winter 08 1
Still or sparkling? To help us provide clean water to people in the developing world join us on our Global Walk for Water this Spring. For a free resource pack and to see how easy it is to take part, just visit: www.turnonthetap.org.uk or call us on 020 8559 1180.
2 winter 08
/spring ’09 Welcome to
/thoughts
magazine
Spring is here…which means it’s nearly time for the clocks to change! We were having a debate in the office about whether this is a good thing? An hour less in bed – boo, always a bad thing. But more daylight, which means it’s nearly bbq season - whoop! Here at Emerging Culture, we have a new look! Check out our brand new website to have a look at our new logo and new projects. We are really excited about our new website, so send us an email, letting us know what you think.
ore information
See page 14 for m
We’re also looking for the next Emerging Culture Intern, so if you’re interested, check the website for more info, www.emergingculture.co.uk
Get your own! /thoughts is produced on recycled paper. Please make sure you recycle your copy.
Did someone give you this magazine? If so, then get your own! Turn to page 29 and sign up to receive /thoughts magazines, and you’ll be in with a chance to win a huge bundle of brilliant stuff.08 3 winter
/thoughts magazine
Stop, Look, Listen, Walk
Emerging Culture The Church, Tolverne Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 8RA 020 8781 1734 / thoughts@emergingculture.co.uk
Do you ever wish you weren’t so busy? Do you wish the world would stop, take a break and let you relax? Me too!
www.emergingculture.co.uk www.sharejesusinternational.com
4 tips…
/thoughts founders Andy Frost: andy@emergingculture.co.uk Huw Tyler: huw@sharecreative.co.uk
STOP! It’s only when we stop that we see how effective we are. Sometimes I stop and realise that instead of running forward, my legs are going so fast that I’m digging a hole, which, if we’re honest, isn’t that useful!
Editing, Advertising & Administration Dot Tyler: dot@emergingculture.co.uk
LOOK! This can be dangerous. If we start looking around, and I mean really looking, we might see things that challenge us. Whether it’s the homeless guy we walk past every day without noticing, or it’s the poverty we see on TV, before changing the channel to Neighbours.
Editors: Lindsey Macfarlane: lindsey@emergingculture.co.uk Artwork Design: Share Creative: www.sharecreative.co.uk Proof Reading: Jeanne Claridge
LISTEN! Listen to what God has to say about it; the God who loves the world so intensely that He died to save us. He has some hard hitting stuff to say about it! WALK! This bit is essential, challenging and requires risk! It means stepping up and stepping out. Are we ready for this?
© SJI. Charity Number 1089784 All Rights Reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording,
Dot Tyler Emerging Culture
or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from SJI. Content and opinions of the articles may not necessarily fully reflect those of SJI
Engage with words, engage with the world! 4 spring winter 09 08
Easter Eggs Have you noticed how ridiculously early shops start to display their Easter Eggs? I know we’re all excited about treasure hunts, chocolate and mini eggs but the shops have their Easter eggs out in January! A little too eager maybe? This year, let’s be just as eager…let’s really embrace the wonder of Easter festivities and organise a treasure hunt / spend time painting eggs / make little nests out of cornflakes and chocolate. Have fun!
Farms This is something that we only really do when we’re little. When spring comes, all of a sudden all the kids in the country are heading to the farm to see the little lambs, the chicks and the piglets. When did we become too grown up to do this? This year, re-discover your inner child, act your shoe size, not your age and visit your local farm.
TV Screenings This is one of our favourite ways to spend an evening; being part of the audience while TV shows are filming their programmes. We have seen Gladiators, Argumental and Countdown, to name just a few. Why not check the BBC website to see what’s filming near you? There’s something for everyone!
spring 09 5
/interview with Ben Cantelon Canadian born, Ben Cantelon is the current Worship Director at Soul Survivor Watford where he heads up the worship as well as leading at the UK events and Soul Survivor festivals around the world. Ben took time out to chat with /thoughts and Emerging Culture about life, love and legacy.
6 spring 09
Hi Ben, how are you? Hi, yeah I’m really good, just come back from being back home in Vancouver for Christmas and New Year. It was great; we had 3 feet of snow! I also just got engaged, so I’m on a bit of a high about that! Brilliant! How did you propose? A few friends have a houseboat on the Thames, which is a really beautiful location. We had a meal, and afterwards I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. It was a complete surprise to her! It’s all very exciting and we’re really looking forward to this year!
a busy year, but that’s good, I like to be busy.
That’s really great! On one knee, you’re a true gentleman! So what else are you up to this year?
We’ve heard about a great moment when you proposed, but what is your most embarrassing moment?
We had the Soul Survivor road show in February, so we went out and met people where they were at. I’ve also got the youth workers retreat and an event called Renewal, where I’ll be meeting up with Noel Robinson, Graham Kendrick and some other guys. It’s going to be great, hanging out with such great worship leaders and men of God. I also have a new album this year, so I’m going to the studio in the next few months. So it’s going to be
Well…once, when I was playing the keyboard at church, I fell off the stage. The place where I was positioned on the stage was really close to the edge. I could feel the stool collapsing beneath me and all of a sudden I had fallen backwards, landed on the floor on my back, with my feet in the air. Mike Pilavachi ran over and asked if I was ok and I said “yeah, yeah, fine” and then everyone just started laughing! So that was pretty embarrassing.
/interview
What music do you like to listen to? There are so many answers to this…I love Coldplay, something about their music is so inspiring. I also really like Snow Patrol and U2. What made you decide to be a worship leader? Well I’ve always been a musician. I travelled to the UK to be in the band with Tim Hughes. Music has always been a passion that God has planted in my heart. I always felt that it would be good at some point to explore being a worship leader, but it had to be God’s will and God’s timing. The next week, Mike Pilavachi asked me if I would lead worship at church. I am so passionate about seeing people meet with God. Music is an international language, everyone can connect with music, and worship is a big part of that for Christians. It’s a massive privilege and honour to do this! What are the great things about your job? Being able to work with people with a similar passion. I love getting together with friends and people from church to be creative and explore. I love song-writing; it’s a huge passion of mine. It’s an amazing gift to have this job. Hearing people’s testimonies and
responses to a song, how songs have helped them, really gives me strength and passion to carry on. Are there any things that you find difficult about being a worship leader? Everyone has ups and downs, as a worship leader it’s easy to get into a bit of a routine. You find yourself in a neutral state of mind, in a dry time, when you find yourself in a rut. We all have these seasons and it can be quite hard. You wanna be in a place to move forward, but it’s hard and can be a struggle. If there was a particular legacy you could leave, what would it be? I would love people to say that I was a person who always follows his heart and was after God’s heart. I want to make a difference for good. I am passionate about seeing worship outside the walls of the church. We talk about evangelism and worship together so often. I would love to see these brought together to inspire people to write songs for the kingdom.
spring 09 7
/lifestyle
/distraction Exams, essays, deadlines, money issues, relationships, friends and family... these are just a small number of things that we tend to worry about. We have loads going on in our lives and sometimes all this worry about what we do in our everyday lives distracts us from God. It is really easy just to sit at the computer on facebook all day long, (which is something I frequently do!) and not actually spend time with God. I have just started University and I seem to have a very busy social life, constantly going out to events, nights out and of course shopping! Rehearsals for my drama course are never ending, I’m also involved with my Christian Union, which is good but I don’t seem to have much time for a God and Gail 1-2-1. God loves us to talk to Him about anything even if it is just saying a nice ‘hello God, I pray today will be a good day’ or a full blown big and deep prayer. Take Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1-2 which says ‘so then, let us rid ourselves of everything which gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end’. 8 spring 09
This passage is pretty much saying how no matter what is going on in our lives and no matter how busy we are we should never get distracted from God. Our main focus in life should be God and always God. We ought to just take some time out of our busy day to day lives and chill with God... praying, reading the Bible and listening to Him. It is really easy to get distracted and ‘put off’ God till later on, like after your favourite television programme which will then lead onto another of your favourite programmes and so on. If we fix our eyes on Jesus and try and not concentrate on the things which get in the way we can get through anything and live the life that God wants us to live. Now, you’re all thinking ‘that’s all very well but it’s harder than it sounds, especially in this modern day society.’ I get distracted very easily and my mind seems to wander constantly, and even though distraction is a part of life and we can’t help what happens around us, we can offer these things and these situations up to God. This has been on my heart lately and I have been praying into the fact I keep getting distracted when in fact I want to get closer to God. So I just want to encourage you to do the same. Try to have a few more 1-2-1s with God, try not get distracted from Him and just live the way He wants you to live.
Gail Jackson Gail Jackson is in her first year at Staffordshire Uni studying Drama. She has been on our FRESH course this year and has loved it! She will be Street Team-ing and Salsa-ing the night away at the Pentecost Festival! “FRESH is awesome! It’s a great way to meet new people with the same passion as you for being a leader. Its challenging, a laugh and a great way to deepen your I’WWM ON knowledge and faith!” FRE W.EMER GIN
SH
GCULTU RE.CO.UK /FRESH
/lifestyle
/honesty I love words. Words are a doorway to meaning, there to convey truth. But how often do they? Too often, I’ve noticed, we don’t think through what we’re saying! At some stage, we have all entered someone’s house, bursting for a wee, and asked the question ‘Do you have a toilet I could use?’ How is that a proper question?!! Furthermore, how often, when asked how we are, do we say ‘fine’ and not mean it? We lie to avoid making life socially awkward. Sometimes I find it weird being a comedian, because I hate lying. I hate lying, and yet comedy is largely about lies. Ok, we call them jokes so nobody gets offended, but there’s often very little truth about the work of a stand-up comedian. Sometimes, the only real truth is that you’re up there on your own.
Andy Kind Andy Kind is a professional stand-up comedian working all over the UK. He comedy is driven by an intense love of life and people. Check out his website - www.andykind.co.uk He can be seen this year at Pentecost Festival!
That’s not the full story, though. The hope is, I think, that, through the laughter, a deeper truth about life can be conveyed. Dr Virginia Trooper said, ‘When the mouth is open for laughter, you may be able to shove in a little food for thought.’ But even then, that’s not always possible. I would love to go up on stage and talk about Jesus. Just talk about Him. Talk about how real I think He is, and how He changed my life; talk about how the theory of evolution doesn’t disprove Him; talk about how angry I get that the English Bible translations make Him sound like a middle-class school teacher. But I can’t do that, because an audience won’t laugh and they won’t like it. After all, who am I to force my beliefs on others?! Yet that is what comedy is – preaching about your views. And it’s ok for people to come and promote drug-use or binge drinking or drunken sex. It’s ok for people to go up and talk about how their lives have been messed up by the world. But I can’t go up there and talk about how my life has been healed. That seems odd.
combat overcrowding. And they are happy to absorb the story of my stupid American friend mistaking a pylon for Blackpool Tower. They can suspend their disbelief for that sort of politically incorrect silliness. But if I start talking about truth – real truth – then not only will they not want to listen, but bizarrely they are less prepared to believe. If I want to talk about Christianity in a positive way, I’m reduced to using analogy and metaphor. I hear Jesus Christ mentioned all the time, when a friend loses on Fifa 09 or a pig runs in front of a car. But use that name reverently and people go back to playing Fifa or run out in front of cars to avoid hearing it. But it leaves me – all of us – with a choice. What’s more important: comedy/ jokes/fitting in… or truth?
Audiences are quite prepared to hear about how I set up a fight club in an old people’s home to
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spring 09 9
/neighbours Phil Togwell, leader of 24-7 prayer UK, got involved with evangelism in his neighbourhood. Could you do the same? I spent most of my first post-school year in a suburb called Tolworth, doing a course called TIE (training in evangelism). I was learning lots about God, church and myself. One particularly grey afternoon, I remember wandering up and down Tolworth Broadway with a clipboard in my hand, muttering prayers under my breath... Tolworth Broadway is not especially exciting... a short parade of dreary shops - a Blockbuster, a few greasy cafes, a few charity shops... identikit shoppingparade. I was doing ‘questionnaires’, which, along with door-to-door, was the staple diet of any evangelistic community programme. Our questionnaires were fairly
simple things. Short too. Five to ten questions, at the most, and very carefully constructed. Each opened up with a friendly ‘hook’ question... “What do you think of this area?”, “What do you think of Christmas”... and then rapidly built up to the finale, which was the same in every questionnaire I ever used, “If you thought it was possible to have a relationship with God, is this something that you’d want?” Clever, huh? If the person said “no thanks”, it begged the follow-up question, “can you explain why that is?” And if the person said “yes please”, then, bingo! That grey afternoon... Angie, my co-TIE Teamer, was somewhere up the other end of the shopping parade. Down my end, I was cold and slightly grumpy, clutching my questionnaire-stuffed clipboard and my Bic-biro. Praying. As I stumbled slowly past the shops and the swarming shoppers, my prayers went something like this, “Dear God, please show me who you want me to talk to today. Guide me...” I glanced carefully at each person as they passed either side of me... maybe that mum
struggling with her kids? Or that older man carrying his Sainsburys bags? How about that group of lads in their school-uniforms? “Which ones, Lord? Which are the ‘neighbours’ you want me to love today?” The reason I remember that particular afternoon is because I didn’t actually speak to anyone. I didn’t even try, to tell you the truth. My clipboard full of questionnaires remained entirely unused. And when Angie asked me why I hadn’t spoken to anyone, I told her that God hadn’t told me who I was there to talk to. What an idiot. Later that evening, I remember the shock of hearing God’s patient whisper... “Phil... remember all those people you passed this afternoon? Do you remember any of them? No? Well, I do... and I love them all...” And I remember feeling very ashamed. I occasionally wonder about the strategies we employ in the church to ‘target’ people - friendship evangelism projects, prayer triplets, etc. - and I wonder if God is cringing. Who is my neighbour, God? Who do you
Phil Togwell Phil Togwell leads 24-7prayer’s UK team. He lives in London with his wife and 3 beautiful daughters. Phil likes curry and apple crumble, books and cheese-y 80s music. Why not check out Phil’s blog on www.toggietales.com
10 spring 09
You can catch him on the Street Teams at Pentecost Festival.
Pentec ost Festiv .co.uk al
/engage
want me to be targeting with my help and attention? Who’s most likely to respond? (now I’m cringing!) Bonhoeffer had this to say; “You are the neighbour. Go along and try to be obedient by loving others.” Neighbourliness is not a quality in other people, it is simply their claim on ourselves. Every moment and every action challenges us to action and to obedience. We have literally no time to sit down and ask ourselves whether so-and-so is our neighbour or not. We must get into action and obey - we must behave like a neigbour to him. But perhaps this shocks you. Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is only one answer. You can only know and think about it by actually doing it. You can only learn what obedience is by obeying.” Now, that’s genius. I am the neighbour. You are the neighbour. So let’s live neighbourly... and love everyone.
WWW. EMERGIN GCULTU RE.CO.UK /FRESH
spring 09 11
sp i ri t ua l
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p r a ct ic a l
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a c a de m ic
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r el ational
One Year Courses, BA & BA (Hons) in Applied Theology, MA in Applied Theology Christian Leadership, Youth Work, Community & Family Studies, Children & Schools, Pastoral, Evangelism and Cross Cultural Studies
www.moorlands.ac.uk 12 winter 08
Moorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch, BH23 7AT Tel: 01425 675000 e-mail: admissions@moorlands.ac.uk
Start here
Are you up for a laugh and ready for a challange?
NO
Put your feet up and settle down for a quiet summer...
YES Do people come to you for advice?
YES
Are you confident talking about your faith?
NO
NO
Are you often full of energy?
NO
YES Do you like working with kids?
JOIN US FOR SUMMER MISSIONS 2009 Find out which Summer mission is right for you or do all three! For more information, contact Dot 020 8781 1734 or email dot@emergingculture.co.uk
Step up and Step out this summer! www.emerginculture.co.uk/summer
NO
YES
Would your friends call you a leader?
NO
YES
YES Are you willing to outreach in urban areas?
NO
YES
Do you love the beach? NO
YES
Live it, Love it, Leeds!
Soul in the City Wimbledon!
Beach Mission!
We’re really excited about getting involved with the work of the local churches in Leeds. We will be getting stuck in and getting our hands dirty. There will be great teaching on discipleship, and we will be spending the week practicing what it means to be a disciple. We will be getting involved on the streets, in social action, in building relationships and running events in the park. This will be a mission where we will be stepping out of the comfort zone and walking on water. Are you in?
Soul in the City ’09 will be an opportunity to chat with people, serve a community and have a great time. Whether you’re face-painting, having a massive water fight, cleaning up the streets or running sports teams…this will be an awesome way to demonstrate God’s love to Wimbledon. Whatever your passion, we need you! Come and be involved in the most diverse mission of the summer!
We are heading to the sea, sunshine and surf. We will be skating, surfing, running events, getting to know locals, building relationships and having a laugh while we show people, and tell people about Jesus. We will spend every morning having quality and exciting teaching from Dot Tyler. If you love the beach, if you love to relax, chill out and get to know people, this is the place for you. If you’ve never been on a mission, or you’ve done hundreds, this will be the most exciting week of your summer!
winter 08 13
Phatfish * Gathering Band * Matthew Macaulay
Tickets: ÂŁ10 (ÂŁ12 on the door) To book tickets visit: www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/tickets or call 020 8781 1740
As part of the 2009 Pentecost Festival, Authentic Media are proud to present Phatfish in concert, with Gathering Band and Matthew Macaulay. A stunning evening of contemporary worship and rock music with one of the best known and loved Christian bands in the UK, plus two of the brightest new lights in worship music, Gathering Band and Matthew Macaulay. An un-missable night at a great venue.
For more information visit
Pentecost Festival and Emerging Culture present...
rsity of London SU,
The Venue, Unive
Goodge Street.
Saturday 30th May 09 7.30pm Emerging Culture presents an entertaining night of sizzling Salsa! From beginners, to amateurs, to annoyingly good showoffs everyone is invited to shake and wiggle to the scorching Latino beats. Guaranteed fun for all, a great giggle and an awesome way to burn off some calories in time for summer! =R[aRP \`a 3R`aVcN P\ bX Y
Tickets: ÂŁ10 (ÂŁ12 on the door) To book tickets visit: www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/tickets or call 020 8781 1740
For more information visit www.pentecostfestival.co.uk
Salsa! Emerging Culture presents an entertaining night of sizzling Salsa! From beginners, to amateurs, to annoyingly good show-offs everyone is invited to shake and wiggle to the scorching Latino beats.
=R[aRP\`a 3R`aVc P\ bX NY
l.co.uk www.pentecostfestiva
Pentecost Festival, release:potential & GL Live present....
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, SU M (KING BUILDING TUTU’S S: 6:00P 1 1740 CADAN MAY / DOOR 020 878 H or call THE MA k/tickets DAY 30T tival.co.u SATUR tecostfes £12 www.pen Tickets: tickets visit: To book
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=R[aRP\`a 3R`aVc P\ bX NY
For more information visit www.pentecostfestival.co.uk This is a 15+ event. Please bring ID
Saturday 30th May 09 Doors: 7:30pm
Pentecost Festival present...
The Venue, University of London SU. Tickets: ÂŁ10 @ SOHO BAR
Go to www.pentecostfestival.co.uk and14book your tickets today. spring 09
Beats: A high impact evening of entertainment that carries a challenging message. Featuring MOBO award winner Jahaziel and [Dweeb] this event combines powerful live music, inspiring stories, audience interaction and multimedia experiences.
An entertaining night of stand up comedy, magic, mayhem, tricks and illusions! With Jon Archer, Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year’ and Steve Price, Gospel Illusionist and Magician. =R[aRP\`a 3R`aVc P\ bX NY
Tickets: ÂŁ10 (ÂŁ12 on the door) To book tickets visit: www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/tickets or call 020 8781 1740
For more information visit www.pentecostfestival.co.uk
Comedy, Cabaret and Magic! An entertaining night of stand up comedy, magic, mayhem, tricks and illusions! With Jon Archer, Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year’ and Steve Price, Gospel Illusionist and Magician.
For more information and to sign up go to www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/streetteams
FISH WITH PHAT
Friday 29th May 8pm
The Big Gig Authentic Media are proud to present Phatfish in concert, with Gathering Band and Matthew Macaulay. A stunning evening of contemporary worship and rock music with one of the best known and loved Christian bands in the UK.
See page 31
Pentecost Festival presents...
Be part of the festival... ...join the Street Teams
Pentec Come to the Festival... ost Festiva 26th - 31st May 2009 - Central London .co.uk l
/engage
/pentecost festival 2009 With Santa having put his sleigh away for another year and the Easter Bunny’s chocolates being put up on sale from midday on Christmas Eve, you might be wondering how long it is until the world claims another Christian Festival for itself. In the future, will we see Epiphany cards, Feast of Tabernacles deluxe meals at our local McDonalds, and the introduction of the Ash Wednesday Dragon? In the future, will all our Christian Festivals become so secularized, so detached from their original meaning, that we we’ll have forgotten the reasons for celebrating? In 2006, Rob Frost heard God speak to him. In his book Ladies and Gentlemen: The Church has left the Building he wrote: “The words came very clearly, almost as if they were sprayed onto the wall of my consciousness graffitistyle. “Why not organise an event that I’d like to come to?” he said. It shook me to the core. “It was this moment
that began Rob Frost’s vision for the Pentecost Festival. With so many Christian festivals being overshadowed by worldly imitations of the celebrations, it was time to reclaim, rediscover one festival, and celebrate it for all the right reasons.
Alasdair Wallace
Last year saw the first ever Pentecost Festival take place in central London. It was a celebration, a party praising God, and bringing His glory out into the streets of London. Singers, dancers, actors, politicians, people, young and old, from all different walks of life took part in this recognition of Pentecost, of the birth of the church. It is estimated that at least 10,000 people witnessed the events, the people, and the atmosphere that made up the weekend.
Alasdair is the communications coordinator for the Pentecost Festival. He is a passionate Scotsman, and like every good Scottish boy he loves good music, good food and the film Local Hero!
At least 10,000 people saw the ordinary followers of Christ become empowered by God’s spirit, communicating their faith in ways that everyone could understand. We were rediscovering Pentecost.
Catch him at the Festival, dancing to some scorching Latino beats at the Salsa night!
To me that is what Pentecost Festival is all about. When I read the New Testament book of Acts 2, I am
overwhelmed by the colour, the noise, and the numbers of people who heard the message on that day of Pentecost: “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41) Why can’t that happen again? What’s stopping us from asking the Holy Spirit to lead us out onto the Streets on Pentecost weekend to speak God’s truth to the thousands of people in London who have never heard the Good News? The street teams are at the heart of the Pentecost Festival. I can’t wait to see a mass of blue and green shirts around Central London talking to, directing, and praying with the “amazed and perplexed” (Acts 2:12) people, who are wondering what it is we are celebrating. This Pentecost let’s read through Acts again, and be amazed and excited by the colour, the noise, and the passion. This Pentecost let’s step out onto the streets, asking the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to also take our faith out onto the streets. This Pentecost, let’s celebrate something real.
spring 09 15
/marijuana missionary I have a confession to make: I smoke marijuana each Sunday morning before going to church, and I don’t feel bad about it. In fact, it’s my highlight of the week. More on that later… I hope the New Year has gotten off to a good start, and I want to ask you two questions: • What is God saying to you (presuming we believe God speaks) about your life in 2009? • And will you follow Jesus wherever he leads you this year? I don’t claim to have a hotline to God in terms of audible-voice experiences, but I do believe he is constantly speaking, if only we’d switch off the TV, iPod, email long enough to really listen. During the early part of last year, he spoke to me every Sunday as I drove to church. I would see thousands of people congregating on the beach and then jogging around together. If they were on the beach, then they weren’t going to church. If they weren’t going to church, then they weren’t hearing about Jesus. This made me think that Jesus himself would probably prefer to go to the beach than to
16 spring 09
church, as he said he hadn’t come for the healthy but for the sick. Well, I decided to do both beach and church! It took six months for me to respond to the regular nudges God was giving me, and after plenty of excuses – some lame, some legitimate – we kicked off a jogging outreach on Sunday mornings. It’s not very slick or polished, it’s just fifteen passionate disciples of Jesus who want to meet people where they’re at. So we hook up on the beach, do some exercise drills followed by a sketch and quick preach, and then split up and talk to those that have gathered. We get laughed at, shouted at, scorned and slighted, but it’s fine because Jesus is there, and literally every week we introduce him to new people! It’s a beautiful sight to see people praying to receive Christ while footballs are flying overhead and crowds are jogging past. I leave to jog back home at 7:30am, thrilled that people have caught the sweaty fragrance of Christ. However, that’s not the end of it. On the second Sunday, I said goodbye to the lads and headed home. I took a shortcut behind a shed and jogged past a few dozen youths smoking pot. I greeted them, they jeered at me, and I carried on past.
But again, I believe God spoke to me: “Go back and hang out with them. Church can wait. This is much more important.” I carried on running, but then thought: “Simon, you may regret missing out on something special that God could be lining up for you.” I turned back and went up to them. I sat down on the ground with them. We got talking. Some were rude, some aggressive, most were intrigued. They handed me a joint. I hadn’t smoked one since I was eighteen. As a servant of God, this was probably not the best idea. Hmm... Every week since then I have loved jogging back home and stopping to chat with the likes of Tigana, Abu, Fiston – young, misguided, messed up men, who have so much potential. They want to work,
Simon Guillebaud Simon Guillebaud is a passionate English evangelist working in extreme circumstances in a central African warzone. He has written a great book called ‘For What it’s Worth’, check it out online! www.greatlakesoutreach.org
/engage
but there’s no work to be had. It makes me wonder whether I, in their position, would embrace their escapism as the best solution to the despair which envelops them. I could share a number of stories with you from these times together. This Sunday just gone, one of the brash loud-mouths took me aside from the rest of them. Claude had been incredibly rude and abusive to me a couple of weeks back, to the extent that even the others were embarrassed. He now appeared sheepish, but also determined to get something off his chest. “Simon, on TV last night they were talking about forgiveness, and I thought of you. I realised that when you come and talk to us, it’s because you care, because you want to help us. I’m sorry for what I said to you.” He looked me in the eye, smiled, shook my hand firmly, and ran off…
Well, may we believe that God is constantly speaking to us may we tune out all the competing sounds to listen to our glorious God who desires to take us on a great adventure may we follow Jesus wherever he leads us - to the beach, the bar, or the bank. Anywhere. Everywhere and may we be obedient to his call to embrace a messy, gritty, costly discipleship. P.S. If you’ve caught the whiff of scandal from my comments about smoking pot, then do breathe a sigh of relief – it was only passive smoking!
Well, by the time I get to church I’m exhausted but my spirit’s soaring. Jesus is definitely at church, but he’s no less at the beach, and we’ve already had lots of time together! So back to my questions: • What is God saying to you about 2009? • And will you follow Jesus wherever he leads you?
spring 09 17
fir Camp 0
22–25 May 09
Cottesmore, Leicestershire Worship, teaching, bible studies, dj, good food, live bands and more!
www.crossfire.org.uk
please detach and return to address on the
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A URC youth event for anyone aged 14–25
2009 festivals.
Cross
.. . s d n e m m o c /thoughts re
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no yes tent needed please add £5 to the total for weekend tent hire Total = £52 (£45 before 1st March) Booking form continues on back
Soul Survivor 2009
New Wine: Step Out
Keswick Youth & ABIDE
Crossfire
momentum conference
Fancy five days hanging out with God, your mates and about 10,000 other young people?! There’s loads going on at Soul Survivor this year including worship, teaching, ministry and lots of great stuff to really encourage you in your relationship with God. Seminars will be covering everything from evangelism to relationships plus there will be sports, cafes, workshops, gigs, dance venues, films and more to keep you entertained!
Come and be envisioned, equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit so that together we may overcome our fears and engage in fruitful mission that will change lives, churches, communities and our nation! Enjoy inspiring teaching and passionate worship. Meet new and old friends at cafes, BBQs and evening entertainment. New Wine goes all out to cater for every age, and ability. Experience it for yourself and bring your church.
Keswick Youth (11-18’s) – Chill in the amazing Lake District, chortle as we have fun together. But be ready to be challenged by God’s word and changed to live for Him more and more! ABIDE (19-24’s) – Come along, be energised, fortified, refreshed. Be energizing and encouraging. Pick up old friendships, forge new ones, enjoy a relaxing week that will definitely be a good time, but might even be a significant time!
Crossfire is a 4-day event that combines excellent main stage teaching and worship with chilled out small group reflection and a constant barrage of the highest quality entertainment. Crossfire ’09 will be led by Ashley Evans and Colin Hall and features Cathy Burton, Andy Blurton, large inflatables and loads of food! Crossfire’s run by the URC and GEAR for anyone aged 14-25 and costs £52 with all food and entertainment included.
Week A: 24th-28th July Week B: 12th-16th August Week C: 17th-21st August Momentum: 22nd-26th August
North & East: 25th-31st July London & S.East: 25th-31st July Central & S.West: 2nd-8th August
Keswick Youth: 11th-31st July Abide: 11th-17th July Keswick, Cumbria
22nd-25th May 2009 Cottesmore, Rutland
Momentum is a conference for youth and young adults. We’re passionate about equipping people to engage with their communities and stand for their faith. God is raising up a generation who are willing to transform their world without conforming to cultural expectation. Featuring inspirational workshops to equip you in everyday life, including leadership, worship and social justice. Plus skating, sports, live bands and more. This cannot be missed!
www.soulsurvivor.com/uk
www.new-wine.org
www.keswickministries.org
www.crossfire.org.uk
17th-18th April Renewal Christian Centre, Solihull www.momentum.fm
/deeper
/plan A “I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord… This verse has been read to me so many times! It’s a verse that people use to show others that even though we maybe going through a hard time, that God has a plan and that He’s going to help and support us. It has become such a throw away verse, said so often that we forget what it really means. This started me thinking; what is this verse saying to us today?
Darren Quinnell
Is it just a nice way of saying to someone that it’s all going to be ok, “God’s in control”? Or is it saying something more? For me the basis of this passage is not found in verse 11 but in the verses surrounding it. Verse 12 says this, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” As I looked at this verse God led me to one word and I found myself looking at this passage in a whole new light. The word that sums up these verses is “Then”. As I looked and focused, I started to realise that through the verses of Jeremiah 29:11-13 God is saying to us that not only does He have good plans for us in life, but that through those plans we will realise and know that He is God.
We must get to grips with what is said after verse 11 and not just focus on receiving from God. The verses afterwards focus on God and show us that we need to keep coming back to Him. God is showing us that He is in control and that if we have a relationship with Him, we will see and take part in great things.
I don’t know about you but the times when my faith has been strengthened most is when I look back and realise how God has been guiding and helping me. Hindsight is a powerful thing, and can be used to improve and learn from the past. This passage talks about how God has great plans for us in our lives but this is not the only meaning of these verses.
The challenge this passage raises for us today is; how do we look for God? Am I focused on Jesus and my relationship with Him, or do I forget about Him, the minute hard times come along? Do I try to do things or work harder in the hope that God will love me? Am I focusing on my relationship with Jesus as a major priority in my life? Let’s be people who love Jesus, who rely on Him all the time, for everything!
God is also showing us, through verses 12 &13, that our relationship with Jesus is a two way thing. The reason “then” is such a key word within this passage, is that it shows us that we can’t rely on our works but on God’s. We can’t ever do anything to give ourselves a better relationship with God, we need to rely 100% on God’s work in Jesus on the cross.
Darren is the local youth work co-ordinator for Emerging Culture. He loves seeing young people meet Jesus for the first time, and so he spends as much time as he can, speaking at various places and events around the country.
spring 09 19
/reality hits
/reality hits: harriet courtney... ...the happy place Have you seen that new E4 advert for ‘the happy place’? It goes a little something like this: ‘Have things gone down the (toilet)? Is life too hard to face? Are you ugly, skint or partnerless? Well E4 knows just the place…’ It’s a brilliant ad! Exchange your rubbish life for a fake one lived through the lives of TV characters whose lives are equally as messed up and filled with endless tragedy. Don’t get me wrong, I still wanna catch up with the latest episode of Scrubs and every re-run of Friends ever, but since watching the ad I can’t help but think about how screwed up we are. How screwed up I am. Thankfully we don’t need E4 to sort us out, or even Jack Bauer on Sky (although he helps!) I started out my teenage life trying to exchange being ‘ugly, skint
and partnerless’ for being hot, loaded and on the arm of every fit guy I could. This was NOT what God had in mind when I gave my life to Him when I was twelve! I had fallen into satan’s trap of low self worth where he lies about our identity, our value and our usefulness to God.
approval, unconditional love, and if that wasn’t enough; eternal life, the happy place. This doesn’t mean life is now easy, it doesn’t mean I don’t desire normal things like Ben & Jerry’s, some nice clothes and marriage, but it means that I don’t need them. I don’t rely on them to make me complete!
Then as I was doing my A2s, God spoke and put satan on mute. He didn’t shout, He didn’t jump out from behind the sofa; He spoke to my heart and asked me to split up with my boyfriend of nearly three years. I knew it was right and went for it; unfortunately I put God back on mute and listened to the lie that I needed a guy to complete me. I went off the rails, seeking affirmation. I went to university a wreck and somehow God collared me into the CU, what a joker! I met a group of people who loved Jesus, who were changed by Him and who lived all out for Him without being in their mid 40s. This was a challenge. How could I, someone who had rejected God so much and still called herself a Christian, come back and be part of this community? I needed to change.
This doesn’t mean I constantly live in a happy place, it means I have the Holy Spirit to help me get through life when it’s tough, I have a community of people who love God to spur me on and I need to tell others about this awesome guy who made the exchange possible.
/reality hits
Thankfully Jesus died so that I could exchange something. He wasn’t going to give me a face-lift, a tonne of money and Brad Pitt (alas), but something better… Forgiveness, freedom from needing
real stories of a real God 20 spring 09
Harriet Courtney Harriet lives in Leeds where she works for a church as the secretary and ministries co-ordinator. She loves outdoor pursuits, good coffee, great chocolate and crocodile dundee.
/reality hits
/reality hits: josh... ...my walk home I always walked past a mosque and thought about becoming a full-on, committed Muslim. Islam seemed so attractive, I wanted rules in my life and I had enough of being a Christian. About half way through Year 10, I spoke to some friends, I asked about Islam and how to become a Muslim. I decided to make a commitment to Islam, I went to the mosque and said the shahadah (which is when you declare yourself to Allah and say he is the only God). I became a Muslim and I felt proud of myself. I kept this secret from my parents and my family; I didn’t tell them anything about what I did. One morning, I was in a café with my brother, having a nice breakfast with him when he asked “Joshua, are you a Muslim?” That was amazing! I had no idea he knew. I asked him “Who told you?” and he said, “God”. I was amazed! It started me thinking about my struggle with religion, but I still carried on with Islam, the prayers and the rules. After three months my dad asked me if I was a Muslim and I told him the truth. I told him that I was sorry for lying to him but I still wanted to carry on. I didn’t want to listen to any of the Christian things he wanted to say.
At school, I would only hang around with my Muslim friends; we talked about everything to do with Islam, and the Quran. Life became really tough, I had a real heaviness that I was carrying around, I felt down all the time.
Near the end of the week, everyone was joining in the worship but I wasn’t paying attention. I stood outside, confused. One of my mates came over and said “Josh man, come with me”. I didn’t want to go with him but something inside pushed me and I went.
The youth group I’m in decided to go to Soul Survivor. I was really unsure about going, I didn’t believe in their God and wasn’t interested in Christianity, but I wanted to join in the social stuff. To be honest I shouldn’t have gone to Soul Survivor. As a Muslim, I was not allowed there in the first place, if my Muslim friends found out I would have been beaten up or called me ‘a traitor to Islam’ or ‘Virgin boy’.
We sat down in the big tent he asked if he could pray for me. I said “No, don’t, please”, but then I just changed and said “Ok”. When he started praying, I just cried into his arms and I gave my life back to Jesus. I realised that I had got lost and that God had brought me back home. I want to say thank you to my mum and dad for helping me through my struggles and I want to say the biggest thanks to my awesome God.
Josh Josh is a year 11 student from South London who loves sweet and sour chicken, wispa bars and telling people about what God has done in his life. Josh is contributing to a new book called Backsliders, if you have a story to tell, please email David at david@emeringculture.co.uk Catch him on the street teams at Pentecost Festival.
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spring 09 21
. . . d r a o b get on youth sailing challenge ’09
the challenge: • 24th – 27th July 09 • 10 young people aged 15-18 year olds • No sailing experience necessary • You’ll be raising funds for the persecuted, so you’ll need to pay for your trip (£172.30, including insurance) and then raise sponsorship with the help of friends, family and your church.
Are you looking for an adventure to embark upon this summer? Would you like to try something a bit different and stretch yourself? Do you know a youth group that would jump at the chance to make a difference?
:potential
the youth initiative of release international
Come Sailing! Take up the Ketch Challenge and sail the open seas all the way to the Channel Islands and back. The challenge is run by release:potential – the youth initiative from Release International. It’s an opportunity for you to discover a little more about the issues the persecuted church faces, meet new people, learn the ropes of sailing, challenge yourself, and be an active part of helping to provide funds to support our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe. If you would like to get involved then contact Josh on 020 8781 1731 or email him at jtalbot@releaseinternational.org and he will send you out an information pack.
/engage
/potential in pakistan What happened when a rap artist, a dancer and a musician took a trip to Pakistan? No, it’s not the beginning of a bad joke; it was a real life trip organised by release:potential, the youth initiative from Release International, and though the outbound journey was filled with laughter, anticipation and gameplaying, what they experienced when they arrived was far from funny. In this eye-opening trip to Pakistan the release:potential team were able to meet, pray with and get to know people from their extended Christian family. The team of six (aged 22 – 32) were challenged and changed by the people and situations they encountered. They were confronted with the harsh realities of living in a country where being a Christian can carry severe consequences. As the never-ending meals of curry began to take their toll, the team had to learn to put the verse “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you” (Luke 10:8) into practice. Unfortunately there didn’t seem to be any verses that advised where to tuck your shalwar kameez when using the squat toilets! Being able to spend time with other members of the body of Christ was a powerful experience, especially after hearing their stories of persecution and
suffering. The team were soon aware of the physical and spiritual oppression in Pakistan, yet they were also equally aware of the strong sense of hope that radiated from these Christians. Tears were shed, hands were held and hugs were exchanged as these two groups were able to fully understand the verse; 1 Corinthians 12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” Despite the widespread poverty in Pakistan, there was a strange beauty in their simplicity of life. These Christians seemed to have an innate understanding that everything that wasn’t of God wasn’t necessary. There was never a dull moment in Pakistan, whether it was leading impromptu Sunday school meetings in churches or comforting families in their homes. But through it all God was good and He continued to make Himself known through the Christians the team met and the situations they encountered. Christian persecution is not an easy subject to hear about. We don’t always understand why God allows people to suffer, but the more we learn, the more we see how Christians are able to be strong in the face of adversity and how God always encourages and stands alongside His children. I’d really encourage you to try and find out more about what Christian persecution means and how it affects our family. Why not get together in your youth group or CU and look at this verse; “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
/take action /thoughts magazine is all about engaging with words and engaging with the world. We don’t like to sit back and watch but want to be involved and we want you to be involved too... Visit the website - www.releasepotential.org Order the DVD and get the full story about Pakistan. See the website for details. Go and see release:potential at BEATS and Warehouse.
:potential Carina Morton Carina is the Youth Development Officer for release:potential. She likes spicy food and retro trainers. You can find her two-stepping or pretending she can drum at the BEATS event at Pentecost Festival. Why not invite Carina to come and speak, or lead a youth event at your church/CU?spring Get in09 23 touch on cmorton@releaseinternational.org
To design is much
more
to o r de r, or even to edit; it is to
add value and meaning,
to illuminate illuminate, to to
clarify,
to dramatize, to persuade,
and perhaps even
to dignify,
to
. amuse - Paul Rand
Get more with www.sharecreative.co.uk
/creative
/ibiere oruwari This project explores the idea of using a destructive activity (slicing the words out of a book) to create something new. This reminds me of times in my life where I know that God has used circumstances to pull down mentalities and bad habits in order to establish more of His ways in my life, creating something new.
Ibi is currently working as a Share Creative intern. She likes wearing brightly coloured pashminas and drinking hot chocolate. Since leaving University, Ibi did Relay and was inspired to use her creative gift to further the kingdom of God. Ibi is going to be busting grooves at the Pentecost Festival’ s Salsa Night.
spring 09 25
Dysciples Why I fall asleep when I pray, and twelve other discipleship dysfunctions.
Krish Kandiah Krish works with the Evangelical Alliance, speaks at CU’s around the country and works with Spring Harvest. He is married to Miriam and has four young children and a foster baby. Krish loves movies, photography and Liverpool FC.
26 spring 09
It is when life is most difficult that I most envy the first disciples, who had Jesus on hand physically, 24/7. Imagine actually hearing Jesus preach, and seeing the healings, the exorcisms, and the resurrections. Imagine being able to chat to him personally all hours of the day and night and watch him in action. I like to imagine that if I had the luxury of being one of Jesus’ first disciples, I would cope much better with the ups and downs of life. But this episode of the disciples in the storm shows just how reassuringly human they were, and how Jesus’ physical presence had very little impact on their faith levels. In the days leading up to this crisis, the disciples witnessed how Jesus did not fear contracting leprosy when he reached out to touch the leper: his holiness was far more contagious than the most dreaded disease of
/deeper
the century (Matt. 8:1–4). Then they saw how Jesus transformed the political and ethnic fault-lines when a Roman centurion respectfully asked the Jewish miracle-maker to heal his paralysed servant. The disciples witnessed Jesus honouring the Gentile’s compassion and humility with the first long-distance, cross-cultural healing (Matt. 8:5–13). The disciples even observed Jesus’ extravagant compassion when he healed Peter’s mother-in-law and then extended the offer to everyone else in her neighbourhood (Matt. 8:14–17). Those disciples saw all that in just a few days and yet the wind seemed to blow away all memory of those first-hand mind-blowing supernatural experiences. Three amazing incidents, and yet one storm swept them off their feet spiritually as well as physically. Let’s retrace their steps and find out not only where they went wrong, but how we often make the same mistakes. The week had begun so promisingly. Imagine someone was to walk into the local hospital and with just a touch or a word see ward after ward of patients miraculously healed and discharged to go back to their friends and back to work. News would certainly travel fast. It would not be long before the paparazzi would be turning up in helicopters and clogging the car parks to get some first-hand footage. When the first-century equivalent to a media feeding-frenzy
closed in on Jesus’ miraculous healing ministry, the disciples probably felt they had finally made it big. But faced with the perfect opportunity to give a rousing speech, host a major recruitment campaign and rally people power against the corrupt regime, Jesus instead unleashed one of his most challenging descriptions of discipleship: ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ In the thick of the crowds it would be easy to get the impression that the wave of popularity for Jesus was going to lead to great things. But Jesus spelled it out. To be a disciple did not mean the red-carpet treatment. Jesus’ ministry was not going to generate pocketfuls of cash and palatial living worthy of a Hello Magazine exposé. Jesus said that he literally had no creature comforts; even the wildlife would be better off than Him. Jesus was going to be on the road for a long time and fully at home nowhere on the planet. The first disciples, who I often envy for their intimacy with Jesus, led an unenviable existence. They left their lucrative businesses and family homes to travel homeless. No postcode, no possessions, not even a pillow. Following Jesus cost them their lifestyles and their livelihoods. Jesus does not offer a discipleship-lite option. It’s all or nothing. The teacher of the law, despite all his
religious qualifications, got the push. So did another wannabe disciple, who probably would have scored highly on a loyalty and sense-of-duty index. But his mention of a small family matter he had to attend to was enough to get him turned away too (Matt. 8:21–22). The call to follow Jesus will not fit into a convenient time-slot. Jesus does not get scheduled into our diaries. He cannot even come second to family – his call trumps all our other commitments. Discipleship is not just a part of our Christian life; it must define us as human beings. We are first and foremost Christ-followers, putting his call above everything else in our lives. Jesus turns away the likely candidates for discipleship – the promising religious teacher and the caring family guy – as well as a whole crowd of other eager potential applicants. And instead he takes his twelve rag-tag, unlikely candidates for discipleship into a boat and across a lake for no stated purpose. Perhaps the disciples were expecting some peace and quiet and perhaps a bit of private team-building. But Matthew says simply that the disciples followed him. They got it right – this is exactly what discipleship is about – walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Read on... get this brilliant book now for £8.99 from www.wesleyowen.com
spring 09 27
/deeper
/what am I here for? This is often the sixty four thousand dollar question we are all trying to answer. God has a purpose for each of us. And we know that living out that purpose will bring us more joy and fulfilment than anything else on earth. But what is the purpose? There are many good things we could do, and we know that God will bless us no matter which we choose to do – but surely God has a preference?! Perhaps most of all, we don’t want to miss out on whatever it is that God has in store for us. I believe there are many big clues that God gives, directing us towards His purpose for our lives. Since Jesus left us with a Great Commandment (love God and one another) and a Great Commission (make disciples of all nations) then His unique purpose for our lives will be rooted in these things. But alongside that, I believe there are four things to consider: Call. What do you know that God has already called you to? What words has He spoken to you? Think back to the times when you have felt closest to God, or to powerful spiritual experiences you have had. Did God say anything that points towards His call on your life?
28 spring 09
When you read the Bible which are the passages that always set your heart on fire, or that you know are clear words for you personally? Think back to any prophetic words people have prayed over you. Are there words and prophecies that you trust are from the Lord? Need. What are the needs that you see around the world and have a special burden for? Which issues break your heart? Every time we switch on the news now we see broken situations, but there will be some that grab your heart more than others. Which are they for you? Refugees in Palestine? Orphans in Kenya? Homeless people on the streets of your city? Teenagers on the streets of your town? Passion. What are you most passionate about? What makes you feel most fulfilled? And what tends to get you angry? Are there subjects that light you up so much that you can happily talk about them until 4am each morning? Gifts. You have a unique set of natural talents and spiritual gifts given to you by the Lord. And where God calls He also equips. He gave you those skills and abilities so you can serve Him, not yourself. So how can you use them in the service of the King? Are you
a good teacher? A good leader? A painter, or writer, or musician? Are there sports you excel at? Do you have gifts of prophecy, or prayer? Then use them to further the Kingdom. Call, need, passion and gifts. You will often find areas where these four converge in your life. These are a great indication towards God’s vision for your life. Meditate on them. Pray them through. And then, when you have discerned something of what you believe God wants you to do – get out there and do it!
Mark Williamson Mark Williamson works full time for History Makers, a movement dedicated to helping emerging leaders find and fulfil God’s vision for their lives. He likes listening to rock, classical and worship music, but not at the same time! Catch Mark at the Pentecost Festival.
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/next time... Apologetics
God and Science, God and Suffering, God and other religions. We will be exploring the different conversations that people have about Christianity. We will look at how to answer the big questions.
+you
Your skills and your creativity. We would love to have some of your work to put in /afterthoughts and maybe in future editions of /thoughts. Check out the website and send us some of your stuff www.emergingculture.co.uk/afterthoughts
/get your own!
WIN!
...and be in with a chance of winning The Art of Compassion, The Manga Jesus, The Shack, Tortured for Christ and a ONE FAMILY tshirt courtesy of Hodder Faith - www.hodder.co.uk and Release Potential - www.releasepotential.org If you like /thoughts and you would like to have every issue delivered to your door for free, fill in the form below. Why not request several copies and give them to your friends, colleagues, youth group or CU. Name: Address:
/be a part of this magazine If you would like information on advertising in /thoughts, please contact Dot 020 8781 1734 dot@emergingculture.co.uk
Postcode: Phone Number: Email address: Date of birth: Where did you get this magazine? How many copies of future issues would you like to receive? 1 copy
15 copies
Other amount (we’ll be in touch)
Please do not send me updates from SJI
www.emergingculture.co.uk/advertise
And you’re done! Tear out this form and send it to: Emerging Culture, The Church, Tolverne Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 8RA
:potential
spring 09 29
risk taker. I’m that person who dots the i’s and crosses the t’s. I don’t do risky things, I hate roller coasters, I hate heights, I would never bungee jump and I can’t surf. I was convinced that I wasn’t going to fit in at all! God chatted to me about this and my insecurities. God had called me to this job, and He is not asking me to be like anyone else. God has given me strengths and gifts that He is using massively in my role. My fear about not fitting in was so completely unfounded. I have seen and been part of projects where God has opened my eyes and shown me more about who He is and what He can do through me.
/part of the team EMERGING CULTURE IS COMMITTED TO MOBILISING A GENERATION WHO ARE DEDICATED TO MISSION AND WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT JUSTICE. THE TEENS, TWENTIES AND STUDENT WING OF SJI. I started working for Emerging Culture last year. God clearly called me to come and be part of the adventure. I love the passion of the team, the vision, the innovation and the dreams that become reality. I love watching what God is doing in and through Emerging Culture. I joined in September and to be honest, I was apprehensive about joining this group of people who take risks for Jesus, who seem to do crazy things and pull it off! I didn’t think I was that sort of person; I’m not a big
I said to God; “Ok God, this is all for you. I am committed to you, your kingdom and your people. Whatever you’re asking, I am willing. When I’m weak, be my strength; when I’m struggling, pick me up; when I don’t step up and risk it all for you, give me a kick and push me out of where I’m comfortable.” This was a dangerous thing to pray. Since then, God really has pushed me to step up and step out! Emerging Culture is so passionate about teens, twenties and students in the UK. Where there is a need, we want to be there helping and supporting. Where we can help to resource, we want to provide the best. Where there are people who don’t know about Jesus yet, Emerging Culture is passionate about chatting to them. Do you want to be part of the adventure? Emerging Culture is really committed to investing in people and seeing them taking steps on their journey with Jesus; whether that’s from not-yet-Christian, to Christian, or from Christian to disciple. Whether you love to bungee jump, or you love to chill out with mates; God is calling
you to step up and step out. I really want to encourage you that whatever God calls you to, big or small, He will equip you for it. God might be calling you to be part of the Street Teams/ Summer Missions, serving and chatting with people on the streets. He might be asking you to step out in your gift of leadership, and join the FRESH course, or maybe He’s asking you to give this copy of /thoughts to a friend and to chat with them about Jesus. STEP OUT AND LET GOD SURPRISE YOU!
Dot Tyler Dot is the Emerging Culture Team Leader, she loves musicals, chocolate and good films. If you would like Dot to come and speak at your youth event / CU / church, send her an email and she would love to come. dot@emergingculture.co.uk Check out the new Emerging Culture website:
WWW.EMERGINGCULTURE.CO.UK 30 winter 08
are you 15-21 and Feel tHat god HaS planS For you?
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Be part of the festival... ...join the Street Teams
Our aim for the street teams this year is to have 1,000 people on the streets of London. Could you imagine the impact of 1,000 of God’s people all in one place, all working for God’s purposes? We can be expectant that our awesome and mighty God will do awesome and mighty things! As part of the Street Teams, you will be in groups of up to 15, each group with a team leader. We will be based around Leicester Square, Camden and Waterloo.
do you want to explore tHiS FurtHer and receive teacHing and practical experience oF leaderSHip? We are committed to training and equipping young leaders to be kingdom people who are passionate, innovative and obedient to God’s voice. We only have 70 places available for the course. These places are completely funded for you; all you pay is a £15 admin fee. As a successful applicant, you must be able to commit to all the weekends and also to mentoring schemes and projects.
FRESH is a new approach to leadership training, for emerging Christian leaders. It includes: - Time to constructively explore your strengths, gifts and visions. - Quality teaching on kingdom values, visionary leadership and communication. - Practical experience of being involved in and leading missions and events. - Mentoring and support through the year. - 3 residential weekends, one at an activity centre. - Dragon’s Den. - Urban mission experience. - Scores of free resources.
Training Weekend 1: 10th - 11th October 2009 Training Weekend 2: 21st - 22nd November 2009 Training Weekend 3: 7th - 8th February 2010 Pentecost Festival: 21st - 23rd May 2010 Mission Programme: Summer 2010 (optional)
Saturday 30th May 2009 Ages 15 - 85 Accomodation available Includes training and resources
For more information and to sign up go to www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/streetteams
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