INSPIRE STO RIES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS
I FACED MY FEAR CHAPLAIN ABSEILS OFF UK’S TALLEST SCULPTURE
WATCH ENTREPRENEUR CHANGES LIVES IN AFRICA FAIR TRADE AND YOUR CHURCH BIBLE-THEMED PLAY CENTRE PLANNED MY STORY: GLORY FROM BROKENNESS
Issue 115 • September/October 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
Maybe it’s time to push your boundaries The autumn is often seen as a time of new starts, fresh initiatives and creative ideas. Maybe it’s the start of the academic year, or getting back into the swing of work after summer holidays. You’ll find plenty of initiative in this issue: from entrepreneurs making life better for children in sub-Saharan Africa (4–5) to a couple planning a Bible-themed play centre (16); from a port chaplain facing his fear (8–9) to a vicar making her mark in Northern Cyprus (24–5). There are also tips on making fair trade count from Traidcraft (12–13), Andy Bannister on why science hasn’t done away with miracles (14–15), plus great giveaways, testimonies and more. How do you use INSPIRE? Email me and you could end up in print. Praying you’ll take a leap of faith with God this autumn …
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God bless
STORI ES TO LIFT YOUR SPIRIT S
I FACED MY FEAR
CHAPLAIN ABSEILS OFF UK’S TALL EST SCULPTUR E
WATCH ENTREPRE NEUR CHANGES LIVES IN AFRICA FAIR TRAD E YOUR CHU AND RCH
Russ Bravo, Editor
BIBLE-THE MED CENTRE PLAN PLAY NED MY STORY: GLORY FROM BROKENNESS
Issue 115 • Septem ber/Oct
ober 2017 www.inspirema gazine.o
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4 Making the seconds count – George Luke meets entrepreneur William Adoasi who runs a luxury watch business, clothes school kids in Africa – and leads worship at Hillsong 6 Bits n Pieces – fun, stats and good stuff to look up online 8 High life – Sailors’ Society port chaplain Phil Denyer was terrified of heights. So he thought he’d do a sponsored abseil off Britain’s tallest sculpture … 10 Puzzles – take a break with our crossword, sudoku and word goal 12 Fair trade and your church – great coffee and a passion for justice can say a lot about your church. And Traidcraft can help 14 Question time – Dr Andy Bannister on why arguing science has done away with miracles simply doesn’t hold water 16 Early learning – a Manchester couple plan to launch the UK’s first Bible-themed play centre 18 INSPIRE 2017 Reader Appeal – your regular chance to support the work of INSPIRE 19 Harmonisers – George Luke meets acclaimed acapella group Naturally 7 and finds out how their faith informs their music 22 My Story – reader Jane Smith on how God brought glory from brokenness 24 Paradise pioneer – how one Anglican vicar is proving a force for good and for God in Northern Cyprus 26 Giveaways – a subscription for coffee drinkers, a wooden sit-on toy, a great Messianic believers’ testimony book and the latest CD from Naturally 7 28 Holidays and Classified – great places to stay, small ads, and more 31 Woman Alive – why not subscribe to our sister title, the UK’s only monthly magazine for Christian women? Cover stories
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MY STORY
KEEPING TIME WITH GOD George Luke meets entrepreneur WILLIAM ADOASI, who has combined building a successful luxury watch business with funding education in sub-Saharan Africa … WILLIAM Adoasi has always had a creative streak. It shows quite clearly in the luxury watches made by Vitae London, the company William founded two years ago. Vitae’s watches have been worn and praised by Richard Branson, Phillip Schofield, Emeli Sandé and Martin Smith. Not bad for someone who admits that he couldn’t draw when he did his GCSEs … “I don’t know why I chose GCSE Art,” says William, “but I just realised I couldn’t draw! I prayed and thought of ways to get around the course and still do well, and I taught myself graphic design. Since then, I’ve always been able to manipulate things on computers, create what’s in my mind and bring it to life.” William has always been passionate about 4
both fashion and education, and with Vitae’s watches, the aim is to bring both those passions together. “Our whole thought process is to be the fashion brand changing lives,” says William. “Vitae is the Latin word for life. I saw that the watch industry was massive; the quartz watch industry alone is worth over 35 billion dollars worldwide. I was keen on seeing ways I could dive into this market and make a positive impact within it – and so each watch we sell helps children in Southern Africa get an education. “My dad’s from Ghana, and he was the first in his family line to learn to read and write. Through him, I’ve seen how powerful education
IF (YOUR DREAM) IS FROM GOD, GOD WILL EQUIP YOU WITH ALL THAT YOU NEED
is in breaking cycles of poverty, and I wanted to do that for more people. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only area where poverty has actually risen within the last decade, and it’s got the highest rates of children not having primary education. “So I’ve combined my desire to create great-looking luxury watches with my desire to change lives, and equip more children across sub-Saharan Africa with what they need to get an education.” On the ground in Africa, William’s company works in partnership with a Christian charity called House of Wells, providing poor children with essential school items such as uniforms. “Since we launched Vitae in December 2015, we’ve been able to distribute more
MY STORY
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Sales of Vitae London watches in 26 countries have funded more than 1,100 school uniforms for children in Southern Africa. Find out more at www.vitaelondon.com than 1,100 school uniforms,” he says. “We’ve sold our watches in 26 countries – and this is from someone who has no prior experience of running a business! Having the likes of Richard Branson and Emeli Sandé wearing our watches and showing them off on social media just highlights the grace of God, and him doing the impossible.” William is a member of Hillsong Church, and when he isn’t working on his watch business, he can be found leading worship at Hillsong’s branch in Bermondsey, South London – not too far from Peckham and Camberwell where he grew up and where Vitae’s office is based. “I’ve grown up in church my whole life,” he says. “My dad’s the lead pastor of a church. I went to boarding school in Stourbridge from the ages of 11 to 16, and those years were the first time my faith was tested. I was far away from home and was just seeing things for myself; not going to church on a regular basis. “At the end of that, coming home for sixth form and college was when I fully committed my life to Jesus. “The biggest piece of advice I could give to anyone who has a dream that seems impossible is that I honestly believe that if it’s from God, then God will equip you with all that you need. Even if it’s not directly in your hand, he will equip you with people around you, and if you just take the steps towards that dream, you’ll be able to see the actualisation of it.” www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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BITS ’N’ PIECES ONLINE Serious about making disciples? It’s sometimes hard to know where to look for new resources, so we can end up going down the same paths so often they become a rut! Take a look at www.disciplekit.org which provides ratings, summaries and a wide range of recommended courses and materials. Wordonthestreets.net is subtitled ‘information for transformational people’ and offers the latest research, ideas for mission and links to business and community renewal resources.
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STATS S TRIKING NUMBERS £540 million: The amount UK banks and building societies wrote off from January to March 2017 0.2%: The fall in house prices in May 2017, according to Halifax £185,266: The average price of a house for a first-time buyer in the year to April 2.9%: The rate of inflation in May, the highest in nearly four years £10.4 billion: Public sector net borrowing in April 7.997 million: People had been autoenrolled into a pension by the end of May 547,711: The number of issues dealt with by Citizens Advice Bureaux in March 28%: Of the issues CABs handled in March were related to debt 875,000: (15%) of 18 to 24-yearolds in England were not in education, employment or training (NEET) from January to March (The Money Charity)
CATS
We Love Inspire Thank you for sending us INSPIRE. It is a joy to receive the parcel of magazines when they arrive. Every issue is filled with inspiring and thought-provoking articles which are a pleasure to read. We distribute it to all the families at church and give copies to our sister church. I like to read the articles when the magazines arrive, so that I can point out some of them as I distribute them and encourage people to read them. Eric Southwick, Stanley Street Church, Seaham, County Durham 6
ehind every cat that crosses the street, B there is a dog saying, “Go ahead, you can make it.” In a cat’s eye, all things belong to cats. As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat. There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats. Dogs believe they are human. Cats believe they are God. Cats aren’t clean, they’re just covered with cat spit. There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast. www.mikeysfunnies.com
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WORLD MISSION
Bridgend-based Reverend Phil Denyer is a port chaplain for maritime charity Sailors’ Society, which works internationally to provide practical, emotional and spiritual welfare support to the world’s 1.6m seafarers, regardless of background or faith. Phil said, “Sailors’ Society chaplains support seafarers from dozens of countries from the Philippines to Ukraine, who are missing their loved ones; we offer a friendly face in a faraway port. “On one vessel I met the chief officer, who asked me for a copy of Every Day With Jesus, as he had forgotten to pack his when he joined the ship. “I was able to provide him with one and he was delighted. What can seem like a small gesture can mean an incredible amount.” Seafarers can spend months away from home in dangerous conditions. “When I was on a ship visit in Port Talbot, one crew member told me about the concerns he had when they were sailing in rough seas – he told me how they experienced waves of around 80 metres high,” Phil said. “It’s a stark reminder of just how dangerous seafaring is.” Phil’s dedication to 8
Sailors’ Society port chaplain PHIL DENYER talks about his work and his terrifying sponsored abseil from the UK’s tallest sculpture …
WORLD MISSION
supporting seafarers saw him recently face his own greatest fear and abseil from the UK’s tallest sculpture in order to raise funds for Sailors’ Society. After months of training and gym sessions, Phil took on the ArcelorMittal Orbit abseil in Queen Elizabeth Park, London raising more than £1,700 towards Sailors’ Society’s work supporting seafarers in need. Phil said, “I’ve been terrified of heights all of my life, but was keen to face my fear! People are always very generous because they’re supporting world mission on their doorstep. “The abseil was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating things I have ever done. Someone told me it’s not the first 261ft you need to worry about – it’s the last foot that kills you!” he joked. Phil, who supports seafarers visiting the ports of Newport, Cardiff, Port Talbot and Swansea, trained hard for his challenge
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ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING AND EXHILARATING THINGS I HAVE and has had great EVER DONE support from the local community, including his home church of Gilgal Christian Fellowship. He even lost 12lbs of weight in order to be in prime shape for the abseil. Phil continued, “I’ve been training hard at the local gym and climbing wall and have had marvellous support from my family and friends and local community groups. My church is in a coastal community, so it’s been brilliant to have this support for seafarers and their families.” Hundreds of visiting seafarers benefit from Phil’s help each year, ranging from providing wifi and giving them lifts to town when they arrive in port, to offering counselling in times of crisis. There is still time to make a donation to Phil’s appeal by visiting: https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/philip-denyer1
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BRAIN STRAINERS
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CROSSWORD Across 1. Tennis contests (7) 5. Passenger carrying vehicle (3) 7. Overturned, upset (5) 8. Ice house (5) 9. Sulkily, resentfully (7) 11. Effervescent powdery sweet (7) 15. Squabble (5) 16. Not dead! (5) 17. Crash into, knock (3) 18. Dogs’ boarding home (7) Down 1. Slightly foggy (5) 2. Small flow of water (7) 3. Thumb a lift (5) 4. Rigid, not soft (5) 6. Windy (5) 10. Bill for goods (7) 11. Cache, hoard (5) 12. Fall to pieces (5) 13. Locomotive and carriages (5) 14. Runs away (5)
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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4 RATING: Very difficult
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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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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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FAIR TRADE
WHAT’S the first image that comes to mind when you think about fair trade? Most likely it’s tea, coffee, sugar, or even chocolate. Something sweet, rich, and uplifting! Traidcraft, the UK’s largest fair trade trading company, were the first to bring these world-changing commodities to the UK, and they’ve not stopped there. They started with the first fair trade coffee in 1980, and since then have pioneered the first fair trade wine, juice, cotton, and now wax! Founded on Christian principles, Traidcraft have been working for nearly 40 years to fight trade injustice and make sure that
growers are paid as they deserve to be paid. It’s been a long journey, and there’s still so much to be changed, but every step of the way the Church has been instrumental in making this happen, by serving fair trade refreshments and shouting loud and proud about the difference that can be made.
CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE SIP AT A TIME The tea and coffee your church serves can make a major statement about the priorities you have, says TRAIDCRAFT …
Making trade work for small-scale artisans and growers
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FAIR TRADE
Coffee is at the heart of fair trade and is the most popular drink in the world. Around two billion cups are enjoyed every day. Our tastes have changed from sticking to plain old instant, and we now seek out speciality fusions, whole beans, and seemingly countless blends. In the early days of fair trade this variety just wasn’t available, and thousands of coffee fans – dedicated to doing their bit for justice – drank cup after cup of Traidcraft’s first instant blend, affectionately now referred to as ‘Campaign Coffee’. In recent years the café culture has boomed from the high street to quirky bookshops, and has now become a real highlight in church life. Bringing together a congregation after a worship service has always been a time to build a sense of community, forge links between neighbours, and discuss the message of the day before emerging into the busy rat-race of the world again. Serving high quality tea and coffee delivers a clear message about hospitality – and God’s justice. Traidcraft helps thousands of churches in the UK to create a relaxed get-together with fair trade teas, coffee, biscuits, and an
SERVING HIGH QUALITY TEA AND COFFEE DELIVERS A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT HOSPITALITY – AND GOD’S JUSTICE
How does your church measure up?
ever-expanding range of ethical snacks. Many churches are now featuring the fair trade message in sermons, Sunday school programmes, and setting up fair trade fayres – showing their local community God’s love in action. By purchasing from Traidcraft you are helping tens of thousands of people around the world whose livelihoods depend on their traditional skills and the land. Traidcraft seek out the most in need, and work directly with them to develop www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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their skills and market their products in the UK. They’re a global leader in making trade work for small-scale artisans and growers, and are dedicated to empowering consumers to enact God’s love by doing.
GET YOUR CHURCH ON BOARD If your church isn’t already offering a fair trade welcome, it’s never been easier to join the Traidcraft community. Traidcraft offer churches exclusive discounts on all products, from 10% for roast coffee, delicate teas, exceedingly more-ish biscuits, nibbles, and cakes so soft and squidgy that you’d think they were baked today, to 15% off a huge range of handcrafted products that can be sold on a stall. And it’s all fair trade! There are also mountains of downloadable resources that can also help to really breathe life into your fair trade ethos. As a Fair Trader, you’ll receive a credit and invoicing facility, free posters and promotional materials, and the support of a dedicated team of staff – just for you. If you’d like to talk through your ideas or would like some catalogues or leaflets posted out to you, simply call 0191 491 0855, or email help@traidcraft.co.uk. 13
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QUESTION TIME
U O Y N A C HOWLIEVE IN BE DR ANDY BANNISTER continues his series tackling common questions or objections to Christianity
WE LIVE in an age that’s very sceptical about miracles. A culture that shouts at us that science can explain everything, and that to believe in the miraculous is positively medieval. There’s no such thing as the supernatural, we’re told, just the natural – a universe where the naturalistic laws of physics, chemistry and biology can explain everything. So, has science confined miracles to the dustbin of ideas? Not really. Let’s begin with the observation that the Bible doesn’t really believe in the supernatural either. Nowhere does the Bible teach that you can divide the world in two like this – the ‘supernatural’ bit that God is responsible for and the ‘natural’ world that more or less does its own thing. Rather, the Bible teaches that God sustains everything. Every atom, every particle, every law of physics only exists because God upholds it. Far from science being independent of God, science is only possible because God is actively, deeply and personally involved with the world, sustaining it and giving it existence moment by moment. This is obvious when you think about it 14
– because for all the talk about science being allpowerful and able to answer everything, science can’t even explain its own foundations. For example, why is GOD HAS ACTED there something rather IN HISTORY … than nothing? When you have a universe full of stuff, WHAT ARE YOU science does a good job GOING TO DO explaining why that stuff ABOUT IT? behaves the way it does. But as to why stuff exists in the first place, science can say nothing at all. (Just as the rules of cricket can’t explain the existence of the game of cricket itself.) Then there’s the question of why maths and science fit together. This was famously pointed out in1960 by Hungarian physicist Eugene Wigner, in an article called The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences in which he remarks how odd it is that maths and physics work so well together . Why is that odd? Well, if there is no God and maths is just a human invention, then numbers were something invented by Mesopotamian goatherders sometime around the second millennium BC to keep track of their goats.
QUESTION TIME
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. Check out the popular Solas video series, SHORT/ANSWERS, at http://www.solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/
So how is it that numbers can describe the curvature of space-time or the geometry of black holes? Either those goatherders got really lucky, or something else is going on. Where do we go with all of this? Well, maybe it’s helpful to reflect that trying to play off “God” and “science”, or “natural” and “supernatural” misses something very important, namely that there can be different levels of explanation. Let me illustrate with a humble cup of tea. Sitting on my desk as I write is a steaming mug of English Breakfast. Why does the tea exist? A physicist might talk about how electrons and protons form atoms, from which all material things (including tea) are made. A chemist might explain how molecules work, or explain the Brownian Motion of the particle in my cup. A biologist might opine about the evolutionary history of the tea plant. And so forth. All are good answers to the question: “Why is tea?” But what if you asked me? I’d look at you, laugh, and say: “The tea exists because I need something to dunk my Jammie Dodger into.” Does my explanation contradict the scientists? No, it’s just a different level of explanation. And it
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illustrates something very important: that there are scientific explanations but there are also personal explanations. The laws of science tell us what will happen unless somebody personally intervenes: drop a ball, and it will fall in accordance with Newton’s Second Law of Motion. But reach out your hand and catch the ball – and that law no longer applies. You have personally intervened in the universe. And now the question arises: if humans can intervene and act personally, what about God? Clearly if God exists, he can. So the question isn’t can he, but has he? And this is where Christianity is fascinating because the whole faith is founded on the historical claim that God intervened at one point in history in particular – in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (for which, as we saw in a previous column, there is tremendous evidence). Of course if God can – and has – acted in history, that raises the next and the more important question: what are you going to do about it? As I often remind my sceptical friends, miracles can do many things, but they can’t prevent somebody refusing to consider the evidence. It’s fine to be an honest doubter – just don’t miss the greatest miracle of all because you’re a dishonest sceptic. + Got a burning question? Send it to editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk and we may tackle it in a future issue
Further reading
If you’d like to explore this question more deeply, read In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case for God’s Action in History by R Douglas Geivett and Gary Habermas.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
UK’S FIRST BIBLE-THEMED PLAY CENTRE PLANNED A fundraising campaign is underway to build an interactive children’s discovery centre in Manchester, entirely based around the Bible.
South Manchester will be home to the unique, not-for-profit centre which will include a large play area, café and function room. The Hidden Treasure Discovery Centre aims to provide an outstanding resource of the highest quality for the whole region. All the play equipment will use simple stories and biblical principles to help children understand vital truths as they play such as ‘you matter’ and ‘God has a plan for you’. A rolling daily programme of stories, 16
song time, craft and godly play will feature alongside the unique, purpose-built play stations. The centre will also help schools, young people, adults and families both practically and spiritually through lessons, evening courses and special events. The inspirational vision has come about after entrepreneurial parents of two, Andy and Ruth Lancey, felt called to sell their travel business and use their experience to develop a Christian play centre. The pair are supported by an experienced team as they look to raise the required £250,000 to get the project off the ground. Once operational, the centre will not only be financially self-sufficient but will fund several local youth and social action projects to benefit the wider community. Former Eden Team Leader and project visionary Ruth Lancey has a strong background in community work and business. She said: “We have become acutely aware that so many parents are struggling to provide sound emotional support and raise their children the way they would like because of personal challenges and experiences. “We’re so excited at the prospect of supporting families through the centre; educating them, sharing Jesus and helping thousands of children to realise their own Godgiven value and potential.” The team have identified the ideal 7,500 sq ft building and are now looking for supporters to come on board and back the venture which it is hoped will be open for Easter 2018.
INFO More information is available and small donations can be made at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hidden-treasurediscovery-centre. Anyone interested in lending other support or finding out more can contact the team by emailing ruth@hiddentreasureplay.com or calling 07813 520330.
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As you can imagine, producing, printing and sending 50,000 copies of INSPIRE across the UK is an expensive business. We look to meet our costs by a combination of partner organisations, advertising – and gifts from people like you, who enjoy reading our encouraging stories of God at work. Giving is a genuine blessing, both to us and to you! So we’d love you to join us in the work of telling the great stories of God in action, changing individuals, churches and communities. Please give what you can. £35 will provide a church with 20 copies of each INSPIRE edition for a year £50 will give a prison chaplain 30 copies of each INSPIRE edition to distribute £100 could help us increase the number of issues we produce and quantity of inspirational stories we can share, over the next year or two We are hugely grateful for your prayers, your gifts and your support. You’re an inspiration to us – THANK YOU! Russ Bravo, Editor editor@inspiremagazine.org.uk 18
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INSPIRE
MUSIC
KEEPING IT NATURAL GEORGE LUKE meets top acapella act Naturally 7 and finds out how their faith fuels their music Seeing Naturally 7 (the so-called “band without a band”) in concert is an uplifting, joyous experience. And they’re just as much fun to chat with – as I found when I caught up with Dwight Stewart (the ‘trombone’ of the group), Roger ‘N’glish’ Thomas (their music director) and Kelvin ‘Kelz’ Mitchell (their bass voice). The group was on a brief visit to the UK to promote their latest album, Both Sides Now. It’s their seventh album, and it showcases a more choral side to the group, with less of the vocal trickery they’ve become noted for. “We call what we normally do ‘vocal play’, and it involves a lot of imitating of instruments,” Dwight explains. “But on this new album, we 20
were specifically asked to give a piece of our choral side.” The concept for the album came out of a meeting the group had with one of the executives at BMG, their label. “It started off as a winter project,” says Kelz. “I remember us explaining to this executive that we had a spiritual base,” says Roger. “We asked if he minded if the songs were uplifting or religious, and he said, ‘Actually, I would like that!’ And then he suggested ‘Jerusalem’ – which we being Americans had never heard before! But we fell in love with it as we began to work with it; it’s a beautiful piece. That was the first song done.” Roger started Naturally 7 in New York in
MUSIC
OUR FAITH KEEPS US GROUNDED 1999 with his brother Warren and five other singers. Britain holds a special place in the group’s hearts; Roger and Warren were born here, and so too was a third group member, Garfield Buckley (in concerts, this is their cue to start singing Sting’s Englishman in New York). And it was after playing a gig in London in January 2009 that their international career really took off. Brian Eno and Coldplay’s Chris Martin were both in the audience, and invited them to come and do some studio work with them the next day. They’ve since toured the world three times with Michael Bublé and presented a TED talk introducing ‘vocal play’ to the masses. Not bad for seven New York church boys... “I think our faith keeps us grounded,” says
INSPIRE
Dwight. “Being born and raised in the church, you’re never going to forget the values that are instilled in you. We always remember where we came from and what our goals are. “We often have conversations when we’re travelling on the road. One time, I asked the others, ‘Are we giving our audience enough ministry?’ And then one day, I was in a club. I’m usually one of the first to leave, but this particular night, I was one of the last to leave. They had already closed down. I walked into the venue, and there’s this lady. She looks at me and she says, ‘I’m an atheist. But if there is a god, he exists in you’. Right there, I was like, ‘Wow! God, you just answered it for me!’ Now I know that we are giving these people something.” “Even though our music is very inspirational in nature,” says Kelz, “we know that people in every walk of life are dealing with something. And even though they may come to the show having a good time and a smile on their face, we know they are going to leave and go back to the cold, crazy world that they came into the concert hall from. “So when we take a bow at the end of each show, I just say a quick prayer: ‘Lord, I hope that somebody was blessed tonight’. That’s one way I apply my faith to what it is that we do night after night.” “Our ministry is more the ‘Paul’ ministry,” says Roger. “There’s a place for the ‘John the Baptist’ ministry – ‘I’m going to hit you over the head because you need hitting over the head’ – but the Paul ministry is where I become all things to all men and I’ve got to get on your level to talk to you. “We’ve found that that’s what Naturally 7 is.” + Both Sides Now is available now on BMG – turn to Page 26 for the chance to win a copy
www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
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INSPIRE
MY STORY
GLORY FROM
BROKENNESS
I WAS very interested to read Luke Blakelock’s story in the May 2017 issue of INSPIRE. I identify so much with Luke’s comment that we may be weak earthen vessels but when the clay pot gets cracked and damaged, that is when God’s glory can shine through. My story is that nearly 25 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare blood disease at a relatively young age. This news came as a huge shock and my life felt shattered. I couldn’t imagine how my life could ever be rebuilt and the future was very uncertain. However, God has been faithful and kept me. I continue to live with the weakness, pain and uncertainty that this blood disease brings. I can see now that he has taken those broken and shattered pieces of my life and created something different, which hopefully reflects his workmanship. I have started writing poetry and here is one of my poems describing how I feel.
SHATTERED
When we get shattered What does this mean? Our life is in pieces The shock is extreme Fragments remain Of how once our life was How can this happen? So much we have lost? As we look at the splinters Lying on the ground We cannot imagine How peace will be found But out of the pieces Something new can be made God our restorer Can rescue and save He takes what is broken As only He can And creates something beautiful With His loving hands Just as broken glass Lets the light shine through The same can be said For me and for you You can become A precious work of art Even more beautiful Than you were at the start Thank you for reading my story. Jane Smith, West Wickham and Shirley Baptist Church
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INSPIRE
INTERNATIONAL
How Rev Wendy Hough is working with her Anglican church in Northern Cyprus to be a force for good in the community. By CATHERINE DRINKWATER
PIONEER IN ‘PARADISE’
Wendy with some of her parishioners
IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT THE CHURCH MOVES FORWARD
APHRODITE’S island of love. Could this be the most entrancing place in the world to do God’s work? Wendy Hough certainly thought so when she became Chaplain of St Andrew’s Church in Kyrenia “I felt particularly blessed to be appointed the first female priest in the Diocese of Cyprus and The Gulf,” she says, “and even more so when St Andrew’s became my church.” St Andrew’s is a tiny whitewashed church overlooking the castle and mosque with the Mediterranean Sea sparkling between. My first encounter with Wendy was at the Mothering Sunday service when posies of spring flowers and a simnel cake were distributed. It encompassed her warmth, sense of theatre and delight in the liturgy. Meeting her later, I was curious to learn about the spiritual path that had led her to this appointment. “I was brought up in the Methodist Church,” she explains. “I initially trained as a speech and drama teacher and turned my back on the Church. However, I always felt a sense of God’s presence. 24
St Andrew’s Church
“Later, as a theology student in Bristol, I grew to love the reverence and symbolism in the Anglo-Catholic Church. I was finally ordained in 2000 in Brussels. “Prior to this I had been the lay chaplain at a hospice in
Amsterdam, working with street people, prostitutes and drug addicts. It was while doing this work that I had a clear sense of my calling to serve God.” How did she approach her new role as Chaplain of St Andrew’s? “I was used to working within the expatriate community during my early ministry in The Hague and Bern. The demographic in Northern Cyprus is very different as this is a predominantly Muslim area. We also have many other nationalities within the diocese. “I knew that as a single woman there would be challenges. Here, my aim has been to make the church more inclusive. We should be open to all, regardless of race or religious conviction. “Working for change has ruffled feathers. But it’s essential that the church moves forward to be seen as a force for good in the community. “St Andrew’s is buzzing with our ‘Sundaze’ service for young people and families, and the African community who enjoy a more evangelical approach worship here also. “Numerous Africans, such as our crucifix bearers and choir members, are now actively involved in Anglican services. They would not have been made welcome prior to my arrival.
INTERNATIONAL
INSPIRE
“My aim has been to make the church more inclusive”
“Recently, we were delighted when a group of young Turkish soldiers joined a service.” Wendy’s role has also involved her in issues beyond her church. “I feel hugely privileged to participate in a committee of religious leaders, albeit as the token woman! Our periodic interfaith conferences enable us to discuss issues that concern us all – conflict resolution in particular. “I was also very proud to have contributed to an interfaith statement condemning the use of violence against women in Cyprus.” How has she been received? “Wonderfully. I could not have been made more welcome, especially by our Muslim brothers and sisters.” Since she has been here Wendy has become concerned by the hidden poverty on this island paradise. “Even among the expatriates, surprisingly,” she points out. “Additionally, African students are lured here expecting to find work to help finance their studies. This just isn’t true and there are many incidences of real hardship. We as a church are working to address this.” After almost three years, this committed, self-styled pioneer feels there is still much to do to see the church grow, and to involve people from all backgrounds. As one of her congregation whispered to me: “They don’t know how lucky they are. She’s inspirational.” That early training in speech and drama, which brings her services to life, is leading her to contemplate the delights of creating a drama or even a series about the life of St Andrew’s. “Rather on the lines of The Vicar of Dibley – or even Rev,” she suggested, mischievously. Perhaps the next series of An Island Parish would be a start. www.inspiremagazine.org.uk
25
12 great giveaways worth £180+ 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! Little Red Rider If as a parent or grandparent, you’re looking for a well made, safe and fun ride-on toy for a toddler, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option than the Hape Little Red Rider (£50). This balanced walker and foot-powered ride-on unit develops balance and early walking, complies with all safety standards and includes a trunk to stow toys in. Suitable for children from 12 months. 1 x Little Red Rider
Naturally 7 CD The uniquely gifted acapella vocal group Naturally 7 have their new album Both Sides Now (BMG £11.99) available now. This Christian outfit believe their faith feeds their music (see Page 16) and this collection mixes gospel and soul with pop, folk and R&B – superbly sung covers of everything from Jerusalem to Bridge Over Troubled Water, Pipes of Peace to The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. 5 x CDs
BySea ground coffee Seafarers’ support agency Sailors’ Society have been developing their range of rich, Fairtrade approved BySea ground coffee varieties sourced from all over the world, and now offer subscriptions where you can choose your blend and have it delivered either as ground bags or Nespresso compatible pods. We have one 3-month subscription on offer, worth up to £18. 1 x 3-month subscription
Jews Don’t Need Jesus book Jews Don’t Need Jesus (& Other Misconceptions): Reflections of a Jewish Believer by Avi Snyder (Moody Publishers £10.99) is an earnest plea for Jews to embrace Jesus as their Messiah – and for Christians to proclaim him as such. Avi Snyder has been sharing the Gospel with Jewish people for more than 40 years, and this book answers the most common objections he hears for why they don’t need Jesus. 5 x books
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