Flow Magazine – Issue 11 by The Message Trust

THE MAGAZINE OF THE M ESSA GE | IS

SUE II WEB EDITION

MESSAGE20 FULL COVERAGE ANDY HAWTHORNE: INNOVATION PROXIMITY2013 PREVIEW

Open for Business

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: HELP OUR ENTERPRISE CENTRE BUSINESSES TURN LIVES AROUND AS THEY TURN A PROFIT

EDITOR: Alistair Metcalfe ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Ian Rowbottom SENIOR ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN: Dan Hasler – Message:Creative CONTRIBUTORS: Andy Hawthorne, Anthony Delaney ADVERTISING: E: advertising@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300 SUBSCRIPTION & SUPPORTER ENQUIRIES: E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300

MEC staff preparing to welcome customers to the newly opened MEC businesses, Mess Café and Shine Hair & Beauty. Managers Abi Guttridge and Damian Barker (far left and right) are joined by apprentices Martin Lake and Amy Harrison. The MEC is now open for business and we’d love to you come down and tell your friends – turn to page 12 for more.

GIVING:

E: giving@message.org.uk T: Lauren Mangold 0161 946

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: COVER SHOT Lucy West: www.lucywestimages.co.uk INTERNALS James Chapman: www.thepaisley.co.uk Message 20 – Paul Watson FLICKR 2.0 LICENSE P14: Liverbird nikoretr TWELVE24Tiffany Lively Baptism – melodi2 (sxc.hu) P21 cc-x-ray delta one THE MESSAGE: CONTACT:

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

flow – The Message Magazine Lancaster House Lancaster Campus Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG www.message.org.uk/flow

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MINI UPDATES

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od is up to so much at the moment in and through The Message. Here are just a few of the stories we ran out of room for in this issue. Check out the website for the full articles

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Twelve24 are now in such high demand

PAGE 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

12-13 MEC –

We’re Open!

PAGE Mini Updates: All the news we didn't have space for.

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PAGE Your Bucket List

that the band is booked solid until the end of this

WHAT A NIGHT

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school year. If you want to check out how young people are responding to their gospel message, check out the band's Twitter feed @Twelve24.

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PAGE God’s New Thing: Anthony Delaney

Andy on the fourth and final of our core values: Innovation ur touchstone scripture, Isaiah 43:19, begins ‘See, I am doing a new thing!’ God didn’t just bring that scripture to Isaiah 640 years before Christ. He brought it to Andy Hawthorne, too, about 1987 years after Christ. And he says it to you today. The Lord is constantly saying, ‘See, I’m doing

revival and inspiration. From the fires of Jerusalem, the church had gone cold. So the Reformation took place, an

amazing time in church history when innovators dragged the church kicking and screaming back to where it needed to be. Their motto was ‘semper reformanda’, ‘always to be reformed’ – in other words, holding to scripture truth but always

looking to creatively interpret it in language people could understand. Of course, one by one, the reformers got burned at the stake. So 400 years later, lots of the church is still using their prayer book. Somewhere in heaven,

of Jesus – from uniforms to brass bands to ladies riding backwards on horses in night-dresses! – said, ‘Beginning as I did,

It’s a challenge for all of us. We can all

we unhesitatingly threw overboard and adopted something else!’ Like Booth, we need to be a movement that tries lots of things, and which is unembarrassed when some of them fail. Look at Steve Jobs, hailed as one of the most visionary innovators of our times – he failed plenty of times before he hit on the iMac, the iPod and the rest. The world has yet to see the new sounds that are going to come out of this place. The new visions. The new income

0161 946 2304

getting stuck in a rut. Four hundred years ago roughly, religion and institution had replaced

Cranmer is holding his head in his hands, crying, ‘Duh! Don’t you realise that book wasn’t meant to be for 400 years!?’

direction of the Holy Spirit... we tried various methods and those that did not work

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EDEN IS EXPLODING

Four new Edens are set to go live this spring including our first project in Liverpool. Doors are also swinging open in the Midlands and Glasgow – and we’re talking with possible partners in the US and Australia too.

change to the Genetik course (on the back page). It’s more than just a new name. We’re revamping and rewriting the course from Sept 2013 onwards, with even more great bible teaching, guest speakers and loads of hands-on placements with our projects and teams across the city. If you know someone who is aged 18-25 and they're looking for a year out with a difference, then tell them to join ‘The Message Academy’.

A STORM IS BREWING

The next Prayer Storm gathering takes place on Friday 3 and Saturday 4

streams. The new initiatives. He’s going to show us ways to bless the poor and preach the gospel that we haven’t even dreamt up yet.

and the latest info.

ANYTHING GOES

easily get stuck in the past. So how far can we go in trying something new? I believe that when we’re rooted in our other three values – passion for the lost, rooted in the local church, working it out in accountable community – anything goes. We can try anything. So you’ll find us in the prayer room praying for Twelve24, MaLoKai and others: ‘Give them a new sound – a sound that grabs the attention of young people. Something they’ve never heard before.

GOD’S NEW THING

‘ALWAYS REFORMING’

Unfortunately the church has a habit of

The founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, who famously would try anything to reach people with the gospel

with a clean sheet of paper, wedded to no plan... willing to take a leaf out of anybody’s book... and above all, to obey the

We’ve got 70 Manchester 10k places but they’re filling up fast. Fancy running Manchester’s premier road race on May 26? Contact Lauren on

TEACHING

IDEAS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

creator God who is still creating today. God has unlimited ideas to pour into the hearts of those willing to seek him.

In the 2007 film, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman set off on a road trip to complete a list of things they want to do before they die – their ‘Bucket List’. Everybody’s got something they’ve always dreamt of doing – so why not make 2013 the year you finally do yours, and use the opportunity to raise money for The Message?

25 TEACHING

a new thing – don’t you see it?’ God has not run out of ideas to see the Great Commission fulfilled. He is a

PAGE Innovation: Andy Hawthorne

SOWING IN TEARS

ACADEMY, APPLY NOW!

You may have noticed our subtle

May 2013. Keep an eye on prayerstorm.org for venue details

SPONSORED EVENTS

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.

3 Reflex worker Jo Hirst is seeing wonderful new things happening in Hindley prison, the answer to many prayers sown in tears over the last year: ‘Recently we have had several baptisms and young people accepting Christ and really growing in their faith…’.

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WILLING TO TRY AND FAIL

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

BAND IN DEMAND

FOOTBALL TO FAITH

What happens when you take a team of lads to play football in Norway? ‘Victory did not always come on the football pitch but it certainly did in the lives of the lads that came along…’ says Lawrence from the Eden Openshaw team.

wenty years ago, while I was a police officer here in Manchester, I

the world

met Jesus and became a Christian. I suddenly became really concerned to see the young people in my neighbourhood

Local church pastor Anthony Delaney on why he’s backing The Message

has yet to see the new

starting to come to know Jesus like I had. But I knew if that was ever going to happen, God had to do something new.

sounds that are going to

young people that the local churches just weren’t reaching, so I said to them, ‘Could you send a team into my local school and do

there’s this amazing transformation. It’s a picture of the real transformation that The Message’s teams are seeing every

something like that?’ I was amazed when a guy called Mark turned up – and he said he was the

week in our young offenders’ institutions – young people are meeting Jesus in unprecedented numbers. But as they’re

come out of this place

team! I walked him to the library where there were about 20 kids. He got out a big beatbox, pressed play and sang and

coming out of prison, they’re needing hope, they’re needing help, they’re needing training, they’re needing homes.

danced. That Friday, his friends turned up and I heard Andy Hawthorne preach the most passionate sermon that I think

The MEC is there to give them exactly these things, rescuing them from a death loop of repeat offending that keeps them

the new visions. the new

I’d ever heard up until that point. Kids responded like I’d never seen before. It’s all about God’s new thing. At

without hope. As a local church leader it just makes sense for me to get involved

Message HQ you’ll see two big banners with their touchstone verse from Isaiah: ‘See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs

with The Message and to partner with them to do whatever we can together to reach out and make a difference

income streams the new

up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’

in Greater Manchester and across the nation. Now God’s challenging them to do a

God’s new thing is what this groundbreaking youth charity has always been about. Through the World Wide

new thing and as part of that, I’m feeling that challenge myself. So we’ve stepped up our personal giving as a family and as a

initiatives

Message Tribe, Message 2000, Eden and many more initiatives, The Message has blazed a trail in words and actions that’s

church. For The Message team to be able to finish the MEC with excellence and get the first six businesses up and running, it’s

led to churches capturing a new vision for their communities. God’s next ‘new thing’ is the Message

going to take about £300,000. The only way we can do it is one person stepping up their giving at a

Enterprise Centre. Just a year ago, the MEC was a derelict building and yet now

time – and that’s my challenge to you. If you’re a first-time giver, please give big. If you’ve given before, please give

It was about this time that I first heard of The Message. I watched them fill the Apollo Theatre with the kinds of

Give James fresh creativity as he tries to mobilise a movement – a spark that will set people on fire for prayer. ‘For the prison teams, the MEC, Eden, In Yer Face – give them the kind of innovation that will change everything.

Andy’s four short talks on our core values: Passion, Church, Community and Innovation are available on audio CD, FREE to any supporter upon request – call Jo Nicholson on 0161 946 2328 for yours. You can also download via iTunes (search ‘Message Podcast’) or listen on our website: www.message.org.uk/media

The kinds of ideas that will change the world.’

www.message.org.uk/flow

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more. Let’s get involved and support The Message together to see God’s new thing.

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Anthony Delaney is the Team Leader at Ivy Manchester www.ivymanchester.com

ANDY’S RANT

As I write this, I can honestly say that I’ve still not quite got over the excitement of our 20 Year Celebration Event at the end of November. I am usually my own worst critic of our events – I tend to go over and over in my head every little detail and every last thing I’ve said, often wishing we could have done things better. But after this one, I felt a real sense of contentment – I’m not really sure how it could have been much better! As you will see from this edition of Flow, there was a quality and quantity to the testimonies that we’ve perhaps not seen before. In the week following the event, I felt God speak to me clearly through the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. I think it’s true to say that we are not a ‘five talent’ ministry (I wish we were!) but maybe at this stage we could be described as a ‘two talent’ ministry. I believe that while we clearly haven’t been perfect, we have added to what he’s given us. And the good news is that to these people, the Lord says, ‘Well done good and faithful servant, now I will put you in charge of many things... now I will put you in charge of many things.’ As we launch the Enterprise Centre with its many businesses discipling young men and women, and as we see many new Eden teams launched and creative outreach teams released, it does feel like we are entering an amazing exciting season of multiplication. Please keep standing with us as we believe that, in his strength, we might soon be touching the lives of millions. Thank you so much for the part you are going to play in that great adventure.

Andy on stage at The Message 20 event. We filmed the whole event for broadcast on God TV soon – schedule available at www.god.tv

PS: You’ve probably noticed that we’ve given Flow a fresh new look starting with this issue – we hope you like it! It’s all part of a refresh of our logo and visual identity designed to keep us looking relevant to young people, supporters like you and the wider public.

www.message.org.uk/flow

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‘WELCOME IN EED TO E MESD SAGE TRUST 20TTH H BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIO N… ARE YOU UP F OR THIS?’ ANDY HAW TH

ORNE

UR 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION NIGHT AT AUDACIOUS CHURCH, MANCHESTER WAS AN EXPLOSION OF POWERFUL TESTIMONIES AND PERFORMANCES THAT GAVE GLORY TO GOD AND CULMINATED IN A SHOUT OF PRAISE THAT NEARLY RAISED THE ROOF. WELL OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE JOINED THE PARTY. IF YOU COULDN’T BE THERE, THIS IS WHAT YOU MISSED… www.message.org.uk/flow

CONT...

‘IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE BEAT IS AS LONG AS JESUS IS BEING PREACHED. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S THUMPING OR IF IT’S GOSPEL OR WHATEVER IT IS, AS LONG AS KIDS ARE BEING SET FREE.’

‘IT’S A SHORT LIFE. DERONDA K LEWIS WE’VE GOT TO MAKE IT COUNT FOR GOD.’ LIVES CHANGED

Georgia Houghton went to Tribe gigs in Manchester, found Jesus and enrolled on the Genetik course two years ago. She’s now working with Emma on a new schools outreach project called Respect Me talking about sex and relationships from a Christian perspective.

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who joined Emma on stage, became a Christian 13 years ago after the Tribe came into her school. Her new relationship with Jesus started a chain reaction of change in her life: got a degree, got a career, a great role model to her family and friends. She’s also now working with young people in her church in Bolton: ‘At a summer camp this year, we took 70 kids away with us. God showed up in a big way and all of them became Christians that night.’

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heard the Tribe at a gig in Southend and wrote regularly to Emma for advice and encouragement in her new faith. Because of the difference it had made in her life, she became an evangelist to girls with a ministry of her own.

Jenny Brown,

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Meg Howard

After the monster youth missions of 1988 and 89, Mark Pennells came up with the idea of Message to Schools in 1990. From this work sprung The World Wide Message Tribe, which, through line-up changes and a succession of best-selling albums, would go on to perform to well over a million people worldwide. The most surprising part of the line-up – including to him – was Andy Hawthorne, who in his own words possessed ‘no musical talent whatsoever… It must have been the Holy Spirit that convinced you that it sounded good – because it didn’t!’ Thankfully, things improved: ‘After I left, it got quite good,’ said Andy on the night before introducing perhaps the Tribe’s most distinctive vocalist, Deronda K Lewis.

APOLLO TO THE TRIBE

BY THE TRIBE

Former Tribe member Emma Owen shared three of her favourite stories of young people who became Christians through the Tribe, and who are now on the frontline of gospel ministry in different ways.

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‘WHAT’S REALLY EXCITING IS THAT SAME PASSION, THAT VISION FLOWS THROUGH THE VEINS OF EVERYBODY WHO’S PART OF THE MESSAGE TODAY. EXPECT GREAT THINGS!’ EMMA OWEN

FOR HIS GLORY The night was all about giving glory to God but it was also a tribute to the ‘unsung heroes’, the people who have poured their lives into The Message, giving generously, volunteering to make events work and praying for doors to open.

‘SEE, I’M DOING A NEW THING…’ The Tribe were a new thing – radical, creative evangelists who were passionate for a city. Isaiah 43:19, which had been our touchstone verse since the beginning, also became the hallmark of the way we work. ‘We blaze a trail, we pioneer things so other people can move into their calling,’ said Andy. Message 2000, 2K1, and Festival:Manchester saw an explosion of gospel proclamation in word and action across Manchester. Thousands of hours of community projects went hand in hand with bold gospel proclamation from the city’s biggest stages. ‘We weren’t the most gifted, we weren’t the most resourced but man, we had a heart,’ said Andy. ‘The Lord supported us tremendously, and as a result thousands of people came to Christ. I meet them wherever I go.’ Nineteen-year-old Lewis Wilkins was one. He met God during Message 2000 and was never the same again. He is now a key part of Audacious Church which hosted the event and was helping backstage on the night. JES SC

K–

‘NEVER FORGET THE POOREST’ The Message is uniquely called to the urban poor, both here and abroad. In the build-up to Message 2000 and in response to a direct prophetic word ‘never to forget the poorest of the poor’, Andy visited Compassion’s work in Haiti which has led to our seeing hundreds of children sponsored through education, building schools and supporting women in prison there. The Message tithes its income to causes mainly supporting the poorest of the poor. Former members of our girl band Blush – Lucy, Nic, Holly and Jess – came to sing ‘Not Alone’ which members of the band wrote after a moving visit to Haiti with Andy.

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GIVING IT AWAY

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‘WE LIVE IN AMAZING SPECIAL DAYS, WHERE IF WE’LL PRAY AND IF WE’LL BE CREDIBLE AND REAL AND PRESENT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH RELEVANTLY, SCHOOLS ARE WIDE OPEN TO US.’

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One young person who saw The Tribe and Blush perform around that time was a young Christina Otoo-Anakwa: ‘I was there at Festival:Manchester in 2003… I was blown away by their passion. I remember standing there just looking up, going, “Lord, I would love to do what they do.”’ Genetik (previously Xcelerate) and now The Message Academy was born for exactly that reason – to harness the gifting and passion of a new generation of gifted evangelists. Having completed Genetik herself, Christina is now Team Leader of Twelve24, working in schools with the target of visiting every single school across Greater Manchester over the next five years. ‘We get to share the gospel with all these young people and we’re seeing loads respond – it’s amazing.’ www.message.org.uk/flow

‘THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO – WE WANT TO SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CHANGED WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS.’

CONT...

LINDZ WEST

MULTIPLICATION! CAN’T KEEP IT TO OURSELVES The night was full of stories about how the last twenty years has also been about passing on the baton of mission to more and more young people. Lindz introduced Danielle who the band met when LZ7 came into her school in St Anne’s. ‘My life was a mess,’ Danielle said. ‘I was being bullied and because of that, I wasn’t a nice person at home or to my friends. LZ7 came in and at the gig, they spoke about forgiveness. For me that was huge. It was the beginning of a new start for me.’ The change didn’t stop there: ‘It’s not cool to keep something so good to yourself. I wanted to talk about God, say this is who I am now. So I set up a CU… I got a bit of stick for it, but the first year we saw eight kids come to know Jesus which was absolutely incredible.’

BETH

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‘THEY’VE NEVER LOST THEIR VISION

OR THEIR FOCUS, NEVER GOT PUFFED UP, STILL FAITHFUL… IT CHANGED MY LIFE TO BE A PART OF IT.’ BETH REDMAN

– 21:36

It’s been thrilling to see how God has used The Message to multiply mission across the UK and the world through our bands and Genetik. Another Tribe member who has gone on to establish a global platform with LZ7 is Lindz West. Since scoring a UK chart hit with ‘This Little Light’, LZ7 have been in enormous demand around the world. A recent 50-date tour saw the band performing to over 750,000 people and a massive 12,000 young people giving their lives to Jesus. The band, now under their own Message partner charity called Light, are taking the DNA of The Message to new places but are still committed to local schools. In the week running up to the celebration, a schools tour in Reading saw 250 people starting journeys with Jesus: ‘We’re about breaking stereotypes, getting into young people’s faces and saying, “You know what? There’s a God up there who thinks you’re that awesome that he sent his Son to die on a cross in your place. That’s the meaning of love,"' said Lindz. To loud cheers from the audience, the band’s performance of This Little Light burst into The Real Thing, featuring a special guest performance by Cameron Dante.

MANCHESTER TO THE WORLD

Another former Tribe member who God has used powerfully since leaving Manchester is Beth Redman, who shared how she came to be involved in the early days of the World Wide Message Tribe. ‘When I was 19, I heard about this organisation that were doing schools work and evangelism and I auditioned… I couldn’t believe we got a small wage to do what was our passion. Then I rocked up a few years later and there’s nearly 100 employees, thousands of school kids have become Christians.’ Beth was joined on stage by husband Matt plus Lindz and Lucy West to perform 27 Million, the chart single they released to raise awareness of human trafficking based on a true story of a young girl sold by a family member, trafficked to Greece and later freed from prostitution.

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MESS GES FR M FRIEN S R& HO

Congratulations to The Message Trust – you’ve been around for a long time now doing good work for the Kingdom. Keep on keeping on, doing the good things that God has called you to do in urban settings across the United Kingdom.

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I’m really proud of the fact that The Message Trust is based in my constituency. I’ve seen the difference that they’ve made over many years at local level and also when I was the Prisons Minister saw the difference they made for many young people in prison. The Message makes faith come alive and brings hope to the lives of people, particularly to people who’ve had a hard time and have been on the edge of society. So I congratulate them on all they’ve done and well done on twenty years.

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‘The Message Trust is a revival movement,’ said Andy. ‘Were going to keep going and we are going to see revival in our lifetime. Revival doesn’t just mean full churches; what it means is people transforming society and young people getting incredible passion for those who don’t know Christ and the broken and the marginalised. And it’s happening.’ The nearest thing we’re seeing to revival is what we’re seeing in the prisons at the moment. In one of the prisons where we’re at work, a full 15 per cent of the inmates are currently going through a Four Points gospel course. Lots of them come to Christ at the end of it. At the end of the discipleship course, if they’re really serious about their faith and are willing to stand up in front of others, we baptise them. In the month leading up to our event, 38 lads in that one prison were baptised. Nick Shahlavi, a former drug user and violent criminal, who now works in north west prisons, gave testimony to some of the things he’s seeing on a daily basis: ‘Guys are becoming Christians, getting baptised, sharing that message with others, they’re then coming and giving their lives to the Lord, there’s healing. The Kingdom is in the prisons!’

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‘WE’VE GOT SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE BUT WE HONESTLY BELIEVE THE BEST IS YET TO COME.’

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I’m really pleased to send congratulations to The Message Trust on their twentieth birthday. This is a remarkable achievement. The Message Trust is a great example of churches getting out from behind the walls, getting out into local communities, and helping people in real need. It’s great to see the development of the Eden projects as they spread around the country but I’ve been particularly impressed with the work that the Message Trust does with people in prisons – people who have often been through awful experiences, through addiction and getting involved with the wrong crowd. The Message Trust is there alongside them, helping to turn around their lives. I know there are more exciting developments planned with opportunities to help them with employment and accommodation. So it’s great to be able to congratulate The Message Trust on their first twenty years but I know you’ve got some really exciting plans for further developments in the future.

AHLAVI –

NICK SH

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‘I BELIEVE THE MEC IS

A GAME CHANGER FOR US.’ ANDY HAWTHORNE

IF OUR GOD IS FOR US…

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JASON – 21

After a video tour of the new Message Enterprise Centre, Andy introduced our first two MEC apprentices, both of whom are now learning trades on the job, with decent places to live and supportive church communities around them.

Amy ‘I was a drug dealer, really angry, aggressive, selfish. I ended up going to prison and that’s when I met people from the Reflex team. They opened my eyes to Jesus, and I became a Christian in prison. Now I’m doing an apprenticeship in the hair and beauty salon. I’m so excited to see it open and to be a part of it.’

Jason ‘I was in and out of children’s homes, a violent criminal, a drug dealer, a drug taker, didn’t believe in God. I was suicidal, twelve years in prison, had an encounter with Jesus, changed my life, met Reflex, now working for five months with the MEC, learning the trade, got a purpose in my life, thank you Lord!’

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INYER

RIGHT: Ahead of a thirtydate tour in schools, prisons and churches, In Yer Face Theatre Company performed a short segment of their Christmas show.

The more fruit we’ve seen in prisons, the more painful it is to see ex-offenders leaving prison and struggling to find decent jobs, places to stay and people to support them. It’s no wonder so many fall back into destructive lifestyles and ultimately offend again. We’re convinced the building next door to our HQ – the new Message Enterprise Centre – was saved for us and it was a thrill to collect the keys the day before our Anniversary Event. But it’s not been smooth sailing getting here, explained Andy: ‘It was really exciting… until we signed the lease with the council and we told them we were going to raise over a million pounds to spend on the building. And you start working with the first few of these people who have a few issues… Twelve months ago, I was on my knees during Message Prayer Day, praying ‘Oh God, what have I done…? It’s all over! We’re finished!’ ‘But that same day, Matt Redman led worship with ‘Our God is greater, our God is stronger… If our God is for us, who can ever stop us?’ And we felt faith come. It’s his heart.’ This year, we’ve continued to grow as a ministry while also raising over a million pounds for this new building.

MEET THE APPRENTICES

GOSPEL IS NOT JUST ABOUT ‘THELAMP ON A STAND; IT’S ALSO

GOO IT E'LL B D WE'VE D WAS SO ARTY E HAVING ECIDED NEXT NOVEA 21ST MBER WATC H

ABOUT YEAST IN THE DOUGH. IT HAS AN INVISIBLE WAY OF CHANGING THINGS.’

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PACE

MATT WILSON

‘JESUS, YOU’RE AMAZING.

STORIES FROM THE STREETS Last year, 2012, also marked 15 years since the first ever Eden project in Benchill, Wythenshawe – at that time, statistically the worst neighbourhood in Britain. There are now 23 Eden teams around the nation – more outside Manchester than inside Manchester – and they’ve reached thousands of teenagers since 1997. Two lads that Eden Eccles has been working with since it launched in 2010, Aaron and Roy, talked about how the team has given them new purpose. ‘Growing up was pretty awkward really,’ said Aaron. ‘It’s a rough estate, I’ve done the wrong things, I regret them. Bad influences. Since Eden formed, it’s changed my life, honestly. Eden Eccles, I want to give a big massive thank you for what you’ve done for me.’ Roy started talking about how people used to think about him: ‘They would describe me as a horrible person – I was nasty to people and I didn’t really respect people. But since Eden came into the picture, I’ve sorted my life out, turned myself around – I’m in college, working towards my future dream career.’

ON & ROY

MATT, AAR

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MATT

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THE AMAZING ‘THING ABOUT

THE KINGDOM OF JESUS IS IT’S ALWAYS GOING FORWARD. IT’S ALWAYS ADVANCING; IT NEVER STAYS STILL. IT NEVER GOES BACKWARDS; IT ALWAYS GOES FORWARDS.’ MATT REDMAN

YOU DESERVE IT ALL. YOU DESERVE ALL THE GLORY. THANK YOU FOR TWENTY YEARS OF FAITHFULNESS. YOU’VE BEEN SO GOOD. AND WE WANT TO WORSHIP YOU, YES FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR WHO YOU ARE. YOU’RE THE MOST GLORIOUS GOD AND WE’RE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU. WE GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE.’ANDY HAWTHORNE www.message.org.uk/flow

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COVER STORY

uite something, isn’t it?’ beams Frank Green, as he gives a small group of excited visitors a guided tour of the nearly-completed Message Enterprise Centre. ‘It’s been like watching a miracle unfolding before our eyes… and the very best is yet to come.’ by skilled and experienced managers, each Frank’s not exaggerating. He and the whole apprentice is also being mentored in living a Message team have watched in awe over the stable, productive life with a decent salary, a last six months as the derelict warehouse next safe place to live, and supportive community to Message HQ in Sharston, South Manchester through local churches. has been transformed into a state-of-the-art ‘What’s key now is that people really get business hub, with onsite café, hair and beauty behind these businesses,’ says Frank. ‘They’ve salon, cycle recycling shop and premises for already started turning lives around, but to keep new businesses yet to be launched. going, they also need to turn a profit.’ The transformation is a picture The trans‘We need everyone to come over and of what’s already taking place in the formation is see what we’ve got on offer here – popping lives of seven young ex-offenders a picture in for lunch or a meeting over coffee in who have so far joined the Enterprise of what’s taking place The Mess; trying out a beauty treatment Centre businesses as apprentices. in the lives at Shine; checking out our refurbished Within three years that number of young will be at least 50 – each no longer a ex-offenders bikes or bringing yours in for repair. And then spreading the word among friends drain on society, but an asset. and family. Although the MEC’s official ‘The miracle is still unfolding, and opening and ribbon-cutting we’re inviting all our friends to be a ceremony took place at the part of it.’ end of January, several of the businesses have been trading since late December, allowing staff teams to start <<< MEC 4-PAGE PU working together. Both the Mess Café and Shine LLOUT (PRINT EDITIO N ONLY) Hair & Beauty have attracted a steady stream of customers from local businesses and friends of the Message. The property isions have been working on properties around the city. Bespoke, a cycle recycling shop and the fifth new business to launch, is set to open its doors this month. At the heart of each business are the young apprentices. As they are trained on the job

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opening times mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;friday 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4.30pm saturday by appointment

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bikes repairs brakes sales builds custom ries accesso advice ation bike donproficiency cycling www.bespokemanchester.com

We refurbish and repair bikes donated by the general public and from the local police and sell them through our shop and online via eBay.

We also offer high quality servicing, repairs and accessories for cyclists from our MEC shop. To book your bike in, call us on 0161 946 9490.

For the latest bikes, check out:

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Our selection of popular beauty treatments will make you look great and feel fabulous. A professional, friendly atmosphere and excellent customer service means you can relax, unwind… and Shine! For appointments, call 0161 946 9494. Price list at:

www.shinemanchester.com

nails massage waxing hair highlights manicure lashes tanning

hair & beauty

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opening times

mondays tuesday–friday saturday 10am–2:30pm 10am–6pm by appointment

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coffee cake es light-bitsts breakfa snacks ches sandwi tea biscuits www.themessmanchester.com panini

We serve fine coffees and teas all day and our selection of light meals, snacks and puds is sure to tempt your tastebuds.

Our delicious breakfast menu will get your day off to a great start. Also available for private functions, evening meetings and courses, church away days.

Call 0161 946 9496 for more details. Find our full menu at:

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Our building and property teams work around the city – look out for their van! If you know of a property that might be suitable for redevelopment or renovation, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Simon on 07950 043710 We also offer a reliable building maintenance service covering most trades and specialising in plumbing, roofing, painting and decorating, garden maintenance and ground work. If you need a quote or are aware of a maintenance contract for which we could bid, please get in touch. Contact Dom on 07741 242929

PUTTING DISCIPLESHIP FIRST The Message Enterprise Centre is a brand new concept in socially responsible business.

As well as offering you excellent quality at competitive prices, we’re helping to train and create jobs for young people who need a second chance in life. Each of our businesses is run by an experienced manager working alongside apprentices training ‘on the job’. Profits from each business are invested back into training and developing more young people. We want to play our part in tackling the problems of youth unemployment and reoffending so common in our city. And every time you stop in and use one of our businesses, you can too.

brickwonrk roofi g s r i a p e r g n i d buil e c n a n e t n i a m g decoratiin g plaster ng plumbing paintin fitting

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MINI UPDATES

od is up to so much at the moment in and through The Message. Here are just a few of the stories we ran out of room for in this issue. Check out the website for the full articles

BAND IN DEMAND Twelve24 are now in such high demand that the band is booked solid until the end of this school year. If you want to check out how young people are responding to their gospel message, check out the band's Twitter feed @Twelve24.

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SOWING IN TEARS

EDEN IS EXPLODING

Reflex worker Jo Hirst is seeing wonderful new things happening in Hindley prison, the answer to many prayers sown in tears over the last year: ‘Recently we have had several baptisms and young people accepting Christ and really growing in their faith…’.

FOOTBALL TO FAITH

A STORM IS BREWING

The next Prayer Storm gathering takes place on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 May 2013. Keep an eye on prayerstorm.org for venue details and the latest info.

ACADEMY, APPLY NOW!

You may have noticed our subtle change to the Genetik course (on the back page). It’s more than just a new name. We’re revamping and rewriting the course from Sept 2013 onwards, with even more great bible teaching, guest speakers and loads of hands-on placements with our projects and teams across the city. If you know someone who is aged 18-25 and they're looking for a year out with a difference, then tell them to join ‘The Message Academy’.

CertiďŹ cate Diploma Degree Postgraduate Part-time

belfastbiblecollege.com | +44 (0) 28 9030 1551

Courses available through University of Cumbria and Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Belfast

online fundraising from

Whatever your cause, whatever your event, fundraising is easy on give.net facebook.com/give.net

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Give.net is the new online fundraising website from Stewardship, a registered charity (234714) serving the church since 1906

EDEN PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD ARE BEING INSPIRED AND RESOURCED BY WHAT WE’VE LEARNED DOING NEIGHBOURHOOD MISSION t’s clear that God is on the move through Eden. What started as a pragmatic response to young people coming to know Jesus on a Wythenshawe estate 15 years ago is now reaching 23 needy communities across the UK. Four more partnerships with churches are set to launch this spring. People from elsewhere in the UK, and indeed around the world, are now starting to ask the same kinds of questions: how do we do this? What works? What really doesn’t? And three resources released by Eden last year are helping to answer them. National Director Matt Wilson’s book Concrete Faith sets out the whole wartsand-all story of Eden, interspersed with true stories of lives changed. ‘When we read Concrete Faith, we bought 10 copies and started putting them in the hands of our church leaders as well as strategic others,’ says Steve Rudman, who is leading an Eden-inspired incarnational ministry project in the Southcote estate in Reading. ‘A year ago, we and a couple of dozen people moved from a large town-centre “network church”, to use the phrase in Matt’s book. We’ve joined St Matthews, a neighbourhood Anglican church slap-bang in the middle of the Southcote estate. We’re wanting to see people on the estate find Jesus as Lord and Saviour, especially teens. It’s not a favoured area in the town, but there are some lovely people living on the estate and they should get a good chance to hear the message.’

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EDEN: SHARING THE LOVE

Eden’s two DVD resources are also helping to share vision and values as well as some of the best ideas we’ve learned over the last 15 years. Esther Finney (pictured right) helps lead Love Stretford, a missional community sent out by Lifechurch Manchester. A team of nine people live near one another in the area’s Meadows estate, aiming to build deep relationships and create a sense of family through kids and youth clubs and community lunches. ‘We’ve used the Formation DVD in our core team cell for the past few months as the distinctives it talks about are very much our values too – being relational, incarnational. It’s been a really helpful way to open them up and ask ourselves, how well are we doing at living them out?’ ‘The Resource Bank is also helping to move our work on. It’s been of particular benefit to the youth workers in our team as they seek to build up their projects.’

‘‘

WE’RE WANTING TO SEE PEOPLE ON THE ESTATE

FIND JESUS

AS LORD AND SAVIOUR, ESPECIALLY TEENS. ’

: G E E

PROXIMITY MAY 10-11 2013

TICKETS NOW ON SALE£55

DAY TICKETS £29

‘EARLY BIRD’ £45 UNTIL MARCH 10 STUDENTS DISCOUNT ALSO AVAILABLE

WORKSHOPS WORSHIP INSPIRATION NETWORKING NEIGHBOURHOOD VISITS

MORE INFO AT: WWW.EDEN-NETWORK.ORG/PROXIMITY

Why give.net? online fundraising from

19,000 charities and churches are already registered for free. Find out more at give.net facebook.com/give.net

Free registration No monthly subscription Fast Gift Aid reclaims Online reporting Low fees

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Give.net is the new online fundraising website from Stewardship, a registered charity (234714) serving the church since 1906

SPONSORED EVENTS

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We’ve got 70 Manchester 10k places but they’re filling up fast. Fancy running Manchester’s premier road race on May 26? Contact Lauren on

0161 946 2304

Jo nathan (Web designe r) Fundraiser: Recording an www.riversandrobots.com album

designer) Bethan (graphic Sw is hing Party Fundraiser: ‘I wanted to raise money in a non-fitness way. (The year before I completed the Three Peak Challenge – and even though it was an amazing experience, I wanted to do a fundraising event that was a bit less stress on my legs!) A Swishing Party is the perfect girlie fundraiser: raising money and recycling gorgeous clothes. It was also a great opportunity to make some new friends. With £5 per ticket, a treat stall full of homemade cookies and cakes for sale, and a raffle with donated prizes from local businesses...

...

250.’ raised £

ce assist ant) Victoria (f inan ie ld 10k Run Fundraiser: She ff

‘I’ve never been sporty so this was very much a challenge for my body. It was hard work to get started but thankfully I began slow and steady, training well ahead of time. I know that God helped me a lot. The highlight for me would have to be the whole final kilometre. As I got close, I began to hear Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. It’s always been a favourite of mine and it just gave me the biggest grin to hear it and I sped up. My fundraising target was £200...

ged ... but mana to raise £325!’

that’s o ne to tick o ff yo ur bucket list!

‘Around two years ago I felt God was calling me to start to write worship songs with a new, creative sound. I just love the whole process of creating songs, experimenting with sounds and forming ideas into songs. The recording of my album seemed to fit nicely with the Message 20th anniversary so it was great opportunity to be able to use my album sales to raise money for that. My target was to raise £400...

raised £300 ...s o far ’v e and that’s without playing any of the songs live yet!’

S o, w hyao tu’sr on ‘Bucket List’? Now it’s over to you. Everyone’s got something they want to do before they ‘kick the bucket’, so why not do it in 2013 – and do it for The Message?

How about swimming with sharks? Shaving your hair off? A Scalextric championship? A Star Wars marathon? (And that’s just the S’s!) Whatever your idea is, would you become one of our 100 volunteer ‘bucket list’ fundraisers this year? To sign up, plus for help and advice with getting started, visit

www.message.org.uk/fundraising or contact Lauren on 0161 946 2304

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TEACHING

IDEAS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD Andy on the fourth and final of our core values: Innovation ur touchstone scripture, Isaiah 43:19, begins ‘See, I am doing a new thing!’ God didn’t just bring that scripture to Isaiah 640 years before Christ. He brought it to Andy Hawthorne, too, about 1987 years after Christ. And he says it to you today. The Lord is constantly saying, ‘See, I’m doing a new thing – don’t you see it?’ God has not run out of ideas to see the Great Commission fulfilled. He is a creator God who is still creating today. God has unlimited ideas to pour into the hearts of those willing to seek him.

WILLING TO TRY AND FAIL

The founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, who famously would try anything to reach people with the gospel of Jesus – from uniforms to brass bands to ladies riding backwards on horses in night-dresses! – said, ‘Beginning as I did, with a clean sheet of paper, wedded to no plan... willing to take a leaf out of anybody’s book... and above all, to obey the direction of the Holy Spirit... we tried various methods and those that did not work we unhesitatingly threw overboard and adopted something else!’ Like Booth, we need to be a movement that tries lots of things, and which is unembarrassed when some of them fail. Look at Steve Jobs, hailed as one of the most visionary innovators of our times – he failed plenty of times before he hit on the iMac, the iPod and the rest. The world has yet to see the new sounds that are going to come out of this place. The new visions. The new income streams. The new initiatives. He’s going to show us ways to bless the poor and preach the gospel that we haven’t even dreamt up yet.

‘ALWAYS REFORMING’ Unfortunately the church has a habit of getting stuck in a rut. Four hundred years ago roughly, religion and institution had replaced revival and inspiration. From the fires of Jerusalem, the church had gone cold. So the Reformation took place, an amazing time in church history when innovators dragged the church kicking and screaming back to where it needed to be. Their motto was ‘semper reformanda’, ‘always to be reformed’ – in other words, holding to scripture truth but always looking to creatively interpret it in language people could understand. Of course, one by one, the reformers got burned at the stake. So 400 years later, lots of the church is still using their prayer book. Somewhere in heaven, Cranmer is holding his head in his hands, crying, ‘Duh! Don’t you realise that book wasn’t meant to be for 400 years!?’

ANYTHING GOES

It’s a challenge for all of us. We can all easily get stuck in the past. So how far can we go in trying something new? I believe that when we’re rooted in our other three values – passion for the lost, rooted in the local church, working it out in accountable community – anything goes. We can try anything. So you’ll find us in the prayer room praying for Twelve24, MaLoKai and others: ‘Give them a new sound – a sound that grabs the attention of young people. Something they’ve never heard before. Give James fresh creativity as he tries to mobilise a movement – a spark that will set people on fire for prayer. ‘For the prison teams, the MEC, Eden, In Yer Face – give them the kind of innovation that will change everything. The kinds of ideas that will change the world.’

the world has yet to see the new sounds that are going to come out of this place the new visions. the new income streams the new initiatives

TEACHING

GOD’S NEW THING wenty years ago, while I was a police officer here in Manchester, I met Jesus and became a Christian. I suddenly became really concerned to see the young people in my neighbourhood starting to come to know Jesus like I had. But I knew if that was ever going to happen, God had to do something new. It was about this time that I first heard of The Message. I watched them fill the Apollo Theatre with the kinds of young people that the local churches just weren’t reaching, so I said to them, ‘Could you send a team into my local school and do something like that?’ I was amazed when a guy called Mark turned up – and he said he was the team! I walked him to the library where there were about 20 kids. He got out a big beatbox, pressed play and sang and danced. That Friday, his friends turned up and I heard Andy Hawthorne preach the most passionate sermon that I think I’d ever heard up until that point. Kids responded like I’d never seen before. It’s all about God’s new thing. At Message HQ you’ll see two big banners with their touchstone verse from Isaiah: ‘See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’ God’s new thing is what this groundbreaking youth charity has always been about. Through the World Wide Message Tribe, Message 2000, Eden and many more initiatives, The Message has blazed a trail in words and actions that’s led to churches capturing a new vision for their communities. God’s next ‘new thing’ is the Message Enterprise Centre. Just a year ago, the MEC was a derelict building and yet now

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Local church pastor Anthony Delaney on why he’s backing The Message

there’s this amazing transformation. It’s a picture of the real transformation that The Message’s teams are seeing every week in our young offenders’ institutions – young people are meeting Jesus in unprecedented numbers. But as they’re coming out of prison, they’re needing hope, they’re needing help, they’re needing training, they’re needing homes. The MEC is there to give them exactly these things, rescuing them from a death loop of repeat offending that keeps them without hope. As a local church leader it just makes sense for me to get involved with The Message and to partner with them to do whatever we can together to reach out and make a difference in Greater Manchester and across the nation. Now God’s challenging them to do a new thing and as part of that, I’m feeling that challenge myself. So we’ve stepped up our personal giving as a family and as a church. For The Message team to be able to finish the MEC with excellence and get the first six businesses up and running, it’s going to take about £300,000. The only way we can do it is one person stepping up their giving at a time – and that’s my challenge to you. If you’re a first-time giver, please give big. If you’ve given before, please give more. Let’s get involved and support The Message together to see God’s new thing.

Anthony Delaney is the Team Leader at Ivy Manchester www.ivymanchester.com

YOUR

response RESPOND

In 2013, there are more opportunities before us than ever in schools, communities and prisons. Now, it’s over to you. If you feel concerned about your young people and gang culture, being trapped in estates that seem to be hopeless and forgotten; if you feel that light needs to be brought into high schools and prisons; and if you believe exoffenders need to be rehabilitated rather than just managed, then please stand with us.

PRAY

Please commit to praying daily for The Message during 2013. We need God’s power to break through and bring change to young lives. Use our free Prayer Calendar (call 0161 946 2300 for more copies) enclosed with this issue of Flow.

New creative teams to reach every high school in Greater Manchester

GIVE

You can donate to The Message online at: message.org.uk/donate or call 0161 946 2300 to make a new regular gift (or raise your existing Direct Debit) in February or March and receive a FREE copy of the Message 20 book and CD set (RRP £20).

New Edens, bringing life and hope to the toughest communities

Tell your church, home group and other friends about what we’re up to. Please put up the pullout poster in the centre of this issue of Flow in your church to tell people about the MEC. To enquire about having a Message speaker visit your church, contact Jo Nicholson on: 0161 946 2328.

New enterprises to train, employ and disciple young men and women

FUNDRAISE Become one of our 100 Message Fundraisers in 2013 and help us meet our fundraising goals. See page 16-17 for more details.

www.message.org.uk/flow

GET EQUIPPED FOR MISSION WWW.MESSAGE.ORG.UK/SHOP

FORMATION DVD £2O

A 10-part 2-DVD group training resource for groups involved in seeking to bring about holistic transformation in challenging neighbourhoods.

RESOURCE BANK DVD £14

Effective methods and wise advice for those working to reach urban youth, from street-level first contact to mentoring and discipleship.

FORMATION VOL. 2 DVD

COMING SOON:

PROXIMITY TICKETS £55

Featuring Will van der Hart & Rob Waller of Mind & Soul www.mindandsoul.info

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ tickets are available for £45 until March 10

CONCRETE FAITH BY MATT WILSON It’s packed with inspirational and personal stories and shares the lessons learned and challenges faced by Eden teams over the last 15 years. Paperback: £6.99 Kindle edition: £5.99 (from amazon.co.uk)

THE BEST URBAN YOUTHWORK RESOURCES FROM THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BOOK!