Flow Magazine – Issue 28 by The Message Trust

THE MAGAZINE OF THE

MESS AGE | 19 ISSUE 28 Summer 20

INSIDE Message in Prisons turns 15! Introducing Higher 2020

Taking the gospel into schools across our nation

ING FROM CH EA

PLU S

Message Bus launches in Yorkshire

TE GRIEG

Stories from students living in Eden communities

e m ho

l l a c d l u o c I e r e Somewh

ANDY’S RANT

‘This could be game changing’ Dear friends, At the heart of every great move of God has been two things; united prayer and sacrificial prayer. My friend Anthony Delaney reminded us of this at the last Greater Manchester Prayer Gathering. He said that it is powerful when a Christian prays, but there is something even more powerful when a church gets together to pray. But to see the breakthrough we all long for in our nation, we need to see the church with all of its streams, denominations and ministries, praying together. That’s why I believe that joint prayer events, like the Greater Manchester Prayer Gathering, where churches come together to pray in unity here in my home city, are so significant. The breakthrough doesn’t just come through united prayer but also sacrificial prayer. That’s why we are so honoured to be building a night and day prayer house here on our site in Manchester which Manchester House Of Prayer will lead. I honestly believe this could be game changing, not just for our work but for the work of God across this nation. So please read the daily prayer needs of The Message and lift them before God. As you pray, you are our greatest resource. God bless

Founder & CEO The Message Trust

P.S. If you live in the North West we’d love to see you at one of next Greater Manchester Prayer gatherings as to cry out for a move of his Spirit. The next event is taking place on Thursday 27 June at 7:30pm at Audacious Church, Manchester. You don’t want to miss it. Find out all the details at message.org.uk

The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes. Registered Office: Lancaster House, Lancaster Campus, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG. The Message Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 3961183 Registered Charity No. 1081467 VAT Registration No. GB 727 177616

IN THIS ISSUE

18 Cover story

Editor Kate Ruddick Associate Editors Ian Rowbottom Deborah Frawley

P R AY

We meet Ellie, Pete and Emily who joined Eden as students Prayer is at the heart of everything we do at The Message. Will you stand with us in prayer? You can sign up to receive our latest prayer points sent to you 09 Higher 2020 by email or in the post at message.org.uk/pray The Higher Tour is taking to the road next year

JOIN

Design & Illustration Hannah Beatrice Owens Bethan Wilson Matthew Varah Wilson

Additional Photography Rachael Silvester Jonah Geh Sam Elwin

15 Meet Dale

Contributors Pete Greig Andy Hawthorne Ellie Tee

D O N AT E

Subscription & Supporter Enquiries E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300

Celebrating 15 years of Message in Prisons

Your gifts mean we can reach the least, 18theTackling lost and the last for Christ. Will you can stand withre-offending us by Lives transformed setting up or increasing a regular gift today by using through hope our giving form or visiting message.org.uk/donate

Giving E: giving@message.org.uk T: Tom Kinsey 0161 946 2335

Flow Magazine The Message Trust Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG message.org.uk/flow

12 Reaching our nation

Is God calling you to join us in one of ourCheck out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eden teams, Message Academy, an Advance happening on group or to volunteer with us? If so do get your doorstep in touch as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to hear from you.

Picture Editor Hannah Beatrice Owens

Contact E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300

24 Pray for all things Teaching from Pete Greig

Thank you for your support

30 Getting involved

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT The paper used for Flow is manufactured using pulp sourced from sustainable sources from within Europe. It is 100% TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) and is manufactured to ISO14001 standards.

How can you stand with us

BIG PICTURE

Sharing Jesus in schools

26,762 young people in 46 different schools got to hear the gospel for themselves in lessons and assemblies during Higher Yorkshire in March. Here Samantha Jabangwe and Ben Davies from SoulBox perform and speak to a group of teenagers at a school in Wakefield.

BIG PICTURE

NEWS

Sharing stories on Message Sunday Every day we see lives turned around, families transformed and hope break into communities as the gospel is shared. We want to share some of these stories with you and your church so that you can be encouraged. On Sunday 6 October 2019 we’re holding the first ever

national Message Sunday, and we’d love you and your church to be involved. Hear about what’s happening on your doorstep as young people choose to live their lives fully for Jesus, and how God is moving in schools, prisons and some of the most deprived neighbourhoods across the UK and beyond.

There’s lots of ways you can get involved. You could have one of our speakers visit your church or request your free resource pack and share more about the work of The Message yourself. Sign up to be part of Message Sunday at message.org.uk/sunday

Equipping young people in the Midlands On Saturday 6 July 2019, we’re hosting a Youth Conference in the Midlands. The day is designed to give young people a greater confidence in the gospel and to equip them to be effective in evangelism. ‘We’re excited to be welcoming guest speaker Mark Ritchie as well as 6

our band SoulBox to the conference,’ said Chipper Betts, our Midlands Hub Leader. ‘I believe this is going to be a significant day for young people in the Midlands, and it’s a great privilege to partner with churches and organisations across the region to see this event come together.’

Head to message.org.uk/ midlandsyouthconf to find out more and book your place.

NEWS

Gearing up for Advance 2020 As we ramp up for Advance 2020 – a year of evangelism across our country – Advance groups are growing at a faster rate than ever before, not only here but overseas too. In the past few months we’ve seen groups launch in South Africa, Canada, Germany, Uganda and Malawi. So what is an Advance group? The heart of the groups is to equip those with a passion to share the good news of Jesus with the skills they need to be able to do this well. Members meet together each month to sharpen their skills of evangelism through support and mentoring. ‘Encouraging and supporting each other is what Advance groups are all about,’ said Ben Jack, Head of Advance. ‘Everyone involved in a

group wants to see more people come to Christ, but we know we don’t have all the skills we need, so are learning together.’ It’s more than meeting in small groups Every year groups come together for the Advance Groups Conference. This year’s conference ‘Spirit and Word’ is taking place in Manchester on Saturday 29 June. Whether you are part of a group or are interested in joining one then come along for a day of passionate worship and teaching as we sharpen and encourage one another.

‘The Advance Summit will be a game-changing day as we get ready to take the gospel to the nation on an unprecedented scale throughout 2020’ said Ben. ‘It’s going to be a great time of encouraging one another as we reignite our passion to go and preach the good news’.

Heading for 2020 Gearing up to next year we’ll be gathering with 1,500 committed and passionate evangelists at the Advance Summit in Birmingham on Saturday 12 October.

Find out more about Advance groups and how to book onto the Conference and Summit at advance2020.org 7

NEWS

Higher sees 26,762 pupils in Yorkshire and introduces more than 1,300 to Jesus In March the Higher Tour headed to South and West Yorkshire. Six mission teams visited 46 schools and held four outreach gigs across the region. Mark Wakefield from missions band Amongst Wolves shares a story of one lad he met in a school.

4–29 March 2019, Yorkshire 01 Young people enjoy a performance by SoulBox in Wakefield 02 SoulBox perform at Higher Yorkshire gig

‘During a year 7 lesson, I shared how I used to be a bully while at school. At the end of the lesson, a boy called Alfie* came up to me and said that he was a bully too, but after hearing my story he wanted something to change. I shared how I believed that if he let God into his life then he could help him to change and do amazing things with his life. I also invited him to come along to the gig in Doncaster that Friday night.

03 Daniel from BrightLine performs at the end of week gig in Sheffield

‘At the gig Alfie came running up to me and

told me that he believed in God. He’d also dragged a few of his friends along with him, including one boy called Callum*. As we were talking, Callum mentioned that his leg was painful due to his dry skin. I offered to pray for healing and Callum agreed. I asked if Alfie wanted to pray as well but he said he didn’t know what to do, so I just told him to say amen with me at the end. We prayed and Callum was healed! ‘After the gospel message at the gig I was able to lead a response group that *names have been changed

NEWS

included Alfie, Callum and five of their friends who had all said yes to Jesus! God is good!’ There are now 96 local churches running follow-up sessions across Yorkshire, helping each of the young people who responded grow in their new faith. Please pray for everyone who made the decision to follow Christ as they begin their journey of discipleship.

HIGHER MIDL ANDS Message from a young person ‘When I went to the Higher Tour you said that God turns your mess into a message. Those seven words have changed me. You have made me a better person and made me a stronger Christian – I want to thank you for that and also for changing so many other lives!’

Taking Higher on the road So far the Higher Tour has travelled to Cambridgeshire, the Midlands, South Wales, Manchester, Yorkshire and the Channel Islands. Our dream is to reach our whole nation, seeing thousands of young people choosing to follow Christ and become lifelong disciples of him.

So next year, we’re stepping things up and taking the Higher Tour on the road throughout our nation. Bands and mission teams will be travelling

thousands of miles across the length and breadth of the UK sharing the Christian faith in schools and holding outreach gigs. The local church is at the heart of the Higher Tour. We want to see every young person who responds to the gospel – whether in a lesson, assembly, or at a gig – connected with a local youth leader and church so that they’ll have 9

NEWS

someone to encourage and cheer them on as they start their journey of faith. The Higher 2020 tour is part of a year of outreach taking place through Advance 2020, giving everyone the chance to hear the good news of Jesus for themselves. It’s exciting and we’re ready to take on this opportunity. However, we need more people than ever before to stand with us in both prayer and finance. Could you be one of these? Find out more on page 26.

Higher 2020 in figures

18 tours

HIGHER CAMBS Andy and Bev, youth leaders ‘We run a youth group in our village and took eight new people to the Cambridge gig, including one girl who only found out about it that day. She responded to the gospel for the first time and then brought four of her friends to our youth café the following week! We’ve had record numbers at our youth club since then!’

260 schools visited

150,000 young people

hearing the good news of Jesus for themselves in lessons and assemblies

25,000 bibles

04 Young people speak to the response team in Sheffield

HIGHER SOUTH WALES

put into the hands of young people who want to learn more about Christianity

Message from Daniel, BrightLine ‘It’s rare that in school hours we are allowed to give a gospel presentation let alone a response. However, in one of the schools we were allowed to do this and saw 300 pupils respond to what was said. It was unlike anything we’ve seen before.’

260 follow-up follow-up 260 sessions sessions

running running in in local local churches churches across across our our land land

NEWS

Interior with climbing wall and slide

Follow up groups discipling the young people who made a response during Higher Yorkshire.

Yorkshire gets its own Message Bus

5 New Eden teams ready to be launched across the UK in Wales, Scotland, London, the Midlands and the North West.

121,657 The number of streams for the brand-new single from our mission team SoulBox – C’est La Vie.

Our brand-new Message Bus has arrived, fitted with state-ofthe-art youth activities. Bus manager, Jack, is already out on the roads making an impact with the gospel in communities.

Mates on a mission Celebrating the remarkable people with us on the journey Michael and Becci Ball Michael and Becci run the Manchester House of Prayer who we’re partnering with to bring a night and day prayer house to Manchester. Find out more at mhop.org.uk Steve Uppal Steve is the senior pastor of All Nations church, Wolverhampton. Listen to his inspiring message ‘Mighty on the Inside’ from our March Prayer Day at message.org.uk/podcast Mat Walls Mat is our new hub leader for Wales. He’s passionate about the region and expanding our ministry there. Read our interview with Mat at message.org.uk/wales 11

REPORT

REPORT:

Reaching our nation Across the UK, The Message is sharing the good news of Jesus with the least, the last and the lost. There’s lots going on – here’s your chance to catch up with the latest news

London Our missions work across London continues to grow with the team getting to go into more scho ol s than ever before, as well as hold regular gospel events and train young people in leadership and evangelism across the capital. Working with local churches and organisations we’re getting the chance to go into prisons and young offender institutions, reaching prisoners. We hope to build on this with a new outreach worker soon. Eden teams have been impacting London communities for over eight years and we want to see even more neighbourhoods transformed, so are set to launch our newest team in Pimlico shortly.

Midlands It’s been six months since our new hub leader Chipper Betts moved to the Midlands to lead our work here. Off the back of the Higher tour, we’re getting the chance to go into more schools with SoulBox, Brightline and Respect ME. We’ve got an exciting few months coming up with our Youth Conference in July, fundraising dinner at the Molineux Stadium in October, and the launch of our newest Eden team – Eden Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton. If you’d like to partner with us as we take the good news to the Midlands please do get in touch. 12

North West As our prisons work grows, Genetik and bus sessions get booked up and doors into schools continue to open, there’s lots going on from our HQ. On the ground Tim and Emma Owen have just been appointed as leaders for our new North West hub. ‘With all the amazing national and international growth going on here at The Message we wanted to make sure that our home region wasn’t left behind,’ said Tim and Emma. ‘Although there’s already loads going on across the region, we believe God has so much more in store. We want to see every young person receiving repeated opportunities to accept Jesus. We’re so excited to see what the future has in store and look forward to getting into more schools and working with more local churches over the coming years.’

Yorkshire/ Lincolnshire Our brand new Me ss a ge Bu s arrived in April and has immediately swung into action seeing nearly 250 young people in its first few weeks. Local young people continue to be equipped and empowered for the future through our Respect ME work, this year alone they’ve worked with 3,200 students. Our work in schools and with churches is growing following Higher Yorkshire a few weeks ago.

Our Message Bus is busy in Swansea. Over 100 young people are coming along each week to our new bus projects, having fun and hearing the gospel. Every Friday and Saturday the Cardiff Street Pastors head out onto the city’s streets to share the love of Jesus in practical ways. The difference they’re making saw the team being awarded the prestigious St David’s Award for citizenship. Our third Eden team in Wales is due to launch in Trowbridge, Cardiff. Recruitment for the team is underway – if you’d like to be part of this do get in touch.

REPORT

Wales

North East Eden continues to go from strength to strength in the North East with a new team having recently launched in Mill Lane, Stockton joining the other communities we have across the region. Young people continue to learn more about their true value and worth as our Respect ME get to go into schools.

Scotland There’s a lot happening north of the border. We’ve just finished our first schools mission week, seeing 1,000 young people in lessons and at a gig. Over 60 of those that responded to the gospel. This is just the start of schools mission here in Scotland, with more weeks being planned. The Scotland Message Bus is busy running 10:10 projects. Over the first six weeks young people come along to enjoy time on the bus and to hear the gospel before going onto the Youth Alpha course run as part of the project. 200 kids came along to the bus weeks of the last project with nearly all of them coming onto the first Alpha week!

Scotland Hub

North East Hub

North West Hub

Yorkshire/ Lincolnshire Hub

Midlands Hub

Wales Hub

London Hub

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FEATURE

IN PRISONS E G TU SA

From a vision in 2004 to reach young people in prisons, our work has grown and today weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing the lives of countless prisoners transformed each year as inmates discover the love and hope Jesus offers them

FEATURE

DALE’S STORY I grew up in what you’d call a ‘normal’ family. I always knew my parents, brothers and sister loved me and I felt supported by them, I just made some bad choices. Everything was going OK until I left school and fell in with the wrong crowd. I started living for the weekend and no night out was complete without drink, drugs and a fight at the end. One night things got out of hand. The group I was with got into a fight with a guy over a taxi and he ended up in intensive care, fighting for life. The police quickly caught up with us and I found myself in prison serving a 12-month sentence for affray – I was only 20. How could this have happened to me? If I’m honest I expected to serve my sentence and for life to go back to normal when I was released. In prison I made no secret of how much I loved and respected my Grandad who had served for years in the army. Knowing this, a prison Chaplain invited me to the Chapel’s Remembrance Day service and it was there I met The Message prisons team for the first time. They invited me to go along to their bible study group the next week. It seemed like a good way to get some time out of my cell and escape the boredom of the prison routine for a bit, so I went along. I wasn’t really too interested in listening to what they were talking about. But the

I’m unrecognisable from the guy I was, Jesus’ love has transformed my life

team were unlike any people I’d ever met before – they accepted me straight away and there was something different about them. It was the love they showed me that meant I kept going back to the meetings. I was still learning more about Christianity and asking endless questions about faith when I was released from prison, so after some encouragement from The Message team I went along to the church my uncle went to. Back on the outside, I quickly fell back into my old routine of living for the weekend, but this time with church added in too. I’d be sitting in services coming down from the night before, feeling like I had a battle going on inside me. Did I want to be who I’d always been, or find out more about the love and hope that people told me Jesus offered? Although I was out of prison, Tim and The Message team were still there for me through all of my highs and lows, cheering me on. They encouraged me to go along to an Alpha course that the church I’d been

FEATURE

going to were running, and it was here the penny dropped. My endless questions stopped, and I knew once and for all I was loved beyond measure by God. I realised that there is hope and that Jesus gave me a future. I then understood that the team I met in prison were different, not because of what they were doing, but because God’s love was shining through them. I’m unrecognisable from the guy I was. Jesus’ love has transformed my life. I turned my back on drugs and started looking to the future, wanting to live each day for Jesus and share his love with everyone I met in word and deed. Dale with his wife, Amy, and daughter, Lydia

Since then God has been with me every step of

the way. That’s not to say it’s always been easy. From being at my lowest point in my cell ten years ago, I am today blessed with an amazing wife, Amy, and beautiful baby daughter, Lydia, who we prayed for for a long time. God has also miraculously provided me with my dream job and is giving me the skills I need to run men’s ministry at my church and play bass guitar in the worship group. I don’t know where I’d be now if it wasn’t for The Message team.

We’re dreaming big for the next 15 years and long to see the lives of thousands more prisoners transformed. But we need more people to stand with us – find out more on page 26.

READ MORE STORIES AT

message.org.uk/prisons

STORIES

Our work doesn’t stop at the prison gates Across the UK, countless ex-offenders who leave prison with few job prospects, no safe place to live and little support quickly find themselves drawn back into their old criminal lifestyles just to survive. The cycle of re-offending you hear about on the news is real

omething new was needed, so six years ago we launched the Message Enterprise Centre (MEC) to help to break this cycle. Today we run nine social enterprises including our Mess Café, a hair and beauty salon, a building service company and many more.

The heart of the MEC is to provide ex-offenders and those at risk of offending with full-time jobs, accredited training, discipleship and supported local housing. The success of the enterprise work has been phenomenal. Since launching we’ve worked with over 65 apprentices and our 12-month reoffending rate is only 2.5%, a fraction of the national average. But people, not figures, are at the heart of our prisons and enterprise work. People like Ruth. 18

Ruth came to know Christ through our prisons ministry and as she was nearing the end of her sentence was offered a job at the Mess Café. ‘I was flabbergasted’, says Ruth, ‘I couldn’t believe that someone would put their trust in me. While working at the MEC my faith has grown, I’ve gained new skills and most importantly God has restored my relationships with my family.’ It is our Christian faith that underpins everything we do at the MEC, and in partnership with the local church we are able to help our team members develop their faith and stand firm as they integrate back into society. Looking ahead, the future for the MEC is bright. Our programmes are now expanding outside of Manchester. We have two coffee shops in Cape Town, South Africa and further opportunities

STORIES

are arising in London. It’s our dream that wherever a prisons team operates, an enterprise will follow.

wanted to kill myself. But it was here that God stepped in.

My prayers were answered as I was handed an application form for The Oaks

Find out more about our enterprise work or how you can refer someone to work with the MEC by visiting themec.org.uk

Jamie’s Story Alongside the MEC we have The Oaks, our home that supports ex-offenders or those at risk of offending with a safe place to rebuild their lives, put down roots and grow. Jamie shares his story of how he came to The Oaks and the impact it’s had on his life I was born into a broken family and raised on a deprived council estate. At the age of 14 I lost my brother to a rare heart condition, my grandfather died from cancer, and my Dad lost his battle with depression and drug-induced mental health issues and took his own life. I started to take amphetamines and used drugs to escape the pain I was feeling. After a few years trapped in a cycle of crime, drug use, homelessness and time in prison I felt that I couldn’t escape. I got to the point where I became severely depressed due to the substances I was taking. I had nothing to live for and

A friend had recently become a Christian and suggested that I go along to church with them. I instantly felt loved and like there was a hope for my future. After completing a 12-step recovery programme I accepted Christ into my life. I now had a sense of purpose, but knew that I couldn’t get fully better in the environment I was living in. So, I prayed for change. The following week my prayers were answered as I was handed an application form for The Oaks and my life changed forever. Now, instead of turning to drugs and violence I turn to Christ to help deal with my struggles. There is no better place than The Oaks to learn how to become more like Christ. I’ve found a new family who love me and who I love in return. Together we continue to learn more about Jesus each and every day. I am now genuinely happy and I want to use my life to do great things for God.

Places in The Oaks are available for people looking for a fresh start in life. If you know someone in your church who could benefit, email info@message.org.uk or call 0161 946 2300 to request an application form.

FEATURE

Belonging to an Eden team is for people from all walks of life. We talked to three people who decided to be part of an Eden team whilst studying at university. Ellie, Pete and Emily were all living at home, just out of school, and plugged into their local churches before they joined Eden. They share their stories

t was whilst attending New Wine at the age of 14 that Emily first heard about Eden: ‘Some people from an Eden team shared about what they were doing within their community and what Eden was all about. I remember thinking this was something I really wanted to do.’ Emily moved to Sheffield for university and the church she attended partnered with the Eden team in Fir Vale. ‘I read that Jesus left his home to go to the poor and wondered why, as Christians, we were not doing this. I really liked this about Eden.’

Emily

Ellie heard about Eden when she moved to Manchester for a gap year with The Salvation Army. Living in East Manchester, she became part of the Eden team in Openshaw. When her gap year came to an end, she knew she had to stay on. ‘God had broken my heart for the community and there was no way I could leave. The

e m ho

Somewhere I could call 20

FEATURE

pete

work of Eden is life-changing so I knew I needed to stay on the Openshaw estate while I studied at university. Being part of an Eden team whilst at uni was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I loved that I could be a part of transforming a community at the same time as studying a subject I loved.’ Pete moved to Birmingham to study theology and mission. ‘I heard about Eden through a close friend who had joined a team in London. Her experience sounded so authentic that I was drawn to check it out for myself. I loved being involved with my home church in Devon, but it felt very safe working with middle-class, churched kids. I needed to step outside of my comfort zone. Whilst I knew about Eden, I hadn’t really thought it could work with my studies. Then one day I had a dream where I was looking for a place to camp and was shown different parks. I was in one park and felt like I needed to move

Ellie

into the next – and that park was called Eden. As I woke I really felt that God was calling me to check out Eden. ‘Being a part of Eden Walsall whilst studying has really helped me to break out of the university bubble and stay connected to real people with real challenges. I’ve met so many kind and wonderful people and seen Jesus move in many subtle and gentle ways. There have also been many challenges as I’ve been learning to navigate a very different world. ‘At Christmas, a large-scale outreach event crumbled only moments before it was due to begin. But what was set to be a disaster turned into an incredible event as 21

FEATURE

the team and members of the community pulled together. Jesus continues to be evident and present as he works through the team to restore our community. ‘Whilst there is a tension that comes with being on an Eden team while studying, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to anyone. There is a balancing act that needs to be done between wanting to spend all of your time with the community and knowing you have an essay deadline coming up. But so far, I’ve found the time to do both!’ ‘During my time at uni, I’d got to know the kids and families in this community really well and knew life would only get harder for some of them’, says Emily. ‘So when I graduated I wanted to stay and use what I had learned at university to make a real impact in the lives of these people. I knew I was there for the long term. ‘Being a student while being on an Eden team is a great thing. Eden has taught me to be both committed and present wherever you find yourself.’

There’s a balancing act between wanting to spend all of your time with the community and knowing you have an essay deadline coming up! ‘The relationships I’d made were for the long term. I’ve known Demi since she was ten years old as she came to a kids’ club we ran. She came from a broken and struggling family. Over the years she’s told me of some of her situation and it’s heart-breaking. I remember just wanting to help her. Being part of a community for the long term is the key in building relationship and trust with people like Demi. Now 17, I still see Demi and our friendship continues to this very day. ‘Being on an Eden team whilst at university has taught me so much about stepping out and trusting in God’s plan for my life wholeheartedly. God wanted me in Eden; I just had to step out and do it.’

God had broken my heart for the community and there was no way I could leave ‘It’s the sense of community you find in Eden teams that really stands out,’ says Ellie. ‘Eden has completely changed my view of people and the church. Seeing people come together to care and love their neighbours at all times whilst also showing and sharing Jesus’ love to them pushes you out of your comfort zone. And so, staying on the Eden team after finishing university was an easy decision. 22

You can help support the work of people like Ellie, Pete and Emily by giving to Eden. To find out how, turn to page 26 or visit message.org.uk/donate

COULD EDEN BE FOR YOU? joineden.org

READER OFFER

From Eden to Higher Keith Forster shares how a calling to Eden as a student has led to him helping The Message reach thousands of young people with the gospel each year. ‘I moved to Harpurhey to join Eden whilst studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2001 and I still live there today. What I love about The Message is that, at it’s heart, it is all about joining in with what Jesus is doing in the most deprived communities across the country and sticking around for the long term. ‘When I graduated I chose to stay instead of moving on. It felt like we had barely

scratched the surface of His plans for this place I now called home. God provided me with work which enabled me to stay committed to Eden and I started my own company - MTS Live. ‘I love to work alongside The Message, helping young people meet with Jesus and seeing people getting closer to God.’ MTS Live now provide sound, lighting, video and staging for the majority of the live events we run at The Message. From a small PA in a pupil referral unit to the spectacular production seen on the Higher Tour and Urban Hero awards, MTS Live provide exceptional support across the board.

READER OFFER MTS Live are a dedicated team of industry professionals providing audio visual hire, sales and installation across a wide range of sectors in the UK. For every confirmed order they receive from a new client in 2019, MTS Live will make a donation to the The Message. Visit mtslive.co.uk/flow19 or call 0161 773 9933 and quote ‘Flow19’ to find out more. This offer applies to new customers only and is limited to one per client. The hire or sale has to be confirmed in 2019 for the offer to apply.

TEACHING

e have some wealthy friends. Is that how you describe them? Well they go on nicer holidays than we do! Once they asked if we wanted to go away with them. They’d hired out a catamaran off the coast of Croatia and planned to sail around the Adriatic Sea. I’m so sorry to say this but it was as good as it sounds. One night was just perfect. We dropped the anchor in a bay as the sun was setting. The water was like a mirror. We were sitting on the back of the boat ready to eat dinner when all of a sudden, a great 24

cloud of mosquitoes appeared in the air. I bet some of you are reading this, so burnt out that you’re thinking – good, I’m glad that happened to you. Well, my friend James rose one hand in the air and immediately began to pray. He closed his eyes and rebuked the mosquitoes in the name of Jesus. Everyone started joining in. My wife, my kids, his family. And I’m sitting there thinking that this is such a stupid prayer. I thought this was a dumb prayer for three reasons…. The first reason that this was a dumb prayer was that mosquitoes are probably important for the environment or the

‘Without prayer we’re just providing the marketing for a religious enterprise’ I’m sitting there thinking ‘this is stupid.’ And then (I’m actually still a little cross about this), the moment that they said ‘Amen’ the gentlest wind rose up and blew the mosquitoes away. Revival then breaks out on this boat. Everyone’s saying ‘Thank you God. Thank you that you care about us.’ I’m sat there saying, ‘are you kidding me God? Some of the prayers that have not been answered and yet you do this?’ I don’t know for sure if this was a miracle or a meteorological fluke disguised as a miracle but what I do know is that when you pray for the small things in life, you live life with a greater gratitude. If you only pray for the big important things then you’ll only occasionally give thanks to God. It’s important to walk and talk the details of your life with God so that you are able to continually thank him.

TEACHING

ecology or something? They’re there for a reason. The second reason is that as God is busy answering prayers about the Middle East or another big crisis he’ll be far too busy to be bothered about the al fresco dining arrangements of posh people on a yacht in the Adriatic Sea. The third reason that this was a stupid prayer was that my kids were mightily joining in. And so, when (not if) the mosquitoes did not disappear, my kids would conclude that prayer does not work, their old man had wasted his life, and then they’d grow up and become Satanists.

The greatest theological question of our time is clearly this – should you pray for a parking space? Well, I believe that the answer is yes. If you pray for parking spaces, you get to be that joyful and crazy person who gives thanks to God for that small square of concrete outside of Asda on a wet November afternoon. We all want to be that person. As it says in Philippians 4:4, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, I’ll say it again rejoice!’ The more you pray about, the more you get to live your life with a greater gratitude. Without prayer we’re just providing the marketing for a religious enterprise. In prayer we’re invited to walk and talk with God in daily conversation. We’re told in Genesis that before the fall, Adam and Eve would walk and talk with God every day. What did they talk about? Most of us, if we’re honest, only pray about problems. Sin, sickness and suffering. Adam and Eve must have talked to God about ordinary stuff. Your prayer life will be at its best when you continually talk to God about the small things. One day there will be no more sin, sickness or suffering. But there will still be you and God. So, what will you talk to him about? This is a real relationship and so it’s entirely appropriate to say ‘take away the mosquitoes.’

This is an edited version of a talk given at our Message Conference 2019. Listen to the full talk online: visit message.org.uk/podcast

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‘This could be game changing’ Dear friends, At the heart of every great move of God has been two things; united prayer and sacrificial prayer.

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My friend Anthony Delaney reminded us of this at the last Greater Manchester Prayer God’s given usthat a vision to take our Gathering. He said it is powerful whenwork a to the next level, so that we can reach of the the last Christian prays,more but there is least, something evenand the lost for him. To do this we’re believing that 1,000 new people will stand with us by giving £25 more powerful when a church gets together per month. to pray. But to see the breakthrough we all long for in our nation, we need to see the Willwith you all beof one them?denominations Your gift could quite literally change lives, and church its of streams, wepraying could see thousands andtogether ministries, together. That’swon whyfor Jesus. I believe that joint prayer events, like the Greater Manchester Prayer Gathering, where churches come together to pray in unity here in myWith home city, are so new significant. 1,000 £25 supporters we could… The breakthrough doesn’t just come through Employ a newprayer. prisons worker and reach united prayer but also sacrificial thousands more prisoners each year That’s why we are so honoured to be building a night and day prayer house here on our site in Manchester which Manchester House Of Grow our enterprise work Prayer will lead. I honestly believe this could be game changing, not just for our work but for the work of God across this nation. Launch new Eden teams So please read the daily prayer needs of The the Higher Tour to 18 towns Message and liftTake them before God. As you the UK in 2020 pray, you are our across greatest resource. P.S. If you live in the North West we’d love to see you at one of next Greater Manchester God bless ... and see thousands of young people’s lives Prayer gatherings as to cry out for a move of transformed for Christhis Spirit. The next event is taking place on Thursday 27 June at 7:30pm at Audacious Church, Manchester. You don’t want to miss it. Find out all the details at You using the giving form Founder & CEOcan set up your gift by message.org.uk The Message Trust or online at message.org.uk/donate

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