Keep The Faith magazine issue 118 by Keep The Faith magazine

S E K’ ND IC IN E U K A HN AZ TH AC I-ET MAG BL LT AN U M ISTI R CH

ISSUE 118

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

RISE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCHES

LOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT OUT The future is

FEMALE Stay focused

in 2021 PM visits the

Tabernacle

CeCe Winans

Motherhood, music and the power of God

DR R DAVID MUIR

Head of Whitelands College

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Editor’s

NOTE

ISSUE 118

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shirley McGreal

SUB-EDITOR Jackie Raymond

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Becky Wybrow

ADVERTISING Diverse Media Group Limited advertising@diversemediagroup.co.uk T: 0203 868 0664

MARKETING Josie McFarlane

PUBLISHED BY Keep The Faith Ltd 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden London WC2H 9JQ keepthefaithteam @keepthefaithmag keepthefaithmagazine www.keepthefaith.co.uk www.keepthefaithdirectory.co.uk

THE PUBLISHER WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Juliet Fletcher, Akosua Dwomo-Fokuo, Ben Harrell, Milton B Allen, Marcia Dixon MBE, Jason Young, Joy Roxborough, Allyson Williams MBE, Roy Francis, Olivia Hazelden-Kingdon, Matt Bird, Gary Clayton, Marnita Coleman, Tina Boyle Whyte, Sharon Platt-McDonald, M Jasmyn Allen, Grace Gladys Famoriyo, Verona White, Jeanette Young, Vanessa Grossett, Shana Dawn Lewis, Martins Agbonlahor, Amy Walker, Stephanie Schwartz, Nekela Alleyne, Niiella Dankwah Coffie, Amie Croft, Melissa Agbonlahor, Rev Stephen Brooks, our supporters and advertisers. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher.

It’s spring, the weather is improving, and it’s the start of Holy Week and Easter - a time for celebration, new beginnings and the season of hope. The roll out of the UK’s national vaccination programme has been phenomenal and, God willing, on 21 June 2021 the many restrictions on our freedoms will finally be lifted. We have a lot to look forward to and to be thankful for! In this issue, we interview American gospel singer CeCe Winans, who has won 12 Grammy Awards and 23 GMA Dove Awards. We also interview Dr R David Muir - the first Black man to be appointed Head of Whitelands College, one of the oldest higher educational colleges in the UK. We feature the Tottenham Food Hub, a multi award-winning project of the Gospel Temple Apostolic Church, and Step Back, a drama about youth violence to warn young people of the life-altering repercussions of knife crime. The film has had over 500,000 views online, and has been endorsed by the Metropolitan Police. We look at life for Christian women turning 50 - Ageing, Living Life Large and Faith; a crowdfunding lockdown project; faith-driven entrepreneurship; the Rise of the African churches; being ‘locked down, but not out’; gospel music lessons learnt during lockdown, and a feature called ‘Women, The Future is Female’. Read about Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting The Tabernacle in Lewisham; the newly launched Black Church Domestic Abuse Forum, and the Restoration Convalescence Project that is restoring lives during the pandemic. Have you heard about vision boarding? It is an effective way to successfully move forward. We have articles about the work of Mercy Ships, Mission Aviation Fellowship, The Leprosy Mission, France Mission… plus much more! If you would like to contribute to Keep The Faith in print or online, we would love to hear from you. The entire contents of this magazine are written by its readers. Finally, Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful mothers. We appreciate you! Every blessing

Shirley McGreal MBE To discuss how Keep The Faith could work with you, request a media pack or book an advert, please contact Diverse Media Group. Call 0203 868 0664 or email advertising@diversemediagroup.co.uk

CONTENTS ISSUE 118

14 18

NEWS 06 Census 2021: Time to stand up and be counted 07 PM visits The Tab Church to discuss vaccine uptake with church and community leaders

GOSPEL NEWS 08 Gospel music lessons learnt in lockdown By Juliet Fletcher 10 New Releases By Akosua Dwomo-Fokuo 12 Gospel Artist of the Decade, JJ Hairston, is Not Holding Back By Ben Harrell 14 Todd Dulaney - Worshipper with a revelation By Ben Harrell with Milton B. Allen

INTERVIEW 16 Gifty Owusu-Bekoe: Heroes in our communities By Akosua Dwomo-Fokuo 18 CeCe Winans - Motherhood, music and the power of God By Ben Harrell with Milton B. Allen 20 Dr R David Muir

FEATURE 22 Multi award-winning Tottenham Food Hub seeks volunteers By Jason Young Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

26 Turning 50 - Ageing, living life large and faith By Marcia Dixon MBE 27 Lockdown project launched with Back Her Business programme By Joy Roxborough 28 Women, the future is female By Allyson Williams MBE 29 Step Back premier a poignant lesson to London’s youth By Olivia Hazelden-Kingdon 30 The rise of the African Church - and the future challenges it will face By Roy Francis

COMMENT 34 Overcoming boredom by obedience to God By Rev Stephen Brooks 35 Food for thought By Marcia Dixon MBE 36 ‘It’s time for faith-driven entrepreneurs to emerge’ By Matt Bird 38 Locked down, but not out By Gary Clayton

LIFESTYLE 39 Vision boarding for the family By Marnita Coleman 40 Stay focused in 2021 By Tina Boyle Whyte 41 ‘Restoration’ convalescence project By Sharon Platt-McDonald

28 42 How do we grow from here? By M. Jasmyn Allen 44 Three things I wish I knew before starting my Women’s Ministry By Grace Gladys Famoriyo 45 The power of hair and scalp detox By Verona White 46 Styling Junior Garr and the Spirituals Choir By Jeanette Young 47 Nature grieves By Melissa Agbonlahor 48 Rich Black history - Writing historical fiction By Vanessa Grossett 49 Sweetbreads, Sweet bread and Sweetbread By Shana Dawn Lewis

MISSION 50 In solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi By Martins Agbonlahor 52 Mercy Ships: Hope is on the horizon 54 Leprosy Mission: This is unconditional love

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06 NEWS

Census 2021 is around the corner, and it is vital that all Black communities within England and Wales are counted. Run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics – the census is the once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801 - except for 1941 - and asks questions about you and the people you live with. The census will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities, and the inequalities people are experiencing, ensuring that big decisions facing the country following the pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible, through the anonymised answers you provide. It will highlight areas of deprivation; show the ethnic make-up of the country, and provide information on our living arrangements, health, education and the jobs we do. This data will help inform policy at a local and national level for years to come. Emergency services across the UK use census statistics to allocate resources and to plan services based on the local area’s characteristics. Information from the census is also important in helping lots of other people and organisations do their work.

Charities and voluntary organisations often use it as evidence to get funding. It helps businesses to understand their customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops. Plus, those doing research, like university students and people looking into their family history, use census data. It provides important information on population diversity, allowing organisations to know whether they are meeting their responsibilities and triggering action where necessary. Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

CENSUS 2021: Time to stand up and be counted

Kolawole Collins Larrys is a census community adviser in Westminster, where he is raising awareness about the census within Black Caribbean communities. “The information gathered in the 2021 Census will be used to guide decisions on funding for places of worship, youth centres, hospitals and schools. It is therefore very important that minority groups and smaller organisations get a say in this matter,” he said. Census Day is 21st March, with results becoming available in 2022. It is ONS policy never to share personal details, and no one - including government bodies - will be able to identify you in census statistics. Personal census records will be kept secure for 100 years, and only then can future generations view it. This census will be the first to be run mostly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code in March, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

Paper questionnaires will also be available on request, along with language support via the free contact centre. The ONS aims to provide in-person support to complete the census online or over the phone, with help from trained staff at Census Support Centres where it is safe to do so. The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity, with options to allow everyone to identify their nationality, ethnic group and religion as they wish. For more information, please visit census.gov.uk. By Amy Walker

NEWS 07

PM visits The Tab Church to discuss vaccine uptake with church and community leaders

he Prime Minister and London Mayoral candidate, Shaun Bailey, were hosted by Pastor Michael White of the Tabernacle Church, along with other esteemed community leaders. Mr Johnson has been encouraging people from all backgrounds to take the vaccine.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister and community leaders discussed the issues that are contributing to the low vaccine uptake; ways to increase trust in the community, and how best to combat misinformation, especially online.

Boris Johnson PM said: “The most important thing now is for everybody to take advantage of this life-saving vaccination programme. We have got to work with people’s

reservations to turn it around. Thank you to all the community leaders who have shown their support, and for backing the UK vaccination programme.” Pastor Sola Fola-Alade, from the Liberty Church in East London, said: “As a medical doctor by training, I have a responsibility to protect not just my members but the population as a whole. While people have questions regarding the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, we must be careful about misinformation and look at the facts. We should make decisions based on facts and not on myths.” “The Prime Minister cares deeply that all communities know the facts and have access to this life-saving vaccine,” said Theresa Roberts, business leader and community organiser.

The Prime Minister calls on church and community leaders to continue the fight against misinformation, and to encourage vaccine uptake by building trust in all communities across the country. By Stephanie Schwartz

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

08 GOSPEL NEWS

Gospel music lessons Juliet Fletcher is the Creative Director of GreenTree Productions and Windrush Church and Music. She is also the Founder and Director of the Gospel Music Industry Alliance (GMIA).

his issue of Keep The Faith was published almost twelve months since the first official lockdown announcement by Boris Johnson’s government. All of us involved in gospel music, and the churches from where we derive most of our purpose and meaning as an active community, are truly experiencing an unprecedented series of change. Some seem temporary but most feel permanent. Certain things said are a ‘surprise’, while others ‘are right-down-down-right rubbish lies’. I’m thinking it’s worth reflecting on what we may have learnt so far. Therefore, I’m looking at four that I thought of, and I wonder if your views might differ greatly. They are not in priority order but it’s obvious that there are those that may have greater impact than others.

THANKFUL: Lurine Cato and Pentecostal Credit Union’s Youth Shadow Board on the release of their single and accompanying video; reaching thousands of young people on the subject of money, and influencing best practice, attitudes and behaviours.

2. Celebrating lives lived In living memory, I don’t believe any of us has experienced loss as we have in this period of time - sudden and unexpected deaths of musicians and singers as well as parents and grandparents. Age is irrelevant in this season; it’s all about time. What time have we got? How much time do we spend with each other? Suddenly, conversations we never had, we realised we’ve missed. Messages we have read on the life of those who have passed, have made us realise that we are/ were surrounded by such richness and the wealth of people.

1. Music & Arts - Central The ‘stay home’ policy has forced us to look and listen so much more, respectively, to visuals and music and depend on them as sweet moments of relief from the bulletin COVID news. The caveat is that many of the media posts we receive on our devices have delivered disturbing reactions, lies and deceits that have been the source of fear and anxiety instead of solutions. LESSONS: We are realising the importance of music, culture media and the arts in community right at the centre of our individual lives. We hold the power to decide in the palm of our hands. Use it wisely.

Paul Reid

LESSONS: Celebrating each other needs to be standard practice. We need to be mindful of how we speak of and write about each other’s history, because even though we may not have a physical connection, we are nevertheless connected. REMEMBERING: Paul Reid, Music Director for Beverley Knight, from Church of God of Prophecy – West Midlands. Paul Reid, a highly respected and skilfully regarded professional musician and mentor to many.

3. Encouragment really is a gift

Lurine Cato

Rev David Shosanya

How much have Facebook posts, texts and video messages been a part of your daily intake? Who are the individuals or sources that you have gone to, or earnestly look forward to receiving notifications from? What part of the message (during the online service) has been most important to you? Is it the significant lyrical content of the songs? Or is it the

message from the person who has been significant in encasing their choice of Scripture, around how to keep faith in these troubled times? LESSONS: Encouragement is actually mentioned as a spiritual gift in Romans 12:8. It really isn’t a sideline comment when it happens. Let’s not moan as the Lord comforts, provides and applies spiritual balm to troubled minds. THANKFUL: Many have responded enthusiastically to Rev David Shosanya’s posts, which have kept them going through the toughest times and have been of great encouragement to the gospel music community. There are other individuals, not ordained but they are nonetheless appointed to the task of ‘encouraging’. I think of Shirley Myers from COGIC Luton, who in the past year has overcome cancer and every day sends me and others posts to lift our daily walk in life.

4. Good singers are a premium One thing is for sure, that singing LIVE on Facebook, YouTube or Zoom services really makes it clear who can really hold a note, stay in pitch and hold the harmony! Listening in on various services, it was great to see that churches were using the virtuoso singing and musicianship of individuals, groups and church fellowships outside of their own to sustain a level of quality, so that new and unknown viewers can listen to quality, and therefore, focus on the meaning. Some of the AMAZING musical gatherings that have taken place in various parts of our African nations are truly wonderful. LESSONS: Firstly, “listen to the words and not the voice” really doesn’t work. Secondly, we can sincerely share our music with one another without excuse. Particularly since lockdown, so many quality singing videos are

GOSPEL NEWS 09

learnt in lockdown available. Collaborating with others is not as arduous as it seems. Of course, it’s not only singers, but we always big up musicians (smile). THANKFUL: Producer, arranger, composer and music director, Steve Thompson, and his company, Beracah Music, are a fine example. Check on YouTube for ‘Steve Thompson and The Experience 2020’. It’s not an issue of doctrine but of worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH! Amen!

LESSONS: We may not yet understand why Black, Asian and Ethnic communities are experiencing this virus the way we do. What we are beginning to believe is looking after our physical temple really does make a difference. THANKFUL: It’s been amazing to watch Music Director Patrick White as he lost 35lbs. He was approximately 191/2 stones and now he is 141/2 stones. His ‘Walking-To-Wellness’ Facebook page moved from 36 people in September 2020, to nearly 1,800 individuals worldwide walking with him. He says the reason for prioritising health has to be your own health and well-being. This reason alone, more than any new year resolution, will keep you in that place of consistency.

6. Online technology A massive friend

Steve Thompson

5. Health really is a priority It’s quite challenging since COVID has happened to us, that we have realised the extent of our vulnerable status. “Underlying issues” is a phrase that we can aim at casting to the back of our minds, but it won’t get rid of its reflection in the forefront when we look in the mirror. I, like so many of my compatriots, am facing the fact that the lack of movement is having an impact on our overall health. A plethora of recipes, alkaline juice drinks and natural fresh foods, which are so much better for us, has become very commonplace in many traditional forms. Some are discredited for dealing with COVID, but there are others that are just irrefutably good.

Patrick White

What can we say about this? It is linked to my seventh lesson but it’s soooo BIG! Every generation is speaking to each other; praising GOD every Sabbath and Sunday for the sheer GLORY and RELIEF that they are able to use online technology. We do have to break it down a bit though: this is the reason why GMIA is not only about musicians and singers. There is a whole army of people that make our scene, sector and industry work (yes we are all three), they make the people at the sharp end look good. Even the design of churches and live performance spaces dedicated to our music [visit YouTube 316 Gospel UK (Birmingham based) and Front Room TV (Croydon based)] are an integral part of making our online status viable and credible. You know something has changed when every Sunday the technical team gets an exclusive “thank you”. These volunteers are critical and so are the professionals who advise them and often set systems up. LESSONS: Investing in good production equipment and online software technology is no longer an option. Keeping up to date and having an individual or team to support so as to retain consistency and quality is critical. Performing artists and producers who do this will outclass and outlast the pandemic fallout. THANKFUL: Examples like O’Neil Dennis and his team at astepfwd.com, for their recent Masterclass series; VisionsTVOnline founders, Andrew and Shireen Morrison, for pushing the boundaries with their relatively new enterprise and creating an online platform - extending the reach for new and emerging artists.

O’Neil Dennis

7. The promises not the premises Who would have thought that our millions of investments into church buildings would have the challenge they have now? Certainly our fellowships that are dependent on rental spaces have suffered the most. We have had to see what ‘church’ really means – as the Scriptures speak of it: “We are His building...” 1 Corinthians 3:9-17. Some leaders have seen their membership dwindle as others have seen their membership (more correctly, participators) grow. This is really good. I remember when I first heard the phrase “Church Without Walls” on Revelation TV - in fact, they have a specific programme by that title.

David Grant

LESSONS: This phrase “we’re standing on the promises and not on the premises”, I can’t take credit for it. I learnt it from the wonderful super-duper broadcaster David Grant – championing judge on BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year. In truth, we are learning new ways of building faith in our communities – even with others across the globe. It’s probably true to say we cannot be the same again. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

10 GOSPEL NEWS

NEW RELEASES BY

A K O S U A

CalledOut Music set to start the new year on a high note with brand new EP, Come Home MOBO award-winner, CalledOut Music, is ready to start the year on a high note with his brand new project, ‘Come Home’. The EP is a collection of six soft, melodious acoustic tracks, created out of thought-provoking songwriting sessions. “This is a special collection that is really dear to my heart. For me, Come Home is not just an EP, it tells a story of how I have been able to keep my head up in the face of some tough and extremely challenging hurdles, and my greatest honour is sharing something that could bring peace and hope to everyone who listens.” - CalledOut Music ‘Come Home’ is available to download and stream on all digital-streaming platforms from 5th February, 2021. The EP has six tracks in total.

D F

Glorious King by Sarah Téibo ‘Glorious King’, the new single from London-based worship leader and songwriter Sarah Téibo, is a reminder of God’s sovereignty amid so much uncertainty in today’s world. It comes on the heels of the singer’s recent charity Christmas single, and is the second single from her upcoming worship album, which she hopes will serve as a resource to help “usher listeners into unhurried moments of worship and a deeper relationship with God.” ‘Glorious King’ is available for download on all digital music platforms. Keen fans and supporters can also get the song on Bandcamp, for any price.

NHS joins Bishops and Black majority church leaders to campaign to tackle vaccine misinformation

ross denominational leaders of the Christian faith have joined forces with the NHS and launched a campaign aimed at encouraging a more balanced conversation around the COVID-19 vaccine, and to tackle much of the misinformation that has caused distrust, particularly in Black-majority communities and churches. The Give Hope campaign, which has been organised by YourNeighbour, encourages Christians to engage with vaccine discussions and for them to start a conversation with their neighbours and communities. With the support of Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham; Pastor Agu Irukwu (Jesus House); the Bishop of Dover, The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin; Commissioner Anthony Cotterill from the Salvation Army, and other senior church leaders, YourNeighbour has sought input from NHS England and Public Health England. It is hoped the initiative will encourage church leaders, particularly within the Black community, to have the conversation with their congregations and in their communities to dispel fake news, allay fears, and come together to

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

give hope and hasten the end of COVID-19. Russ Rook, co-founder of YourNeighbour, commented: “Over the coming months, we will be supporting Christian leaders and activists to change the narrative around the COVID-19 vaccines in their communities. By helping to

communicate directly with hard-to-reach groups that may miss out, facilitating clear and kind conversations with some who may be reticent, and providing practical support to those who need it, UK churches are playing a vital role in our country’s recovery from COVID-19.” Bishop of Dover, The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, said: “When you are offered the opportunity to get your COVID vaccination, I want you to take it. There are distracting voices in our Black and minority ethnic communities spreading doubt and alarm. And while I understand the fear and concern, listening to those voices alone will rob us of the need to live flourishing lives with our families and friends. These vaccines offer us a path through the pandemic, giving us hope, strength and the chance of safety. If the vaccine was good enough for Her Majesty, then it is good enough for us.” Churches will be offered a range of resources to help them engage their communities in the conversation at www.yourneighbour.org.

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BEEN COUGHING FOR THREE WEEKS OR MORE? CONTACT YOUR GP PRACTICE If you’ve had a cough for three weeks or more and it isn’t COVID-19, don’t ignore it. It’s probably nothing serious, but it could be a sign of cancer. Your NHS is here to see you, safely. nhs.uk/cancersymptoms

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12 GOSPEL NEWS

Gospel Artist of the Decade

JJ Hairston is Not Holding Back

Ben Harrell

GLOBAL MUSIC LINK EDITORIAL TEAM www.benjharrell.com

illboard Music Award-winning gospel artist, JJ Hairston, has released his 11th album, ‘Not Holding Back’ - an album that will remind you that God will bring peace in the midst of death, destruction, political banter and social unrest. Hairston has a message for listeners as they get settled into the New Year: “God will never give up on you.” Last year was a trying year for people everywhere, however, we serve a God who continues to wake us up to fight another day. Keep the Faith had an opportunity to speak with JJ Hairston on faith, music and God. “In so many ways, 2020 has been a year of transition and launching for us. You would think that things would be calm and quiet because of the pandemic, but we were extremely busy last year. We launched a ministry and recorded a project. Normally, we would be out doing concerts on our normal schedule, but we had the opportunity to focus on what God had assigned us to do. I am really thankful to God for allowing us to grow in the season.” The growth that Hairston spoke of would take him back to one of his first ministries - his marriage. Hairston and his wife recently released a book together, ‘A Miracle Marriage’. He talks about the experience of writing a book with his

wife, and how this book could help support marriages. “Writing a book with my wife was incredible. It was easy. It’s just us sharing our story. We were in a really bad season with our marriage; we were separated and considering divorce, then God revived and restored it. He actually used us to take certain steps to revive our marriage. So the book ‘Miracle Marriage’ talks about those steps, and how we did it. If there are any married couples who are facing challenges, they can follow those same steps and hopefully get the same results.” Moving on to music, Billboard just named Hairston number 11 gospel artist of the decade. He touches on how this recognition affirmed his journey. “Well for us, we try not to associate numbers with impact. You could be number 50 but still impact nations. It’s just that the impact cannot be measured. So while we truly appreciate Billboard noting our industry effect and our industry impact, there is nothing that can measure your ministry impact. I’m truly grateful that God has used us to impact people all over the world with our music, and we would never take that for granted. We will keep releasing music that will hopefully reach His heart and people all over the world.”

“Go all in with your energy and your worship, and watch God do what He’s going to do the next day.” Now, coming off ‘Miracle Worker’, an absolutely incredible album recorded in the States and in Nigeria with Rich Tolbert, Jr Tim Godfrey and Mercy Chinwo, Hairston is now releasing ‘Not Holding Back’. He speaks to Keep the Faith’s readers in the United Kingdom, Africa, Australia and in the States about this outstanding project.

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GOSPEL NEWS 13

“We haven’t been able to gather the way that we normally would because of the pandemic. We wanted to find a way to have that same experience we have in church. The same declaration that we would normally have in a church building and bring it to you, so you can have the same experience in your home. So ‘Miracle Worker’ was a record that celebrated the greatness of God and what He’s able to do. Now this album gives you the opportunity to celebrate Him in your home.” JJ provides a personal message of faith to his fans, listeners, followers and worshippers of God around the world about ‘Not Holding Back’. “The album is talking about not holding back your worship. We are also pushing the theme of not holding back anything. Many of us are trying to save our prayers, trying to save our worship, trying to save our effort, because we are not sure of what the future holds. But if we trust God we can give it all to Him now. So don’t hold back anything. Go all in with your energy and your worship, and watch God do what He’s going to do the next day.” We do not know where 2021 will take us, but we need to have faith in God. Hairston has blessed worshippers with ‘Not Holding Back’, which gives us the steps via music to help us navigate through dark days. JJ Hairston is

making a bold declaration that God is mighty, and we all need to take note. ‘Not Holding Back’ is available now. Ben is the founder of ‘Ambitions of a Writer’ and the creator of Billboard and Bookings 101. Find out more at BenjHarrell.com. FFM Link for Digital Edition: https://ffm.to/ notholdingback

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14 GOSPEL NEWS

TODD DULANEY

WORSHIPPER WITH A R E V E L AT I O N

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GOSPEL NEWS 15

By Ben Harrell with Milton B. Allen, Global Music Link Editorial Team

rolific worship leader and songwriter, Todd Dulaney, has released his new single, ‘Revelation 4’ - a single derived from the Scripture that prompts us to take our cares of the world and place them at the foot of God’s throne. Dulaney combats the likes of chaos, pain and the pandemic with a voice of praise to our Father, singing: “Holy, holy, holy”. Keep The Faith had an opportunity to speak with Todd Dulaney on revelations that have shaped his faith, music and life. “Sometimes we experience revelations that prompt us to make a change in our lives.” He also speaks of the revelation that prompted him to take his talents from baseball to gospel music. “Purpose was the revelation. Baseball had the potential to make me a really wealthy individual. However, when I realised the impact I could make in the lives of people with music, I was changed forever. I could never make this type of impact playing baseball. I get to touch and hug people from different nations. A light bulb went off in my head. I would rather live my life in purpose than chase a dollar.”

“If I can create a song that everyone can sing, while keeping the attention off me, then it’s pretty much a win every time.” Dulaney’s purpose would birth an amazing journey in music, leading up to the release of his new single, ‘Revelation 4’. He speaks on the messages that he hopes to convey to listeners of his new single. “The simple message is this: we have to think about what’s happening around the throne right now. At all times around the throne, there are elders casting down their crowns, saying ‘Holy, holy, holy’, and this song is going to stand the test of time, because this is what we are singing: ‘Holy, holy, holy’. It helps you to take your mind off all the chaos and the pandemic, by remembering that around the throne ‘we should see beauty’.” Dulaney has a following that has enjoyed his music for years. His music has the unique ability to bridge nations of people - located in London, several African territories, the Caribbean, Australia and so on - with the

goal of lifting one voice to praise God. Dulaney says: “There is so much that goes into having a universal sound. For one, I have to realise that while I am creating this music, it is not about me; I’m going to create music that everyone can relate to. If I can create a song that everyone can sing, while keeping the attention off me, then it’s pretty much a win every time.” Dulaney has travelled to regions where people have an organic and robust relationship with God, such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and so on, to share God’s Word through music. As a songwriter, Dulaney discusses how he puts the words together to help people dive into a place of worship. “I have to stay out of the way. I have to write from a place where I’m not writing about myself, in order to magnify the glory of God. We are writing songs for masses of people to worship, so it’s got to be about God. That in itself is an art form. The pen of a worshipper has to make sure they can pull from Him to write about Him. When I write, I have to ensure that God is the centre, and that it will resonate with His people.” Dulaney’s mission to help people get closer to God has the world anticipating his next album, ‘Anthems & Glory’. He explains what listeners can expect. “It’s loaded. It’s my favourite album so far. I’m singing harder because I feel more confident in my ability to express myself. Even my band is expressing themselves more; plus, we have Tamela Mann, Smokie Norful, Kierra Sheard and Todd Galberth featured on the project. I always think that my next is always my best, so I really believe that this is my best.”

Dulaney’s music helps usher us into a place of peace by connecting us to our heavenly Father. Dulaney gives the world a word to help us remember that God is in control. “We have no reason to worry at all, because the One who formed the universe knew about this pandemic before the foundations of the world, and the plan for success is still up ahead. This whole pandemic is a turning towards Christ; everyone is going to bow. Every knee is going to bow and every tongue will confess, eventually, that He is Lord of all.” Todd Dulaney is preparing us to take our focus off the problem and turn our hearts to God for the solution. ‘Revelation 4’ is available now.

Ben is the founder of ‘Ambitions of a Writer’ and the creator of Billboard and Bookings 101. Find out more at BenjHarrell.com. FFM Link for Digital Edition: https://ffm.to/revelation4 www.keepthefaith.co.uk

16 INTERVIEW

Gifty Owusu-Bekoe: Heroes in our communities

BY AKOSUA DWOMO-FOKUO

ver the last 11 months, teachers, healthcare workers, delivery drivers and other key workers have been the heroes in our communities. While most of us have been safely stuck indoors during lockdown, these key workers daily risk their lives for us. I usually interview artists, entertainers and pastors for this column, but decided to dedicate this interview to key frontline workers and have picked a passionate zealous teacher, Gifty Owusu-Bekoe to speak with. Akosua Dwomo-Fokuo (ADF): Thank you for taking time out for this interview. Very much appreciated. Before we get into things, tell us a bit about yourself. Gifty Owusu-Bekoe (GOB): I’m Gifty Owusu-Bekoe, a primary school teacher and the founder of Teach Nation Online Learning Platform and Righteous Kids Club. I graduated from McGill University, specialising my degree in Kindergarten and Elementary Education. I have a strong zeal not only to teach children, but am also passionate about helping them become who God has ordained them to be. ADF: Teachers are some of our heroes during this pandemic. What are some of the challenges you currently face? GOB: Teaching is beautiful, but virtual teaching is quite challenging. One of the challenges I have noticed is a lack of motivation. The classroom environment and students’ home environment are two completely different atmospheres. Some children get easily distracted from their home learning work, because they are in the comfort of their homes, where there is access to games and fun television programmes to watch. Another challenge is relying on online resources to do the teaching for you as a teacher. I miss teaching my students in our classroom through my body language and facial expressions. The last challenge - and the funniest - is the challenge of asking students to mute their microphones online. It is very interesting having over 20 kids unmute their microphones to desperately share what they ate for breakfast that morning.

ADF: How are your students coping during this pandemic? GOB: My students miss school life and interacting with their friends. They love seeing their teachers twice a day via live video calls. They always have so much to share, and never want to end the calls. It shows how much they value and cherish their school life. As a teacher, I try to make them feel better during these uncertain times by praying with them. They present prayer requests, and we pray over our concerns together. It truly gives them hope that God has everything under control. ADF: What word of encouragement would you give to a parent struggling to juggle home-schooling and working from home? GOB: I can only imagine how difficult the whole experience is for most parents, but I have yet to meet a parent who is not trying. You’re all doing such a marvellous job. As teachers, we cannot thank you enough for selflessly taking on the new hat you’re wearing in your homes. Psalm 32:8 says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” As you’re wearing this new and unfamiliar hat as a home-school parent, let God instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. Also, as the Lord is instructing you, meditate on Philippians 4:13. Moreover, please don’t forget that home-schooling can also be informal. For example, the daily task of cooking dinner for your family, and getting your little one involved can effortlessly turn into a practical maths lesson about fractions. Getting your child to build a tent and letting them express the technique they used to build their tent involves the art of design and technology. Furthermore, allowing your child to make a shaker and discuss the different rhythms and sounds they hear is involving the art of music. Getting a bowl of water and letting your child find objects to predict whether it will float or sink involves science. Learning can occur via different techniques, and you’d be amazed by how much knowledge children can attain from informal learning too!

Government four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England

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18 INTERVIEW

CeCe Winans Motherhood, music and the power of God

BY BEN HARRELL WITH MILTON B. ALLEN

by Global Music Link Editorial Team

Ben is the founder of Ambitions of a Writer, and the creator of Billboard and Bookings 101. Find out more at BenjHarrell.com

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ulti-award-winning Gospel Artist, CeCe Winans, is a living legend that continues to release timeless classics. Winans has recently released her highly anticipated album ‘Believe For It’, which was recorded live in Nashville, Tennessee. This album sets the tone of worship as she reminds us that the power of God’s Name is greater than any obstacle that we will face. Winans dares us to have faith that God will deliver us. All we need to do is believe for it. Keep The Faith had the opportunity to speak with CeCe Winans on motherhood, music and the power of God.

INTERVIEW 19

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, CeCe Winans shares her experience on being a new grandmother. “There are no words to describe being a grandmother. On Christmas Day, my daughter had her first child; my first grandson, it’s been amazing. It’s been a beautiful thing to experience the love of God. Seeing God’s faithfulness through another generation inspires me to live. It inspires me to be better than ever so I can be around and watch my grandson grow up. I want to play an important part in his life by covering him and lifting him up. It’s amazing because life produces life. Our theme for our church this year is to be a life giver. When you give life, you receive life. I hope that people experience life in everything I do. Through my new music, in every message that I give and in every interview; I want people to hear life.” Life is what we have experienced for decades through CeCe Winans’ music. With the release of ‘Believe For It’, Winans prepares the world for what they can expect. “You can expect a joyful experience. It’s my first live record that I have ever recorded, and it comes at a time where people need to experience the joy of the Lord. People need to experience His presence. We could not have a big audience because we recorded it during the pandemic. There were a few people there that were socially distant, but we still had an amazing time. The audience size was not what we were after, we were after God’s presence. So, for all those anticipating the new music, expect to experience joy. This is something that we all need right now.” Winans and her family have blessed the world with countless songs that continuously encourage us. She shares her encouragement from the embrace she felt on her visits to London. “I love London. BeBe and I started traveling to London years and years ago. One of the things that stuck with me the most, was how everyone knew my songs better than I knew them. We would begin to sing a song and the whole audience would sing the lyrics with us. It was the most beautiful thing. London has always been extremely special to us. They have always embraced my whole family and

for that we are eternally grateful. BeBe and I started recording over 30 years ago and London has walked with us along the way.” As Winans looks forward to the day when she returns to London, she leaves a special message for everyone that has supported her. “The single release for the album is entitled ‘Believe For It’ as I want to encourage all of our friends and family in London to go after your dreams. There’s been disappointment, hurt and tough times, but we serve a God who is wanting to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think. All we have to do is believe for it. I want you to believe for healing. I want you to believe for restoration in your families. I want you to believe for unity in your country, in my country and around the world.”

“It’s been a beautiful thing to experience the love of God. Seeing God’s faithfulness through another generation inspires me to live.” CeCe Winans has a voice that has touched people of many nations. One of the places she has visited on her journey, Africa, is a place she calls home. “My first experience going to Africa was life changing for me. It was the first time I saw ‘us’ as the majority. This is our home; this is our land. It was an immensely proud moment for me. I love Africa. I’ve only scratched the surface, it’s such a big continent and there are so many places that I haven’t been. I have been to a few places like South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda. I could live in Africa and I don’t think that I have been anywhere outside of my country where I have felt that way. I connected with Africa. I love the way they worship and sing. Their voices are heavenly. We are a people of

endurance and determination. It makes me proud to be an African American and share a connection with my brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God in Africa.” Winans prays that her music and her ministry brings people close to God. “God is faithful. God is sovereign. The Bible says to be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. I want people to know that God is with them, He promises never to leave or forsake us. We need to rest in His sovereignty. I was talking to someone in Texas, and if you are not familiar with the situation, many people experienced power outages in that state due to winter storms. I remember telling them that they are still here. Rest in knowing that God is with us. Cry out to Him. Nothing takes God by surprise. He’s already made a way of escape, it’s just up to us to quiet down to allow God to speak to us. I want people to be encouraged and to know that God never fails.” CeCe Winans lives by faith and her music is a reflection of it. She hopes to inspire people to grow their faith in the Lord, one song at a time. “I want you to believe for the impossible because we serve a God that specialises in the impossible.” ‘Believe For It’ is available now. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

20 INTERVIEW

DR R DAVID MUIR Dr R David Muir has spent most of his life working in education. Last year he became the first Black man to be appointed Head of Whitelands College. Founded in 1841, it is one of the oldest higher educational colleges in the UK. Dr Muir spoke to Keep The Faith magazine about his work, life, theology and Black Lives Matter.

David with youngest daughter Rasheeda

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): What was your initial feeling when you found out you were to become the first Black person to be Head of Whitelands College? DR R DAVID MUIR (DDM): I was extremely pleased when I was offered the job just a few hours after the interview. The interview took place on a Thursday morning, and candidates were advised that it was likely we would know the decision by the following Monday. I was, therefore, a little surprised that a decision was arrived at so quickly. KTF: Whitelands is an Anglican College. What do you bring to this role, especially as your faith is rooted in the Pentecostal Church tradition? DDM: My faith journey and theological formation have been in both Anglican and Pentecostal churches. I have taught religion and politics in Anglican and Pentecostal educational institutions, and was a consultant for the Church of England’s Council for Christian Unity and, more recently, Co-Secretary of the Anglican Pentecostal Theological Study Group (APTSG). I think I bring a wealth of experience, insight and practical wisdom to the post. I also bring an ecumenical spirituality rooted in Scripture, open to learning from other Christian traditions, and a radical commitment to social justice. KTF: What impact are you hoping to have on the University and students during your tenure at the College? DDM: I was appointed as ‘Interim’ Head of College,

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David with his grandchildren Josiah David and Reya

while a review of the four constituent Colleges of Roehampton University is being conducted. This year, Whitelands College celebrates its 180th Anniversary. I will be the first Black person to occupy the role as Head of College. The University has around 64.4% BAME students, and having a Black person as Head of College is seen as significant. I want Whitelands College to be a place where students and staff from all backgrounds feel welcome, and where there is a commitment to excellence, equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice. KTF: Why do you think it’s important for budding Christian leaders to study theology? DDM: Theological education is critical for anyone attempting to do ministry and mission in contemporary society. The Bible reserves a double honour for those who run their churches well, but St Paul intimates that this double honour is especially reserved for those who ‘labour in the word and doctrine’ (1 Timothy 5:17). I often remind our students on the Ministerial Theology Programme at the University of Roehampton that there is a kind of biblical and theological intelligence that comes with the study of theology. I have seen how students have grown in wisdom, grace and generosity as a result of theological education. Indeed, I do not believe that a Christian leader can effectively engage in the cultural and spiritual conversations of our age without a theological education. KTF: You have taught at some of the UK’s most prestigious educational institutions and held influential roles, including serving as Government Adviser on policing and

INTERVIEW 21 David and Pauline with Andraé Crouch in London

citizenship. If you experienced racism in your professional life, how did you deal with it? DDM: Very often, there is a seductive tendency to view racism through the prism of one’s own experience. Meaning? One judges its existence according to the extent to which one has been personally impacted; especially that naivety that says it does not exist because “I’ve not experienced it”. But racism is experienced at both the individual and institutional level; and by that I mean it is embedded in institutions and practices. The reality of racism is a phenomenon that most Black people have to deal with at some point. Because racism ultimately kills, disfigures relations, and impedes the life chances and life choices of individuals, I have always followed my father’s advice: understand it, confront it, and raise your voice and intelligence against it as a sacred duty. KTF: It’s said that Black women are more likely to pursue further education than Black men. How can colleges like Whitelands encourage more Black men to pursue higher education? DDM: At Whitelands College we have a fairly equal number of Black men and women on most of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. However, there are several courses where women outnumber men. Although universities can do a lot more to attract more Black men, I think our churches and the wider community can do more to encourage men to undertake university courses. There also needs to be more financial and pastoral support for men studying in Higher Education. KTF: Can you tell me a bit about your childhood? Where were you born, how many siblings do you have, and what role did faith and education play in your upbringing? DDM: I have a large family: six brothers and four sisters - six born in the Caribbean and five in the UK. I have fond memories of a wonderfully happy childhood in Guyana. Brought up by my beloved grandmother, Ivy, up to the age of seven, I came (torn from a warm climate and a loving extended family) to the UK in the late 1960s to join my parents. My faith came from my grandmother. My family in the Caribbean were educators, but I lost interest in education when I arrived in the UK. It was not until I became a Christian that I got interested in learning – and this was mainly so that I could communicate the Gospel. KTF: When did you become a Christian, and how has your faith in God impacted your life? DDM: Although I grew up in a Christian home, I became a Christian at the age of seventeen. My faith in God (or should I say my Christian

journey?) has been an adventure of joy, doubt and cadences of desolation. There have been periods when I believed I could move mountains, and periods of depression and the ‘dark night of the soul and spirit’ when God was absent, and I was engulfed in meaninglessness. But, on balance, I’m grateful to God for giving me an amazing family and close friends to help me on the way. My faith in God has kept me sane; it has given me balance; it is my life. KTF: You are a husband, and father to five daughters. Have any of them followed your footsteps into either higher education or involved in faith issues? DDM: Parents sometimes have a seductive tendency of wanting their children to follow in their footsteps. I have tried to resist this tendency by supporting my daughters’ passions and career choices. What I’m very proud of is the fact that all our daughters are university graduates who value education. None of them have followed Pauline (she teaches Arts Management at Goldsmiths College, London University) and me into teaching (as yet), but they have worked in senior professional roles in government and in the arts and music industry. They are all passionate about their Christian faith and social justice. Our youngest daughter, Rasheeda, started a social enterprise organisation (RevolYOUtion) to support young people when she was sixteen. I have learned a great deal from all our daughters: how to be a better Christian, father and human being.

David with daughter Kemi

KTF: You came to faith in the Pentecostal Church, which was formerly viewed as uninterested in politics and anti-education. Does this view still stand? DDM: In my case, ‘coming to ‘faith’ has been an ecumenical journey: as a young boy in Guyana, my grandmother took me to a Methodist church; arriving in the UK, my parents went to a Congregational church, and in my mid and late teens, I attended a Baptist church. I later left that church to join my aunt at her new-found Pentecostal fellowship in Mitcham (South London), having flirted with Rastafarianism for a season. In my twenties, I attended St Mark’s Church in Kennington (an Anglican Charismatic

church under the dynamic leadership of Canon Nicholas Rivett-Carnac). It was there that my life-long passion for social justice and my interest in the intersection of faith and politics were deepened. I have taken much of this with me into my leadership and participation in Pentecostal and evangelical churches. Most Pentecostals now see politics and social action as part of their calling and ministry. KTF: How do you feel the Black Lives Matter marches have affected the views of Black Christians about politics, and how, in your view, will they take forward the sentiments expressed during the protests? DDM: ‘Black Lives Matter’ is not some elegant political slogan; it is a biblical and theological imperative. For me, the marches that took place - especially after the public assassination of George Floyd - were some of the defining moments of 2020. Although I was traumatised by George Floyd’s brutal murder, I was encouraged by the interracial and intergenerational marches and protests against racism and injustice that followed. It was nothing short of a prophetic insurrection of decency against barbarism. We, not ‘they’, have to discern ‘what the Spirit is saying’ about treating all of God’s image-bearers with respect. KTF: And lastly, what message of hope would you like to share with readers of Keep The Faith? DDM: Actually, we must embody the title of this magazine: we have to ‘keep the faith’. We are living in troubling and uncertain times, therefore, we need to hold fast to God, our families and the relationships that are life-enhancing. There are no easy answers or ready-made formulae (and those who spout such are charlatans and false prophets) to magic us out of the crisis. Our hope must remain in God’s goodness, grace and generosity, as we try to work with each other to create a church and a society where all can flourish. I hope we can rediscover God anew in these difficult times, and revel in His inescapability and presence - even when we are baffled by events in our lives and in the world. For more information, visit https://www. roehampton.ac.uk/colleges/whitelandscollege/ www.keepthefaith.co.uk

22 FEATURE

BY JASON YOUNG

Multi award-winning Tottenham Food Hub seeks volunteers

he Tottenham Food Hub – a community project of the Gospel Temple Apostolic Church - has won the Mayor of London Volunteering Award for 2020, after having already won the 2019 Haringey Voluntary and Community Organisation of the Year Award and the 2018 Local Charity of the Year for Sainsbury’s Seven Sisters and Sainsbury’s Wood Green Local. It has also been shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards, scheduled for September 2021. So what is it about the Tottenham Food Hub that makes this community project win awards year after year? As Community Champion winners of the Mayor of London Volunteering Award, the Tottenham Food Hub partners with community champions at Morrisons Wood Green, Lidl Tottenham and Tesco South Tottenham. It also partners with NatWest Wood Green and Nationwide Tottenham, who have donation points for customers to donate food, which will be collected and redistributed at the Tottenham Food Hub. Working in the community is at the heart of everything they do at the Tottenham Food Hub; this includes Raising Awareness days at TSB Tottenham, Barclays Tottenham, Santander Tottenham and Barclays Lordship Lane. In 2019, members of staff from NatWest Wood Green and M&S Crouch End volunteered for a day at the Tottenham Food Hub, as part of their annual charity day release. And last year, Nationwide Tottenham and Morrisons Wood Green did the same. Even former athlete and 110m High Hurdles English record holder, Tony Jarrett, lent a hand over the Christmas period to feed the community - just as Marcus Rashford has been doing with free school dinners. The Hub provides excellent volunteering experience for any staff workers and seasonal workers alike, who are looking for a stop-gap to get back onto their feet. Feedback from volunteers include:

I found it inspiring to get involved in distributing food when we volunteered for a charity day. I was involved in meeting and greeting the people, and serving tea and refreshments. (Bank manager) I feel very privileged to volunteer at the Tottenham Food Hub, working with a very dedicated team who feed the unemployed and homeless in the local community. Not only do we have the opportunity of meeting the needs of the local community, but also of reaching out and saying ‘We’re here for you and we’re here to help you.’ Sometimes that could just mean making them a cup of tea and having a chat. Most of the time it’s providing something practical like a food parcel, and signposting them to where they can get further help if needed. (Regular volunteer) During the pandemic, the demand for the service increased and they had to find new and alternative ways to deliver their service. This included a telephone befriending service, to make sure that the service users were catered for, and delivering food to homes of people who were elderly, sick or were shielding due to COVID-19 restrictions. I am so very grateful for the grocery, food and drink from the Gospel Temple Church. Having been ill for a while, they were able to assist me at the right time of need by delivering food to my home. Thank you ever so much to Gospel Temple Church. (L. Lewis)

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Feedback like this has led to the Tottenham Food Hub being recognised as a project in the London Faith and Belief Community Awards in November 2020, and to being shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards in 2021. However, an ongoing challenge is the recruitment of volunteers - particularly male volunteers - to carry trays of food from the vehicle into the Hub. Most of the volunteers are currently women, and they are finding it strenuous to carry the trays of food week in, week out. This is why the Hub is appealing to the wider community (and to churches, in particular) to volunteer their time and energy to facilitate this great endeavour to feed the community together in this time of crisis. Jesus brought Good News to the poor, by feeding the five thousand with the Word and with food. The Tottenham Food Hub originally began as the Ponders End Food Hub back in February 2017, in the church in Ponders End. After winning the Local Charity of the Year for Sainsbury’s Seven Sisters in 2018, the Hub moved to Northumberland Park (which has the highest unemployment rate in London) to set up the Tottenham Food Hub, and bring Good News to the poor in the local community.

If 2018 was about being local in Tottenham, and 2019 was about being borough-wide in Haringey, then the Mayor of London Volunteering Award Community Champion winners in 2020 will be going national in 2021 at the National Diversity Awards.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the food bank manager, Susan Jarrett, on 07908 826980, or email gospeltemple@outlook.com.

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24 FEATURE

TURNING 50 - AGEING, LIVING LIFE LARGE AND FAITH Whilst we live in a society that reveres youth, there is something to be said for growing older. Increasingly, age is no longer seen as a barrier and older people are pursuing new goals, embarking on exciting new initiatives and enjoying new things. Marcia Dixon spoke to Christian women to get their views on ageing, living life large and faith.

e n n o v Y

Yvonne Brooks, aged 64, serves as a co-pastor of New Jerusalem Apostolic Church in Birmingham alongside her husband. She is founder of ‘Women of Purpose’ and originator of Esther’s Academy - a personal development course for women. She is also a speaker, teacher, mother of three and has two grandchildren. She shares her experience of life in her 60s.

You are 50+, how does the reality of reaching this age bracket differ from what you thought it would be like? I never thought I would reach the age of 64 as I thought it was so old. Now it’s a mixture of fear, anticipation and believe it or not - excitement. I am happy to be this age; it fits nicely like a pair of shoes that have moulded to the shape of your feet and don’t hurt anymore. I noticed increased confidence, inner strength and I trust myself and my judgement a little bit more. Getting older can equate to losing things, but at the same time you gain peace and balance. What do you enjoy most about reaching this stage of life? I enjoy the acceptance that I feel for myself and the knowledge that I have a little experience. When I was younger I never used to look in a mirror but now I can stare at myself and smile. I have learnt a little wisdom and have something of value to bring to the table of life. I also think I look better now than I ever did when I was younger, and I wear my grey hair as a badge of honour and not something to be covered under hair dye. These days people aged 50+ are starting new careers, or embarking on exciting initiatives. What new things have you embarked on in your mature years? I have written three books and started the Esther’s Academy as part of Women of Purpose. This has led to extensive travel around the world, meeting new people and establishing Esther’s Academies. I would love to write additional books on varying subjects. I have found great enjoyment in gardening, learning about plants and deriving spiritual lessons from nature. One of the best things was becoming a grandmother, I didn’t know my heart was capable of holding so much love. You have been on this journey called life for a while. What are the three key life lessons you’ve learnt? (i) I need Jesus. (ii) Don’t rush things in your life, be present and enjoy the moment, be patient, develop good relationships especially with your spouse and children. Make new friends and cultivate relationships on an ongoing basis. (iii) Support and work in collaboration with others - you will achieve

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much more. Discovering and pursuing your purpose is important. We were born on purpose with purpose, for purpose. How has your faith in God helped you over the years? My faith has been my anchor. When I felt I couldn’t go on, when I thought things were too much and I wasn’t good enough, I remembered His love and thoughts towards me. I really believed that He cared for me and that I mattered to him. I have felt like giving up, felt depressed etc, but my faith kept me moving towards Him. What advice do you have for someone who is 50+ who desires to do something new but is fearful because they think they are too old? I would say if you really want to do something, identify what it is you want to do, do your research, find out who can help you and then begin. Take a step at a time. Don’t let fear or doubt stop you - leave no room for regrets. You are older, wiser and you have some experience under your belt. I also discovered that when you begin God will meet you. Last but not least, when you are seventy, sixty will look youthful. Do it now. What are your hopes/plans for 2021? In 2021 there are some things I would like to stop doing in order to make room for the new things that God wants me to be involved in. My prayer for 2021 is that my life will be congruent with the Word of God and the words that I speak. That my life will be authentic and my ability to love others will grow. Visit www.yvonneelizabethbrooks.com for more information.

FEATURE 25

l r a e P

On social media Pearl Jarrett is known by the hashtag #ReinventingMyselfInMy50s. Pearl, a Pastor’s Kid (PK), wife and mother of three is also CEO of the Jarrett Foundation; a charity that aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children across the world. At the age of 50+ Pearl started acting lessons and has appeared in numerous commercials and is in talks to appear in a Hollywood movie. You are 50+, how does the reality of reaching this age bracket differ from what you thought it would be like? When my parents were in their 50s, I just remember them being really, really old. Everything about them was old. The way they acted, the way they dressed and the way they thought. They didn’t do anything other than go to church and work, they didn’t have any particular ambitions that I can recall, so I thought when I get to 50 I’m probably going to be just like that. I couldn’t have been more wrong; my life is the complete opposite. What do you enjoy most about reaching this stage of life? I enjoy the freedom of just being ME. I have finally got to the stage where I feel I have been delivered from people.

I used to be terrified of what people would say, and that fear really was a ball and chain around my ankle. Now I feel as if I am an eagle soaring through the air. It’s truly liberating just being ME, without apology. These days people aged 50+ are starting new careers or embarking on exciting initiatives. What new things have you done since hitting your 50s? I am known on social media as the lady who says I am ReinventingMyselfInMy50s. Since turning 50 I have become an Actor, Playwright, Musical Theatre Producer, Author, Conference Speaker, Mentor, obtained a Doctorate, and I feel as if I’m just getting started. As the eagle in me continues to soar, the more I see, the more I can perceive, the more audacious my vision becomes. You have been on this journey called life for a while. What are the three key life lessons you’ve learnt? (i) Be yourself – you are unique. Spend your life being the best YOU, you can be. The travesty is if you copy others, you will just become a caricature of your original yourself. (ii) Don’t allow others to dictate who you are - you can listen and be respectful of other people’s opinions, but at the end of the day, you must have the strength of character to just be who you believe God has designed you to be. (iii) Absolutely go for it and don’t stop at closed doors. When you find that thing, go for it with all your heart. Have the resolve that you are going to be the person you were designed to be. One thing we gain as we age is wisdom. What three pieces of life advice would you give your younger self? (i) Don’t get flustered

and stop believing in yourself if other people don’t see your vision. (ii) Don’t get into debt. Invest more. (iii) Don’t sell your flat or the family house - rent them. How has your faith in God helped you over the years? My faith is everything. It’s brought me through major disasters like when both me and my son had cancer. I really got to grips with my faith, where the rubber meets the road, where I was completely convinced that God is God. This type of faith is not dependent on your church, your praise team, the Hammond organ, someone’s teaching on faith, or even the God that my mum spoke about; it’s a knowing and a personal relationship with God that is solid and real. This kind of faith helps me to stand when things are crumbling around me. What advice do you have for someone who is 50+ who desires to do something new but is fearful because they think they are too old? Everyone is born with a purpose, and just because you’re 50+, it doesn’t mean that you should just take up knitting. Ask yourself, have I fulfilled my purpose? Have I fulfilled the reason I was put on this earth? We really start to LIVE when we are in our purpose. If you’re 50+ and you’ve not discovered the REAL YOU yet, as long as you’re breathing it’s never too late. What are your hopes/plans for 2021? I am currently in talks with a US Production company for a part in an upcoming Hollywood movie. This would be my third movie, the largest and most prestigious role to date. Regarding my other passion which is The Jarrett Foundation, we aim to make some pretty audacious moves in Jamaica. Visit www.facebook.com/pearl.jarrett to connect.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

26 FEATURE

n y l e s o R Roselyn Blackman-Brereton is enjoying her fabulous 50s. A Christian for 30 years, Roselyn got married for the first time at 50+ and achieved a long-held goal to fit back into a bikini! She now participates in bodybuilding competitions. Roselyn currently lives in Barbados and runs an estate planning business.

You are now 50+, how does the reality of reaching this age differ from what you thought it would be like? Surprisingly, my current reality doesn’t differ very much to what I dreamed it would be when I was in my 20s. Had I been asked this question just 5 years ago, my answer would definitely have been different. I had decided to pursue a different dream when God gave my pastor a message for me. That message gave me life to resurrect EVERY ONE of my dreams/ aspirations that I thought were dead, to give me the reality I have now with added hopes and dreams (Proverbs 13 v 12). What do you enjoy most about reaching this stage of life? Having the courage to push all boundaries; those I hold for myself and those held for me, by my family and friends. Someone once said “dream LOUD and IN COLOUR”. Whenever I dreamt, it was always in colour, it was always in the sun, so I recently moved to Barbados to live that dream I’d always had. These days people aged 50+ are starting new careers, or embarking on exciting initiatives. What new things happened for you since becoming 50? I started with simply wanting to be fit again and get back into a bikini. I did not foresee it leading me to compete in a European fitness competition and be invited to the Worlds. After achieving my bikini goal, I continued training with my Personal Trainer and a fitness buddy who kept pushing my limitations. Then, one day, I could see the realisation of another dream I had in my 20s - the dream to compete in a fitness competition. But I was not going to take to the stage without the real possibility of being counted with the winners. And, I walked away with Bronze! You have been on this journey called life for a while. What are the three key life lessons you’ve learnt? (i) Start and the journey will reveal itself. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. (ii) God gives you the desire of your heart, not your mouth! (iii) You want it? Discipline and consistency will get it for you as they are the fuel of achievement! How has your faith in God helped you over the years? Thank God a mustard seed faith is all we need to make impressions and move mountains, because I’ve not always had strong faith over the years. Sometimes, my prayers were “Lord, I believe, help my

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unbelief” but faith in God has always been central to my life. ALWAYS! What advice do you have for someone who is 50+ who desires to do something new but is fearful because they think they are too old? Too old? All things are possible to those who believe! Surround yourself with people who have similar dreams, who believe in you and can push your boundaries. Lean into your small circle of friends that are highly supportive and drown out the cynics. Go for it! Your wider circle will adjust to the new you.

“You want it? Discipline and consistency will get it for you as they are the fuel of achievement!” What are your hopes/plans for 2021? Given the current pandemic, I plan and pray to continue to be holistically healthy, fit and strong to compete at the Worlds. I’m working on releasing my ‘Train Like a Winner Fitness Journal’ that focuses on winning at our fitness goals. I have a few other plans under my belt so, all in all, pushing for another full and successful year. Visit www.facebook.com/roselyn.blackman to connect.

FEATURE 27

Lockdown project launched with Back Her Business programme Joy Roxborough is a

creative industries professional, writer and entrepreneur. Email joyroxborough@yahoo.com

o matter how barren any situation may be, there is always the possibility that something fruitful can emerge from it. This is depicted in the Bible many times, and it was certainly my experience in the midst of lockdown late last year when, quite unexpectedly, I was presented with the opportunity to launch a business crowdfunding campaign through the NatWest ‘Back Her Business’ programme. The idea was to raise a specified percentage of the funds required for your designated project, with a specified number of supporters, within a specified number of days, and NatWest would match the amount. I thought, What have I got to lose? I’ll give it a try. So I set about putting my proposal together in a bid to raise the £4,000 needed to pay for an illustrator for a children’s picture book manuscript that had been languishing in my files for a couple of years. I thought I might just raise the £2,000, and then NatWest would donate the other £2,000. I wasn’t even fully conversant with the precise terms and conditions of how to access the NatWest contribution, but I thought I should at least make a start. It took some doing to get the promotional video together, which involved getting several children to record parts of a script, and then asking a friend to put them altogether. While this was being done, I busied myself contacting friends, relatives, acquaintances… every single person I had ever said Hi to - even if it was a trillion years ago! - asking whether they would contribute, and could they get ready to do so as soon as the project went live in order to build momentum. They promised they would, and I wrote their names down because I wasn’t about to let them forget! Then came the first bit of negative news: the crowdfunding programme had been oversubscribed, and therefore NatWest would be unable to make any contribution to the effort. That was a ‘disappointing setback’. It meant rather than needing to raise £2,000, I would need to raise the entire £4,000 myself. And I only had 28 days to do it… Nevertheless, I pressed on. Thanks to all those who participated, the video was finally completed, and the campaign went live on my

birthday, October 13. I pressed the button. I sat… and I waited. I was super excited when the first pledge rolled in, and it was from someone who I hadn’t even asked! Over the next few weeks, my NatWest Crowdfunder page became my new phone, in that it was the page I refreshed - sometimes even in the middle of the night - to check whether any new pledges had been made. It became like a game. It warmed my heart to read the encouraging comments from my contributors, and to watch the progress bar slowly inching across the scale. However, it soon became clear that it was moving just a tad too slowly. It came down to just five days left to meet the target, and I had only achieved a little above 50% of the amount required. The pledges continued to roll in, but I knew that unless a miracle happened, it was all going to be too little, too late. And then, quite unexpectedly, the miracle did happen. About two days before the

deadline, NatWest emailed me to say they had accessed some extra funding, which they were inviting me to apply for, because they had been watching my campaign progress and wanted to assist me to meet the goal! Following an online interview, I saw the bar suddenly fly to almost the other end of the scale. Needless to say, the remaining amount was effortlessly donated. The target was met, and my lockdown picture book project, I Wish I Were a Bird, was birthed. Quite out of the blue. I have long wanted to publish a picture book, and am simply amazed that it was finally happening at a time I would have considered less than ideal to even contemplate starting. It reminds me of the words found in Isaiah 43:19 -“ I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” No one knows how this wilderness-like coronavirus situation is going to turn out, or how long the multiple lockdowns and any number of associated evils are going to continue. But one thing is certain: positive things can still be birthed in the midst of it. So, may I encourage you to keep hope alive; to pursue your dreams, and to shelve any thoughts of waiting for the pandemic to be over before you start living again. Now is the moment to fully live! To see project details, visit the NatWest ‘Back Her Business’ webpage and, under the ‘Explore’ tab, search for Roxborough Publishing. Facebook: @RoxboroughPublishing www.keepthefaith.co.uk

28 FEATURE

Women, the Future is Female BY ALLYSON WILLIAMS MBE

ast summer, I saw my daughter wearing a T-shirt with the slogan ‘THE FUTURE IS FEMALE’. She recalled the thumbs up, the cheers and the dirty looks she got when wearing this T-shirt. I cheered, but I wasn’t surprised that this bold statement would be controversial. It reminded me of similar statements we discussed during my degree studies in Gender Society and Culture (Women’s Studies), while working as a midwife manager in the 1990s. At that time, it was important to understand and learn the most effective and efficient way of improving my role as an advocate for the women and their families in my care. As part of my studies, I finally learned that feminists were not anti-men, but were fighting for women’s freedom: the freedom to become less dependent on men, have their own independent voice, and have the ability to make real choices. Women have continued to nurture everyone they come into contact with, except themselves. Women are transforming the world, despite the challenges of the power and dominance of men, entrenched in all aspects of their lives at home and in the workplace. However, women have not been passive victims of this oppression, and since the growth of industrialisation (1760-1840) and the Emancipation of Slavery (1863), women have made immeasurable gains in society. The Suffragettes won us the vote (1918), and we gained access to education and jobs. The Equal Opportunities Act (2010) - the culmination of many other laws against discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, age, religion

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and sexual orientation – was started by women protesting for equal pay and recognition of their skills. Women demonstrate unsurpassable qualities, such as strength, resilience, tenacity, flexibility and multitasking, and will continue to excel despite the barriers and obstacles placed before them. Under this pandemic, women have been forced to think of life from a different perspective. The economy has virtually shut down, putting untold pressure on the value of family life. Women have had to suddenly become teachers and childminders - with little notice or training - resulting in their health and well-being being compromised. Research indicates there has been a 42% increase in levels of anxiety in the UK, and with the lack of quality sleep being experienced across all adult groups, women are the ones finding themselves less able to manage the challenges of the pandemic. However the pandemic has thrown up a myriad of solutions that women have embraced. Exercise, in particular, has been highlighted as good for the brain and for maintaining health and well-being. It is vital to keep the faith and realise its healing powers. Faith helps us to remember our blessings and appreciate and be grateful for the joys of life. With all that is beyond our control at the moment, being thankful for life and keeping home and family life intact is very good therapy, because it enhances the quality of our family relationships. We have been made to feel shut in during lockdown, and the sadness of the pandemic has highlighted all that is wrong with the world, but equally,

with every bad thing that has happened, there have been twice as many victories and acts of kindness, more quality family life and loving support within communities. As women, we must continue to be a beacon of light and ambassadors of hope for others. As we consider whether the future is female, I am reminded of Disraeli’s quote: ‘In a progressive country, change is constant and inevitable’. So while the world continues to be focused on fighting against change, change has continued to happen. Women continue to move onwards and upwards - undeterred by the ongoing gender inequalities. Women have become successful Heads of State in Germany, Gabon, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago, Serbia, New Zealand, Barbados, Namibia, Denmark, Bangladesh and fourteen other countries around the world so far. We also have prolific role models, who continue to support and empower women around them, for example Michelle Obama, Greta Thunberg, Mary Seacole, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, to name but a few. So let us pay attention… Women are continuing to realise their full potential. Allyson is a retired Midwife Manager, who enjoyed a 40-year career in the NHS. She remains actively involved with various health and cultural charities, including the BAME Health Collaborative and Notting Hill Carnival Limited. For more information about Allyson and her work, she can be contacted via email at allysonjl@hotmail.co.uk

FEATURE 29

Step Back Premier a Poignant Lesson to London’s Youth B Y OLI V I A H AZE L D E N - K I N G D O N

s a spate of attacks raged across parts of South London, leaving one person dead and at least 10 injured, Leo Powell premiered his short film, Step Back, a drama about youth violence, which has been endorsed by the Metropolitan Police. Leo Powell, the director, who is also Head of Year 10 and County Lines trainer and facilitator, hopes the film can be screened in schools around the country as an educational resource to warn young people of the life-altering repercussions of knife crime. The poignant drama has never been more relevant, as knife crime in the city’s capital has reached endemic proportions. Describing the film, Powell has said: Angie “I hope the film can be used as a resource up and Le Mar down the country to educate young people and adults on the dangers of knife crime, and to also demonstrate the importance and power in the choices that we make.” The film, produced by Little Drops Productions, follows the life of Marcus (played by Top Boy’s Xavien Russell), a 16-year-old boy whose life is turned upside down after he fatally stabs someone. Other cast members of the film include: Angie Le Mar, Ange Marcel and Vanessa Sam. Directed by Richard Kattah, Step Back comes at a pivotal point for the youth of England and Wales, where knife crime has risen to record highs since records began in 2011. Describing the film, Detective Chief Superintendent Treena Fleming, Commander of Haringey and Enfield, said: “This video is a powerful reminder of the tragic consequences of carrying a knife - both for the victim and perpetrator. We want people to watch Step Back and

understand that being involved in gangs and arming yourself with a knife quite literally ruins lives.” The origins of Step Back are derived from Leo’s work with young people, which began in 2010. His work in the area of Country Lines has gained huge traction, and he has been awarded funding through MOPAC, and the Mayor of London’s Young Londoners Fund. In 2019, Leo took on the role of mentor in Feltham Young Offenders Institute, working for the organisation Roadlight, where he worked with the most challenging high-risk offenders in the country. This film is inspired by the work that Leo has been doing with young people, where he has told the story of Marcus at a number of sessions, and has made an impact on listeners who encouraged Leo to turn his story into a film. “Any resource, which highlights the stark reality of knife crime and raises awareness can only be a positive, and we hope this film resonates with our youngsters and drives them to make more informed life choices,” said DCS Treena Fleming. “We will be working closely with Leo once this video is complete, to identify opportunities for the film to be used during workshops to help draw out vital conversations about knife crime. “ Step Back (2021) Crime Drama Short Film is streamed on YouTube at MYM (Million Youth Media) https://youtu.be/n6a4e34dYM4 At the time of publishing, the film had over 456,000 views. If you are concerned about someone you know who may be carrying a knife, help and support are available online via KnifeFree. You can also contact the police; call Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit Fearless.

Xavien Russell

Leo Powell

Ange Marcel

30 FEATURE

THE RISE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH - and the future challenges it will face

In an extract from his latest book, ‘Windrush and the Black Pentecostal Church in Britain’, Roy Francis writes about the rise, growth and challenges faced by the African Church Roy Francis is a music

consultant/gospel music promoter/ agent and author www.royfrancis.co.uk

n the 1900s, a sailor from Nigeria, Daniel Ekarte, started a church for Africans in Liverpool. In 1906, another African, Thomas Kwame Brem-Wilson, a schoolteacher from Ghana, started a Pentecostal church the Sumner Road Chapel, in Peckham, South London. Sixty years later, Africans were again in Britain, but this time largely as students sent by their newly independent governments to acquire the skills and education needed for development. In the 1970s and 80s, their offspring, many born in Britain, were back again, but this time they were joined by a new wave of Africans, who had also come in search of work and economic opportunities. Many of those who came were Christians and, as the West Indians before them, were surprised at how unchristian Britain was and how ungodly the nation had become. It didn’t take long, however, for them to start establishing their own churches, and today African churches are among the largest and fastest growing congregations in the country. This growth has had several effects. In the first place, it has helped to boost the overall level of church attendance in the country, as well as it has helped to change the perception that Christianity in Britain is in terminal decline. London is the place where this is seen, and it is in London where there has been the greatest

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area of growth. For example, between 2005 and 2012, church attendance in London has grown from just over 620,000 to over 720,000, a 16 per cent increase. Today in London, 48% of all churchgoers are Black, and South East London has seen the largest concentration of African churches anywhere in the country, with an estimated 240 Black Majority churches concentrated in the London Borough of Southwark with over 20,000 congregants. But what do we know of African churches? Undoubtedly, those of us who have watched the growth of these churches cannot fail to be impressed. Take the Redeemed Christian Church of God which started in 1988 with 20 members. Today it has over 800 parishes, 80,000 members and an increasing national profile. The rise of Kingsway International Christian Centre and the other major African churches is no less impressive. But how were African churches able to do this? One of the first things to know about African churches is that they are the first to seek out warehouses, former bingo halls, shop fronts and abandoned halls to buy. Once they have bought them, they furnish them to a high level, kit them out with the latest technology, and install the latest PA systems, lighting and multimedia technology to provide a new and modern worship experience. Some of their buildings are indeed impressive, and their interiors can psychologically convey a positive message to

anyone visiting the church for the first time. Many of these buildings communicate a ‘wow’ factor, which says that something ‘good’, ‘important’, or even ‘big’ is happening in that church, and that they should be a part of it. Establishing a church is one thing, but knowing how to grow it is another, and here African Christians can teach churches in Britain a thing or two. Apart from using all the traditional means to grow their churches, African churches today couple this with extensive use of digital technology and social media. Today, most African churches have their websites, YouTube channels, stream their services, and are likely to be on all the main social media platforms. They know that almost anyone - especially the young - are likely to have had an online experience of their church before going through the doors, and as such, they make sure that their online presence is impressive. Behind establishing their churches and ‘aggressively’ growing them, is the concept of ‘Reverse Mission’, which is prevalent among many African churches, especially those in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The idea of ‘Reverse Mission’ is a reversal of the way that missionaries once brought Christianity to Africa, and now Africans believe that Britain needs evangelising, and it is their Christian duty to bring ‘Britain back to God’. Many African

FEATURE 31

churches pursue this strategy, and plant churches wherever and whenever they can. They started first in the inner cities, and now they are stretching out into the rural areas of Britain. But will ‘Reverse Mission’ work? The jury is still out, and several realities may not make this as easy as it might sound. Undeniably African churches are having a huge impact in Britain and have completely changed the Black Pentecostal landscape of the country, but I’m not sure the average White person Christian or non-Christian - will necessarily take kindly to the idea that they need to be evangelised! As Brits, they are likely to say that they have their own Christianity, thank you very much, and are happy with it. Moreover, as so much of religion in Britain is both class and culturally based, I’m not sure whether British people are ever going to take to ‘vibrant worship’, and what Black Pentecostals call ‘an encounter with God’, - perhaps not in the way that Black Pentecostals understand this. Their Christianity perhaps emphasises a more ‘rational’ response, rather than ‘an encounter with God’, which to Pentecostals is an emotional outcome, no less effective, but an emotional response, nonetheless. Perhaps all that African churches can realistically hope for in this area of ministry is to be a lighthouse, a standard-bearer, a ‘light set on a hill’, and with this, become an example for others and the nation to follow, rather than seek to ‘convert’ as the missionaries once did – and not always in a manner that has been historically useful to Black people, at all times, in all places and all situations.

African churches also face an existential threat. As immigration in the UK falls - and as Africans and Caribbeans make up less than 3% of the population - if African churches are to be successful in their desire to evangelise Britain (‘Reverse Mission’), they will need to attract White people into their churches. Pastor Agu Irukwu, who heads the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the UK, seems to accept this. Pastor Agu Irukwu

“I feel a church has to be open, has to reach out to all the groups wherever that church is – exactly what the missionaries did. London, especially, is a multicultural melting pot, and if a church is in London, it should aim to look like London. The Redeemed Christian Church of God has embarked on a radical programme of change. Society is changing rapidly. If the church doesn’t change too, it will be irrelevant in five to 10 years. We’re going to chuck a lot of what we do because it just doesn’t work.”

Another challenge that African churches are likely to face in the future - and one that has confronted Caribbean churches before - is how much of their worship experience and traditions will the next generation retain and carry forward? I suspect, like many second, third and even fourth British Caribbeans, the next generation of Africans are likely to reject many of their parents’ religious practices and seek out new contemporary expressions of their own. Unlike the Caribbeans before, unless African churches devise plans to keep their young people in their churches, and find ways of keeping them from being ‘overwhelmed’ by the increasing secularisation of British society, they are likely to go the same way as Caribbean young people, who have now largely left the church and, where they have remained, are seeking out new and modern expressions of worship. The signs are already there for the Africans; their millennials are increasingly looking away from their parents’ church, and are seeking out multicultural and multi-ethnic churches, which they find attractive, and they are beginning to flock there. Today African churches are very much part of our city landscape, and are flourishing in our inner-city areas - just as Indian corner shops once did. They have a blueprint in the Caribbean Christian experience in Britain to draw from - both good and bad - but they need to be mindful they do not sacrifice their unique cultural expressions of Christianity on the altar of modernity, multi-ethnic and multi-racial imperatives. Identity is everything, whether spiritual or cultural, for it is consciousness the belief in who we are, and not who we think we should be or would like to be. Thankfully, young Africans in the secular world seem to be grasping this, and through their writings and music are beginning to reclaim their heritage and expressing this in their songs, their literature and in the way they dress. I trust that African churches will follow likewise.

‘Windrush and the Black Pentecostal Church in Britain’ is available from www.royfrancis.co.uk www.keepthefaith.co.uk

f o e s o R s b o r s Climate chao . e iv v r u s o t s d e e the water she n

A dam full of water would give her hope.

Christian Aid Week is nearly here. Be part of this lifechanging week and stand with people like Rose. With every gift, every prayer, every action, we stop this climate crisis.

Get involved at caweek.org Christian Aid Week 10-16 May 2021

Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Eng and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scot charity no. SC039150 Company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid January 2021 Photos: Christian Aid J220084

Deliver envelopes your way No need to knock, no need to collect! Our delivery-only envelopes make fundraising easier this Christian Aid Week. Stamp, print, label or write on your envelopes to tell supporters where to drop off their donations instead. • No knocking on doors. • Envelopes returned to a location of your choice. • Deliver at a time that suits you. • Reach more homes in less time.

For more information, visit caweek.org/delivery Christian Aid Week 10-16 May 2021 Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Eng and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scot charity no. SC039150 Company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid January 2021 Photos: Christian Aid J220084

34 COMMENT

Overcoming boredom by obedience to God Rev Stephen Brooks New Jerusalem Church, Birmingham

eing bored during the national lockdown has challenged our sense of self, as people have looked for meaning in their day-to-day lives in the absence of the usual routine. Many have felt disconnected and life appears meaningless or uninteresting; this extreme boredom asks us important questions about the ways we see and value our own lives. We can overcome boredom and meaningless by believing that God has a higher purpose for our lives. In the Bible, King Solomon tried in vain to find happiness through worldly pleasures of life, ie. education, wealth and personal pleasure. He concluded that there is no happiness without God: “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labour which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). No matter what path we passionately choose to go down, there will be certain points that are extremely boring, yet necessary in order to achieve success. If you can push through these moments of boredom, you will be able to accomplish those things you are truly passionate about. Many of us believe that if we are to pursue something, we must have a deep passion for it. This thinking leads us to be extremely motivated at the beginning when everything is exciting, but eventually this excitement wears off. When we lose passion and motivation, we will start to make excuses and eventually give up. So how do we successfully emerge out of boredom?

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1. Remember the journey is not the destination It is important to remember the reason you are on the journey you are on, and not forget that being bored is part of any journey before arriving at the destination. If you focus on the destination, it’s more likely you will endure the journey with a positive mental attitude. 2. Complete the boring things first Mark Twain called “frogs” those unpleasant, horrible things on our to-do lists that we want to delay doing. We have a natural tendency to want to do this “later”, but later never comes. Guess what? We will always find the time to do the things we want to do! John 9:4 states: “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” One of the reasons is because our willpower is at its highest in the morning. The earlier in the day that we take on the boring tasks, the easier they will be to complete. 3. Fall in love with the journey Enjoy and embrace the discipline required to reach the destination. This perspective will help you push through those long, hard, boring days. There is, perhaps, no more boring journey than becoming an elite athlete. Imagine the tedium of getting up every single day to train for hours on end. Elite athletes fall in love with the challenge, discipline and routine of getting better day by day, to see if they can improve, become faster, stronger and get one step closer to becoming a champion. In your own journey, find ways to fall in love with the process. Begin to track your progress, begin to find the little things you like, and begin to love the process of getting better.

Here are some interesting comments about boredom: • Life is never boring, but some people choose to be bored. Boredom is a choice. • The opposite of happiness is not sadness; it’s boredom. • Boredom is God’s way of telling you that you’re wasting time! • Work spares us from three evils: boredom, immorality and need. • Boredom is for lazy people, who have no godly purpose in their lives. • There is nothing more hazardous to health than boredom. Most importantly, it is vital we seek to overcome boredom by devotion to God. He gives us purpose and direction in life, that we might find great joy in serving Him. When people are willing to be Jesus’ disciples, there is no reason for boredom in their lives! Devotion to God will both further His Kingdom on earth, and will be personally transformational as you rely on His provision. If you struggle with knowing God’s will, do what you think He is calling you to do. If it isn’t precisely what He desires, you will be easier to redirect in motion than from a sitting position, as was the case when He called most of His disciples. God has a daily plan for us to reach our particular destiny that nobody else can fulfil. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead and empower you, and you will succeed in fulfilling the Lord’s mission for your life. I can guarantee it won’t be boring.

COMMENT 35

FOOD 4

THOUGHT marciadixonpr.co.uk

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MARCIA DIXON MBE A leading PR specialist and journalist

Marcia-Dixon-Public-Relations

We need to prevent another Ravi Zacharias

ike many, I have been totally shocked at the recently published report following an investigation into allegations of sexual and financial misconduct by revered Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, who died last year. The findings were damning. Not only was he sexually abusing women in various countries, he also had stashes of porn; had given money to some of the women from the charity he founded, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), and spiritually manipulated women. In one case shared during the investigation, a masseuse stated that after she told Ravi about her financially challenges, he arranged for RZIM to send her regular payments, and demanded sex in return. This woman, a believer, was shocked his request. He made her pray with him to “thank God for the opportunity”, and told her not to let anyone know of their arrangement, as she would be responsible for millions of souls losing their salvation if his reputation were damaged. Another woman described her sexual encounters with him as rape. For anyone who understands the high moral standards to which Christian leaders are called to live up to, it would not be out of place to describe Ravi Zacharias as ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’. He masqueraded as a Christian, and eloquently defended the gospel message across the world - all while living a life at odds with the faith he proclaimed. Hints about Ravi’s non-Christian behaviour first came to light in 2017, when Canadian, Lori Anne Thompson, publicly shared that he manipulated her into sending him sexually explicit photos and texts. In response to the allegations, Ravi sued Mrs Thompson, claiming that she was trying to blackmail him. They settled out of court, and Mrs Thompson was made to sign a non-disclosure

agreement, which barred her from talking openly about the case. This recent report vindicates Mrs Thompson’s allegations. There are always lessons for the Church to learn when a minister falls and makes grave, criminal mistakes. It’s important to remember that the only Person who is perfect is Christ, and that all believers are trying to follow His great example. We are all prone to sin, so we should see ministers making mistakes - even criminal ones - in this light. It’s imperative for churches and Christian organisations to have safeguarding practices in place, where people feel free to report abusive behaviour of staff, leaders and members without any comeback. Christian organisations also need to be mindful of the vulnerable people who will be in their midst, especially the financially challenged, the disabled, survivors of abuse, victims of crime and the weak-willed, who can be susceptible to being abused and manipulated. This investigation into Ravi’s behaviour highlights how the interplay of money, sex and power can wreak havoc in the life of a Christian leader and, in turn, heap mental anguish upon victims. This case is a lesson to us all. It demonstrates the power Christian leaders wield, and why accountability structures within Christian organisations are so important to protect the weak.

LET’S FOCUS ON BUILDING HEAVENLY TREASURE I’ve noted that, as Black Christians have become more educated, prosperous and influential, there has been a shift in sermon content. Where once there was a major focus on heaven and eternal life, there’s now a focus on enjoying life on earth. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, but it can and has caused some to focus on getting rich on earth, as opposed to building heavenly riches, as Christ stipulated in Matthew 6:19. We build up heavenly treasure through serving God; carrying out good works; helping the vulnerable and disadvantaged, and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom. When God sent an angel to Cornelius, a Gentile whose life was characterised by worship, prayer and good works, he told Cornelius to send men to Joppa to bring back the Apostle Peter to his home. Peter had already received a vision from God that he should share the Gospel with Gentiles. The angel told Cornelius he had come to God’s attention, because he had accumulated treasure through his actions. Life is definitely to be enjoyed, and the blessings that go with it - including money – but we must never lose sight of the fact that our key focus must be on building up our heavenly treasure.

BLACK CHURCH DOMESTIC ABUSE FORUM LAUNCHED Over the years, I have found numerous great Christian projects to work on, including the Wise Women Awards, Street Pastors and latterly, the recently launched Black Church Domestic Abuse Forum (BCDAF). Alongside Christian leaders, professionals and academics, the BCDAF aims to provide training for the Black Christian community, so that churches can provide practical support to the victims of domestic abuse and violence within their midst. The BCDAF is a much-needed development, and I for one am proud to be part of such a great initiative. Their first training event takes place on March 6. For more details, visit www.bcdaf.org.uk

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

36 COMMENT

‘IT’S TIME FOR FAITH-DRIVEN ENTREPRENEURS TO EMERGE’ Matt Bird is a Global Speaker

and Founder & CEO of Cinnamon Network International www.cinnamonnetwork.com

s the pandemic continues, we need an outbreak of something more powerful than a virus: the spirit of enterprise. It is time for new business enterprises that create value and jobs to replace the hundreds of thousands being lost. We need initiatives that can create social glue, capable of bringing the disparate parts of our lonely and isolated society together. As a follower of Jesus, my go-to place for inspiration is the Bible, which says: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Clearly, wealth creation is a gift of God, not a gift of capitalism. The word ‘wealth’, which has come to mean financial abundance, derives from the old English word ‘weal’, meaning wellness and well-being. True wealth is not simply the sum of our cash and assets, but is also the relational capital that exists in our families, communities and society. This is the essence of the Hebrew word ‘shalom’, which means peace, harmony, completeness, welfare and prosperity. God’s gift of wealth creation can unleash untold levels of human flourishing and thriving. The ‘Faith-Driven Entrepreneur’ movement explains: “We believe that business has Godgiven power to transform nations by creating jobs, generating prosperity and catalysing human flourishing” - an entrepreneurship, not driven by motives of selfish ambition and greed, but rather of compassion and a desire to benefit all.

Cinnamon Network International, the charity of which I am founder, has been busier than ever during the pandemic, supporting social entrepreneurs to scale community impact. Our partners in the UK are opening community ‘listening ear’ centres; in South Africa, thousands of face masks are being produced to protect key workers and, in Australia, they are training volunteers to reduce the tragic growth of domestic violence. Cinnamon is supporting these social entrepreneurs to replicate their approaches to save others having to reinvent the wheel. In the UK, the number of companies formed in the second half of 2020 soared, compared to the same time the previous year. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are more than 13,000 companies being formed every week compared to 11,000 during the same time the previous year. Whilst high street spending is down, we are seeing the ‘at home’ market grow. At-home medical testing, sports equipment, education platforms, family entertainment, and food and wine experiences are rapidly growing. These market changes are not temporal, so initiating a new enterprise now will build benefits for years to come. As the old saying goes, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’, so let’s innovate, launch and grow rather than pause, retreat and retrench. Maybe you have a creative, enterprising or innovative idea, an idea that could be deployed to create wealth and well-being in your community, across our country and around the world?

From my experience in coaching entrepreneurs, the greatest barriers are self-limiting beliefs. We might think that our idea, resources or experience are too small to amount to much. God is in the habit of taking the little we offer Him - such as the boy who offered Jesus five small loaves and two fish to help feed a crowd - and making a lot out of it. On that occasion, the crowd of 5,000 people were fed and there was more to spare. At other times, the resistance to our idea may come from those we try to get on board in the early stages. It may be an angel investor, strategic partner or board member. Recently, a friend reached out to someone with a powerful idea. They were pushed away with the response that they weren’t taking on anything new until after the pandemic. I can’t help but think that it could be a slightly longer wait than they think! It’s actually the spirit of innovation, creativity and enterprise that will help pull us through this pandemic. Let’s overcome our feelings of self-doubt and fear of rejection and failure and, instead, dig deep into our reservoirs of determination, hope and compassion. Now is the perfect time to launch a new venture. There is no shortage of human need and opportunity or the people talent, technology and financial capital required. Let us unleash the spirit of enterprise to create livelihoods and well-being: true wealth and shalom.

This article first appeared in The Times newspaper on Saturday, January 23, 2021

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38 COMMENT

Locked down, but not out Gary Clayton is a

Copywriter and Editor at Mission Aviation Fellowship www.maf-uk.org

hen lockdown restrictions could once again go to church, I remember a friend saying: “I don’t want to go, because we’ll have to wear facemasks, can’t sing, and will have to leave as soon as the service is over.” But not so long ago, he’d said how upset he was that the church had been closed because of coronavirus, and he could no longer worship with fellow believers. For those who haven’t been too adversely affected by COVID-19, and haven’t lost jobs or loved ones, this story does, I think, have something to say to us about accepting things as they are, making the most of what we have, and being grateful. Perhaps we should also be thankful that things aren’t worse than they currently are, praise God for every positive thing we can find, and try to remain positive despite all the negatives. God, for those who are His, is with us (Romans 8:31-39), and it doesn’t get any better than that! But the conversation I had with my friend got me thinking about the strange season in which we find ourselves. The first thing that occurred to me was that, tragic though the situation undoubtedly is, large-scale plagues are nothing new.

As Jesus predicts in Luke 21:11, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places.” There was the Antonine Plague of 165-180 AD, which killed roughly 5 million people; the Plague of Justinian (541-542), in which 30-50 million Europeans perished, and the Black Death, which, from 1346-1353, was said to have caused about 50 million deaths in Europe. In 1665, the Great Plague of London caused the loss of 100,000 souls, while the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 caused some 50 million fatalities worldwide. The coronavirus outbreak, which began in 2019, has so far claimed a reported 2,479,678 deaths (World Health Organisation, 24 February 2021) – a number which is significantly lower than the majority of the figures quoted above, all of which occurred in periods where the population was considerably smaller than today. But this in no way minimises the tremendous suffering caused by the deaths of those who have passed on, or the loss of livelihoods resulting from lockdown. I’m aware too that we have no idea when the pandemic will end, and what the total number of deaths will be when it does. Only God knows, as we look to Him to end COVID-19 or for an effective vaccine to protect us all from it. Nick Robinson, writing in The Spectator in March 2020, didn’t get COVID, but said: “This virus may not have infected my body – but it has certainly infected my mind.” It was a time when our WhatsApp messages initially went crazy, and we needed vast doses of equilibriumsaving attempts at humour to see us

through. (Remember the Sound of Music COVID-19 parody or the Les Misérables lockdown pastiche on YouTube?) For me, it was a time to contact friends and get to know them better, even though I had to do it through email and WhatsApp, rather than face to face.

It was also a time when I became aware of the need to take each day as it comes. In Matthew 6:11, Jesus prays: “Give us today our daily bread.” Indeed, if nothing else, the initial days of lockdown made us look to God to quite literally provide us with our daily bread – shopping locally feeling a bit like the Israelites going out each day to gather just enough manna for their needs. I remember one supermarket having toilet rolls but no kitchen roll. “Come back in three days’ time,” they said, “we’ll have run out of loo roll, but the kitchen roll will be in.” Material goods are only transitory – ephemeral – and human life short. Just waking up each morning and realising that we were still alive, that God’s love remained constant, and we had enough food, drink and loo roll – as well as money to pay for them! – was all we really needed. The danger posed by coronavirus was therefore a timely reminder – whether we realised it or not – that we rely on God for our every breath. “He gives everyone life and breath and everything else,” says Paul in Acts 17:25, and Job 4:9 reminds us, “At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of His anger they are no more.” Because God gives us breath, and can take it away in an instant, our lives are in His hands. So we need to make the most of the time we have: serving Christ, sharing the Gospel, helping others and studying God’s Word. It also means attending church, if we are able, whenever live services resume – my reluctant friend hopefully joining us. Gary Clayton is married to Julie, the father of Christopher (17) and Emma (14) and works for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). To learn how MAF pilots and personnel brought PPE and coronavirus test kits to people in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, visit www.maf-uk.org

LIFESTYLE 39

Vision boarding for the family Marnita Coleman GLOBAL

MUSIC LINK EDITORIAL TEAM Marnita is an author and host of The Marnita Show, a parenting show aired daily across the globe

unique tool that yields major results in securing your goals is called vision boarding. It is an effective way to successfully move forward. Ask any millennial about vision boarding, and they will show you their vision board on a smartphone. A vision board is a collage of images of your goals and dreams, enhanced by emotionally-charged words that affirm and motivate your behaviour towards acquiring those very things.

Interestingly, vision is found in two places: our eyes and our heart. With our eyes, vision is limited to what we can see in the natural. However, with our heart, we are unlimited in our imagination, thereby tapping into God’s inexhaustible resources. In other words, vision boards are the conduit that manifests your dreams into reality. The Scriptures tell us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal; meaning, the invisible world is the storehouse for life’s treasures and more permanent than what you see with your eyes (2 Corinthians 4:18). Vision boards also serve as protection against distractions, because it is a laserfocused instrument for what you are planning to achieve. As you continually meditate with positive emotions, the images and words you

have selected will guard your mind and attract the things you desire. Proverbs 29:18 says: ‘Where there is no vision (no revelation of God and His Word), the people are unrestrained; but happy and blessed is he who keeps the law (Word of God).’ People without a vision tend to chase pipedreams, going from one scheme to the other. But those who have a vision from God endure to the end. Jeremiah 29:11 says: ‘The Lord knows the plans He has for you (and your family).’ However, His plans must be conveyed to you when you ‘acknowledge Him in all of your ways, He will direct your path’ (Proverbs 3:6). The Lord will give you (1) revelation from the Word; (2) a rhema word in His presence; (3) a prophetic utterance from a prophet, and/or (4) a dream or vision. For the sake of this discussion, vision is defined as a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation. This is not a new process. God gave Noah an instruction to build an ark that saved his family. Noah’s family was chosen to replenish the earth after the Great Flood. Joseph had a dream wherein his brothers bowed before him. God selected Joseph to save many families, namely His family, the nation of Israel. In Genesis 12, we find God speaking with Abram to relocate to Canaan, a land that would be given to his descendants. God declared that through Abram all the families of the earth would be blessed. “You have given me no children,” Abram responded in Genesis 15:3. “So a servant in my household will be my heir.” And God said: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him: “So shall your offspring be.” God converted the sky into a vision board. Every time Abram

(an old man with a barren wife) looked at the stars, he was renewed in his mind to believe he indeed was the father of many descendants. Simply put, God gives vision for your family. Except the Lord builds the house or family, they labour in vain that build it (Psalm 127:1). There is no way of fuelling a Christ-centered vision if God is not involved. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou know not” (Jeremiah 33:3). Constructing a vision board is an easy task. Once you have the vision, you will need cardstock, scissors, glue, images and words to create the vision board for your family. Clip images and words that reflect your goals and dreams from magazines, or print images and words from Pinterest. Design your board in a way that inspires and promotes positive emotions. Hang your vision board for all the family to see and meditate on daily. Stay driven towards your goals and dreams. By the end of this year, the vision for your family will be seen. For more parenting ideas, log onto TheMarnitaShow.com.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

40 LIFESTYLE

THE BRIDGE

STAY FOCUSED IN 2021 BY TINA BOYLE WHYTE Global Music Link Editorial Team

‘This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24). Can you say that this is a good day? I can truly say, today, that THIS IS THE DAY! Having a declarative confession in this season, I have found myself feeling firmly rested and not worrying about the circumstances around me. I have taken the words in Psalm 91 as my guiding light and foundation of faith. Like never before, my spirit has been pulling me to lean on God. During these times, it has taken faith to lean more on God like never before. It is my faith in God - and nothing else - that has been at the forefront of this season. We have seen and experienced enough through the last year with COVID-19. We have been overwhelmed by extreme views in the United States over everything from social issues to political issues, with many media outlets reporting the number of deaths, the number of COVID contractions and the minimal number of vaccines. It has literally been the ‘survival of the fittest’, so I can understand why any person, who is inundated with social media and news media, could easily shift their view away from God and onto their overwhelming circumstances.

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

In 2021, I have committed to be more focused. What is focus? According to Google’s definition, it is to ‘pay particular interest to’. I taught on focus in early January to our local church body. When we think about it, what does one need to do when they focus? We have to give all our attention to our Father. In this season, I want to encourage you to turn your focus onto God. When we focus, it allows us to give attention to something or Someone, who is greater than ourselves. When we focus and rest in God, we discover that He is our provider. Another thing I have realised so far is that many people are in great fear. I understand that these uncertain times bring fear in many ways that we have never imagined. I want to encourage you to have faith during these times. We are told in God’s Word that we should: 1. Be anxious for nothing - Philippians 4:6-7 2. Not worry - Matthew 6:25-34 I can be assured of these very words, because He said the following to us, His children: 1. He will never leave you nor forsake you - Hebrew 13:5 2. The righteous have never been forsaken - Psalm 37:25 3. You will be kept in perfect peace - Isaiah 26:3 I realised that fear is the counter to faith. Once fear has a grip on you, it is hard to let go of you. I know someone who has allowed fear to overtake their life. They were previously a person of faith, but life’s failures, people’s rejection and major disappointments have drawn this person into a place of defeat. They have a debilitating health condition that has consumed them in a way that their system is literally shutting down. When I asked if they had faith, they stated: “I am just scared.” The person stated they were afraid of many things, and just at that moment verbalised and shared with me that they were in fear. My heart was broken with the information about fear. Satan wants us to live beneath our privilege, but Christ went to the cross for everything. Where is your uncertainty and fear? Ask yourself whether it’s in your quest for a new job;

if you will have money for retirement, or whether you will be able to make it through the next moment, hour, day, week, month or year. I implore you to know that God is with you. During this season, because it is a long season, I want to encourage you to step into faith. Many people are confronted with such fear that they have literally not moved. Despite what you are experiencing or thinking, I encourage you to confess: “THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.” Confess that, and see where your faith will take you.

Tina Boyle Whyte is The Bridge Coach - The gateway to get you from where you are to where you want and need to be.

LIFESTYLE 41

‘RESTORATION’ CONVALESCENCE PROJECT Restoring lives during the pandemic

Sharon Platt-McDonald

Director for Health, Women’s Ministries and Community Outreach

“Your help has been lifesaving. I’m not sure what we would have done without the wonderful meals you provide for us each day. We are so very grateful.” The gentleman’s eyes filled with tears as he shared these words with us. This was an individual from the community, whose family members, he reports, “had a rough time with the virus.” As a result, they had been left very unwell and unable to cater adequately for themselves, and required external intervention. Another grateful person enthused: “We really appreciate the tasty hot meals you provide; they have kept us going! We can’t thank you enough!”

We have received similar accounts like these during the height of the pandemic and throughout the national lockdowns. There is much we can do on a practical level to bring relief to the suffering. As such, I initiated a Convalescence Project called ‘Restoration’, which seeks to meet the needs of individuals recovering from the COVID-19 coronavirus, and those who are experiencing what scientists have identified as ‘Long COVID’*1.

The challenge An increasing number of people, having been treated for COVID-19, are encountering various challenges when they return home from hospital. For example, several individuals reported that they continue to experience breathing difficulties and significant fatigue. Some are reporting feeling very flat and low in mood, and even quite depressed. Others have reported that the ongoing fatigue and lack of energy are such that they are unable to adequately care for themselves, or even to prepare substantial meals. This prevents them getting out to shop for essential household

items. This has been a huge burden especially for those living alone. On 15 April 2020, a New Scientist article carried the headline: ‘Could the Coronavirus trigger post-viral fatigue syndromes?’*2 It states: “Conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome have been linked to viral infections, so it’s possible that the COVID-19 virus may go on to trigger similar conditions.” The article implies that this was the case with previous pandemics: “There are hints from the related SARS virus that this may happen. After the SARS outbreak of 2002 to 2003, some people in Toronto, Canada, who were infected, were recorded as experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness and sleep problems up to three years later.”

The project The Restoration Convalescence Initiative is designed to assist such individuals. Working through my Health Ministries Department at the British Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Headquarters, I partnered with the One Vision Project (Outreach Charity) in the implementation and roll-out of this initiative. We are also working with Cllr Rabi Martins, who is a Mental Health Champion for Watford and supports individuals in need of counselling. Additionally, the Stanborough Press is supporting this initiative with relevant publications for the ‘wellness bags’ that accompany this project. I captioned the project ‘RESTORATION Convalescence’ to meet the holistic needs and to address the deficits individuals faced during their recovery. It comprises of the following: • Daily hot meals • Weekly shopping • Relevant publications on varying aspects of holistic well-being • Counselling support The project has three aspects - Revive, Renew & Restore. Each of these segments uses different resources to meet physical, emotional, spiritual, relational and social needs in practical ways. With the assistance of the ‘One Vision’ hub, which is supporting the operational aspect of this project, we are now providing around 230 meals per day to the community.

The impact Along with hot meals and essential

shopping items, our publications have also been greatly received. Each week we get positive feedback from people of diverse cultural and faith groups, and from those with no religious beliefs. Many have stated that once our churches reopen, they would like to visit and worship with us! Some are even requesting Bible study literature because of the help they have received from our churches participating in the Restoration Convalescence Project. We rejoice over these positive testimonies, and pray for God’s continued leading in the lives of these individuals in our communities. There is much we can do on a practical level to bring relief to those suffering in the aftermath of COVID-19. Our churches may have been closed for our regular services, but thankfully, we were not closed to compassion and care, as God through His divine leading, enabled us to reach out in relevant ways to the community. May we continue to be ‘open’ to help in the restoration of lives. Please pray for the ‘Restoration’ Convalescence project, as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our communities in this time of great need and crisis in our nation. *1’Long

Covid’: Why are some people not recovering? - BBC News *2 www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632783400-could-the-coronavirus-trigger-post-viralfatigue-syndromes/

42 LIFESTYLE

HOW DO WE

GROW

FROM HERE? BY M. JASMYN ALLEN

hen we first learn to read as children, there is a hunger to read many books. As we mature, that hunger to expand our vocabulary and broaden our horizons of the world around us often diminishes. The challenge many of us face is how to maintain our momentum and desire to develop. There are several examples we can call upon to illustrate that, once the honeymoon is over, keeping that momentum or spark can quickly deteriorate if we are not careful; continuous growth requires discipline. First Corinthians 13:11 (KJV) states: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child and I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” If I were to reword this Scripture to read: “When I was a seed, I performed as a seed – I was planted and nurtured, so that I could grow into a healthy tree, but when I became a tree, they expected much fruit from me…” There is a mandate from God that we are to keep growing. Just as an infant develops to an adult and a seed develops into a tree, we are expected to move from level to level. As our stage or season in life changes, so will the expectation also change. You would not look at a seed and wonder where is its fruit, but you would look at a fully grown tree and search with great expectation for fruit to be there - especially during the season when trees are expected to bear fruit. God doesn’t only expect us to keep growing, but there is also an expectation that we will have a structured development plan, and not just simply growing at will. If you’re feeling that tug to move forward, here are four steps to help you G.R.O.W: Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

GOAL

OPTIONS

Set S.M.A.R.T goals. Decide what you want to achieve. This can be an interpersonal, spiritual, professional, educational, health and well-being or financial goal. Set precise goals - include dates, times and amounts - so that you can measure your achievement. If you do this, you’ll know exactly when you have achieved your goal, and can take complete satisfaction from having achieved it. Be sure to write your goal down. The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. Express your goals in positive statements, and include your Why (ie. why this is important to you). Use the word “will” instead of “would like to” or “might”. Finally, tell someone about your goals. This increases the likelihood that you will stick to the goal, because you have now made it public and can be held accountable.

Your goals should be listed in manageable chunks, which will make it clearer to see the prerequisites and set some priorities. This stage will look at the various pathways you can take to achieve your overall goal. In project management, we call this ‘identifying the critical path’. It will also help you to assess what is in your control, and where you might need to solicit some help. Remember to free up your time to focus on the more important elements. Get rid of unnecessary actions or tasks you can delegate.

REALITY

• At the end of each day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks. • Prioritise those six items in order of their true importance. • When it is time to tackle the list, concentrate only on one task at a time. • At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.

In order to fully create a plan, you will need to assess where you are NOW. Make an honest assessment of your current situation, so that you can be clear on the necessary steps you will need to take to achieve your goals. A great mind-mapping tip is to draw a circle in the middle of the page, and write above it, ‘Where do you go from here?’ This will force you to tap into whatever ‘here’ looks like, and what actions you have taken so far to land you to ‘here’, as you look at the possibilities before you. This step will also help you identify those little achievements. Remember, a baby didn’t morph into an adult overnight; babies grew little by little.

WILL What will you do and when? There is no need to plan and not act. In order to achieve your growth plan, you will need to put the work in. Here’s how to smash your action list by using the Ivy Lee Method:

Remember to celebrate your successes along the way. Happy growing!

Love France – Love Mission – Love Church? What does France mean to you? A great holiday destination with stunning scenery and warm weather? Chic café culture in historic cities? Delicious food and drink? France is all these things and more… But do you ever think of it as a mission field? Perhaps you think of France as “a Catholic country”… But it’s been a secular republic for well over a century. Islam has eight times more followers than evangelical Christianity in France. And, according to a recent survey, 58% of French people define themselves as having “no religion”! We thank God that the number of evangelicals in France has increased 13-fold since the 1950s, with many new believers coming from BAME communities. Imagine if we’d seen that kind of growth in UK churches! But evangelicals in France still represent less than 1% of the population. So French evangelicals have an ambitious church-planting dream: they want to see a church for every 10,000 people in France – which means planting a further 4,000! Our French brothers and sisters are working hard: a new evangelical church is planted somewhere in France every 10 days. That’s wonderful – but, at this rate, it will take well over a century to plant 4,000! As Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

That’s where France Mission can help. We’ve been supporting evangelical Christians in France for nearly 50 years and have seen the Lord do some amazing things over this period. Our vision is to see increasing numbers of people in France encountering God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and to make it easier for them to find a local evangelical church. With so few churches, believers often travel long distances to worship. France Mission provides regular updates to help you pray for this vital mission field. We enable you to sow into the work financially to be part of building God’s Kingdom in this strategically significant country. And we offer you opportunities to go and provide hands-on help. If you have a heart for France, then we’d love to partner with you in France Mission. Please connect with us online at francemission.org or fill in the response form below and post it back to us. Thank you!

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Love is the heart of mission… Do you… love France? love mission? love church? Then please join us in France Mission to help reach a nation for Christ. To find out more either go to francemission.org or fill in the coupon below: Name: ..................................................................................................................... Postal address: ..................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................

Help share God’s love in France

................................................................................................................................... Email: ...................................................................................................................... Return address: Freepost RSLC-SCXZ-XRTK France Mission PO Box 743 Exeter EX1 9RN By providing France Mission with your details, you are agreeing to receiving news and prayer updates from us. You can unsubscribe at any time, either by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails, or by contacting the France Mission Office. Your personal information will be handled in line with our Privacy Policy (francemission.org/privacy-policy). www.keepthefaith.co.uk

44 LIFESTYLE

Three things I wish I knew before starting my Women’s Ministry Grace Gladys Famoriyo Author, Speaker and Founder, Multiple Income Women

ecently, I received a phone call from a dynamic young lady (let’s call her Esther), who had seen me speak and wanted to invite me to her first women’s ministry event. By the end of what quickly evolved into a coaching/ mentoring session, Esther reminded me of where I was twenty-five years ago, when I launched my women’s ministry: enthusiastic, passionate… but naïve. Like Esther, I felt a strong call to serve women. But looking back, I wish I had the much-needed support at the start, in the form of coaching/mentoring, as I have now. As a result, although there were many highs, there were also times of feeling clueless, frustrated and isolated. I even wanted to quit. Thankfully, I held on but I have learnt many lessons along the way. During my discussion with Esther, it became apparent she needed direction about her new ministry/event. Whilst we covered several topics, the subject of money came up repeatedly. So I will share some insights I gave her. If you want to discover The Top Five Things Every Ministry Leader Must Know When Starting A Ministry, download my FREE eBook at gracethespeaker.com/ starting-ministry.

The Funding Challenge Funding your new ministry is one of the major hurdles. In the early stages, finding monthly partners, sponsorships, etc. can prove challenging. I would admit to dipping into savings and using my credit card to fund projects or events. However, this is not a sustainable solution. And so, in the case of Esther, I coached her into finding innovative yet sustainable income sources to fund her ‘passion project’, ie. ministry, that did not rely on her salary, savings, etc. SOLUTION: Funding a ministry has similarities with generating income for your business. I believe God has given us gifts and abilities that I call our ‘Jar of Oil’ (2 Kings 4:1-7). So your goal is to find ways of Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

generating additional income sources, pretty much like the servant who doubled his five talents (Matthew 25:14-30). For you, this might mean having profitable ‘side hustles’ alongside your 9-5 job. And if you are already in business, you want to ensure you are effectively monetising your gifts or expertise. After coaching Esther, she will be creating two new income sources, using her vast professional experience and unique mix of gifts.

The Honorarium Challenge Like Esther, many ministries don’t have the budget to ‘bless’ their speakers. I can relate to this, although I strongly believe if someone is sharing their intellectual property, effort and time, they should be paid along with reasonable expenses. So what happens if you genuinely cannot afford this? SOLUTION: I suggested Esther should explore various win-win approaches. One includes using digital marketing strategies to promote the speaker whilst promoting the event. This can be done before, during and after the event, to promote attendee engagement, ticket sales (if applicable) and the speaker’s resources. With a well-thought-out marketing plan and little or zero marketing budget (in some cases), such strategies can benefit the speaker in many ways (eg. sales of relevant books, resources, training/coaching programmes, etc.).

From personal experience, this approach can be more beneficial to the speaker than the honorarium you may/may not be able to give.

The FREE Versus PAID Event Challenge Very early in our chat, Esther asked the question: “Should I charge my attendees?” Having done both paid and free events, both have their pros and cons. If you are planning to generate income from ticket sales to pay for the event (suppliers, venue, yourself, etc.), the ‘free’ model will not work. However, if you are starting out, and want to build your brand/following, this may be the way to start while keeping a tight rein on your budget. SOLUTION: If adopting the free model, you need to build in a mechanism to generate funds, like offerings, product sales, food stands, an exhibition area, media sponsorship, etc. Keep in mind that where there is no cost to attend, there may be a high number of no-shows, owing to no financial commitment or little value placed on what is offered. However, when there is a fee, you tend to get higher attendance and more engaged attendees, so you may want to charge a small fee or have stricter terms and conditions - especially if you have limited capacity and/or waiting lists.

In Closing… Starting a ministry can be exciting and rewarding, but I would encourage you to get support (eg. mentoring/coaching) at every stage of the journey (Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22). If you want to discover the other winning strategies I shared with Esther, download my FREE eBook, The Top Five Things Every Ministry Leader Must Know When Starting A Ministry, at gracethespeaker.com/starting-ministry.

LIFESTYLE 45

Verona White is a

celebrity hair stylist, professional wig technician, hair coach and CEO of Afro Hair Growth Challenge

ave you ever wondered why, after regular treatments, shampoos and doing all the great things to your hair, it still isn’t reacting the way you want it to? It may just need a deep clean, which is a detox. Just like the rest of the body, when you detox it will reset your curls and restore the colour and strength. The Science It doesn’t matter what type of hair you have; all your strands have three layers. Unlike straight hair, curly afro hair needs to be kept moist, to keep the bonds between each curl springy enough so that the hair does not become brittle and break. The hair can only take in so much product, but sometimes it gets overloaded with different products and environmental toxins. Some of those products stick onto the hair and not even shampoo can remove it. Over time, if this product is left on the hair, the curl will not be as soft and your scalp will have a build-up of ingredients left on, even after a shampoo. How do you know you need a detox? You know when a detox is needed if your hair is not responding to a product, or if your curls are not bouncing back even after you have moisturised it. You may find your scalp begins to itch more than normal. Moisturising shampoos deposit oils and add to the hair strand to keep it soft, so the detox will basically take all this away and somehow make your curls pop again. Another thing that can happen is temporary hair loss and slight shedding. When the follicles, which are the pores in the scalp, are blocked it is basically blocking the hair from growing as freely as it wants to. This is what will lead to weaker strands. One of the other reasons why it is particularly important to get rid of all the toxins from our hair and scalp is because when we exercise and then sweat, the toxins don’t disappear; they have to be taken away from the scalp. We wash our bodies every day, so bacteria and toxins do not build up on the skin as often as on our scalp. All the toxins from our body are expelled through the pores. A detox will re-balance your hair and scalp; it will get rid of the build-up, which is suffocating your follicles. The more products you use, the more often you will need a detox, although it is better to do it once every six weeks or it can dry out your hair. There are different ways to detox your hair and scalp, and they can start with gently

THE POWER OF HAIR & SCALP DETOX

detoxing, which you can do more often, or a very deep cleanse. The different organic ingredients that you can use on your hair to gently remove all the necessary toxins are: • Clays • Aloe vera • Charcoal • Apple cider vinegar or clays All these ingredients will detoxify all the toxins away from your hair and scalp, and will leave your hair in an exceptionally soft state. You will see your curls bouncing again. Aloe vera is the mildest detox, but it does the job of clearing the toxins. Charcoal is remarkably effective; it can be mixed with water or aloe vera for best results. Apple cider vinegar has many uses, but it will also pull the toxins from the scalp area. It is also great if it is used for a final rinse, if diluted with water. If it is the first time, then you will have to leave whatever detox method in for at least 30 minutes. You may

also need to gently massage the treatment in - especially if you have a dry scalp, or if you have a gentle form of psoriasis. Keep away from non-natural cleansers, because the whole point of detoxing is to take the impurities away from your hair and scalp. You will find a great scalp detox clay on www.afrohairgrowthchallenge. It comes with pumpkin and horsetail powder, which can be used in your conditioner or in your clay mix to strengthen your hair at the same time. After doing all of this it is especially important that you rebalance the hair’s pH by applying a deep conditioner. If you can avoid putting conditioner on the scalp, then this will be great, as the conditioner will leave an invisible film on your scalp and all that effort you put into cleaning your hair will be pointless. Full details of the different detox mixtures can be found in the easy-to-read book or Kindle version of 20 DIY Recipes for Curly Afro Hair on Amazon, or visit www.afrohairgrowthchallenge.com and register for the newsletter to get bonus tips.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

46 LIFESTYLE

STYLING JUNIOR GARR AND THE SPIRITUALS CHOIR

n this month’s edition, I thought I would invite you into a snippet of my world. Most recently I have been working with an amazing artist called Junior Garr, who is a singer/songwriter and the founder of The Spirituals Choir. Junior has embarked on some amazing projects since working with The Spirituals: the first being ‘The Black History Project’, which was aired on TBNUK and the second being ‘The Christmas Project’, which was filmed at the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral. Can you believe it?! Junior’s most recent project gained a lot of media attention, and many people were blown away with their sound, the reimagined songs and the styling of the choir. Oh, and let’s not even get started on the eclectic hairstyles… I had the pleasure of styling both projects, which was an amazing experience. I decided to interview Junior Garr to allow you to capture the essence of who he is and how The Spirituals Choir came about. How would you describe yourself in three words? Intuitive, adventurous, creative Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

What made you start a choir, and how did you arrive at the name? For the longest time, I have wanted to create something for Black History Month. In July 2020 I thought maybe I could form a choir to interpret some Negro Spirituals, and tell some stories around them that pertain to our current times. In August, my team put out a call to see if people would want to audition… and the response was quite overwhelming. We auditioned people virtually, picked the best singers and got to work. Towards the end of the project, we were trying to figure out what the name of the choir could be, but were running out of options. On the morning of the filming and recording, I got the name ‘The Spirituals’… It was a bit of a bold move but I knew it was the only suitable name for our community and our sound. Who are The Spirituals? The Spirituals are essentially a collective of singers, songwriters and creatives from all over London - artists in their own right. These guys and girls are amongst

BY JEANETTE YOUNG FASHION FEATURE EDITOR

some of the most talented, warm-hearted and sincere people I’ve ever met, and it’s such an honour to work with them. How did you land the project at St Paul’s Cathedral? After The Black History Project, my vicar, Jamie, approached me with an idea of bringing hope to the nation over the Christmas period. Our current times meant we couldn’t attend the Christmas Carol services at our churches, so the idea was that we would bring the carols to the people of Great Britain - online. At that time the government had warned that they would be announcing another lockdown, so I suggested the only place we could pull something like this off would have to be in a

massive space, like St Paul’s Cathedral. Jamie pitched the idea to the Bishop of London and she loved it, so we created something special. Why did you decide to get a stylist on board? Firstly, I love fashion, and I think style and presentation are essential to our human experience. How you present yourself is an external expression of your internal being, informing others of who you are. The job of the stylist is as important as the writing, arranging, composing and performance. Stylists aren’t just the icing on the cake; their role is intrinsic to the final product, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also wanted to expose the choir (from its inception) to the idea of considering how they look and how they present themselves whilst performing. Every element of the project, including styling, is essential. What was it like working with a stylist? I loved the process of working with you, Jeanette, because you

LIFESTYLE 47

Nature grieves by Melissa Agbonlahor Drop by drop, the raindrops drop, serene, calm, my mind weaves a tale. Unknown to man, unknown to you. Nature sings, nature breathes, she sighs, grieves. But alas, can you hear her scream, deep inside? Sleep, close your eyes. Let your mind be consoled by nature’s hymns: Soft, calm, raindrops jump up and down. A, b, c, d. Those raindrops amidst the bird’s harmonious dance have struck the wrong chord! That twig snaps! Those leaves rustle! That bulldozer shrieks! This bomb explodes! Those tears fall whilst vengeance calls. Those pebbles fly right. Tornadoes soar left. Those eyes well up with a puddle of tears. That grin beams. Injustice swirls round and round. A, c, b. Agony tilts the ground. Sense runs out of time, no! Justice loses her mind as the daggers of avarice sow those lines... The cloak of despair has become heavy. It reddens with the guilt of a nation. 3, 2, 1. That arrow pierces the bystander’s soul. Mercy, pleas or justice, choose your role. As the mind begins to listen, as the mind begins to know, feel your conscience burn. Yes! Nature knows. The dove of peace swirls around and around.

think outside the normal scope of any other stylist I’ve met, and pay great attention to detail so nothing goes unnoticed or unchecked. I think it’s important to choose the right stylist, and I chose to have you on board because of your expansive creative intuition. I feel like I learn something new every time we work together. What artists inspire you, and why? Takashi Murakami, Axel Vervoordt, Zaha Hadid and Hans Zimmer. Apart from Hans Zimmer, the other artists aren’t musical, and I’ve done that on purpose mainly because of where my creative thoughts are at the moment. These artists move me because they create in a way that goes beyond reality into other realms that can only be realised in the genius of their minds.

The violin of humanity sinks, she drowns. In the sea of inequality. In the stream of realpolitik. In the ocean of conscience. In the flood of injustice. The drop of hope. And as the flute tunes the end of this unequal tale, as the nightingale chirps the final cast… The curtains of this drama folds. And once again, conscience asks. Drop by drop, the raindrops drop. Nature sings, nature breathes. She sighs, she grieves. But can you hear her scream, deep inside?

For both projects you have either narrated or played an instrument. Will we ever hear you sing? Lol, I get asked this question all the time! We’ll have to wait and see. What’s coming next? We have just released The Black History Project EP on all digital platforms, so please check it out!

For more info on Junior Garr & The Spirituals Choir, go to: http://juniorgarr.com/ https://www.instagram.com/juniorgarr/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/thespiritualsmusic/?hl=en For more info on Jeanette Young Stylist, go to: https://www.instagram.com/jeanetteyoungstylist/?hl=en Styling - Jeanette Young Hair - Nekela Alleyne & Niiella Dankwah Coffie Photography - Amie Croft www.keepthefaith.co.uk

48 LIFESTYLE

Rich Black History – Writing Historical Fiction Vanessa Grossett

www.theauthorscare.co.uk

hen it comes to featuring Black characters in historical fiction, we usually come across the characters in enslavement, or in some type of lowly position, especially in the medieval times. Research and evidence, however, have shown there were Black people in history who were just as wealthy, and had equally high positions in the historical era as their White counterparts. Take John Blanke, for example. He was one of the first recorded Africans in London, who served as trumpeter to Henry VII and Henry VIII in 1593. There was also Sarah Forbes Bonetta (1843-1880), whose native name was Omo’ba Aina. She was an Egbado princess of the Yoruba people, and was Queen Victoria’s goddaughter. Recently there have been findings - in Sycamore Terrace, York, in 1901 - of the Ivory Bangle Lady, who was a high-status adult female of North African descent, and lived in York in the 4th Century AD. There were also the ancient kings and queens in Africa, such as Queen Amina, who ruled in the mid-sixteenth century, and Queen Amanirenas, who defeated the Romans. And there are many, many more. With this vast evidence and research being carried out on wealthy Black people in history, programmes like Bridgerton and books like The Butterscotch Bride have become popular with audiences, as they are showing a

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

different side to Black history, which isn’t always oppression. As Mutabaruka said: “Slavery is not African history. Slavery interrupted African history.” And it does not need to continue to interrupt Black history. There is such a great rich past, so why not show it off, and write about it? If you decide to step into the world of historical fiction, here are three major tips that can help you with your novel.

“...don’t be so hard on yourself if everyt hing is not 100% accurate ; that is why it is called fiction” 1. You need to do thorough, thorough research. Yes, all writing requires research, but when you are writing historical fiction, you need to do a lot more. To some authors this can be a daunting task, as sometimes the information you need is not always readily available. The characters in your book need to dialogue as they would in whatever century you are writing about, and they need to dress in that particular century as well. My advice would be not to solely rely on the Internet for your source of information. If you know someone who is a history buff then ask them, and also ask them to recommend books about that era that you can read. It’s good to talk to someone who knows a lot about the particular century you are writing about, as you can get more clarity that way. Finally,

don’t be so hard on yourself if everything is not 100% accurate; that is why it is called fiction. Not everything in history was recorded, so sometimes you have to stretch your imagination - just as long as the majority of scenes are accurate, and you don’t reinvent history, then you can still have a great historical novel. 2. It is important, before you start constructing and writing your historical fiction novel, that you have an outline of the chapters. When writing contemporary, at times you can just write, but not with historical fiction. You have to bring your imagination back into the previous centuries: you have to think about what they would do in their century, and whether this character would behave that particular century, etc. The good thing is, as the Bible states, ‘There is nothing new under the sun’, so most likely behavioural attributes amongst people will be the same, except they would be expressed differently. Some of the place names will have changed too. For example, southern Egypt used to be Ancient Nubia, and the Ghana Empire was formerly known as Wagadou. You would have to name the places as they would have been called at that time, which is why it is so important to outline your chapters. 3. Stick to the time period. Once you have chosen the century, characters and places, stick to that time period. Yes, sometimes events in different time periods can overlap, but it is important to stick as closely to your chosen time period as possible, so that your audience does not get confused as well. Happy writing. Vanessa Grossett can be contacted via email address vanessa@theauthorscare.co.uk

LIFESTYLE 49

Sweetbreads, Sweet bread & Sweetbread Shana Dawn Lewis has been a qualified chef for over 25 years, and was the winner of the Wise Women Award 2021 in the Life Turnaround category

o much has happened in the world that has sent many of us into a spin (putting it mildly), and we have needed something to keep us going... So, aside from praying and reading our Bibles daily, there has been another satisfying daily constant in many a household this past year... baking! Many of us have taken to baking to break up the daily routine of watching TV, home schooling, endless Zoom meetings and talking to the cat! Baking was filling a gap, as we were no longer able to do things that give us joy: coffee shop trips, lunch with friends… even leaving the house to commute to work. This Easter, I have an easy but yummy traditional recipe for you that can be enjoyed all year around, but it just seems to taste extra special at Easter time. Before I give you the recipe, though, I want to tell you a quick and funny story of how I found out there is more than one type of ‘sweetbread’. When I was at catering college, my chef tutor told the class that we would be working with sweetbread in our next lesson. Of course, I was excited they were going to be introducing some Caribbean cooking into our lesson. When I next returned to that lesson - still all very excited - I looked eagerly at the workstation that housed the ingredients we would be working with that day - similar to the ones listed below I would have thought. Instead, what I saw was a pale, pinkish-looking slab of flesh that looked like brains. I retched at the sight of it, and asked my chef tutor where the sweetbread was. He said: “You’re looking at it.” I looked back at it and asked: “But where’s the flour, coconut and mixed fruit?” He laughed at me and said: “You’re talking about sweetbread, from the Caribbean; this is sweetbreads, as in offal.” That was the day I found out that there are: sweetbreads (plural), as in meat (animal pancreas); sweet bread, as in bread with sugar (brioche), and sweetbread (singular), as in a coconut and fruit bread! So this is a recipe for sweetbread!

INGREDIENTS 24oz/680g plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 12oz/340g granulated sugar 2oz/60g cherries halved 4oz/125g mixed dry fruit 8oz/250g coconut* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg, grated 1 egg, well-beaten 3/4 of a cup of milk 1 teaspoon of almond essence 80z/250g of butter, melted and cooled (* I used dried coconut, so before starting I mixed the coconut and the milk together and let it soak for about 15 minutes to use later in the recipe.)

• Put the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder into a large bowl. Mix all the dry ingredients together with your hand(s). You can use a mixer or spoon, but I like to use my hands to make sweetbread. • Add the mixed fruit, cherries and sugar – again, using your hand(s). • It gets really messy at this point, as you’re about to add the wet ingredients. Whisk the 2 eggs into the milk and coconut mixture, and add to the large bowl. Also add the melted butter, along with the almond essence, into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Roll your sleeves up and get stuck in, mixing with your hand(s) until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and you have soft, wet movable mixture in the bowl.

• Preheat your oven to 325F/170C, and continue to mix the ingredients. • Now all you need to do is grease your tins of choice, and pour in the mixture – up to about 3/4 of the tin. I decided to use a round 7” tin and a 6-hole muffin tin to bake my sweetbread. Once your oven is ready, put both tins onto the middle rack and bake for about 60 minutes, or until you do the knife test. Insert a knife into the middle of the bread, and if it is clean when you remove it, the bread is cooked and ready to come out. If not, and there is still wet mixture on it, then leave it in the oven for a little longer and repeat the test until the knife comes out clean. • Make a glaze by mixing 1 tablespoon of warm water and 1 tablespoon of sugar, Brush the glaze over your sweetbread, sprinkle a little sugar over the top and put it back into the oven for about 5 minutes to crust over. • Remove from the tins and allow to cool down. Your sweetbread will crumble when you cut into it no matter how sharp your knife is. This is very normal, and an indication you’ve done a good job! Your sweetbread is now ready to serve. You can eat it just as it is or, for an extra touch of loveliness and indulgence, you can spread it with some butter. Oh yes, and don’t forget to share with other members of your household – neighbours, too. You can’t keep all that sweet goodness to yourself. It is Easter, after all! Have a great one. From me, Shana Dawn Lewis of Christlike Creations. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

50 MISSION

In Solidarity with

Aung San Suu Kyi By Martins Agbonlahor

Martins is a journalist and author based in Manchester. His new novel, ‘Another Poor Cow – the Dangers of Tradition in Rural Nigeria’, is available in all online bookstores.

knew Aung San Suu Kyi by reputation - a woman of steel and noble qualities. That was in the early nineties, and I had just stumbled into the Penguin edition of Freedom from Fear, her captivating autobiography, which I read in one sitting. Thenceforth, I stuck with her. When her party, the National League for Democracy, won in the 1990 elections, I was upbeat, singing her praises before my friends and extended family, but hardly had she made her acceptance speech when the military nullified her victory and, amid an international outcry, placed her under house arrest for a period of fifteen years. It was here she captured people’s minds: this international symbol of peaceful resistance, blessed with the power of conviction, of persuasion, as well as that pleasing quality the French would call je ne sais quoi. Released in 1995, she intensified her involvement in politics, with her party winning a landslide victory in the 2015 elections - a victory replicated in the 2018 by-election. Whereas she was to be president, she opted for the role of State Counsellor, a Prime Ministerial role of sorts, where, in practice, she held dual allegiances: first, to the people who had voted massively for her, and then to the military with whom she shared power. It is often said that the true test of a leader is not in holding the helm when the sea is Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

calm, but in moments of turbulence. Aung San Suu Kyi’s regime was confronted with this dilemma when she refused to acknowledge that Myanmar’s military had taken part in the massacre of fellow citizens: the Rohingya people in the Rakhine State. What seemed to aggravate matters too, was that she actually went on to defend these allegations in the International Court of Justice. This singular event drew the ire of the international bodies that once supported her – and a blizzard of criticisms descended on her regime. This state of affairs took another disastrous turn just recently, February 1st, when a section of the ever-lurking military - seeking an avenue for relevance - bared their bloody fangs, placing my heroine once again under house arrest. The reason for the putsch had been blamed on “a series of inconsistencies” in the 2018 by-election. This, to me, is just an excuse, and I don’t think this piece of evidence can be subjected to a serious intellectual and logical interrogation, nor can it stand the test of civilised standard. But if only this respectable woman had condemned the torture and genocide of the Rohingya people - or even resigned her position in the ensuing mêlée - that would have made a great difference and would have helped rekindle the faith we had in her. But alas, she was carried away by the allure of

power, rubbing shoulders with the military brats who had once incarcerated her, and refusing to criticise their role in the gruesome crackdown of fellow citizens. In fact, her present predicament reminds me of the travails of Martin Niemoller, the Lutheran Pastor who only belatedly criticised Adolf Hitler when he realised that the Führer and his Nazi Party were hell-bent on destruction, brooking no opposition in the process. Imprisoned in one of the concentration camps for a period of seven years, he wrote a poignant poem, which seemed to appeal to our consciences, instructing us not to be neutral in situations of injustice, and underlining the need for us to be each other’s keeper in a world dominated by the wicked: First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew Finally, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out. I feel for Aung San Suu Kyi, whose only ‘sin’ was not to have lived up to the expectations

MISSION 51

people – including the Western leaders – had of her. Her ascension to the head of the ruling National League for Democracy, and her inability to whip the ever-consistent Myanmar’s military into line, had somewhat become her albatross. While she is still extremely popular

at home, her supporters abroad appear to have chosen not to be overtly supportive of her anymore, especially in regards to her recent statement of being ‘a politician and not a human right activist’ when the issue of the torture and dehumanisation of the Rohingya was again raised. In all fairness, I think people had expected too much from my heroine, choosing to forget that she is just human, prone to all frailties. This had also been the case with the late Nelson Mandela, who was viewed as a symbol of infallibility by his admirers - so much so that he had to personally prepare his coffee and make his own bed, to show that he was just a human being and not the iconic wonder-worker image the public had of him. In this vein, let me crave the indulgence of all lovers of democracy, as well as European leaders, to do all within their powers to dislodge the present military takeover. Crippling sanctions and trade embargoes, which had previously been softened, should be reintroduced and the European assets of top army generals confiscated. While the coup plotters may want to suppress dissent, employing the use of guns and grenades, I urge the Myanmar people to continue to protest peacefully, employing all manners of civil disobedience, because when laws are made by criminals, decent people have to disobey them.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s experience with her country’s military shows that these powergrabbing khaki boys cannot be trusted with governance, for even though a democratic leader is not punched today doesn’t mean he or she will not be punched tomorrow. That is why the democratic world should aim towards having a polity, where the military is relegated to their proper place: the barracks. These guys are trained to protect countries from external aggression and not to rule. My country, Nigeria, is still reeling from the gross incompetence and maladministration of her military, especially the myopic, kleptocratic regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, which corrupted democracy and democratised corruption, looting our treasury to the tune of $28 billion we had realised during the Gulf crisis of the nineties. Now, Nigeria’s the worse for it. In conclusion, I see Myanmar going down the rabbit’s warren unless the international community comes to her aid. The military has already struck, so pontificating about Aung San Suu Kyi’s performance - or lack of it will not help. Every delay to act establishes the illegality of the Myanmar military, and reinforces their jungle rule, jungle justice and jungle morality. So, let’s act now. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

Hope

is on the horizon for you

For over 30 years, Mercy Ships has partnered with subSaharan African nations to tackle the huge injustice that is lack of access to healthcare in low-income countries. In fact, over 90% of people in this region of Africa cannot reach safe and affordable medical help for treatable and even terminal conditions when they need it. For several years, the Africa Mercy hospital ship has been invited to provide over 100,000 free surgeries in many African countries, including Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar and Senegal. In the next chapter of this partnership, Mercy Ships will launch the world’s largest Christian charity hospital ship later this year. They will continue to work hand in hand with African medical teams, to leave a lasting legacy of training and strengthened hospitals. In fact, just last year, Mercy Ships trained over 800 African healthcare workers free of charge. The Global Mercy is the first and only purpose-built floating ‘training hospital’, which can be sent anywhere in the world. As the pandemic continues, many people are taking an opportunity to reflect on their careers and purpose.

The brand new Global Mercy, top: the Africa Mercy.

www.mercyships.org.uk/beahero

For some, this means choosing to offer their skills and give back to those less fortunate, helping to improve healthcare systems around the world by volunteering with Mercy Ships. This global charity uses hospital ships to offer free worldclass medical care in developing nations, because 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometres of a coastline. Whilst medically trained professionals are needed for the work, that is only half the story. It takes a wide variety of skills and professions to bring hope and healing to the poorest patients. And only half of the roles onboard are medical. As well as performing thousands of surgeries, all free of charge, hundreds of Christian volunteers from all backgrounds provide training for local professionals so that healthcare systems are left stronger once the ship leaves port. As Christians, we know that God calls us to tackle injustice in all its forms, and to show mercy to the poor and the sick. Jesus even said that when we visit the sick and feed the hungry, we are doing this for Him (Matthew 25). It is unacceptable that in 2021, many Africans are forced to suffer from painful and life-limiting medical conditions that are readily treatable in the UK. As a Mercy Ships volunteer, you could send ripples of love and mercy into the lives of families and brave patients across Africa. One such family was Youma and her young son, Diacko, from Senegal. When Diacko was a baby, people in his village would stop his mother just to tell her how beautiful he was. But as he grew, his legs began to bow outward. Youma’s heart would break as the compliments her son used to receive became jeers and taunts. Learning to walk became increasingly difficult as every step made him wince with pain. Despite knowing her little boy desperately needed surgery, there was no medical care in her village. Even if Youma travelled to a hospital, she could never afford the surgery Diacko needed.

www.mercyships.org.uk/beahero

Diacko before surgery, and with his mother, stepping onboard the Africa Mercy.

This pandemic has given many of us the smallest glimpse of life without immediate, guaranteed access to healthcare when we need it. But for families like Diacko and Youma, there is no end in sight and, seemingly, no hope of accessible medical help on the horizon. Youma feared Diacko would suffer in pain forever. “We didn’t have money,” she said. “So, I stayed home, waiting for something to arrive from God.”

“ We didn’t have money, so I stayed home, waiting for something to arrive from God.” Finally, her waiting was over and her prayers were answered. Youma and her family heard that Mercy Ships were arriving. As a nation deemed least equipped to deal with a pandemic, Senegal has fought a long and tiring battle with distinction over the past year. Mercy Ships has been providing PPE and other support for many months, and more recently, they have teams on the ground working alongside local medical professionals to identify hundreds of patients who are waiting for a life-changing surgery: Fathers hiding their face behind a scarf because of a choking tumour; babies struggling to nurse because of cleft lips; mothers who can’t see their children because cataracts darken their eyes, and children, like Diacko, who can’t run and play, because their legs are bending beneath them.

2021 will be the year when hope returns Hope is on the horizon for reunited friends and family, for thousands of patients waiting anxiously, and for strained medical teams in lowincome nations. As it says in Isaiah, ‘those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint’. Youma’s hope and prayers resulted in her son receiving a free surgery that changed the course of his life. With the launch of the brand new teachinghospital ship, the Global Mercy, there are now more opportunities than ever to bring your talents and skills to bear and make a huge difference to many more children like Diacko. Whether you are a medical professional, or you work in IT or hospitality, there is a role for you with Mercy Ships. Countless others like Diacko are still waiting for their healing and for hope to dawn on the horizon. A unique experience to help make a difference could be on the horizon for you too. To find out more and chat to someone about what volunteering involves and how it all works, just visit: www.mercyships.org.uk/beahero or call 01438 727 800.

Registered Charity Nos: 1053055 (England & Wales), SC039743 (Scotland)

Meet mum-of two Deolina, from Cabo Delgado in Mozambique. She is proud to call herself a Leprosy Changemaker. Deolina was cured of leprosy 15 years ago, after finding discoloured patches on her skin. Thankfully she remembered hearing a woman talk about the early signs of leprosy and went to find her. This kind and reassuring lady took her to hospital, where Deolina’s leprosy was diagnosed and cured. Deolina knows what a blessing it was to be cured quickly. If she hadn’t been treated, she could easily have developed a permanent disability. This would have put her livelihood as a farmer in jeopardy and with it the welfare of her family. Touched by the love and care she received, Deolina trained as a Leprosy Changemaker. This means she is able to recognise the early signs of leprosy and makes sure a person knows how to get the cure. She has made it her mission to walk with and encourage others affected by the disease.

LIFE IN MOZAMBIQUE, THE SEVENTH MOST DEPRIVED NATION, IS TOUGH. For too long, leprosy has torn lives apart. In rural Mozambique, healthcare is difficult to find and leprosy treatment is even more limited. Without prompt treatment leprosy can disable and even lead to blindness. Fear of the disease leads to prejudice and isolation. Too often, people with leprosy are thrown out of their communities and separated from the people they love. Leprosy takes everything from them. Their health, their opportunities, their family.

For many people living with the disease, it can be frightening to come forward for help. Mario offers words of encouragement and uses his own life as an example. His message is simple: “Don’t wait to get treatment.”

IT WAS TOO LATE FOR MARIO. YET HE WORKS TO ENSURE IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR OTHERS. Mario is a voice for change. In his 15 years of volunteering, Mario has reached out to hundreds of people with leprosy. His own experience of leprosy drives him to help other people seek early treatment. It was over 30 years ago that Mario found out that he had leprosy. “I found patches on my body and a wound,” he explained. At first, Mario’s family took him to a traditional healer in his village. He was given some herbal medicine, but it made no difference. By the time Mario got to a hospital, the wounds on his hands had already caused irreparable damage. It was too late. If he had sought medical help earlier, he would still have his fingers. Mario’s experiences have not made him bitter. In fact they have inspired him. He goes house to house in remote villages and holds meetings to raise awareness about leprosy.

‘WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.’ 1 JOHN 4:19 NIV

HUB OF HOPE Your support for The Unconditional Appeal will build community hubs, giving a beating heart to a rural village. A community hub, a Hub of Hope, is a place where Leprosy Changemakers can learn to recognise early symptoms of the disease. By helping to build a hub, you won’t just be curing leprosy. You’ll provide a safe space where every villager is welcome unconditionally. A space where health camps can take place and communities can learn about leprosy through traditional songs, dance and drama. Every villager can prosper through the work of a Hub of Hope. You can help farmers to learn how to protect their crops from extreme weather and sell surplus produce to provide an income. The seeds of small businesses can be sown and nurtured here, giving opportunities to young people and raising living standards in their community.

THIS IS AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT KEEPS ON GIVING Unconditional love changes a person. The love they receive inspires them and, in turn, draws them to change the lives of others. Leprosy Changemakers, like Deolina and Mario, are coming forward in their communities. They are people who share a determination to make leprosy a thing of the past. Today you can join a community of Leprosy Changemakers. You may not be able to walk in the same shoes as someone like Deolina or Mario but you can be part of the story too. Your donation today can train someone just like Deolina or Mario to find more people affected by leprosy before it’s too late. It is not just those personally affected by leprosy that are training to be Leprosy Changemakers. Government health workers, religious leaders and traditional healers are also joining the fight. You have an amazing window of opportunity. When you donate before 24 April your donation will be doubled by the UK government. That means your gift goes twice as far. Your unconditional love can rid Mozambique of leprosy. For good!

WILL YOU BECOME A LEPROSY CHANGEMAKER TODAY? Become a Leprosy Changemaker today and partner with the incredible team in Mozambique. United, our unconditional love has great power. Please donate what you can today:

Before 24 April, your donations made to The Unconditional Appeal, up to £2 million, will be doubled by the UK government to equip local communities to bring an end to leprosy in Mozambique.

 The Leprosy Mission England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay Peterborough, PE2 5GZ  01733 370505 � unconditionalappeal.org.uk  post@tlmew.org.uk leprosymission The Leprosy Mission England & Wales @leprosytalk Registered Charity No. 1050327 | A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No. 3140347

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Keep The Faith magazine issue 118

Articles inside

Nature grieves

Styling Junior Garr and the

It’s time for faith-driven

Three things I wish I knew before

Food 4 Thought

How do we grow from here?