Flow Magazine – Issue 12 by The Message Trust

THE MAGAZINE OF THE

MESS AGE | I

13 SSUE I2 SUMMER 20

Planting Eden

STARTING FROM SCRATCH IN SHEFFIELD

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

NEW SCHOOLS TEAMS | MESSAGE MIDLANDS | IN YER FACE'S NEW SHOW | STUART BELL

SPECIAL REPORT INSIDE

About the Cover Editor: Alistair Metcalfe Associate Editor: Ian Rowbottom Senior Art Director & Graphic Design: Dan Hasler – Message:Creative

Ben and Beth Baker are the leaders of Eden Fir Vale, Sheffield. They share the story of the first few years of life on a new Eden in ‘Planting Eden’, starting on page 18.

Graphic Design: Matt Varah Wilson Contributors: Andy Hawthorne Advertising: E: advertising@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300 Subscription & Supporter Enquiries: E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300 Giving:

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

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Contributing Photographers: COVER STORY – Ben Baker INTERNALS: James Chapman: www.thepaisley.co.uk Hannah Prittie www.hannahbeatrice.co.uk P11 – John Worsfold www.imagesmad.co.uk P12-15 - Lucy West www.lucywestimages.co.uk P4-5 – Terry McNamara www.terrymcphotography.co.uk P4-5 – Gavin Tickle P26-27 – Jonathan Ogden

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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As well as performing in schools, prisons and churches, the company will for the first time perform in front of a Forces audience in both the Uk and Germany. For bookings and more information, contact: inyerface@message.org.uk

PRAYER STORM-ING

THE HEAVENS

16-17

30-31 MEC

THE FAM I LY

The next Prayer Storm gathering is scheduled for November 30 at Audacious, and will be a full day of prayer and fasting for the nation from 12-7pm. May’s gathering saw God moving in a powerful way, especially among young people with broken relationships with their fathers, explains movement leader James Aladiran: ‘We called them forward to receive healing and to hear words of affirmation and restoration spoken over them. There was what I would describe as a “connecting of the generations” which felt highly significant for that gathering and beyond.’

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IN YER FACE

‘It deals with issues of prejudice and discrimination, and ultimately explores what loving your neighbour means,’ says writer and director Matt Britton.

PAGE TESTIMONY: Karl’s Story PAGE Guest TEACHING from Stuart Bell

Find out more at: www.prayerstorm.org www.message.org.uk/flow

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This year has seen an unprecedented demand for our teams in schools and prisons. Joining the family during 2013 are three brandnew mission teams, each taking a unique approach to sharing the good news.

t was always me against the world. My dad was a violent alcoholic who put the beer before my mum and his kids, and I think I got it off him. I went off the rails really young – I used to wag primary school. I was in kids’ homes from age 10 and got into cannabis, cocaine and drink. It was all about drowning out the anger. I had no other way of expressing myself except anger and rage. That’s what landed me inside – violent assault – for a total of three and a half years. I should have been out sooner but the anger always returned and I kept getting sent back. On my last stretch, I met the guys from Reflex in HMP Forest Bank who were running a music course. My confidence was on the floor and I couldn’t believe people actually wanted to be around me. They got me to start writing lyrics about hope, and

something started to change in me. I saw one of the lads’ Bibles and I wanted to dig deeper, to find out more. Spending time with the team gave me hope. I came to see the MEC one day while it was still a building site. I heard about what they were planning – that there would be chances for guys like me to get a job when I got out. I buried that in my heart for the rest of my sentence. When I finally got out, the guys from The Message put precious time into me. They kept telling me ‘you’re not alone’, and reassured me that I’m a new creation and I’ve got a future now.

I feel like I’m worth something again. It’s given me an understanding of who I am and what I can be'

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28-29 30-31 32-33

TeAchiNg

feATuRe

Full-time mum Andrea was the lucky winner of our supporter competition back in April. She brought friend Hayley to enjoy a luxury pampering afternoon at the MEC – without the kids! Andrea recently rediscovered The Message on Facebook after almost ten years. She became a Christian at a World Wide Message Tribe gig when she was 14.

By Stuart Bell

Alien

TeAchiNg

32-33

Andy H TEACHING 'What's your operating system?'

16-17

feATuRe

In Yer Face will be touring a brand-new show from July to November, a modernday retelling of the Good Samaritan.

12-15

Competition Winners

Registered Office: Lancaster House, Lancaster Campus, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG

OW 'A TOWN CALLED MALICE'

NEW SH

PAGE Multiplying SCHOOLS Work

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The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes.

ELCOMe 4-11 w 12-15 TO NewS

ouR New RegioNAl DiRecToR foR

PAGE The miDlANDS All the latest NEWS

hen I think of the kind of people that Christians most need to be in today’s world, I often think of Daniel. Daniel was one of a group of bright young Hebrew men taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar, to be trained in the language and literature of Babylon for three years. And at the end of it, they were to be

compared with their contemporaries.

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THEN

THEY GIFTE D A BI KE TO A LO CAL The difference beTween LAD... running on FEAR and running on FAITH By AnDy HAwTHoRnE

Despite living in an alien culture, far from home, Daniel and his friends prospered. The Bible says, ‘In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom’ (Daniel 1:20).

A FIRST-RATE LIFE They didn’t choose it, but when they got there, they wanted to live a first-rate life in a secondchoice world. And they were ten times more successful than their contemporaries. How?

ow, in Fl e MEC ut th d abo d to see d rea se ons.’ ‘I ha s surpri . ti a is pecta but w assive it ed my ex m how lly exceed It tota 2 6 flow12 AUG-SEPT 2013

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ANDY’S RANT

`keep praying for us that we really do cut it as we proclaim the good newS´ As The Message continues to grow I’ve been thinking quite a lot about my own role and how I can bring my best to the movement. Most of all, I think, I’m meant to do everything I can to keep two things hot: mission and prayer. I’ve come to realise that everything else I do needs to serve these two things. On my office wall, helping to remind me of this at all times, I’ve got a pair of scissors that were presented to me after a talk I gave about 15 years ago. On one blade it says ‘prayer’ and on the other, ‘evangelism’. Underneath, the friend who gave it to me wrote, ‘Keep on the cutting edge, Andy!’

The Message of the cross at the centre and fuel that gospel message through sacrificial, passionate prayer, we are never going to see all the amazing things he has for us. So as you read on, please keep praying for us that we really do ‘cut it’ as we proclaim the good news in words and actions. Ask God that we’ll see more and more disciples who are then able to catch on fire for prayer and evangelism and pass it on to others too. What an exciting thought that is!

It’s a good reminder for us all at The Message. We can have endless plans and dreams to do great life-changing things for God, but unless we keep

www.message.org.uk/flow

Our 2013 Urban Hero Winners with Andy Hawthorne (left to right): Dave Moore (Winner, Overcomer Award), Gav and Maz Humphries (Outstanding Leadership), Beth Nicholson (Volunteer), Amy Harrison (Inspiration and Urban Hero of the Year), Jason Hooper (Achiever), Aaron Humphries (Courage)

URBAN

Our biggest Urban Hero Awards yet was a night of inspiration and joy Our sixth annual Urban Hero Awards saw 830 people enjoy a powerful night of inspirational testimonies and breathtaking performances at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday June 29. All six award winners took to the stage to give glory to God for his work in and through them over the last year, and to express their thanks to mentors and friends in The Messageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eden, Genetik and MEC teams.

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Reformed offenders and addicts were among the six winners honoured for their exceptional achievements. Every award winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story of how they triumphed over personal adversity, or are making a positive difference in the lives of others, was told in a short nomination video. (You can watch them all on our website, www. message.org.uk.)

NEWS

Check out the website to watch video testimonies of our amazing Urban Heroes: www.message.org.uk

Heroes This year’s overall Urban Hero of the Year winner was Amy Harrison, whose story of transformation from ‘an angry, scared little girl trapped inside the body of an adult criminal’ to a confident and hard-working apprentice at the Message Enterprise Centre brought the audience to its feet when her name was announced. ‘It’s a miracle,’ said Amy, receiving the trophy and a prize of a two-week mission trip to Uganda from awards sponsor, Stagecoach. ‘To be here, wearing a dress like this when less than a year ago I was in prison wearing a tracksuit… I’m so happy! I don’t want to cry my lashes out!’

‘To be here, wearing a dress like this when less than a year ago I was in prison wearing a tracksuit… I’m so happy! Referring to her fellow nominees, she added: ‘This is Jesus’s award… none of us would be here if it weren’t for him. Thank you, Jesus.’

www.message.org.uk/flow

OVER 170 GUESTS

PACK

INTO

PROXIMITY

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proximity Conference took place in May with over 170 guests from around the world packing into Message HQ for two days of top-quality worship and input. Ash Barker, who leads an Eden-style network from his home in the slums of Bangkok, spoke memorably about his experiences of living like Jesus in one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughest neighbourhoods. Delegates also enjoyed sessions from Andy Hawthorne, Alan Hirsch and Fran Beckett, and breakout streams featured many of Eden projects across the country. You can hear some of the highlights of the teaching from Proximity 2013 on the Eden Network podcast. Visit: www.eden-network.org

GENETIK SESSIONS 'SUMMER SkooL' Just one of the amazing performances from the Genetik Sessions showcase in the spring. Genetik sessions are running a 'Summer Skool' for one week, starting August 26th at Message HQ, Sharston. Classes will include: pop vocals, street dance and music production. Call Emma to book: 07974 079 353

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NEWS

BUSSING IT BACK TO BENCHILL Eden Bus is returning to the streets of Benchill, 13 years after it became the first neighbourhood to see the bus in action.

Benchill is the first of two new regular Eden Bus sessions launching in Manchester this summer. The other will be part of Eden Merseybank (also in South Manchester).

The bus will start visiting streets around the area on Wednesday evenings as part of Ivy Sharston’s outreach to young people in Wythenshawe, following a successful trial run by Genetik students in May. Daytime beauty and nail activities and an evening youth club saw dozens of young people discovering the bus for the first time.

New Bus Manager Sid Williams says the search is now on for volunteers to join the teams: ‘As well as being good to connect with the community, it'll also be an excellent opportunity for anyone exploring a calling to join Eden long term.’ To find out more email Sid: bus@message.org.uk

SHOWING JESUS TO 'THE PRISONERS' BBC TV’s recent series The Prisoners showed the reality of life for many of the thousands of men and women released from prison every month in the UK. Tragically, prison is a ‘revolving door’ for many of the prisoners the series follows. In a recent blog post, Reflex’s Hannah Bettany explained how watching the series deeply moved her, especially the story of Jade, who reminded her of many of the young women she works with in a North West women’s prison: "My head has been going over and remembering so many girls like Jade. Girls who are so young and have been in and out of prison too many times. Women who are broken from a history of abuse and neglect and begin to find their home inside prison walls.

"The only thing the TV show was missing was Jesus. I felt it was so obvious in each story that the women (and men) needed unconditional love. That is why prison was Jade’s home, because one officer loved her continually – even after she self-harmed, she fought her, she swore at her, she repeated offending behaviour – this officer was always there to sit with a kind word. That is why prison was her home." Working in partnership with local churches, the Reflex team and the MEC are helping to break the cycle for more and more young people (see pages 16-17 to read Karl’s story). Your gifts to The Message help support life-changing work in prisons and with ex-offenders on the outside. Check out Hannah’s blog: www.hannahbettany.com to read more about her work in prisons.

www.message.org.uk/flow

new regional 2 MINUTES WITH Our director for SETH PINNOCK the Midlands Tell us a little about yourself! At age 15 I had a vision to gather young people from all different backgrounds and streams, to challenge them to become everything God wants them to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether that's a great guitar player or a business leader. Like every vision that's born of God, it didn't leave me alone. So while I was still doing my GCSEs, I pulled together an event that would start to do some of those things. That became Midnight Oil and over the last few years it's become a major annual gathering in the Midlands.

How did you connect with The Message? Over the years, Andy Hawthorne's name and the work of The Message has come up time and time again in conversation. But until last year, we'd never met. When we finally did, it was obvious there was a clear sense of vision being synced in our conversation. The idea for Message Midlands was born.

What's coming first? We're going to use the next Midnight Oil as a springboard to debut the work that The Message does, and also to recruit volunteers for our first Eden project. But there's much more to come â&#x20AC;&#x201C; enterprise, prison ministry, creative teams. Andy says 'the sky's the limit' and I'm going to take him at his word! The launch of Message Midlands takes place at Midnight Oil on July 18-20 at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Find out more at www.message.org.uk/midlands

THE

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MESSAGE PRESENTS

NEWS

OW H S W 'A TOWN NE

CALLED MALICE'

IN YER FACE

In Yer Face will be touring a brand-new show from July to November, a modernday retelling of the Good Samaritan. ‘It deals with issues of prejudice and discrimination, and ultimately explores what loving your neighbour means,’ says writer and director Matt Britton. As well as performing in schools, prisons and churches, the company will for the first time perform in front of a Forces audience in both the UK and Germany. For bookings and more information, contact: inyerface@message.org.uk

PRAYER STORM-ING

THE HEAVENS

2014 a year of

Churches doing more together in word and action - in villages towns and cities Building towards a year of mission in 2014. Start praying and preparing now. Be part of it! Sign up and order HOPE's mission resources at www.hopetogether.org.uk or phone the HOPE office on 01788 542782 HOPEtogether

@HOPEtogether

‘HOPE – The Heartbeat of Mission: 224 pages of tested ideas and the theology that undergirds them… a cascade of ideas and practical advice for local churches who want to work together… we’ve bought a copy for every parish.’ Bishop of Hertford, Paul Bayes

s see hundred ‘We’d love to e ps who hav of local grou ission in faith to do m on. We will ti word and ac we can to do whatever , to resource pray for that g people and it with youn youth to work with d amazing n ﬁ agencies to issioners. local youth m e thousands We want to se ple reached.’ of young peo orne, Andy Hawth st, one of ru T Message unders the HOPE fo

oung Equipping y ission m r people fo ’s E Contact HOP r Phil to Youth Direc out d n Timson to ﬁ about HOPE outh Revolution y ing n mission trai hopeto @ n so phil.tim k gether.org.u

NEWS

Hello, Message Academy! June saw the final ever Genetik Commissioning service – with 15 outstanding young evangelists sent out into mission. Of these, an amazing 12 are going on to work with Message-related ministries, including two new Message schools teams, several different Eden teams and internships with other departments. ‘In many ways the 2012-13 intake was one of the most exciting we’ve ever had,’ said course leader Mat Walls. ‘Watch out for these guys! They are an amazingly talented bunch with a massive vision for how God is going to use them in the years to come.’ The Commissioning Service saw family and friends gathering for worship, performances, testimonies and a talk from Andy Hawthorne, after which all the graduates were prayed for and presented with their course completion certificates. From September 2013, Genetik becomes Message Academy. ‘Our new strapline, “If you want to break out, instead of just a year out” says it all really,’ says Matt. ‘It’s not just about what you do with your year at the Academy; it’s about what you do with your life – loving God, serving him with all the gifts he’s given you.’

Applications for the final places in this September’s intake are still open. For more details and to apply, visit at: www.message org.uk/academy

www.message.org.uk/flow

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FEATURE

espect Me are Emma Owen (formerly of The Tribe) and Georgia Houghton, a previous Urban Hero Award winner. Since the spring, they’ve been in schools sharing their own personal stories to communicate lessons on sexuality and self-image. It’s urgently needed: Ofsted recently found over a third of British schools are failing to provide pupils with adequate sex and relationships education, leaving them more likely to make poor choices and vulnerable to exploitation by others. It means we have some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in the world. ‘Respect Me didn’t come about because we thought it would be a good idea – it came about because teachers are asking for it,’ says Emma. ‘These issues have always been there, but there has never been such a need to address them frankly as there is today. ‘Girls need to hear that whatever the culture tells them, it’s always their choice what they do with their bodies, and there are good choices and bad choices.’

style: ‘Having this material delivered by yourselves rather than school staff made the students able to be more open

‘We had one parent ring school to tell our assistant head that her daughter couldn't stop talking about the session when

and honest with their opinions regarding sex and relationships,’ they commented after one lesson.

she got home and that she thought it was excellent that our school was dealing with such issues in a sensitive way.’

"We’re showing how our faith makes a very real difference to the decisions we’ve made and the lives we lead"

What makes Respect Me’s lessons so powerful is the personal connection Emma and Georgia are able to make with the girls. Their own life stories, coupled with illustrations from popular culture, bring alive the Bible’s clear teaching on identity, beauty and value. Because of this, they are able to hold whole classes captive for up to two hours at a time. ‘A crucial part of this is our personal journey with God which regularly comes up during the lessons and in the Q&As at the end,’ says Emma. ‘We’re showing how our faith makes a very real difference to the decisions we’ve made and the lives we lead.’

Teachers in schools including Cheadle Hulme High (lessons pictured) have commended the team for their challenging yet approachable www.message.org.uk/flow

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‘I was invited into a pupil referral unit recently and although there was a lot of resistance to begin with, once we got people moving, the atmosphere totally changed in the room and they became really receptive to what we had to say. It’s a powerful thing.’ In schools, Square One will offer both traditional classroom

SQUARE ONE nother new team taking shape this year is Square One, a brand-new street dance crew. Team leader Sola and former Genetik student Jess (both pictured) are currently teaching classes as part of Genetik Sessions in Sharston and Bowden, and working in schools alongside Twelve24 and MaLoKai. Sola, 26, trained in theology and youth justice and worked for several years in a young offending team in London. But, he says, his heart was always to use dance to reach young people: ‘Dance offers a way for young people to express all kinds of emotions in a safe way – even negative emotions like anger and frustration. Dancing brings freedom to the body and to the spirit. It builds self-confidence and can be a powerful release.

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lessons and dance workshops. But according to Jess, the way the team works together will be just as significant: ‘It’s much more than a lesson or a dance class,’ she says. ‘We have an opportunity to share a bit of

our lives with them – to pass on what we value, and to be role models to young people.’ The team’s mission is encapsulated in their name, says Sola: ‘Square One says that everything has a beginning, and our Square One is Jesus. Our goal as a crew is to tell young people that it’s never too late to start again – they can always go back to square one with God.’

'Our goal as a crew is to tell young people that it’s never tOO late to start again – they can always go back to square one with God'

VITAL SIGNS aunching this autumn, Vital Signs is a collective of musicians and artists with an edgy hip-hop sound designed to showcase their incredible testimonies.

TWO MINUTES WITH JAMIE HILL

‘These are Damascus Road stories for this generation,’ says head of missions, Jamie Hill. ‘Former gangsters, drug dealers, violent criminals – these guys have been utterly transformed because of Jesus. ‘Our vision is to put them in front of some of the toughest kids in Manchester and across the country through Eden, and show that even the most desperate lives can be turned around.’ Nick Shahlavi, who has shared his own powerful story in prisons as part of the Reflex team, will be a key part of the team. His new track ‘Testimonies’, which namechecks 16 other dramatic conversions, was performed for the first time at this year's Urban Hero Awards. An album will follow later in the year.

Q/// Why is schools work still so important?

A/// The way I see it, what we’re doing when we

go into schools is giving young people a chance to shift their stories. That’s what Jesus did. Whoever he met – the Pharisee, the tax collector, the rich young ruler – he went to people who thought they were stuck in one story and showed them a better one to be part of. What we can do as schools missions teams is walk in, just like Jesus did, and say to goths, geeks, skaters, the popular and the unpopular, those who are sleeping around, those who are harming themselves behind closed doors, ‘Look, there’s a different story you can be part of – and it’s a better story than the one you’ve heard’.

Q/// How can Flow readers

do more to reacH young people in schools with the gospel?

A/// Actually, getting into schools is the easy

'These are Damascus Road stories for this generation'

bit. What’s harder is finding churches who are willing to see schools as part of their mission. We need to own our schools, to pray for them. Make them a mission partner for your church. Make sure you’ve got someone on the board of governors. Find every opportunity to partner with them. And trust God for real breakthroughs for the gospel.

TO Get a Message team into your school, email: schools@message.org.uk www.message.org.uk/flow

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FEATURE

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I feel like I’m worth something again. It’s given me an understanding of who I am and what I can be'

Need a bike? Got a bike you no longer ride?

Introducing Bespoke: Bespoke is the MEC’s cycle recycling business, putting old bikes back on the road. It’s one of five new businesses helping young people like Karl get a second chance in life.

How it works: ABOVE: Karl WITH BespokE Manager Ian Houghton

Amazingly, they did offer me a job – I fix up old bikes in Bespoke. I always messed about with bikes as a kid, and I’m quick at learning. I feel like I’m worth something again. It’s given me an understanding of who I am and what I can be. I call this place the ‘steel church’ because God’s at work here. I thank God daily not just for me but for all these others who were in the same boat as me. I never used to get praise for what I did, but now I get loads of encouragement. I had a text today saying ‘We’re so proud of you, keep it up’. I have a young son and I feel like I’m being a good role model for him at last. It used to be me against the world; now I see myself as part of the world.

•

We receive donations of used, unwanted and recovered bikes from the Police or members of the public.

• Our skilled team repairs refurbishes each bike. •

and

We sell the bikes at a fair price, online and in our shop in Manchester, where you can also watch us at work.

• All profits go back into the business, meaning more opportunities for ex offenders and more happy customers. Come and visit us at the MEC, Harper Road, Sharston, or online at:

www.bespokemanchester.com

See pages 30-31 for more on the MEC www.message.org.uk/flow

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COVER STORY

PLANTING EDEN Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it like starting a new Eden from scratch? We met Ben, Beth and the team from Eden Fir Vale in Sheffield to find out

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ay before we decided to join Eden, I remember seeing a flyer with a picture of a burntout terraced house on it,’ says Ben Baker, team leader for Eden Fir Vale. ’I guess it was used to show how bad the area was. ‘A couple of months after we moved into our first Eden house, we found out that it had been recently refurbished after a massive fire… It turned out God had brought us to the house from the Eden flyer!’ It’s a great story – but it’s by no means the only way Ben has seen God’s hand at work in the first two years of Eden Fir Vale. In that time, they’ve gathered a team of committed volunteers, helped to plant a new missional church community, and sown time and love into hundreds of local people. It all started when Ben and his wife Beth decided to say ‘yes’. ‘We’d heard lots about Eden and how it would take a team of people to go in order for it to happen. I remember sitting in the congregation at St Toms (St Thomas Crookes, Sheffield) thinking, “Yes, I’d love to see that happen – someone should do it!”’

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'`Fir Vale is a richly multicultural area with White But, newly engaged and unsure about their long term plans, Ben and Beth decided it wasn’t the right time for them. ‘We were asked and we said ‘no’ to start with. But during the following year, lots of little things kept prompting us. Eventually it became a matter of integrity for me – I couldn’t sit there and want it to happen, and not be prepared to do it myself!’ Just a few miles from the centre of Sheffield, Fir Vale is a richly multicultural area with White British, Asian and Eastern European communities living in a mix of parallel terraced streets and 1970s flats and houses. There are as many mosques as churches in the area.

Getting started Ben describes their first visit to Fir Vale after they had made the decision to go: ‘We drove over, sat in the car. It felt a lot more alien to me than it does now. Could this really be our home? It was quite different to where we’d been before. It was hard to visualise living here – but that quickly changed.’ Ben and Beth moved to Fir Vale in September 2011. Getting Eden off the ground was a matter of being proactive, listening and learning:

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`Our main aim is to be relational, not attractional´

‘One of the first things I did, and which continues to this day, is offering lesson support in the local secondary school. It was simply a case of explaining to the school who we were and offering to help. So I started going in as a voluntary teaching assistant, working particularly with bottom set Year 10s and just being on hand in the classroom.’ ‘We also started off doing detached work and prayer walking around the neighbourhood, getting our faces recognised around the local area.’ Just as important for Ben and Beth was being good neighbours. In the first autumn, a flyer advertising tea and cakes at their home saw the start of several new friendships. A huge surplus of leftover cake gave Ben and Beth the idea to take full plates of cake around to their immediate neighbours.

COVER STORY

e British, Asian and Eastern European communities´ ‘The Pakistani family next door to us were so chuffed with the cake that they returned the plate – with food on! I must say from then on my motives were a bit mixed: “Here, have some more cake because those samosas were amazing!”’

Building a team Ben and Beth were soon joined by their first Eden volunteer, Andy. ‘Andy’s story is great,’ says Ben ‘He’d been interested in Eden for longer than we had, but he was in the middle of a nursing course. When he finished, he didn’t know what he should do – wait for a job to come up, or just move in. In the end, he decided he would move in – and shortly after, God provided him with the perfect job at the Northern General – bang in the middle of Fir Vale! He took the step of faith, God provided the job.’ Over the next few months, another couple, Gareth and Rachel, and two others, Jon and Becky, would join them too. The team quickly became close: ‘I think it’s because we’ve all made the same commitment, and we’ve all made sacrifices to be here,’ reflects Ben. The team will grow again in October as Ben and Beth welcome their first child into the world.

ENGAGING EVENTS The Eden team is becoming well known locally through community events which are open to everyone, including several litter picks: ‘It sounds like a small thing but litter is a significant problem in our

area – not just the litter itself, but the lack of pride its shows and the blame that different groups put on each other for it.’ An event to mark the Queen’s Jubilee looked like it was going to be a wash-out, but was saved thanks to some quick thinking from the team: ‘We didn’t have a wet weather plan, so we invited everyone into our (small) house. I counted 50 people – all different backgrounds mixing together. We’d gone from thinking no one would come along at all to seeing them all in our living room!’ At the event and over the following weeks, the team gave out 166 Bibles to local families. Later in the summer, the team worked with Sidewalk, another local Christian organisation, to run an openair holiday club featuring a big yellow van with a fold-down stage. As well as seeing hundreds of kids during the day, the team followed the events up with midweek home visits. In total they visited 52 households and 200 kids each week of August. ‘It was a great opportunity for our new team to meet people in the area and for local people to see who we are’, says Ben. The next phase saw more fruitful detached work, a successful Christmas carol street singalong (‘Particularly popular with our Slovakian neighbours for some reason – most of them couldn’t read the words but they loved it!’) and a cake baking workshop for 50 kids which attracted a visit from local MP David Blunkett. ‘Our main aim is to be relational, not attractional,’ says Ben. ‘But when we do events we want to do them well. They are a good springboard to ongoing stuff where relationships can deepen.’ www.message.org.uk/flow

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NEW YEAR

In January the team opened a new after-school drop-in for local young people up to the age of 17. There are games, Wii, hot chocolate – all the classic features of a youth drop-in – but the real focus is on relationships. Two new regular groups are focussing on football for boys and crafts and baking for girls, encouraging ad-hoc mentoring and deepening relationships. The team hopes that these groups will begin to address the tensions that exist between different social and ethnic groups in Fir Vale. The team is also pioneering a new six-week leadership course for use in secondary schools, based on the ‘life shapes’ curriculum made popular by St Thomas Crookes. Each of the six steps has a Bible verse that relates to it and brings in a theme about God.

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‘We’re teaching the young people to identify something about their community they’d like to change for the better – and then giving them a process to implement it. We were imagining it as an after-school group, but when we pitched it to one of our teachers they asked if we could do it as lessons,’ says Ben.

POINTING TO JESUS Easter seemed like the right moment to publicly launch what the team hopes will be a lasting legacy of Eden Fir Vale – a missional community, supported by St Thomas Crookes known as ‘Restore’. The team and others in Restore organised a special Easter Challenge on Sunday afternoon which saw local people searching for clues in the spring snow and enjoying lunch together. They now meet monthly for worship,

teaching and fellowship – making the gospel as accessible as possible to the local community. ‘This is what it’s all about,’ says Ben. ‘Looking around an area like ours, you see so many things you’d like to change. That can send you into despair. But as a missional community, we remind each other that we moved here because of what God can see, and that always encourages us to keep going.’

`as a missional community, we remind each other that we moved here because of what God can see´

COVER STORY

EDEN GOING , WHERE WE RE MOST NEEDED

Glasgow

Plans are well underway for the development of Eden teams in Glasgow. Our hope is to launch teams as a follow-on to a large intensive mission in the city around the time of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Find out where we're already at work, and where we're going next.

NORTH EAST

Our two existing teams in Blyth, Northumberland and in the Easterside Estate south of Middlesbrough will soon be joined by a third – this time in the Ragworth area of Middlesbrough.

MERSEYSIDE

We have committed to launching Eden in three disadvantaged communities. The first to go live was Eden Netherton in the north of Liverpool. Norris Green and Birkenhead will follow in 2014.

GREATER 4 MANCHESTER

Manchester remains the epicentre of Eden’s work around the nation with teams present in eight locations and two more in the pipeline.

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MORE OUT ND

FI Full Profiles and stories from all our Eden team locations are available at: eden-network.org/teams

YORKSHIRE

HUMBERSIDE

WEST MIDLANDS

EAST MIDLANDS

SOUTH WALES

LONDON

The Eden teams in Sheffield and Bradford will soon be joined by a team located in the Wheatley Park area of Doncaster.

Our team in Hull is urgently in need of more team members – the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few!

We are excited about the new opportunities for Eden and for the wider work of The Message across the Midlands. Find out more about the vision for Birmingham and beyond in our interview with new Regional Director Seth Pinnock on page 13.

Serious talks are underway with Nottingham Diocese to consider how Eden could be used as a model to revitalise communities and churches in the north of the city.

We continue to ask God for open doors and to reveal his timing for the commencement of Eden in South Wales.

There are currently six Eden teams in the capital – North, East and West London. Two more are in development, the first designed to reach the estates of Shoreditch and the second in the Walworth area of Southwark.

www.message.org.uk/flow

TEACHING

By Stuart Bell

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A first-rate life They didn’t choose it, but when they got there, they wanted to live a first-rate life in a secondchoice world. And they were ten times more successful than their contemporaries. How?

One:

They understood God’s sovereignty. Throughout the book of Daniel, two phrases are used over and over again of Daniel and his friends: ‘God in Heaven’ and ‘Most High God’. These men understood that the God they served was the Most High God. We sing this all the time, but we have to grasp it: the reason we succeed is because we have a God who is victorious, higher than any other.

Four:

They wholeheartedly served those in authority over them. Notice how Daniel asked for permission not to defile himself (v8). We need a spirit that says we’re going to serve. We don’t come with a superior attitude, but like Daniel, we gain permission by living the life.

Five:

They were in for the long haul. There’s one verse you could easily miss right at the end of They made faith in God their priority. chapter 1: ‘Daniel remained there until the first year It would have been so easy for these young men of King Cyrus’ (v21). Daniel was there long enough to to fit into their surroundings, to keep their faith speak into two kingdoms and four kings. The church private. But they knew that their identity was needs to remain a constant voice as governments as worshippers, and they never lost their public rise and fall. prayer life. Today too, it counts – and it costs – to stand up and be a Christian in the world. Of course, it’s not for us to say ‘I’m ten times better They applied themselves to excellence than you’ – it’s for others. It’s when bosses begin in learning and leadership. I was brought up in a to say, ‘That person’s attitude is the best in the church culture where everything was below par, business!’ ‘They’re the best time keepers!’ ‘They’re mediocre. But today I encourage everyone to be the the ones that keep their promises!’ best we can possible be. These guys were intelligent, This is the word of God to us: we can be ten times but they still had to learn, they still had to work. better in an alien culture. Not to elevate ourselves, Ultimately, it was God who caused them to prosper but in order that God Almighty is exalted. (v17).

Two:

For others to say

Three:

Catch the whole of this message on the Message Podcast and lots more great content all for free. Download via iTunes (search ‘Message Podcast’) or listen at www.message.org.uk/media

www.message.org.uk/flow

FEATURE

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EC M e h out t see b a read rised to d s.’ a n o p i r ‘I h t cta s su it is. e a p w x but ive ed my e s s a d m how lly excee a It tot 2 6 flow12 AUG-SEPT 2013

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wasn’t available, the chef made us a special. It was a masterpiece!’

THEY

GIFT E

‘I’m really grateful for The Message. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have ever become a Christian. I really love the things they do – especially working in schools and in tough communities through Eden.’

DAB

IKE T OAL OCAL

‘We got to look around Bespoke and Hayley and I got to try out a tandem bike. We were offered a bike but we decided to donate it to a single mum whose boy picked out a BMX!’

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www.message.org.uk/flow

TEACHING

The difference between running on fear and running on faith By Andy Hawthorne

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aith and fear are like two different operating systems. We all choose to operate in one or the other.

To base important decisions on fear is a massive mistake, but it’s one Christians make all the time – fear of being alone gets us in trouble with bad relationships; fear of lack leads to bad Fear is our old operating system – fear financial decisions. It’s a scary thing to of death, the future, our finances, our present our plans to God and expect him health, our relationships, fear of accusa- to bless them. It always ends up in chaos. tions against us. That’s how we used to operate. But now we operate in the mindset of faith. We’re a faith people. We’re a people believing with confident faith that Jesus At the same time, we see a man operatwins, and the Kingdom advances – faith ing in faith, coming alongside the king to that sees how this is all going to end: with speak the word of the Lord to him: ‘Be millions coming to Christ, heaven being careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…’ (v4). populated and Jesus being glorified. Here are four ways to move from But it’s a choice. Every day, every hour even, we make that choice – which faith to fear – and they all start in the mind. Be careful – guard against those one are we going to live in? swings in your emotions. Choose to keep calm, and receive his peace. Choose not to be afraid. And do not lose heart – keep your heart strong, don’t get disconnected from the Word and from fellowship. Reinhard Bonnke calls faith a kind Isaiah 7 shows us a man caught between of immune system that filters out fears fear and faith. King Ahaz is in trouble, that would otherwise paralyse us. from the left and from the right. He’s got different invading armies coming from all sides, trying to take Jerusalem. It’s been said that trouble comes in Look closely at the text and you’ll see threes. We end up with multiple things that God sends Isaiah’s son along with to contend with at once, like many him, Shear-jashub (v3). Isaiah was armies coming against us: maybe our bringing up a boy in the Lord, passing health, maybe our finances, maybe our on to him the mindset of faith. relationships, all at the same time. We’re all viral, every one of us. When it happens, what’s our The MEC and our Houses of Hope are response going to be? viral environments, where faith can be Ahaz’s response was fear – he was caught. We’re contagious people. What ‘shaken as the trees of the forest were do you want to be contagious for: faith shaken’ (v2). Fear makes people do or fear? stupid things. Despite having all of God’s promises, he starts to operate in fear. He ends up making a plan to make a pact with the foreign invaders.

From fear to faith

Trouble from all sides

We're viral

Every day we make a chOice which one are we going to live in?

Catch the whole of this message on the message podcast. Download via iTunes (search ‘message podcast’) or listen at: www.message.org.uk/media www.message.org.uk/flow

FUNDRAISING

On Saturday 14 September, Andy Hawthorne and World Wide Message Tribe collaborator Mark Pennells are undertaking a crazy cycle challenge that takes them right back to the early days of The Message Trust. They’ll be cycling around the perimeter of Greater Manchester on a specially made, somewhat ridiculous, tandem bike aiming to raise a whopping £50,000 for The Message and Innervation Trust. They’re calling the challenge ‘Take A Long Bike With The Chosen Two’, a cheeky reference to the first World Wide Message Tribe album in 1992 (currently available on eBay... maybe!) Support Andy and Mark at: www.justgiving.com/takealongbike

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Message supporter Colin Dulson proved that turning 50 doesn’t need to mean ‘shades of grey’ by completing a cycle and running fundraiser tough enough for a man of any age. He completed a 50-mile run over 30 different Lake District summits, followed by a 750-mile bike ride to Maidstone in Kent (where he grew up), then back up to Kendal, Cumbria (where he has lived for the last 30 years). He also stopped by The Message for a cuppa at the Message Enterprise Centre – and a massive cheer! ‘I really enjoyed it,’ said Colin. ‘The best part was sharing the Message story with people along the way.’ He raised an amazing £4,000 in one exhausting week.

Staff members Ian Rowbottom, Tim Mycock and Richard Chinn are doing a Pedalo challenge later this year. www.justgiving.com/pedalo-challenge

Can You Help?

The team are urgently seeking a support craft to travel with them. If you can help, please contact Tim immediately: tim.mycock@message.org.uk 0161 946 2300

Message team members Andre Adefope, Steve Bird, Damian Barker and Rich Stanton rode the ‘Way of the Roses’ coastto-coast cycle challenge – covering the 170 miles between Morecambe and Bridlington. They’re aiming to raise £3,000 and you can sponsor them at: www.justgiving.com/message-coast-to-coast

What could you do on a bike to raise funds for The Message? Contact Lauren on our fundraising team for ideas or to register your event and let us help you raise as much as possible for our work. 0161 946 2300 lauren.mangold@message.org.uk www.message.org.uk/flow

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