shareit! The Magazine of Church Army
32
Winter 2010
2011 The NORTH
Sheffield Wilson Carlile Centre
to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
churcharmy.org.uk
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 Senior Editor: David Coleman 0300 123 2113 Editor: Richard Chambers 0300 123 2113 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 David Coleman. 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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Thank From the Chief Executive Dear friends, n the last issue of Shareit! I announced our vision to grow a Minster for Evangelism at the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield (formally the Training College). On the 17 December we shall say goodbye to our Sidcup office, and by early 2011 we will have relocated our staff to our new home in the north of England. Please note that our address is now: Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ (Tel: 0300 123 2113). I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters. Your commitment to Church Army remains absolutely vital for our vision to become a reality, whether you are praying for the building work at Cavendish Street, the new staff we are recruiting, the changes involved in becoming a Missional Order, or any one of our Evangelists living and working throughout the UK and Ireland. Our recent appeal highlighted the crucial part you play in everything that we do, with a letter and a film both entitled “Thank you…for Matt” (these can be seen online at www.churcharmy.org.uk/lifetothefull). Matt’s life has been transformed by meeting Church Army Evangelist Andy Milne and becoming part of the Sorted youth church in Bradford. For those of you who have already responded with a donation, may I once again say “Thank you”. You will want to read the good news that Sorted recently received a coveted Bishop’s Mission Order (pages 12-13) thereby becoming a church in its own right. In this issue of Shareit! we focus on Mike Gilbert’s research into Church Army becoming a Missional Order (pages 8-9). Further stories of new developments include the relaunch of the Christian Enquiry Agency website (pages 24-25), a welcome for our latest group of Missionbased Trainees (pages 10-11) and the volunteering opportunity provided by Church Army Ambassadors (pages 20-21). For those of you who enjoy a free prize draw, we are giving you a chance to win a copy of Steve Hollinghurst’s book “Mission-shaped Evangelism” (pages 28-29).
I
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you! Over the summer we surveyed people at the Soul Survivor and Greenbelt festivals. Nearly 90% of participants said they supported my call for bishops, youthworkers and young people to look at how to improve communications between themselves. So I am absolutely delighted to announce that Church Army will host a major gathering of young people and Bishops, on 3rd March 2011 in Sheffield. The event will provide a unique opportunity for our Bishops to hear directly from young people and youth leaders. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York will also attend. A steering group of young people will co-ordinate the main sessions of the day. And I do mean ‘young’ – the person I am expecting to chair this group is only 20 years old! If you would like further information please email me at youthsummit@churcharmy.org.uk.
“ Your commitment to Church Army remains absolutely vital for our vision to become a reality.”
So you will see that there is much to give thanks for as we enter a new year and a new era. The whole Church Army family joins me in thanking you for standing with us, praying with us, and financially supporting us, as we continue to seek to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those on the margins of our society. With my love and prayers
Mark Russell Chief Executive www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo
STOP PRESS! Sam Follett, 20, (pictured on the right with Mark Russell) has recently been elected as the youngest member of the General Synod of the Church of England. A lay representative for St Albans, he is one of the Synod’s youngest-ever members. Sam took part in Church Army’s gap year programme, Xplore, spent a year as Mark Russell’s PA and is now studying at Nottingham University, and will be chairing Church Army’s youth event in March 2011.
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to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
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Contents
Shareit! 32
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Winter 2010
16
22
28
News
Faith
Words
6 News The latest news from Church Army
14 Ministry on film The latest stories of our work in the south
18 In your own words You have your say about Church Army
17 Ethos Rosalie Jacobs on Church Army’s past and future
24 Imagine this! The new Christian Enquiry Agency is launched
22 Luke 24: the Resurrection How prayer saved a heroin addict’s life
28 Finding God outside church walls Win a copy of ‘Missionshaped Evangelism’
26 Waking up the neighbourhood Evangelism in a ‘sleepy’ rural area
31 Pointing toward Jesus – Peter Graystone has the last word
8 Family values The case in favour of Missional Order 16 Goodbye Sidcup A farewell to the Church Army office
ming Will r fo s n a tr A Remembe
r Church
Army in yo
ur Will
ion ble n and ena a n our visio come to y have bee people to Church Arm and tionship with in mission living rela pioneers 2. 188 ist. since Jesus Chr evangelism this g lists din After rea Our Evange of y decide the heart flet you ma minister at the lea to make s across you want communitie g that n that will nd, helpin a decisio UK and Irela s. by s m sfor live m live help tran to transfor ugh not do the h thro We could sharing fait tional action. transfor ma words and to out s with day do, early work we From our sity of t, some of the genero the presen leave a ters have those who our suppor rch Army ed Church gift to Chu remember ; these . Will ir in their Will Army in the ain sust to gifts help
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our vision for the future. We want to continue to work in places where we are needed most.
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Remembering Church Army in your Will can make a real impact on sustaining
Captain
road 1939 s on the
Find out more about how you can make a memorable impact, by contacting us on – Telephone: 0300 123 2113 email: info@churcharmy.org.uk Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Road, Sheffield S3 7RZ
www.churcharmy.org.uk
12
8 14
Action 10 Mission possible, Mission pioneering, Mission excitingi– Introducing our new trainees 12 Sorted: the young leading the young A youth church becomes ‘official’ 15 Gift Aid Increase your donations without spending extra money! 20 Church Army Ambassadors A pilot scheme to increase parish support 30 A recipe for evangelism The power of Dinner and Dance
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20
24 Shareit! 5
to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
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BUS-STOP POSTER – HE’S ON HIS WAY! This year’s Christmas campaign from ChurchAds.net uses the image of an ultrasound scan with the words ‘He’s on His way’ (see back page of this issue). Church groups can buy a two week display at their local bus stop for £150 – a fantastic opportunity to get a strong Christian message out
to the general public. The vision is to reach 40 million people by seeing the poster on 2,010 bus stops in 2010. Last year’s campaign was supported by over 700 churches and reached 20 million people.Go to www.churchads.net to find out more.
COMMISSIONING THE LAST OF THE ‘RESIDENTIALS’ The final Church Army Evangelists to complete the traditional model of residential training were admitted and commissioned at Lambeth Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Evangelists Jill Hancock and Phil Morrow have taken up posts in Yorkshire and Northern Ireland, respectively. The traditional model of
AFRICA DAY – IN BELFAST! Church Army Evangelist George Newell organises various community events throughout the year to bring local people into Willowfield Parish church. During a recent Africa Day Celebration, he threw open the doors of the church to the local AfroCaribbean community, which is expanding rapidly in Belfast. Over 280 people had a great time enjoying cultures, food,
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music and dance from all over the continent (all 56 flags of the African nations were on display). The main speaker was his Excellency Professor Francis Moto, the Malawian High Commissioner who flew to Belfast for the event.
training has been replaced by a new Mission-based Training approach. Centres of Mission are being developed throughout the UK and Ireland where experienced evangelists will nurture trainees over four years by supporting them in the daily, hands-on life of the community to which Church Army commits itself.
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SYD HENDERSON – FELLOWSHIP AWARD
SOUL SURVIVOR FANS – YOU MADE JESUS FAMOUS! Mark Russell pronounced this year’s Soul Survivor festival a resounding success, with hundreds of teenagers attending his seminars and engaging with the Church Army events team on their display stand. The events team staffed the Church Army stand in the ‘Toolshed’ for two weeks, giving away Make Jesus Famous and Now a Christian stickers, and signing young people up to both of those websites. Make Jesus Famous (www.makejesusfamous.org.uk) then came runner-up at the Premier Christian Media awards, completing its remarkable first year!
Church Army Evangelist, Syd Henderson (featured in the last issue of Shareit!) has been awarded the highest honour by Hinckley Rotary Club for his work in the town. He was awarded a ‘Paul Harris Fellowship Award’ (given in recognition for service to the community or the Club), which is the highest honour Rotary Clubs can give, for his work in Hinckley both at the Centre, with young people on the streets and Street Pastors. Go to www.churcharmy.org.uk/ SydHenderson to see a short film of Syd’s work.
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Family values
churcharmy.org.uk
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to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
In the summer of 2011 Church Army will decide whether or not it should become a Missional Order. Order Exploration Officer Mike Gilbert outlines how Missional Order fits in with Wilson Carlile’s original vision for the Church Army family.
W
ilson Carlile was a businessman who, against his expectations, discovered the saving love of Jesus. Having lost his fortune he was plunged into despair and illness, but through that gave his life completely to God. He would later say that “God threw me on my back so I could look up better.” With characteristic enthusiasm and determination, Carlile set about trying to communicate that love to anybody who would listen. On being ordained he noticed that most of the people with whom he wanted to share the gospel to did not come to church. He then adopted methods of evangelism that would connect with people beyond the margins of the church; Carlile called them “the least, the last and the lost.” He also noticed that the people who were most effective in communicating the gospel were ordinary people. From this he founded the Church Army in 1882, and like the Franciscans and
the Methodists in centuries past, he mobilised committed bands of lay people for mission. Church Army’s heart, vision and aims have not changed in the 130 years of its existence, but the world around has…almost unimaginably. So, in an attempt to stay relevant to the world – and true to its calling – Church Army has been asking big questions of itself: How do we as a community put our prayer life and walk with Jesus before anything else? How do we stay a family when we are stretched across the country? How do we encourage ordinary people to share their faith and lives in an extraordinary way? In looking for answers to these questions, the possibility of Church Army becoming a Missional Order has emerged. But what does that mean? Put simply, a Missional Order is a community of people with the same
heart for evangelism, sharing the same values of holiness and consecration. These people can then share their ministry together, encouraging one another to reach those on and beyond the margins of the Church with the love
“Missional Order would create a fantastic opportunity for many more people to join the Church Army family” of Jesus, through word and action. How might this happen? If Church Army becomes what is technically called an ‘acknowledged community’ it will allow many more people to become part of the organisation. Naturally, Church Army would remain open to its current members, but also to those who have a calling to evangelism in the wider church. We hope that would include ministers involved in evangelism, and especially people involved in evangelism through their local church and other projects. We would also like to have a pathway for those who, though they do not consider themselves evangelists, support the life and work of Church Army and feel they want to belong. Commissioned Church Army Evangelists would continue to be at the forefront of all the work that we do. However, becoming a Missional Order would create a fantastic opportunity
for so many more people – who are not called to full time ministry – to join the Church Army family. All these people would join by making a set of commitments in the form of vows. They would live by the Church Army Rule of Life, and they would commit to being fully part of the Church Army community through meeting and praying together. Together they would make up a network of people committed to Christ and the gospel, helping and encouraging one another to live an authentic and fruitful missional life. I feel it is a real privilege in my role as Church Army’s Order Exploration Officer to help facilitate a discussion and exploration about these things both inside and outside Church Army. I pray more than anything else that we hear the voice of God and are obedient to it. We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we continue to explore Missional Order.
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s Conta question k nts and rmy.org.u a h rc comme u h c tre, @ n rt e e .gilb Carlile C Order m t Wilson Z a R 7 im 3 S h to ffield, or write eet, She tr S h is d n 50 Cave ry 2011. 1 Janua before 3
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...If you are possible
Six new trainee Evangelists have moved into their Training Bases. It is our pleasure to give you a brief introduction to them, and their immediate prayer needs.
Deborah Battersby Training Base: Sheffield Training Enabler: Tim Smith
pioneering
Deborah has two daughters – Ginnie and Thalia – and has lived and worshipped for the past 10 years in Doncaster, where she worked for the local Sure Start Centre. She enjoyed her role there as a Senior Family Support worker, which shaped some of her understanding of “how God wants to meet people at their point of need.”
Prayer point: Please pray that God would continue the good work He has begun in her as a mum, friend and evangelist, and that gentleness would be made evident to all.
exciting
Paul Smith Training Base: Scottish Borders Training Enabler: Paul Little Paul has moved from Liverpool to join the Grafted Project team, along with his wife Deborah and daughter Elizabeth. He spent many years in marketing management, and the last three working with vulnerable young men and adults in Liverpool. Paul regards joining Church Army as an amazing resolution of where God has been calling him to be, and brings with him “a passion for the outdoors.”
Prayer point: Please pray for his son Josh, who is staying behind in Liverpool to continue his University studies, that he will be safe and continue to develop in his faith.
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called to accept it... be here with ld u o w e w d gine at God has “ I never ima h w k in th to y, and Church Arm d-boggling!” in m is ll a s u for got in store Maria Hembrow Training Base: Southampton Training Enabler: Tim Hyde Maria received a first-class degree in Photography from Middlesex University in 2009. She discovered Church Army having attended a Fresh Expressions course during her last year as an undergraduate. Nervous and excited, she is “trusting in God now more than ever!”
Prayer point: Please pray that her daughter Sherrina will obtain a place at the local college.
Jasper Rutherford Training Base: Newcastle Training Enabler: Steve Dixon Jasper is married to Lynne and has two young children, Elijah and Shannon. He has been in full-time ministry for the last seven years in Belfast, and has a passion to share Jesus with people who don’t yet know Him – which is why he joined Church Army! Jasper is excited about seeing what God has in store for the communities he is now working with in Newcastle.
Prayer point: Please pray for Lynne and the children to settle in quickly and make new friends.
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Stuart Budden Training Base: Thanet Training Enabler: Andrew Chadwick
Stuart is married to Louise, and has a teenage son. They have been running a small Bed and Breakfast establishment in the south west of France for the past eight years. A swimming teacher and London Taxi driver in the past, God called Stuart to serve him six years ago and “now life is fantastic!”
Prayer point: Please pray for Stuart as he grows into the Christian network that his Training Enabler has helped to flourish on the Kent coast.
James Wilkinson Training Base: Wolverhampton Training Enabler: Steve Simmonds James is married to Debbie, and has three children – Emily, Beth and Ben. He has worked all his adult life in the manufacturing industry, resigning this summer to train as an Evangelist. James says that not so long ago he “never imagined we would be here with Church Army, and to think what God has got in store for us all is mind-boggling!”
Prayer point: Please pray for the whole family, and give thanks that God has provided them with a home, great friends and a real sense of strength.
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to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
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Mission – y Centre of rm A h rc u h AC of the warded one a n e e b s a h Sorted – untry, ers in the co rd O n o si is M first Bishop’s atus. ial church st c ffi o it s e iv . which g ateboarding sk h it w n a g And it all be
C
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hurch Army Evangelist Andy Milne has been an avid skateboarder since the age of 13. Born in Bradford, he felt called to draw alongside young people at the local skate park where he had learned many of his skateboarding tricks Andy Milne as a teenager. As Andy says, “Skateboarding has a culture of encouragement which is a great leveller – people are always helping each other to improve their skills. This makes it a place where it is easy to have conversations with young people and find out what makes them tick, and what it is they want to know about life. Years ago we were given some space and a portakabin by the local school every Friday evening. These were very basic facilities and we said to the young people we knew ‘what do you want to do here?’ So they eventually came in increasing numbers to skate, play football, listen to music and just talk to each other.” This relaxed atmosphere enabled Andy to listen to young people, talk to them about God, and begin to answer some of their many questions about life and faith. From these humble beginnings grew Sorted: a fresh expression of church run by and for young people in North Bradford. Sorted encounters around 130 young people each week via the three groups it has established. Andy says, “Fewer people than ever before have any meaningful links with the church and its
e t r o Sthe young leading the young
culture so we’re meeting people where they are at, rather than expecting them to come to church. Sorted helps break down some barriers and the young people can see that we are really concerned about them and the issues they face. We’re building a Christian community and family for those who have difficult families at home.” This May, Bishop David baptised six teenagers from Sorted in the River Wharfe at Ilkley – with an audience of hundreds of sunbathers. The six were then joined by five others to be confirmed and receive communion by the side of the river. Andy says, “It’s fantastic to see these young people want to commit to God in this way. It’s hard enough for anyone to
: ed
I’ve had some tough troubles recently and knowing God is there has been a big help.” Andy adds, “We find that the young people often have an experience of God before they follow him. Rather than a gradual intellectual process, they often have an encounter with God and begin to make sense of it later. When they get involved in leadership it really
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“ It’s fantastic to see these young people want to commit to God in this way.” helps their understanding, so we get them to pray for other young people, or they can help lead a Bible study group or get involved in fundraising. When they run it themselves, they really own it and the energy triples.” Ironically, skateboarding started decades ago as a ‘fresh expression’ of surfing, for people who could not get to the ocean but loved the idea of surfing. Today, Sorted is a fresh expression of church for young people eager to know more about God and spirituality, and who want to stamp their personalities on their church.
do, but when you’re a teenager, it’s particularly admirable!” Will, who’s 15 and goes to Immanuel College in Bradford says, “I’ve come a lot further in my faith and just wanted to take the next step. My friends at school are cool about it, although some were messing around and asked what if the Bishop drowns me! Faith for me means that if you’ve got something on your mind you’ve got someone to talk to about it”. Jack, who’s also 15, says, “Two years ago I thought this was a load of rubbish, but then one night Andy prayed for me and I really felt God’s presence, and I’ve felt it in my heart ever since.
Go to www.churcharmy.org.uk/ AndyMilne to see a short film about Sorted.
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Chu 3, e Sorted 0 123 211 ess of th lling 030 a c the succ y b the ate now n to us in can don donatio r u o y g or sendin pe. d envelo enclose
Shareit! 13
faith
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Ministry on film
Wilson pioneered film to show the public what being a Church Army Evangelist involved. Our latest films update the work of two ministries in the south of England.
Debbie Orriss
“ to make the church a place where the whole community can encounter God.”
Debbie Orriss works in High Wycombe and is responsible for ensuring that All Saints church fulfils its mission statement, “to make the church a place where the whole community can encounter God.” In short, Debbie is getting the church members to go out into the town and make contact with those outside the walls of the building. She is also developing fresh expression of church for the many people who do not go to church on a Sunday. She has created a sacred space at the Wycombe night-shelter; a drop-in centre for homeless people. Debbie believes that for many who access the drop-in, it is the only opportunity to find quiet time to themselves, away from the noise and harassment of living on the streets. Debbie says she is inspired by the need to tell people who need a fresh start in life that God loves them to bits!
John Marrow leads the Kids Alive325 after-school fresh expression of church in Guildford. It is a service for children and John Marrow their parents or carers, which is fast-moving, actionpacked, full of fun and very much Jesus-focused. Kids Alive325 provides a weekly alternative service that welcomes families who find it hard to attend church on Sundays. The aim is to establish a creative form of church within today’s rapidly changing culture, and to encourage and equip other churches to model this idea in their communities. This involves the training and support of volunteers in the art of storytelling, puppetry and leading worship. As Tanya, a KidsAlive325 mum, puts it: “I’m always telling people about it. Yeah I do see it as a church; the boys both say ‘we’re going to church’. I used to go to church when I was little. It’s KidsAlive325 that’s made me want to come again and bring the children.”
, elp? re the gospel How can I h ebbie and John as they sha ve ha who se pray for D any people
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Plea ort ion, with m rds and act . See their sh through wo itional church d tra ith w nd a ct s nta bieOrris little or no co org.uk/Deb hurcharmy. .c w w . w t ow a rr s a film JohnM rmy.org.uk/ www.churcha
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action
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Church Army is proud to have thousands of incredibly committed supporters – people like you who give their time and money to ensure that our Evangelists are secure in their ministries. However, by making small changes to the way in which you give to Church Army, you could help us to increase our income…even without you sending us an extra penny! Last year Church Army could have put an extra £6,000 into front line work without you increasing your giving. How can I increase Church Army’s income by making a small change? Answer: If you pay any tax – even on a pension – your contributions can be “Gift Aided.” Please complete the following declaration and return it to us at: Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, Sheffield, S3 7RZ or in the envelope provided with this issue of Shareit! PLEASE CIRCLE EACH LETTER THAT APPLIES TO YOU: a. I would like to Gift Aid the enclosed donation b. I would like to Gift Aid all future donations until further notice c. I would like to Gift Aid all donations made over the last 4 financial years AND all future donations PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING IN BLOCK CAPITALS: Title__________________ Full Name____________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode____________________________________ Tel_ __________________________________________ We will use this declaration to reclaim tax on your gift and any other qualifying gifts made to Church Army in the last four years. To qualify for Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that Church Army will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year. You can cancel your Gift Aid declaration at any time, and you must notify us if your circumstances change and you no longer pay enough tax to cover the amount of Gift Aid that we reclaim. Please notify us if you change your name and address. Thank you!
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On 17 December Church Army will shut the doors on its Sidcup office for the very last time.
A farewell to Sidcup S
hareit! magazine takes this opportunity to bid a fond farewell to a group of people who operate ‘behind the scenes’ at Church Army, providing crucial support to the Evangelists out there on the front line. Whilst several staff currently located in the Sidcup office will soon be working in the Minster of Evangelism at the Wilson Carlile Centre, the majority of people in the administration, fundraising and communications teams will be moving on. Administration Manager, Tara Finnie, and her staff members Jo Bilby, Bhavna Patel, John Jackson, Linda McDonnell, Paul Jacobs, Julie Swindells, Mieling Abel and Mark Alsing. Head of Fundraising, Paul Fitzpatrick, and his staff members Peter Cowell, Fulvio Ornato, Jessie Turner, and Terry Mayell. Communications Officers Bex Morton and Richard Chambers. In the final week before Church Army relocates to Sheffield, the Sidcup prayer group will be
16 Shareit!
using the following scripture to pray for everyone listed above: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
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ETHOSa vision that sustains
faith
ETHOS
www.churcharmy.org.uk
In a new film called ‘Ethos’ several retired Evangelists tell the story of how they were called to Church Army. One of those Evangelists, Rosalie Jacobs, (pictured here with Edwin Bates and Mark Russell), recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of her commissioning.
I
t was at a Remembrance Day service where Rosalie Jacobs encountered a Church Army van captain, who gave a speech on the subject of sacrifice. In her words, “For the first time I realised what the Lord Jesus had done for me...I let go all of the past and the most wonderful sense of peace came over me. Cycling home, I stopped halfway – in a quiet place – and I began to pray ‘Lord, I would love to share this wonderful peace with other people.’” This October, Mark Russell officially marked seven decades of Rosalie sharing that “wonderful peace” by saying: “Rosalie just amazes me! Like so many of our Evangelists, she is still worrying the devil in retirement! We thank God for her energy, commitment, faith and passion for the Lord – an example and inspiration to us all.” That same inspirational spirit is evident in all the testimonies given
in the ‘Ethos’ film; a film in which our most experienced Evangelists stress how Wilson Carlile put a premium on the Church Army family being ready for the challenges of the future. At a time when Church Army is establishing a Minster for Evangelism in Sheffield, and concluding its research on Missional Order (see pages 8-9), ‘Ethos’ is a timely reminder of Carlile’s dynamism. Never one to use the same old methods if they failed to lead to progress, his modern approach to evangelism was to go forward in faith making all necessary changes along the way. And to give Rosalie the last word: “I think Wilson would be very proud of what Church Army is doing, trying to break through into communities where people know nothing of the love of God.”
“ Carlile put a premium on Church Army being ready for the challenges of the future”
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Our family make a Ch ristmas donation to a charity . Having read your last Shareit! an d been so excited and moved by the various articles, we just knew our choice must be Chur ch Army. Mic hael and Beryl Angu
s – Littleover, Derby
Well designed, up to date website supporting Christianit y.
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Just wanted to sa y that I’m a parish priest, an d decided to sign up to Now a Christian. Ended up only las ting a few days before I star ted telling other people to si gn up! It’s brilliant – th ank you for such a marve llous tool! On line comment
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It is a privilege to support you ... I have been using th e online Prayer Diary regularly an d it really helps me to understand what you do and encourages me in prayer and this helps me to grow too!
Mrs Ingram – Fores t Row E.Sussex
rch, h in your chu list to preac e ng rg.uk. a Ev y. y h Arm hurcharm o like a Churc us at info@c il a rch m e hu r C o , If you would to 3 2113 imonies us on 0300 12 nts and test e m m o c Z. ur please call g in yo ld, S3 7R reet, Sheffie keep sendin And please Cavendish St 50 , re . nt e C Carlile ouragement Army, Wilson words of enc nd a ns io st ge r all your sug Thank you fo
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Could
you be a Paul Tomlinson is our Mission Support Officer who has been at the forefront of a pilot scheme designed to gain more parish supporters for Church Army. He explains how…
C
“ An Ambassador is a volunteer who wants to encourage support for the work of Church Army”
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hurch Army Ambassadors is a new and exciting initiative which aims to replace the existing Parish Representative Scheme. An Ambassador is a volunteer who wants to encourage support for the work of Church Army in their local church and community (they must also be at least 16 years old!) An Ambassador may choose one or more of the following options: Prayer Intercessor Resources Distributor Fundraiser Promoter Speaker A church may have more than one Ambassador, which is a formally recognised role supported by our President – Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Within the role an Ambassador can do as little or as much as they like to promote Church Army’s work. The Church Army Ambassador (CAA) scheme was developed to provide a more attractive, flexible volunteering opportunity for Parish Representatives, as they themselves had requested in a survey. CAA was launched this summer as a pilot for a period of eight months covering four Dioceses: Canterbury, Sheffield, Chichester and Birmingham. The first phase focused on contacting existing Parish Representatives and Church Army Evangelists in these four Dioceses,
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? and the second phase has focused on encouraging parishioners to become Ambassadors. Specially designed posters, cards, and other materials were created to publicise CAA – you may have seen one in your parish! To date 60 people have been recruited, but we would really like to hear from you if you think this is something you would like to join. All Ambassadors receive a fully comprehensive pack which includes welcome letters from Desmond Tutu and Mark Russell, full information on the role, support and resources, a DVD covering presentations on Church Army and the Ambassador role, and also a selection of 15 of our Evangelists’ films. In addition, an area of our website has been created that offers information on the role and a place to register to be an Ambassador, and also secure access for Ambassadors to interact with us and with each other. It is hoped that Ambassador cluster groups will emerge and a special Ambassador newsletter will be produced. Now that the pilot phase has been completed, a survey will be sent to the Ambassadors followed by evaluation meetings within Church Army. It is hoped that from all that we learn about the pilot the CAA scheme will be further refined, and that further Dioceses will be offered the scheme in 2011 followed by a
national roll-out across the UK and Ireland if the scheme proves to be successful. Church Army Ambassadors should significantly enhance the awareness and support for Church Army’s work in churches, and we believe churches themselves will benefit from a renewed vision for mission and evangelism. If you are interested in becoming a Church Army Ambassador please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/caa or email caa@churcharmy.org.uk or call Paul Tomlinson on 0300 123 2113.
? Church n I help How ca for the growth of pray 1, and
Please rs in 201 l and bassado prayerfu Army Am e more iv f CAA. e o c lt re will irect resu d a that we s a l support financia
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Lukethe24 Resurrection My name is Luke Wardle and I am 24 years old. I was a drug addict for 10 years starting at the age of 13. This is my story.
B
oth my parents were alcoholics and divorced when I was very young. I quickly became a drug dealer (aged 14) and soon got involved in really stupid things: importing drugs into Scotland, firearms, assault, and many more crimes. I went from using cannabis to heroin addiction. I was so evil and self-centred and never gave Jesus Christ the light of day. I spent all my time being indoctrinated by rap music, movies, taking drugs and being deceitful. One night I came home and watched a DVD called “They Sold Their Souls for
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Rock and Roll”. The Lord God spoke to me through this DVD with scripture from the Bible, and convicted me of my dirty sinful life. I knew that without Jesus as an advocate I would never be right with a Holy and Righteous God, or get to heaven. That night I asked God to forgive me my sins and made a commitment to follow him with all my being. There and then something changed. I lost my heart of stone and was given a heart of flesh – praise the Lord! I became a different person. I really wanted to start living for God!
faith
After a few months I fell away from God. I was still on methadone at this time, and I stopped reading the Bible and praying and going to church. I had started using more drugs again and had become a real mess. I had basically thrown God away and gone my own way. It had got so bad that I was only getting a couple of hours sleep a night, and was taking enough drugs to kill several men. My father, who lives in Australia, was regularly in touch with me and always told me that I had to get off the drugs or it was going to kill me. I didn’t like what he was saying and it made me angry… but I knew he was telling the truth. It was a Thursday, and I was such a wreck that I my methadone dosage was increased – as if I needed any more drugs! The following Monday came and I went to the chemist as normal to pick up my prescription. I went to sleep that night as normal, feeling slightly better. But when I awoke early next morning I quite clearly felt God was saying to me that I had to give the drugs up or I would die young. I also now realised that you can’t take drugs, or have any addiction, and love God at the same time. Later that day, I met up with Paul Little who runs the project which I was on. It’s called ‘Grafted’ and it uses outdoor activities (eg canoeing, archery,
mountaineering) to help people like me challenge their addictions. I told him I wanted to finish with drugs, and he asked me to come down to Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders (40 miles from where I lived) for him and his wife Elaine to help me detox. I really didn’t want to go, but I knew that I had to let go and commit myself to detox 100%. Once I got to Newcastleton, the project team stayed with me constantly, praying with me for several days. That was September 2009… and I have been clean from drugs and cigarettes ever since. Now I live in Newcastleton where I work with Paul and Elaine and the ‘Grafted’ project. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me and all the glory goes to him. My message to anyone who read this is: “Don’t forsake God because He is so good and merciful, and you never know when your last day might be.” My scripture for Shareit! readers is from Romans 10:13: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“You never know when your last day might be”
Go to www.churcharmy.org.uk/PaulLittle to see a short film on the life-transforming work of the Grafted project.
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to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
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Church Army’s Peter Graystone gets excited about launching the new Christian Enquiry Agency website
Imagine this! A place where anyone who is intrigued about the great mysteries of human existence – meaning, suffering, destiny – can make contact to explore answers. It would be run by Christians who could offer them a gospel so that they can discover Jesus’ answers to their questions, or an email conversation, or a prayer, or an introduction to a local church. Imagine this! A website which can easily be found by anyone who types the word ‘Christianity’ into a search engine. On it would be scores of pages of information about what Jesus said and did, what Christians believe, and what it means to have a life in all its fullness. The information would be objective and reliable, embracing all the denominations and traditions. And it could be accessed anonymously so that people can think deeply behind the privacy of their computer monitors. Imagine this no longer! Instead, make use of it! In November 2010 the Christian Enquiry Agency was relaunched in a way that will respond to the
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Imag
needs and questions of a new generation. At its heart is a fascinating website. And in its soul is a desire that people who want to think about the important things in their lives can encounter Jesus and all the richness of his Good News. About twenty years ago, when the internet was young, the visionary director of the Christian Enquiry Agency bought the exclusive right to use the name www.christianity.org.uk. At the time it cost a few pounds. Now it is invaluable. For the first time its full potential is emerging. It comes very near the top of any online search that uses the word Christian, which means that people who are thinking about the spiritual parts of their lives are in safe hands. The website has four sections: • What do Christians believe? • Frequently asked questions (about faith, death, sex and so on) • An opportunity to ask Christian Enquiry Agency supporters to pray for you • And a section which changes with the seasons (starting with a Christmas feature about the BBC’s 2010 drama “The Nativity”). There are also entertaining interactive pages which allow people to share their own reflections on life. The hope is that people exploring the website will be so intrigued that they will click the button
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agine this! which allows them to contact those who run the Agency. Then they can receive whatever help they ask for to take their next steps of faith – part of the Bible, a personal answer to their questions, a prayer, or guidance about responding to Jesus’ call.
“People who are thinking about the spiritual parts of their lives are in safe hands” This builds on the ministry based on printed materials that has proved valuable to thousands of enquirers over years gone by, and will continue for those who prefer their advice to come from a page rather than a screen. Last year Church Army became a major partner in the Christian Enquiry Agency. It is part of their determination that the Good News of Jesus should reach people way beyond the walls of our churches. They have joined the Deo Gloria Trust and representatives of all the largest UK denominations to make this wonderful opportunity possible. And how can you be part of it? So many ways!
1. Visit www.christianity.org.uk and enjoy it. (Be warned! You will expect to spend five minutes but a fascinating hour will flash by.) 2. Add a link to www.christianity.org.uk to your church’s website or to your blog. Add it to the bottom of every email you send, or just print it on your church newsletter or magazine. If you contact the address at the end of this article we would be delighted to send you the Christian Enquiry Agency logo. 3. Offer to pray for people who contact the Agency and we will send you a message once a week telling you what they are asking – sometimes very heartfelt needs. 4. Ask to receive our newsletter so that you can rejoice in what God is doing for people who would not encounter Jesus any other way. During 2011 the website will double in size, a version for your mobile phone will be added, and you will become aware of the website address appearing in more and more places. God is about to do something wonderful. Imagine that! Contact the Christian Enquiry Agency today: enquiries@christianity.org.uk or CEA, Selsdon House, 212-220 Addington Road, South Croydon, CR2 8LD.
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to give to our work call 0300 123 2113
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g n i k a W e h t p uneighbourhood
Mike Smithers
I
am on attachment to a Ministry Team in West Yorkshire. My ‘patch’ is around ten miles long, six miles wide and takes in the eight churches that make up a large united benefice of the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry. My work is quite varied and sees me engaging with people of all ages. This includes working in the Religious, Personal and Social Education department at the local high school, helping pupils learn horticultural skills in the school’s organic garden, or teaching young people how to ride off-road motorcycles at the after-school bike club.
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Alternatively, I might be working alongside older people to help deliver a craft and lunch club to their peers, or be found working as part of the stewarding team welcoming tourists as they come to take a look around Holmfirth parish church as part of their “Last of the Summer Wine” visit. I could be working late at night reaching out to weekend revellers in town, or be found preaching at various services in the team members’ churches. And on Friday nights Holmfirth town centre gets as busy as any other, with people keen to let their hair down. Since my arrival in the
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exams and what people would think of him if he didn’t get the results expected. A couple of months into the autumn term the Team Rector and I hosted a week of assemblies focusing on self-esteem. The main message of the presentations was that no matter what happens in your life you are a special person, and are loved for who you are by God. The young man commented that what I’d said had helped him to get things in perspective and enabled him to progress through his final year knowing that whatever happened he was greatly valued. His parting comment as he left the table that night was “carry on doing what
valley the church has been playing a central role in the town’s night time economy too. The nationwide ‘Hope 08’ initiative helped to raise up a group of likeminded people from valley congregations who wanted to do something to bless the local community. As a result, every Friday night a group of volunteers “People appreciate the fact that drawn from local churches spend time engaging with the church is out on the street, and those who visit the town – frequently go on to ask faith questions” offering free hot drinks to revellers between 10.00pm and midnight. Many people take advantage is you do, it’s made such a difference to me of this act of unconditional service. People and I know it will do the same for others”. appreciate the fact that the church is out Jesus calls each of us to be salt and light on the street and frequently go on to ask in the communities where we live (“Let your faith questions of the team…all as a direct conversation be always full of grace, seasoned result of taking a free drink. with salt, so that you may know how to answer Local residents and police have said everyone” Colossians 4:6). My hope is that just they’ve noticed a marked decrease in as salt helps to bring out the best flavours in antisocial behaviour in the town centre since food, so I am helping to bring out the best in we have been out on the street. The area those I’m relating too and working alongside where the team serve people is now recognised here in the valley. by many as a safe haven if the events of the evening have got out of hand, or they need a quiet space just to collect their thoughts. ? n I help Recently a young man who had left How ca for the growth ray school earlier this summer arrived at the Please p t Project ay Nigh d ri F Friday Night Project table with some of the re faith ks to sha friends. Whilst waiting for his drink to be as it see action ords and w h g firth. u made we got into a conversation. As we thro of Holm people e th h chatted he mentioned my role at the high it w school. He said that he had approached this, This article was his final year, with trepidation, worried about first published in the November issue of Inspire magazine.
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Finding God outs Steve Hollinghurst (pictured above) is the Researcher in Evangelism at Church Army’s Sheffield Centre. His book ‘Mission-shaped Evangelism’ explains the overwhelming need to seek Christianity in other cultures.
“ Traditional evangelism was increasingly like the tourists who cannot speak the language”
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I
chose the title ‘Mission-shaped Evangelism’ for my book as I wanted to expressly link the book to the Missionshaped Church report, which had highlighted the need to learn from foreign mission practice in creating fresh expressions of church. I felt we needed to do the same in our evangelism. This had not been the case for over 1,000 years of Christendom in which we could take for granted that those we communicated faith amongst shared a Christian background. By the year 2000 this was only the case for a minority of people. In the new situation traditional evangelism was increasingly like the tourists who cannot speak the language, and so speak louder and slower in the hope of being heard. As John Finney showed in ‘Finding Faith Today’ (1992) most people who come to faith as adults were raised in church; they are the ones who understand its
language and message. Increasing numbers of people have no such background, making us – in effect – foreign missionaries needing to discover a mission-shaped evangelism. As with Mission-shaped Church, the ‘double listening’ approach was used, (that is, entering into the culture of others learning from it, and assuming God would be found speaking within it). Then it was important to listen to the Christian tradition, and finally to seek where the two connected as the place to explore what the gospel was in that context (what it affirmed or could adopt, and what it needed to question and challenge). The three sections of my book reflect the three stages of that approach. The first section draws on statistical and sociological analysis with theological reflection to explore the complex questions of secularism:
Why was this different across Europe and between Europe and Africa and the USA? Did this reflect a western European problem against a backdrop of world religiosity? What place did New Spiritualities play in this? How was the internet affecting the way we processed knowledge as a parallel to the revolution of the printing press? What was the impact of the postmodern shift that meant truth was now based on personal experience, and seen as different for different people, as opposed to universal facts? The second section explores
built on the Pagan religions the missionaries found. Finally with reference to the lessons of on-the-ground examples, an approach to evangelism for a multi-faith, multi-cultural world is fleshed out. One in which we seek to show why faith is attractive, rather than ‘true’, and offers a vision for our diverse and often fragmented societies against a background of ecological damage. It is an approach that argues evangelism should be viewed as a process of lifelong discipleship, not instant
cross-cultural mission from the way early Jews adopted the language of Paganism – but applied it to one God, not many gods – to the process whereby Paul used this insight to make the transition from evangelising his fellow Jews to evangelising Gentile Pagans. It then explores how this process was continued in the early church in the East and the West by Celtic and Saxon missionaries, leading to expressions of faith that
conversion. One that views its end not primarily as church growth or getting people into heaven, but transforming creation so that the Kingdom of God comes on Earth as it is in Heaven. I hope this book gives an insight into the gospel in contemporary culture, and helps a Mission-Shaped Church to embrace evangelism more effectively.
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side church walls
MISSION-SHAPED EVANGELISM GIVEAWAY We have 5 FREE copies of Mission-shaped Evangelism to give away. Please complete this coupon and send it to the address below by 7 January 2011. The first 5 drawn at random from entries submitted will get a copy of Steve’s book. Title________________________Name __________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________Postcode _ ___________________________ Email_______________________________________________________________________________________ Church attended (if any)____________________________________________________________________ Please tick which of these represents your age band: Under 25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
over 65
Return this form to: M ission-shaped Evangelism giveaway, Church Army Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Road, 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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action
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Neil Biles is Church Army’s Director of Mission Support. Here he outlines how the vision for bringing people into the church was turned into a reality
A recipe for evangelism
F “ The gift of hospitality was central to Jesus’ ministry”
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ood. Fun. Friendship. These are not words that many unchurched people would use to describe a church event! The vision first started in 2003 when God gave me a picture of St Aldhelm’s Church, Spa Road, Weymouth with people dancing and enjoying themselves. The combination of dancing, food and fun has always been at the heart of my life, living life to full and enjoying it at the same time. The gift of hospitality was central to Jesus’ ministry. He was always eating and enjoying hospitality with someone somewhere. But how do you combine this in a church building? Our church has a beautiful wooden floor ideal for dancing. A lot of churchgoers only mix with other Christians, so this event had to be
about reaching out to people in our everyday lives. We set about finding people in the church who could enjoy a dinner-dance but would not be afraid to invite their friends, work colleagues, or neighbours to the dance. It was important that it was “pukka”, as Jamie Oliver would say. It had to be of a very high standard: food, music, after-dinner speaker. A real dinner-dance that people would pay good money to go to. The first event was a great success, and in April 2010 we held our fourth dinner-dance. Church Army’s Neville Willerton opened with some humorous family stories. He then went on to speak about how easy it is to cause divisions in life, using illustrations from his time in ministry. He then concluded in sharing that Jesus can draw divided people and communities together. Over the four dinner-dances we have seen an average of 70 people, of which 60% are not churchgoers. That’s good news! Our vision for 2011 is to develop a number of follow-on evenings after the dinner-dance to engage people at a deeper level. Pray, take a risk – add food, fun and dancing – enjoy…and let God do the rest. Well, that’s our recipe. Why not try it for yourself! Go to www.churcharmy.org.uk/ NeilBiles or www.churcharmy.org.uk/ NevilleWillerton to see short films of Neil and Neville’s ministry.
s u s e j d r a w o t g n i t n i po
the last word
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“John was there with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.” John 1:35-37
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he time of Jesus was a wretched one for the Jewish people. Oppressed by an occupying army, a resurgence of hope was desperately needed. The Jews expected that there would be a revival of the tradition of prophecy. Writers anticipated that the prophet Elijah would reappear to point them toward the leader who would overthrow their enemies. Into that setting strode a firebrand. He dressed himself as Elijah. He lived in the same primitive fashion. He roared and cursed like Elijah. His name was John. John the Baptist pointed people toward Jesus. One of those people was a quietly religious fisherman called Andrew. He would probably have stayed that way had not John passed Jesus and whispered, ‘He is the one!’ Andrew and his friend followed Jesus at a distance, intrigued. Suddenly Jesus caught sight of them, wheeled round and said, ‘Yes, can I help you?’ You can tell from the way the Bible recounts this that they were embarrassed – the kind of
awkwardness you feel when you are looking at people on a bus and you catch the eye of someone looking back at you. The only words Andrew could stammer out were, ‘Erm … where are you staying?’ That must be the weediest thing anyone ever said to Jesus! Jesus replied, ‘Come and see!’ And before they knew what they were doing, they were going and seeing. And it turned out to be life-changing! Dorothy Needham is a Church Army evangelist in Farnworth and Little Hulton, near Bolton. She loves pointing people to Jesus, whether it is in a school or in a care home for people with dementia. She says: ‘Jesus made his greatest impact when speaking to just one person, coming alongside them and giving hope.’ Dorothy’s longing is to point to Jesus ‘by being there for someone who needs a kind word, an action or a listening ear.’ She reminds me of John the Baptist – except without the weird clothes and wild hair!
Peter Graystone reminds us of Jesus’ personal touch
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