on a research visit, I assume that I do not deeply understand what it is I am about to see. I go to be educated and to discover.” Issue 50 – called A Golden Opportunity: Revisiting the story so far – breaks with the usual format and acts as a good jumping-on point for people who are new to the series. Rather than an encounter with a specific church on the edge, it is an opportunity for George to look back over the past 49 issues and review what he has learned from the stories so far. How many of these churches are still with us? And are there discernible patterns across them? What makes them flourish or die? One thing George is sure of is this: “The stories and the series have changed our understanding of good practice in bringing to birth and nurturing fresh expressions of church.” Here’s to the next 50 issues of Encounters on the Edge. To buy a copy of Encounters on the Edge please contact The Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk or go to www.encountersontheedge.org.uk Each issue costs £4.00 or an annual subscription of four issues is £15.00 (£20.00 for overseas customers). This includes a 40 per cent discount on all available back issues, pdf copies of back issues and regular updates from The Sheffield Centre on new releases.
Shareit! 25
s r e e Pion rist h C r fo
Church Army’s Newcastle Centre of Mission, led by Evangelist Steve Dixon, is growing Christian community in unlikely places. Shareit! finds out more
Willington Quay
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Steve Dixon works in Willington Quay, North Tyneside, – an old industrial village on the banks of the River Tyne and an area of urban deprivation. People living there struggle with unemployment, isolation, low educational standards and a lack of access to services. Therefore, building genuine relationships and establishing new forms of Christian community is at the heart of Steve’s work so that the hope of the gospel can be shared. He said: “I’m working to develop a fresh expression of church in the community which meets each month. The project also offers support to single parent families, those experiencing long-term unemployment, young people and older people. The activities we organise help to create
social cohesion and demonstrate loving service. “From the very beginning we have always listened to local needs and because of this there is real ownership of the project. We can now expect 150 people to turn up for community events that we run. “When we first began our church plant we asked members of the community to help us plan our worship. To our surprise most people were delighted to help. Now they are actively involved in our gatherings and are discovering what it means to follow Jesus.”
Coffee Plus David and Suzette Maguire are developing fresh expressions of church in the Shiremoor area of North Tyneside. This year the couple helped
action
to launch Coffee Plus – a coffee shop set in the heart of the community as a place of listening and evangelism. Suzette said: “Shiremoor is an old pit village where lots of new housing has been built and consequently many first-time buyers and retired couples have moved to the area. We hope Coffee Plus will provide the community with a safe place to relax, chat, enjoy some good food and explore faith.” Since it opened, a Chill Out Zone event has been held on Sundays where people can come to read a newspaper, play board games or be creative. The coffee shop also has a specially designed family area. David said: “At Coffee Plus we’ve had a variety of people coming through the doors. One lady I particularly remember visited us on the day we opened. She had recently become a Christian after reading her Bible, but didn’t want to go to church because she didn’t like singing. It was great to be able to engage with her.”
Mission-based training Church Army’s mission-based training programme is about being placed in the heart of communities where the love of Jesus can be shared with people who are in desperate need of it. Jasper Rutherford and Stephen Ramshaw serve as Evangelistsin-Training alongside the rest of the team as part of their four-year foundation degree in evangelism. Jasper said: “I’ve had the opportunity to work as a chaplain at Tyne Metropolitan College and to develop a ministry among non-churched men in Willington Quay. It has been brilliant to share life with those I meet and being part of the Centre of Mission has really helped me to realise how good God is. “Everything we do here is about transforming lives. When we help people with their difficulties, we do so out of love for them which was demonstrated by Jesus’ death on the cross for us.” n For more information about the Newcastle Centre of Mission and to watch a film, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/ comnewcastle
How can I help? Give thanks for the Newcastle Centre of Mission team and their passion for sharing the gospel. Please pray that those they meet will develop a personal faith that is Christ-centred.
Shareit! 27
Colin Brown
Grafted Project
s t s i l e g n a v e n e On-scre
en featured in a be ve ha ts ec oj pr y Three Church Arm s by Fresh Expression new DVD released
Expressions: making a difference includes 28 stories from across the United Kingdom which show how fresh expressions of church are making a difference to people’s lives and reaching them in new ways. The films include the CoffeeCraft project in South Shropshire and parts of Powys which is run by Evangelists Kathleen and Norris Boyland. This project uses an informal craft cafÊ environment to reach people in rural villages. Additionally, Artist and Evangelist Colin Brown speaks about his work among the creative community in Falmouth, Cornwall, and Evangelist Paul Little shares his experience of leading the Grafted Project, which creates community with people by using outdoor sports. The project particularly helps those struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
DVD GIVEAWAY We have six FREE copies of Expressions: making a difference to give away. Please complete this coupon and send it to the address below by the 28th February 2012. The first six drawn at random from entries submitted will receive a copy of the DVD. Title________________________Name __________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________Postcode ____________________________ Email_______________________________________________________________________________________ Church attended (if any)____________________________________________________________________ Year of birth ________________________________________________________________________________ Return this form to: F resh Expressions DVD Giveaway, Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ. DATA PROTECTION: In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, we hold your details to provide you with updates and information on how you can pray and support our work. If you do not wish to receive any future communications from Church Army please tick this box. Reg. charity nos: 226226 & SC040457
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faith Retired Evangelist Christine Goodger was commissioned in 1964 and spent many years working with children, families and doing mission throughout the United Kingdom. She now lives in Northampton where she reaches out to people living in residential homes and to carers of those suffering with dementia
C
aring for someone with dementia can be a very isolating experience. You can become marooned in your own home as you try to give your loved one the attention they need. This was my experience when caring for my parents and aunt, who all suffered from various forms of dementia. But I thank God for how He has used these experiences to allow me to reach out to other people in similar situations. For an hour or two each week, I visit carers’ homes to pray with them and to give them the opportunity to go out for a break. In the past, I have also helped people to find suitable care homes or hospices for their loved ones when they can no longer cope at home. I also spend some of my time visiting five residential care homes, where I organise communion services and Songs of Praise-type worship using pictures, familiar objects, hymns, songs and readings. I find that these services can awaken something within even the most confused and it gives me
great joy when I see lips moving to a song, hymn or the Lord’s Prayer. In one of the care homes I visit, I had been spending time with an elderly lady who was very confused and who usually just sat and stared at everybody. However, this particular afternoon a group of us were singing some Christian songs and she started singing on her own: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” The care home staff who were in the room with me stood and listened absolutely gobsmacked, because they had never heard her sing before. For me personally, it was really special to see memories awakened, even for a brief moment. I thank God for all these opportunities and pray that all the glory would go to Him.
Shareit! 29
action
Jon Price is a Fresh Expressions Evangelist in the village of Churchstoke on the Wales-Shropshire border. Shareit! finds out more about his work
A countryside community Can you tell me about your work? I’m based in Churchstoke where my passion is to share the gospel beyond the walls of church and to build Christian community. Although people often have an idyllic view of life in the countryside, it can be extremely lonely and isolating. Some of the problems residents experience are a lack of access to facilities, poor transport links and low wages. I aim to take all that is enriching about church to them in the places where they are.
So how are you reaching out to people? When I moved to the area there was a severe lack of services for children and young people.
So I set up a Kidz Klub for primary school-aged children where the Good News of Jesus is shared. I’ve also established a Friday evening drop-in for young people where they can enjoy activities, food and a listening ear. I run an activity trailer each week for people of all ages. I park the trailer in the community centre car park and people gather to take part in archery, problem solving, traversing and pedal-karting.
Have there been any particular encouragements? Every four months we hold a gathering where people are given the opportunity to explore the Christian faith. These gatherings are interactive, where folk are able to take part in as much or as little as they want. The team and I were amazed when over 30 people turned up to the first gathering – many of whom don’t profess a Christian faith. You can imagine my greater surprise when I received a phone call from one person who simply said: “I now know Jesus is the only way.”
What are your hopes for the future? I would love to see a sense of shared ownership continue to grow among people involved in the different projects. I also pray for a renewed sense of excitement of faith for people in the churches and that this would lead to a time of developing teams for mission. But most of all, that more and more people would put their trust in Jesus Christ.
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the last word
Jesus treet
on the high s
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
I
pushed the boat out last year and gave my mother a mobile phone for Christmas. Her face was a treat! I phoned on Boxing Day to see how she was getting on. There was no reply at all from the mobile, so I resorted to the landline. My father picked up the phone. I asked how she was managing with the charging, and the texting, and the directory, and the messages, and the entering of the phone numbers, and the… I could tell from my father’s silence that it wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped. “Well,” he said: “It’s a bit of a struggle to understand.” I was frustrated, because I’d spent a long time going through it: “Pass the phone over to her. I’ll give her some more instructions.” I could hear him hesitating: “She says that, to be honest, she doesn’t want more messages. If she’s going to understand the wretched thing she really needs her son to visit in person.” That is why Jesus came to earth.
If we are going to understand how to be at one with God, he could have sent better instructions and more messages for a million years. But it wouldn’t have achieved what was needed. So the Son visited in person. An extraordinary thought! God looks at his own earth, ruined by wrongdoing and failure, and laments, “What can be done?” But from the depths of time eternal he has always known what must be done. So he slips on a pair of Levi’s jeans, he reaches for a Marks & Spencer sweater, he slaps on some aftershave and he says: “Okay, I’ll go.” And there he is, walking along the high street among us. Up and down the country our evangelists are sharing this stupendous news. In Jesus, God has walked and talked on this planet. Pray for them as they explain this to men, women and children who have no idea who Jesus was and is. It transforms lives when the Son visits in person.
By Peter Graystone
Shareit! 31
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