Today Issue 23
SEPTEMBER–DECEMBER 2012 | INCORPORATING PRAYER TRACK
The Story of Waverley CWR celebrates 25 years at this historic site page 4
The Manual New Bible notes for men page 10
China Revival Thousands flock to ‘open churches’ page 24
Contents
NEWS IN BRIEF
Regulars News in Brief Prayer Track Revival Review Revival Now New Resources Diary Highlights
3 13 21 24 28 32
Features The Story of Waverley The Manual Cover to Cover Complete NIV Coffee with God CWR Asia Update
4 10 22 26 31
Information Order Form Becoming a Partner Leaving a Legacy
29 23 23
Who We Are: CWR is committed to world revival. Founded as a Christian ministry in 1965 by Selwyn Hughes, we have grown into an international publishing and training organisation which seeks to enable people to apply God’s Word to their everyday lives and relationships. CWR Today, CWR’s newsletter, is published three times a year. Its purpose is to encourage effective prayer and regular Bible reading, and to represent all aspects of CWR’s national and international ministry. This is a free title, however recipients are invited to make a small contribution each year. Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Associate contributors: John Peters and Eddie Tait. Copyright © CWR 2012. Printed in England by Linney Print. Please feel free to reproduce any of the content in your own church newsletters, magazines and websites.
CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1252 784700 Email: mail@cwr.org.uk www.cwr.org.uk
Mick Brooks Chief Executive of CWR
Editorial God takes covenant seriously … In 1128, Bishop Giffard covenanted land to a group of Cistercian monks, praying that God would use the site for His glory. Through the centuries, and despite much political, economic and personal turmoil, the covenant has survived, and thrived. Today, that special place dedicated to God’s work is the home of CWR – Waverley Abbey House and its surroundings. I feel hugely privileged to be part of Waverley’s story. This September, CWR celebrates 25 years of remarkable, life-transforming ministry here. In this issue, we offer just a snapshot of the rich history of Waverley, and show how CWR’s history intertwines with it, and we look forward with anticipation to see the next step revealed. We are filled with hope and expectation because we know we have a faithful God and faithful supporters, who have so freely given of their love, prayers and resources. We give heartfelt thanks to our Father in heaven and to all of you. I do hope you’ll be able to join us on 8 September to celebrate our 25th anniversary (see page 9 for details, or visit www.cwr.org.uk/25). Sincerely yours, in His name
CWR is a Registered Charity – No. 294387 and a Limited Registered Company – No. 1990308 FSC Mixed Sources SA-COC-1502 © 1996 FSC A.C. PAGE 2
Launching The Monster Within Tuesday 26 June saw more than 70 representatives of the Christian media and book trade locked up in prison for lunch! They were guests at The Clink restaurant in HMP High Down, Sutton, there to witness the launch of a new book and DVD, The Monster Within by Hell’s Angel turned God’s messenger, Brian Greenaway. Uncomplicated yet gritty, the story Brian recounts is one that will inspire readers and viewers alike in these compelling new resources. CWR is highly excited by this project!
Degrees in Counselling for CWR Students On Tuesday 24 July, CWR was proud to celebrate the achievement of the first graduates from our BA (Hons) Counselling programme and Diploma of Higher Education, as they received their degrees from the University of Roehampton. Following a thanksgiving and commissioning service at Waverley Abbey House, a total of 25 students attended the graduation ceremony held at Guildford Cathedral. With plans for an exciting new MA Counselling degree to be offered in both the UK and Singapore from Autumn 2013, our ministry in counselling continues to expand.
An Evening with Canon Andrew White CWR is delighted to host a special evening of prayer led by Canon Andrew White (diary and world events permitting), the much-admired ‘Vicar of Baghdad’, on Wednesday 17 October at Waverley Abbey House. This is a free event and all are welcome to join us and learn more of Canon White’s remarkable work in Iraq, the war-torn country where Christians continue to face great challenges. With a passion for bringing reconciliation and hope to the Middle East, it promises to be an inspiring evening, combining worship, information and prayer. To book your place, please visit our website and watch for updates: www.cwr.org.uk
CWR in Northern Ireland Pleased to partner with the West Presbyterian Church, Bangor, CWR will be holding a seminar with teaching by Mick Brooks from our popular resource Faith, Hope, Love and Everything in Between. The seminar takes place on Friday 12 October and, at the same venue on the following day (Saturday 13 October), Mick will be joined by others from CWR to host a special Partners’ Morning. Our Partners are crucial to the work and ministry of CWR – we could not function without their prayer and financial support. Contact Robin Pickford, our Partnership Coordinator, for further details: rpickford@cwr.org.uk PAGE 3
A site dedicated to God
Waverley Abbey House has been the home of CWR for 25 years, the ‘hub’ from which its publishing and training ministry extends. In this special extended feature, Mick Brooks, Chief Executive, looks back at the history of the house and its surroundings as an area marked out for Christian activity.
The story of Waverley’s Christian heritage began in the twelfth century, when God gave a vision to a man called William Giffard, who was at the time Bishop of Winchester, to see a site in England dedicated to God, a place for prayer and Christian teaching. In 1128, Waverley Abbey was founded, the ruins of which can be seen today across the lake from Waverley Abbey House. Over the centuries, the uses of the site at Waverley have been many and varied.
Waverley The Story of
The property then passed to a relative, Sir Anthony Browne, who, in the 1560s, allowed much of the stonework to be removed from the site, whilst retaining sufficient stone to build a property on higher land than the abbey, where the current house now stands. 1720 – Waverley is sold to John Aislabie, Whigs Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Ripon. At the height of his power and influence he had a £27,000 holding in the South Sea Company. However, Aislabie was the focus of blame for the collapse of the South Sea Bubble, lost all his property and was sent for punishment to the Tower of London. Aislabie retired to Studley Royal, Yorkshire, where the architect was Colen Campbell, which may explain Campbell’s subsequent involvement with Waverley. 1751 – Written accounts record a ‘Campbell House’ at Waverley, a much smaller structure than the house which stands today.
1128 – Waverley Abbey is established as the first Cistercian monastery in England. During the first century of its existence, it ‘planted’ at least six monasteries, including Tintern Abbey in Wales.
1770 – Waverley is sold to Sir Robert Rich, a surviving soldier from Culloden Moor. The two wings of the house are believed to have been added around 1786.
1536 – Waverley Abbey is suppressed under the Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries. The lands belonging to the monastery are given to Sir William Fitzwilliam, the First Earl of Southampton, household treasurer to Henry VIII.
1796 – Waverley is sold to John Buncombe Poulett Thompson of J. Thomson, T. Bonar & Co. John’s son Charles was born at Waverley in 1799. Charles went on to become an MP and the first Governor of the United Province of Canada. He became Lord Sydenham in 1840.
1832 – Waverley passed to George Nicholson, uncle, by virtue of his marriage, to Florence Nightingale, who became a frequent visitor. During his ownership, the interior was largely restored after a fire in 1833. 1870 – Samuel Nicholson sells Waverley to Thomas Darnley Anderson, who supported a scriptural education for the poor and assisted many charities. 1914 – Waverley becomes a hospital for officers in WWI. In total, just over 5,000 patients came through the hospital and there were no fatalities. The house was too small for the number of patients it was dealing with, so additional wards were set up in huts in the grounds. Another hut became a chapel, and was simply referred to as ‘The Sanctuary’. 1950 – Waverley is sold and became an elderly persons’ residence, with the house and stable blocks being divided into a series of apartments. The facts above give just a glimpse into the fascinating history of Waverley. As the twentieth century wore on, the house began to fall into disrepair, and in 1983 it was put up for sale. At this time, many could be forgiven for thinking that the vision given to Bishop Giffard had been lost in the annals of time, but God had not finished with Waverley yet … continued over >>
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‘A glorious ruin’ The history of Waverley and CWR respectively soon intertwine in an exciting series of events, but first we must look back a little.
An important friendship In 1969, an Englishman, Trevor Partridge, needed to return to his studies in the USA, so rang Crusade Travel, a Christian organisation established to facilitate world mission. A young evangelist called Selwyn Hughes answered the phone. This was the beginning of an important friendship, and Trevor later joined CWR. Together, Selwyn and Trevor toured the country, teaching and inspiring a generation with programmes such as the Caring Seminars and Dynamic Christian Living, and Selwyn’s devotional publication, Every Day with Jesus. They then turned their attention to pastoral care and counselling, and began developing and teaching one-week Christian counselling courses, hiring various venues. As they travelled, they talked and dreamed of establishing a permanent base in the UK where vocational courses could be taught within a biblical framework.
A bold vision During the early eighties, at a rally at The Royal Albert Hall, London, Selwyn and Trevor publically declared for the first time the bold vision they sensed God had given them: of a Christian college of education, PAGE 6
and one day a Christian university. The search began for a suitable property, and in 1983, Selwyn was contacted by Maryele Andrew, an Every Day with Jesus reader in Farnham, Surrey. She suggested that he take a look at a large property which had recently come onto the market near her home – Waverley Abbey House. The sale was decided by closed and sealed bids – three, including one from CWR. Despite receiving a significantly higher offer, the sellers decide to proceed with CWR. In later correspondence, the acting solicitors wrote that CWR ‘must have had divine assistance’. Reading this, Trevor recalled a saying of Welsh revivalist Rees Howells: ‘When God wants a property for Himself, however hard others may try to secure it, they don’t have a chance.’ Investment from God’s people in prayer and financial giving meant that monies for the purchase were raised, and many felt that a revival had begun of the Christian heritage of the site.
Turbulent times Selwyn and Trevor believed that following a quick lick of paint and a few minor repairs, the training courses could begin at Waverley. But no one had quite anticipated the turbulent seas that CWR were about to sail. Shortly after the purchase of the house, Selwyn’s wife, Enid, was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died in early 1986. There
A hallmark of CWR is its passion to help people apply the Word of God to everyday life, and Trevor went on to say:
were also relational and financial difficulties to overcome. And due to historical planning obstacles, the Waverley Room at one time had no ceiling and was open to the skies. It was, in Trevor’s words, ‘a glorious ruin’. But Selwyn, Trevor and fellow trustee David Rivett, persisted under God, knowing that what He had begun He would see through to completion. Waverley Abbey House was finally made fit for purpose in September 1987 and Trevor, in his speech at the re-opening, clearly presented CWR’s ministry as a continuation of the work begun at Waverley centuries earlier:
‘It is no accident that this house lies in the shadow of the abbey ruins. It is no accident that 12 monks in 1128 dedicated this whole parcel of land to the living God. It is no coincidence that this house was used as a hospital – where people were nurtured, cared for, provided with physical care and attention, that it was frequented by Florence Nightingale, who went out from here to help others in need.’
‘We believe this book is not a book for yesterday, but it speaks to today’s age and situations. Our goal is that people who come to the house can, through engagement with the Word of God, develop and grow in their personal relationship with God, and then go out from here to care for others, not just in their own locality, but to the world.’ The site which at many times had been left to decay, was once again to pulsate with life … continued over >>
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Waverley today And so, this September marks 25 years since the re-opening of Waverley Abbey House. The legacy left by Bishop Giffard is encompassed and taken forward in the vision of Selwyn, Trevor and David: To equip men and women of conviction to build the Body of Christ and shape their communities for good. To impact the Church, the nation and the world for God. By God’s grace, and with the support of CWR’s Partners, many elements of the original vision have been achieved. Here’s a snapshot of the ministry’s impact in recent years from this place, in what we’ll call ‘Waverley by Numbers’! • 300: The number of different training courses we have run • 35,000: The number of students energised and equipped, including 86 nationalities • 7: The number of dated Bible-reading resources we produce as aids to personal revival, reaching millions • 22: The number of countries in which we have distributors of our publications • 48: The number of languages into which our publications are translated • 200,000: The number of new Christians resourced as they start their walk with God • 88,200: The number of print and audio resources sent into prisons • 29,000: The number of Bible resources sent to Africa as a result of our supporters’ generous giving • 9,000: The number of CWR books now in UK libraries
CWR’s counselling courses, in particular, are well-respected. Our unique biblical framework, known as the Waverley Model, has enabled thousands to develop an effective approach to people-helping. Stella Goddard, one of our Year 4 BA (Hons) students, says this of her connection with Waverley:
‘In 2007, I began my counselling training at Waverley with the week-long Introduction to Biblical Counselling. This confirmed my calling to be a counsellor and I continued in 2008 and 2009 with the Certificate and Diploma of Christian Counselling ... I returned in 2011 to extend my training to BA (Hons) level. At the time of writing this, I am looking forward to graduating in July 2012. ‘I arrived at Waverley feeling very vulnerable due to some difficult personal circumstances and leave with my faith deepened and the assurance that I have been trained to the very highest standard. ‘It is not possible to counsel others without first being prepared for ongoing personal growth and change. Waverley’s training changes you from the inside out. This has been challenging, powerful, healing ... ‘The Waverley Model trains you to work with both Christians and non-Christians. This, I believe, is invaluable as I work with a diverse client base in my private practice. The depth of academic learning and personal growth has been profound and life-changing. I feel well-equipped to work with a variety of clients with a range of difficulties from abuse to spirituality.
‘At the start of my journey God exhorted me to walk one step at a time in obedience to Him. It has been an incredible experience. I give God all of the glory and acknowledge with a grateful heart my lecturers and fellow pilgrims who encouraged me to keep going when the going got tough! I recommend Waverley without hesitation.’ The ripple effect from Waverley Abbey House is both humbling and in the truest sense awesome. And it seems, in this anniversary year, no coincidence that another milestone has been reached with the purchase of Pilgrim Hall. Just as the abbey of old reached out to its wider community, so we have been enabled to ‘enlarge our borders’. We thank God for the work He has begun here and, with expectant hearts, trust Him for the new chapters of His ministry. The story continues …
Join us on the journey To mark this significant year, why not consider becoming a CWR Partner? For more information call +44 (0) 1252 784707 or visit www.cwr.org.uk/partners
Come and celebrate 25 years at Waverley! Join us on the afternoon of Saturday 8 September to celebrate and thank God for 25 years of CWR’s ministry at Waverley Abbey House. This is a free, but ticketed event. To register your interest, visit www.cwr.org.uk or call +44 (0)1252 784710.
‘Powerful, personal and relevant – it has helped me a lot to live my faith day by day’ Bear Grylls
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For many years, supporters of CWR have asked us to expand our range of Bible-reading notes to include a publication especially for men. And so it is with great excitement that we can now present The Manual. The opportunity to work with Carl Beech (CEO of Christian Vision for Men) was too timely to ignore, so we swiftly put in place plans and schedules to develop this long-awaited, much-requested series of notes. The first two books, Power, Pleasure, Poker and Pork Pies and Fighters, Keepers, Losers, Reapers, were launched in July this year, and another two books will follow in November. In each, Carl and two guest contributors offer 60 days of no-nonsense guidance for a man’s walk with God. Readers will tackle the tough questions that confront Christian men, and will find a biblical framework for living. PAGE 10
We asked Carl to introduce himself to you, and to share more of his vision for The Manual … ‘I met Jesus when I was 18 and, frankly, completely uninterested in anything to do with the Church. My absolute burning ambition was to join the Armed Forces. I only ended up in a church because I found out my mate was a “born again Christian”, which I thought was a complete joke. At that point, the only other born again Christian I knew of was Cliff Richard! I honestly thought (when I could be bothered to use brain space on the issue) that Christianity was for freaks, geeks and losers. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after being challenged to visit the church one Sunday, I walked in to see all these good looking girls sitting on the back row. Happy days!
‘Within three or so months, I was on my knees before God, asking Him into my life. The girl I fancied at church became my wife, I didn’t join the army and instead did a degree, and then I worked in sales for a bank, until leaving at the age of 25 to plant a church from scratch on a tough estate. I went on to become a team leader of a church until leaving in 2005 to focus specifically on telling men about Jesus. I didn’t join the army because I distinctly heard God call me to fight a different sort of battle ... the battle for the hearts and minds of men. And what a battle it is! ‘Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 to walk through the narrow gate and to stick to the narrow path that leads to fullness of life with God. That’s tough. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself under all kinds of pressure to make the gate and the path a bit wider. The big question, then, is: how on earth do we do follow Jesus’ lead?
‘Over the years, I’ve become convinced that we need to up our game when it comes to engaging with God’s Word. Yes, we need our mates, we need accountability, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit – we need many things working together. However, the Bible is our sword. It’s our offensive weapon! The problem is that for many of us blokes, getting stuck into the Bible can be so sporadic that we end up with a sword that we may as well have got from Toys R Us! ‘That’s why I wrote these notes. It’s a chance for men to take a few minutes out at some point in the day to chew the fat with God’s Word. The notes are written with blokes in mind. They’re punchy, real, accessible and very honest about the battles we face which take us off the narrow path. Each day has the Bible verse printed at the beginning (handy if you’re on a train) and ends in a prayer. continued over >> PAGE 11
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‘My hope is that men all over the place will be reading these books together so that we can get a buzz going online about what we’re learning. (We’ve already got a Facebook page.) You could even use The Manual in your prayer, accountability or small groups. The bottom line is that we want to see blokes everywhere get gripped and excited by the Bible.’
Out now: The Manual 1: Power, Pleasure, Poker and Pork Pies The Manual 2: Fighters, Keepers, Losers, Reapers Available November: The Manual books 3 and 4 By Carl Beech £4.99 each Also available in ebook/Kindle formats Order using the form or online at www.cwr.org.uk All prices exclude p&p
REVIVAL NEWS BANGLADESH: The kingdom of God is expanding, new churches are being established, people from various backgrounds are coming to know Jesus. Last year Every Home for Christ distributed around two million pieces of gospel literature, bringing many responses and the planting of new congregations of believers. Source: Every Home for Christ
MEXICO: The nation is ravaged by drug cartels, kidnappings and murder. Michoacan, one of the 31 states, is pervaded by fear, insecurity and hopelessness. In its fifth largest city, Zitacuaro, a team of Christian workers overcame the fear of being killed, like so many, on the streets by distributing 70,000 pieces of gospel literature over 42 days. They not only saw people turn to Christ but many delivered from serious gambling addiction. Source: Every Home for Christ
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PRAYERTRACK
SEP–DEC 2012
WELCOME TO PRAYER TRACK. Our daily guide is produced to help focus intercession on areas of the world where there is great spiritual need and opportunities to reveal the love of Jesus Christ. It is also aimed at helping you to pray for CWR’s ministry. Compiled by Eddie Tait
SEPTEMBER ‘I am the light of the world ...’ John 8:12
which are subjected to oppression, intimidation and restrictions. Pray for pastors and congregations facing this persecution.
Weekend 1–2 September
Wednesday 5 September
Pray for the provision of the necessary funding for CWR’s ministry to grow and continue at Pilgrim Hall. Pray for the renovations and every other provision to this established centre for Christian teaching and retreat. Also pray for CWR’s Insight seminar on bereavement at Waverley Abbey House this Saturday.
Cuba’s head of religious affairs declared last year that the government would not waver in its stance against the Church. Part of this stance recently has been the harassment of pastors, forcing their removal from their congregations or short-term incarceration in prisons with periods of solitary confinement, or even being placed with violent criminals. Pray for these pastors.
Monday 3 September For the first time in over 50 years, Cuba marked Good Friday with a public holiday, at the request of Pope Benedict following his visit to the country. The Communist authorities said they did this as a mark of respect to him. Pray for the loosening of official bonds on Christian activities in Cuba. Tuesday 4 September The Communist government has been against Cuba’s Christians since the 1959 revolution. Especial targets are growing churches,
PT Thursday 6 September
At Waverley Abbey House today, Andy Peck is leading a CWR seminar called Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts. Pray for participants as they absorb the teaching and hear what God is saying to them. Friday 7 September Magazine-style Bibles placed in the seat pockets of Mission Aviation Fellowship flights serving Arnhem Land, in the extreme north of Australia, are popular. Copies have Pilgrim Hall has been purchased, and now renovation of the established Christian centre is needed so that CWR’s training ministry can be developed. (1–2 September) PHOTO: CWR
either gone missing or passengers have asked to keep them. Pray for this novel approach to evangelism. Weekend 8–9 September This Saturday, CWR is holding a special event to celebrate 25 years of ministry at Waverley Abbey House. Pray for everyone who comes, as they walk through the house and spend time in the grounds – and for CEO Mick Brooks as he leads short times of worship and thanksgiving. Pray over this weekend for the ongoing life and ministry at Waverley and at Pilgrim Hall. Monday 10 September Since last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the high suicide rate in the country has risen again. For 14 years running, suicides have exceeded 30,000. Pray for more Japanese to find hope and meaning for life in Christ. Also pray for many ministries finding new opportunities to share the gospel and offer aid. Tuesday 11 September Philip Greenslade is leading a CWR seminar at Waverley Abbey House today – Discovering More About God’s Story. Pray for those attending. Also pray for readers of the current issue of Cover to Cover Every Day, as they study the Minor Prophets, with notes by Ian Coffey. Wednesday 12 September For over 100 years, there have been attempts in Britain to legalise euthanasia, ‘the act or practice of putting painlessly to death,’ especially ‘in cases of incurable suffering’ (Chambers Dictionary). PAGE 13
on the 2012–13 courses to be encouraged in their studies.
The London 2013 Festival aims to tell people all over the capital who Jesus really is and the importance of knowing Him. (28–30 December)
Weekend 15–16 December Cyprus is a divided country. The north calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the south the Republic of Cyprus, which claims the whole island and is recognised as such internationally. Virtually all Christians are in the ROC, although evangelical churches in this Greek territory are few. There is freedom of religion in the ROC and the Muslim majority TRNC, but proselytism is carefully watched. Pray for Cyprus. Monday 17 December Praise God for all that He does through CWR’s dated Bible publications! Ask Him to bless readers of all the current issues and encourage them to walk closer with Him in the coming days. Tuesday 18 December An appropriate CWR publication for this time of the year is The Time is Now, an Advent book by Amy Orr-Ewing. Pray for the readers as they use it to gain deeper understanding of the first coming of Jesus. Wednesday 19 December Cameroon poses a big challenge for the spreading of the good news. It is one of Africa’s most ethnically and linguistically complex nations, with 286 people groups and many more sub-groups and dialects. Pray for Cameroon. Thursday 20 December The number of evangelicals in Cameroon has grown encouragingly since the year 2000. Many professional, military, police and political leaders have found Christ, and their influence has increased the nation’s stability. On the downside, nominalism in the churches is bigger than in most of Africa. Pray for revival. PAGE 20 20 PAGE
Friday 21 December
Thursday 27 December
Many people in Cameroon worship ancestral gods as well as attending church meetings. Pray for the work of CABTAL (the Cameroonian Association of Bible Translation and Literacy) in producing the Scriptures in mother tongues to set people free.
Torch Trust helps churches provide for the needs of blind and partially sighted people. Pray for more churches to use these resources to help those in their congregations who have sight difficulties.
Weekend 22–23 December With Christmas being the focus of outreach activities and Sunday church services, pray for many people to discover the true meaning of this time of celebration.
PT Monday 24 December
On this Christmas Eve, pray for those you know who are lonely, sick or bereaved – that the light of Jesus’ love will shine into their hearts. Tuesday 25 December
As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus to this earth, pray for Christian brothers and sisters who are unable to mark Christmas Day openly. Especially pray for the Lord to visit believers in a special way in places such as the brutal labour camps of North Korea and underground prisons in Eritrea. Wednesday 26 December Torch Trust is a ministry to blind and partially sighted people. CWR is one of its publishing partners, with Every Day with Jesus in audio format being very popular with blind subscribers. Torch also has CWR titles in its lending library in braille, giant print and audio. Pray for this ministry.
Friday 28 December Building on the work of More Than Gold at the Olympic Games this past summer, London churches now plan to hold a year of activity and training, culminating in public meetings at a major venue to present the good news of Jesus in the capital, led by Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse. Pray for this initiative, called the London 2013 Festival. Weekend 29–30 December The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse are partnering the London 2013 Festival, the initiative by Christian leaders to tell people all over the capital about who Jesus really is and the importance of knowing Him. Pray for preparations, which include evangelistic training for Christians, encouraging church leaders in focused mission and development of programmes to meet Londoners’ social and practical needs. Monday 31 December Thank the Lord for all He has done through CWR’s ministry in this past 12 months, and pray that He will use the work even more for His glory in 2013.
REVIVAL REVIEW
Revival: The Weight of Glory Revival has been defined in a myriad different ways. Selwyn Hughes, for example, insisted that ‘revival’ is essentially different from ‘renewal’. The latter, a New Testament word, is also found as a verb in the Old Testament (Hab. 3:2), but revival is found only as a verb in the Old Testament (Psa. 85:6); it is not a New Testament word at all, although of course the whole idea of revival permeates the New Testament’s thinking and teaching. Selwyn viewed renewal as being restricted to the Church, while revival, in his perception, affects the Church and society at large. In this emphasis he is in agreement with the following definition of revival by Dr R.T. Kendall: ‘… a sovereign outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the church that leads to the church being revived, conversions of the unsaved and an awakening of the community outside the church.’ In addition, Dr Kendall has suggested, in a number of different sources, that there are two other defining aspects of revival. First, an unveiling of God’s glory. The Hebrew word for glory, kabod, means heaviness and weightiness, whereas the Greek word for glory, doxa, means praise. An apt illustration of God’s glory being revealed is found in Exodus 3, where God reveals His name to Moses as a prelude to the deliverance of the Israelites from
their crushing servitude in Egypt. Another equally pertinent illustration is located in Isaiah 6 where, at a time of grave national crisis (the death of King Uzziah), the prophet saw the Lord ‘on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple’ (v.1). Second, a sharpened awareness of God’s presence. This was clearly something Isaiah was aware of in the incident quoted above. The only appropriate reaction is eloquently expressed in Isaiah’s own words, ‘For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty’ (6:5). An unveiling of God’s glory and a heightened sense of His presence have characterised revival (the Hebrew word for which, t’chiyah, means resurrection) since Pentecost, but two qualifications are appropriate in this context. One: revival is not a phenomenon to be analysed theologically in the hope of identifying the key principles so that they can be reproduced through our own efforts. Two: in revival the Holy Spirit restores our heart-passion for Jesus. This promise (see John 7:37) is not intended for those who are longing (thirsty) for head knowledge but for those who are thirsty (longing) to experience Him. Am I? Are you? John Peters PAGE 21
Take Your Church on a Journey of Discovery in 2013! Many churches in 2012 have embarked on a ‘Journey of Discovery’ to read the entire Bible in a year using Cover to Cover Complete, CWR’s one-year chronological reading plan incorporating the full Bible text. One participant remarks: ‘Cover to Cover Complete has undoubtedly helped increase selfdiscipline in the reading of Scripture, enabled people to get to know the Bible better and, indeed, some now want to go study it in greater depth’ Peter Hinton, St James’ Church, Alderholt
New for 2012 This year, CWR has republished Cover to Cover Complete using, for the first time, the New International Version 2011. The text is divided into manageable daily sections, and charts, maps, illustrations, diagrams
and timelines enhance understanding of the Bible and biblical times. Each day ends with a devotional thought written by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor Partridge. If your church would like to consider going on a ‘Journey of Discovery’, why not start in 2013? We have a number of resources available to help promote the Cover to Cover Complete Bible-reading programme in your church. When you register, you will receive:
Source: Mission Network News
Is your church ready for a ‘Journey of Discovery’? For more information/to register your church and receive a FREE welcome pack, visit www.cwr.org.uk/journey or call 01252 784782 or crm@cwr.org.uk
Place your order during November and December for a 1 January start. Along with your copies of Cover to Cover Complete, you’ll receive bookmarks for each individual and all you need to access your church’s very own online discussion forum.
CUBA: In the last 20 years the number of evangelicals has grown from roughly 70,000 to 800,000 – out of a population of 11 million, according to one Christian leader. At a Havana church on Sunday afternoons, hundreds of university students sing in vibrant worship at a special youth service. The pastor says that although the Church faces restrictions by being unable to have services in public stadiums, invite foreign preachers to minister or have Christian schools, ‘we can minister in hospitals and spread the Word of God in public places such as parks and buses’. Source: ASSIST News Service
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TEXT
• promotional posters • invitation cards to distribute • details of special discounts for churches.
REVIVAL NEWS ETHIOPIA: An urgent desire for God’s Word has been causing the gospel to spread like wildfire. Women are the main cause of this – women whose lives have been changed by watching a film produced by the Jesus Film ministry called Magdalena Released From Shame. In a country where women are undervalued, the film showings have brought healing and release – and turned the women into powerful evangelists.
-NEW BRAND N IO EDIT G ORATIN INCORP FULL
Becoming a Partner
Legacies
If you share the same values as CWR – the supremacy of Christ, the authority of Scripture and a commitment to excellence in everything, to name just a few – and you would like to play a significant part both prayerfully and financially in helping Christians around the world to grow in Christ, you might like to become a CWR Partner, receiving a regular letter. If so, please do get in touch with our Partnership Coordinator, Robin Pickford.
Have you considered including CWR in your will or estate? This can be a good way to invest spiritually in future generations.
Tick BOX 2 on order form or phone Robin Pickford on +44 (0)1252 784707
Tick BOX 3 on order form or phone Robin Pickford on +44 (0)1252 784707
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PICTURE: revival china ministries international
REVIVAL NOW
The Revival Burning in China
D
ennis Balcombe, founder of Revival Chinese Ministries International and worldwide speaker, was invited to speak at an official Three-Self Patriotic Church in Wuchang, central China. Wuchang is one of three cities that make up Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, with a population of about 9.8 million. There are several hundred official churches and several thousand house churches. The pastor told Dennis: ‘In the West you are now putting emphasis on the cell church, or house church movement, and many think the only way to reach China is through the support of the house church movement. I have come to the conclusion that China will be reached not only through house churches, but through large open churches preaching the gospel.’
The growth of ‘open churches’ Pointing to a large modern building over 40 storeys high – similar buildings can be seen everywhere in China – the pastor said, ‘In this building there is probably one or several house churches. But other than the
people who attend, who knows about their existence? How many sinners will they be able to reach and bring to Christ, say, over 10 years? ‘But look at my church. Every Sunday we have over 6,000 come to our meetings, many for the first time. They see a church building and attend out of curiosity, an interest in religion or at the invitation of a member. Every month we reach countless thousands of people. Thus the key to reaching China is through ministry originating in large Spiritfilled open churches.’
Utilising space The Church, as Dennis points out, is not a building to go to or have meetings in, but people – the Body of Christ. But he agrees that ‘in at least the Asian context, the church building is extremely useful and even vital for the development and growth of the Church’. Dennis’s church in Hong Kong, Revival Christian Church, is in a large converted cinema. Every part of it is in use every day of the week by the congregation and
REVIVAL NEWS HAITI: God is continuing to work in this land. Nearly 1,000 local churches were involved with the Luis Palau Association in March in reaching thousands of people with the good news of Jesus Christ. The one-day Fun in the Son Festival in the capital, Port-au-Prince, drew over 35,000. Thirty-two projects over eight days reached adults and children and 195 inmates out of 440 in Port-au-Prince’s main prison gave their lives to Christ when Luis Palau visited.
PHILIPPINES: A Christian film that has had a powerful impact on men across the United States brought a spiritual harvest when shown to police officers in the Philippines. Courageous, produced for Jaron Ministries’ outreach, Code 3 International (Christian Officers for Discipleship and Evangelism) was shown to 4,000 officers and nearly 1,000 responded by receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour.
other Christian groups. Every month thousands of people are ministered to in this building.
Greater freedom ‘For decades,’ says Dennis, ‘we have experienced mighty revival in China, but mostly in the rural house churches. This has resulted in close to a hundred-fold increase in believers in the past 60 years. Now this revival is sweeping many large official churches referred to as Three-Self churches. Evangelical and Spirit-filled leaders are taking over official churches and have liberty to preach whatever they want. Sunday schools and youth groups are very active in evangelism and church planting.’ Another factor in China’s current revival is that many congregations are now able to meet in nonofficial but registered church buildings. ‘They are,’ Dennis explains, ‘basically house church fellowships that due to a recent relaxation in policy have been able to build their own church buildings.’ Source: OpenHeaven.com
Source: Mission Network News
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Coffee with God
T
he military lifestyle. There’s security and camaraderie to be enjoyed when living and working with the same people. For many, however, it’s a lonely experience. Six months (the length of most operational tours) can seem a very long time, especially when separated from loved ones. Passionate about encouraging serving women and those left at home, Liesel Parkinson and a group of ladies from the Armed Forces Christian Union prayed about creating a book to do exactly that. Using the Psalms to provide readings spanning a six-month period and writing from their own experiences of military life, they approached CWR, who were delighted to act as publisher for an exciting new title, Coffee with God. The vision for the book is to give women the luxury of a daily ‘catch up’ with a special friend. Here’s a taster, based on Psalm 133:
Liesel Parkinson
PAGE 26
‘69.2 cubic metres. What does that mean to you? To me, it is the size of my world – the size permitted by the Army whenever we move. My “world”, or all my worldly goods, to be more accurate, has to fit inside a removals lorry. Over the years, I have had to become increasingly inventive about the best way to make everything fit. Sometimes it seems strange to me that, as Christians, we all worship the same God but try to fit Him into our own “church box”.
‘God loves to see unity amongst Christians and we see real fruit when we can celebrate our unity despite our differences. Today’s short psalm highlights God’s pleasure when He sees us working together for the good of His kingdom, “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore” (v.3). Each house we move into challenges my creativity in arranging our possessions in a practical as well as an aesthetically pleasing way. In one house I had to tuck the sitting room rug up behind the sofa to squeeze it in. In another I had to store a favourite bench in the garage. We need this same ingenuity and flexibility when we come to church.
Occasionally we might have to put some of our favourite church practices in “the garage” for a time. True unity is not just about an emotion or a religious doctrine, but about putting aside our differences and focusing on the really important things: loving God and loving each other.’ Although written with those connected to the forces in mind (it even fits neatly into the pockets of your combat trousers!), Coffee with God will speak to women from all walks of life – propelling us into deeper intimacy with God.
Coffee with God Compiled by Liesel Parkinson on behalf of the Armed Forces Christian Union £8.99 Available mid-September
Order using the form or online at www.cwr.org.uk All prices exclude p&p
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OrderForm New Resources from CWR The Stormbreaker Presented by Mick Brooks A brand-new DVD resource based on an Every Day with Jesus issue. Exploring the foundations of our faith which help us face the storms of life, the cross and resurrection of Jesus, this is ideal material if you’re planning a special Lent group next year. Five-session DVD (including one personal booklet): £14.99 Additional personal booklets: £3.50 each
I Was Just Wandering By Jeff Lucas Jeff often describes himself as a Mr Bean of the Christian faith. He has more than his fair share of embarrassing mishaps and laugh-out-loud episodes. In this latest book, there’s plenty to entertain and amuse but, in the midst of the laughter and tears, there’s a lot to kick-start the heart and mind as well. £8.99 (softback/ebook/Kindle) – available mid-October
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title The Manual 1: Power, Pleasure, Poker and Pork Pies The Manual 2: Fighters, Keepers, Losers, Reapers The Manual 3 (available November) The Manual 4 (available November) Coffee with God (available mid-September) The Stormbreaker DVD The Stormbreaker additional personal booklet 50 Barmiest Bible Stories (available mid-October) 50 Jammiest Bible Stories (available mid-October) I Was Just Wandering (available mid-October) The Time is Now (Advent book)
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By Andy Robb Presenting two new titles in this popular children’s series! The Bible tells us about some extraordinary events, and here Andy’s witty writings and illustrations introduce readers to the extraordinary God who lies behind those events. £5.99 each (softback) – available mid-October PAGE 28
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The Time is Now By Amy Orr-Ewing In this Advent book, Amy helps us to discern the purposes of God as we see how perfectly His timing worked out in the lives of Bible characters, and to look forward, embracing hope for the future as we deepen our perspective on the time we have. £6.99 (softback)
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Please continue to pray for CWR’s ministry in Singapore and SE Asia. As we have sought to follow God’s leading, many exciting opportunities have been presented to us. During the last few years, CWR teams have taken around 400 students through our Principles of Biblical Counselling course, and many hundreds more have attended other CWR seminars and events in the region. It is amazing to consider the far-reaching impact this teaching will have. Eddie Olliffe, formally CWR’s Business and Operations Manager, now concentrates his time on the SE Asia area of the ministry, working closely with Alby, our distributor in Singapore, local churches and key retailers. He is currently facilitating the translation of a number of CWR resources into Mandarin and preparing for their distribution into mainland China – more about this in future issues of CWR Today. This June, Ron Kallmier was in Singapore representing CWR at the biannual Conference on Wholistic Christian Counselling, entitled, ‘Compassion in Action: Incarnating God’s Love to the World’. Ron presented workshops on the Waverley Model of Christian Counselling and on forgiveness and therapy. Mick Brooks will visit Singapore in August to lead various seminars and events, and plans to return in October to conduct counselling courses with CWR tutor Mary Higginson. We would value particular prayer as we plan our ministry activity in SE Asia for next year. With the prospects of carrying out more counselling training, possibly participating in a large conference for women and continuing our work with churches, please pray that the focus will be, not what might be done, but that His will be done. Thank you.
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CWR diary highlights Bible Discovery Discovering More About God’s Story
Tues 11 Sep The Bible in a Day
Thurs 20 Sep Bible Discovery Weekend: David – the ‘man after God’s own heart’
Fri–Sun 5–7 Oct Revelation
Mon–Wed 19–21 Nov
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Understanding Yourself, Understanding Others – for counsellors and counselling students Introduction to Biblical Care and Counselling
Mon–Fri 19–23 Nov (at Pigrim Hall) Insight into Depression
Developing Pastoral Care (Part 1)
(Five Thursdays) 18 Oct – 13 Dec Depression and Anxiety in Teenagers
Wed 24 Oct
Leadership Reaching Teenagers
Thurs 13 Sep Small Group Leaders’ Toolbox
How to Help Couples with Troubled Marriages
Thurs 8 Nov
Fri 30 Nov
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
8 Oct
Sat 10 Nov
Sat 20 Oct (at Pilgrim Hall)
Sat 1 Sep BA (Hons) Counselling starts (year 4)
Deeper Insights into MBTI®
Sat 24 Nov (at Pigrim Hall)
Life and Discipleship
Sat 6 Oct
Sat 3 Nov
Fri 9 Nov
Insight into Bereavement Insight into Depression
Christians @ Work
Preachers’ Workshop
Women at Waverley Autumn Weekend for Women: ‘In His Presence’
Thurs 6 Sep
Fri–Sun 28–30 Sep
Understanding Yourself, Understanding Others (MBTI® Basic)
Tues 16 Oct
Sat 15 Sep
Women’s Autumn Day Women’s Christmas Celebration
Tues 4 Dec (at Pilgrim Hall)
Help! I want to read the Bible
Wed 26 Sep Career Changes and Choices
Regional events still to come.
Fri 28 Sep Personality and Spirituality
Thurs 27 Oct Unless otherwise stated, all the events above are to take place at Waverley Abbey House, Farnham, Surrey, UK. PILGRIM HALL IS LOCATED IN EAST SUSSEX, UK. PAGE 32
For full details visit www.cwr.org.uk or call +44 (0)1252 784719