THE MAGAZINE OF THE
Life in the open James, Hannah and Eli's story of joining Eden in Falinge
MESS 18 AGE | ISSUE 25 SUMMER 20
INSIDE 'Pivotal moment'
Highlights from Higher Midlands 2018
Unbound
Joe Brady tells us how he's seeing God move in prisons
Teaching
From Sam Ward and Bill Hogg PLUS BrightLine EP launch • Message Conference 2019 • Eden Bus • Higher South Wales 2018
ANDY'S RANT
'Life's twin tracks' Dear friends, I’ve often said that life is a rollercoaster. There was even a chapter of my first book that went by that title. However, in recent years I’ve decided that a rollercoaster isn’t the best description of the Christian life. I’m with Rick Warren who says life runs on twin tracks of blessing, breakthrough and kingdom activity, alongside opposition, disappointment and even sometimes downright despair. It seems that the closer you get to the bullseye of God’s will, the more you experience these things side by side. It’s certainly the case at The Message. I don’t think I’ve ever sensed a greater time of breakthrough and heard as many salvation stories in over 25 years, but there have also been some really tough challenges all over the place. It means we need your prayers more than ever for God’s strength, protection and even greater vision. You really are our most important resource. God bless,
Founder & CEO The Message Trust P.S. The other thing that feels like it’s really stepping up is the prayer temperature. Our first Greater Manchester Prayer event in March was unforgettable, and we are meeting as the church of God across the region to cry out for a move of his Spirit again on Thursday 19 July at Audacious Church. You really don’t want to miss it! Find out all the details at message.org.uk.
The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes. Registered Office: Lancaster House, Lancaster Campus, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG. The Message Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 3961183 Registered Charity No. 1081467 VAT Registration No. GB 727 177616
IN THIS ISSUE
14 Eden stories
We meet James and Hannah, Eden Team Leaders in Falinge, Greater Manchester
06 Higher Midlands 2018 Introducing hundreds
Editor Simon Baker
Associate Editor Ian Rowbottom Design & Illustration Simon Baker Hannah Beatrice Owens Bethan Wilson Matthew Varah Wilson
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Additional Photography Rachael Silvester
Date announced!
11 Brand-new bus
Contributors Deborah Frawley Andy Hawthorne Emily Shore Bill Hogg Sam Ward
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Check out our new Manchester Eden Bus
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20 Transformation in prisons We meet Joe Brady,
Subscription & Supporter Enquiries E: info@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
Giving E: giving@message.org.uk T: Tom Kinsey 0161 946 2328 Contact E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300
09 Message conference 2019
Picture Editor Hannah Beatrice Owens
of young people to Jesus
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Message Prisons Outreach Worker
24 Made in his image Teaching from
Flow Magazine The Message Trust Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG www.message.org.uk/flow
Sam Ward
30 MEC Appeal Help us celebrate five OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT The paper used for Flow is manufactured using pulp sourced from sustainable sources from within Europe. It is 100% TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) and is manufactured to ISO14001 standards.
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years of enterprise
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BIG PICTURE
First steps of discipleship
Daniel from BrightLine leads young people in response at a Higher gig in Wolverhampton where 146 young people made a first-time decision to follow Jesus.
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NEWS
Higher sees 25,685 pupils in the Midlands and introduces more than 1,200 to Jesus The Higher Tour is well and truly on the road – with the Midlands leg completed in February and March 2018. ‘We’ve been working in the region for nearly two years in preparation for Higher,’ says Tom Butler, Head of UK Mission. ‘Through the relationships we’ve built with youth and church leaders from local churches, we’ve been able to connect hundreds of young people to youth groups that will help them on their journey of faith.’ Higher cast a broad net, working with schools in Coventry, Solihull, Birmingham and the Black Country with gospel gigs at local churches in each region. 6
Through the main outreach events we were able to give away nearly 900 response packs – which include a full copy of the Bible and information about how to get connected to your nearest church connected to Higher. And we saw 350 young people meet Jesus at other points during the tour. ‘One of the key milestones in the build-up to Higher Midlands was our Youth Conference in January,’ says Tom. ‘We had 300 young people from 31 different churches attend – each one wanting
to grow in confidence sharing the gospel with their friends and inviting them to the Higher events the following month. ‘As a result of the conference, three separate young people from three different churches took a copy of the Higher Schools Pack to their head of RE. It happened to be the same teacher – who booked us for their school in Walsall straight away! ‘We're passionate about releasing the gift of evangelism in young people so we can cause a ripple effect that lasts for long after our visits. It’s so encouraging to see how they are already bearing fruit.’
NEWS
Stories from our Response Team
We’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from the schools we visited. ‘BrightLine have a gift for reaching young people where they are,’ commented one teacher, and another said, ‘Higher has enabled our students to get in touch with the most important things in life in a relevant and engaging manner.’ ‘Higher Midlands was a pivotal moment,’ reflects Tom. ‘We’re on a journey to take Jesus to a generation and this was our first major mission outside Manchester. There is so much to celebrate – God has shown again that he is faithful and in the business of rescuing young people.’
‘A group of young people from Solihull responded to Jesus at our Birmingham gig. When we asked why they’d travelled so far, they told us that two of them had been to a Solihull gig the week before and made a response. They had then gone home, found out when the next gig was and convinced their friends to come with them to respond to Jesus too. They did, and we sent them home with their response packs and Higher Bibles.’ ‘A young girl who was part of CLM Church, Coventry, brought her Catholic friend to the gig. Her friend responded to the gospel and was handed a response pack which included a Higher Bible. She couldn’t believe that she had a copy of the Bible for herself. In her house the Bible was kept high on a shelf, more like a piece of art or family heirloom that was not to be touched.’
Keep on track with Higher as we go to Cambridgeshire and South Wales before the end of the year. Find us on social media – search ‘Higher Tour’.
PA S S I O N AT E WO R S H I P I N S P I R AT I O N A L T E AC H I N G LIFE-CHANGING MISSION
HE RE MESSAGE CONFERENCE 2019
I AM KEYNOTE SPEAKER PETE GREIG H O S T E D BY A N DY H AW T H O R N E
S AT U R D AY 2 F E B R U A R Y AUDACIOUS CHURCH, MANCHESTER S U P E R E A R LY B I R D £ 2 0 ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER 2018
MESSAGE.ORG.UK/CONFERENCE
NEWS
Date announced for next Message Conference
The Message Conference 2019 will be a one-day event called ‘Here I Am’, taking place on 2 February 2019 at Audacious Church in Manchester. Joining us will be special guest Pete Greig, a best-selling author and soughtafter speaker. Along with his role as a church pastor in Guildford, he is one of the founders of the 24-7 Prayer Movement which has now reached more than half the nations on earth. ‘The Message Trust has been transforming lives and communities for a quarter of a century,’ says Pete. ‘They’ve been doing
it with the resilience and creativity that inspires and provokes me continually.’ The day will include keynote sessions packed full of worship, teaching and inspirational stories, seminars and an evening celebration – all to leave you encouraged, inspired and fired up to see lives transformed by Jesus Christ. Will you say to God, ‘Here I Am’? Super early bird tickets are available until 30 September 2018 – £20 for the day (half price). Book online at message.org.uk/ conference.
Advance 2020 continues to grow Advance – the evangelists’ movement – is well and truly a partnership. The Message is partnering with an ever-increasing number of ministries to deliver Advance 2020, a year of coordinated mission supported by Advance evangelist groups. All the details are on the brand-new Advance website.
Visit advance2020.org to find out more. 9
NEWS
Play your part in Higher South Wales
‘The reality of living against God’s way really struck home’ Jamie Sewell, our London Hub Leader, shares a highlight from a recent six-week schools mission in the capital: ‘One school was a last-minute booking and Vital Signs were the only band available. The lesson was with the 11 to 14-year olds of an all-girls' school – it wasn’t the ideal audience Vital Signs! The response from the girls, however, was unbelievable. The next day we received this thank-you letter from a parent of one of the students: ‘“My daughter returned home this afternoon and spent over 30 minutes telling me about her lesson with Nick from Vital Signs. 10
She was extremely touched and inspired to have had the opportunity to hear about how Nick’s life had been radically changed by Jesus. The reality of living against God’s way and the consequences that can occur really struck home. She said that many other students were also touched by his story and that other girls would value hearing it.” ‘Following on from this session, 25 girls have signed up to a discipleship course at the school.’
Higher South Wales is on the way – in October and November our teams will hit more than 50 schools across the region and see hundreds of young people introduced to Jesus for the first time. ‘With each new disciple that makes the decision to follow Christ, we see the beginning of a bold new generation that will shift the culture of Wales,’ says Gary Smith, The Message’s UK Hubs Director. There’s plenty you can do to get involved. For local church partnerships, email caitlin.woodington@ message.org.uk. For local secondary school bookings, email walesbookings@ message.org.uk, or call 02920 512247. Or, support Higher financially by visiting highertour.com/give.
NEWS
Manchester’s Eden Bus has arrived! Our brand-new Eden Bus for Manchester is now out in communities putting the gospel back on the map.
A new season for Carl Beech After a couple of years both as our UK Director and Deputy CEO, Carl Beech is moving on from his current role to enter a new season of his ministry. He’s going to remain working closely with The Message and be giving more time to Redeemer King Church, a church he co-planted three years ago. He’ll continue to be involved at Christian Vision for Men and will be working with The Message as we continue to partner
together. He’ll also be involved in evangelistic ministry as part of the GNC Trust as he leads EdgeFest. ‘It’s a new chapter and a leap of faith. It’s tough to choose the narrow path but as followers of Christ you have to keep trusting, growing, responding and listening,’ said Carl. ‘Please
pray for all concerned during this time of transition. The Message is the most incredible mission movement and it’s been such a privilege to serve with some of the most passionate and gifted people I’ve met. I’m looking forward to many years of collaboration!’
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inform inspire initiate
National Conference 29 September 2018 Lighthouse Church,
To inform people about violence and abuse against women and girls, to inspire them to initiate change
‘It's hard to overstate the importance of Press Red. Together we can make a real difference.’
Manchester
ANDY HAWTHORNE THE MESSAGE TRUST
With special guests Elaine Storkey ('Scars Against Humanity') Anthony Delaney (Ivy Church) Carl Beech (Speaker and Author) Mandy Marshall (Restored Relationships) and many more
For more information please visit www.pressred.org/events or email katy@pressred.org
NEWS
868
106,000
full copies of the Bible given to young people through Higher Midlands 2018
Facebook video views of a BBC News story covering Manchester’s Mess Café (at time of going to press)
A new EP for BrightLine: the mission team launch
'I Was Staggering Through The Dark Until You Found Me' at a supporter event in April.
Mates on a mission Celebrating the remarkable people with us on the journey
25,685 young people met in Midlands schools by our teams in February and March
143,936 streams of our mission teams' gospel-focused music in January 2018
Pete Greig The author, speaker and founder of 24-7 Prayer will be joining us in February 2019 for the Message Conference. Book now at message.org.uk/conference. Karen Wheaton Karen leads The Ramp Church in Hamilton, Alabama. Listen to her talk, ‘Get Over The Line’, from our March Prayer Day – message.org.uk. Gavin Calver We’re partnering with Gavin and others to deliver Advance 2020 – a year of coordinated evangelistic mission in 2020. Find out more at advance2020.org.
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FEATURE
Eden Falinge was planted in January 2017. James and Hannah Moss share their story
LIFE IN THE OPEN
FEATURE
efore moving to Falinge, we were working as youth and kids workers for our local church in Rochdale. As most of the young people were moving on to university or elsewhere, that gradually came to an end quite naturally, so we started to think about what was next for us. We had heard about Eden a long time ago, but when the opportunity in Falinge came up, our first thought was, ‘We might just love this!’ We only moved from the top of the hill to the bottom, but it’s like a different world. Our postcode only changed by one letter, but the car insurance almost doubled! Hannah was pregnant with Eli at the time, so we had some concerns about whether the baby would be safe, and whether he would miss out on certain things as we were moving from a very comfortable, middle-class area. It also felt a bit awkward to move such a short distance, to a different church, because we really loved our church. It was quite painful to leave. But it really helped that we knew this church already, and the youth leaders, as we had connected with them many times in the past.
The estate is home to a lot of asylum seekers, so it’s a very multi-cultural blend of English, Africans and Eastern Europeans. There’s an amazing lady from Ethiopia who has basically been doing her own informal ministry that looks a lot like Eden! She’s been here for ten years and engages with all of the Ethiopians who arrive here. We don’t have a connection with that community except through her, so that’s been a really great opportunity. When we arrived, she told us that she had been praying for a long time that someone would come to connect with the young people, so it definitely felt like God was putting the various puzzle pieces together. It was May when we moved, which turned out to be really helpful timing as people were keen to hang around outside in the nice weather, so there were lots of opportunities to meet our neighbours. The problem with this is that it’s the people you don’t see, who don’t come out of their homes to chat, who are perhaps most in need of connection, community and support. There is a Sure Start Children’s Centre on the estate, and Hannah has been able to get involved with Eli, meeting other mums and connecting with people in a very easy
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FEATURE
and natural way. He is a really friendly and smiley baby, and people always stop to see him and have a chat, so he actually opens up so many more opportunities for us and we might have really struggled without him!
We expected Eden to be fast-paced – people tell these amazing, dramatic success stories – but we’ve realised those stories might be five or ten years in the making!
Before we started Eden, I think we expected it to be quite fast-paced and action packed. People tell these amazing, dramatic success stories, and you kind of expect to hit the ground running. What we’ve realised is that those stories might be five or ten years in the making! We’ve definitely learned that it’s a marathon, not a sprint, but that’s because it’s about building authentic community and not just jumping in for a short-term mission. In real life, and real relationships, you don’t get to know people in an instant – in a day, a week, or even a month. It might start with a nod when passing in the street, then a smile. The next week you might get a ‘Hello.’ The great thing about Eden is that we’re not going anywhere! In a funny way, it takes the pressure off because we don’t need to change people’s lives in a single conversation. It feels ordinary, in the best possible way. You’re just living your life, but more ‘open’ than usual. We’ve found that, because we’ve already made the decision to come here and be part of Eden, that makes it easier to be tuned in to the opportunities in front of us, however small. It removes any question of whether or not to get involved. At the back of your mind you always have
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FEATURE
It feels ordinary, in the best possible way. You’re just living your life, but more ‘open’ than usual.
Do you want to live your life in Eden Falinge or elsewhere? Find out more and start the journey today at joineden.org.
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that voice telling you, ‘This is why you’re here.’ Someone might mention in passing that their washing machine is broken and you think, ‘How can I meet that need?’ We always said we’d give as much time as people ask of us so it does mean that you have to open up your whole life, and be available for people. If someone knocks on your door late at night and says, ‘You told me you’d be here if I ever needed anything,’ you have to be prepared to see that through. We were excited about Eden and thought that we’d love it, but it’s been about so much more than that. We have been challenged and changed, even in just five or six months. Becoming a part of a community like this, making your home here and bringing up a child here, challenges your prejudices – prejudices you didn’t even know you had. It’s changing who we are and how we see people. Everyone has a story.
Join community. Join purpose. Join Eden. Eden sends urban missionaries to live sacrificially, share the gospel and build authentic community. Passionate about community transformation? Join Eden today.
joineden.org
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STORY
The Message’s prisons team take the gospel of Jesus to some of the most broken and vulnerable people in the UK and are seeing breakthrough for repentance, salvation and healing. We talked to offender outreach worker Joe Brady to find out more...
see my job as a ministry of introductions. In a prison you don’t have to spend much time convincing inmates that they are broken and sinners – they know that already. It’s my job to simply point them towards the one who makes them whole.’ With a background in theological study and work with student intervention and community youth work, Joe joined the prisons team in September 2017. In a given week he’ll lead Bible study groups, the Alpha course, the Peacemakers course, creative arts workshops and discipleship courses along with individual ‘detached’ work on the prison wings and a monthly Sunday service in the chapel. It’s seeing broken lives being made whole that brings Joe the most joy and encouragement. Recently, he met an inmate who had previously been a Royal Marine. He’d witnessed the death of his best friend while on tour in Afghanistan and his girlfriend had died in an accident the following year. But what broke him was when his young son fell ill and died just six months later. It drove him to make some poor decisions. 21
STORY
‘He was a broken man. Forty-five minutes after his son had passed away he found himself in the back of a police car. When I first met him, he had lost all hope. Even though he wasn’t sure about God he came along to our Sunday services and other groups during the week. At one Sunday service he raised his hand as he made the decision to give his life to Jesus. He now recognises Jesus as his saviour and that it is only through him that he can have life. He’s a broken man who is in the process of being made whole.’ In the eight months that Joe has been working in this prison he has seen the power of God at work in a remarkable way. During this time, no fewer than 186 men have chosen to give their lives to Christ through his ministry. ‘God has shown me time after time that he can do the impossible. I’m often guilty of pessimism and I ask for too little from God. I’ll ask God for one or two responses to a gospel message and then 25 men will respond. God is constantly showing me that he is greater than we could imagine.’ Nothing is more exciting than the miracle of salvation for Joe. But God is at work in other ways too. He got to know one inmate quite well through several of the midweek discipleship and Bible study groups. At one session the man asked for prayer for himself and his family – his seven-year-old nephew was seriously ill and had been put on life support. The doctors had made the decision to turn off the machine in 48 hours because the condition was so serious, and it wasn’t fair to keep the boy alive. Joe gathered the other men in the group and they prayed. ‘As we were praying I felt God prompt me to pray for healing. I thought, “No way!” This was the bleakest of situations. If 22
‘God is constantly showing me that he is greater than we could imagine’
It was nine days before Joe saw him again. ‘I’d assumed the worst had happened. I saw him in the wing and went up to him, sheepishly to be honest, to ask how him and his family were. “Have you not heard?” he said. “My nephew has recovered and is back at home with his family!” I had tears in my eyes. This young boy was given 48 hours to live and within just nine days the doctors had decided he was well enough to be sent home. The men we’re working with are bound by the bars and walls of the prison, but our God is not!’ In a prison of over a thousand inmates, our outreach workers can only work with a small number of the men – mainly those who are willing to come to the chaplaincy.
STORY
I asked God for healing and the boy died, what would the man think of me? What would he think of God? I kept feeling prompted to pray for healing and so eventually I did.’
‘I was talking to a guy from the Bible study group who casually mentioned that a Muslim friend was arguing with him about who Jesus was. He had given him his Bible, shown him the gospels and said, “Read this. It will tell you who Jesus is.” His friend came back to him a few days later saying he recognised that Jesus was the truth and he now wanted to follow him! ‘I’m there three days a week and have to make the most of it. I need to do my best to equip these inmates who go back into the wings each night and speak to those who I can’t reach. That’s how the atmosphere of these prisons will change.’ We want to send workers like Joe into more prisons across the UK. Could you give today to help us reach more broken lives with the love of Jesus? Complete the giving form at the back, or visit message.org.uk/donate marking your donation ‘Prisons’.
‘What we really want is to see stories of Sauls becoming Pauls. The most fruitful part of our ministry is not what I do but what the men who I work with do. They go back to the hostile environment of the prison wings and tell their mates about the Jesus they’ve encountered.
‘I do my best to equip inmates to go back into the wings each night and speak to those who I can’t reach. That’s how the atmosphere of these prisons will change’ 23
TEACHING
ROMANS 8:29
COLOSSIANS 1:15
Sam Ward unpacks Colossians 1 and asks what the risen Christ is doing in our lives today
One of the passages that never fails to wake me up in the morning is Colossians 1:15-20. What beautiful words about the king we serve. It speaks of Jesus as supreme, before all things and holding all things together. It reminds us that he is reconciling all things through the power of the cross. And it offers us a remarkable picture of how Jesus relates to his Father. In Genesis 1:27 we read that humanity is made ‘in the image of God.’ But I think the fall and our sin keep blurring the edges. If you squint, we might look a bit God-shaped, a rough shadow of what God might look like. We are by no means God’s image – not yet, anyway.
TEACHING
fter Easter each year I feel like the Bible gets a bit of a recharge. We get to revisit all the passages of scripture again that talk about what Jesus – the risen Christ – is doing now.
Christ. Our destiny is to be changed from being a shadow to a mirror. Often, we can get consumed with worry about God’s purpose for our lives. We ask, ‘God, if only you’d tell me what your purpose for my life is.’ I think it’s very simple – it’s to be changed into his likeness.
Christ is at work in you today, making you like him It means that Christ is at work in you today, making you like him. He’s changing you to be faithful, kind, loving, wise, holy, just, merciful, gracious, creative, generous, true, strong, peaceful, righteous, patient, a rescuer, full of blessing and full of joy. Do you know a greater grace than that?
But in Jesus we find someone who is ‘the image of the invisible God.’ He is the perfect, high-definition, mirror image of the Father – a perfect representation. The word Paul uses is precise and exacting. If we look to Jesus, we see his Father. We’re also able to encounter Jesus through what the Bible tells us about God. The list is endless – but we know he is faithful, kind, loving, wise, holy, just, merciful, gracious, creative, generous, true, strong, peaceful, righteous, patient, a rescuer, full of blessing and full of joy. It doesn’t stop there, though. Romans 8:29 tells us that God intends to make us into his likeness. ‘For those who he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.’ That’s right – our purpose is to be transformed into that perfect, high-definition, mirror image of
In this way, Jesus and the Father are glorified. Jesus glorifies his Father when he looked like him and made him known. In the same way, we glorify Jesus when we look like him. It’s all for the glory of God, and it’s for the sake of the world. We are made like Christ that we might make him known for the sake of the world – the lost and the hurting. It’s like the late great Billy Graham once said, ‘God gave you two hands: one to receive and one to give’. So what is the risen Christ up to today? He’s at work in you.
FOLLOW SAM ON TWITTER @samward01
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ON SO NG CO
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‘WHAT KIND OF LEADERS DOES GOD WANT US TO BE?’
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‘ESSENTIAL READING FOR ANY LEADER’ – ANDY HAWTHORNE
In Grab A Towel, Message South Africa CEO Tim Tucker issues a clarion call to every leader who wants to make a mark for God. It is counter-cultural. It is often costly. It is the way of Christ. Whatever our leadership context, in Jesus we have the perfect model to emulate. It’s time to Grab A Towel – and join him.
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TEACHING
A life worthy of God’s attention How can we attract the favour of God on our lives? Bill Hogg looks to Paul’s closing advice to Timothy
think it’s fair to say that Billy Graham lived a life that got God’s attention. There are plenty of examples we could look at from his life that might tell us why, but I want to go one step further and look to the apostle Paul. The author Bobby Clinton writes, ‘Only 20% of leaders finish well.’ Maybe they drag their wounded carcass across the finish line, or they arrive embittered and barren. Or maybe they stop running the race. It’s in 2 Timothy 3 and 4 that Paul sees his finish line. The letter gives us a window into the apostle’s mind as he was preparing to die. As he reflected on his own life, he gives Timothy three ways to increase his capacity as a vessel that God can use and live a life that God’s face might shine on. He calls him to keep going, keep pressing on, keep running the race.
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TEACHING
Stay true to your calling
Honour the word of God
‘Continue in what you have learned,’ writes Paul in 2 Timothy 3:14. He goes on in 4:5: ‘Keep your head in all situations… do the work of an evangelist, discharge the duties of your ministry.’
You probably know 2 Timothy 3:16 well – ‘All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.’ This is Paul’s second priority for living a life worthy of God’s notice.
The work of an evangelist – that’s making much of Jesus. It’s stewarding the gospel and proclaiming Christ again, and again, and again, and again. It’s not caring who gets the credit, no matter how competitive we might be! We saw this in Billy Graham’s life and ministry. I remember being at an event in Jacksonville, Florida not too long ago, where he preached for 30 minutes as a man in his eighties. He definitely wandered off topic a couple of times, but his gospel appeal was incredible. He never wavered from his calling as an evangelist. Getting God’s attention involves looking only to heaven, not looking for man’s attention. We must stay true to our calling as evangelists to live a life that matters.
‘On the face of it, it’s strikingly simple – three steps to attracting God’s favour. But it doesn’t mean it’s easy’
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Isaiah 66:2 reminds us that God looks on those who tremble at his word ‘with favour’. In other words, the people who get God’s attention are those who handle his authoritative word with reverence and awe. There was a point in Billy Graham’s ministry where he came against challenges to the integrity of God’s Word. He found himself arguing with a ministry colleague, Chuck Templeton, about ‘theories and systems and approaches’ that undermined his view of scripture. He writes, ‘O God, there are many things in this book that I do not understand, many problems with it for which I have no solution. There are many seeming contradictions. I cannot answer some of the problems that Chuck and others are raising.’ But the man who went on to be known for a catchphrase, ‘The Bible says…’ recalls an evening where, feeling the pressure, he took his Bible to a clearing in a place called Forest Lawn and prayed, ‘Father, I am going to accept this as thy word – by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be your inspired word.’
TEACHING
It was a pivotal moment on the spiritual journey of God’s harvester. It’s all too easy, especially in youth evangelism, to let the Bible take a back seat. You might build a talk or conversation around a funny story – but this is a sure-fire way to end up running on spiritual fumes. God’s not looking for comedians, he’s looking for people who will faithfully communicate his word.
‘God’s not looking for comedians, he’s looking for people who will faithfully communicate his word’ The aroma, energy and anointing of the Holy Spirit comes on those who fully surrender their lives to him.
Lose your life Here’s the punchline. Stay true to your calling and honour with trembling the Word of God – but if you really want to get God’s attention, you must lose your life. Paul describes himself as ‘being poured out like a drink offering’ (2 Tim. 4:6). His was a fully surrendered life with no strings attached. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that ‘the eyes of the Lord range throughout the Earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.’ God is actively looking for those who all in for him. The great evangelist D.L. Moody – who it’s estimated depopulated hell by close to 2,000,000 people in his lifetime – was spoken about in this way at his funeral: ‘The first thing that accounts for God using him so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man.’
Some of us are part-time or vocational evangelists. But are we full-time Christians? Jesus is looking for full-time, sold-out followers who preach him ‘in season and out of season’ (2 Tim. 4:2). The parable of the kernel of wheat in John 12 gives Jesus’ perspective: ‘if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ On the face of it, it’s strikingly simple – three steps to attracting God’s favour. But it doesn’t mean it’s easy. That’s why we’re given people to run alongside. Psalm 133 is a beautiful reminder of the impact we can have when we go low and lock arms for the sake of the gospel. Who are you running the race with today?
If you’re passionate about evangelism, join our Advance network and be part of Advance 2020. Find out more at advance2020.org
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APPEAL
To celebrate five years of transformed lives through our enterprise businesses, could you give a special anniversary gift today to help us see more broken lives restored?
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HOW YOUR GIFT COULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
Members of our MEC Building and Landscaping team
2,000 supporters giving
£25 A MONTH
Ruth serving customers in the Mess Café
It’s been five years since we took what was a dilapidated building next to our Manchester HQ and transformed it into a thriving hub of enterprise businesses. Today, through the Message Enterprise Centre (MEC), we’re offering employment to the unemployable: ex-offenders, recovering addicts and other vulnerable people whose lives have been transformed by the power of Christ.
could fund all 100 MEC apprenticeships over the next five years
£30 could help pay for work clothing for one of our building team
With us, they learn vital skills as part of a real-life business, and are drawn deeper into discipleship as they grow in their walk with Jesus. By the time they come to leave our programme, they’re equipped not only for the world of work but for a lifetime devoted to Christ. Now, to celebrate all God has done through the MEC in the last half-decade, we’re launching a special enterprise bursary scheme. In our first five years we’ve seen 60 people pass through our programme – and in the next five we want to see a further 100. But we can’t do it without your support. You could play a part in supporting their rehabilitation, training, accommodation and other costs associated with their apprenticeship. By supporting the scheme you’ll be giving broken people the tools they need to thrive. Could you send a special one-off gift or by set up a new regular donation today?
£150 could help support a hair and beauty stylist in their skills training
£1,250 could cover the cost of one apprenticeship for an entire month
Use the form opposite to send your gift. Thank you so much!
APPLY TODAY for S ept 2018
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Message Academy is based at Message HQ in Manchester. Course fees: £1,995. All applications will be subject to a DBS check. For more information email academy@message.org.uk. The Message Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, no. 3961183. Registered charity no. 1081467.