INSPIRE STO RIES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS
EASTER ISSUE
I FOUND JESUS Reggae DJ’s new calling
ECUADOR MARTYRS’ LEGACY OF LIFE EX-TERRORIST GETS SECOND CHANCE YOUR CHURCH AND THY KINGDOM COME CHAPLAIN RECALLS 1987 FERRY DISASTER BIBLES + NIV AUDIO CD SET TO BE WON
Issue 111 • April 2017
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CONTENTS
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Inspire Magazine UK
S TO R I E S TO L I F T YO U R S P I R I T S
Jesus is alive: that changes everything WELCOME to the Easter issue of INSPIRE – we hope this month’s issue gives you just a glimpse of the difference Jesus is making to lives across the UK and around the world. As we celebrate the amazing good news of the cross and the resurrection in our churches, we are reminded that Jesus brings us not only forgiveness for our past, but his life breathed into us so that we can live differently now and into the future. You’ll find stories of transformation aplenty this month, from a reggae DJ (4–5) to a former paramilitary (24–25), from brave missionaries whose deaths sowed the seeds for new life in Ecuador (8–9) to church growth in the Cotswolds (20–21). We’d love to print extra issues this year, so do donate to our 2017 INSPIRE Appeal if you can (click GIVE on inspiremagazine.org.uk). Praying you can be good news where you live.
INSPIRE STORI ES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRIT S
EASTER ISSUE
I FOUND JESUS
Reggae DJ’s new callin g ECUADOR MARTYRS ’ LEGACY OF LIFE EX-TERRO RIST SECOND CHAGETS NCE YOUR CHU RCH AND THY KING DOM COME CHAPLAIN RECALLS 1987 FERR Y DISASTER
Russ Bravo, Editor
TO ORDER INSPIRE AND/OR TO MAKE A DONATION Go to www.inspiremagazine.org.uk and click the ORDER button. Inspire is distributed FREE and has a readership of around 200,000 in churches across the UK. Published by CPO, it is funded by partners, advertising and donations.
BIBLES + NIV AUDIO CD SET TO BE WON Issue 111 • April 2017 www.inspirema gazine.o
rg.uk
4 Gospel sound – London City Missionary Jason O’Shea is a reggae DJ who now works in Lewisham telling people about Jesus 6 Bits n Pieces – fun, stats and great online recommendations 8 Auca legacy – five US missionaries were killed 50 years ago in the Ecuadorian rainforest, but God has been bringing new life 10 Puzzles – have a go at our crossword, sudoku and word goal 12 Salma’s story – Following Jesus in Morocco can be tough – Christian broadcasters SAT-7 share some of the challenges their listeners face 14 Born a Christian? – Andy Bannister tackles the charge that your upbringing dictates your faith … 16 Go! – Five reasons to go on short-term mission 18 ‘So many people lost their lives that night’ – 30 years on, ex-port chaplain Bill McCrea recalls the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster 20 Turning the corner – A Cotswolds church that was facing an uncertain future just a few decades ago, has witnessed remarkable growth 22 Thy Kingdom Come – a new Pentecost prayer initiative is capturing churches’ imagination 24 Second chance – Billy McFetridge spent several years in the Maze prison for terrorist offences. Then God turned his life around 26 Giveaways – David Suchet’s NIV Bible in a Year CD set, Authentic Youth Bibles, an ex-terrorist’s testimony book plus great worship CDs up for grabs 28 Holidays and Classified – great places to stay, small ads, and more Cover stories
Editor: Russ Bravo Email: editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk Designer: Phill Roberts Advertising Sales: Display/Inserts/Recruitment/Classified: Karl Ayling Email: karlayling@cpo.org.uk Tel: 01903 604342 Printers: Bishops Cover photo: London City Mission Order enquiries: Our friendly subs team Email: subs@cpo.org.uk Tel: 01903 604348
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INSPIRE
MY STORY
I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK HERE Former reggae DJ turned London City Missionary JASON O’SHEA explains why he loves telling Lewisham about Jesus
Tell us a little about yourself I live in Nunhead with my wife Tayo and our three children. Before being saved I was a reggae DJ on a world-class level. The Lord called me to start His Majesty’s Sound System (a big music rig shared by a group of rap and reggae artists) and then to work with London City Mission (LCM) to reach the least reached in Lewisham in person and on radio. 4
I might look able-bodied but I have epilepsy and fibromyalgia, meaning I’m in constant pain. How did you come to know Christ? As a young boy, I tried to kill myself twice because of epilepsy and abuse. Both my parents were alcoholics and my mum left when I was 13. I had to look after myself, which led me into a criminal life for several years.
MY STORY
I’ve seen people killed and tortured. I’ve been battered, stabbed and even had a contract on my life. God spared my life on many occasions for a reason, but I didn’t know it at the time. Eventually, I became a Rastafarian and stopped being a criminal. I heard about Les Isaac (founder of Street Pastors), a Rasta turned Christian. So I went to a meeting to take the mick and tell him he was a fraud. When I got there, each of the testimonies was a bit of my life and brought water to my eyes. Next thing I feel this hand on my shoulder. It’s Les Isaac and two of the pastors asking if they could pray with me. It was like the blinkers came off. But even though I was baptised I completely went off track. I was playing for the biggest sound system in Europe LEWISHAM IS VERY for several years until DEPRIVED, WITH God arrested my heart MANY NEEDS with the image of the fisherman leaving everything to follow Jesus. I realised I had to get rid of all my records and equipment and follow Jesus. How did you begin working for LCM? While attending Calvary Chapel, Westminster, Robert Prendergast and Efrem Buckle (now two of LCM’s trainers) were sent out as pastors to plant Ecclesia, a church in Lewisham. They told me about the LCM Pioneers course. That year changed my life. Describe the kind of work you are doing in Lewisham Being able to reach people with the gospel continuously is like a dream. LCM let me start a new ministry as there was nothing here. Lewisham is very deprived, with many needs – people don’t want to live here. London City
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Mission is needed to partner with the local churches – to help get them going and to start doing more outreach. I’m excited about the work here. There’s so much we could do, but we’re working on what we should be doing. We’re not social workers. We’re here to share the gospel, that Jesus is the only answer. What’s the future of this ministry? As well as reaching the community through door-to-door work, we put on a monthly family day, weekly activities for toddlers, the over60s, food distribution and youth club. We want to expand the youth work. We help with the TLG (a small church-run school for excluded kids) that’s just begun in the Ecclesia building, and we’ll be going into local schools to teach about crime and forgiveness. We’ve been praying over this for many years. It’s a no-brainer to get to the kids before they enter a life of crime. My wife’s younger brother, Zak, a member of the church here, was stabbed to death at 15. For the last six years, she and her mum have gone into prisons as part of the Sycamore Tree project, a restorative justice course looking at the ripple effects of crime. Many prisoners say to them: “I wish someone had told me this at school ... I would never be here now.” Forgiveness comes from God, so talking about it opens doors to the gospel. Young people put up barriers and bravado, but when they hear a powerful story like Zak’s, those barriers come down and they can then hear the gospel. + Adapted from an article first published in London City Mission’s Changing London magazine and used with permission www.lcm.org.uk
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BITS ’N’ PIECES STATS | HAPPY FAMILIES? A portrait of British family life in 2017 reveals parents are under constant pressure as they juggle finances, kids and responsibilities, according to a new report. But despite the burden of family life, more than nine in 10 parents (91%) are happy with life. Nationwide’s Great British Family Report, which polled 2,000 families, shows that, on average, families have two children, a pet dog, an income of £29,688 a year, live in a three-bed house and drive a Ford Focus. However, the research also shows parents work an average of 30 hours a week and invest as much time doing household chores as spending time together (18 hours). The survey also reveals that women are far more likely to manage the household finances than men and also do an average of seven hours more housework per week.
SQUIRRELS
ONLINE WEBSITE: Looking for the knowhow on negotiating the best deals with your utilities provider, insurance company, TV/broadband company etc? Highly recommended is www. moneysavingexpert.com started by journalist Martin Lewis. Lots of tips, advice and forums to get the best guidance.
APP Neighbourhood community website and app Streetlife has changed over now to , a free private social network for you and your community. A great way of getting to know your neighbours, publicising events, sharing local knowledge and more – nextdoor. co.uk and apps for Android and iOS.
PODCAST Enjoy football? Try out Up In The Gantry, the new monthly podcast from Passion for Sport and Cross The Line, mixing chat on the game’s top talking points with debate on the ethics of modern day football, plus input from Christians in the football world. Google Up In The Gantry for web/app links.
and then set them free outside of town. Three days later the squirrels were back. The third church succeeded in solving the squirrel problem. The elders simply baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see the squirrels at Christmas and Easter.
Three churches in town were overrun with squirrels. After much prayer, the elders of the first church determined that the animals were predestined to be there. Who were they to interfere with God’s will? They did nothing, and the squirrels multiplied. The elders of the second church, deciding BY THE WAY that they should not harm any of God’s I left my job at the helium gas factory. I didn’t creatures, humanely trapped the squirrels like being spoken to in that voice. www.mikeysfunnies.com 6
All Souls Orchestra &
Massed Prom Praise Choir
Noël Tredinnick
(conductor)
Rico Tice (speaker) with guest artists:
Paul Baloche Ben Cantelon
Andrew Finden (baritone) & Grace Yeo (piano)
Royal Albert Hall London
Saturday 22 April 2017 at 7.30pm £39, £36.50, £34, £31, £22.50, £17.50, £12.50 & £7 (standing)
Group discount: 10 tickets for price of 9 All prices include souvenir programme
Royal Albert Hall Box Office 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com Booking fees will be applied by the Box Office (see over for details)
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MISSION
SAINTS AND MARTYRS
How the good news about Jesus is turning lives around in the community where five young American missionaries were murdered for their faith. GARY CLAYTON reports ON SUNDAY 8 January 1956, MAF pilot Nate Saint and four American friends were speared to death in the Ecuadorian rainforest – the victims of an animistic tribe renowned for its violence. Nate (pictured below left) and fellow missionaries Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, Roger Youderian and Ed McCully first made contact with the widely feared Auca – now known as the Waodani – in 1955. The missionaries began by flying over the rainforest and lowering gifts in a bucket, shouting over the plane’s loudspeaker: “We like you. We like you. We are friends!” Eventually, after successfully exchanging gifts and friendly messages for some weeks, Nate finally attempted a landing. So they camped on the borders of the Waodani’s territory, and waited. After three days, three Waodani appeared on the bank opposite and, encouraged by Jim Elliot, ate with the Americans. Naenkiwi, a 30-year-old tribal man,
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indicated that he wanted to fly in the plane, so Nate flew him over his village. The five missionaries eventually flew back to their base, praising God for a successful meeting. On 8 January 1956, Nate radioed back to base: “Pray for us. This is the day! We will contact you next at 4.30pm.” When members of the tribe heard the aircraft, they hid from view. Then, as soon as it landed, three Waodani women distracted the enthusiastic missionaries. The fearsome warriors then crept up behind them – spearing Nate Saint. As Ed McCully rushed over to his friend’s side, a second spear pierced his skin. Within minutes, all five were dead – their bloodstained bodies floating in the Curaray River. Seven years earlier, Jim Elliot had written in his journal: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” The world was shocked at the tragedy – Life magazine publishing a 10-page photo
MISSION
essay on the story, which was also covered in Reader’s Digest and many other publications. But what the Waodani intended for harm, God intended for good (Genesis 50:20). In 1959, Nate Saint’s sister Rachel and Jim Elliot’s widow Elisabeth were invited to settle among the Waodani – sharing the Gospel with the missionaries’ murderers and teaching them about forgiveness. They were joined by Nate’s son Steve, who had only been five years old at the time of his father’s death. Aged 10, Steve spent his first summer living with the Waodani in the jungle. He was later baptised by a Waodani pastor – one of the men who had murdered his father in 1956. The baptism occurred in the same river that the bodies of the five martyred missionaries were found. In 1995, the Waodani elders asked Steve to live with them. While he and his family – including son Jaime – were there, Steve decided he wanted to find better ways of doing mission and giving indigenous Christians the tools needed to fulfil the Great Commission. This resulted in the formation of I-TEC – the Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center. In 2005, Steve wrote End of the Spear, the story of how his father and four others
INSPIRE
died at the hands of the Waodani, and how Steve eventually came to love his father’s killers and adopt a number of them as members of his family. In God’s providence, Steve’s son Jaime (pictured below right) followed in his family’s footsteps. He joined I-TEC and established LIFE University to provide the North American Church with tools to evaluate their mission strategy and empower them in providing practical help to their communities. Sixty years later, the story of Operation Auca and the five young men who died for their faith continues. TODAY, ABOUT A Today, about a third THIRD OF THE TRIBE of the tribe have been HAVE BEEN BAPTISED baptised, and meet weekly for Bible study and prayer. Earlier this year, Jaime Saint toured the UK, telling the inspiring story of his family and his grandfather’s sacrifice. 4front Theatre, who toured with him, continue to perform their show Reckless Abandon, telling the story of the five missionaries and their families, throughout 2017. + To book tickets to see Reckless Abandon, a moving story of love, bravery and sacrifice, visit http://bit.ly/2mPGLZR
www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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BRAIN STRAINERS
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CROSSWORD Across 6. Portable telephone (6) 7. Decant wine into glass (4) 8. Tiny rodents (4) 9. Sponger of money (inf) (6) 10. Slap (5) 12. Pig-like sound (5) 15. Set of lectures/classes (6) 17. Garden outhouse (4) 18. Windermere, for example (4) 19. Depends (6) Down 1. Rostrum (6) 2. Sit on a bicycle (4) 3. Settle on a branch (5) 4. Web-spinning creature (6) 5. Wordless (4) 11. Hair roller (6) 13. Required, necessary (6) 14. Ache for, want (5) 16. Spoken, verbal (4) 17. Grain storage chamber (4)
You’ll find the solution in our My Inspire section at www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
SUDOKU SuDoku in Japanese means ‘number-solving’.
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WORD GOAL How many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? Each must contain the centre letter, all the others can be used only once. Goal: Superb – 18; Excellent – 16; Well Done – 12; Good – 9
You’ll find the solution in our My Inspire section at www. inspiremagazine. org.uk
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SALT Insurance team have nearly 20 years’ experience in providing medical and travel insurance for missionaries, church groups and individuals. We have: policies to suit your needs competitive prices discounts if purchased via our website no automatic pre-existing medical condition exclusion high risk areas cover available So if you are going on mission, Short or Long Term, or just taking a relaxing holiday, contact SALT for a quote. telephone: 01342 843560 email: info@saltinsurance.com visit our website: www.saltinsurance.com
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The grid is 9x9, but has nine 3x3 minigrids or ‘regions’ built in. Some numbers, called ‘givens’, are inserted to give you a start. The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column and row in the main grid, and each region, contains the numbers 1–9 exactly once.
SALT Insurance Services Limited registered in England and Wales: no 6579352 is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, their registration number is 591051
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Puzzles by www.puzzle.tv
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INSPIRE
Special Edition
Dark
Original
Original (RRP £3.99) A fresh new redesign. Includes an Easter story activity book, illustrated by award winning artist, Alida Massari, a high quality milk chocolate egg (125g) & Yummy Bar (25g)
A 24 page Easter story-activity book illustrated by Alida Massari is included in the Original and Dark eggs.
Dark (RRP £5.50) An egg made from premium dark Fairtrade chocolate (155g) with dark Yummy Bar (25g) and Easter story activity book.
Special Edition (RRP £8.50) Contains a high quality milk chocolate egg (200g), an Easter traditions booklet and orange milk chocolate bar (80g).
Out of the 80 million Easter eggs sold in this part of the world every year, The Real Easter Egg is the only one which has an Easter story book in the box, is made of Fairtrade chocolate and makes a donation to charity from its sales.**
Where to Buy
Online or In-Store The full range can be bought online now at www.realeasteregg.co.uk or from a range of independent retailers, including Traidcraft, Eden.co.uk, TLMtrading.com, Embrace the Middle East, Christian bookshops and cathedral shops. You can also buy the original egg from Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons.
**There is a charitable donation for every 150g egg sold.
Find your nearest shop at: www.realeasteregg.co.uk
INSPIRE
WORLD CHURCH
SALMA’S STORY
Salma (image used for illustrative purposes)
Following Jesus in Morocco can be tough – Christian broadcasters SAT-7 share some of the challenges their listeners face …
PERSECUTION comes in many forms but it can be particularly harsh when your persecutors are your closest family. Salma* knows how tough life can be when you follow Jesus in Morocco. “My parents hate me,” she told SAT-7 Christian Television’s viewer support team, “They don’t even eat with me. They force me to stay at home. I don’t go anywhere, not even to school. They call me ‘faithless’ but I don’t care about that.” Family life had always been difficult. Her father was very tough and her parents’ relationship suffered as a result. This inevitably affected the whole family and left Salma feeling 12
All photos: SAT-7
I AM TRYING TO MAKE GOD’S LOVE VISIBLE TO TO MY MY FAMILY, FAMILY VISIBLE ALTHOUGH THEY TREAT ME HARSHLY
sad and alone. She says, “I cried a lot.” By age 13 Salma was so full of sadness, anger and frustration that she cried out against God, blaming Him for the situation. What Salma didn’t realise then was that God had His hand on her life and in her desperation would bring her to know Him. Looking for answers, Salma was drawn to visit a church, where a kind minister listened attentively to her story. That night, as Salma “One in five viewers who contact SAT-7 send us prayer requests. Prayer is the greatest contribution that you can make to this ministry.” Dr Terence Ascott, SAT-7 Founder and CEO
WORLD CHURCH
slept, she had a remarkable encounter with God. She said, “I dreamt that God was holding my hand and leading me to the church. At that moment, I knew that God is in the church!” Although she knew that her family would disapprove, Salma began attending church whenever she could, even skipping school to go. It was on one such occasion when aged 15 – six years ago – that her father saw her leaving the church and became furious. Since then her parents have stopped her from leaving the house. In her message to SAT-7, Salma said, “I don’t have any friends, so I want to communicate with you. I want you as a friend because you know that Christians are so few in Morocco. I love God and worship him. I trust in God. He is my shield. I am trying to make God’s love visible to my family, although they treat me harshly. “SAT-7 television has made a difference in my life. I have learnt everything I know about the Christian faith from watching SAT-7.” Remarkably, even though Salma’s family is so opposed to her Christian faith, she’s able to use SAT-7 television to share the Gospel with them! She said, “When my family saw a programme on SAT-7 they began to ask me questions and I tried to present the word of God to them. “I encourage my younger sister to watch SAT-7 with me. I try to introduce Jesus’ message to her.” Despite the daily persecution she experiences, and her isolation as a believer, Salma’s faith is incredibly mature and steadfast. She ended her message to SAT-7 by saying, “It’s no problem. I thank God for the grace of Christ.” *Name changed to protecty identity.
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MORE ABOUT SAT-7 Based in the Middle East and broadcasting in Arabic, Turkish and Farsi to the 500 million people of the region, SAT-7 is … aking the Gospel visible – to millions of M families who would otherwise not have access to it. aking the local church visible – in places M where Christians often remain invisible to society. aking rights and freedoms visible – M challenging prejudice and discrimination against people because of their faith, gender, disability or social standing. Satellite television in Morocco brings Christian programmes to isolated believers
RESPONDING IN PRAYER
You can be part of what God is doing to bring hope and transformation to the Middle East and North Africa. Sign up for our prayer alerts and we will send you a short text link to our monthly news and prayer resource. TEXT: PRAY to 60777* OR SIGN UP at: www.sat7uk.org/news-prayer *Texts cost your standard network rate. To opt out text: PRAYSTOP to 60777.
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INSPIRE
QUESTION TIME
AN ARGUMENT I often hear from sceptic friends goes like this: you’re only a Christian because you were born to Christian parents, in a culturally Christian country. If you’d been born in Pakistan, you’d have been a Muslim; born in Thailand, you’d have been Buddhist. Your faith is purely based on circumstances. This claim was recently made by the comedian and atheist Ricky Gervais and went viral. So, does it stand up? The first problem with the “born this way” argument is it proves too much. Our atheist friends wield it against religion, but isn’t it a twoedged sword? After all, many enthusiastic young atheists were raised by atheist parents, in atheist families, and in secular western societies. Therefore, presumably, the only reason they are atheists is not because atheism is true, but because they were raised that way. The sceptical argument boomerangs back on itself spectacularly. But it gets worse. The next problem is that “born this way” is a deeply anti-human argument. It assumes that humans are naïve and foolish, unable to think for themselves, trapped in whatever beliefs their parents brainwashed into them. 14
DOES MY UPBRINGING DETERMINE MY FAITH? DR ANDY BANNISTER continues his series tackling common questions or objections to Christianity Yet maybe we should give people more credit than that. Why not be more generous and assume that all parents have deeplyheld beliefs about the world and will naturally try to instil those into their children. Those children will grow up and there’ll come a time when many of them will choose for themselves – and a good number of them will do this in a balanced way, exploring the evidence for the different worldviews and deciding which makes the best sense of reality.
Ironically, at this point it turns out that those raised with a religious faith have a huge advantage. Given how secular the prevailing culture is, if you are raised with a religious faith, you are now in the position of being able to compare two viewpoints: the faith of your parents and your upbringing and the worldview of the culture. On the other hand, if all a child is ever exposed to is an insipid secularism, a half-hearted humanism that never bothers to examine its own foundations, how will that child ever know there’s an alternative? But the “born this way” argument has one final, fatal flaw. It ignores conversion. The world is full of people who, on examining the evidence, changed what they believed and they made that choice as adults. For
Further reading
I highly recommend Lamin Sanneh’s book, Whose Religion Is Christianity? It’s a short, highly readable study of how Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa and in the global south. And if you want to be encouraged by what God is doing here in the UK, read God’s Unwelcome Recovery by Sean Oliver-Dee.
QUESTION TIME
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Dr Andy Bannister is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity and an Adjunct Speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. He is also the author of The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Dreadful Consequences of Bad Arguments). Check out the Solas video series Short Answers at http://www.solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/ Have you heard (or do you have) a question or issue you’d like Andy to explore in a future column? Email it to editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk example, my good friend Nabeel Qureshi, who was born and raised a Muslim, became a Christian as an adult after seven years of carefully examining the evidence. He tells his story in his best-selling book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. I have hundreds of friends THE “BORN THIS WAY” like Nabeel, who found Jesus ARGUMENT IGNORES after years as Muslims, or Buddhists, or atheists. CONVERSION Those conversion patterns play out at a national level too. Media atheists like Ricky Gervais make sweeping remarks about where you are born determining your beliefs, whilst neglecting to notice that huge shifts are happening worldwide with religion, especially with Christianity. For example, China now has over 100 million Christians, a number that is growing rapidly, and is on track to soon become the world’s most Christian country. Or consider Africa. There were nine million Christians in the continent in 1900; there are now 400 million, a number projected to grow to 633 million by 2025. Some think Iran may become the first Middle Eastern “Christian country” in the next 50 years, so rapidly are people becoming Christians there. So, contrary to Ricky Gervais, where you are born does not determine what you believe. What you believe matters far more than that. For me, the biggest question is not where were you born, but are you born again? www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
MISSION
FIVE REASONS TO ... GO ON SHORT-TERM MISSION
Thinking about giving up some time to serve God overseas? SHARON BARNARD explores why it could be good to go Christian charities – in the UK as well as overseas – who would welcome your assistance. An increasing number have set up special programmes to cater for short-term workers.
4 It will pep up your prayer life
1 It will expand your horizons It’s true that travel broadens the mind, but when you’re involved in Christian work it will also stretch your spiritual muscles in ways you may never experience back at home. It will be an exciting opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and see God at work as you assist and serve others in another part of the world.
2 It might be a stepping stone to future service Do you have a passion for a particular place or people group – or feel your specialist skills could be put to good use in Christian work overseas? Going on short-term mission to an area of the world that God has put on your heart could be a way of exploring whether he is calling you there for the long term, or has other plans for your life.
3 You can choose a chunk of time to suit you If you’ve got a week, a month or even a year to spare and have appropriate skills as well, there are mission groups and
All Christians need to seek God’s guidance and help, and on short-term mission it’s likely there will be moments when all you will be able to do is pray! Seeing God answer those prayers in different ways will increase your faith and fire up your prayers for people you have met and places you have visited long after you have returned home.
5 Age is no barrier Whether you are 17 and exploring ideas for your gap year, or a 77-year-old retiree with a desire to serve God wherever he wants you, contact a few mission groups and Christian charities to see whether you fit their requirements and this might be your next step.
To find out more, contact OSCAR, the UK information service for world mission www.oscar.org.uk 16
An invitation from
CHRISTin the PASSOVER in your church to host
One of our speakers is able to come and host a Presentation or a Passover Seder meal in your church in the run up to Easter 2018!*� � � � � � This April, Jewish people all over the world will observe and celebrate Passover. During the same week, Christians all over the world will observe Maundy Thursday, remembering Jesus’ last supper, His fulfilment of Passover and the Lord’s institution of Holy Communion. Have you ever wondered how the Lord’s Supper emerged from the Passover? Or thought about what was on the table that evening? Jews for Jesus provides a fascinating insight into that pivotal evening with our ‘Christ in the Passover’ presentation. You can invite one of our missionaries to bring this presentation to your church or fellowship. (We still have some dates available during April 2017!)
This presentation has helped thousands of churches around the world to deepen their Communion experience and to enhance their Easter celebration. Please contact Paul on: 020 7267 5597 or email: enquiries@jewsforjesus.org.uk If you would like to see one of these presentations this year then you are invited to visit one of the following churches, but please contact them beforehand to check there is still space: Day
Date
Time
Hosts
Location
Contact number
Sunday
2-Apr
10:30am Julia Pascoe
Speaker
Melrose Christian Fellowship
Basingstoke
078 7961 6930
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2-Apr
6:30pm
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Woodside Baptist Church
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020 8656 4193
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2-Apr
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Bethel Baptist Church
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029 2083 1138
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8-Apr
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Rickstones Evangelical Church
WITHAM
013 7650 2729
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9-Apr
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011 7957 1685
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018 0361 5480
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9-Apr
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011 8935 3598
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9-Apr
10:30am Madeleine W. Pires
Mountsorrel Baptist Church
LOUGHBOROUGH
078 7043 4371
Sunday
9-Apr
9:30am
Richard S. Harvey
St Thomas & St Nicholas Bedhampton
HAVANT
023 9248 3013
Tuesday
11-Apr
7pm
Zigmund M. Rogoff
Westfield United Reformed Church
BRIDGEWATER
012 7844 7153
Tuesday
11-Apr
6pm
Richard S. Harvey
Thrapston Baptist Church
KETTERING
018 3273 4880
Wednesday 12-Apr
8pm
Julia Pascoe
Ferndale Baptist Church
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
017 0246 9126
Thursday
13-Apr
7pm
Katalin Tar
Portswood Church
SOUTHAMPTON
023 8039 9658
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13-Apr
6:30pm
Richard S. Harvey
Westborough Church
GUILDFORD
014 8357 8842
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13-Apr
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Julia Pascoe
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IPSWICH
014 7372 7774
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016 1336 4529
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St Peters
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017 0834 2080
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14-Apr
6:30pm
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LIMAVADY, NI
028 7772 2937
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14-Apr
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Katalin Tar
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PORTSMOUTH
023 9278 8710
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16-Apr
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Mansfield Baptist Church
MANSFIELD
016 2362 7710
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Cambridge
012 2377 8710
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*Please note spaces fill up fast which is why we take bookings over a year in advance. Registered Charity No. 1110425. Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales No. 5362994
MINISTRY
“I’d dealt with many traumatic incidents in my role as a chaplain, but this sudden tragedy and the enormity of it put my pastoral ministry to the test.” On Friday 6 March 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off the coast of Zeebrugge en route to Dover. The disaster claimed 193 lives. “I was on duty that sad evening in my role as chaplain to the Merchant Navy and National Sea Training College in Gravesend. “I was with a number of the young trainees, as well as several crew members of the Herald who were at the college studying.” Gradually, news came through that a British ferry was in trouble. “When the men realised it was their ship they became deeply anxious.” Later on that evening, Bill heard the devastating news that the disaster had resulted in a huge loss of life. He travelled to Dover as soon as he could and spent two weeks in the Seafarers’ Centre providing practical and emotional support to survivors and victims’ families.
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Photos: Sailors’ Society
INSPIRE
YOU DEPEND UPON THE GRACE OF GOD
SO MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES THAT NIGHT Thirty years on from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster, retired Sailors’ Society port chaplain BILL McCREA describes how he supported grieving families “It was an incredible shock to my system. “I have dealt with individual loss of life with seafarers’ families over the years, but it was the enormity of the situation. So many people lost their lives that night.”
MINISTRY
As chaplain at two of the nautical colleges in Gravesend, Bill knew the students well. “A young fellow, who was 17, fell one night on his way over to the mission. They’d rushed over and he tripped and split his forehead. We took him to hospital to get stitches.” A few weeks later, the teenager died in the disaster – his first posting as a seafarer. “He had only just finished college two weeks before and I knew him well.” Bill conducted the boy’s funeral service, comforting his family as he too struggled to come to terms with the devastating loss. Some of the families had to wait a long time for the recovery of their loved ones’ bodies. “One woman, whose husband I buried, had to wait six weeks before they found his body. I gave her all the support I could during that time. “Who can train you for that? Not even theological training. You depend upon the grace of God. “The families were a great support to me; I was there to care for them but they reciprocated and as a result I got to know them really well.” Bill officiated at four funeral services for the victims.
INSPIRE
“All the services I held were attended by crew who survived; it was part of their shared grief.” He also supported passengers who had survived the sinking. “I met a woman on one of my hospital visits; she lost her husband that night. She told me the only reason she survived was that a truck driver helped keep her awake by pinching her. “There were a lot of heroic acts that THERE WERE A LOT went on that night.” OF HEROIC ACTS Following the tragedy, Bill would THAT WENT ON continue to visit family members he had supported in Dover for many years, THAT NIGHT and also met crew members who had survived the disaster on ship visits years later. On the first anniversary, Bill led a memorial service at the request of the families, starting a tradition that Sailors’ Society has repeated every year since. This year’s service was held at St Mary’s Church, Dover, home of the main memorial to victims of the tragedy and where Bill held one of the funeral services for the lost. “No one wants to be involved in this sort of tragedy and it was a big strain on me at the time but supporting those I did is a great honour.”
HOW YOUR CHURCH CAN SUPPORT SEAFARERS
Can your church highlight the challenges seafarers face by holding a Sea Sunday service? Sailors’ Society has created a church resource pack, which is available to download free at www.seasundayhero.org. Along with a sermon by Dr Hugh Osgood, Sunday School and youth lessons, the charity has put together a video of Psalm 107 being read by the likes of Krish Kandiah, Chine McDonald and Bishop of Bristol Mike Hill. Sailors’ Society can also provide speakers like Bill, who can share stories from the sea and how the charity supports seafaring communities around the world. Sailors’ Society celebrates Sea Sunday on July 9, although it can take place on any Sunday that suits your church. To find out more visit www.seasundayhero.org www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
CHURCH GROWTH
TURNING THE CORNER A Cotswolds church that was facing an uncertain future just a few decades ago has witnessed a remarkable transformation … CHIPPING Campden Baptist Church (CCBC) has come a long way since the late 1970s, when the ‘congregation’ at one service consisted of three elderly members sitting around a stove in the chilly back room praying for new people to come in to the church. Steady but sustained growth over the past
few decades has meant that CCBC has grown to overflowing three times – and ‘planted’ two sister Baptist churches in Shipston-onStour and Bidford-onAvon. Nowadays, on a normal Sunday, the three ‘Cornerstone’ churches have a combined congregation of around 500 people, including scores of young children and teenagers.
Picture by Deborah Butler. www.deborah-butler.com
Chipping Campden Baptist Church’s senior minister Philip Deller, right, with fellow minister Edward Ibberson.
20
CHURCH GROWTH
Having twice ‘given away’ about 50 people when the two new churches were planted, the congregation at Chipping Campden quickly filled up again. After reaching capacity at its church building in Chipping Campden High Street, for the past few years Sunday morning services have been held in the hall of Chipping Campden School, the largest venue in town, which also has plenty of room for the various young people’s groups. Rev Philip Deller, who has been minister of CCBC since 1996, said he had felt a clear call from God to come to the Cotswolds from his previous church in Essex. He said: “I came with a vision to see Chipping Campden Baptist Church grow, but not only grow but begin to plant other congregations – and not only to plant other congregations but to see a genuine Christian revival in the Cotswolds and beyond. “One of the early encouragements I received came from one of the oldest members of the church at the time – one Alice Benfield. “Alice had been attending the church all her life. She had lived through all the ups and downs and told me on one pastoral visit how at one service there were only three people, including herself, and how the trio had gathered around the gas heater in the then back hall and just prayed for revival. “Very early on in my time at CCBC we knew that to facilitate growth and to have a building that we could use for outreach, we would need to remove the old pews, the pipe organ and old-fashioned pulpit area. “We were due to have a church meeting about these changes. Once again I decided to visit Alice to talk over the need for the changes. “The door was always open and as I entered her house I heard Alice’s voice say:
INSPIRE
‘I know why you’ve come Philip. You want to take out the pews, organ and pulpit’. “I was about to reply and give my most persuasive argument why these precious things had to be removed when Alice continued: ‘It’s our fault. We prayed for revival but I never thought it would come with drums! We don’t really like the new music and songs, but the young people do. We prayed for young people to come in and so we will not stand in the way. None of the oldies will oppose you. I’ll have a word with them’.” Rev Deller added: “Alice and I prayed together and as I left I thought to myself, with an attitude like that, God can do anything in this church, and he has. SINCE 1996 WE “Over the years HAVE SEEN OVER since 1996, we have seen over 200 people 200 PEOPLE baptised as believers, BAPTISED AS we have planted two BELIEVERS churches in Shipston and Bidford and now 500-plus folk gather every Sunday morning across our three congregations. “We are still praying for revival – for more, for hundreds and thousands to come to know Jesus Christ as their saviour and Lord across this area, across our nation.” One verse from the Bible that has been particularly special to Chipping Campden Baptist Church and the other Cornerstone churches in recent years can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (Used with permission from Loving The Cotswolds)
www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
PRAYER
LAST MAY more than 100,000 people from all denominations and traditions – in the UK and around the world – caught the vision to pray for others to know Jesus. They poured into cathedrals, got together in groups at home and prayed in their churches following an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to “join constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). This year the vision is even bigger – and there are also more ideas and resources available to help fire up people’s prayers. Emma Buchan who heads up Thy Kingdom Come explains: “We’re hoping people will be inspired to take part and be catalysts for setting up prayer events in their local area. “Last year Thy Kingdom Come gave people time and space outside their normal worshipping patterns to come closer to God and we heard many stories of the deep impact it had on people’s lives.” 22
Churches, families and individuals are being encouraged to join in the 10-day Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative from 25 May to 4 June. Have you signed up yet? asks SHARON BARNARD How you can be part of Thy Kingdom Come The period between Ascension and Pentecost is traditionally a time when the Church focuses on prayer. This year as Archbishop Justin Welby invites Christians to pray as one for people around the world to know “the life-transforming love of Christ,” he is encouraging all denominations and fellowships to Pledge2Pray. Resources There’s a range of resources for everyone. For churches Check out the website for service outlines, tips on running a 24/7 prayer event, novel suggestions for family worship and inspiration for your church prayer meeting. For individuals Not everyone is able to pray with someone, but you don’t have to miss out! You could pray for five friends, for example, or make your prayers active using social media and photography. For families and young people Pledge2Pray and discover plenty of bright ideas from using simple household items to inspire your prayers, to prayer safaris and activities for families with additional needs. Visit www.thykingdomcome.global for further information and www.cpo.org.uk/thykingdomcome for resources you can use at church and at home.
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By Brian Sherring (£7.50; special offer £5.00) The Ten Commandments are probably still the best known set of laws in the West. They lie behind our justice system and, in Christian society, form an outline of what God requires of mankind. They are of course, only an outline, or skeleton, that needs to be expanded—and that is just what this book does.
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23
INSPIRE
MY STORY
BILLY MCFETRIDGE spent several years in the Maze prison for terrorist offences. Then God turned his life around ...
SECOND CHANCE I WAS born in Larne, Northern Ireland, which is about 20 miles from Belfast, and I’m the eldest of two. Dad was a lorry driver – hard working and hard drinking which was to become a problem later in his life. I was brought up in a very staunch Protestant home. We were an ordinary working class family and went to church out of tradition. I had a difficult relationship with my dad, especially in my early teenage years. I left school at 15 with no qualifications and got a job in a local furniture shop. I decided that when I came of age I would join the Army and see what the world had to offer me. So I signed up for six years and saw service in Africa, Germany and England. I was in Derry, in August 1969, with a group called the Apprentice Boys when crowds of youths began throwing stones at our parade. We needed a police escort. That was 24
the ‘spark’ which ignited The Troubles and tore my country apart for many years. I lost a number of friends who served in Northern Ireland. In 1972 it came to our door when my dad’s cousin was kidnapped and murdered by the IRA. I was getting ready to return to civilian life and was home on leave when this happened. I insisted that I wanted to attend the funeral, which the Army wasn’t happy about – it was a paramilitary funeral in Loyalist Belfast. I went back to my regiment still very angry about this brutal murder. I left the Army in early 1973 and was asked shortly afterwards about joining the UDA (Ulster Defence Association), the largest Protestant paramilitary group. I saw that as an opportunity to get revenge, so I joined that group and was involved in acts of terrorism in the East Antrim area. Although I was never in doubt that my past
MY STORY
INSPIRE
ONE NIGHT IN MY PRISON CELL I ASKED GOD TO HELP ME would catch up with me, I tried to continue to live as normal a life as possible. I got married and started a family. My past did catch up with me in the early hours of one September morning in 1980. I was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and interrogated for seven days, at the end of which I was broken, especially mentally. I had been charged with murder and remanded in custody to Crumlin Road Prison in Belfast. It was during that long remand period that I thought about my life and wanted a second chance if possible. So, one night in my prison cell, I asked God to help me and give me that second chance – and he answered my prayers. In 1982 we came to trial and I was charged with murder amongst other offences. Halfway through the murder charge was dropped to manslaughter – a real answer to the prayers of my Christian friends. I received 12 years for manslaughter and
was sentenced in total to 152 years in prison on 52 counts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. I went to the H Blocks, began to educate myself and was released in 1987. I was divorced but interested in going to Bible college. After graduating from college I went to work for Prison Fellowship Northern Ireland which was a time of challenge and a real blessing. At this point I was living in Switzerland with my wife Martha and two children. We returned to England in 2001. I decided that I wanted to work with the church in my local community amongst the homeless, drug addicts and ex-offenders, so I set up a community chaplaincy which is the work I’m involved with today. Looking back over all these years I realise God gave me that second chance – and a full pardon. An updated version of Billy McFetridge’s book Full Pardon is published by Malcolm Down
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25
13 great giveaways worth over £150 Every month in Inspire, we give you the opportunity to bag an inspiring book, CD, DVD, tickets – anything we can lay our hands on to give away. Just fill in the form and tick your preference. You never know, you could be a winner! ERV Authentic Youth Bible Publishers are always searching for fresh ways to help engage young people with the Bible, and new out is the ERV Authentic Youth Bible (£12.99) – a hardback, easy-to-read contemporary translation with lots of supporting introductions, bite-sized insights, illustrations and articles. Grab a copy for your child, grandchild, or youth worker. 3 x copies
Full Pardon book Billy McFetridge’s story – which you’ll find in summary on Pages 24-25 – has been told in detail in his book Full Pardon, written with Michael Apichella (Malcolm Down Publishing £8.99). Ex-Army man Billy ended up being recruited by paramilitary organisation the UDA. Eventually arrested on manslaughter charges, he spent seven years in the Maze Prison before God began to rebuild his life … 5 x copies
NIV Bible In One Year Actor David Suchet has long been involved with audio versions of the Bible, and his latest project is the NIV Bible In One Year (Hodder & Stoughton £29.99), which has seen him record the whole NIV Bible, broken down into daily devotional excerpts, onto six MP3 CDs. These can be used in an MP3 enabled CD player or the files can be transferred to your computer, smartphone or MP3 player. 1 x boxed copy
Worship CDs Worship CDs can be a real blessing while you’re driving, or just when you need some inspirational and devotional music. We’ve got four recent titles to give away: GameChangers: Live Worship from Spring Harvest, #Worship: Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here, Let It Echo (Unplugged) by Jesus Culture, and Celtic Psalms with Kiran Young Wimberly and The McGraths. 4 x CDs
Title............................ Name........................................................................................... Address............................................................................................................................. ...................................................................... Postcode................................................... Tel .................................................................. E-mail....................................................... Who do you receive Inspire from?........................................................................................ My church is ...................................................................................................................... My choice: n ERV Authentic Youth Bible n Full Pardon n NIV Bible in One Year n Spring Harvest Gamechangers CD n #Worship CD n Let It Echo CD n Celtic Psalms CD Please return this form to: Inspire Giveaways, CPO, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 1BW
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FAIRHAVEN CHRISTIAN HOTEL (LLANDUDNO) Andrew & Paula offer you a warm Christian welcome, a relaxed atmosphere, Good home cooked food, diets catered for and a high standard of cleanliness overlooking Llandudno bay. All bedrooms are En-suite. Colour Brochure + info Phone 01492 878447 Email: andrew-paula@fairhaven-hotel. freeserve.co.uk
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We’ve so enjoyed reading the INSPIRE mag – I love the small format as it’s so much easier to carry around and give away. Thank you for a great Christian mag! Helen Watt We enjoy the truly inspiring stories month by month. Gwyneth Jones, Rossett Presbyterian Church, Wrexham
Due to the intended retirement of our present General Manager in December 2017, a successor is required who is a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Applications are welcome from qualified people with an interest in the care of elderly Christians, including those living with Dementia. Previous experience in a senior management capacity is essential. Enquiries to David Swan: Tel: 01704 568019 • Mob: 07876490388 Email: mail@eventidehome.co.uk • Website: Eventidehome.co.uk
001INC0117
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A great big ‘THANK YOU’ for this cracking little magazine. It does exactly what it says on the front cover – and more. Inspiring, heartwarming, challenging and fun. We look forward to each edition. Sandra Timms, West Wellow Methodist Church, Hants They love Inspire. And so will you. Published by CPO, and funded by partners, advertising and donations, it’s been our vision from day one to produce a magazine that is good news, telling the stories you don’t always hear of changed people, churches, and communities. Find lots more stories and content on www.inspiremagazine.org.uk. *We do encourage churches to consider an annual donation towards our postage costs. You can have a personal copy of Inspire sent direct to your door each issue by completing the form below – or order bulk copies for your church
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