INSPIRE STO RIES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS
HOPES AND TEARS Steven Curtis Chapman on his 30-year journey in Christian music
MILLIONAIRE COUPLE GIVING IT ALL AWAY 5 STEPS TO PEP UP YOUR PRAYER LIFE CRAZY BANANAS: KIDS’ PARTIES AND BIBLE STORIES WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR FAITH? WIN BIG CHURCH DAY OUT TICKETS
Issue 112 • May 2017
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CONTENTS
S TO R I E S TO L I F T YO U R S P I R I T S
Growing with God through life’s challenges Everyone knows that choosing to follow Jesus is no guarantee of an easy ride. It may mean a whole heap of trouble. Certainly there will be moments of pain, as well as joy. This issue’s stories reflect as much. Songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman reflects on 30 years that have included his youngest adopted daughter’s death in a car crash (4–5). John Edwards battled addictions before God set him free – now he preaches from a coffin to get young people’s attention (24–25). There are also challenges in being blessed: multimillionaires John and Rosemary Lancaster became leading UK philanthropists (8–9), while an exercise on a training course led Sally Beadle to set up her own children’s party business (18–19). Thank you to all who have donated to our 2017 Appeal (click GIVE on INSPIRE inspiremagazine.org.uk if you HOPES haven’t got round to it yet). AND TEA STORI ES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRIT S
God bless you and yours
RS
Steven Curti Chapman s on 30-year journhis in Christian ey music MILLIONA IRE COUPLE GIVING IT ALL AWAY 5 STEPS TO PEP UP YOUR PRAY ER LIFE CRAZY BAN KIDS’ PART ANAS: IES AND BIBLE STOR IES
WHAT WOU MAKE YOU LD YOUR FAITHLOSE ? WIN BIG CHURCH DAY OUT TICKETS
Russ Bravo, Editor
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4 Hopes and tears – Steven Curtis Chapman tells George Luke about the highs and lows of 30 years in Christian music 6 Bits n Pieces – fun, stats, good apps and online destinations 8 Giving it all away – Rosemary Lancaster explains to Catherine Larner how philanthropy grew from a successful business 10 Puzzles – have a go at our crossword, sudoku and word goal 12 Pulpit connection – Lorraine Cavanagh says careful preparation is one of the keys to inspirational preaching 14 Question time – Dr Andy Bannister answers the question ‘What would make you lose your faith?’ 16 5 steps … to a renewed prayer life – Sharon Barnard outlines ways to pep up your praying 17 What my tumour taught me – student Luke Blakelock on how his faith has helped him cope with a rare illness 18 More than puppets – why the balloon animals came in two by two for children’s party specialist Sally Beadle 20 Hit for six – an eye injury forced West Indian test batsman Ron Headley to recognise he’d made cricket his god 22 Sowing seeds – how Germinate, a new programme from the Arthur Rank Centre, is helping rural churches revive their communities 24 Grave words – ex-addict John Edwards is so determined to keep young people from an early grave, he’s preaching from a coffin underground … 26 Giveaways – win Big Church Day Out tickets, a CVM worship CD for blokes, plus books on preaching and philanthropy 28 Holidays and Classified – great places to stay, small ads, and more Cover stories
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BIG INTERVIEW
HOPES AND TEARS
Steven Curtis Chapman talks to GEORGE LUKE about his 30-year journey encompassing both triumph and tragedy … STEVEN Curtis Chapman is one of the most decorated singers in the world of contemporary Christian music. The 20-plus albums he has released in his 30-year career have won 58 Dove Awards and five Grammys. And now he’s added another feather to his cap by becoming an author.
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Steven’s memoir, Between Heaven and the Real World, has just been published; a warm, candid recollection of the past 30 years and more. Says Steven: “I’ve had several people say, ‘I can’t remember where I was last week! How did you remember what you were doing 45 years ago?’ I had the same fear – until I started writing.
BIG INTERVIEW
“I learnt something about myself – and, I think, about us as humans. We’re made to remember. Certainly God thought it was important for the Israelites to put up stones as memorials so they could go back and remember, because it’s important – especially as believers, to remember where God has show‑n up in our lives. “For me, one of the happiest experiences writing this book was that I fell in love with my wife all over again. Mary Beth Chapman and I met in college 30 years ago. Students’ mailboxes were assigned alphabetically, two students to a mailbox, and we shared the same one. “In the retelling of that story, there was IT’S IMPORTANT TO just something so powerful about reREMEMBER WHERE tracing those steps: GOD HAS SHOWN how madly in love UP IN OUR LIVES we were in the beginning, and how crazy our journey has been – and also how painful.” Without a doubt, one of the most painful moments in Steven’s journey happened on 21 May 2008: the day the Chapmans’ youngest adopted daughter Maria was tragically killed in a car accident at their home. “Recounting the events of losing Maria was by far the most difficult part of retelling the story,” says Steven. “Not just the events of the day itself, but that whole season of deepest grief, shock and trauma to our lives, our hearts and souls in the loss of her.” Maria was the third of three Chinese girls Steven and Mary Beth adopted. “Our eldest daughter Emily went to Haiti when she was 12,” he recalls, “and it was through her heart being broken by seeing children without families that she began to talk to us and pray for us to consider adoption.” In 2000, the Chapmans adopted Shao-
INSPIRE
hannah Hope. Stevey Joy and Maria soon followed. In 2003, Steven and Mary Beth founded Show Hope: a charity that helps find adoptive parents for orphaned children. “Show Hope continues to grow beyond anything we ever imagined, and has helped many, many children,” Steven says. “It’s been an incredible thing for us to be part of.” Christian music has come a long way since 1987 when Steven’s debut album, First Hand, was released. “I’ve seen so much change,” he says fondly. “So much has been incredibly good. Christian music has grown beyond anything we could have imagined. When I first came along, it was a much smaller genre. I saw these mainstream record labels purchase small Christian music labels (in my case, EMI purchased Sparrow Records), saying, ‘We’re going to take this music to many more people. We think the world needs to hear this music instead of just the people in the church’. Then you saw the styles begin to evolve. “Worship music has been an incredible part of what we’ve seen happen. And in the US, we have much to thank the UK for, giving us some of the greatest songs that started the whole wave of modern hymns and church music. “Again there’s a challenge with that, because it has become such a big business. So yes, there are challenges with the growth of Christian music – but as one of the family, I do feel that by God’s grace we’re doing it well. Not perfectly, but we’re doing a lot more right than not.” *Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman is published by Baker Publishing at £8.99
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BITS ’N’ PIECES STATS | S UNDAY ROAST OFF MENU The great British Sunday roast could become a thing of the past as new research reveals Brits are ditching the family favourite in favour of quicker and healthier alternatives. A survey of 1,034 UK adults by appliances e-tailer AppliancesDirect.co.uk found that just 11% now enjoy the British tradition every week. For a health-conscious 20% the 800 calories in a typical roast dinner was enough to put them off, opting to make healthier Sunday meal choices. Some 61% cite not having enough people at home to cook a dinner as one of the reasons for not eating a Sunday roast weekly, while more than half said that it takes too long to make. The cost of meat was a reason for 39% and 1 in 5 said they were too busy with social commitments to attend the weekly ritual.
ONLINE Looking for a new resource that helps move your congregation from worship on Sunday into living for Jesus on Monday? Take a look at Whole Life Worship from LICC: www.licc.org.uk/resources/ whole-life-worship
APP If you’re an iPad user, a handy resource worth checking out is iWitness Biblical Archaeology, which takes you to archaeological digs and shows how recent discoveries have frequently confirmed the accuracy of Bible stories. iOS only and costs £2.99. A great free app is the pure and simple GNT Uplifting Scriptures from Good News Text, which sends an uplifting verse of Scripture to your phone at the time you set. Available in English or Spanish, for iOS and Android.
WORD HAS IT
Two lorries, loaded with thousands of copies of Roget’s Thesaurus, collided as they left a publishing house recently, according to the Press Association. Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied ...
We Love Inspire
I am writing to thank you very much for the copies of Inspire you send in to our prison. We are a Fully Foreign National prison of about 600 prisoners. Many of them speak good English and really appreciate your publication. I, too, have enjoyed them and think they are very uplifting. Rev Alisoun Francis, Managing Chaplain, HMP Maidstone 6
NOTICE
I think I’ll just put an “Out of Order” sticker on my forehead and call it a day.
REMOTE
Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk nine feet through shagpile carpet to change the TV to one of three channels. And sometimes the testcard was all that was on. www.mikeysfunnies.com
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
Sunday
2-Apr
6:30pm
Richard S. Harvey
Woodside Baptist Church
CROYDON
020 8656 4193
Sunday
2-Apr
6:30pm
Zigmund M. Rogoff
Bethel Baptist Church
CAERPHILLY
029 2083 1138
Saturday
8-Apr
4pm
Julia Pascoe
Rickstones Evangelical Church
WITHAM
013 7650 2729
Sunday
9-Apr
10am
Zigmund M. Rogoff
Pendennis Good News Church
BRISTOL
011 7957 1685
Sunday
9-Apr
10:30am Katalin Tar
Central Church
TORQUAY
018 0361 5480
Sunday
9-Apr
6pm
Lower Earley Baptist Church
READING
011 8935 3598
Sunday
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
Thursday
13-Apr
6:30pm
Richard S. Harvey
Westborough Church
GUILDFORD
014 8357 8842
Thursday
13-Apr
7pm
Julia Pascoe
Waterfront Churches
IPSWICH
014 7372 7774
Thursday
13-Apr
6pm
Madeleine W. Pires
St Marys Church
MANCHESTER
016 1336 4529
Thursday
13-Apr
7pm
Zigmund M. Rogoff
St Peters
ROMFORD
017 0834 2080
Friday
14-Apr
6:30pm
Zigmund M. Rogoff
Ballykelly Presbyterian Church
LIMAVADY, NI
028 7772 2937
Friday
14-Apr
6:30pm
Katalin Tar
Immanuel Baptist Church
PORTSMOUTH
023 9278 8710
Sunday
16-Apr
10:30am Katalin Tar
Mansfield Baptist Church
MANSFIELD
016 2362 7710
Sunday
16-Apr
11pm
RCCOG City of Zion
Cambridge
012 2377 8710
Julia Pascoe
Richard S. Harvey
*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
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PHILANTHROPY
WHAT would you do with a million pounds? Or ten million? How would you handle a fortune of more than £100m? Most of us only dream about such sums, but John and Rosemary Lancaster have confronted this issue for many years. They don’t have privileged backgrounds, but achieved incredible wealth through a business John created in 1983, called Ultraframe. In retirement, they created the Lancaster Foundation, dedicated to charitable giving, and they are now among Britain’s most generous philanthropists. “I’m not your normal businessman – I’m not all strategic and money-minded,” says John. He had left school at 15 with no qualifications but immersed himself in various business projects. “Success did not come easily but after many risks, failures and mistakes. My new-found Christian faith made all the difference, helping me to keep focused and challenging my conscience.” Always inspired by his wife’s strong belief, John’s turning point came when an early business venture faced ruin. “I had sunk to the lowest point in my life,” he says. “I 8
GIVING AWAY £100M After selling their successful business, John and Rosemary Lancaster set about giving it all away. CATHERINE LARNER discovers their story … was desperate.” Leaning on God caused him to change his perspective. “I found I’d got talents which had never come out before. I kept coming up with ideas.” He identified a product which no one else seemed to be offering and formed Ultraframe. John, Rosemary and their two children moved into a caravan so that they could build the company and steadily it grew into a world-leader of conservatory roofing systems. Looking after their staff, running their business with integrity, investing in their local community and regularly giving to charity, the Lancasters were always eager to praise God for his love and guidance. And in 1997 they floated the business for £136.4m and retired. “God had blessed us beyond our wildest dreams,” says Rosemary. “But He hadn’t blessed us for our own sake. We knew that He had a purpose behind this staggering windfall that
GOD HAD A PURPOSE BEHIND THIS STAGGERING WINDFALL THAT WAS MEANT TO BRING HEALING, HOPE AND JOY TO MANY PEOPLE
was meant to bring healing, hope and joy to many people.” The challenge then was to set about giving away their astonishing fortune, starting with their 550 employees at Ultraframe in Clitheroe who were each invited to buy shares for a token sum, and received an average return of £20,000. The impact of the business’s success on the town’s economy was enormous. “I always wanted everyone to share the dream I had,” says John. “To feel they had a share in a business.” As Ultraframe had grown, Rosemary had taken on more responsibility for increasing the charitable work. Now she is in charge of the Lancaster Foundation which offers financial and practical support to suffering, disadvantaged and marginalised people throughout the UK and Africa. It has purchased an emergency plane for Mission Aviation Fellowship, and started the first village for destitute AIDS victims in South Africa. Rosemary even found herself rescuing children from the rubbish tips of Eldoret, Kenya. The foundation has sponsored arts initiatives and inner city regeneration projects in Manchester, and is committed to numerous local and national youth and community projects. A book has recently been released detailing this work and describing the personal story, experiences and motivations of
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PHILANTHROPY
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the Lancasters who have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and have both been honoured with MBEs. Initially entitled ‘A Letter to my Grandchildren’, Rosemary had drafted a record of their life story which she intended to self-publish. “I wanted to share my life and experiences of God’s grace. But, gradually, the project grew and I began to realise that this story of blessing
was not just for our little family, but hopefully for many people around the world.” Called Give the Best Away, the book is widely available (turn to page 26 for the chance to win a copy). “It’s achieving everything I’d hoped,” says Rosemary. “I think everyone has a story that can touch the life of another, and I believe it’s important for grandparents and parents to help the next generation understand the cost behind every human endeavour to appreciate where we are today.” www.givethebestaway.co.uk 9
BRAIN STRAINERS
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CROSSWORD Across 1. Judicial tribunal (5) 4. Glucose (5) 7. Formal meeting (9) 8. Snoop, meddle (3) 9. Large trunk (5) 11. Puts in order (5) 14. Dip head courteously (3) 17. Arctic opposite (9) 18. Ancient Roman language (5) 19. Fret, be concerned (5)
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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.
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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 – 38; Excellent – 36; Well Done – 27; Good – 20
You’ll find the solution in our My Inspire section at www. inspiremagazine. org.uk
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Puzzles by www.puzzle.tv
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You’ll find the solution in our My Inspire section at www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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SuDoku in Japanese means ‘number-solving’.
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Down 1. Medical premises (6) 2. Wrong, inaccurate (6) 3. Non-Labour politician (4) 4. Seaman (6) 5. Stare openly, rudely (inf) (4) 6. Precious ring stone (4) 10. Scottish check design (6) 12. Crazy (inf) (6) 13. Tacky, adhesive (6) 14. Swelling, abscess (4) 15. Stick around (4) 16. Enlarge, extend (4)
SUDOKU
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PREACHING
MAKING THE CONNECTION
Good communicators help people to understand, which is why it’s vital preachers put in the prep for their sermons, says LORRAINE CAVANAGH The word ‘sermon’ has a leaden Victorian ring to it. It does not strike a very harmonious chord in the hearts of those who are looking to the Church to help them sense the presence of a loving God at work in their lives. Perhaps this is because many of those who preach may not be aware that meeting people’s need for God is the primary purpose of preaching. 12
The preacher is called to facilitate a particular kind of encounter. The encounter will be effected through what listeners take away with them, so good preaching is always both inspirational and inspired, both missional and pastoral. Inspired preaching remains the single most important gift a church has to offer those who come through its doors on a Sunday. What then does the sermon require of the person who preaches? The preacher must first recognise her own need for God and how her encounter with him continues to inspire her life. So she will speak from her own sense of God’s presence into theirs. She comes to the preaching task with the same openness to God as she expects of her listeners. The truth, which may only be fully revealed to her as she speaks, is already present in the hearts of her listeners. They are expectant, waiting
for the preacher to awaken the word within them into life, even if they do not always realise it at the time. All good preaching is an invitation to both preacher and listener to take theology seriously. The preacher does not speak out of an intellectual vacuum and, provided she has not altogether lost touch with her listeners from the start, will explore with them the theological and spiritual implications inherent in the moral and political complexities of today’s world. Inspiring preaching derives from a ‘heart-thinking’ process and it begins with the preacher’s own heartthinking. How we read a text with the heart as well as the intellect, and transmit its truth to our listeners, is part of this process. It is also a three-way conversation between the preacher and the Holy Spirit, and between that same Spirit and the people in the pews. The preacher is therefore a connector. He receives the word in the text and allows it to work into his thinking through being open to its gentle transformative power in his own life. The preacher will transmit the fruits of this particular kind of learning directly into the
PREACHING
INSPIRE
hearts of those listening to him. The sermon is also sacramental. It ‘hallows’ the thoughts of both listener and speaker, so making the inspirational speaker an agent of transformation. For this to be possible, the preacher must be an effective communicator. It’s not just about technique, although it is essential to have a basic grasp of certain practical skills. These will help both preacher and listener to feel relaxed and confident about the sermon itself. Neither is effective communication about ‘telling’ people things. A sermon is not a lecture. Jesus did not talk down to his listeners. He simply talked to them. SERMON A good communicator connects with PREPARATION people in such a way as to enable real understanding, and something which IS MOSTLY has been understood will be retained, ABOUT WAITING perhaps for years. As preachers we ‘read, mark, learn and inwardly digest’ scripture. We read with a ‘listening eye’ as we ‘mark’ what we sense the text is speaking to us and so ‘learn’ the idea. There will always be something which speaks into the preacher’s heart and allows her to ‘see’ or ‘contemplate’ the truth which God wishes his people to hear, if she is prepared to wait on his Word. Sermon preparation is not about actively thinking. It is mostly about waiting. Inspirational preachers must be continually in the presence of God, ‘holding’ the people and waiting on the Word that will be revealed through, and not by, the words they will speak. Lorraine Cavanagh is the author of Waiting on the Word: preaching sermons that connect people with God (Darton, Longman & Todd) www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
QUESTION TIME
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU Welcome to the latest instalment of our series where ANDY BANNISTER tackles common questions or objections to the Christian faith. Next time you meet a friend who isn’t a Christian, why not ask them a question like: “If you could ask God anything, what would it be?” Send your question to editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk and we may tackle it in a future column! I SOMETIMES ask atheist friends: “What would make you change your mind and become a Christian?” Over the years I’ve received some fascinating answers to that question. Now it’s entirely fair for an atheist friend to turn the question around and fire it back at me: “Andy, what would it take for you to abandon your Christian faith and become an atheist?” It’s an entirely fair question because the Bible is clear that we should be able to give reasons for our Christian faith (1 Peter 3:15). Christianity has always been evidence-based – for example, the first Christians, on the Day of Pentecost, when asked why they were preaching and
CHRISTIANITY WORKS BECAUSE IT’S TRUE
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causing such a kerfuffle, boldly proclaimed that Jesus had been raised right there in the city (and implied one could go and visit the empty tomb if one wished to check). And that leads directly to the first part of my answer to my atheist friend’s question. For me to abandon my Christian faith, I would need to become persuaded of two things. First, that the Gospel accounts of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus are not reliable. And, second, that Jesus never rose from the dead. But in both cases, I believe we are on very strong historical ground as Christians. Recent scholarship on the Gospels has only served to increase our confidence in these first-century historical documents. For sure, Christians can point to the inner witness of the Spirit when it comes to the truth of scripture; but we can also point our friends to history and ask them to approach the Gospels as we would any other ancient documents and weigh carefully what they say. Similarly, on the resurrection, we have incredibly strong historical reasons for believing that Jesus rose from the dead. Historian and philosopher, Gary Habermas, has argued that there are a number of historical facts, agreed upon by almost all historians (be those historians Christian,
QUESTION TIME
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ABANDON YOUR FAITH? Dr Andy Bannister is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity and an Adjunct Speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. His best-selling book, The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Dreadful Consequences of Bad Arguments) is available from all good book stores. Also check out the popular Solas video series, SHORT/ANSWERS, at http://www.solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/ Jewish or secular). Namely that Jesus was killed by crucifixion, that his tomb was found empty by a group of his women followers, that his disciples were transformed from cowards to bold evangelists, that many of them gave their lives for the message of the resurrection, and that sceptics (such as Paul, or James, the brother of Jesus) came to believe Jesus was the Messiah because of the resurrection. We can then ask: what best explains these facts? And the “Resurrection Hypothesis” stands head and shoulders above all competing explanations. You’d have to overturn my confidence in the Gospels and in the resurrection for me to abandon my faith. But there’s another pillar my faith stands on. Namely that in more than 20 years of public ministry, I have met hundreds of people whose lives have been transformed by their faith in Jesus. I have met former criminals (at least one former murderer), drug addicts, prostitutes, gamblers, alcoholics, adulterers and people
FURTHER READING On the reliability of the Gospels, I recommend Amy Orr-Ewing’s book, Why Trust the Bible? On the resurrection, read the wonderful The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona. And one of my favourite classic testimony books is Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz.
whose lives have been at rock bottom. And then, through their encounter with Jesus, they have discovered hope, joy, peace, and a new identity in Christ. Christianity is not true because it works. But I wholeheartedly believe it works because it’s true. You would have to show me that all of those stories and testimonies were false or their tellers deluded or mistaken, for me to reconsider faith in Christ. A few years ago, the atheist journalist Matthew Parris was sent by his newspaper to report from Malawi1. Whilst there, he was deeply impressed by the Christians he met and wrote an article entitled, ‘As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God’. I will leave you with Matthew’s words: Travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my worldview, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God. Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa ... In Africa, Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good. 1
Matthew Parris, ‘As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God’, The Times, 27 Dec 2008.
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INSPIRE
KNOWHOW
1 You don’t have to do all the talking! Our Heavenly Father wants us to bring our thanks, needs and concerns to him, but prayer is a conversation and we should learn to listen to him too! God speaks to us through his Word, the Bible. Read a few verses or a chapter every day and expect to hear God’s voice. As you get to know the Bible more and more, you will find he will speak into your life and guide your thoughts and actions. 2 Count your blessings It can sometimes feel as we’re working our way through a long shopping list when we pray. Start off by thanking God for all the wonderful things he gives us – a new day, our family, friends, somewhere to live, his care – and it will put everything else into perspective. 3 Find a quiet spot We can talk to God anywhere and at any time, but it is also helpful to find somewhere away from the daily distractions and demands to tell him what’s on our hearts and reflect on his Word. This can be more easily said than done, but it is possible if we’re creative. Try those first few precious moments in the morning before the kids pull you out of bed. Get to work a few minutes early and pray in the car, go for a walk, take a bath or shut yourself away in your bedroom, kitchen or shed ...
FIVE STEPS TO REVITALISING YOUR PRAYER LIFE
4 Try praying out loud It may feel a little odd at first, but some people find it is helpful to speak out their prayers if they are on their own.
If praying feels a bit of a chore, or you’re not sure where to start, SHARON BARNARD suggests a few ways to get going
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5 Pray with someone Getting together regularly with a prayer partner or joining a prayer triplet can help to spur you on in your personal prayer life. It’s an opportunity to support and encourage each other in good times and bad, and share how God has answered your prayers. Got a great prayer tip? Share it with us by emailing editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk
RURAL CHURCH
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SOWING SEEDS TO HELP COMMUNITIES FLOURISH A NEW Germinate programme to enable rural churches to help their community flourish has been accepted as a Cinnamon Network recognised project. Developed by Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre, this business start-up programme can be run by any church to encourage local people to develop their entrepreneurial skills, work out what business to start and check whether it would be viable. Follow-up “Beer Mat Mentoring” material facilitates informal ongoing support of aspiring entrepreneurs. “We are really excited that Germinate Enterprise has become a Cinnamon Recognised Project,” said Cinnamon Network founder Matt Bird. “Germinate Enterprise is a simple and effective way for local churches to help people in rural communities to create prosperity for their families and their community. We’re
looking forward to seeing local churches across the country start Germinate.” All the materials can be downloaded free at www.germinate.net/enterprise and there is a short explanatory film. The development of Germinate Enterprise was supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund. “This is a way people can create real jobs for themselves and others,” said Jerry Marshall, CEO of Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre and a serial entrepreneur MY DREAM himself. IS TO FIND 1000 “There is a particular FACILITATOR ACROSS need in rural areas to THE COUNTRY keep young and working age people by providing local jobs and the growth of high-speed rural internet will help reduce the drift to the city. “My dream is to find 1,000 facilitators across the country,” he added. “That would be transformational.” Jerry Marshall (second left) and the Prince’s Countryside Fund Team at Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park
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INSPIRE
WORKING WITH CHILDREN
OFF TO S I R AN T A T R R I C US AC Why SALLY BEADLE from Norfolk has spent the last 12 years clowning around for the Gospel
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THE idea for a children’s entertainment business with Christian values came to Sally when she went to a birthday party with her daughter. “The entertainer doing a show for these fouryear-old children wasn’t pitching it correctly for the age range,” she explains, “and the person who booked him told me there was not a lot out there for young children. “A project at a training course I was on was to set up an imaginary business, so I used this knowledge and completed the project to set up a children’s entertainment business. “Crazy Bananas was born and I decided to go for it.” After Sally moved to Norfolk she was introduced to Kevin Baldwin of the Crowns Trust who offered her some work at four schools in the area. Ultimately the Christian trust took her on as a schools worker and she developed Bible Circus with a Twist. Its aim is to reach out to children, families and the wider community to bring Bible stories to life. As well as learning circus skills, the children are shown how to twist balloons into creations that illustrate the stories they read. “When we first find God we don’t instantly know everything. We learn from other Christians and build our knowledge and confidence – exactly as a newcomer to the circus would.” Sally has also taken the Bible Circus to the Spark project in Tirana, Albania, where she taught local volunteers circus and balloontwisting skills. They were then able to use these skills during a community event on national children’s day.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN
INSPIRE
And last year she launched a ITS AIM IS TO balloon based praise party for BRING BIBLE children. STORIES TO “[It’s] a mixture of balloon mayhem, games and musical LIFE – WITH madness with a Christian theme,” A TWIST adds Sally. + For further information check out http://crazybananas.vpweb.co.uk/ and http://biblecircuswithatwist.uk/ + Adapted from an article published by Network Norwich and Norfolk www.networknorwich.co.uk and used with their kind permission.
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INSPIRE
MY STORY
LOST IN THE LIMELIGHT Playing test cricket was a dream job for Ron Headley, but he felt something was missing from his high achieving life. Interview by IAN WHITE FORMER West Indies cricketer Ron Headley was hit for six when suddenly struck by the reality that the sport he loved was his god. The son of legendary batsman George Headley had achieved his own stardom and forgotten his father’s humble example of reading the Bible daily and lessons in modesty. Although Ron only featured in two test matches and one one-day international, he built up a fierce reputation in county cricket for Worcestershire (1958–1974) and Derbyshire (1975-76). An opening batsman, in first-class cricket he scored 21,695 runs at an average of 31.12, with 32 hundreds and a highest score of 187, the latter in 1971 when he hit a century in both innings against Northamptonshire. Yet he was immediately bowled out when a Stourbridge optician told him in 1980: “If I didn’t know who you were I would tell you not to do any ball game that’s dangerous. “When your right eye is open your left eye doesn’t work. It must have been hit at some stage as it’s become lazy.” After decades of ‘facing the new ball’ on ‘uncut wickets’ without modern features such as helmets, Ron realised ‘someone’ must have been looking after him as he “should have been dead”. It was a while before Ron recalled that he had been hit in the left eye from a forceful shot playing as a lad back home in the West Indies. He’d only decided to get his eyes checked out after an incident playing as a professional for Dudley. On 20
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
MY STORY
INSPIRE
running to catch a ball in the air, Ron became aware of a ‘flickering sensation’. “For the first time in my life I breathed a sigh of relief after safely catching it,” he admits. But the news from his optician left him in another daze. “I was shocked and thought somebody up there must be looking after me. That’s when I started to search as I wanted to say thank you because I should have been dead.” On the Sunday Ron told his wife he was going for a walk – and walked into his local church. “As hymns were sung tears would come down which is embarrassing for a man. I sensed my hurts and pains were coming out in a spiritual way.” Over a couple of years or so Ron gradually sensed that he’d made cricket his god, and felt challenged by God to give it up. “My dad had the George Best or David Beckham sort of image in his day but knew how to handle himself.” Ron admits he allowed himself to be lost in the limelight over many decades as he was paid to do what he loved. “I was only 18 when I signed for Worcester. I got £48 a month to start with when I’d been used to under £3 a week in my apprenticeship.” And Ron’s dream became bigger and bigger. Even his own son Dean followed him into international cricket, the first case of three consecutive generations of the same family playing test cricket. But something was always missing. “I was brought up in the Christian faith and realise now God has always been there in the background. “I remember one Saturday night when fast bowler Derek Pearson said he wanted to go to church in the morning when we were away somewhere. I said out of the blue that I’d go with him.” Ron never went back to church again until the news from his optician woke him up! Today the 77-year-old still coaches cricket, but devotes much of his time to a project to eradicate diesel exhaust pollution. “I believe Christians should be a big hit regarding green issues,” he says. www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
MY STORY
WHAT MY TUMOUR TAUGHT ME
LUKE BLAKELOCK describes how he learnt to depend on God during his treatment for a serious illness BETWEEN leaving school and starting university I put on a lot of weight. My back had begun to hunch and I struggled with my appearance. The ‘uglier’ I became, the more worthless I felt. Then in 2012 during my first year at university – and the day I turned 19 – I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Cushing’s syndrome. A tumour had formed on my pituitary gland, causing it to massively overproduce certain hormones that affected my weight. And it had been in overdrive for the previous three years. Over the next few months I was in and out of hospital. But through it all, God’s presence grew in my life. As I turned to him, his Spirit gave me the strength to cope. When I went in for the operation to remove the tumour, I weighed 17.5 stone. Six days later I was more than a stone lighter and my weight continued to plummet. By the time I returned to university after the summer break, I was just over 12 stone and found my close friends didn’t recognise me! But to me it felt as if they were finally seeing who I really was. I had changed – I’m still changing – but the Lord God has remained constant. He is the giver of strength who made me in his own image to be a showcase for his glory. I may be as weak as a clay pot, but I have come to see that when that pot is cracked, God’s glory can shine through stronger than ever. Though my illness hasn’t returned, I will always be affected by it. I think of the days when seeing a flight of stairs would fill me with dread. +Why not tell us your story? E-mail: editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk
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I WAS MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE TO BE A SHOWCASE FOR HIS GLORY But by talking about how weak I was (and am), I can also talk about how Christ carried me as I clung to him like a child. It can be hard to see God in times of pain and suffering, but he is there. He always was and he always will be.
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INSPIRE
MY STORY
MISSION FROM THE As an evangelist, John Edwards is well used to a high-profile platform. But recently, he has taken his message underground. LORRAINE WYLIE reports SITUATED in the grounds of Willowfield Parish Church in Belfast, John has been speaking, not so much from beyond the grave but from an actual coffin, buried four feet under the soil. “Over the years, I’ve attended a number of funerals. But the most heartbreaking are those of young people who have taken their own lives,” he says. “The devastation suffered by their grieving families is beyond words. I wanted to find a way to reach out to our youth, to get their attention and make them take notice. “After a lot of prayer, I decided a ‘grave talk’ would be an interesting way to highlight the problem.” No doubt the 61-year-old grandfather would find it easier to deliver God’s message of hope from the pulpit of his home church in Harrogate. But John’s life has been remarkably short on comfort. “By the time I hit my teens, I thought I’d found a solution for the angst and insecurities of my life. The instant buzz from drugs was like magic. “But 24 years later, I was out of control. Addicted to everything from booze and tranquillizers to hash and heroin, I ended up homeless and living on the streets.” John can never forget the profound loneliness of that time. “Sometimes I was so desperate for human 24
contact, I’d go to a phone box and ring for an ambulance. The sound of another voice was like a soothing balm for my hurting heart.” The death of his father in 1984 proved a turning point. In his quest for sobriety, John lurched from one therapy to another. His odyssey led him to a variety of experts, AA meetings, charitable organisations and even a padded cell in a psychiatric unit. But it wasn’t until 1987 when he stumbled into a Christian meeting that he found the freedom he craved. “Somehow, I wandered into what I later
MY STORY
discovered was a Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship meeting. The speaker talked about freedom through Christ and I wondered if God could possibly help me. “During worship, I cried out to him and asked for forgiveness and deliverance. Words cannot describe the amazing event that took place within me. “All I can say is that God completely zapped me with his love. I was overwhelmed with his presence and knew without a doubt that from that moment on I was free!” Since then, John has been on a mission to reach others, especially the young. Under the umbrella of the charity Father’s Heart Ministry, he has taken part in a number of events, including a walk across Ireland, to raise awareness of the problems facing today’s youth. “Kids are under more pressure than ever before. The family unit has changed, bringing new dynamics and challenges for the youngsters involved. “They struggle to be accepted by their peers, but also with the pressures of the media and internet.
I WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO REACH OUT TO OUR YOUTH
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“In this complex world, I believe the Church has failed our youth. We need to step up and take responsibility. “It isn’t about numbers and getting people into church. As Christians we need to get out and meet the need wherever we find it.” From his custom built coffin (2.4m x 1m x 1.3m) John spent three days, live streaming to a global audience. Apart from a caravan toilet, his underground home was far from luxurious. So, was it worth it? “Most definitely! I climbed out of the coffin, stiff, sore and in need of a bath. But through this event I have made contact with so many hurting people who need help – practically as well as spiritually. “My mission, whether it’s walking the countryside or through a chat from a ‘grave’ is to reach those living on the edge. “I want them to know that regardless of the problem, suicide is not the solution. The answer can always be found in God’s love. “It worked for me; it can work for anyone.” Find out more at www.walkingfree.org and https://www.justgiving.com/fathersheart
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17 great giveaways worth more than £250 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! Music CD
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The Code Music CD (£10) is an album of 12 songs based on all the codes, created by songwriter Andy Dobb, whose life has been transformed by Jesus and whose walk with God, has been galvanised by The Code, a discipleship resource developed by CVM (Christian Vision for Men). The CD can be used in a meditative way accompanying The Code, as part of personal/corporate worship or listened to as an album of good standalone music tracks. 5 copies
Give the Best Away book Multi-millionaires John and Rosemary Lancaster, both committed Christians, set about giving away their astonishing fortune, starting with their employees. They set up the Lancaster Foundation, with Rosemary in charge, offering medical and practical support to the suffering, disadvantaged and marginalized people throughout the UK and Africa. Rosemary’s book Give the Best Away: The Story of One of Britain’s Most Generous Philanthropists (Monarch £8.99) tells their amazing story. 5 copies
Sermon preparation is mostly about waiting, says author Lorraine Cavanagh in her book Waiting on the Word: preaching sermons that connect people with God (Darton, Longman & Todd £12.99). Thoughtful, practical and full of insights, it could be just the thing to put the inspiration back into your preaching. 5 copies
Big Church Day Out Win two free tickets worth at least £49 each to the Big Church Day Out 2017! Join us in the North (Cheshire) or South (West Sussex) for two days of world-class music, family fun and relaxation as we gather with thousands of Christians from all over the UK and Europe to worship and celebrate all that is good. More at bigchurchdayout.com. 2 tickets
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LANCASHIRE Relax in a picturesque lakeside/ woodlands setting in the Lancashire countryside in one of four selfcatering cottages from a recent barn conversion. Write or phone for a Lakewood Cottages brochure to: Alec & Christine Sayer, Cragg Hall Farm, Galgate, Lancaster, LA2 0HN Tel: 01524 751053 www.lakewoodcottages.co.uk
KELSO, SCOTTISH BORDERS Tiore (This Is Our Rainbow’s End). Stay in our lovely two bedroom, self-catering cottage, which offers a peaceful retreat or welcome base to explore the area. Tel: 01573 450262 E-mail: peterandchristine@tiore.co.uk www.tiore.co.uk
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WHITBY “B & Beside the Seaside” B & B faces the sandy beach. Panoramic sea views. Enjoy our peaceful location, good food, free parking, Wi-Fi and many extras. Request brochure. £30 pppn Tel: 01947 603955/07518 658346 email: info@bandbesidetheseaside.co.uk
NEAR SOUTHWOLD Our self-catering Willow cottage in Wangford, Suffolk sleeps 6–7. Facilities include: kitchen, microwave, TV/DVD and washing machine. The beach is just three miles away. www.evelyn-brewer.co.uk Tel: 01621 891361 Mob: 07778356099 Email: brewer.cottage@yahoo.co.uk
ˇ SOLWAY – BOTLEY, HAMPSHIRE Set in beautiful countryside within two acres of restful gardens. Two bedroom bungalow is self-contained with self-service breakfast. So ˇlway offers peace and rest. Prayer available. Tel: 01489 795600
LLANDUDNO Enjoy superb views overlooking the sea and Snowdonia mountains at Beth Eden Christian Guest House. We offer fellowship, Bible ministry and exceptional home cooking, and welcome individuals, couples, families, and groups of up to 30. Tel: 01492 877057 www.betheden.co.uk info@betheden.co.uk
ALGARVE, PORTUGAL Luxury 3 bed villa (all en-suite) sleeps 6/8. Pestana Golf Resort, Carvoeiro, own pool, BBQ and large garden. Free Wi-Fi. Faro Airport 45 minutes. Details & brochure: Brian Chambers. Now on Trip Advisor Email: brialdon50@g.mail.com www.casa-oleander.co.uk Tel: 02380 265683
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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NIV Audio Bible in One Year Read by David Suchet
for £3 off when you spend £15 or more!
The bestselling NIV Audio Bible just got even better! The brand new NIV Audio Bible in One Year features the full 80hr recording arranged into daily sections of the Old & New Testaments, with a Psalm or Proverb. All on MP3 CD. Be inspired by the Bible each day and fill the year with the truth of God’s word.
RRP £6.99
£5.99
RRP £14.99
£11.99
RRP £29.99
RRP £14.99
£12.99
RRP £7.99
£6.99
RRP £10.99
£8.99
CD RRP £12.99
Aslan Price £18.50
God Is Stranger Krish Kandiah
Throughout the Bible people’s encounters with God are radically different from what they expect. What does this mean for the ways we expect God to act in our daily lives? ‘This is an urgent, powerful and prophetic book that has the potential to change your life forever. Full of passion, biblical insight and realworld application...’ - Revd Canon J. John
RRP £13.99 Aslan Price £11.99
£9.99
Found Sally Lloyd-Jones
RRP £6.99
£4.99
RRP £9.99
£7.99
RRP £9.99
£8.99
Set to be a family favourite, this is the new book from the author of the bestselling Jesus Storybook Bible. Based on Psalm 23, little ones will fall in love with this delightful board book that reminds them of God’s endless, consistent, unbreakable, ‘always and forever’ love.
RRP £6.99 Aslan Price £5.99
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