THE AUTUMN EDITION 2012 THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – FAITH IN YOUNG PEOPLE
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'...you will be known as a
rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes'
Isaiah 58:12
Getting down to business
Changing lives and transforming neighbourhoods through the MEC
PLUS: Beautiful baptisms / John Kirkby / Rachel Hickson
THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE
ISSUE 10
Editor:
Alistair Metcalfe
Associate Editor: Ian Rowbottom
Senior Art Director: Dan Hasler
Graphic Design: Bethan Wilson
Contributors:
Andy Hawthorne, Rachel Hickson
Advertising:
E: advertising@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
Subscription & Supporter Enquiries: E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
Contributing Photographers: COVER SHOT James Chapman: www.thepaisley.co.uk INTERNALS Jane Lasonder, Stephen Mark, Gavin Tickle, James Chapman, Dev Lunsford, Dan Hasler Matt Wilson. Flickr 2.0 license (P21) greekadman (P23) Taylor.a THE MESSAGE: Dan Hasler, Ian Rowbottom
Contact:
E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
New Genetik student Helena watches the work in progress inside number 20 Wistaria Road, Gorton. The property is significant as the first project of the new Message Enterprise Centre property development company, creating new jobs and training for ex-offenders. The latest news from the MEC starts on page 10.
flow – The Message Magazine Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG
www.message.org.uk/flow 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.
Page 4-5 Paul Dixie, Urban Hero 2012
Page 8-9 Eden's beautiful baptisms
Page 10-15 Latest news from the MEC
Page 17 Legend: John Kirkby
Page 19 God's love letter: Rachel Hickson
Page 21 Mates on a mission: Andy Hawthorne
The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes. Registered Office: Lancaster House, 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
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Once a month here at The Message we all gather for a day of prayer, worship and inspiration. Over the years these days have been such a lifeline for me. In the early days there were four or five of us and an acoustic guitar; nowadays there will be over a hundred people, a full band and some world-class speakers. In May this year, we had one of our most memorable days yet. To be honest, I was going through the motions a bit – after my wife Michele had had a serious accident in Bangkok, I felt a bit like I’d ‘lost my mojo’. That was all about to change.
For me it really was the word of the Lord, and I felt such faith rise to ‘go again’. Then in the afternoon, Rachel Hickson brought a fantastic love letter from God to The Message. You can read highlights in this edition of Flow (see page 19) but don’t miss out on the full talk (you can download it free on our podcast). As you read this issue of Flow, I hope you too are inspired and encouraged to ‘go again’. What an immense privilege it is to be involved in God’s work, and have a role in seeing wonderful transformation come to the toughest lives in the most difficult communities. Thanks, as always, for the part you play.
During the morning one of our fantastic Genetik students read from 2 Corinthians 4 where Paul writes ‘...since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart,’ and goes on to say ‘…we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned’.
'What an immense privilege it is to be involved in God’s work'
P.S. If you've played any part in our journey over the last two decades, you will not want to miss our 20th Anniversary celebration event on November 17. Tickets are just £5 – but book soon to avoid disappointment. Turn to page 22 for more details.
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
Former drug dealer
PAUL DIXIE is our 2012
Our biggest awards ceremony yet celebrated more powerful stories of gospel transformation Just two years ago, the only reason you'd find Paul Dixie hanging around with young people was because he was trying to sell them drugs. But now, the 24-year-old from Eccles can be found mentoring young people, visiting schools and prisons and volunteering on Eden, sharing his story and his trust in Jesus Christ. And because of his inspirational story of transformation, Paul also picked up the 2012 Urban Hero of the Year trophy at our fifth red carpet awards event this summer. 'Paul's journey from addict to evangelist happened before our eyes at The Message,’ explains Andy Hawthorne. 'We took a risk on him, knowing all about his tough background and his struggles but believing he was sincere in his faith and was committed to living a new life. It totally paid off.' Paul, originally from Birmingham, was born to parents who were both addicted to heroin. His dad left before he turned two and his mum was tragically killed in a house fire, meaning Paul spent much of his childhood in foster
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homes and care. Though he was eventually adopted by a loving family, he resisted their attempts to help and began hanging around with a bad crowd. Paul was a drug addict by his teens, and became a dealer soon after. He looked certain to destroy his life in the same way his parents had destroyed theirs. He amassed a long criminal record and spent time inside young offenders’ institutions. Things briefly changed for the better after he became a father to a little girl called Megan. ’The first time I saw Megan, I was amazed that I could have created something so beautiful,’ remembers Paul. ‘I said to myself, look, this is it. I’m going to be an amazing dad now. Unfortunately that didn’t work out. I remember Megan’s mum asking me if I had any money for nappies. I told her no. But I had £50 in my back pocket. I left to go and score cocaine.’ Several attempts at rehab failed but in a Christian clinic he had an encounter with God which led him to apply for the 2011-12 Genetik course: ‘I said to God, “I want to live for you. Can you help me do that?”’
LEFT: A tearful Paul collects his award from Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of Stagecoach group RIGHT: Paul performs 'I Feel For You' Though his background suggested he would be a big risk, he was accepted onto the course. The content and discipline of Genetik and the tough, hands-on mentoring from people at The Message turned out to be the key to Paul’s restoration. He joined AA and sought out a professional counsellor to work through his past. He trained with Genetik to be a youth worker, working placements in his local community of Eccles and across Manchester. His natural gift at relating his own story has helped many young people meet Jesus for themselves. Paul also got opportunities to develop his phenomenal gifting as a spokenword artist and MC. On the night of the Urban Hero Awards, he performed a moving spoken word piece called ‘I Feel For You’. It contains elements of his own testimony and powerfully articulates the experience of growing up in an unstable household and the temptation of violence, criminality and drug abuse.
Soon after, Paul was presented with the Urban Hero of the Year award by Sir Brian Souter, chairman of Stagecoach Group, with a standing ovation from the 800-strong crowd. His prize of a break at Disneyland Paris for him, his daughter and his adoptive parents left him choking back the tears: ‘I really wasn’t expecting this. It’s just glory to God. This time last year I was just sitting in my flat, depressed, wrapped up in a world of drugs. I really don’t feel I deserve this… all I did was say to God, “I can’t do this on my own.” So God did the rest. Thank you.’
GET YOUR COPY OF THE URBAN NEWS The Manchester Evening News ran a fantastic eight-page supplement to mark the UHAs, telling all the stories and explaining the vision of the Message Enterprise Centre. If you missed it, we’ll send you a free copy. Just drop us a line at: info@message.org.uk or call 0161 946 2300.
Watch Paul Dixie’s ‘I Feel For You’ along with all the nominee videos from this year’s Urban Hero Awards on our website,
www.message.org.uk
Left to Right: Urban Hero Award winners Sid Williams, Mark Collar, Emma Wilkinson, Paul Dixie, Andy Walker and Adam Fountain
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
Billy Gilvear Two minutes with…
Our new Regional Director for Eden Manchester
Tell us about yourself!
How long have you got? Born in Africa, grew up in Scotland. Joined the army aged 16, promoted quickly but left to work in private security looking after lots of different famous people. Hedonism took over and serious drug use eventually took me to the point of suicide. Thank God, Jesus met me and turned my life around. I then trained as a Baptist minister, which I’ve spent several years doing alongside working as an evangelist with Alpha and the Philo Trust.
So what brings you to Manchester?
We were asking God ‘what next?’ and happened to be in Manchester preaching at the end of last year. Meeting Andy again, I realised God is doing something really significant here and I want to be part of it. The opening came for Regional Director for Eden, and here I am.
How can we pray for you?
It’s all about building relationships to start with. Beginning from the military and on through pastoral ministry, I’ve learned that the only way you can achieve anything is if the team are with you. So this is a season of understanding the vision and the people.
Music & mission multiplied
God has blessed our desire to reach young people with a positive message through music with amazing multiplication. We estimate that the total number of people the World Wide Message Tribe performed to worldwide between 1997 and 2007 was around 1 million. In contrast, the number of people LZ7 have performed to this year (2012) alone will exceed 750,000. Twelve24 and MaLoKai's live audiences during the year add tens of thousands more. But we believe this is just the beginning. Over the next five years, we aim to recruit, train and release 25 new bands and theatre companies to do much more mission. In partnership with local churches, we aim to share the gospel with every single school pupil in Greater Manchester. And, together with other partners who share our vision, we aim to launch groundbreaking new ministries in other key cities across the world too. //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 10
It started with a
bus We often talk about ‘building relationships’ on Eden Bus, but this takes things to a whole new level! Meet the new Mr and Mrs MacInnes, who met as volunteers on the Brinnington project. Lisa was the curate of St Luke’s, our partner church, and Iain worked with the local youth service. They were married on September 1. ‘I was surprised to see Iain on Eden Bus the week after funding for his post ran out – and the next week, and the next week after that!’ says Bus Manager Julie Marley. ‘Not too long afterwards, I had a phone call from Lisa telling me that she was engaged and that her fiancé was Iain – well, to be honest, I didn’t see that one coming!’
Prayer Storm:
the BATTLE goes on! The next Prayer Storm gathering takes place on Saturday October 13 at the Lighthouse Church, Eccles. The day will call young people to battle in prayer for their families and schools, and for salvation in their generation. It will feature some incredible testimonies of deliverance and lifestyle change, as Prayer Storm leader James Aladiran explains: ‘When we don’t see God moving in the way or measure we expect, it can be easy to back off from the fight. By inviting people to share their amazing stories, we want to fix our eyes on all the awesome things that God is doing, which will stir us to keep asking for the change we seek.’ The day will be led by James and the Prayer Storm worship team, together with Andy Smith and band. More info at www.prayerstorm.org
LAST YEAR... our Eden teams delivered multiple thousands of hours of youth and community work each month, involving around 200 committed volunteers in the lives of around 2,000 disadvantaged young people and their families. Figures taken from our 2010-11 Annual Report
The Christmas Message 2012
‘Welcome to Manchester: City of teenage pregnancy, angels and the Son of God…’ This December, Andy Hawthorne and In Yer Face Theatre Company will be taking a brand-new show to churches across the north west – the Christmas Message 2012. The show is a contemporary, urban reimagining of the first ever Christmas through hardhitting drama and powerful preaching. ‘Far from being the sanitised school play where kids dress up in white bed sheets and put tea towels on their heads, the nativity story is as raw, relevant and shocking as it was two thousand years ago,’ says writer and director Matt Britton. Don’t miss this great chance for your friends and neighbours to hear the ‘good news of great joy’. Keep an eye on our website for more information: www.message.org.uk
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
Best of all, we got to watch two young lads who we’ve been working with on Eden tell how they have met Jesus and seen him working powerfully in their lives.
e had an amazing Baptism Sunday in July where we celebrated how God is changing lives on the Buttershaw estate. We saw seven people getting baptised at once, which was incredible. Just as exciting was that they were from a whole plethora of backgrounds and different walks of life.
One, Thomas, started coming along to church as a young lad when his mum became a Christian. But it’s fair to say that he was a nightmare – hostile, aggressive and just hard work. On several occasions, we had to remove him from all Eden activities because he was such a liability to others and himself. People had to physically restrain him. He used to get so worked up that once he went over the edge, there was no return.
Their testimonies were fantastic. We had a lady who told us how she used to say ‘You’ll never get me in church!’ and there she was, getting baptised! We had our local pharmacist and his wife who had met Jesus earlier that year and are now part of our church. We had a big Scotsman who has a history of drugs and prison but who now helps out with our youth bands, teaching drums. And we had a refugee from Iran who was raised a Muslim but who came to faith after receiving a dramatic healing.
But since he’s been mentored by one of our Eden team, things have started to change. We got him along to a six-week Y Course which went through the basics of the gospel and explored what it might mean to live for Jesus. Amazingly, he took that step and we prayed for him to receive the Holy Spirit.
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Although he’s not 100% perfect by any stretch, he’s a different young man. His attitude towards life is so much better. He’s calmer, he responds better to problems. God is already using him – he’s discovered that when he prays for people, they get healed. The other lad we saw getting baptised is called Bradley. He started to come along to Trekkers, our after-school club on a Monday night. He too met Jesus on the Y course and is discovering the gifts that God has given him. He’s gentle and approachable and wants to be trained up as a young leader. What’s been beautiful to see is that Bradley is being mentored by Tony Wilkinson, who’s only been a Christian himself for a matter of months. But he’s really come alongside him as a father figure. Both Thomas and Bradley are real stories of perseverance, and reaping the rewards of being willing to go the extra mile. But the most amazing thing is that both have had a real encounter with God. Both have powerful testimonies of heaven invading their lives and that’s totally affected the way they live.
his summer marked 12 years since my wife Liz and I first moved into a terraced house in Openshaw. It was the beginning of a brand new chapter of our lives as we moved from a fairly dodgy part of Leicester to a fairly dodgy part of Manchester… a straight swap in a way, except that God had spoken to us repeatedly about coming to help plant a new church and do lots of youth work. Since then Liz and I have had many ups and downs, struggled with a tough new place to share our faith, and tried to put down roots in the community and church. But this summer we had a landmark day, a reminder of why God sent us here in the first place – to be part not of something easy, nice or suburban, but of something new which he already had in mind. Because that day, we had the privilege of baptising three people who have, since our church began, decided to follow Jesus. Of the three we baptised, Emma (pictured) was a former Youth Club attendee who is now a Christian, working in our charity shop during her university break and volunteering in various different ways. The second was James, a reformed cocaine addict and alcoholic who now follows Jesus. The third was James’ wife Julie. I suggested that James got dunked before his wife, so that he could then help baptise her himself.
Eden was born as dozens of amazing men and women followed Jesus into tough city communities, moving in and It just shows what Jesus can do in ordinary people’s living sacrificially among these broken, lives – that no one who is still alive is beyond Jesus’ vulnerable young people. The results were so help and saving power. Praise God! dramatic – crime came down, lives were rebuilt, churches grew – that others started to hear about it and wanted to join in. If We now have 23 teams delivering transformational work in some of the UK’s toughest city neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester, London, the North East, Yorkshire, Humberside, Merseyside and, soon, Glasgow. Over the next five years, we want to see 80 Eden teams and more reached through a growing network of associates here and around the world.
you are interested in joining the growing Eden team family please email: info@eden-network.org
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
The first MEC business is up and running – a property development division which trains and employs exoffenders in building and maintenance skills. We visited their first project to find out more.
The First Apprentice ason started work as the MEC’s first apprentice on July 9. He got straight into refurbishing a run-down terraced house in Gorton which, once completed, will house three Genetik students and another MEC apprentice. He has been able to put skills learned over 12 years in prison straight to use: painting, decorating, plastering, tiling and more. Like all our future apprentices, Jason is working full time for a fair wage, closely supervised by a business manager who is as committed to his progress as to making a profit. Jason reports to MEC building manager Dominic Mould, who oversees the building business. But what was starting work like for a young man who, apart from a two-week stint in a job aged 18, has never earned a wage before? ‘It’s been amazing coming into work every day and just getting on with the job. I’ve got a purpose. I meet loads of people who spend their time saying, “I can’t wait to finish work”. But to be honest, I love my job.
'I like to see the change – seeing the old run-down things brightened up, being made new. Just like myself.’
Jason - The First M.E.C. Apprentice
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‘I know that God’s got me there for a reason. I like to see the change – seeing the old run-down things brightened up, being made new. Just like myself.’
Houses of Hope The refurbishment of the new Genetik house in Gorton is just the beginning. MEC’s building business is seeking to grow rapidly through maintenance contracts and landscape gardening jobs. To meet the demand, the team took on a second apprentice in September.
THE HOUSEMATE Helena Robinson, 21, is one of the new Genetik students who will be making this refurbished house in Gorton her home. Helena, originally from Chesterfield, is one of 19 new Genetiks who started in September: ‘I’m really looking forward to becoming more confident in sharing the gospel, advancing my walk with God – and having fun!’
Simon Wrigley, manager of the MEC’s property development division, is also looking at how they can develop a number of ‘Houses of Hope’ across the city. They would answer a problem that ex-offenders often face upon release – finding themselves placed in poor-quality hostels with minimal support and lots of opportunity to fall back into destructive patterns. ‘They will be a first port of call for someone coming out of prison, as they find their feet back out in the real world and get into the rhythm of work and being mentored,’ says Simon. ‘The idea is that there will be someone employed nearby to each house to look out for them outside of working hours. From there they’ll go on to more permanent accommodation with support from local churches.’ Please pray with the team that God will open up the right property – perhaps in the Wythenshawe area or somewhere else close to Message HQ.
LAST YEAR... our Genetik students fulfilled a total of 700 volunteer hours each in local communities, prisons and schools. Figures taken from our 2010-11 Annual Report
'HOMES UNDER THE HAMMER' Our transformation of a run-down property in Gorton has even attracted the attention of the media – the BBC came to film Jason, Dom and Simon at work at the property in Wistaria Road in Gorton. The story may be featured in a future episode of ‘Homes under the Hammer’. As part of the refurbishment, the team have offered free hanging baskets and planters to neighbouring houses thanks to a generous gift from Arden Lea nurseries in Preston, an MEC business supporter. ‘We’re in the business of making a difference not just in individuals’ lives, but transforming whole communities,’ says Simon Wrigley.
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
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Update from Fundraising Manager, Stuart Chell In the last issue of Flow we launched an appeal to raise £827,500 for the new Message Enterprise Centre. This money is going to cover the first three years of operating costs, giving us time to build the fledgling enterprises into sustainable, profitable businesses that will eventually become self-funding. The MEC is a bold ambition. For a single organisation to provide work, training, housing and community to the hardest to reach in society is a massive undertaking. But this is for men and women that desperately need Jesus and a second chance. Together, with God’s grace, we can do it. We have been so encouraged by the generous response we have had so far. You can see in the updated graphic how many pledges of each regular amount have already come in. THANK YOU so much if you were one of the many people that chose to stand with us.
PRAY
We need people who are going to regularly pray for the MEC and for the apprentices as they start. Please keep us in your prayers.
Give
Every single gift makes a massive difference to this work – it’s about equal faith, not equal amounts. Please consider supporting the MEC and fill in the form on the right.
Raise funds
If you can do a sponsored challenge, raise money through an event, or promote our work in your local church or house group, please get in touch with STUART CHELL on (0161) 946 2327 or stuart.chell@message.org.uk
Call:
0161 946 2300
It means we still need to find £417,500 for start-up and operating costs. Can you help us in one of the following ways?
to make a donation towards the MEC today www.message.org.uk/flow ////
Introducing Damian Barker – our new MEC Café Manager
The next business out of the blocks will be our MEC's on-site Café, opening in November. New Café Manager Damian – who's been with The Message since the earliest days – tells us more. : Damian, you’re a new member of staff but you’ve been with The Message since the beginning haven’t you? Yes, and bizarrely I started out helping with the catering! My Mum was asked to do the green room catering for the first ever Message event in 1988 and she dragged me along. I was only about 15 I think. But I’ve been passionate about what The Message does ever since. You’re bringing a real wealth of expertise in catering management to the role… can you tell us about that?
I’ve been in catering since the age of 13, starting right at the bottom as a kitchen porter and working my way up, through fine dining, restaurant management and into contract catering. At the moment I’m in charge of all the residential catering at the University of Manchester – 10 restaurants, 87 staff and a big budget. So what made you apply for this job?
Two main things. I’ve always made a priority of developing people hands-on and helping them to reach their potential. I’ll never forget what it was like starting out in a kitchen and
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working my way up from the bottom and I’ll always be grateful to the people who helped me along the way. The other thing is simply – God! Over a year ago, I walked around the MEC site on an Open Day. Frank Green was sharing about who it would touch and reach, and some of the business ideas they were discussing. As he talked about the café, all I can say is that I felt a shiver from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head. I immediately knew I should be involved. So what did you do?
To be honest, I totally dismissed it! My current job is a senior management post, well paid and I wasn’t looking for a career change. But God kept putting it back on the agenda in various ways, although we didn’t tell anyone what we were thinking about. Then one morning at church, God just spoke. We were showing the promo DVD for the MEC and afterwards, someone stood up and said, ‘Damian, God wants me to say this to you – you need to go to Sharston.’ So then my wife Ruth and I started talking seriously about what it could look like. What things about the job are you looking forward to most?
Definitely getting to know my first team. Our plan is to have apprentices working right from the start and I’m looking forward to meeting them, learning about their experiences and helping them get excited about what they’re a part of here.
MEC IN PROGRESS
THE LAST OF THE ROOFING PANELS GOING INTO PLACE. WE'RE NEARLY WATERTIGHT AND WORKING IN THE DRY... AT LAST!
Volunteer with our Café We need a small team of committed volunteers to help us staff the Café as it gets off the ground. Ideally you’ll be able to offer a couple of lunchtimes per week, or be willing to join a relief list to help on an ad hoc ‘emergency’ basis.
WOODEN BATONS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN PREPARATION FOR THE BRIGHT RED CLADDING THAT WILL COVER THE BUILDING
How? Email Damian Barker at: damian.barker@message.org.uk
Donate essential items NOW THE ROOF IS COMPLETE WORK CAN BEGIN INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE BUILDERS HAVE BEEN PREPPING THE FLOOR
We’re looking for donations of light catering equipment and supplies for the Café – catering-grade chopping boards, kitchen utensils, etc. We also need professional salon equipment for our Hair and Beauty business – including chairs, hairdryers, etc. In both cases, these could be either new goods or a donation towards purchasing them. How? Email info@message.org.uk
Mentor an apprentice
THE BRICKWORK AT THE FRONT IS NEARING COMPLETION. THE GLASS FRONT OF THE CAFE IS NEXT TO BE INSTALLED
Matty Hawthorne is coordinating a team of mentors to support our apprentices outside of work time, helping them to settle into churches and establish a healthy lifestyle. You’ll need to be able to offer at least a couple of hours a week – possibly much more. How? Email Matty at: matty.hawthorne@message.org.uk
Grab a paintbrush The inside of the new MEC building needs painting from top to bottom before we open to the public. We’re planning a couple of work days over weekends in November (dates TBC but probably 10/11 and 17/18 November). If you’re handy with a paintbrush, come and join in! How? Email info@message.org.uk to register your interest.
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
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John Kirkby Founder & International Director, Christians Against Poverty
John founded CAP 16 years ago in response to the problem of personal debt in his home city of Bradford. Today it is an international ministry with offices in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. JOHN, What’s the latest from CAP?
Here in the UK we’ve got 205 debt centres, with 450 workers helping people with their debt problems. At the moment, we’re seeing a family every 23 minutes, and on average five people are finding Christ through our work every day. We’ve also got a money education programme called CAP Money which is now the largest provider of adult financial education in the UK with 4,000 money coaches seeing around 20,000 people a month. Wow! What do you put that down to?
Anything good in CAP is because of Jesus Christ. It’s his. But he has given us a big vision. I’m expecting to see society change significantly in my lifetime. We need it. One in four of the families we work with have got no food before they come to us. A third of our clients have considered suicide. 67% are on medication for depression. We need to change it! So what’s next?
We’re aiming for 500 CAP centres in the UK with 2,500 education centres. And there’s more to come. We’re beginning to embrace other social needs in the UK, empowering the local church to serve the very poor and marginalised in more ways that change their lives for good and lead them to the love of Jesus Christ.
You often talk about CAP’s culture. What makes it special?
Culture is either by design or default. At CAP, we decided ours would be by design – we weren’t willing to leave it to chance. So it’s always on our agenda. We really care about people, we keep Jesus the focus, we love helping the poor and seeing people saved. And having fun! We won the Times ‘Best Small Company to Work For’ award two years running which shows God’s way is very effective. How do you personally stay hot for serving God among the poor?
For me the most important thing is to stay connected to the recipients of what we do – I still work as a debt coach as well as being international director. Every year, I make sure I personally engage with new clients. If you want to stay hot for working with the poor, you’ve got to spend time with the poor. Who do you look up to as your heroes?
Going right back, it’s Joshua and Nehemiah. Those pages in my Bible are well worn! More recently, when I look at what William and Catherine Booth birthed in the 19th Century, I’m left utterly stunned. And I’ve always been amazed by Andy and The Message – your radical nature, your unapologetic Christian faith, your heart to see people know Christ. I’m inspired by anyone who ‘keeps the main thing the main thing’ – helping people find Christ, serving the church, relieving poverty. Listen to John Kirkby’s outstanding message to our staff prayers in September on our FREE Message podcast. Download on iTunes (search for ‘Message podcast’) or visit
www.message.org.uk/media.
FIND OUT MORE about CAP’s life-changing work at:
www.capuk.org
www.message.org.uk/flow ////
Fighting Trafficking has helped Eden Bow connect with difficult young people ON THE ESTATE den Bow team leader Alex Hall (above) has been discovering a great way to engage challenging young people – give them a big challenge to deal with. Since 2011, she’s been teaching a ‘COPE’ alternative education course for Year Ten pupils at the local St Paul’s Way School, which sits in the shadows of the tower blocks of the Lincoln Estate – the multi-cultural community where Eden Bow makes its home. All were struggling to stay in mainstream education – most were expected to leave without any GCSEs at all. But when she started talking about the worldwide problem of human trafficking, she really got their attention. ‘The kids I teach are difficult kids, with seriously challenging behaviour issues,’ says Alex. ‘Presenting them with the issue of human slavery and sex trafficking in one of our modules really helped them start to connect.’ When, during their first session together, Alex shared how slavery still goes on today, only one young person was prepared to believe her. They were then shocked to discover as many as 27 million people are kept against their will, and only 1% ever get rescued. She was able to explain that this was a serious issue in London, including in their own local area.
ALL ABOUT BOW E3 home of Grime music popularised by local boy, Dizzee Rascal
historically a place of great need with extreme levels (57%) of child poverty Mahatma Gandhi lived in the area for three months back in 1931
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The change in Alex’s class of 10 really impressed school staff, including the head teacher. Students that were serial truants began regularly turning up for her lessons which meant they also attended other lessons in school that day too. ‘Our most problematic boy gave one of the best responses. He had nearly been removed from school altogether because he seemed to respond badly to everything. But during the lessons, it really hit home – what if it was his sister being taken and abused? He wanted to fight it and make a difference. When we set up a small social enterprise, he stepped up as project manager.’ Alex got some valuable support from LZ7 and the A21 Campaign. As well as taking advantage of high quality videos produced by A21, Beth Redman personally delivered a pilot schools curriculum at St Paul’s Way School, using the feedback to develop the material for wider use. The cause has now spread right across the whole school. Every year group has now been involved in learning about slavery either in sex trafficking or through exploitation in the chocolate or clothing trades. The issue has been tackled through assemblies and lessons which also touch on issues of self-worth and treating people as commodities. The issue has also become a theme of Eden’s wider work in Bow, explains Alex: ‘We want to give girls in the area the tools to be safe, so they won’t put themselves at risk. We have care homes with some very vulnerable young people nearby and the threat of sexual exploitation is massive in our area – it’s a real concern. ‘With guys too, we are able to address the fundamental fact that sex trafficking only exists because the demand is there for it. We’re able to emphasise that real men don’t buy girls.’
CARRY THE MESSAGE
is for Miracles. God says you have been through a journey of miracles and it's not about to stop. Get ready for extraordinary financial miracles. You’ve seen 20 years of risks and miracles, but don't settle. Have the guts to keep stretching. Keep the pioneer spirit, keep asking for more. Carry the message that the Miracle Worker is still alive and well. Is for Everlasting Legacy. The Message isn't going to be ‘here today, gone tomorrow’. Like Wilberforce, you're in for the long haul and the long legacy. You are going to reverse the curse of the decline of influence of the church in neighbourhoods. God is giving you acorns that will grow oak trees that last a long time. I’m putting seed in your hands to sow. Watch it grow, but it will take time. is for Service. God has given you a heart of service for your city. So as you choose to serve God, God will give you more. As you choose to step down into the lowly places, God will lift you up and give you significance. Don't fight the promotion of God. But take the lowest place and let him move you up.
Rachel Hickson shared this with our team at Prayer Day in May... n February 14 this year, God woke me up at 3am with a message. I didn’t know who it was for, but I wrote it down and filed it away. Two days later I received an invitation to come and speak here, and suddenly it was obvious! It was for you, The Message Trust. Jesus has something to say to you today. On Valentine's Day, Jesus said ‘I’ve got a love message for The Message.’ Here it is:
You can hear the whole of this powerful message on the Message podcast. Download via iTunes (search ‘Message Podcast’) or listen at
www.message.org.uk/media
is for Sounds. You carry a message of many sounds, but not a mixed message. It is a sound of hope that penetrates schools, prisons. Continue to play the new sound for the broken. You will find your voice of influence in the government. Your sound will be like the breath over the dry bones. Like a prince who kisses a sleeping beauty who looks like she is dead, God is putting breath in your mouth to revive a sleeping city. is for Action. Continue to show random acts of kindness. The language of touch and being with people, not just talking to people, is your key to their hearts for breakthrough. Continue giving the language of generosity, with money, provisions and time. In the next 20 years you will walk into the most extraordinary time where the community will become your cheerleaders. Is for God. You must never be ashamed of the ‘God factor’ in all you do. More and more, God will help you put him in the middle of the message you carry. More and more, our institutions are trying to shut God out. But every individual is asking to have Jesus in. God will give you divine encounters with individuals who will bypass the institutions. is for Ever-changing Creativity. Though you carry an everlasting message, it will be a message that constantly adapts in expression, but never in content. God will continue to put an incredible creativity on this house that will always keep you on the cutting edge. God will make a pathway and every team member is needed to complete the message that ‘Jesus works’, any time, any place, anywhere for anyone.
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MATES ON A MISSION 01 PASSION 02 LOCAL CHURCH 03 COMMUNITY 04 INNOVATION Andy Hawthorne on the third of our core values: Community ou’ve got to be careful when you talk about Christian community – it can so easily become cuddly, under-the-bowl and selfcentred. It can be ‘all about me’: about getting my needs met and my hang-ups sorted out. In short, it can become an end in itself. That’s not the kind of community Jesus built and it’s not the kind of community we’re going for at The Message. Jesus chose to work out his ministry with a bunch of friends. He could so easily have done it himself – as if Jesus needed a bunch of jokers like those guys! But he chose to work with and through a bunch of friends. He still does. I want us to be a community of mates determined that we’re going to change the world in this generation.
Billy and his mates
In the generation after the war, the ministry that proudly won more people for Jesus that any other was the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Except that it wasn’t just Billy Graham, it was Billy Graham and his mates. When they first came over in 1954, this team of young, flash Americans, all the press were suspicious. But it was a real move of God – thousands came to Christ and Bible colleges were inundated with Spirit-filled men and women. The worship leader at the London crusades was called Cliff Barrows. He was probably as good an evangelist as Billy himself, but he chose to take the back seat and led the worship. Before Billy got up, there was a young man called George Beverly Shea. George would get up and sing a song while Billy stilled his heart. Behind the scenes were T.W. and Grady Wilson, doing the PA and the lights and sorting out the logistics of these massive events. When Billy did his last ever missions – an old man by this time, still hot for God – guess who the worship leader was? Cliff Barrows. Guess who got up to sing and still Billy’s heart before he spoke to the vast crowd? George Beverly Shea. Guess who was behind the scenes, still helping with the PA and the lights? You guessed it: the Wilson brothers. Right through their lives they stuck together as a community. I’m sure they had arguments and disagreements, but they were in it together. And look at the fruit.
Journeying together
In our generation, the movement which has probably touched more lives for Jesus than any other is Alpha. There are two million people who have done Alpha in the UK. Where did it come from? A bunch of mates. Nicky Gumbel, Ken Costa, Nicky Lee, Sandy Miller – a bunch of friends who have journeyed together, through thick and thin. So what about you? Who are the mates you are on a mission with? You’ve got your 72, probably – your church. But I want to ask you, who are your 12? Have you got a 12 who you meet with and pray with? And you also need a 3, the ones you can be really accountable to. The ones who, when they say ‘You did a great job’, you know they mean it. When they pull you up, you know it’s because they want the best out of you. You can take correction from them in the right spirit because you know they love you. A bunch of mates who think the best of each other, can pick one another up, can build each other up. Friends of Jesus, and friends of each other. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
'I want us to be a community of mates determined that we’re going to change the world in this generation.'
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ell
Ged Tyrr
Tell us about yourself! I’m Ged, managing director of Tyrrell Systems. Together with a small group of friends, I also run TankCoffee, a gourmet coffee roaster which sells ethical coffee to businesses and internet customers (www.tankcoffee.com). Why coffee? I saw a film called Black Gold. I was incredibly moved by how coffee farmers are exploited by the coffee market system. It’s just unjust. So we set up Tank Coffee, dealing directly with African farmers to give them a fair price. That’s a serious response! Charity isn’t enough. God has given us work for a reason. Think of the Old Testament where farmers were told to leave crops in the field for the poor to come and glean. But they still had to work for it – work was built into the system. So we need a way to make work pay fairly.
Helen Lidbetter
Well done to Helen Lidbetter (pictured above) who ran the London Marathon earlier this year and raise a fantastic £1,200 for The Message. If you'd like to follow in Helen's footsteps, find out more at www.message.org.uk/sponsoredevents
LAST YEAR... Last year, our bands and theatre company fulfilled over 50 schools weeks and courses in prisons. These put us in contact with an estimated 40,000 young people, at least 6,000 of whom made a positive response to the gospel. Figures taken from our 2010-11 Annual Report
Why do you support The Message? I love it that you don’t just preach the gospel, you show it works. The proof of the pudding is in the eating – if Greater Manchester Police will give support to The Message, it’s because crime figures are coming down. Anyone can relate to that. RIGHT: Coffee roasting in action BELOW: African farmers supported by TankCoffee
The biggest night of our year
don’t miss your chance to be there
How do you celebrate 20 years of God changing lives and transforming communities? Like this… On November 17, we’re bringing together Message friends past and present at Audacious Church, Manchester to thank God for all he’s done so far and get excited about all that’s still to come. Joining Andy Hawthorne on stage will be Matt Redman and band, LZ7, Twelve24 and In Yer Face, plus special guests including former Tribe vocalist Deronda Lewis. Tickets are just £5 but demand is so high you need to get yours today. We do not expect tickets to be on sale at the door.
Order yours NOW at www.message.org.uk
The Direct Debit Guarantee
• This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Message Trust will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Message Trust to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by The Message Trust or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society – If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Message Trust asks you to •You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. This guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer
A SPECIAL ONE-OFF EVENT
17th NOVEMBER 2012
FEATURING:
ANDY HAWTHORNE,MATT REDMAN & BAND, DERONDA LEWIS (World Wide Message Tribe), LZ7, TWELVE24 and much more
20 MESSAGE GET THE D FOR FREE C BOOK & U SIGN UP O Y N E H W GULAR FOR A RE DONATION LY H 0 MONT 1 946 230 CALL: 016
VENUE: AUDACIOUS CHURCH MANCHESTER. DOORS:7PM FOR EVENT INFORMATION AND TICKETS GO TO:
www.message.org.uk/20years
hop
k/s sage.org.u www.mes