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a fre e ma gazi ne fo r tee
www .eme rging
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E xc Art blusive M y Sik anga u Dea Anorling wit exia h
A n In Shan terview e Cla with i b o urne Fant ast
to be
ic won prizes
/summer ’09 Welcome to
/thoughts
magazine
Sun, cricket and holidays; it’s summer! It’s time to build sandcastles and eat loads of ice cream. It’s also time to apply for FRESH, our leadership course. Make sure you don’t miss out on an awesome opportunity for great teaching, training, activities and fun. See page 31. Emerging Culture will be scooting around the country this summer at festivals and events. Check out www.emergingculture.co.uk to see where we are! This issue of /thoughts is full of great articles, art and exclusive interviews; it’s the perfect summer read. So grab your ice cream, sit outside and enjoy!
Get your own! Did someone give you this magazine? If so, then get your own! Turn to page 30 and sign up to receive /thoughts magazines, and be entered into the best ever prize draw from Emerging Culture.
At this point there was a bit of panic in the office. In the end
This is an amazing course for people aged 15-21 who are
five pallets of magazines were driven, one at a time, at eight
passionate about being part of a generation of leaders
miles an hour, down the road on a fork-lift truck. Sorted.
that ready to stand up and be counted, in their schools, universities and communities. “Great teaching, great
When our team got to the campsite, it wasn’t quite as
speakers and great leaders, FRESH is really helpful and
sorted as we’d hoped. They found five car parking spaces
applicable for my life at home.” – FRESH Delegate 08-09
filled with /thoughts. ‘It’s ok’, Andy decides. ‘We’ll store them in my tent’. So he now has five pallets of magazines
We also love chattering. I might not like camping, but I
plus him in a four man tent. Having squeezed in the
really love to chatter. We love being part of the Emerging
last box, he settled down to sleep, surrounded mud to
Culture community with you guys and we’re passionate
canvas by magazines.
about getting involved with what you’re up to alongside sharing how you can join the Emerging Culture
After a tiring evening, dawn breaks. Andy wakes,
adventure. So come and Chatter with us either on
enjoying the sun on his face. ‘What?’ you may be asking,
facebook, twitter, e-updates or our blog. Check out the
‘The sun on his face? He’s in a tent!’
website for more info - www.emergingculture.co.uk
camping. I’m proud to say that I’ve never been camping in
What Andy had neglected to do, in the midst of all the
Have a great summer and if you’re camping, remember
my life, however I love listening to people’s funny stories!
drama, was to peg his tent to the ground. When he woke
to peg your tent to the ground!
MUD, TENTS AND PORTALOOS I have a confession to make: I really don’t like the idea of
up, he was lying on the ground, in his sleeping bag, Emerging Culture first went camping just after we had
surrounded by magazines and without a tent. Brilliant!
See you soon.
launched /thoughts. We’d organised to have about 20,000 magazines delivered ready to be given out at the
Life with Emerging Culture is always an adventure;
first of many summer festivals to a friend who lived in
whether we’re losing tents, mountain boarding at
Shepton Mallet. ‘Great’, we thought, ‘free storage!’
FRESH, chatting about Jesus with people queuing for
Dot Tyler
Wimbledon or twittering and blogging our funny office
Emerging Culture
Two minutes after the courier had left with a van full of
stories; we can definitely say we’re ready for anything!
boxes, the phone rang. Apparently our mate had moved out, he no longer lived there. So, we had five pallets of
We’d love you to get involved with Emerging Culture’s
/thoughts being delivered to someone we didn’t know.
adventures. One of our biggest adventures is FRESH.
WWW.EMERGINGCULTURE.CO.UK
MOBILISE MISSION JUSTICE
Secret Believers
Lollies
We live really sheltered lives in
This summer, save some pennies by making
Britain. We don’t really know
your own ice lollies. They’re healthier and
what goes on in the rest of the world. We don’t know about
cheaper than buying ice creams from the shop.
the hundreds of Muslims in the Middle East who are becoming
Get yourself some lolly moulds and fill them
Christians and being killed because of it. Secret Believers
with whatever you fancy; smoothies, squash,
is a book that tells us of some radical people who became Christians and had to leave their jobs, homes and families and risked being killed. Well worth a read.
fruit juice, milkshake, yoghurt... the possibilities are endless. Or why not get creative and make some with layers.
See page 30 What is your favourite ice lolly? Fab Twister Rounders
Calippo Feast
What a great game. Everyone loves a bit of rounders.
Mini Milk
Whether you can catch or hit a ball doesn’t matter, it’s just so much fun. Take a picnic and rounders set to the park
Tell us your favourite on the Emerging Culture Blog!
and make a day of it. But don’t forget your sun cream!
WWW.EMERGINGCULTURE.CO.UK/BLOG
6
Jahaziel - ready to live... MOBO Award winner Jahaziel has exploded onto the music scene with his new album ‘Ready to Live’. In between gigs and events, Jahaziel spent time hanging out with /thoughts magazine and chatting about fame, albums and performing.
/interview
/t: Which do you prefer sunshine or snow?
was to use music as a tool to communicate my faith. I
J: Sunshine, definitely.
always had this in the back of my mind but the more disappointments that came along, the more I thought
/t: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would
‘you know what, I haven’t really got anything to lose, I’m
you go on holiday?
gonna really give myself to doing this.’
J: Either Jamaica to see my mum, Ghana to see the country that my ancestors are from, Brazil to be involved
/t: Who would you say influences you the most?
in mission or Atlanta because I’d love to move there.
J: I’m gonna give you the most clichéd answer, but it’s the honest truth and that’s the example of Jesus Christ.
/t: What was it like performing and working on music
He relegated himself to take on the form of a man. He
with people like Lemar and Craig David?
left a much better position; it would be the equivalent to
/thoughts: What’s your favourite colour?
J: It was a great opportunity and a chance to see if my
me bouncing from a great record deal to lowering myself
Jahaziel: It changes all the time, I like the whole rainbow!
musical talent could weigh up with the people I listened
for a greater purpose. That’s always been an inspiration
to on the radio, it’s kind of that transition from being a
to me that if He could do that, if He could step out of His
listener to an artist.
comfort zone as it were and come down here, not to be
/t: What’s your favourite ice cream flavour? J: Rum & Raisin.
applauded necessarily for doing what was right; I figure I /t: What made you decide to stop doing this and start
need to follow suit and stick to what I believe in, whether
/t: What was the last song you listened to?
producing your own albums?
people appreciate it or not.
J: A sneak peak of a friend’s song called ‘Can I Talk to You?’
J: I’d had a number of disappointments and relationships that were supposed to produce something
/t: What is the best thing about your job?
/t: What was the last book you read?
and didn’t. I was beginning to feel like maybe just going
J: The job satisfaction. I’ve done so many menial jobs
J: I tend to start books without ever finishing them, but the
with what you believe might be a better thing to do
in my life and I know what it’s like to feel like you’re just
last one was called ‘In the Grip of Grace’ by Max Lucado.
because at least I’ll get something done at the end of it,
working so that you can get paid. You have that feeling
rather than waiting and hoping for something that will
that you just want to hurry up and get the heck out
/t: What’s your favourite chocolate bar?
never come. More so than just that, I felt a conviction
of there, you don’t want to do a minute of overtime. I
J: Twix, you get more for your money!
that I needed to use my music for a greater purpose than
don’t have those thoughts about this at all, I happily do
just making people dance and making money, and that
overtime, I happily do unpaid work, I happily give more
7
of myself than necessary because it’s such a great feeling to know that someone is being blessed and their world is being changed for the better by what I’m doing. That’s invaluable to me. /t: On the flip side of that, what is the hardest thing about your job? J: Physically I can only do so much. I can only travel so far and I can only be in one place at one time. That’s probably the hardest thing. /t: What would you like to be remembered for? J: I would hope that by the time I leave, I will be remembered for investing in the growth and empowerment of the next generation of MC’s, really sowing and setting a pattern that they can follow and build off of. I want to be an example about how to be about God’s business.
8
Nike, Heinz and the Church They had to be Nike. Was it the swoosh logo? Was it the fact that my friends wore Nike? Was it the way that the trainers just looked so cool? Was it the fact that they could be pumped up? I needed new trainers and I wanted a pair of Nikes. I had been captured by the brand.
Andy Frost
/engage
One look at the price tag and my parents thought otherwise
Andy is the Director of SJI, an author, a church
and as a disenchanted 12 year old, I left the shop with an
planter and speaker. He is passionate about
unbranded pair of plain white trainers.
reconnecting Church with culture and loves pioneering new projects.
A brand is more than just an identifying logo; a brand has a set of perceived values. When we think of Nike it communicates more than trainers, it communicates values
Robert Capon argues that we need to re-discover the Good
like risk-taking and competition; and when we think of Heinz
News! He writes, ‘The critical issue today is dullness. We have
it communicates more than baked beans, it communicates
lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer good
values like quality and consistency.
news, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people into wide-
The Church also has a brand and therefore has perceived
eyed radicals anymore; He changes them into ‘nice people.’ ’
values. In Kinnaman’s book UnChristian, he looks at what the brand ‘Christianity’ communicates to 16 to 29 year olds in
To re-brand Christianity in the UK we do not need a PR
America. The findings are shocking. The young people and
exercise, we need to re-discover this Good News and we
young adults responded with words like, “anti-homosexual”
need to reconnect with the values that Jesus exemplified.
(91%), “judgemental” (87%) and “hypocritical” (85%) as the
Values like grace, passion and commitment. We need to
defining values of the Church.
demonstrate that the Church is not merely an old fashioned institution hidden away in historic buildings but that the
The UK context is different to that of the States and perhaps
Church is alive and active.
a different set of values might emerge if a similar study was done in the UK but the people I meet often perceive the
The average person may think they understand what we
Church as “old-fashioned”, “bigoted” and “irrelevant”.
believe but we must show them by the way that we live that Christianity is about “life and life in all its fullness”. And so as I
Are these the core values that we want to communicate? Are
ponder why I wanted Nike trainers so much, I hope and pray
these the values of Jesus?
that we will rediscover a Christian faith that is Good News!
9
Follow the leader
Debz Sankey
/lifestyle
“I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” (Jeremiah 1 v 6)
others are called to less public leadership. Both styles are
Debz is a student at Cardiff University studying
necessary, important and valuable.
Medicine. She loves travelling, SCUBA diving, music, dancing, friends, food and fun and genuinely can’t
It can be a terrifying prospect stepping into leadership.
Though the call to leadership isn’t a call to perfection, it
What will I say? How will I act? What will people think
is a huge responsibility which requires us to be examples
of me, especially if it all goes wrong? Am I capable or
for those around us. We need to be humble, recognising
Debz was part of the FRESH leadership course 08-09.
qualified to lead others? How can I be an example when
our weaknesses, but confident in God’s strength.
To find out how you could be part of FRESH 09-10
I know all the rubbish in my life? These are certainly
help being busy!
go to page 31.
all questions that have run through my head when
Albert Schweitzer said “Example is not the main thing
considering leadership, and I’m sure Jeremiah felt the
in influencing others, it is the only thing.” For me,
same when God called Him.
leadership has revealed my failings and inadequacies, it
So what are you waiting for? Age, gender and
has taught me not to rely on others, myself or physical
qualifications are all irrelevant, anyone can be a leader.
Taking a role in Leadership can be scary and definitely
things, but to rely completely on God; His awesome
Jeremiah was just a boy when he heard God’s calling to
challenging. It is often described as ‘putting your head
power, and His strength. Being a leader doesn’t require
become a leader (Jeremiah 1 v 4 -10) but God promised
above the parapet’, in other words sticking your head
any special skills; it just requires a heart ready to obey,
Jeremiah that He would be with him and provide
into the firing line. Take Moses for example, whenever
and faith to trust in God. God will provide the rest!
everything he needed. God will do the same with us if we
the Israelites had a problem, who got the blame? Moses.
choose to obey Him.
Not only that but suddenly your life is on view for people
Leadership is about taking on the responsibility to
to see, people watch how you behave and people look
guide, direct, go before and show the way. It may not
up to you. Frankly that terrifies me. Have I put you off
be glamorous or easy but it’s definitely rewarding.
yet? Bear with me...
One of the privileges of being a leader is being able to see people you lead and invest in, grow into leaders
Leadership can be defined with one word: influence.
themselves. Ultimately being a leader is not about
We all influence the people around us, whether that’s
glorifying yourself but about enabling others to grow
through our words or by our actions. We all influence
and encouraging them to go on to do greater things
people and therefore we all lead people. Some of us are
than you.
called to leadership that is at the front of a stage while
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11
Viticus
Paul Stock
/creative
Paul is an intern with Share Creative, enjoys all aspects of design, throwing paper aeroplanes around the office and eating Toad in the Hole. To find out more about Viticus go to www.viticus.co.uk
When I was younger I was involved in some trouble with a gang which resulted in my friend being taken to hospital. Every time I see stories in the news about gang related violence or young people caught up with weapons it makes my heart sink. I decided that I wanted to try and do my part for this culture and a way I thought I could help was through my creativity, clothing and designs. If I can get a positive message out through clothing that appealed to the people in this culture then maybe it could help change it. Here is where Viticus began. I now have a website, an online shop and I am also partnering with other charities who are tackling knife, gun and gang culture. God has made me creative, so I’m using it for Him.
See page 30
12
God and Darwin
Perry Enever
/deeper
Why does it still seem like confessing to a crime? Over
living things have evolved from very simple single celled
Perry has recently become the Development Officer
164 years ago the chief suspect first confessed this
organisms or that birds are a cute kind of dinosaur, is
for Christians in Science.
‘crime’ in a letter.
another matter all together.
Today he has achieved hero status, even being celebrated
It is true that some Christians were wary of Darwin’s ideas
on our bank notes. Yet many Christians think that this
at first, but then many scientists were too. For example,
is wrong and view with suspicion anyone who, like me,
the Natural History Museum’s Sir Richard Owen never
associates with him.
accepted evolution. Conversely, some Christians were
Yet how can both evolution and the Bible be true? As
among the first to acknowledge Darwinian evolution.
a Christian and a scientist, I believe that studying the
His name was Charles Darwin and his confession was
Asa Gray was the Professor of Botany at Harvard
physical world is reading the ‘book of God’s works’.
that species are not fixed, but can change. When I admit
University. He was privy to Darwin’s ideas before they
This leads to a real sense of awe and worship of God as
to some Christians that I believe the Bible and accept
became public and was a key ally, promoting evolution
I gain insight into how He upholds the world moment
evolution, I almost feel as though I’ve committed a crime.
in the USA. Asa Gray was also a Bible believing Christian.
by moment; or the mechanism by which living things
Christians in the UK took delight that evolution shed light
have come about. I also believe in the book of God’s
on how God created.
word, the Bible. I don’t think it has much to say about the
You can find out more about science and faith
Don’t get me wrong, there are a wide range of opinions
issues at www.cis.org.uk
on these matters among Christians. Indeed, even the most
mechanism by which God created, but it has everything
ardent ‘young earth creationist’ accepts that species can
to say about the meaning of creation. It leads me to
change in a manner that Darwin suggested. They simply
realise that I am made in God’s image, but most amazing
believe that change has limits, for example;
of all, it shows me that the Creator Himself became a
sparrows change into other sorts
human being, in the person of Jesus Christ. I can know
of sparrows. However,
the Creator!
the idea that all Today, most Christians involved in science believe that the data supporting Darwinian evolution make a pretty water-tight case. I would encourage you to find out for yourselves why Christians can celebrate Darwin’s ideas without having to feel it’s like confessing to a murder.
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15
Invisible Children
Ami Anderson
/engage
Ever wanted to make a difference in the world but didn’t know how? Ever felt that you’re just too small a fish in too big a pond and that whatever you do would go unnoticed?
We are storytellers, visionaries, humanitarians, artists,
Ami is the Events Co-ordinator for Invisible Children.
and entrepreneurs. We are part of a generation eager for
She loves road trips, movies, talking too much and
change and willing to pursue it.
laughing so much her face hurts! For more info email - london@invisiblechildren.com
Earlier this year, twelve passionate and dedicated
or call 020 7378 8888.
people travelled across the UK and Ireland as volunteer representatives of Invisible Children. They venture across the
Familiar with the thought: ‘I’m only one person, how can I
country in vans, taking on all the challenges and adventures
Our work extends beyond our borders, focussing on long-
make a difference?’ We know the feeling, but we also know
of life on the road, just to be able to share about huge issues
term development in conflict and post-conflict regions to
that incredible things can be achieved when like-minded
in Uganda today, for example the hundreds of children who
improve quality of life. We partner with communities in
people get together with a shared purpose. Here’s our story...
are abducted and forced to become soldiers. While some
northern Uganda to establish innovative education and
may think it is crazy to do what they do, we admire their
economic programmes to help individuals and institutions
In 2003, three young filmmakers travelled to Africa in search
reckless commitment because the people who are crazy
reach their full potential. We believe in making the
of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure
enough to think they
impossible possible. We believe in the power of youth and
transformed into much more when they discovered a
can change the
the underground. We believe that the louder we are, the
tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, where children
world are
harder we are to ignore. And most of all we believe that no
are both the weapons and the victims. The overwhelming
the ones
child should be invisible.
response was ‘How can I help?’ Invisible Children was born.
who do. This is a story of three guys who thought ‘how can I
Invisible Children transforms apathy into activism. By
help?’ and did something about it. What inspires you and
telling the stories of those living in regions of conflict
challenges you to want to do something or stand up for
and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire people
something? You might be only one person or just a group
throughout the world to use their unique voices for change. Our media inspires people to become part of a grassroots movement that responds intelligently to what is happening in the world.
of three people, but you can change the world and you can make a difference. Whatever your hope or dream, God will use you, so be reckless and take the risks.
16
Half an hour with Shane Claibourne
/interview
Shane Claiborne has led an extraordinary life so far, lived in a cathedral, served with Mother Teresa and set up ‘the simple way’. /thoughts had the pleasure of grabbing half an hour with Shane in the midst of his writing to ask a few questions and find out more.
/t: On a similar note, you have had some great experiences from serving with Mother Teresa to living in a cathedral. Which experience do you think had the biggest impact on your life? S: I don’t think I’ve really had a Damascus road experience. To me it’s been more of an unfolding journey and I’m really grateful for the landmarks along the way. St Edwards, the take-over of the cathedral was a big one, also being in Calcutta and then in Iraq. There have been significant times in my neighbourhood where we’ve had
/thoughts: You have met some amazing people, who
things happen where some have been really beautiful
do you think has influenced you most?
while others have been really tragic. These have really
Shane: I don’t know if there’s an easy answer to that,
marked my spiritual journey too.
there are a lot of folks who’ve influenced me. My mom’s one of my closest friends and a really big supporter. My
/t: In your book Irresistible Revolution you talk
dad died when I was young, so mom and I were really
about having to go outside of the church to really
close. I’d certainly say that she’s been a real pillar in
become a Christian. How would you define the idea of
my life.
‘Christianity’ and being a ‘Christian’? S: To me, being a Christian is joining the work of Jesus
And then of course Tony Campolo, who is sort of
in the world and following Him. I think the litmus test
like a spiritual dad and good friend. He writes me
for anything Christian is; does it look and feel like Jesus?
nagging emails like a father does. John Perkins is
The job of a Christian is to remind the world of Jesus and
another big influence and of course Mother Teresa.
Jesus’ love. None of us can be Christ alone, but I think
Then I’ve got neighbours and folks here like
all of us are Christ together, the body of Christ. So that’s
Sister Margaret who’s an eighty year-old
really the calling of the Christian; to be a part of the body
Catholic nun.
of Christ, alive in the world; Jesus’ hands and feet.
17
/t: At ‘the simple way’ you’re passionate about living in
/t: Do you think that we should all be living simply, or
economics, one sells everything he has and the other
community. What does this look like for you day-to-day?
is it something that just a few people are called to do?
sells half of everything. I think what’s important is
S: We get up each morning and have prayer together and
S: This is what I would say; I think there are certain
that we are conforming to the patterns of a different
then we do work in the neighbourhood, then most of us
distinctives that we can say are consistent in scripture.
kingdom, where the first are last, the last are first, the
have part time jobs that we do as well. There are different
For instance, the idea that we are to live close to those
poor are blessed and the peacemakers are the children
activities that we have from day-to-day; sometimes
who are poor and suffering. These are gospel mandates,
of God.
we give out food, sometimes we have a thrift store,
but Jesus doesn’t tell everyone the same thing when He
sometimes we help kids with their homework, do the
invites them to follow Him. To one person He says “be
So, some people may lose their jobs, others maybe
gardens and things like that. We really just try to be good
born again” to another He says “sell everything you have
redefine them, others will turn the systems on their head,
neighbours and be attentive to the needs around us.
and give it to the poor”. There is an unmistakable call in
but what we can say is that an encounter with Jesus will
scripture to not conform to the patterns of this world and
mess us up, it will transform who we are and then we
/t: What is the most difficult thing for you personally
just because we’re called to be nonconformist doesn’t
orient our lives around something different than just the
about living simply?
mean that we’re called to uniformity.
patterns of the culture around us.
S: I guess the most difficult thing about living simply is how complicated it is. In our vision and on our website
We’re all called to carry a cross but that doesn’t mean
(www.thesimpleway.org) we say that we’re trying to
that all the crosses look alike. Even for two tax collectors
dream big, live small. I think that is really difficult. There’s
in scripture, Matthew and Zacchaeus, their response
such a beautiful thing that’s happening in the church
to Jesus isn’t identical. It does affect both of their
and in the world right now and it’s difficult to balance the larger stuff with the everyday. In a real and concrete way; heroin addiction is huge in our neighborhood and it’s something we’re really struggling with now because we know a lot of the guys who traffic drugs, and many of them are really incredible people and they’re just in need of income. It’s difficult to tell kids “don’t deal drugs” if we don’t have another job or option for them.
sp i ri t ua l
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www.moorlands.ac.uk Moorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch, BH23 7AT Tel: 01425 675000 e-mail: admissions@moorlands.ac.uk
19
Dealing with Anorexia
Helen Smith
/lifestyle
Learning to accept our bodies from the inside-out is
It wasn’t as though anorexia was an overnight decision,
Helen is a makeup artist with a passion for inner
a challenge many people struggle with and it’s often
it became my perspective, my method of coping, feeling
transformation. She loves singing, drama and
a breeding ground for eating disorders. Anorexia and
safe and staying in control. I was very obsessive about
anything that includes jazz hands!
bulimia are massive issues for people in the UK. They
where, what and how I would eat. When I didn’t eat, it
affect much more than just people’s weight; it’s also
numbed my emotions and I thought that controlling my
If you have been affected by these issues or would
about emotions, control and hope.
food would help me escape the problems around me.
like to chat with Helen about her experience then
Pinpointing the exact moment or incident my anorexia
Everyone around me thought that if I put the weight
began is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I was
back on then everything would be fine and the
an insecure young girl and I didn’t really know how to
problem would be solved but it’s not like that at all. My
deal with my emotions toward some really difficult issues
problem with food was a symptom of a much bigger
We’re all unique, with different families, friends, hopes,
within my family. I was labelled as ‘the beautiful one’,
internal problem.
dreams and problems. The behaviours are symptoms not
please get in touch - team@emergingculture.co.uk
whereas my brother was ‘the intelligent one’.
or go to www.b-eat.co.uk for more info.
the cause and they can affect anyone regardless of age, I ended up in hospital in 2002 where I began my road to
gender, race, weight or faith.
When I got to my teens I became fixated with looking
recovery. It was so hard because we are faced with food
beautiful and internalised every feeling about conflict
everyday. It’s as though someone tells you after years of
Eating disorders put a halt on your life and stop you doing
in my family. My appearance became a large part of my
brushing your teeth in one way, that now you need to
things you dream of. God is not angry with us when we
life and I was known among my friends as the one who
stick your toothbrush up your nose.
have problems, but wants us to trust that He has the best
always watched what she ate.
for us, no matter what. He asks us to trust him with all our
It wasn’t until university that things became really difficult. My
The things that really helped me were friends who
heart, letting go of our own need to control, promising us
supported me and enjoyed my company in spite of
that He will make our path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
my appearance. Practically, journaling became a new
parents started splitting
method of coping and being in control. The biggest
Recovery may mean seeking professional help and asking
up and I became
aspect for me was recognising that the things I had
the people closest to you to sit and pray for you. Facing
been telling myself were lies. I still have to fight the lies
an eating disorder takes stages of acceptance as well as
that were part of my life for so long, but now I know
learning to trust. There is hope and light for both sufferers
the truth.
and their friends. The key is walking in truth.
more and more isolated from my friends.
20
Reality Hits: Death Where is Your Sting?
Becky Hunter-Kelm
It was the morning of my GCSE Maths and History exams,
huge panic. Finally I managed to burst out of my statue
Becky lives in Leeds and works with young people. She
summer 2001. I’d been up the night before in my bedroom
like poise and screamed. I screamed for mum, I screamed
loves travelling, sunshine and tapas.
revising; I had posters up on the walls of simultaneous
to heaven, I can’t even remember what I screamed. Mum
equations and timelines. I woke up to the sound of my
came up the stairs two at a time and when she came
If you’ve been affected by these issues or would like to
parents’ alarm clock at 6am. It was ringing very loudly. I
in the room I saw something in her eyes. I think it was
chat with Becky, contact team@emergingculture.co.uk
grumpily turned over in my bed, waiting for someone to
acceptance. She already knew.
switch it off so I could enjoy my extra hours snooze. When the ambulance arrived, they moved my dad,
can keep dear ones close. With time some memories can
The alarm kept ringing. So I finally flung back my duvet
checked him over and pronounced him dead. His heart
fade and it helps to stimulate those memories sometimes.
and marched purposefully next door to my parents’
was a second-hand heart, having saved his life 12 years
I’ll look through old photos or just reminisce with my mum
room. Mum’s side of the bed was empty, she was
earlier by a heart transplant. The heart had finally had
or friends. As someone who follows Jesus, I believe my
downstairs spending the morning with God as she did
enough and the paramedics said he gently just slipped
experience of loss and bereavement was so precious. It
most mornings. Dad was lying on his back looking like
away. He looked so peaceful, it wasn’t freaky at all. I
hurt, and I wish it hadn’t happened but God carried me
he was in the peaceful realms of sleep. “DAD!” I yelled,
knew where he had gone. I even managed to smile as I
through in ways I cannot put into words. It’s as though
rather huffily. No response. After I shook him I realised
remembered that my beloved dad had gone ‘where the
He absorbed my pain and replaced it with hope. Death
my dad wasn’t moving. My heart literally skipped a beat.
praise is never ending’.
wasn’t goodbye, it was ‘see you later’. He works all things
You know in dreams sometimes, when you’re running
The next few weeks, months and years, were hard. I still
to comfort others. As Paul tells us in Corinthians, one day
away from something but your feet won’t move, that’s
miss him even now. Memories are so precious, they’re
we’ll see that death no longer has its sting.
what it felt like. Frozen. Stuck. But inside my soul was in a
God’s way of ingraining the past, on our hearts, so that we
together for good, and I know He will use my experience
21
Reality Hits: Heartbreak for the broken
Elijah Kirby
A few months ago I planted a church in the North East.
attacked her with a blood-filled syringe. She went to the
Elijah is the founder and pastor of ‘ Foundation of
Our mission statement is to ‘bring light to the nations’.
doctors and they informed her that she had contracted
Life Ministries’. He lives in the North East with his wife
As a church we realised that our town needed some
HIV. Through tears this lady went on to tell me of how
Jo, who is currently studying law. He plays for a local
Christians to break the mould so we started handing out
her father sexually abused her throughout her childhood
football team (who always seem to lose!) and has been
bottles of water throughout the nightclubs. While doing
and of how she watched as her mother burnt to death.
a bit depressed since Newcastle Utd were relegated.
this we experienced firsthand the hurt and deprivation in some people’s lives, so we met with council officials
As Christians we do not know all the answers, quite
and set up a partnership that feeds the most deprived
often we are lost for words but love speaks with much
When interpreted from Latin, extravagantly means ‘to
individuals and families throughout our town on a
more power than words ever could. I later chatted with
go beyond’. Let’s be a generation who are prepared to
regular basis. Some of the people’s stories that we have
this lady about a guy who had radically changed my
follow Jesus’ example. Who, in our villages, towns and
seen and heard are heartbreaking.
life when all seemed lost. I told her about Jesus and
cities needs to be loved extravagantly? Are we willing to
that when we put our trust in him, it will never come
go the extra mile and love these people as Jesus would?
One lady who regularly received our food parcels broke
back void.
down in tears and told me that she had HIV, Hepatitis B
Paul, in Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you,
and Hepatitis C. She told me that she had been on drugs
When I think about loving extravagantly I am constantly
brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as
for most of her life but one day decided that enough
brought back to the thought of Jesus sacrificing Himself
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-This is your
was enough. She managed to kick the drugs and get
on the cross for all mankind. Jesus was prepared to
spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to
her life back on track; she even helped out at a prison as
endure hours of pain and humiliation to wipe our slates
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
an advice worker and all seemed to be going well. Then
clean and to show us how much He loves us.
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
one day as she was walking through town a random man
and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
More Reality Hits next time...
22
Politics, Planks and Expenses You might think politics doesn’t affect you, that you don’t need to vote. Are you really sure?
/engage
Gareth Wallace
But allow a word of warning about even those leaders
Gareth works as a freelance political researcher and
who claim to follow God. No one is perfect, we have
consultant. For four years he was the Westminster
all sinned. God called King David, one of the greatest
Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, and
politicians and rulers of all time, “a man after my own
was most recently Policy Manager at Faithworks.
One of my political heroes is Archbishop Desmond
heart.” Yet David sinned horribly, he committed adultery
Tutu. He campaigned tirelessly against Apartheid in
and murder. There must be room for grace when we
South Africa. Archbishop Tutu once quipped that he
judge our leaders, none of us are whiter than white.
was “puzzled which Bible people are reading when they
We must be careful that in holding our politicians to account we do not stumble into hypocrisy. As human
suggest that religion and politics don’t mix”. He also
Over the last few months it seems that there is a renewed
beings we are very skilled at avoiding the planks in our
commented that “we pray for God’s will to be done. But
interest in politics and in the way our politicians act. With
own eyes while carefully removing the speck of sawdust
if God’s will cannot be done in politics then whose will is
every passing day there seem to be fresh revelations
from others! My prayer is that the expenses scandal will
being done?”
about MP’s expenses. Everything from duck islands to
lead all of us, voters and politicians, to be more humble
moat cleaning has been the cause of anger and even
and examine our own hearts. We always need political
When you enter the world of Westminster you’d be
amusement in the news, but what about the people
leaders who will serve humbly and put honesty first.
amazed at how many Christians work there. There are
behind the headlines?
Could you be called to be a political leader of the future?
scores of MPs and a myriad of researchers and staff who are Christians and I attend a weekly prayer meeting
I have been privileged to work for an MP and on the one
which unites cleaners, cooks, MPs, researchers, police
hand, most politicians I have met have a sense of calling
and librarians!
to serve their country. However, the privileged position that politicians hold in Parliament can result in them
It seems that recently politics has ‘thawed’ towards
losing touch with normal life. The expenses scandal has
Christianity and likewise the Church has started
been a humbling experience for our politicians. Perhaps
encouraging its members to see politics as an
this is no bad thing. Honesty and greater accountability
honourable vocation. We need modern day Daniels
are uncomfortable things, but they are also vital Christian
who can develop principled God honouring careers as
principles. As one Christian MP I know said; “sunlight is
campaigners, civil servants and elected politicians.
the best disinfectant.”
Legacy are looking for passionate young people to join their growing team in South East Essex, UK
The pioneering youth congregation “Legacy” is at the forefront of skateboard and BMX ministry in the UK. Our current bases include a £¾ million Skatepark & Youth Centre, a drop-in Centre on Canvey Island & a centre in Rayleigh. You will work as part of our team of interns & youth workers
Skateboard Coach
Basketball Coach
Drummer/Percussionist
DJ/MC
General Youth Work
Childrens’ Worker
For further details & an application pack contact: Revd Peter Hillman 01268 565650 pete@legacyweb.org www.legacyweb.org & www.legacyxs.com If you grab the chance to join the Legacy team you will live as part of our mixed gender residential community, a shared house whose life is centred around daily prayer for a minimum of 12 months. Your work will involve a minimum of 30 hours a week. In return you will receive food, accommodation and a “pocket money” allowance of £15 a week. Unlike other internships or “gap years“ there is no cost to you other than your time and energy. So, why not come and join in what God is doing here in Essex? We’d love to hear from you! (Age 18+)
knowing the word knowing the world 20-22 November 2009 Eastbourne youthworkconference.co,uk
Inspirational speakers include Jim Wallis, Maeve Sherlock, Jill Garrett, Jason Gardner, Pete Greig, Jenny Baker, Ruth Valerio, Ruth Hassall, Rachel Gardner and Worship from Ben Cantelon and Vicky Beeching.
25
Hope for Orphans In many ex-Soviet countries, hundreds of thousands of children are in orphanages. More often than not this is because of poverty and alcoholism. Literally thousands of children are on the streets where they risk starvation and hypothermia.
Euan Wooley
/engage
run on the coast of the Black Sea, provides a loving and
Euan is programme co-ordinator for Global Action
exciting retreat where children can come to escape from
UK. He lives in London with his wife, and they are
their problems.
expecting their first baby soon. Euan loves travel and food and enjoys the occasional hike.
Last year, I went to Ukraine to help with one of their camps. I wasn’t sure what to expect, or what difference a camp like this would make to the children, but I returned
Saying goodbye to the children at the end of the camp
convinced that this was a great ministry to be involved
was perhaps the saddest part of the trip. Many were in
in. The children I was working with were supposedly a
tears. However, one thing they now have is hope. Hope
Although state-run orphanages provide for the physical
rough bunch. They came from a centre for drug-addicts,
that things would get better and hope that with Christ
safety of children, sadly they are often under-funded
who were only 13 -15 years old. They all put on a tough
there could be fulfilling relationships and real love. This
and under-staffed, and cannot cater for the emotional
front at first but as they were surrounded by the love and
alone made the trip worthwhile.
needs of those in their care. Hard working staff in some
attention of the Hope Centre volunteers barriers began to
situations rely on budgets of less than a quarter of a penny
break down and we began to see how vulnerable these
Multiple ministries like these are happening around the
per child per day. This helps explain some of the shocking
children were.
world. To continue to meet children’s emotional and
statistics indicating that 70% of girls leaving care end up
spiritual needs they need your support. Could you bless
in some sort of prostitution while 60% of boys wind up in
Igor was one example. A 13 year old who was mad about
Igor and children like him by getting involved? It may
prison. I, like many people, was shocked and then angered
football but had many behavioural problems like acting
change someone’s life; it may change your own.
when the ‘Iron Curtain’ was rolled back and revealed the
out and getting into wild tantrums. After a couple of days
conditions of state orphanages. I really wanted to do
in the camp however, he decided to commit his life to
something about it.
Christ. The change was immediate and drastic; it was really amazing to see.
Global Action partners Andrei and Tanya Spigunov are working to bless children from extremely deprived backgrounds; children who have not had the chance to grow up like others their age. The Hope Centre they
26
Man up!
Sam Gibb
/deeper
Sitting on cold, hard pews, singing love songs and drinking tea with old people are not things that many guys want to spend their Sunday mornings doing.
getting into
Sam lives in a small village called Quorn. He loves
dangerous
lasagne, Asterix comics and Alan Shearer. He is currently
waters, being
writing a series of Bible studies for young men.
knocked about and sometimes even being thrown out
how to apply it to your lives. Tackle the relevant issues
It’s no wonder that so many young men drift away from
to sea. As Christian guys, this
that can often be missed out in church.
church. Some of us start working on Sundays; others
is what we want. Guys want discussion and debate; to head
join sports teams or go out until the early hours and as a
into dangerous waters and be knocked about. They want
Honesty
result become immovable bed-bound objects until late
to be challenged and encouraged. Guys want to discuss the
Learn from each other and teach one another. Look
Sunday afternoon.
big issues, but more often than not end up talking about
at what the Bible says about language, relationships,
girls, cars, music, internet and football.
alcohol, drugs, sex, and the internet. Challenge and encourage one another.
About a year ago I started to notice a trend; I saw guys go to week-long summer festivals and leave with a real buzz about God and a will to find out more. But before long
So I started a guys group focusing on these three ideas: For me, Titus 2: 6-8 has been a fantastic encouragement…
the guys would drift away, sleep in, and not bother with
Food
church. As guys we need to get together, pull ourselves
This might sound strange, but you can’t read Jesus’
Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and
together, learn from each other and ‘man up’ for God.
teaching without escaping the reality that food is
serious when you teach. Use clean language that no
integral to discipleship! Nothing’s changed today: the
one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too
As a guy, you are probably in at least one of two camps:
best way to get guys together is around food. Invite
ashamed to say anything against you.”
you either need someone to learn from, or you need to
some guys from your church, youth group or CU, and
find someone to teach. Either way, you need to meet
get eating.
with other guys.
Bible
Jesus commanded us to be fishers of men. In Jesus’
Consider meeting regularly, to come together and share
day, being a fisherman didn’t mean sitting on the side
real ‘guy stuff’. Studying the Bible is the best place to
of a lake and waiting all day for a bite. Rather, it meant
start. Read through God’s word as a group and work out
“Tell the young men to have self-control in everything.
So, ‘man up’, get started in your walk with Christ, encourage other guys around you and strive to serve God in everything you do.
WIN!
YES, VICAR...
...NO VICTOR.
...MEET AND GREET?
!
HOSPITAL MINISTRY?
...HMM, NO.
YO, VIC. WHAT’S UP WITH THE ‘UNDEAD’ TAG?
JESUS LOVES ME
UNDEAD
W W J D
JESUS LOVES ME
UNDEAD
W W J D
AH, IT’S FROM THE BIT THAT SAYS, ‘THOSE ASLEEP IN CHRIST AND, ‘IT IS NO SHALL RISE LONGER I WHO AGAIN’. LIVES, BUT CHRIST’... THAT’S ALL.
NEXT DAY.
D
EA
D UN
UNDEAD
U N D E A D
Join Victor the Christian Vampire for the next year of /thoughts.
...HMMM, THAT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC.
HOW ABOUT TENDING THE GRAVEYARD?
Siku is author of the Manga Bible and the Manga Jesus. In his spare time he dreams up Christian vampires, plans world domination(!), makes music and a mean pot of jollos rice.
SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A VOLUNTEER IN CHURCH, VICTOR?
HAH! I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD SUIT YOU, VICTOR.
Siku
...I WOULD LIKE TO LEAD AN ALPHA GROUP.
28
What can we get away with? It was week three of the marketing course and the lesson was business ethics. We covered sweatshops, the environment and health. A wry smile played on the lips of the lecturer the whole time; “It’s a tricky one isn’t it”, she kept saying.
Jon Tearne
/lifestyle
to children was a ‘dream job’ because they are so
Jon works at New Wine, plays the guitar, is a bit
impressionable! Hearing that made me feel a little sick;
of a computer novice and recently ran the Paris
where have we arrived when we freely talk about taking
Marathon on a whim.
advantage of the innocent? The more we talked the clearer it became that a moral foundation is imperative to everyday life. Without it you are at the mercy of the
His guidance in our lives, it also forces us to re-examine
marketer; robbed of your dignity as a human being you
whether or not we can truly experience fulfilment when
are relegated to the post of consumer.
we know it has come at the cost of another individual.
There were murmurings of ‘different people value
This is what ‘building a house on sand rather than rock’
How do we reconcile God, Primark, ethics and
different things’ and ‘everyone sees right and wrong
(Matthew 7:24-27) looks like; this is what ‘everyone doing
McDonalds? If we are passionate about God and people
differently’, as we discussed what we felt was acceptable
as they see fit’ looks like. Towards the end of the class I
then this would really affect our attitudes and our habits.
practice for organisations like Primark and BP.
asked the lecturer, “So, business ethics are what you can
Much as I love cheap clothes and cheap food, is it really
get away with?” A simple “Yes” was her reply.
worth it? Could I stand in front of the people who are
The most interesting observation was that the emphasis
suffering for me to eat my burger, wearing all the clothes
of the discussion was not working out whether
It was a rhetorical question, the real one being, ‘How can
in my wardrobe? If I can’t stand in front of people and if
sweatshops were right or wrong, but justifying our
we be satisfied with this?’ How can we be satisfied with
I can’t stand in front of Jesus then maybe I need to look
shopping habits. Everyone was looking for an excuse not
putting our wardrobe before the poor? What exactly are
at my habits and my response to the buy-one-get-one-
to change.
we achieving by surrounding ourselves with all this stuff
frees or the 50% sales.
that we don’t need to impress people we don’t like? Sweatshops are one of many iniquities perpetuated by a mindset that says morality is subjective. If this sort of
Everyone in the class knew that there was a dilemma
injustice is only considered wrong when it suits us then
to be debated, but if the sole foundation for this world
we will never reach a solution.
is ‘survival of the fittest’ then right and wrong are just opinions and we have no real reason to care about
The conversation continued and marketing as a
anyone but ourselves. The question of morality is not just
practice fell into question. We discussed how marketing
an argument for the existence of God and the need for
r e v ie w . . . 13 letters If you’re like me, you will know that a song can be packed with good messages but if it doesn’t have a beat to go with it, to be honest, it’s probably not gonna get air time! But this album uses deep beats and lyrics to explain books like Philemon and Hebrews! 116 Clique take you on a tour of the thirteen letters written in the New Testament. I’m one of those people
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who is not very good at memory verses, but since putting the album on my iPod, the new testament has
in
become relevant to me again.
es ca p
This is Bible study with a twist. For God’s word to affect
�
our lives, we’ve got to know it!
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www.scribbleLife.co.uk
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/thoughts magazine
WIN!
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