www.eauk.org/idea
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E E VA N G E L I C A L A L L I A N C E
Celebrating the
greatest legacy of all
WHAT ARE YOU LEAVING BEHIND? ADVENT PRAYER
Your pull-out prayer guide through to Christmas
THEOLOGY
60 SECONDS
GOOD QUESTION
Should I disinherit my children?
GOOD QUESTION
BIG INTERVIEW
ELAINE STORKEY
The amazing legacy of the theologian and thinker
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The 9-5
NOV/DEC 2015
NEWS COMMENT FEATURES
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CONTENTS
Amaris Cole: As Christians, we have been handed an extraordinary legacy by Jesus. In that upper room on the night before his crucifixion, the son of God gives his last will and testament. “This is what I am leaving you.”
idea-torial The greatest inheritance of all The dictionary describes ‘legacy’ as something handed down by a predecessor. I’m sure we’ve all been given a legacy at some point in our lives - if not a financial inheritance, then something precious from a relative or friend. The letter my great grandfather sent to his new wife during the first world war will always be special to my family, and something that’s passed down through the generations. As Christians, we have been handed an extraordinary legacy by Jesus. In that upper room on the night before his crucifixion, the son of God gives his last will and testament. “This is what I am leaving you.” That’s our inheritance in Jesus. As Christians we possess everything Jesus gave in John 13 to 16. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” We have been handed this model, and it’s our duty to spend our inheritance. In this edition of idea, we take a look at others leaving an incredible legacy. From a young woman in London who’s training disadvantaged women to be ambitious and successful (page 11), to the inspirational Elaine Storkey, who’s spent much of her life working to tackle to causes of domestic violence, on page 24. We also asked Christian leaders whose legacy had most inspired them in their life and work. Turn to page 32 for that. And Advent prayer is back for 2015. Pull out your fourpage booklet and work through it during December. I hope that, and the rest of this issue, inspires you as we approach one of the busiest times of the year.
Amaris Cole Editor
We’re on Twitter! Follow us @idea_mag
FIVE THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL THIS ISSUE
58 million children in the world don’t go to school Half of millennial Christians have been hurt by church Trustees’ Week exists (!) and is celebrated in November One in five are open to hearing about Jesus Davina McCall’s children won’t get a penny of her £3 million wealth
FEATURES 16-17 Millennials and the Church
What legacy are the older generation passing to millennials?
19-22 Advent Prayer
Our pull-out feature to spiritually guide you through the season
28-29 Jesus in the UK
New research shows shocking statistics about the public’s knowledge of Jesus today
36 Be one in a million
Operation Christmas Child continues to bring joy to children
REGULARS 4-6 Connect
News from across the UK Evangelical Alliance
14-15 In The Thick Of It We look at our members marking Trustees’ Week
27
11 The 9 - 5
A day in the life of the founder of a bakery that helps disadvantaged women
24-25 Big Interview
Elaine Storkey speaks on how and why domestic violence has become so prevalent
38 Last Word
General director Steve Clifford writes on the importance of unity
Theology: A better investment… leaving a legacy.
30
34 Good question… Tess Daly won’t be leaving her wealth to her children...
Culture: A night at the Village Vanguard…
Head Office Evangelical Alliance has moved:
Email address changes to members@eauk.org
176 Copenhagen Street, London N1 0ST tel 020 7520 3830 [Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm] fax 020 7520 3850 info@eauk.org www.eauk.org
Northern Ireland Office First Floor Ravenhill House 105 Ravenhill Road, Belfast BT6 8DR tel: 028 9073 9079 nireland@eauk.org
Evangelical Alliance leadership team Steve Clifford, Helen Calder, Gavin Calver , Fred Drummond, Elfed Godding, Dave Landrum, Peter Lynas, Chine Mbubaegbu
Wales Office 20 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PT tel: 029 2022 9822 wales@eauk.org Scotland Office Evangelical Alliance Scotland, Blair Court, 100 Borron Street, Port Dundas, Glasgow, G4 9XG tel: 0141 353 0150 scotland@eauk.org
The Evangelical Alliance. A company limited by guarantee Registered in England & Wales No. 123448. Registered Charity No England and Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576. Registered Office: 176 Copenhagen Street, London, N1 0ST
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Do you know someone in their 20s or 30s who’s left the Church? Sadly, many of you do – is it your children, grandchildren or friends that have left the Church? Perhaps you did yourself. The figures are stark. In just two decades, the number of 20-somethings attending church has halved. That’s why we want your help to do all we can to stop and change the tide. With your help, the Alliance’s threads initiative can make Jesus known among this millennial generation. With your support for threads, we want to: •
provide peer-to-peer community for 500 young adults this year at 10 threads events
•
equip 50 church leaders this year with the knowledge, skills and resources to engage with 20s and 30s in their congregations and communities
•
reach thousands more young adults at five large conferences, to draw them back to faith and to church.
Our prayer is that, through threads, thousands of young adults will rekindle a vibrant faith and take their place in the life of the Church again. Will you help us do this? Read our full autumn appeal and give a gift at eauk.org/autumnappeal2015 or ring 0207 520 3848. Thank you!
Celebrate the past, showcase the present, share the future The Alliance is holding its first ever legacy coffee morning on Tuesday, 9 February 2016. We’d love to invite any members or supporters who might be interested in hearing more about this wonderful way of giving to support the future of our work and so we can thank you for your amazing support over many years. This will be a chance to hear from general director Steve Clifford about the work we’re doing and learn more about how a gift in your will to support the Alliance could serve the evangelical Church and pave the way for future generations. You can also see for yourself the new building in the heart of King’s Cross with a behind the scenes tour and chance to meet the staff. If you’re interested in finding out more about this or future legacy events, please get in touch with Nicky Waters at 0207 520 3858 or n.waters@eauk.org IDEA MAGAZINE / 4
News from the Alliance across the UK
5 prayer points for the Alliance Please join with us in prayer in November and December, and look out for your Advent Prayer Guide on the inside pages. 1. We are incredibly grateful to every one of our legacy supporters, who have pledged such a generous gift to invest in the future of this work – praise God with us. 2. Please pray for upcoming conference GATHERSOUTH, coming up on 25 November. Pray that hundreds of Christians from across the south of England will gather together to pray, discuss and begin to discern God’s vision for the region. 3. Please join us in praying for wisdom as we seek to respond to the challenges presented by a new piece of key research summarised within this edition on the UK population’s understanding of who Jesus is. 4. With Trustees’ Week coming up, please give thanks for the Alliance’s wonderful Board of Trustees, who give their expertise and time to oversee and help shape the work we do. 5. Before we know it Christmas will be upon us, so join with us in worshipping God as Father, Spirit and Son incarnate during this season.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF APOSTOLIC ACTIVITY Next year is the centenary of the Apostolic denomination. Although it was formally constituted in 1916, this movement traces its origins to the 1904 revival that swept Wales and the world. From its modest beginnings in West Wales, the Apostolic Church now covers more than 100 nations. During its centenary celebrations it is hoped that all is national leaders will convene in Cardiff, all sporting their national costume.
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An opportunity to hear stories from places across the south where relational unity, alongside sustained prayer and missional activity, is producing some exciting results.
Come and be inspired Leadership at GATHERSOUTH weekends this November coming up in 2016
GATHER is inviting Christian leaders from churches, unity movements and the cultural spheres in the south of England to the one-day conference, GATHERSOUTH, on 25 November.
GATHERSOUTH will provide an opportunity to hear stories from places across the south where relational unity, alongside sustained prayer and missional activity, is producing some exciting results. A range of speakers from across the south of England will be joining us for the day’s conversation, including Malcolm Duncan, minister of Gold Hill Baptist Church and chair of Spring Harvest’s planning group, who will be speaking on the theology of transformation. Other contributors include David McNulty, CEO of Surrey
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
county council and one of the lead officers looking at devolution powers for a group of southern councils, and Matt Bird, founder of Cinnamon Network. The event provides a meeting place to hear about what God is doing, understand the main issues our region is facing, discuss together the ways forward and be inspired about the future. GATHERSOUTH is taking place on Wednesday, 25 November 2015, at Christ Church, The Common, Chorleywood, WD3 5SG (please note this is a change of venue, given the need for larger capacity). Visit gather.global/booking/ gathersouth/ to find out more and book your place.
Following the success of the first public leadership gathering in July, at least two more are being organised for 2016. The first will take place in Staffordshire 18-20 March, with the second in Northern Ireland on 15-17 April. These weekends are targeted at young adults in positions of public leadership or a passion to serve God in public life, so if you’re 18-35 and involved in leadership in any area outside the Church, visit thepublicleader.com/gathering to find out more.
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CONNECT
News from the Alliance across the UK
REFUGEES FINDING A WELCOME IN WALES Churches, charities and government are working together in Wales to welcome thousands of refugees fleeing terror in their homelands. The Welsh government has called a summit meeting, which brings up to 15 organisations together to discuss a way forward to ensure that these visitors are welcomed and given access to appropriate services. Evangelical Alliance Wales’ Jim Stewart said: “Everyone is really pleased with the surge of support and the generous donations of food and clothing that are being made. Local councils are eager to help and it would be great if churches got alongside the refugee and offered long-term friendship and support.”
HEALTHCARE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL (HCFI) Don Horrocks, outgoing head of public affairs at the Alliance.
Exit interview Don Horrocks, former head of public affairs who retired in August after 15 years of service in parliament, politics and theology, answered a few questions before he left the Alliance office for the last time. Why is it important that the Evangelical Alliance does public policy? The Alliance has been concerned with religious liberty matters since its inception. It is something that affects our constituency and the whole world. It is a key issue for us and so much revolves around that basic human right. What has changed in public policy work for Christians in your time here? Everything is changing, and we are seeing a scale up in the rate of change in terms of the issues and their social impact. In the old days you saw change every 15 to 20 years. Now there is change every year - cultural change, political change - and we have to come to terms with how the unchangeable word of God relates to a rapidly changing culture. That’s the challenge. What has changed on the political landscape? IDEA MAGAZINE / 6
One of the things we have seen is less of a willingness to be serious about democratic accountability and consultation. Governments years ago were keen to listen. Governments now feel they are losing control, so they are assuming a controlling approach and are far less accommodating to people’s views. As you leave the Alliance, what do you see as the enduring value of the Alliance’s public policy work? The Evangelical Alliance plays a unique role in bringing Christians together by focussing on what unites them. It’s crucial to stay united in these times. The Alliance is aware of the challenges and is the obvious rallying point for Christians, and they need all the support that Bible-believing Christians can give. To read the full interview, visit eauk.org/farewell-to-don
More than 150 Christian healthcare workers from around the world gathered in Cardiff for a prayer conference. They were all members of Healthcare Christian Fellowship International (HCFI), which has been in existence for nearly 80 years and whose aim is to reach the world through Christ-like healthcare. The delegates came from more than 40 nations. Conference coordinator, Jeff Dyas, initially expected around 60 delegates, but was astonished at the level of response. In addition to other speakers, the conference was addressed by Elfed Godding, national director of Evangelical Alliance Wales.
MAKING THEOLOGY PUBLIC IN ABERYSTWYTH Welsh Christians and churches have had a long and honourable history of influence in the public square and a recent conference in Aberystwyth met to reflect on and renew this commitment. Hosted by Evangelical Alliance Wales in association with Tearfund, Bible Society and CICC, the conference drew a large number of delegates across Wales. Key note addresses included Nick Spencer, Dave Landrum and Dan Strange alongside a number of other speakers. Elfed Godding said: “We were delighted to host such a pivotal gathering, helping each other to develop a biblical and contemporary grasp of public theology, and how we can face the challenge of raising up new leaders for future generations.”
News from the Alliance
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AROUND THE WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
News from the evangelical Church across the world The president of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance (BEA) has asked for support in responding to the refugee crisis. Nik Nedelchev, president of the BEA, shared his experience from a trip this summer organised by the human rights and religious freedom commission of the World Evangelical Alliance to visit 35,000 Yazidi who are in refugee camps in Turkey. The refugees officially asked the WEA, BEA, the Bulgarian government and the United Nations to help them and several hundred thousand Yazidi in Turkey and Northern Iraq. The BEA president said: “They asked us to give them a chance to move to Bulgaria, as Bulgaria is firstly Christian and a country known for its tolerance toward people from different religions. We are also the closest country to Turkey that is a member of the European Union. The visit was very intensive - meeting many representatives of the refugees and visiting the camps. Maybe the next few years will be the most difficult for us in our region. That is why we need extra support now to be able to serve, coordinate, encourage, help and motivate the faithful people serving in this region. Bulgaria, the churches in Bulgaria, the society in Bulgaria, and the churches in Northern Iraq and Kurdistan have become a role model for serving people in need during such a time as this. Please pray and be involved.”
Yazidi children in a refugee camp.
#UPFORSCHOOL The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) was one of the first organisations to join the Global Faiths Coalition because of the belief in caring for children all around the world regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion, social status or gender. There are 58 million children in the world today who are out of school due to conflict, child labour, child marriage and more. These are 58 million too many. The WEA are asking evangelicals across the world to sign the petition asking for governments to keep the promise made at the United Nations in 2000, to ensure all out-of-school children gain their right to education before the end of 2015. The WEA is standing up to bring an end to the barriers preventing girls and boys from going to school, including forced work and early marriage, conflict and attacks on schools, exploitation and IDEA MAGAZINE / 8
discrimination. All children deserve the opportunity to learn and achieve their potential. A World at School is an initiative from Theirworld, a UK charity founded in 2002 by Sarah Brown to make a difference to the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable babies, children and young people. Theirworld launched A World at School in 2013 to ensure that every single child has the opportunity to thrive and learn. The UK Evangelical Alliance is also supporting #UpForSchool. Visit aworldatschool.org to sign the petition.
PRAY FOR AFRICA September was a tragic month for many parts of Africa. In just 24 hours three reports of violence were told by the media, causing the Association of Evangelicals in Africa to issue an appeal for prayer. First was the oil tanker explosion in South Sudan, where 182 people died in the western town of Mardi, with government officials fearing that the death toll would rise due to the inadequacy of their health facilities to handle burn cases. Then in Sierra Leone, floods left four dead and thousands homeless, forcing the government to use the country’s national stadium (The Siaka Stevens Stadium) as a temporary shelter. Finally, the coup in Burkina Faso left 10 dead, with violent protests rocking Ouagadougou, the country’s capital. The coup leaders have closed land and air borders with night-time curfews also imposed. The executive secretary of the AEA women’s commission (PACWA), Joanna Ilboudo, asked for prayers that a crisis situation will be averted and security agents will not respond violently to protests. A call to prayer has been sent out to the Church by those in the affected nations. Praying hands CC via Flickr – Esther Gibbons
BULGARIA ASKS FOR HELP IN SUPPORTING YAZIDI REFUGEES
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NEWS
Advocacy update Our advocacy team has had a busy few months. Here’s a brief look at what they’ve been up to. ASSISTED SUICIDE OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED The Evangelical Alliance welcomed the overwhelming defeat of the Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill in parliament in September. MPs voted three to one to throw out this bill, which means vulnerable people remain protected rather than put under pressure to end their life for fear of being a burden. Thank you to all of you who contacted your MP about this important issue. GET INVOLVED In the run up to this year’s general election we encouraged people to not only show
up and vote, but to get involved in politics beyond voting on polling day. We especially want to see people engage relationally, which we see reflected in God’s nature and the biblical narrative. Too often we take a consumerist approach to our engagement or focus solely on our agenda. While it’s important to advocate for Christian values, our engagement with politics should first and foremost be about sharing the gospel so that others can be in relationship with God. Engaging relationally is a long-term commitment. Especially when it comes to building genuine and authentic relationships. So let’s commit to honouring,
serving, supporting, praying for and above all getting to truly know our political representatives. It’s been so encouraging to hear how many of you have been getting to know your MPs, congratulating them on their election, thanking them for their hard work and raising the issues that matter to you, such as assisted suicide. There are many other ways that you can engage with our political process and we’ve highlighted some of these below.
Be part of Parliament Week 16 – 22 November 2015
Get involved with parliament
Throughout 2015, parliament has been celebrating 800 years of democracy and the people who have shaped this since the signing of Magna Carta. The focus of Parliament Week 2015 is celebrating democracy, getting inspired by people who have contributed and discussing the future of democracy. There are many inspiring stories about people who have campaigned for change over the past 800 years, and changed their future and ours by making their voices heard.
We’ve spoken before in idea about ways to get involved including, signing a petition and contributing to a select committee.
Parliament Week 2015 will highlight these stories through a series of events and activities in the hope of inspiring people across the UK to make a difference today and get involved with the political process. There’s something for everyone, whether you attend an event or simply take part in the conversation online. You can find out more about Parliament Week 2015, and what events are happening near you, on the website – parliamentweek.org You can join the conversation on Twitter - #DoDemocracy parliamentweek.org | parliamentweek@parliament.uk | @Parliament_Week
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The Parliament Outreach team run fantastic training sessions, which aim to promote engagement with select committees, show how we can get involved with legislative scrutiny and demonstrate parliament’s relevance to each part of the UK. You may find these free sessions informative and helpful and details can be found on their website. parliament.uk/outreach outreach@parliament.uk @UKParlOutreach To keep in touch with the advocacy team’s work, subscribe to the brand new newsletter, Everything Advocacy. Sign up by visiting eauk.org/signup
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THE 9-5
The Luminary Bakery Alice Boyle founded The Luminary Bakery, an innovative response to vulnerable women from a background of social and economic disadvantage. The project is a social enterprise designed to offer opportunities for women to build a future for themselves and their families. The Luminary Bakery provides a safe and professional environment where women can grow holistically – encouraging ambition, restoration and second chances. My alarm is set for a different time every day, depending on if I’m running a course early morning, or working late – but the first thing I always do is check my phone! Whether for work or Instagram-related purposes… I’m a bit of a nomad at the moment. I either work from an office just off Brick Lane, which is a bit crowded but has a printer and most of my files, Husk Café in Limehouse, which is where the bakery business and courses run currently, Kahaila café to hold meetings, or from home if I need to focus on writing a report. I spend a lot of my time on the London Overground… NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
I have a very predictable vegan stew for lunch, every single day. I make a load at the start of the week and freeze it, making the rest of the week cheaper and easier. Working for a bakery it’s very tempting to live off baked goods all the time, so it keeps me in check. I always eat at my desk unless we’re eating together as a team.
My mornings usually start with being bombarded with a load of problems! Running our social enterprise from a temporary and tiny kitchen means we face a lot of challenges at the moment, and the women we support live lives where housing, money, health and relationships are often difficult. But if nothing has gone wrong I set my laptop up and get responding to emails so they’re out the way. I read somewhere that the most productive people don’t start their day by answering emails, but I find a clear inbox equals a clear mind. Each of my days look very different at the moment. Generally it’s admin in the morning as the women we support prefer meeting up in afternoons, so first thing is a good time to get planning and administration done. One morning a week we run a money management and character development Reflex course in a women’s prison, which is always my favourite morning. On the days we’re running our employability course we get a chance to pray as a team at the start of the day, which is super refreshing to stop and do together in a busy week.
Afternoons usually will be spent meeting with women; one-to-one support sessions, general catch-ups or attending hospital or legal appointments with them, or baking workshops. We use baking as a tool to take women on a journey to employability and entrepreneurship, equipping them with practical and transferrable skills for the working world. We offer courses, work experience and paid employment within our bakery, empowering women to build a career and a positive future. By investing in and releasing them to realise their dreams, through training, employment and community, we aim to break the generational cycles of abuse, prostitution, criminal activity and poverty, which currently hold these women back from
reaching their potential. Team meetings tend to happen after the bakers have finished fulfilling orders, so late afternoon or evening. I also try to network as much as I can with like-minded organisations and get a lot of requests to meet up with people looking to start their own social enterprise or want to work with vulnerable women. I try to finish around 6pm unless I have a meeting, event or something urgent that needs completing. I love dancing and working out in the evening if I’ve got the energy, but often Netflix is the more attractive option! Otherwise I see friends, or go to church on Wednesday nights. I try to be in bed by 11pm. I’m not one of those people that does well on little sleep. I do get to do outreach to the red light area once a month, so that’s a really late night but it’s usually on Fridays so I can lie in at the weekend. IDEA MAGAZINE / 13
IN THE THICK OF IT
by Helen Calder, executive director of finance and services at the Evangelical Alliance
WANTED!
More trustees for Christian organisations
Trustees’ Week, an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and to highlight opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference, is being celebrated 2 to 8 November. The Evangelical Alliance, alongside Global Connections and Stewardship, see trustees playing good roles as a fantastic asset to the work of Christian charities of all types. Charities with the right trustees involved with head and heart are strengthened almost incalculably. Yet, in a room full of Christian charity directors or charity board chairs, a significant majority will tell you that more skilled trustees are needed. It seems to be hard to match supply and demand. Why is this? We think it is because, as in so many areas of life, people discount themselves as not being right for it and miss the value they could add from personal involvement. They don’t need to be charity law experts; in fact they don’t need to be ‘expert’ in anything, although experience and skill is undeniably helpful. As 1 Corinthians 12 explains, this is about bringing ‘who you are’ and giving time to strengthen ‘the whole’. The most needed seem to be under-40s, women and those from ethnic backgrounds Name: Chine Mbubaegbu Profession: Director of Communications, Evangelical Alliance Trustee for: Church & Media Network, Christian Enquiry Agency, Sophia Network Why do you volunteer your time as a trustee? I have found that I often get as much back from being a trustee as the charities get from me serving them. It’s a chance to give to causes that I’m already extremely passionate about and see how I can use my skillset to further the charity’s aims. As someone who is a relatively young person on trustee boards, I have found that the breadth of experience I’ve gained has helped me in my own development: from learning about strategy to risk assessment to HR to financial management. IDEA MAGAZINE / 14
Name: Andrew Forsyth Profession: Civil servant Trustee for: The Bethany Children’s Trust Why do you volunteer your time as a trustee? The child-centred nature of BCT, championing the most disadvantaged and marginalised children in different African nations, is what compelled me to get involved. Being a trustee has given me a fresh perspective on what being part of God’s global family looks like, and the power of prayer in day-to-day life. with professional skills. The needs vary from one charity to another, but those working in finance, HR, law, property, strategy, organisational development, marketing or communications are highly valued. But it isn’t just technical skills – it’s about experience, it is the understanding of those the charity is reaching and it is about a team coming to good decisions. Recent research by the Evangelical Alliance’s research club with 1,200 respondents indicated that 23 per cent of evangelicals already act as trustees, while another 20 per cent would be willing if the opportunity arose and 24 per cent would consider, with relevant training. This same study found only nine per cent said they didn’t think they had relevant experience, and just four per cent weren’t interested. More than half of those asked would be willing to take up a role if they had some help. So together, the Evangelical Alliance, Stewardship and Global Connections are trying to address the shortage. Global Connections and the Alliance already work jointly to host a governance hub and a forum for CEOs, and want to build on this to better resource their member organisations and churches as well as other charities by:
Name: Claire Rush Profession: advocacy coordinator for The Girls’ Brigade England & Wales Trustee for: The Girls’ Brigade International and Sophia Network Why do you volunteer your time as a trustee? I passionately believe in the Kingdom vision and mission of both organisations that I’m involved with. As someone who was first a trustee when I was 23, I believe that it’s important and essential to have the voice of young people, particularly women, represented on charitable bodies; they have an important contribution to make. •
Making Christians more aware of the amazing value of the role and the shortage of trustees
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Advertising specific vacancies and matching them to competent candidates
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Providing opportunities to help train potential trustees
The charity commission encourages us to ‘fish’ beyond our own known contacts, yet most Christian charities are concerned that they might recruit those who don’t fully share their values. Matching trustees to organisations is important, and like most good relationships, need a time of testing Name: Mike Hyde Profession: Logistics general manager Trustee for: AWM Pioneers Why do you volunteer your time as a trustee? Identification with and support of the aims of the charity, desire to use my business skills and experience in providing good governance. My commitment to praying for and seeing God’s kingdom come in their particular field gives me an insight and better understanding into the lives of the workers, the contexts they work in and the people they are working alongside.
IN THE THICK OF IT
WHO/WHAT IS A TRUSTEE? Trustees are the people in charge of a charity. They play a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity’s work. They may be called trustees, the board, the management committee, governors, directors or something else. WHERE CAN I GET TRAINING AS A TRUSTEE? • Stewardship for trustee support materials, training and more individual services stewardship.org.uk/ •
Anthony Collins solicitors anthonycollins.com/
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The Global Connections and Evangelical Alliance governance hub globalconnections.org.uk/ forums/governance-hub
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The National Council for Voluntary Organisations ncvo.org.uk
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK IF I’M APPROACHED TO BE A TRUSTEE? I’m regularly asked for advice by people who’ve been approached to be a trustee for the first time. I’d recommend that anyone who is approached should ask: • to attend a trustees (board) meeting as an observer • for a copy of the strategic plan • for a copy of the most recent annual report and financial statements - the trustees report will be the most interesting bit if you aren’t very financially literate • for a copy of the governing document to understand what the object of the charity is, what it has powers to do and how it operates What they’re particularly hoping • you will contribute How much time will be expected. • NB Many trustees are expected to give time for activities beyond the formal board meetings so clarify the expectation at the outset.
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARITY TRUSTEE? An important background text is the Charity Commission’s publication The essential trustee what you need to know. Trustees have six main duties, you can read about them by visiting: gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
the water, but fresh and external views can be extremely valuable.
benefit me and my employer. And we’ve not had to pay fees for a training course.
Employers should be encouraged to allow staff to take time off to be charity trustees as it’s an opportunity for personal development. Virtually every time I’ve attended a trustee meeting I’ve returned having learnt something new that will
You can find trustee vacancies on the Evangelical Alliance’s easilyfound.it website, or by visiting the Christian Vocations website, which is run by Global Connections: globalconnections.org.uk/vocations
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WHY BECOME A TRUSTEE? •
to use your skills, experience, knowledge and ideas to make a lasting difference to a cause or organisation you care about
•
to develop new and transferable skills
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to widen your horizons and broaden your experience
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to learn about corporate governance
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to work with new people who share your passion
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to learn how other organisations do things, which could benefit you in your own employed role
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to enhance your CV and possibly open your eyes to other career paths
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And it’s the perfect volunteering opportunity for busier people.
Name: Ruth Hyde Profession: Local Authority chief executive Trustee for: AIM (Africa Inland Mission) Why do you volunteer your time as a trustee? It’s an immense and rewarding privilege to use the skills and experience God has given me to help reach the unreached people of Africa with the gospel; especially in working with other trustees to devise strategic goals, financial planning and ensuring missionaries are properly supported and cared for. In the course of this work I have constantly been inspired by the many Christ-like people serving God at home and abroad.
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F
TURE
by Lucy Olofinjana
Building tomorrow’s church today Our One People Commission conducted a survey together with our online community threads, and were thrilled that more than 1,700 young adult Christians aged 18-37 took part. MILLENNIALS LIVING OUT THEIR FAITH • Almost a third (30 per cent) say they have frequent or continual doubt, although their faith is strong enough to cope. • Lots of millennials are sharing their faith – with more than three quarters (77 per cent) saying they’ve shared in the last month. But 60 per cent say they feel nervous and awkward doing so – interesting when we consider that more than a quarter (27 per cent) feel their church does not really help them in their personal evangelism.
Building tomorrow’s church today, our One People Commission’s landmark research into young adults, faith and church, was launched on 26 October at a special event on board the HMS President. The event gathered young adults and senior church leaders for animated discussion about how, as churches, we can ensure we are passing on the baton of faith to the next generation. There was a clear passion to see the legacy of discipleship and leadership passed on in innovative ways, as leaders from both younger and older generations, from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, shared their reflections on the fascinating findings. The resource came about following a series of honest conversations with the leaders of the Evangelical Alliance’s One People Commission, hearing their heart for the millennial generation and their passion to see their churches equipping and discipling young adults. Recognising the need to hear from the millennial generation about their experience of faith and church, we commissioned a survey together with our online community threads, and were thrilled that more than 1,700 young adult Christians aged 18-37 took part. The results prove fascinating reading, and offer a great opportunity for churches to reflect on how they are engaging with and equipping the upcoming generation. Download your copy online today at eauk.org/tomorrowschurch Here are some of the key findings from this ground breaking research. IDEA MAGAZINE / 16
• It’s so encouraging to see that millennial Christians are extremely generous with their money – with almost half (47 per cent) saying they give away at least a tenth.
MILLENNIALS’ BELIEFS • Theologically, in many areas millennials’ beliefs are largely biblically orthodox. For example, the vast majority agree that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that on the cross Jesus received God’s punishment for our sins. • But for certain issues, both theological and ethical, there is a wide variety of opinion – with particularly marked differences between white British and BME (black and minority ethnic) respondents – with white British consistently having much less conservative views. Areas of disparity include views on the authority and inerrancy of the Bible, evolution, the nature of hell, homosexuality, assisted suicide, cohabiting and marrying nonChristians.
MILLENNIALS’ FRUSTRATIONS WITH CHURCH
WHY SOME MILLENNIALS DON’T ATTEND CHURCH
• One in five (19 per cent) say they are often frustrated with their church and think of leaving.
• A minority of 6 per cent of our panel said they don’t attend a specific church. Of these, the top reason they don’t attend church is because they struggle with the way churches are run. And more than one in five of those not attending a church at the moment say it is because they have been hurt by a church in the past.
• The main reason for leaving a previous church is because of moving location. However some said it was because they weren’t growing spiritually or struggled with the way their church was run. • Nearly half the millennials who took our survey have been really hurt by others in a church they attended.
MILLENNIALS AND CHURCH • Nine in 10 attend church weekly, with another 10 per cent attending at least monthly. • A substantial 84 per cent are serving in their church in activities that benefit the church family, and eight in 10 have leadership responsibilities of some kind. • The top three reasons why they say they attend their church are encouraging to hear: because the people are loving and supportive, because they specifically felt God called them to be a part of that church and because they feel their spiritual needs are met there.
“These numbers must not be something we look at and within a few days forget, but we must wrestle with them, pray over them and ask ourselves and our leadership teams how we can respond and what needs to change.” Pastor Steve Uppal, All Nations Christian Centre
CHURCHES EQUIPPING MILLENNIALS? • The young adults who took our survey are most likely to say that their church helps them a lot to: connect with God (63 per cent), connect with other Christians (63 per cent), use their skills and gifts to serve God (58 per cent), increase their understanding of the Bible (52 per cent) and transform their life to become more like Christ (50 per cent). • Less positively, one in five (19 per cent) say their church is not really helping them to live out their faith at work, and the same proportion say their church is not really helping them develop leadership skills and experience. Even more say their church is not really helping them in social action (23 per cent), in their personal evangelism (27 per cent) and in having opportunities to meet a marriage partner (36 per cent).
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“I encourage pastors and leaders to take time to reflect on what this research tells us about the upcoming generation of Christian young adults, and consider how we can shape our programmes and church structures to welcome and include them. For we want every young adult who comes through our church doors to develop and grow into all God has for them.” Bishop Eric Brown, Pentecostal president of churches
MILLENNIALS AND OTHER GENERATIONS • Almost a third say they don’t have any kind of mentor or a group of friends they are honest and accountable to about their life and faith. • A substantial 93 per cent say there are people they can look up to and learn from in their church. And almost nine in 10 feel their church leaders care about members and make an effort to get to know them • But a quarter (23 per cent) feel that older people in their church struggle to relate with them.
MILLENNIALS AND ETHNICITY • This research has revealed some fascinating differences between white British and BME (black and minority ethnic) respondents. These include BMEs being markedly more generous – with 60 per cent giving away at least a tenth of their income, compared to 44 per cent of white British. • These differences are highlighted throughout the report Building tomorrow’s church today, and a summary paper is available online at eauk.org/tomorrowschurch
Visit www.eauk.org/tomorrowschurch to download your copy of this landmark research.
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60 SECONDS WITH…
Bishop Donald Bolt has just finished his first year as the national overseer for the New Testament Church of God, England & Wales. Amaris Cole caught up with the busy leader, asking about the challenges for the Church, and how Bishop Donald intends to lead his church through them. Congratulations on completing your first year in this role. What’s been the best thing God has done in that year? Thank you for your good wishes. This first year has been a bit of a roller-coaster with inevitable challenges, but has also been most rewarding and enlightening. At the start of my tenure, God gave me a clear vision for the way He wanted the church to go. Being able to deliver this vision clearly, and seeing my fellow leaders and members adopt this vision and begin to implement it in their localities, has been one of the most rewarding things to have happened so far. What’s been the biggest challenge? One of the biggest challenges I have faced is getting to grips with the complexities that go alongside leading 138 congregations across England and Wales. The NTCG is one of the oldest black Pentecostal denominations, what role does it have for the future? Firstly, I must say that I would not agree with us being described as a “black Pentecostal church”. It so happens that the majority of our members are of black origin, but we are very anxious to purport that we are a church for people of all nationalities and all are welcome. More than 60 years ago, this church was started out of a need to embrace immigrants from the Caribbean who were either not welcomed in the traditional British churches, or for whom the style of worship was alien. Back then, our founders created a church whose main purpose was to propagate the holistic gospel message of Jesus Christ to those in need. Today and in the future, the purpose – much like the message – is the same. It is only the packaging and presentation that may need to evolve in order to reach an ever-changing community. IDEA MAGAZINE / 18
Bishop Donald Bolt How important do you think unity is for the Church? Unity is important in every aspect of society - whether the Church or otherwise. It is only with unity that we can work positively towards achieving goals. This is not a ‘one-man-band’; therefore without unity we will spend our time in-fighting and never progress. This is a challenging time for the Church. What issues are facing the NTCG specifically and can they be overcome? I believe one of our biggest challenges is finding the right way to bridge the gap between the younger and older generations of our church; and thereby preparing the younger generation to lead the church in the decades ahead. This is not insurmountable. It is something that can be achieved with patience, understanding and mutual respect for other people’s views. With the world changing and worldviews seeming increasingly liberal, how can the Church stay relevant? The gospel will always be relevant. And in spite of government legislation and changing interpretations on what is morally acceptable, we need to ensure that we do not compromise on biblical standards that
never change. As long as we remain true to those biblical standards, there is room for movement in the way we do things. Our latest research by the One People Commission shows nearly 30 per cent of millennials have frequent doubts about their faith. What advice would you give to those wrestling? It is not only millennials who may sometimes doubt their faith. Us as Christians will sometimes have doubts too because we are mere human beings. Even in the Bible, historically, you will find people whose faith had been tested. Whether we have great faith or little faith, we can still move mountains. The problems occur when we have no faith. I would encourage each of us in those times when our faith is tested or feels low, to refer to the source of our strength. Study the word of God and put your trust in His promises. The Bible says in Proverbs 3: 5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” I have always relied on these words throughout my spiritual walk with God and will continue to do so because His word will never return void.
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BIG INTERVIEW
Scars across humanity:
the scourge of global violence against women
Chine Mbubaegbu meets broadcaster, writer, thinker and theologian Elaine Storkey and talks the changing state of women, the world and the Evangelical Alliance On 25 November 1960, the Mirabal sisters – three political activists from the Dominican Republic – were brutally murdered following years of campaigning against the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. It’s in commemoration of these affluent, educated women that the UN now marks the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Women all over the world – many of whom are voiceless and living in abject poverty, who no one will remember when they become tragic victims – are suffering IDEA MAGAZINE / 24
horrific abuses and violations. Violence against women is as much a scourge on our society today as it was 50 years ago. And it’s something that writer, thinker, theologian and sociologist Elaine Storkey has witnessed all her life in her travels around the world. But why? That’s the question she asks in her new book Scars Across Humanity. “It’s about the ubiquity – the worldwide global incidence – of violence against women, which I have been coming across all my life really without really realising it,” she says. “It’s expressed in different cultural
forms in every country.” Elaine first became aware of just how prevalent across societies violence against women is during her time as president of Tearfund. “Before Tearfund days I was very involved in counselling women who have been victims of domestic violence, incest and rape. I’ve been part of a number of networks for some years listening to women who were subject to abuse or violence or violation.” But it was when she visited Congo that the overwhelming reality of it all hit her “between the eyes”. “It’s a war-torn place,” she says. “Women were being mutilated and abused; used as weapons of war. I met those women and their stories just broke my heart. Then suddenly, every country I went to – whether it was Albania or Hungary or
BIG INTERVIEW
Northern Ireland – I was hearing the same story – that women were being violated. The only thing I felt I could do about it was write. “I wanted to express something as a Christian because so often, feminists believe that religion is part of the problem. But in a very real sense, Christianity is also the solution.” While lecturing at the Open University, she became familiar with evolutionary biological arguments that endeavoured to explain why violence against women is so prevalent in societies. “There’s this argument that there’s a selfish gene. We assume we can’t do anything about this because this is the way the world is. But I lose my patience with these arguments because it is nonsense. It renders us not human anymore. It suggests that we’re just automata and I just don’t believe that’s who we are as persons. There are other reasons, including sociological ones: culture, patriarchy, economics, power, poverty. And religion to some extent where you get powerful people saying things in the name of God. “But above all, you need a theological framework in which to understand why violence against women happens. Our theological framework is: creation and sin. We were made in the image of God and to serve and love one another. But sin screws that all up. Sin is alienation and delusion and destruction. This is just one manifestation of sin. “For me, the beauty about the Christian analysis is that sin never has the last word because there’s always the possibility of redemption. There has been a lot of misappropriation of the Bible in relation to women. But there has also been the opposite. Christianity has looked after women and raised their dignity; and that story has to be told as well.” Elaine Storkey has fit more into her life over the years than most people can ever dream of. She’s authored several books including What’s Right With Feminism and The Search for Intimacy. She’s been a regular broadcaster on the BBC for more than 20 years, including writing scripts for the BBC World Service and presenting Thought for the Day on Radio 4. She’s been on the Church of England’s General Synod since 1987. She succeeded John Stott as executive director of the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC) in 1991. She became president of Tearfund in 1997 and in 2010, along with her husband Alan, founded Restored – a Christian organisation dedicated to ending violence NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
I’ve been very involved in counselling women who have been victims of domestic violence, incest and rape. I’ve been part of a number of networks for some years listening to women who were subject to abuse or violence or violation. against women. And there’s so much more; including being a member of the Evangelical Alliance’s council member for “longer than she can remember”. In so many situations, Elaine has been the only woman in the room. She has been braver than she realises and a pioneer for so many women who are following in her footsteps. But does she think things have improved for women over the decades? “In some ways,” she says. “Numerically, women are doing more. They are more respected and hold more offices. In the Church of England, they’re now bishops. But in many ways we’ve gone backwards as a society. Women still earn less than men doing the same jobs. There are a lot more independent businesswomen. There are far more women in the professions, but there’s huge rates of disrespect towards women. There’s a whole move of sleazy, stand-up humour that we would never have allowed 30 years ago, including horrible rape jokes. How is rape ever funny? And there are people laughing at these jokes. “There’s a subterranean layer of horrible, horrible rubbish that is still there quite deep in our own society. You don’t have to go to the Congo to find it, you can find it in the UK. The other side of it, of course, is that some women are giving men a much harder time than they used to. There is much more violence against men by women than there used to be.”
word of God. They also need to have some understanding of the evangelical tradition: about conversion and about the gospel and evangelism and social action going together. And about justice. All of that for me comes into what it means to be an evangelical. Some people choose to focus on one part of that, but for me it’s about all of it. “My hope for the Evangelical Alliance is that it will have the kind of penetrating voice in the country that will be most of all a Christian voice and a coherent voice and that it will continue to draw Christians together and that it will take the sting out of this thing called evangelicalism, so that people don’t misunderstand what we are and who we are. An awful lot of people keep suggesting that surely I’m now postevangelical and not really an evangelical. I’m sorry, but I’m an evangelical. “I do think, however, that it’s important that we keep our breadth. We differ, but we differ in love. But most of all what unites us is greater than what divides us. What unites us is a passionate love of Jesus Christ and a desire for his kingdom.”
Throughout the changes in society and the different places that her work has taken her, Elaine has remained committed to belonging to the evangelical family; and endeavoured to be a clear-thinking, distinctive Christian voice in places where Christians are often not invited to be. But how does she define an evangelical? “People have the right to define themselves as evangelicals if they believe that Christ is Lord, if they have a personal commitment to him and they believe the Bible is the
Scars Across Humanity: Understanding and Overcoming Violence Against Women is published by SPCK. IDEA MAGAZINE / 25
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by Gordon Wright, from Holywood, Northern Ireland
THEOLOGY
A better investment: why leaving a legacy is more than just theologically sound Alliance supporter Gordon Wright shares his thoughts on legacy-giving as the best investment we’ll ever make. I’m increasingly convinced that ordinary people, by leaving a legacy in their lifetime, can achieve extraordinary outcomes after their day. One does not have to be rich or famous to make a contribution that can make a difference – we can all do something amazing for God’s world by remembering our chosen Christian charities when making a will. I’m aware of charities that have said how beneficial legacies turned out to be and the donor, while alive, never actually realised how significant his or her decision would be to that particular charity. Christians are increasingly discovering the joy of giving by various ways and means at different stages of life. This isn’t only during times of plenty, but also, interestingly, through the leaner years when giving can be much more of a sacrifice. In such situations, due to cash flow or particular commitments, it’s often makes better financial sense to consider a pledge for the future by writing it into a will or, perhaps, considering a reversionary gift, which means leaving a legacy to a person for their lifetime, after which it ‘reverts’ to the charity. Having ensured that my family are already adequately provided for, I myself am motivated by the need to give something back, to ensure a portion of my estate is earmarked for the work of God’s kingdom, not least because my life has been touched in many ways by the Christian cause. Coming from humble beginnings, both my wife and I have been inspired by God’s grace to share the remarkable blessings that have been bestowed on us, by thinking how we might benefit others in Christian work after our day. Most of us have our own favoured projects to support – art, the environment, health. For me, I want to help the work of the Evangelical Alliance live on after I am gone, and so I have already written the Alliance into my will, knowing that legacies are vitally important to ensuring their essential work prevails into the future. I’m also passionate NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
about education of the poor as I know something of its real potential – where I was brought up outside of the UK, my parents weren’t able to afford the cost of my schooling, and my education wouldn’t have taken place without assistance from another family member. So I want to remember my other chosen Christian charity, Asha Society, with a legacy of hope towards their higher education programme in the slum colonies of Delhi. I accept that a will is a sensitive and private document for many of us. However, I would suggest that a will is one of the most important documents a person ever signs, and it’s given much less significance than it should. Having worked within the financial services industry all my life I would regard it as a basic tool in personal financial planning, not least because the charitable giving component of any will has the additional potential to provide significant tax benefits. One of these benefits is that a gift in one’s will to charity is free of inheritance tax, so reduces the amount of tax the executors
may have to pay out in due course on the remaining assets. I would also encourage any reader who may already have made a will to ensure it is regularly reviewed. It’s estimated that half of all existing wills may be out of date, so keep it updated or revised, especially after key occasions, such as marriage, the birth of a child or grandchild and retirement. Over the years I’ve found that leaving a proportion of one’s estate as a gesture of generosity for charitable purposes often brings to the donor an ongoing and fulfilling inner peace during lifetime and, ultimately after their day, untold delight and benefit to the recipient charity. So please give some thought to joining those Christians who have included in their will a gift to charity and invest for a different type of return – such as saving lives, educating poor children or perhaps for the Christian voice of the Alliance, impacting our society for the longer term. I doubt you will ever make a better investment. IDEA MAGAZINE / 27
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by Chine Mbubaegbu
Talking Jesus:
game-changing research into perceptions of Jesus, Christians and evangelism
What do people in this nation know and believe about Jesus? What do they really think of us, his followers? Are we talking about Jesus enough? And when we are, are we drawing people closer towards him, or further away? In September, we published research we had commissioned with the Church of England and HOPE, conducted by Barna Group and ComRes into perceptions of Christ, Christianity and the Church in England. Despite negative media portrayals, most people actually like the Christians they know, while the vast majority of the population still identify with the Christian faith. This is according to a study conducted by ComRes and Barna Group, on behalf of HOPE, the Church of England and the Evangelical Alliance. It took place among 3,000 people living predominantly in England. The research was the result of months of collaboration and had the buy-in from the majority of the mainstream denominations in the UK. We intend to track the data in the study – entitled Perceptions of Jesus, Christians and Evangelism – over the next 30 years. The research showed that 57 per cent of people in England call themselves Christians, and one in five of those who don’t is open to finding out more about Jesus after hearing Christians talk to them about their faith. It also showed that the majority of non-Christians know a Christian and think well of them: they are most likely to describe us as ‘friendly’, ‘caring’, ‘good-humoured’, ‘generous’ and ‘helpful’. However, just nine per cent of those Christians would be described as ‘practising’ – reporting regularly praying, reading the Bible and attending church at least monthly. “The survey shows that the Church is well-connected throughout society. This connection is through the myriad of relationships that Christians have with the majority of the population in normal, everyday ways,” said Dr Rachel Jordan, national adviser for mission and evangelism for the Church of England. “What is more, people like their Christian friends and family members and they enjoy being with them. This is a different view of the Church and Christians to the one often portrayed in the media, but this survey shows it is the one IDEA MAGAZINE / 28
held by the majority of the population. Followers of Jesus are good friends and they are fun. It is here in these relationships that we have conversations about faith, in a place of trust and friendship, and 20 per cent of our friends and family members want to know more about our faith in Jesus.” The decision to commission this survey took place in March 2015 when we gathered more than 40 key leaders of denominations and networks, as well as key influencers from across the spectrum of the English Church, in the Lake District. For 24 hours, they prayed and talked. They shared our heart for mission; their collective longing to see God move in this nation. They reflected on an initial piece of research of 1,000 people in England the Alliance, Church of England and HOPE had commissioned Barna to undertake. The results of this first piece of research were shocking. Futurologist Dr Patrick Dixon, chairman of Global Change, warned the gathering of the danger of institutional blindness. The power of the Holy Spirit was needed alongside the hard work of contextualising the gospel: not an institutional response, but a people movement; something simple that enabled Christians to have millions more sensitive, positive, culturally-relevant conversations about Jesus that could be deeply effective in evangelism. This piece of research had the potential to equip everyday Christians to have more sensitive, positive, culturally-relevant conversations about Jesus that could be deeply effective in evangelism. But the group wanted to make sure. So denominational leaders agreed to fund further, more comprehensive, research – the results of which were published in September. Steve Clifford, general director of the Alliance, said: “Our hearts are heavy with the reality of how little our friends and neighbours
Image: St Johns Ashfield Stained Glass - Good Shepherd” by: Alfred Handel, photograph:Toby Hudson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.
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Two out of every five people in England do not know Jesus was a real person who actually lived.
dead, as documented in the New Testament. Overall, some 43 per cent of English adults believe in the resurrection, the survey found. When asked to pick words to describe Jesus, non-Christians were most likely to say he was ‘spiritual’, ‘loving’ and ‘peaceful’. Steve added: “There is overwhelming evidence in the New Testament and independent, non-biblical sources indicating Jesus was a historical figure and any historian worth their weight will agree with this. That nearly 40 per cent of people in this country are unsure of this or think Jesus was a mythical character paints a worrying picture of our education system. While it’s great to see that non-Christians think positively of Jesus, it would be even better if they realised the significance of his life, death and resurrection for their own lives today.” understand about who Jesus is. But there are glimmers of hope; we are excited about this unique opportunity to understand the landscape we are in. This is not a quick-fix strategy, but a long-term commitment to changing the story in our nation, so that people might meet Jesus, love him and follow him.” The survey did highlight, however, a worrying lack of religious literacy among the general English population, raising calls for religious education in schools to be better supported. Two out of every five people in England (39 per cent) do not know Jesus was a real person who actually lived. And under-35s were more likely (25 per cent) than older people to think Jesus was a fictional character. In total, 22 per cent of people think Jesus was a mythical figure, while 17 per cent are unsure whether he was real or not.
Roy Crowne, executive director of HOPE, added: “It is the first time that a study like this has been done. The results are a game-changer for churches wanting to share the good news of Jesus. Church leaders can often get discouraged by reports of declining numbers. But these results show that Christianity in Britain is diverse, full of life, and many people are passionate about sharing their faith. The research also shows there are some big challenges for churches to face if we are to see loads more people becoming Christians and joining the Church.” For more information on the research, including powerpoints, a video and other downloads, visit talkingjesus.org We have created a short booklet summarising the research, entitled Talking Jesus. To download or order copies for your church, visit talkingjesus.org/research/talking-jesus-booklet.cfm
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GOOD QUESTION by Krish Kandiah
Is Davina McCall right to keep her fortune from her family? Davina McCall has told her children not to expect anything in her will.
Recently celebrity Davina McCall revealed that she was not planning on passing on any of her three million pound fortune to her three daughters. She explained: “I look at my daughters now and have painstakingly told them they won’t be inheriting any money. Me and Matthew plan on spending every penny.” Another celebrity, presenter of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Tess Daly, has taken a similar line arguing: “I’d hate to have a spoilt brat… I want them to be appreciative.” Is there some wisdom here? Do children who inherit a fortune without valuing the hard work that earned lack the wisdom of knowing how to use it well? Does too much money too soon have a detrimental impact on character? What should our approach be to our own legacy? The parable of the rich fool plays a pivotal role in my understanding of this subject. A rich landowner has banked the first century equivalent of the national lottery: a bumper harvest. It was such a huge crop that it more than surpassed his current need. Rather than behave like a flashy footballer or X Factor celebrity splashing out on ostentatious purchases and parties, this man invests into the future, making plans to protect and increase his savings. It’s the sort of financial strategy that most of us would applaud and
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Tess Daly won’t be leaving her wealth to her children as she doesn’t want “a spoilt brat”.
even aspire to emulate. Yet God declares the man an idiot: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” The main problem with this fool’s foresight is that it only extended to himself. This rich man had an ambition - a retirement plan that involved taking it easy, indulging, eating, drinking and being merry. But life is too short and too unpredictable to focus on ourselves. The fool had made plans for himself, but he was not going to enjoy any of what he had planned. His very life was going to be demanded of him by God. The short answer to God’s question: “who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” in all likelihood, would be this man’s family, his wife and children no doubt. In light of his untimely death, he was unintentionally leaving a legacy to others, but strangely he is not commended for it, perhaps exactly because it was an accidental legacy. He had planned only to please himself, and was not seeking either the security of his family or the pleasure of God. He was self-absorbed rather than open-hearted and God-focused. So how does this impact our approach be to legacy? The bottom line in Jesus’ parable
“You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”
is that we should be “rich towards God.” God doesn’t’ need our money or our service, yet He chooses to use them as a means to draw us closer to Himself and joining with Him in demonstrating the character and transforming power of the coming kingdom of God. Being rich towards God is not a one-off thing we do when we die. It is not just a choice about where we will invest our money after our demise. No, it’s a pattern of life lived by following in Jesus’ footsteps. We do this not in order to merit eternal life, but as a response to the generous and compassionate grace God has shown us. We are called now to evidence our salvation by living lives of generosity towards God by showing his grace and compassion to the lonely and the lost, the poor and the persecuted, the victims and the vulnerable. Friends, our legacy lifestyle starts now. How we live on this planet and how we leave this planet are connected. Our present decision-making and future planning are to be marked by grace, compassion and generosity. This means we may have to make some changes. I certainly don’t want to come to the end of my life, only to meet God and be called a fool.
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LEADERS’ QUESTIONS
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Whose legacy inspires you? We ask Christian leaders whose legacy has inspired them the most in their life and leadership – from heroes of the faith to personal mentors who have encouraged them into being the people they are today. We would love to hear whose legacy has inspired you the most. Tweet us at @idea_mag with the hashtag #legacy. Hudson Taylor was a British missionary to China, spending just over 50 years ministering there, and established the China Inland Mission (C.I.M.) During his time of service, Taylor saw 205 mission stations established in China with 849 missionaries working in the field; he trained and released into ministry 700 Chinese workers; and more than £1.5 million came into C.I.M. to support the work – all without ever having solicited a single donation. Taylor developed a witnessing church in China of 125,000 believers. It has been reported that at least 35,000 of those people he had personally led to the Lord. Steve Uppal Senior leader of All Nations, Wolverhampton and member of the One People Commission There are many, but to name a few: at work, I am inspired by my mentor and friend Janet, whose commitment to her work as a family barrister inspired me to enter into family law. At church I am inspired by my pastor, who has devoted his time to serving the church and whose knowledge of the word challenges me to delve deeper. At home, I am inspired by my daughter of just six years, by her love, her laughter, and her belief that I can do anything. Arlene Small Barrister and Evangelical Alliance board member
God has used lots of people in my life. At different times God has brought the right men and women with the right insights and support. My wife, the other members of my church plant leadership team and a whole host of others. However, three folks stand out in my early years as a Christian. Gordon Nellies was an elder in a small church near where I lived. When he heard of my faith he phoned and invited me for dinner. Every Thursday for a year, I went to Gordon and Nancy’s home for dinner. We read scripture and I was taught to pray. He was a humble, caring man who believed in giving of his life to disciple others. Gordon gave me building blocks that have stayed with me throughout my Christian life. Fred Drummond Director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland Vincent Donovan went as a missionary to share Christ with the Masai. When he arrived he found a mission compound that the Masai came to and yet no one had remained Christian through this approach. So he decided to go to the Masai and talk to them about God on their turf once a week. The way he shared Christ in the culture of the Masai revolutionised my understanding of mission. His legacy has inspired countless youth workers and pioneers since and my life¹s path is still following that quest. Jonny Baker Church Mission Society director of mission education
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CULTURE Edited by threads. For more posts like this, visit threadsuk.com
A night at the Village Vanguard
by Stuart Bothwell
trombone and the trumpet into a crescendo of noise. Respect. Appreciation. Celebration. Friendship. Unity. The culture of the kingdom of heaven has been determined by the primary community of the King. That community is the loving, active relationship between Father, Son and Spirit; a community of deep love and unity – the source of kingdom culture. One of the main ways that the beauty of the kingdom of heaven is revealed is through its rich diversity. Diversity is a source of good, not of ill; a cause for unity, not division. The Church today is full of different streams, different denominations, different relationships, different agencies and different partnerships. New churches and wellestablished churches. We are a diverse body.
The legacy of great musicians: how a night at New York’s most famous jazz bar helped me understand the diversity and unity in the Church. I couldn’t help but be distracted by the lights; the taxis flying past us, the pictures of food lit up at the door of the deli and even though it was two miles away along Seventh Avenue, I could still see Times Square illuminated by the billboards and spotlights. Yet, there was one light that shone brighter than them all, the iconic neon red light that shone above us as we waited in line, spelling out V-A-N-G-U-A-R-D. Finally, the doors were opened and we escaped a cold December evening and travelled down 15 well-trodden steps into the darkened room of the Village Vanguard. As soon as you stepped inside, you could feel the history as you looked around the room, imagining the greats who had played here: Getz, Gordon, Monk, Davis, Rollins… As we sat down with Coltrane looking over our shoulder, we were transported back to 1960s Greenwich Village. With tobaccosaturated walls, the cramped, dimly lit room still had that smokey feel about it, despite the last Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, cutting that out 10 years ago. On the bill tonight was Dr Michael White and The Original Liberty Jazz Band, a collective of incredible musicians from New Orleans who have performed an end of year show at the Vanguard every year since the early 90s. The IDEA MAGAZINE / 34
six-piece group, playing their second show of the night, greet us as they walk past and set up with the bassist, drummer and pianist hanging out in the background of the stage. That left the trumpeter, the trombonist and Michael White himself, on clarinet, sitting beside each other in spitting distance from the audience. These sharply dressed men with uncoordinated ties, each in their 60s, would steal the show. Over seven songs, each of the three would take turns to rise to their feet and improvise a section over the continuous beat of the drums, bass and keys. I have no idea how long these three men have been playing music together. If I had to take a stab at it, I would say at least two decades. Regardless of that, there was something wonderful that kept reoccurring throughout the night. As each member stood up and led out, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the experienced faces of the seated band members. They sat there, intently looking up. Time after time they beamed with appreciation and celebration with the notes and arrangements their band mates where pulling off as they played.
It was wonderful to see three jazz musicians, more than that – three friends, who watched on with appreciation and celebration, and stood together, bringing the noises of different instruments into one song. How much more wonderful would it be for the Church of King Jesus, with all of its diversities in practices and streams, to look on at each other not with suspicion or fear, but instead with deep respect, appreciation, celebration and friendship. That as heralds of the gospel of Jesus, we would embody the culture of the kingdom of heaven and stand together, allowing our different takes and practices to come together into one glorious song. A crescendo of the goodness of Jesus and the nearness of his kingdom. by Stuart Bothwell, a 27-year-old who lives in Belfast with his wife, Emma. Together they love to establish family, especially by sharing meals with friends both old and new. Stuart serves as part of the team at Redeemer Central, a church family passionate about Jesus and the flourishing of the city. He is on the constant search for new music to wrap his ears around.
Michael White showed his appreciation with the smile of a proud old grandfather and a gentle nod. The trumpeter would lean back, nodding his head and mouthing an affirming “yes” from time to time. Finally, there was the animated trombonist who would switch from pulling a jazz bass face to acting like a 70-year-old Flavor Flav – he was my favourite.
We need your help to ensure the “missing generation” is no longer missing. threads is reaching out to the missing generation, young adults in their 20s and 30s who are leaving the Church in droves as they see faith as irrelevant, out of touch and side-lined from the very real issues they are facing.
There was a deep sense of respect and appreciation for what each band mate was doing throughout their improvised sections; which would end with all three standing together at the end of the song, bringing together the sound of the clarinet, the
For as little as £3 a month, you could become a supporter of threads and play your part in ensuring this generation is no longer missing – visit eauk.org/supportthreads or call 0207 520 3848
MUSIC
CULTURE
The idea-playlist Our list of the best things to read, do and listen to. The idea iPod REND COLLECTIVE AS FAMILY WE GO Every Giant Will Fall SIMPLE GOSPEL (live) Hidden, United Pursuit WE ARE The City Harmonic, Confession (agnes Dei)
There are more than five million orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa, mostly due to HIV/AIDS and poverty, with 12,000 added to this every month. LIV, a long-term cluster foster care village, where the children have a sense of belonging in a homely environment, modelling an African village lifestyle, exists to raise the next generation of leaders in South Africa. The charity places orphaned and vulnerable children into a family environment with a trained foster mother to love them, a school to educate them, and where all their physical needs are met.
What to wear
If these children are equipped with essential moral values and life skills, they will grow up to be a generation that will influence positive change within South Africa, Africa and the world. The houses are built in clusters, each with eight homes surrounding a communal play area. Each home has a fully trained House Mother, who may bring two biological children, and will be given up to six children through the Department of Social Welfare. Within a family environment they will receive unconditional love, spiritual discipleship, care and nurturing. An easy way to support the charity is to buy a LIV wristband. To get yours, email reception@liv-village.com.
REVIEWS FALSE TONGUES by Kate Charles Marleybone House, SPCK
FORGETFUL HEART: REMEMBERING GOD IN A DISTRACTED WORLD By Lucy Mills
It was good to see a collection of fiction books in our pile of review books, even better they were crime/mystery novels by Kate Charles. After a six-year wait, Kate has published a new Callie Anson novel, False Tongues, and her new publishers have also re-released the Books of Psalms series, too. Kate Charles books are not simple murder mystery books, they are set against the background of the Church of England and feature a cast of characters that you can get to know as they often reappear in other titles. In False Tongues we get reacquainted with Callie Anson at a curates’ reunion in Cambridge, where there is too much gossip and a desperate need for truth and forgiveness. The events in Cambridge are intertwined with events in London, where Callie’s new fiancé is working on a sad case of murder and bullying amongst a group of teenagers. In just one week life for the characters in London and Cambridge will never be the same.
Darton, Longman & Todd Lucy Mills begins with reflections on memory, showing that it is easy to forget God in our busy lives. She reflects on encountering God in difficult circumstances and looks at the lives of biblical characters. Even Abraham sometimes forgot God, while the Israelites forgot Yahweh and turned to idols. Jesus re-interpreted the Passover as the Lord’s Supper, so that his disciples could remember his death. This is a book to help readers give God a more central place in their lives. Reviewed by Graham Hedges
Reviewed by Kim Walker
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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F
TURE
Samaritan’s Purse launches ‘one in a million’ Operation Christmas Child Campaign Samaritan’s Purse is calling on people across the UK to be ‘one in a million’ and pack a gift-filled shoebox this Christmas. Samaritan’s Purse UK executive director Simon Barrington explains that every person who lovingly packs a shoebox or who volunteers for Operation Christmas Child is ‘one in a million’ to the charity.
“Even though I had toys growing up, the dog was an item you couldn’t find in my country. It was really soft and had puppy eyes. It was my new best friend, my newfound treasure.
“This year we want to reach a million more precious children with a simple shoebox gift and help them to know that they are loved and not forgotten. So we are asking, will you get involved? Will you be ‘one in a million’ and pack a shoebox gift for a child in need this Christmas? It’s also a great way for all of us to make a difference in a child’s life and to share God’s love with them. It’s a time to share the true meaning of Christmas with children around the world, about the birth of Jesus Christ.”
“The toys were the most important things to me as a 9-year-old, but it also stood out that the letter in the box said: ‘I am praying for you.’ As time went on, I realised why.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries. Reaching more than 11 million children with Christmas joy takes a massive, year-round global effort. So whether it’s August or December, generous volunteers across the UK partner with Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest children’s Christmas project, to send shoeboxes full of gifts to children in need overseas. One example of the long-term impact on children over more than two decades, who’ve received a shoebox, is Yuliya, who recalls the moment she opened her precious box in a central Asian country 14 years ago. “When I lifted the lid on my purple plastic shoebox, the first thing I saw was a stuffed dog. I was filled with exuberant joy. I just remember hugging it. IDEA MAGAZINE / 36
“With my shoebox, here was someone I’d never met and never seen, yet she was still praying for me. “We became pen pals and she would always close her letters: ‘I am praying for you.’ I always wondered: ‘Why is she praying for me?’ The impact hit me more than seven years later after I became a Christian. She was showing me the love of Christ all along, starting with the shoebox and continuing in her prayers. “The shoebox was a seed. That’s how the Lord works. He patiently knocks on the door of our heart and waits until we open the door. Sometimes you see fruit right away and other times it takes years for the seed to grow. “I still have my stuffed dog 14 years later. That’s a glimpse of how much the shoebox meant to me, because it was packed with love and prayer. It wasn’t just any dog. I could tell she specifically chose that dog for me and wanted to use it to communicate God’s love.” Simon Barrington concluded: “In over two decades of Operation Christmas Child, individuals and families of all ages
right across the UK have loved packing shoeboxes, from excited children to mums and dads, to granny and grandpa too. It’s a really helpful lesson for children to learn that there are other children around the world like Yuliya who are not as fortunate as they are.” Samaritan’s Purse plans to capture and share stories and photographs of everyone who’s ever been involved, and to bring to life online and through social media, what Operation Christmas Child has meant to so many people. If you have ever packed a shoebox – we want to hear your story. Where and when did you pack it? What did you include? Was there something particularly special you remember about your shoebox? Help us encourage others to be ‘one in a million’ and get involved in this year’s campaign - pack a shoebox this year and tell us your story at samaritans-purse.org.uk/ ashoeboxstory HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? Whether you take part as an individual or family, or as part of a larger group, such as a school, local business or church, packing and preparing a shoebox couldn’t be easier. You can find lots of free resources to order or download at operationchristmaschild.org.uk, including what to put in your shoebox, how to pack it and where to drop it off. The deadline for submitting shoeboxes is 18 November, so be sure to pack and deliver your box(es) before then.
LETTERS: HAVE YOUR SAY
In your words
We love hearing from you, so have your say on any of the issues raised in idea or make any comments about the Evangelical Alliance by emailing idea@eauk.org EYES ON JESUS A big thank you to Steve Clifford for his Last Word of the September/October edition of idea, particularly the words: “But simply doing good works is not good enough”. Quite rightly, Steve majored on the “amazing things” the Church is doing, but his qualifying addendum is wise advice to nudge the Church back to fixing her eyes on Jesus - King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Bravo! Chris Hywel Macey Via email IMAGINE WHAT A JOY IT WILL BE What a surprise to return home and open my idea magazine and read your article on pages 28-29. I travel much to East Africa. I see much poverty. And I supply a lot of Christian resources - Bibles and Christian books. Last year there was an open day at the Bruderhof in East Sussex, so I decided to go there. They showed us round the Community Playthings factory.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER2015 2015
Brian O’Connell @twinokes Intriguing look at Evangelical views on British values. eauk.co/1NWdO68 via @idea_mag & @ DrDaveLandrum
Serena Low @SerenaLow Should the Bible be taught in school? A balanced view from both sides bit.ly/1hJ3Db2 via @idea_mag
Imagine what a joy it will be to one day see families and nurseries in East Africa enjoying some of these community plaything toys. Blessings Richard Smart Hastings (via email) CRUSADE
Director of media & communications Chine Mbubaegbu
Design & Print Cliffe Enterprise
Home for Good @Home4Gd To celebrate our first birthday, @idea_mag interviewed CEO @pmgreen. Read about our year and plans at eauk.org/idea/finding-a…
I have just returned from East Africa and when I was there I received the shipment and took the toys to a friend who runs a timber business. His children were so happy to play with the toys, and I asked if he would like to make toys like these so that families and nurseries could enjoy far more for their children. He welcomed the idea very much.
Editor Amaris Cole – idea@eauk.org
Advertising manager Candy O’Donovan c.odonovan@eauk.org
Dr Claire Rush @DrClaireRush New research from @EAUKnews @HOPEtogether says 1in4 UK Millennials think Jesus was a fictional/mythical character talkingjesus.org
Amaris Cole @AmarisColeEA Sporting two bruised knees but bursting with pride after last night’s @EAUKnews win in the semifinals of the charity league.
I thought how lovely it would be for an African family to have such toys to play with, and would love to have a set of toys to give to a friend in Africa, so I asked the Bruderhof if they had any spare sets of toys. They
Contributing writers Chine Mbubaegbu, Gordon Wright, Kim Walker, Krish Kandiah, Lucy Olofinjana, Stuart Bothwell.
Rachel Ellis @RachelEllis2 @EAUKnews thanks for the article: bit.ly/1icJomj @ idea_mag @AmarisColeEA @beanstalkreads love it!
donated to me a set for Africa. I was given two boxes of children’s toys and I shipped them to Uganda together with some other Christian resources.
It was good to be reminded in your last issue of the monthly magazine, CRUSADE, launched by the EA in June 1955. It was the brain child of John Stott, at that time chairman of the EA Literature Committee, and I was recruited as the founding editor with Frank Colquhoun, formerly the EA Editorial Secretary, lending friendly
Consulting editors Chine Mbubaegbu and Peter Lynas
HEARD IN TWEETS
idea is published bi-monthly and sent free of charge to members of the Evangelical Alliance. Formed in 1846, the Alliance’s mission is to unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. There are around two million evangelical Christians in the UK, according to a 2007 Tearfund survey. idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’s Basis of Faith, although it is impossible in every article to articulate each detail and nuance of belief held by Alliance members. Articles in idea may therefore express views on which there is a divergence of
continuity and seniority from his parish in Wallington. Our aim was pastoral, offering Christian reading in an attractive form to ‘young’ Christians, helping (this was our prayer) their growth to maturity in Christ. You say that this was’70 years ago’, which would place me as an 18-year-old – a bit young for an editorial chair: in fact it was 60 years ago this year. I still meet people today who tell me they were encouraged in their faith by the magazine when we were all a good deal younger than we are now! After about 60 issues I felt it was time to move on and the committee asked me to help them find a successor. David Winter bravely left his teaching post to become a gifted editor; and later on, as we all know, to be Head of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC. You can still hear him on the radio, or read one of his many publications. Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith Salisbury (via letter)
opinion or understanding among evangelicals. Letters and story ideas from members are welcome, and will be considered by the editorial board, which reserves the right to edit letters and stories for length and style. We regret that we are unable to engage in personal correspondence. Unsolicited material will only be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offset printing costs. Advertising in idea does not imply editorial endorsement. The Alliance reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from the editor. IDEA MAGAZINE / 37
LAST WORD
Steve Clifford the general director, writes…
The unity revolution I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a quiet revolution going on in the UK Church. It’s under the radar and it’s easily missed, but from where I sit it’s profoundly significant and carries all the hallmarks of God at work. This fundamental change is being outworked at both a national and local level. It’s impacting on how we see ourselves as a Christian community, and how we express ourselves as Church. For many of us we have come to the realisation that we, above every other point of our identity, have been included in on this amazing family of God, the body of Christ, with the privilege of praying to “our Father in heaven”. This revelation means that other labels denominational, network, cultural, ethnic differences, or theological affiliations - are secondary. The outworking of this revolution at a national level means that national leaders of churches and agencies are increasingly meeting, building relationships, and asking fundamental questions: how can we collaborate together rather than compete? Can we acknowledge the fact that we are about shared ‘family business’, not simply building my bit of the kingdom? At a local level it’s even more pronounced. About three and a half years ago we launched the GATHER network in England, sensing that God was at work in towns and cities across the country through the emerging unity movements. We discovered that Christian leaders were meeting together, building relationships, praying and eating together, and out of these relationships finding that God was giving them a fresh passion as the Church of the town or city, to see transformation -
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spiritually, socially and physically. GATHER is looking to support these unity movements where they already exist, and encouraging and catalysing new ones where they don’t. Across England - with similar initiatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - more than 115 unity movements are expressing the Church’s passion for their city, with so many of the social action initiatives - debt counselling, night shelters, street pastors, food banks - being run not only by one church, but by many churches working together for the sake of their community. This unity revolution is not without it’s challenges. We are different, we have preferences as to how we do things, how we see things, even how we interpret scripture. The good news is this is not about uniformity, but about a unity in the midst of our diversity. If you’ve read idea magazine over the years I hope you’ve come to the realisation that unity is what we are passionate about. We would love to play our part in seeing the John 17 prayer of Jesus answered in all it’s fullness. But our commitment to unity is not about unity for unity’s sake, it’s unity
for a purpose, it’s unity for the sake of an amazing prize. The words of Jesus echo in my ear: “Then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” It seems that in some strange way the God-head is trusting us, His people, to authenticate the incarnation by our love for one another. If you are like me, there are all kinds of things you feel strongly about. From my tradition of church, I really don’t get infant baptism, the lay and clergy divide or indeed male-only leadership. And I could go on. But for the sake of ‘the prize’ and recognising my own limitations - that I could be wrong - I gladly embrace those who differ from me. I recognise that we are part of the same family, and we are about ‘family business’. So let’s thank God for what we see Him doing. Let’s keep praying for the unity as expressed in John 17, and let’s look for ‘the prize’ we really do want the world to know. There is no greater prize - it’s the unique gift that we as the Church can offer to the communities around us. No one else can make Jesus known. It’s our highest calling.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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