THE MAGAZINE OF THE
Also inside: Teaching
from Mark Ritchie and Carl Beech
Best year of their lives
Stories from this year’s Academy students
Message Wales Salvation in school
and more...
MESS 17 AGE | ISSUE 22 SUMMER 20
ANDY’S RANT
‘Life to the full’ Dear friends, Occasionally at The Message there are moments which in themselves sum up what we are all about and make all the hard work, heartache and prayer worthwhile. One such moment happened this week at our monthly prayer day when one of the guys, who lives in The Oaks (our house for ex-offenders) and who is soon to be working in our Message Enterprise Centre, shared a story from the front. Growing up, this young man had known little but death, carnage, addiction and prison. One of his friends and his own brother had died in front of him as a result of heroin addiction and his parents both died young as a result of alcohol addiction. Inevitably, he himself suffered from his own addictions for years. If there was anyone that it could be said of that Satan planned to steal, kill and destroy, it was this man. Yet thankfully, Jesus, who only wants to bring life – and life to the full – had stepped into his story and we, alongside other believers, have the privilege of helping him to rebuild his life. As he stood at the front I was really moved to see just what Jesus can do even in the most broken lives. He wanted to share that in the last few weeks he had been involved in leading his neighbour to Christ and then baptising him. One of his brothers, who had been so impacted by the change in him, had also committed his life to Christ and has recently entered a Christian rehab centre. How beautiful is that? These are the sorts of things that your faithful support is bringing about in ever-greater numbers. We really hope you will plan to be with us for our huge 25 year conference celebration on 17–18 November 2017 as we look back on all that God has done, share more of these ‘Jesus only’ stories and look forward in faith to all that God has in store. Thanks so much for your support.
Founder & CEO The Message Trust
PS. Don’t forget to book online for the Message Conference in November. It’s £65 for the two days, or £40 for a day ticket. Head to message.org.uk/conference to find out more.
The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes. Registered Office: Lancaster House, Lancaster Campus, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG. The Message Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 3961183 Registered Charity No. 1081467 VAT Registration No. GB 727 177616
IN THIS ISSUE
20 New identity
Steve Sam is heading up a new ministry as part of Message South Africa
Editor Simon Baker
Associate Editor Ian Rowbottom Design & Illustration Simon Baker Hannah Beatrice Prittie Bethan Wilson Matthew Varah Wilson
12 Eden milestone
Five hundred urban missionaries
Additional Photography Zeke Du Plessis Christina Otoo-Anakwa Rachael Silvester
17 Message Academy
Contributors Peter Wooding Caitlin Woodington Mark Ritchie Carl Beech
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Subscription & Supporter Enquiries E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
22 Time of their lives
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Flow Magazine The Message Trust Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG www.message.org.uk/flow
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.
The best mission focused gap year around
Bringing hope and joy through our work in prisons
Giving E: giving@message.org.uk T: Tom Kinsey 0161 946 2328
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Higher is on its way to the Midlands, South Wales and Manchester
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Picture Editor Hannah Beatrice Prittie
Contact E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
06 Higher Tour
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23 Make the leap
Mark Ritchie on being courageous for God
26 Message Wales Stories of salvation from Wales 3
BIG PICTURE
Award-winning: here’s our staff team gathered at one of our monthly prayer days celebrating achieving second place on the Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations To Work For 2017 list. Andy collected a special award for the year’s best charity leader too.
BIG PICTURE
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NEWS
The Higher Tour heads across the country After the remarkable stories of salvation from Higher Manchester in 2016, we’re gearing up to go again. By the end of 2018 the Higher Tour will have visited the Midlands, South Wales and Manchester (again). ‘We’re passionate about seeing a generation-shifting response to the gospel across our nation,’ says Tom Butler, our Head of UK Mission. ‘In Manchester, we saw that so many unchurched young people are genuinely open to God. As we plan for the next leg of the tour, we’re working hard on making our discipleship resources even more accessible to the people who’ve never set foot in a church before.’
For our UK Director, Carl Beech, Higher is a vital part of how the church can respond to youth culture in the UK. ‘It’s genuinely heartbreaking to see the extent of brokenness that still exists in our time and on our watch. ‘Higher is all about seeing full-on followers of Jesus who then bring hope and healing to their own generation.’ We launched Higher Midlands on the weekend of 13-14 May with four of our partner churches in the region: All Nations Wolverhampton, CLM Church Coventry, Solihull Christian Centre and Birmingham City Church.
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We’re already working hard to develop relationships with church and youth leaders through regular events at our new offices in Birmingham in preparation for Higher Midlands in spring 2018. ‘If we’re serious about discipleship, we’ve got to do it as community and as family – it doesn’t work otherwise,’ says Tom. ‘Communicating well is tricky, but it’s the only way forward.’ Before that, Higher hits the schools in Manchester in October and November 2017. Our schools work will culminate with an evangelistic youth event on Friday 17 November at Victoria Warehouse as part of the Message Conference, and Danielle Strickland will be sharing the gospel. This time, we’re also planning to schedule more evangelistic events in churches across Greater Manchester. We’re also busy planning our launch events for Higher South Wales, which will take place in late 2017.
WE’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT SEEING A GENERATIONSHIFTING RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL ACROSS OUR NATION Reflecting on Higher Manchester, Tom comments, ‘The numbers are great, but the stories are better. Numbers in the thousands are almost impossible to relate to, but I have to keep reminding myself that those thousands are made up of individual stories, each one more remarkable than the last. There are real lives that have been completely turned around by the power of Jesus – real lives that will start to impact real lives and more real lives.’
HIGHER GET INVOLVED Pray for Higher Please stand with us in prayer for the Higher Tour. Pray that we would see a genuine shift in youth culture through a generation of passionate disciples. Sign up for regular prayer updates at highertour.com
Partner with Higher Are you in Manchester, the Midlands or South Wales? Send an email to higher@message.org.uk to find out more about how you can play your part.
Join us in November to see Higher up close The Higher evangelistic event is a core part of the Message Conference – book your place today at message.org.uk/conference and take advantage of our online booking discount.
NEWS
Message South Africa continues to grow Our work in South Africa is expanding faster than ever. Now with a host of schools teams, a rehabilitation centre, a café and a burgeoning Advance network, we’re seeing hundreds of lives impacted by the power of Jesus.
The Oaks
Late in 2016, the Message South Africa team opened the doors of The Oaks – a safe place for ex-offenders to put down roots and grow. Young men and women who find Christ in prison now have a place to stay when they’re released, where they’re able to join a community focused on discipleship.
Mess Café opens its doors
55 attend first South Africa Advance meeting
Andy was also able to launch the Advance network in South Africa. ‘I expected a dozen or so to turn up, but in the end 55 passionate evangelists piled into the room. They’re all desperate to grow in sharing the gospel and be accountable to one another. It truly is a beautiful thing to see.’
We’ve also opened a Mess Café in the suburb of Mowbray in Cape Town, offering employment for ex-offenders. On a recent visit, our CEO Andy Hawthorne saw the café in action. ‘I love it! Hearing the stories of the guys working there – you know it’s only because of Christ.’
MORE FROM MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA message.org.za
Xola serves coffee in the Cape Town Mess Café 8
NEWS
Tying the knot without breaking the bank at the Message Enterprise Centre The Message Enterprise Centre is leading the way as a value-for-money wedding reception venue in South Manchester. With catering provided by our on-site Mess Café and bridal makeup by Shine Hair & Beauty, it's truly all-hands-on-deck. We've been really encouraged by all we've heard from our wedding guests so far. John Berry and his wife were guests at what they thought was a ‘superb’ wedding reception. 'The Message staff were tremendous – nothing was too much trouble. Someone asked one of the waiters, “I hope they’re paying you well for this!” and he replied, “I just do this for the Lord.” I’m sure the family will thank you, but I just wanted you to know how good it all was.' ‘Even five stars doesn’t do it justice,’ said Andy and Kirsten Cadwallader,
who held their wedding celebration at the MEC. ‘The team were amazing at helping bring the event together. The catering was exactly to our requirements and we’ve had nothing but great feedback from our guests since the event. Everybody loved it. Thank you all so much.’ ‘Weddings are a great opportunity for our MEC team members to be part of something special,’ comments Sam Hawthorne, MEC Business Development Manager. ‘It truly feels like the MEC is more of a family than a team.’
© Ian Howarth
If you’re in the North West, why not consider including the Message Enterprise Centre in your big day? You could hold your reception here, or make use of Shine for bridal makeup – or even book the new Mess Hut for on-location outdoor catering.
FIND OUT MORE
Email samh@message.org.uk
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NEWS
Introducing... SoulBox and Amongst Wolves Since September we’ve been developing two new schools bands who will form a core part of our work through the Higher Tour and beyond.
SoulBox are a funky duo who blend soul, rap and beatbox. Message Academy graduate Ben and former Eden worker Jon have already been working in schools in Greater Manchester and beyond.
Amongst Wolves is our brand-new rock band. This four-piece comprises Kariss (vocals, bass guitar), Clarissa (guitar, keyboard), Mark (guitar, vocals), and Andy (drums).
In April, they spent a week in Poland with Galactus Jack as part of the Exit Tour, sharing their music and the gospel through schools work and concert gigs, and in May they were part of our Higher Midlands launch events.
Having completed a number of schools visits along with Respect ME, they’re busy working on new music to help share the gospel in a relevant way with the young people they perform to.
Book SoulBox or Amongst Wolves for your school: Visit www.message.org.uk/book-a-team
FOLLOW SOULBOX
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FOLLOW AMONGST WOLVES @WeAreAmongst
NEWS
Vital Signs artist wins international song competition
Nick Shahlavi, part of our missions team Vital Signs, has been awarded first place in the Anno Domini Song Contest 2016 for his song ‘My Story’.
The contest has been running every year since 2006, but Nick is the first ever winner from outside the US. His is also the first Christian song to be awarded the top spot. Through the song Nick shares his story of salvation, with lyrics exploring Jesus’ death on the cross, forgiveness and the resurrection.
Anno Domini is an international company comprising a successful hip-hop label, with producers who have worked with huge, multimillion-selling artists 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross.
GET ‘IMPRINT’ FOR FREE
Visit vitalsignscollective.com
Parents enjoying the show: our annual Genetik Showcase included young people from across Greater Manchester performing music and dance pieces developed with our tutors in weekly workshops
Curtain closes on In Yer Face Theatre Company It is with real gratitude and not a little sadness that we announce that our theatre company In Yer Face is to close after 20 years of cutting-edge theatre in schools and churches across the UK.
Please join us in thanking God for his faithfulness through the work of In Yer Face and for all those who have come to know Christ through their work.
Celebrating 20 years: the IYF team 11
NEWS
500 urban missionaries deployed Our 500th Eden team member has just joined our 50th Eden team in Falinge, Rochdale. We caught up with our latest recruit as well as our first ever Eden worker from 20 years ago. Dave Nuttall was the very first person to join Eden and he’s still living in the same house in Wythenshawe. ‘We lived in Wythenshawe for almost a year before Eden started, with a family from our church living next door. At times, it was hard, getting to know people, waiting for others to move in and join Eden as well as trying to settle into our new life. We were all very young and perhaps often naïve. The journey was eventful and exciting, but also sometimes difficult. We made lots of mistakes, but learnt lots of things too.
‘Living in Wythenshawe was only a challenge when we saw life as a project. Once we saw every day as real life and became part of the community, it was different. There have been so many highlights. In some ways, the real highlights are now meeting people we have known for twenty years and sharing stories, as well as seeing the impact of something that we started many years ago. ‘It’s great that there are so many Eden teams and team members across the world now. I’ll always be glad to have been part of Eden. It’s had a big impact on my life.’ Hannah Moss, who’s married to Eden Falinge team leader James, is excited to be the 500th urban missionary sent by Eden. ‘My husband, James, and I heard about Eden through
working on the Higher Tour last year. ‘We really want to make a difference in Rochdale to help overcome some of the challenges in the community including poverty, unemployment, addictions and many people living in isolation. ‘At the moment, we’re still trusting God to open the way for us to be able to move onto the estate. We’re nervous but also expectant, literally as I’m due to have our first baby in May. ‘It’s a privilege and an honour to be part of something that’s been going for such a long time, and to know that there are hundreds of other also following the same call.’
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Salvation in Canada through Eden Whalley Since moving in to the underprivileged neighbourhood of Whalley in Vancouver, team leaders Dave and Shaina Morgan have seen God moving powerfully in their community. It’s amazing to see how the Lord is making a way for us here,’ says Dave.
‘For many addicts in need of a quick and cheap fix, it’s the only thing that will quiet the cravings. ‘I startled Eddie as he frantically mixed the deadly poison. He gained composure and looked up at me through a black and blue, swollen-shut eye that he’d picked up in a recent fight. ‘”Pastor Dave,” Eddie said, “is that you?”
‘On a recent walk in Whalley, I stumbled across an old friend, Eddie, who’s at the last stop on the long bus ride of alcoholism. I found him crouching down behind some cars on the Strip, mixing a street concoction called “Compound.” ‘The Strip is a street that is a place for the homeless and addicts in Surrey. Hundreds of addicts pitch their tents and shoot up here daily. ‘”Compound” is a deadly mixture of rubbing alcohol and Lysol cleaning spray, mixed together with orange juice. When you drink it, it actually burns your insides.
‘”Yes,” I replied. “It’s me, Eddie!” ‘Eddie began to weep as he came out from behind the cars and sat beside me on the sidewalk. With a haunting desperation in his voice he said, “Can you pray for me? I need to know Jesus is still with me.” ‘It is for moments like this that we walk the streets.’ Please pray for Dave and Shaina as they and their family make their home in their broken community.
MORE FROM MESSAGE CANADA Visit messagecanada.org
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NEWS
Regular Message prayer meeting in West London Our West London hub is meeting regularly to build a culture of prayer to fuel our expanding mission across the capital. ‘A few months ago, I found myself asking God, “why am I the only person in London who wants to tell people about Jesus?”’ says Jamie Sewell, our West London hub leader. ‘God, why doesn’t anyone really believe you can transform London? Why doesn’t anyone else believe in the power of the gospel? And still you haven’t done what you promised! ‘In that moment, God chastised me in a way only a perfect parent can. He reminded me of 1 Kings 19: Elijah fled from Jezebel because she wanted him dead. He was moaning like me:
‘“Lord God all-powerful, I’ve always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me.” ‘God went on to tell Elijah that 7,000 Israelites had also refused to bow to Baal. It was with those people that God restored Israel. The Bible refers to the 7,000 as the “remnant”. ‘As I read this I felt God whisper into my ear, ‘Gather the remnant in London and pray for a mighty revival.’
ARE YOU THE REMNANT? CONTACT THE LONDON HUB TEAM
Email westlondon@message.org.uk
Glasgow Eden Bus partners with Youth Alpha
In partnership with two local churches in Ayr our Eden Bus in Scotland has just completed a set of six sessions which culminated in the first session of the Youth Alpha course. We’ve already seen young people come to Christ, and Youth Alpha is now continuing in the local churches with good attendance.
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the equivalent number of trees planted by installing solar panels at HQ – funded thanks to the generous support of NPS Solar
90% of people living with a disability haven’t an opportunity to hear the gospel. Enable ( featured in Flow 21) is our missions team focused on reaching those with seen or unseen disabilities
(Source: The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation)
Accountable evangelism: a new
Advance group meets to share stories and encourage one another in sharing the gospel
Mates on a mission A new regular feature celebrating the remarkable people with us on the journey
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the number of Advance evangelist groups across the UK and beyond
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Eden teams pioneered across the UK, South Africa and Canada
Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, pictured here at a recent Higher meeting in the Midlands.
Sophia Barrett pictured sharing at a recent prayer day. Listen to her talk ‘Stay’ online at message.org.uk
Matt Leeder is our new Yorkshire hub leader. He’s going to be spearheading our work across the region. 15
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DENTS ADEMY STU AND C A T S E T A RL URSE TWO OF OU ED THE CO IN O J Y E H T N WHY HTS SO FAR REFLECT O ME OF THEIR HIGHLIG SHARE SO
‘TO HAVE THIS YEAR TO COMPLETELY FOCUS ON GOD HAS SET ME UP FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE’
‘I WANTED TO STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND BE TESTED AND CHALLENGED’ SHUNITA
JOEL
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SHUNITA -
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efore I came here I really wanted to be more open to what God has for me. I wanted to learn to step out of my comfort zone and be tested and challenged. I was ready for the next step of my relationship with God and found that this place could offer me that.
JOEL - 22
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was praying about the next step in my life and someone sent me a link to the Message Academy. When I went on the website I knew that God was saying, ‘This is where you need to be, Joel’, and now I’m here. I love how practical the course is. We’ve had lots of placements where we only find our feet once we’re there. It’s been cool for me to use my music background to reach young people. When we’ve helped in youth sessions, singing with the kids is a really nice way to build trust with them. When we’ve then given a gospel message, they’re more open to it.
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It’s amazing to go on outreaches with the mission bands, seeing how they use music as their way in before boldly sharing the gospel. A key highlight has been watching myself change.
I’m definitely more confident now in sharing my faith and I care more than I used to. My heart breaks for the people I work with. To have this year to completely focus on God has set me up for the rest of my life.
One of my favourite experiences has been working with projects for disadvantaged people in deprived areas. We get to spend time with people,
eat with them and join in lessons with them. I’ve loved just being alongside them. It’s such a blessing to serve people who are homeless, and be able to show them kindness. One time we were on the streets giving out teas and coffees and we met a man who was homeless, but he was also a Christian. He started praying for us and prophesying over us. I just thought ‘wow, that’s
incredible’. This man didn’t have anything but at the same time, seemed to have everything because he had Jesus in his life. I’d love to take everything that I’ve learnt this year back to Wales with me, and maybe start something or be a part of mission over there. I don’t know what that looks like yet but I’m just going to trust God with it.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON THE FLOW PODCAST Subscribe today message.org.uk/flow-podcast
PASSIONATE ABOUT MISSION? COME AND SPEND A YEAR ON THE CUTTING EDGE. Message Academy is a year with The Message Trust for 18–25 year olds, where you’ll be able to explore your calling with one of the UK’s leading mission organisations. Find out more and apply today:
MESSAGE.ORG.UK/ACADEMY
TESTIMONY
It’s been both challenging and rewarding in loads of different ways. The number of people who we’ve met and worked with has been incredible. I’m grateful for all the new experiences I’ve had and being able to share life with all sorts of different people.
TESTIMONY
christ gave me a new identity
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steve’s story Steve Sam was sentenced to 22 years in prison after his life as a gangster in South Africa finally caught up with him. Back then his mission in life was to influence other young men on a path to destruction. But since he found Christ he’s found a new purpose to provide positive education to the next generation as Message South Africa’s ReFocus school coordinator. hen I was just 11, my parents’ divorce led me to become part of a gang. Eventually I was arrested and sentenced to 22 years in a correctional facility. I was a broken young man and I was still caught up in gangsterism. I recruited many young guys and I had a very negative influence over them, even commanding them to stab others. I remember one night when I was in my bed, there was a battle going on inside me. A voice told me to go to church for the first time. Eventually I found myself there, crying. During that moment I experienced such a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. From there, God kept transforming my life. It was not easy. I was still falling, making some mistakes, but God by his grace preserved me. In 2014, I came into contact with the team from The Message Trust and I shared my 20
vision to see other young people rescued before they fell into gangsterism and crime. I knew God had laid this burden in my heart. I knew God was going to use me to provide a positive influence on young people. The story of Peter came to me. Peter was a fisherman who God sent on a mission to be a fisher of men. God called him to serve where he was already working. It’s my mission to see many souls come into the kingdom of God by influencing them not towards destruction but towards freedom. Now, we’ve designed a curriculum we called ReFocus, which we believe God is going to use to reach young people at their core. There are eight modules, which explore topics including identity, choices and responsibilities. These are real issues young people find themselves faced with today. I used to wear a mask as a gangster for my identity, but Christ gave me a new identity and I want to use this to help other young people find their purpose and belonging in him.
MORE FROM MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA message.org.za
‘i knew god was going to use me to provide a positive influence on young people’
Richard Oppong-Boateng, who joined our prisons team last summer, shares some of the most powerful moments he’s encountered seeing some of the most broken lives restored
E M I T
o f t he i r
ach week I walk through the wings praying that these men will look back on their time in prison and say, ‘This was the best time of my life because I met Jesus.’ I recently saw a tangible answer to that prayer when we had a worship time on the wings. We had six guys who are twice the size of me and they were singing their hearts out, ‘There’s no place I’d rather be.’ Lots of people came running in wondering what was going on. These men are finding freedom in their hearts even while being locked in a cell. As well being able to speak about Jesus, the other highlight is building relationships that continue outside of prison. If we want to stop them re-offending, it’s about having the right support mechanism around them. I’ve had the opportunity to work in HMP Hindley where I do a guitar group, which is funny because I can’t play the guitar. The prisoners come in and they start 22
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teaching me chords. But God is so faithful and he will just use a willing heart. I got to know one guy who was coming to these sessions and I soon realised he was a Christian and he wanted to grow in his faith. We continued this relationship outside of prison and he’s been going to church with me and he’s really growing in his faith. You can see a future for his life and he tells me, ‘Richard, I can see what God has got in store for me.’ That’s the beauty of the gospel. We keep praying those ridiculous prayers that prisoners will look back at and see this was truly best time of their lives.
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TEACHING
Making the leap Mark Ritchie encourages us to be courageous as we respond to God’s call
ecently I was booked to speak at a youth camp in Austria. When I arrived, the guy who picked me up said, ‘Mark, we called your office last week to ask if you’d be interested in “canyoning” with us. They told us you were up for anything. So that’s what we’re doing today.’
Being strong and courageous
I was given a towel and piled into a minibus. I quickly discovered two things: firstly, that ‘canyoning’ involves literally throwing yourself off the mountain into deep pools of water. The second thing I realised was that everyone else in the minibus with me was male and aged
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TEACHING
between 11 and 14. There were no other leaders. ‘This is a nightmare,’ I thought. One thing that crosses international borders is that young lads don’t care if they live or die. If you’re 12, life is one massive adventure. We put on the gear and without further ado they were off. These lads just threw themselves off the cliff. The first jump was seven metres. My turn. The problem was that the guide didn’t speak any English. He shouted at me in German and pointed down. Was he pointing to safety or death? I had no idea. I just had to trust him. I had to choose to trust him – trust that where he was pointing was to safety, not harm. In Joshua 1:9, God says to Joshua: ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ God often asks us to take courage, asking us to take incredible steps of faith. He speaks in the language of faith. Sometimes we don’t understand everything. We don’t know every detail. Sometimes we’ve just got to take that leap and trust that God has got it. Sometimes it’s finance, and we worry, ‘where and when will the next money come from?’ God says, ‘throw yourself off, it’s going be alright.’ When we throw ourselves out on God he will never let us down.
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Living in a daring culture
In the Austrian mountains, we did about four or five more jumps which went well. The final jump was a whopping nine metres (25 feet). I was almost wetting myself because even the 11–14-year-old lads were getting nervous. Nevertheless they were still up for it. I was terrified and didn’t want to do any more. Then, one lad who spoke a little bit of English came and said to me, ‘You are a…you are, erm… how you say…a baby!’ I immediately chucked myself off that mountain side – there’s no way a little 11-year-old lad is going to call me that!
‘Sometimes we don’t understand everything. We’ve got to trust that God has got it’ If I’d been there with an adult we’d have talked our way out of it, agreeing that the other jumps were enough. But because I was in that daring culture, I was dared to go further beyond anything I would have ever dreamed or imagined. Later in the chapter, Joshua speaks to the officers of the people of Israel and they respond, ‘Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!’ (Joshua 1:18).
TEACHING
Joshua is part of a daring culture. They are willing to follow him. They say, ‘Be the leader we know you are, be strong and courageous.’ We often think that taking risks will be smooth and beautiful the first time we do it and we easily get obsessed with things being excellent. Sometimes we’ve just got to have a go. Are you doing something for the first time? Guess what: you’ll probably get some of it wrong. But when you experiment and do new things, it’s innovative and creative. This is where innovation lives. Be brave, be courageous, be strong. We have an option of whether we want to play it safe or if we want to take the leap. Let’s be willing to fight for a generation, willing to fight to see people to come to faith, willing to fight for our schools, housing estates and our prisons, because God has put something inside of us which is greater and bigger than any fear. he promises to be with you, always.
Listen to the full Talk online: Message.org.uk
TESTIMONY
BREAKTHROUGH IN WALES ON A RECENT SCHOOLS VISIT WITH VITAL SIGNS, OUR MESSAGE WALES TEAM SAW GOD OPEN DOORS AND MOVE POWERFULLY AMONG STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE. CAITLIN WOODINGTON SHARES THE STORY
s a schools worker and now Higher South Wales Coordinator I continually feel like God is calling Message Wales to press deeper into schools and proclaim his message 26
of hope, love and salvation to pupils and to teachers. With Vital Signs booked to perform at our termly outreach event LIFT, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to do just that. On a chilly Friday morning, we showed up at a Cardiff high school with Vital Signs to deliver lessons to Year 9s and invite them to our LIFT outreach event that evening. Vital Signs delivered four lessons and in each lesson God’s presence became more and more apparent. Nick and Marvin’s raps and testimonies captivated the pupils. Teachers were just as engaged. These were more than just brilliant lessons. This was the power and presence of God showing up. This was
God working through all the chaos there had been and bringing about his purposes. In the final lesson of the day we crammed in over 60 young people. As Vital Signs had done in every lesson they proclaimed Jesus and shared how Jesus had saved and transformed their lives. They spoke truth. They challenged the Year 9s about the choices they make. Nick asked the group if, after hearing his story, anyone now believed that God might be real. Over half the pupils put their hands up. That evening we set up for LIFT full of expectation. Some of the first people to arrive were the RE teacher and two girls from the school we had been
The evening was brilliant with Vital Signs performing and Dai Hankey speaking. Both Vital Signs and Dai proclaimed the gospel to the young people there. Towards the end, Dai asked for anyone to stand up who wanted to follow Jesus and 50 or 60 young people stood up to receive Jesus for the first time. We didn’t have enough people to pray for everyone, so we asked youth leaders to help. Nick from Vital Signs led them in a prayer to accept Jesus. After the event ended even more young people came forward for prayer. God is good. We saw three young people from Eden Tremorfa become Christians. Nick prayed for three lads from the school
TESTIMONY
at that morning. The two girls caught a bus into the city centre and found the church all on their own. Just before it started three more lads came in having left their rugby practice early.
and they chatted with the youth leader at Freedom Church about joining their youth club. We even saw the RE teacher become a Christian! She is really determined to partner with Message Wales and have us do more in the school with her. That Friday, it seemed wherever I looked God was pouring out his Spirit. Despite wondering how this could possibly work out, I saw God bring all things together for his kingdom and his glory. The word I felt God speak to me that day was ‘deposit’. That day was a deposit of what is to come. It is a deposit of what God is going to release in Wales in the coming days, months and years. It is a deposit of what he is going to do through Higher. It is a deposit of him calling a generation of Welsh teenagers to himself.
‘WE EVEN SAW THE R.E. TEACHER BECOME A CHRISTIAN’
Top: Dai Hankey Above: LIFT venue Left: Hands up; Vital Signs’ Nick and Marvin performing at LIFT
MORE FROM MESSAGE WALES messagewales.org
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Eden workers, Alex and Steve on their estate in Bow, London
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TEACHING
God’s provision
JEHOVAH
JIREH
Carl Beech asks, ‘What does it mean to call God our provider?’
’ve always been fascinated by the names given to God in scripture. The first time we come across ‘Jehovah Jireh’ is in Genesis 22, the story where God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Right at the last moment an angel steps in – Isaac is spared and God provides a ram to be sacrificed instead. These days, we often use ‘Jehovah Jireh’ to refer to God’s provision in terms of a new hot tub or a white Mercedes. But God’s provision is bigger than that. If you compare the story in Genesis 22 to the story of Jesus on the cross, you start to see all kinds of similarities. Last time, I counted about 40, and I reckon I might have missed some.
For example, in both, the father leads his son to be sacrificed. In both, a donkey is involved on the road to sacrifice. Each son is the one and only son, and a descendant of Abraham. Both sons carried the wood to the place of sacrifice. The list goes on. There’s one big difference though. In the first story, there was a substitute. 2,100 years later, there wasn’t. Jehovah Jireh provides Jesus, the lamb, to take away the sins of the world. It’s Christ’s ultimate sacrifice that is the greatest provision from God. It’s only Christ that can rescue us from the consequences of our own sin. Here’s three ways we can respond. 29
TEACHING
Thankfulness
Our lives should be a massive outpouring of thankfulness. We should resist getting grumpy. We’re living for someone beyond ourselves, knowing that we hang from destruction by a thread of God’s grace. Who are we to get chippy about anything?
Generosity
We should be among the most generous and sacrificial people on the face of the planet. Not just financially – although that’s a good thing – but with our lives too. We should be opening our homes, giving freely, lending without expecting back, being gracious and forgiving quickly.
‘Our lives should be a massive outpouring of thankfulness’
– and God will provide that and meet all our needs along the way. Right up to the last minute, can you imagine how Abraham felt? He says ‘We will go and worship and we will come back.’ He ties his son to the wood, and his son doesn’t resist. The son is in faith too. Sometimes right up to the last minute we are waiting for the provision of the Lord. ‘I will provide,’ says the Lord, ‘Will you trust me?’ With Jesus, there was no ram in the thickets because he is the lamb. Now, he’s the risen lamb. We live with resurrection DNA. Thankfulness, generosity and big vision. The ultimate provision of God is Christ.
Big Vision
So often we live with limited horizons. God knows you, he knows your life and he has it planned for you. The Bible is stamped with the message, ‘God has got it.’ His desire is that all people are saved. Let’s act like that. Let’s seize every opportunity. If our agenda is the same as God’s agenda we can dream big dreams and God will back us. With all this, I do also believe God provides for us in a material way (he says so in Matthew 6). That doesn’t mean we should pray for a Porsche, but pray for God’s provision in Christ – pray for rescue 30
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