Flow Magazine – Issue 07 by The Message Trust

THE AUTUMN EDITION 2011 THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – FAITH IN YOUNG PEOPLE

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Living Deeper

New Eden Leader Jahaziel shows us around his neighbourhood

PLUS:

Prayer Storm / Legend: KP Yohannan / Teaching from Stuart Keir /

R T N __ E _E _ _ _ IS_E_C _ R P R _ E _ T _ N _ E _ E _ G _ A _ S _ S _ E _ M _ E:_T_H _E_____ T_ U __ _A _D _P E DOORS

ORE TH F E B S E IV L G CHANGINEN... read more on pages 6–7 EVEN OP

THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 07

Editor:

Alistair Metcalfe

Associate Editor: Ian Rowbottom

Senior Art Director: Dan Hasler

Graphic Designer: Bethan Wilson

Contributors:

Stuart Keir, Matt Wilson, Dev Lunsford

Advertising:

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

Subscription & Supporter Enquiries:

Jo Nicholson E: jo.nicholson@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2328

Cover Photo:

Charisse Beaumont (Preacher Boy Music)

Contributing Photographers:

Richard Schunemann: richardsch.smugmug.com Howard Barlow: www.howardbarlow.com Lucy West: www.lucywestimages.co.uk Grace Choi: www.gracechoi.co.uk Katy Lunsford: www.katylunsford.com THE MESSAGE: Alan Saunders, Bruce Marshall, Dan Hasler

Mobo-winning Jahaziel Elliot isn’t giving up hip hop to lead the new Eden Tollington in North London – he’s using it to connect with young people in his new neighbourhood. Read his story starting on page 12.

Contact:

E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300 flow – The Message Magazine Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG

www.message.org.uk/flow

FSC MARK HERE

Page 4-5 Urban Hero Awards 2011

Page 8-9 The Message Enterprise Centre

Page 11 Prayer Storm II.II.II

Page 17 Legend: KP Yohannan

Page 19 Stuart Keir on Fathering

Page 21 Andy H at Westminster

The Message Trust is a registered data user and only uses personal data in connection with its charitable purposes. Registered Office: Lancaster House, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG The Message Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 3961183 Registered charity No. 1081467 VAT Registration No. GB 727 177616

//// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

‘...only Jesus Christ can truly bring the answer. Only he can turn our nation’s young people around’

I’m writing this letter with mixed emotions at the end of an extraordinary summer.

On the one hand, I’ve had the joy of speaking at six different summer festivals where literally thousands of people came to Christ. While there, I had the chance to meet many passionate young Jesus followers, longing to make a difference in his world. On the other hand, I’m still left feeling shellshocked at the scenes of rioting and looting up and down the country we saw at the start of August. By the time you read this, the riots will have almost certainly dropped off the front pages. But the deep problems that caused those events will still exist, and for my part, I’m convinced that only Jesus Christ can truly bring the answer. Only he can turn our nation’s young people around. I’m sure like me, you see a connection between the lives Jesus transformed over the summer and the brokenness we saw on our streets. Please pray for us that we would carry on playing our part in offering young people a much, much better way. Pray too for the many passionate young men and women who chose to be part of our Eden and Genetik teams this summer, offering themselves as part of the solution. And guess what? If you’d like to do the same, we’d love to hear from you.

IS: PLEASE READ TH ment – thankful for at the mo

PHOTO CREDIT: FLICKR: tottenham_beaconradio:

We have so much to be nities g our teams and opportu amazing people are joinin this all r, ve we ick and fast. Ho are coming our way th ed ne a s and fruitfulness mean growth in opportunity do u n’t with us financially. If yo for more people to stand bit, ssage through Direct De Me e Th t or pp su rly regula now. All ider it, especially right please prayerfully cons s. ed is on the back page the information you ne

Thanks so much!

www.message.org.uk/flow ////

URBAN HERO:

The fourth Urban Hero Awards ceremony took place at the Palace Hotel, Manchester in June. The six young award winners were applauded by over 700 special guests, among them Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Peter Fahy; High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Christine Lee Jones; and Lord and Lady Edmiston. The night raised over £120,000 towards our pioneering work in schools, communities and prisons. For your free copy of the Manchester Evening News supplement contact Jo Nicholson on 0161 946 2328. //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: LZ7 ENTERTAIN THE GUESTS; LEWIS FREERUNNING ON THE BUTTERSHAW ESTATE; LEWIS CLUTCHES HIS TROPHIES; THE SPECIAL MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS SUPPLEMENT

: UP & RUNNING Eighteen-year-old Lewis Murch expected to be kicked off the property when he was spotted doing flips and tricks near Buttershaw Baptist Church last year.

Urban Hero of the Year Lewis has become a role model to dozens of young people

But instead, Eden leader Gav Humphries got him chatting and asked the young freerunner if he’d be interested in starting a club. ‘You could see that he was a very talented young man,’ says Gav. ‘I was immediately excited about the potential of a regular club and Lewis was too.’ Within weeks, freerunning sessions were attracting dozens of youngsters from around Buttershaw, a community in the top two percent of deprived wards in England. An Eden team started working in partnership with the Baptist church in February 2010 when Gav and wife Maz moved onto the South Bradford estate. With support from Gav, Lewis now leads the weekly sessions, coaching younger lads and girls through a dizzying array of acrobatics and gymnastics. As well as giving youngsters an outlet for their energy, it’s helping many grow in confidence. ‘Lewis has become a real role model for a lot of these guys,’ reflects Gav. ‘Many of them are just like Lewis — they don’t have a particularly stable home, lots don’t have a dad around — and he’s providing a stable father figure and someone they can look up to.’ ‘He wants to finish his education, and he’s got big ambitions for the future. That goes against the grain of the estate for a lot of people. He’s making a big impact,’ says Gav. Lewis’ vision and commitment was recognised this summer at the Urban Hero Awards. As well as winning the Inspiration Award, he was picked by the judges as the overall Urban Hero of the Year.

Investing your life Eden workers aren’t your typical youth workers who give up a couple of nights a week to run youth groups or courses. Eden team members give their whole lives to the young people in the community they choose to make their home. Gav Humphries, pictured above right, is himself living proof of how patient, consistent investment in young people can completely change a life. After a difficult childhood, Gav fell into drugs. At rock bottom, he was befriended by a local Christian family who invited him into their home. ‘I was living in a shed. A Christian family invested their time, their love and their patience into my life,’ says Gav. ‘I can identify with the struggles young people on the estate have. I’ve had some hurts and pain, felt let down and forgotten about. So there’s a real mutual respect.’

WATCH GAZ (& WIFE MAZ) IN THEIR EDEN ‘BEING’ EXTRAORDINARY VIDEO

bit.ly/beingGavandMaz

LOOK OUT FOR THE FREERUNNING SKILLS OF URBAN HERO AWARD WINNER LEWIS TOO!

WATCH LEWIS’ NOMINATION VIDEO HERE: bit.ly/inspirationaward

SCAN THIS QR CODE ON YOUR SMART PHONE www.message.org.uk/flow ////

ENLARGING THE FAMILY

NEW ASSOCIATE MINISTRIES WILL INCREASE OUR REACH AND MULTIPLY OUR IMPACT This autumn the Message launches a new Associate Ministries scheme to meet the growing need for mission teams to young people in the UK. ‘There is a massive need for more mission teams here in the North West and all across the nation,’ comments Mission Director Ian Henderson. ‘But there are also lots of passionate people longing to do mission but who lack the support to get started. Associate ministries give us a model that helps us do both.’

2 MINUTES WITH OUR RUBY GIRL

ABI SEWART MESSAGE INTERN AND COORDINATOR FOR RUBYGIRL IN MANCHESTER SO WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT RUBYGIRL? RUBYGIRL is a brilliant project for girls aged 14–19 helping them see their true worth, increase their selfbelief and make positive lifestyle choices. We recently opened up an office in Manchester, based at Message HQ. WHAT’S ON OFFER? Secondary schools, pupil referral units and other people working with teenage girls can book us to come in and run ‘Love Me’ courses lasting four to eight weeks.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The sessions are interactive and unpack issues such as self-worth, body image and identity. Mentors are available to give guidance on confidence, healthy relationships and aspirations. Where appropriate, we can signpost to relevant help and support services. HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE? At the moment we’re focussing on Staffordshire, the Midlands and the North West. Get on to the website, www.rubygirluk.com or give me a call on, 0161 946 2336

//// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

‘THERE IS A MASSIVE NEED FOR MORE MISSION TEAMS HERE IN THE NORTH WEST AND ALL ACROSS THE NATION’ The new model means Associate bands, theatre companies and other mission teams will have the freedom to pursue opportunities outside of The Message and become independent charities while keeping the distinctives and values which make Message ministries so effective. The first raft of Associate ministries include On The Edge Theatre Company, established by ex-Genetik students Georgia Houghton and Heather Turkington, and rock band MaLoKai who have been working with The Message since earlier this year. LZ7 will also transition to become Associates, allowing them to follow their vision for ministry across the UK and further afield. Family values are driving the Associate model, says Ian: ‘In the same way as families look alike, share resources, talk and hang out together, Associate bands and mission teams will relate to The Message closely, while remaining independent and becoming selfsufficient. ‘At the heart of all effective ministries are effective relationships, and the Associate scheme will allow us to play to the strengths of the relationships we have built over many years.’ FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: ‘ON THE EDGE’ THEATRE COMPANY, MaLoKai AND LINDZ FROM LZ7

COMING SOON 20 AMAZING YEARS

IN WORDS & PICTURES PHOTO CREDIT: FLICKR: garryknight

YOUNG PEOPLE ‘TEXTIFY’ THEIR MATES

In September, The Message got behind ‘Textify’, a campaign encouraging young people to use their phones to start conversations about Jesus. It was the first campaign of the relaunched Hope Revolution, the youth wing of the Hope Together movement. Young people who took part in Textify were challenged to pray for three friends for three weeks, texting them to start a conversation about Jesus. Hundreds of likes and many posts on Textify’s Facebook page proved that the campaign resulted in many young people beginning their own journeys of faith. The Message is just one of dozens of prominent youth agencies backing the Hope Revolution initiative.

In 2012, The Message celebrates 20 years of working with young people in Greater Manchester. Starting from one schools band in 1992, our work has expanded to reach young people in schools, communities and prisons in the North West and beyond. Thousands of lives have been changed as God has worked through our teams. To mark this exciting milestone in our history we are publishing a lavish 20th Anniversary hardback book with a new history written by Andy Hawthorne and dozens of moving stories and testimonies from people who have shared the journey with us. The book comes complete with an accompanying CD with 20 of the best tracks from down the years, including songs from The World Wide Message Tribe, Andy Smith, LZ7 and Twelve24. The book and CD will be available in time for Christmas – meaning it’s an ideal gift for all friends of The Message. BOOK ONLY

£IO

BOOK +CD

£I5

FIND OUT MORE: www.hope-revolution.com

ON’ NEW SONG TO HELP ‘27 MILLI MODERN DAY SLAVES

PRE-ORDER FROM NOVEMBER 1ST ALL PRICES INCLUDE FREE DELIVERY

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M.E.C.

BUSINESS MENTORS

Lindz and Lucy West, and Matt and Beth Redman are working together on a powerful new song and video to raise awareness and action against human trafficking. It is believed that up to 27 million people live in slavery today. Many of these are women and children trafficked from their home countries and forced into the sex trade. The song will raise money for the A21 Campaign, which works in Eastern Europe to prevent human trafficking, provide support for those who have been trafficked and work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute perpetrators. Keep an eye on the Message website (www.message.org.uk) for more news and visit www.thea21campaign.org for more information about the A21 Campaign.

We are urgently looking for business mentors to get involved in the Message Enterprise Centre, offering advice and wisdom to our new start-up business managers. As a guideline, mentors will be available to offer help for a couple of hours a week. Could it be you? If you’d like to discuss the possibility of being a business mentor, please contact Frank Green on 0161 946 2300. www.message.org.uk/flow ////

‘

I said I got on m to Go d, I w y knees an a you m nt to reall d repented y . y life and la give y it do wn

’

Y T I N U M K M C COPAYBA Even before its doors open, God is using THE MESSAGE ENTERPRISE CENTRE to change lives //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

E: ou OVm F B A da A

th at

e thought he had no choice but to run. Up to his eyeballs in debt, pursued by violent drug dealers and desperate for a second chance, Wythenshawe-born Adam took off to the North East in the hope no one would catch up with him. But someone did — Jesus. ‘I’d left Manchester to get away from the drugs scene I was in and try to beat my own addiction. I was only there for two days, when I met some guys who started telling me about Jesus. They started praying for me, and I had this amazing rush all through my body. It was better than any drugs I’d ever had. It was the Holy Spirit.’ He gave his life to Christ and immediately began telling others about being born again. A natural evangelist, Adam amazed others as he led people to Jesus on the streets. Just months later though, it all fell apart. Adam was laid off a job he’d found to start getting his life back on track. Down, depressed, his pride broken, Adam set off on a bender: ‘I hit self-destruct again. I still had issues in my heart from when I was younger. One night I went wild and I knocked two lads out so badly, I knew I’d get sent down.’ Adam did the only thing he thought he could do — he ran. But back home in Manchester, the Holy Spirit convicted him again. He drove back to Newcastle and handed himself in.

C. E.

e sit

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‘I got on my knees and repented. I said to God, I want to really give you my life and lay it down. I want to leave all that stuff at the cross and move on with you… But if a prison sentence is what it takes for me to get back on track with you, then amen.’ Adam was convicted of two counts of GBH but CCTV evidence meant he was spared a prison stretch. Instead, he was given a two-year suspended sentence, a large fine and 180 hours of community service. ‘I prayed and I prayed, “God, I needed a good church, and to get around people who really love you.”’ God answered his prayer when he started community service. Adam was sent to work on clearing the derelict site which will soon house the Message Enterprise Centre. One morning, he felt God tell him to come into The Message office next door to the site and on his next break he did. Members of the Reflex team helped him get plugged into a church and introduced him to Andy Hawthorne who recognised in Adam exactly the sort of person the M.E.C. will help. Adam is excited about how the Enterprise Centre is going to help him and other lads like the ones he worked with on community service: ‘It’s obvious why people continue to offend: it’s all they know. If you only know one thing, you’re going to carry on doing that thing. ‘It’s so important that the Enterprise Centre is going to be there to point people in the right direction and give young guys like me godly wisdom and guidance. From seeing these business people, how they live, what they’ve got in life, how they are around people, I believe you’ll get huge breakthrough.’.

SO IT’S OVER TO YOU ARE YOU WILLING TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE? IT’S EASY, JUST CLICK HERE AND YOU’LL BE REDIRECTED TO OUR GIVING PAGE. OR CALL JO NICHOLSON OUR SUPPORTER RELATIONS OFFICER 0161 946 2328 TO SET UP A GIFT

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AN OPPORTUNITY TO

INFLUENCE HISTORY

‘Amazing… the worship is so intense and the intercession takes you to a place you’ve never been before. It was the beginning of something great in my own prayer life’ - Tendai, 20

AT PRAYER STORM II.II.II

ver 1,000 young people are expected to gather at the next Prayer Storm event in Manchester on Fri 11th and Sat 12th November. The Lighthouse Christian Centre, Eccles will host young people from across the UK crying out to God in worship and intercession for the future of our nation.

James also recognises the importance of the timing politically and economically, following this year’s market turmoil and unrest on the streets of cities across the world – including Manchester.

‘I brought three friends to the

event and all of us were revived with a passion for Jesus and a desire to burn for Him like never before’ - Peter, 21

It’s no accident that the event begins on 11.11.11, explains Prayer Storm founder and coordinator James Aladiran: ‘There are three specific Bible verses which we believe God is speaking through, all connected by the number 11. First is Matthew 11:11 which says of John the Baptist “there has not risen anyone greater.” John prepared the way for Jesus in his generation and we seek the same in ours.

‘Secondly, in John 11:11, Jesus is on his way to wake up Lazarus who is dead but Jesus calls him merely “asleep”. What a picture for our generation! And 1 Samuel 1:11 which describes Hannah’s vow to God to dedicate her unborn son to the Lord.’

‘There are moments in history where I think the door for change swings open and his people have the opportunity to influence history for good. This is one of them. We can shift the door to allow more of God’s favour. It’s a significant hour,’ he adds.

Prayer Storm began in May 2009 with a gathering of young people and students in Manchester. Since then the movement has grown through prayer nights and larger daytime gatherings and to other parts of the North West..

PROFILE:

James Aladiran is the prayer coordinator at The Message. To find out more about the Prayer Storm 11.11.11 Gathering visit: www.prayerstorm.org

www.message.org.uk/flow ////

In his Neighbourhood MOBO-winning rapper Jahaziel Elliot explains why he’s become our newest EDEN team leader

n the UK Christian hip hop world there are few artists more respected than Jahaziel. He’s won a string of awards including a MOBO for Best Gospel Artist in 2008, and was recently signed to US-based hip hop label XIST Music. Yet the 35-year-old rapper is now also our newest Eden team leader, moving on to the underprivileged Andover estate in Islington, North London with his wife and daughter this autumn. So how did this award-winning gospel MC find himself moving to lead the newly formed Eden Tollington? ‘I never planned on having a career in music,’ says Jahaziel. ‘It was fun and people said I was good, so I kept doing it. I put out a record and one thing led to another and I was full time for two and a half years. I’ve had opportunities to travel around the world and met loads of different people who say that they’ve been blessed by my music, which is amazing. ‘But music isn’t, and never has been, a priority for me. It’s not my ambition in life. I’ve always had an itch for something more.’ //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

It’s not surprising therefore that Jahaziel’s CV is lot more interesting than most rappers’. Jahaziel has worked with young people in schools and in prison, through a post working in Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution, helping ex-offenders back into education and employment. But working as a member of staff, Jahaziel found the atmosphere could be restrictive: ‘You would find you had to be careful about what you could and couldn’t say. I was working with one of the boys and gave him an assignment to write some lyrics about friendship, using a Bible verse for inspiration. But I couldn’t tell him it was a Bible verse — although it would’ve been fine if it was from Shakespeare! ‘It was the opposite problem with music. You can say what you like during your show, but you don’t get any time to do anything deeply. You jump in, you do a couple of songs, say a few things and you’re out, you’re done. ‘So I found myself praying, God, how can I do both of these things — to talk about Christ and go deep with people?’

www.message.org.uk/flow ////

ABOVE & BELOW: ‘SOUL IN THE CITY’ IN TOLLINGTON. THE EDEN TEAM ALONG WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO HUNDREDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS

LYRICS FROM ‘IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD’ BY JAHAZIEL (PREACHER BOY MUSIC 2009)

and table tennis — but for some of the kids from the estate, it’s better that we know they’re there than somewhere else.’ Targeted mentoring with young people, and sessions on CV writing and other practical topics are helping to pastor young people in practical ways, as well as opening opportunities for contact with parents. Jahaziel says it’s rare that he walks through the estate without stopping to say hello to someone. A new youth centre on the estate is equipped with facilities for the performing arts, including a recording studio. A proposal to run rap workshops there has already been approved, meaning Jahaziel may soon have the opportunity to disciple and mentor the next generation of Christian MCs.

His search ended with an invitation to get involved with a new Eden partnership in Tollington N4. There, a local parish team was seeking to deepen its work on this close-knit multicultural estate, building on successful summer outreaches as part of Soul in the City. ‘I’d been involved in Soul in the City for a few years — that was how my relationship with the church started. One thing I was always impressed with was the church’s obvious passion to reach the community. My experience in the past has often been that there’s a church in the heart of the community but the community has no idea they’re even there. But this church was putting energy and effort into to being visible and blessing the community – so much so that would be difficult for you to live there and not be blessed by them. I wanted to be a part of that.’

And this summer’s riots proved how important consistent and regular youth clubs and provisions are, believes Jahaziel: ‘It’s very apparent that young people need some kind of activities to engage in. It might not be much — a pool table //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

Have there been sacrifices for Jahaziel and his family in moving to be a part of Eden Tollington? ‘No doubt, it’s been an adjustment. There is a sacrifice to moving to a new situation and leaving people behind. But it’s definitely worth it. If God’s leading you, you need to do it.’ Download a free sample of Jahaziel’s latest music at: www.jahazielmusic.com

’T MIS ON

Jahaziel is featured in episode six of Being Extraordinary, our series of films giving an insight into the lives of Eden teams. Watch now at www.eden-network.org.

He believes there are major needs that the church can help address by being a positive presence in the community: ‘Violence and crime in the area aren’t frequent, but they’re still too frequent,’ says Jahaziel. ‘We had a murder and some stabbings in the space of just a few weeks earlier this year. We’ve got Night Pastor teams going out which are as much about socialising as evangelising, but that’s kind of the point — it’s about making our presence felt. At the funeral of the guy who was murdered we were at the grave side with a load of young people, helping to lead the singing.’

‘The church was visible and blessing the community. I wanted to be part of that’

TOLLINGTON ESTATE FROM ABOVE FLICKR: Daquella Manera

The Eden team in Tollington is starting to take shape to support all these opportunities. Alongside Jahaziel, wife Nadine and daughter Azaliah, are James, a young man from the estate, and teacher Naomi recently moved from Croydon.

Matt Wilson on the power Eden teams have to influence the next generation ’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word influence. I know how hard our Eden teams work to be a positive influence on the young people in their neighbourhoods. Yet they often

describe to me how hard their task is as these young people are often caught in webs of toxic relationships. Every hour they spend with a young person is competing with many more hours spent with other people whose influence is likely to be a lot less healthy. The fact is, Jesus is not the only one saying ‘Follow me…’ to teenagers growing up in our cities. With too much time and too little to do it’s a real problem when someone turns up saying ‘Try this’ or ‘Have a go’. And that someone usually has some kind of power or leverage – there’s often an ‘Or else’ attached. We see this over and over again, messed-up, bad-news people who maliciously drag others down to their level.

This is why I’m so thrilled with the calibre of people who have chosen to join Eden teams throughout 2011. We had a target of recruiting 100 new people to our teams this year and, praise God, we’re well on our way to achieving that. These are people who realise that the only way to turn the tide in our estates and inner cities is to go to where these kids are, to become part of their world, and to begin to exert a positive influence.

ABOVE: YOUNG PEOPLE WATCHING ‘SOUL IN THE CITY’ IN TOLLINGTON. BELOW: JAHAZIEL MENTORS A YOUNG RAPPER

People often ask me to summarise what it means to belong to an Eden team. The answer is simple really: it is to move in, live deep, and say ‘Follow me as I follow Christ.’ I’m more convinced than ever that the Jesus way is the only way. Whether we’re in the terraced streets of Sheffield, the tower blocks of London or the council estates of the North East, making disciples is the only strategy that the Master gave us. We’re called to be those who draw others away from destructive influences into a creative community of love called the church. Do you think you could be a positive influence on a teenager growing up in poverty? If so, perhaps you should look into joining one of our Eden teams. We’d love to hear from you.

PROFILE: Matt Wilson is the National Director of Eden in the UK. He is a published author, speaker and blogger on urban evangelism and incarnational living. www.message.org.uk/flow ////

Seek to know the Lord

LEGEND

and make his passion

yours

Dr KP Yohannan is the founder and international director of Gospel For Asia which trains and sends indigenous missionaries across India and surrounding countries. Two million copies of his book ‘Revolution in World Missions’ are in print. You dedicate your book ‘Revolution…’ to George Verwer who is also a great friend of The Message. How did he impact your life?

I know of no other man of such radical commitment and consistency. I was 17 and attending a missions conference in Bangalore. I was shocked and gripped to hear this skinny white man’s challenge: ‘How many of you will make a commitment tonight to go and serve God, looking for nothing but to see the lost come to Christ?’ That night, I surrendered my life. What did that decision entail?

I was raised in a comfortable place in southern India. But that night I knew God was calling me to the north, where there were few Christians and missionaries were despised and abused. I went with a team of brothers from Operation Mobilisation to places where no one had ever even heard the name Jesus. We went from village to village ‘like sheep among wolves’, often being attacked and chased away. How did the experience change you?

I came to realise that the Bible is not a book to understand doctrine and philosophy — actually it’s a book that’s given to help us follow Christ. It is a book to live by. It taught me the absolute uniqueness of Jesus as the only way. And my heart began to break for those who don’t know Him. You often say that we are in a ‘new day of world missions’. What’s changed exactly?

When George came to India it was clear he saw the answer for India was in young people from India, not missionaries from overseas. If we’re going to see the two billion hear the gospel, the only way to do that is to give top priority to training and sending out brothers and sisters from their own countries. Besides, many priority countries are no longer places where outsiders can go easily.

KP Yohannan How is Gospel for Asia working that out in practice?

We only have one thing on our mind: a call to send workers to fulfil the Great Commission. We help train and support a missionary for three to four years until he becomes self-supporting. We have thousands of missionaries supported by our programmes and on average, we are seeing 12 churches planted every day in the 10/40 window. Who do you look up to as spiritual fathers and role models?

My own mother was an inspirational figure in my life. She spent many hours each day in prayer and that impacted me greatly. I also look up to people like Watchman Nee who were so delighted in God. They wanted to know God, not just know about him, and walked away from money, fame, everything for the sake of knowing him. What’s your message to young people trying to follow Christ today?

For this generation which is so confused by the media, I encourage them to read the gospels and see the Christianity that is there. Read an hour a day. Seek to know the Lord and make his passion yours. I also strongly recommend reading the little book True Discipleship by William MacDonald.

FIND OUT MORE AT www.gfauk.org www.message.org.uk/flow ////

Stacey’s heroin habit saw her jailed five times. But everything changed when she met God through Reflex

REPEAT OFFENDER

to complete surrender tacey had a tough start in life: her relationship with her family broke down and she was put into care aged 11. ‘I had a good family but I was a terror,’ remembers Stacey. ‘I don’t know why. I think I just never felt loved by my mum. I used to kick off all the time and they couldn’t handle me.’ Though she left school with no qualifications, Stacey found work and seemed to be settling down. But everything collapsed when she was introduced to heroin. It quickly took over her life. ‘No one knew at first — I didn’t look like a druggie,’ says Stacey, now 30. ‘I still had weight on me. But I started turning up late because I was using before going in to work. I ended up getting fired for phoning dealers in work time.’ With no job, she turned to shoplifting and burglary to fund her spiralling habit. Eventually she was caught and sentenced. It was the start of nine years in prison on five separate convictions. ‘It was like a revolving door — I’d be in and back out. I had no support. Each time I had every intention of staying off heroin, but I never did. I would smoke on the first day I was out, and I was back at square one.’ //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

It was on her last sentence that Stacey finally found the help she needed. She became a Christian through Bible studies run by The Message’s Reflex team working in HMP Styal and discovered the unconditional love and acceptance she craved. ‘The guys kept telling me about God and what he could do for me,’ remembers Stacey. ‘One time after we’d prayed, I just broke down. Something happened and I didn’t know what it was. My heart opened up and everything poured out, all that hurt just drained away. From that moment I knew something had changed.’ ‘The closer I got to God, the more I changed. He filled that hole I’d been looking to fill for years, using drugs, trying to impress people. I finally knew that I was fully wanted.’ Stacey didn’t keep her new relationship with God to herself: she introduced the Reflex team to lots of other girls who saw the change in her and wanted to know what was behind it.

well. Reflex supported me every step of the way.’ Her faith in God and the help of Reflex gave her the strength she needed to adjust to life outside, finding a job, securing a flat and settling into a church. Stacey was released as a Priority and Prolific Offender (PPO), with a stringent monitoring regime. But her probation officer was so impressed with Stacey’s new attitude she was released from the scheme within seven months — the quickest time on record. Stacey has now been home two years. ‘I look back and think, who was that person? If I hadn’t met the Reflex team and become a Christian, I’d have been in and out of prison for the rest of my life. I couldn’t have done it without them.’

But Stacey’s biggest challenge was still ahead of her. How would she stay clean and begin living a productive life after prison fifth time round? ‘Prison never worked for me, until I became a Christian,’ says Stacey. ‘Then I started to make it work for me. I did lots of courses and I used the time

ABOVE: Stacey with her award sponsor at the Urban Hero Awards 2011

The church needs to demonstrate the Father’s heart, says Stuart Keir ot long ago, my wife and I planted a church in the centre of London. In the early days of trying to get things going, I was asked to do an assembly in a nearby school. God spoke to me powerfully that day. When I got there, one of the teachers told me shocking fact: that 94% of the students in the school had no dad at home. Now I have three children at home and I was looking out on 250 young people, and realising that only 10 of them had a dad at home. I could barely hold it together for the rest of the assembly. At the end I walked out, and heard God clearly say to me, ‘If we do not raise a generation of people who know how to father, we will lose a generation of people because they won’t know how to connect to me.’

Knowing our Dad God’s primary revelation of himself through scripture is as Father God. The basic building block he uses in people’s lives is family. So when we don’t grasp the ideas of father and family, we miss what God is all about. Unless the church is displaying it, fleshing out what it means to be fathered and part of a family, people today will never see God. So my wife and I started trying to do that with our church. We just decided we’re going to give our lives to young people so they realise what this is about. Because it doesn’t matter what age you are, the issue of being fathered is the crucial issue in our relationship with God. Every Fathers’ Day I get seven Fathers’ Day cards – and my own three kids tend to share one! The other ones are from kids that my wife and I have fathered.

PROFILE: Stuart Keir is Associate Pastor at !Audacious Church in Manchester and a lecturer at the !Audacious Academy. www.audaciouschurch.com

If we do not raise a generation who know

how to father,

we will lose a generation... The Father’s

voice

If we’re going to be people who speak the Father’s voice, we have to hear it with clarity. We need to hear the Father’s voice – not just for ourselves, but for those we’re responsible for. Luke 3:21-22 says: ‘When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”’ Watch how the Father does three things: he acknowledges his Son (‘you are my Son’); he displays his affection for his Son (‘whom I love’); and he affirms his Son (‘with you I am well pleased).’ I love the fact that Jesus had done nothing at this point. No miracles, no teaching, nothing. He’s just getting baptised – just like everybody else – and God speaks his pleasure over his Son’s life. I love that about God – he doesn’t need me to perform, to succeed or fail. He just needs me to be me. First of all, we are sons or daughters. The simplicity of that is what matters most as we father and raise this generation. www.message.org.uk/flow ////

//// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 06

BIBLE WORKS JESUS WORKS LET’S GET TOWORK

TEACH TEACH

THE

Andy Hawthorne’s stirring address to the Houses of Parliament on June 21, 2011

ver twenty years working with young people in schools, communities and prisons, I’ve become convinced of a couple of things above all else. The first thing I’ve become convinced of: the Bible works in terms of raising aspirations among our young people. The best of our government, judiciary and society is built on this precious book. At our Queen’s coronation sixty years ago, she was handed a Bible and these words were said: ‘Our gracious Queen… we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.’ I believe that with my whole heart: the closer we stick to this book, the more our society will thrive. I appreciate so much the MPs who work so hard on our behalf. But I was gutted to hear that the book most of our MPs took away on their holidays last year was Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. How much better equipped would those guys be to lead our nation if they’d taken a Bible away on their holidays? The second thing I’ve become convinced of is that Jesus works. I saw some fascinating research from the think tank Theos recently. Interestingly, God has been mentioned in our political speeches more times over the last ten years than at any time in our nation’s history. But nobody mentions Jesus. The truth is, we do ‘do God’, we just don’t ‘do Jesus’. How bizarre is that? When Jesus is so precious, so lovely, when Jesus really can transform any life. He’s changed my life and he’s changed the life of thousands of young people we’ve worked with in Manchester and beyond.

With Paul, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is power of God for the salvation of anyone who believes. And Jesus doesn’t just save you for the by-and-by; he saves you now, from living a small, self-centred life. He gives you a heart for the poor and the hurting and the broken. His energy, his Spirit within, gives you power to change society on his behalf. You may have seen Peter Brierley’s research on the link between Sunday school over the last 200 years of our nation’s history. Two hundred years ago, Britain was going to the dogs. The inner cities were scary places, Britain was getting drunk on gin, the prisons were full. And guess what? Very few children and youth were engaged with church — three or four percent. But on the back of great men who worked in our Houses of Parliament like Shaftesbury, Wilberforce and the Sunday School movement, through the 19th Century, more and more children started engaging with biblical values. Guess what happened? Crime came down, communities became safer. By the start of the 20th century we were at an all time high. Over 70 per cent of our children and youth were engaged with church. The prisons were emptying, the inner cites were safer, addiction and crime were at an all-time low. After the First World War, we took our foot off the gas. We stopped investing in children and youth. Throughout the last 100 years, fewer and fewer have heard Christian morals. What’s happened? Crime, addiction, divorce, mental illness — all up. Two hundred years on, we’ve got lots more things, but we’re back where we’re started. I honestly believe as goes the church, so goes the nation. So if we believe this stuff — that the Bible works, that Jesus works — then let’s get to work. Let’s do something new, or support someone who’s doing something new. The gospel has lost none of its power. FREE DVD: We’d love to send you a copy of the video of Andy’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast for free. Just contact our Supporter Care Team on 0161 946 2328.

www.message.org.uk/flow ////

‘WHAT AN INSPIRING DAY AND GREAT TO SEE THE VARIETY OF THE MINISTRIES’ D STIRLING

Back in the summer, we threw open the doors of Message HQ to supporters. Thanks to every one who turned out on the day. We’re glad so many of you had such a good time!

‘THANK YOU FOR THE OPEN DAY. YET AGAIN WE WERE IMPRESSED BY HOW WELL YOU ALWAYS DO THINGS, THE HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE. WE WERE REMINDED OF HOW GOD BLESSES OBEDIENCE.’ R&S BULLOCK

‘A WONDERFUL DAY OUT… AMAZED BY THE MESSAGE’S INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE. THE VERY FRIENDLY STAFF WERE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE DAY’ YOUTH WORKER, YORK

‘GREAT DAY, WELL ORGANISED, FRIENDLY, GOOD SNACKS, ENTERTAINING DANCE PERFORMANCES, ENCOURAGING TO SEE JUNIOR AGED CHILDREN. INSPIRING AND ENCOURAGING TALK BY ANDY’ G SOUTH

‘FANTASTIC DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE’ G DUNPAY The Direct Debit Guarantee: This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the Payer. //// THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE – ISSUE 07

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I first heard about the Message through my church, Ivy Manchester. Andy Hawthorne preached one Sunday morning, and I remember the passion with which he spoke about The Message’s work and the powerful video he showed. I was really impressed by the practical support given freely to so many young people on Manchester’s toughest estates. After a couple of years I began thinking I should become a more committed supporter. When Frank Green moved on to join the Message staff, he asked me to support him and that gave me the nudge I needed!

INTRODUCING: PAUL NADIN Please tell us about your business! Discover Holidays offers holidays, city breaks, flights and cruises on the internet (www.discoverholidays. co.uk) and over the phone (0800 993 0796). We also have a specialist website for people with disabilities, www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk In what ways do you support The Message? After joining the MBN (formerly called BSG) in 2007 I had the privilege of becoming a trustee in 2008. Giving financially and helping the Message Trust with strategic decisions gives me purpose in business and a reason to grow. I look forward to contributing to the Message Enterprise Centre as it takes shape. As an exciting fundraiser, I undertook the Three Peaks Challenge last year with a team from Lifecentre Hattersley. We finished it with 10 minutes to spare – I’ve never been so utterly exhausted – an incredible experience. How has being part of the MBN helped your business?

As a fast-moving, entrepreneurial and highly effective ministry, The Message is a magnet to business people. The Message Business Network offers people in business the chance to participate in the life of The Message, giving financial and strategic input that really makes a difference.

WHY I LOVE THE MESSAGE

It’s given me a reason to want to grow my business – so I can support more of what The Message does. Our business has benefited enormously from receiving prayer support from The Message – it’s great to know that there are people praying for us on a weekly basis in the Message prayer room. I believe that’s having a big impact on our business.

What do you most admire about The Message?

It’s the focus on practical and tangible support for young people who need it most, in the places that need it most. Andy Hawthorne is truly inspirational leader too. Have you had a chance to see the work with your own eyes?

Yes, I’ve been down to Message HQ to see what goes on there and I remember being really impressed at the professional setup. I’ve seen several of the bands and drama groups performing over the years too. Also I was invited to the Urban Hero Awards and was amazed to hear all the success stories. What’s great about being a supporter of The Message? I’m always amazed by the number of testimonies that The Message have from people you have supported and helped. There are always new, fresh, and often miraculous stories of people’s lives that have been changed as a result of what you do. What would you say to anyone considering becoming a supporter? Just do it! It’s really inspiring to be able to support an organisation which is so passionate about helping disadvantaged young people get a break and find true worth in their lives through Jesus.

How would you persuade other business people to support The Message? I would invite them along to one MBN event — I’m sure it would inspire them. I would also say that if you are a Christian business person, this is something which can be of real value to your business because you get the benefit of other people’s expertise. I’ve also made some life long friends by supporting The Message.

SUPPORTER STORIES

How did you hear about The Message?

ADAM POSNER MESSAGE SUPPORTER SINCE 2007

If you’d like to join Adam and thousands of others as a regular Message Supporter, just ring Jo Nicholson on 0161 946 2328, or fill in the form on the back of this edition of flow.

www.message.org.uk/flow ////

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THANKS FOR READING Now, become part of the story FREE BOOK

In schools and prisons, through Eden and the Enterprise Centre, God is transforming lives and changing our nation. Together, we’re proving it pays to put faith in young people. Whatever you can afford, your regular gift ensures more of the hardest to reach young people get to hear the good news of Jesus. Please stand with us today. Pledge as much as you can and help us write the next chapter of the Message story.

We’ll send yous so me on e ' ? w as hi ng el Wh at ha s do wi th th e go sp aca copy r go t to of Andy’s book ‘Hope Unleashed’ when you start or increase your regular pledge to The Message.

people in his n message to young a bringing the Christia was shocked when Committed to Andy Hawthorne ester, England, gospel but also engage hometown of Manch ’t just preach the told him he shouldn missions partner . in community projects g tionally as bringin interna zed recogni e Trust has been of Manchester. It worked. The Messag roughest, poorest neighborhoods to the hope and change of the church be? should the priority ation g: What, exactly, ed gospel proclam unasham And it got him thinkin bold, and lamp on a stand— yeast—serving Should it be the be more salt and ? Or should it ns asked? to as many as possible alized, with no questio ble and the margin blessing the vulnera follow Jesus should who truly want to gospel is both. Christians to demonstrate the The answer, of course, but also make sure in a passionate, news with words— Written s. good the explain acts of kindnes l described as random true stories and practica through what’s been filled with moving Hope Unleashed is on word and deed. nonreligious style, n mission based Christia for s ideas and strategie and founder of an evangelist, author,

ion r n e is A n d y H a w t h o award-winning Christian mission organizat hoods

an The Message Trust, to the poorest neighbor the gospel message of a Dangerous dedicated to bringing is the author of Diary and beyond. He of his hometown book. Vision, also a Survivor

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