Direction December 2012 Taster

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE Celebrating the season in the community  New movies retell the old, old story  How the festive fractions add up 

PLUS BALANCING CAREER AND MUSIC MINISTRY

Top pianist Fabia D’Andrea on leading worship in church

SHADES OF GREY VS BLACK & WHITE Love, marriage and sex the way God made them

WHY GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK Ethics aren’t a fad, argues Emma Greenwood

M Y A HE N A Ho D R w TE TB th I e R R e o sc R E cc ape O AK ult d R

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DECEMBER 2012 Issue 135 £1.70

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CONTENTS 5

EDITORIAL John Glass operates out of the overflow

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RELIVING BIBLE STORIES ON FILM Christmas and other Bible stories have been brought to life by actor James Hamilton

10 NEWS from Elim and the wider church 12 OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE GS John Glass opens his diary 14 COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CHEER Elim churches up and down the country are making the most of the season of goodwill 18 THE GREAT CHRISTMAS AWAKENING RT Kendall questions whether the Church would be ready for the best gift ever 21 BRILLIANT IDEAS FOR OUTREACH With ten top tips, you won’t be stuck for ideas when reaching out this Christmas 22 THE CHRISTMAS MY LIFE CHANGED The season brings back memories of a calling from heaven for Kenny Macarthy 25 BEING ETHICAL ISN’T JUST A FAD Green is the new black according to Aspire’s Emma Greenwood 26 PUTTING HIS TALENTS TO WORK How top pianist Fabio D’Andrea blends his career with leading Christian worship

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30 PEACE AFTER A SPIRITUAL BATTLE Glasgow Elim’s Laura Maxwell endured a terrifying fight on her journey to Christ 32 RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME Nigel Tween explains why one athlete’s lesson in life can teach us about God’s will 33 MUSIC REVIEWS with Ian Yates 35 HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING Colin Dye looks at Charles Wesley’s classic 36 CHRISTMAS BY NUMBERS...

REACH director Gary Gibbs investigates the statistics about Christmas in Britain 39 JESUS IS BETTER THAN FOOTY says former manager Dave Merrington 40 STAYING STRESS FREE Dr Sharon Kane offers advice on relaxing this Christmas 42 DEMENTIA SUFFERERS AND GOD Carolyn Castle looks at a book she has found useful in her ministry 43 BOOK REVIEWS with Richard Dodge 44 GOD’S LOVE IS BLACK AND WHITE Dini Muana explains how the Church should respond to 50 Shades of Grey 49 ANSWERS with Michael Meyers 50 AND FINALLY with John Lancaster

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Direction Magazine is the official publication of the Elim Pentecostal Church @elimpentecostal www.elim.org.uk 0845 302 6750

Elim Pentecostal Church

Editor-in-Chief: John Glass, General Superintendent Publishers: Elim Pentecostal Church Elim International Centre, De Walden Road, West Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4DF Charity no. 251549 (England)

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DIRECTION

F I R S T WO R D S

Operate out of the overflow For the past four years I have driven a hybrid car.

The choice has more to do with economy than ecology, though it’s important to enjoy performance without it ‘costing the earth’.

This relatively new technology is, as most people are aware, based on storing excess energy in a cell in order for it to be used at a later point when needed. For example, when switching to this mode in slow moving traffic on a motorway, I use no petrol whatsoever – something that serves to at least take the edge off the misery of congested roads.

I also recognise the concept of hybrid power as I read the Scriptures. It is seen in the book of Proverbs when we are encouraged to give attention to the ant who stores up its food in the summer, when things are running well, for the winter, when fuel is in much shorter supply.

The theme is echoed in the 23rd Psalm when David writes about his overflowing cup. It’s there again in Psalm 45:1 in The Message, “My heart bursts its banks, spilling beauty and goodness. I pour it out in a poem to the king, shaping the river into words.”

We find ourselves at the end of another year. For some, 2012 will have been a period of unprecedented blessing – a young couple engaged, a marriage having taken place, a baby born, a promotion at work or a fresh encounter with God. For others, 2012 has been challenging and 2013 cannot come quickly enough. Those

who live the hybrid life understand two spiritual secrets. The first is that we cannot be victorious in a negative season of our life if we have not accumulated a resource of grace and faith during days of previous blessing.

The second is that all Christians, whether leaders or not, minister most effectively out of the ‘overflow’ of their relationship with God. Last month, we considered how we are able to bless the work of God through our financial resource whether that may be great or small.

On the threshold of a new year, the challenge is to seek to be so filled with God, through what we glean in the season we are currently in, that we will have something to give to those whose spiritual batteries may be running down.

When Paul says, “That which I have received from the Lord I deliver unto you,” he is connecting jump leads from a fuller supply to faith that is flagging.

Seeking God for ourselves is good. Desiring to operate out of the overflow is better. My prayer is that this will be our experience in this coming year.

Marilyn joins with me in wishing you a happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.

John Glass General Superintendent Elim Pentecostal Church

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How to help people with eating disorders

RUNNING LIFE ON EMPTY?

Tips to recharge your spiritual batteries

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OCTOBER 2012 Issue 133 £1.70

LEGACY ELIM

SCHEME LAUNCH Preparing for a future after your own PLUS ‘I FIRST MET MY DAD WHEN I WAS 60!’

How Elim minister Dennis Niziol found his real father

STAYING PURE IN A SEX CHARGED WORLD

7 steps to bring your desires under control – by Colin Dye

THE CHURCH IS ‘BEST PLACED TO HELP’

AMMANFORD GROWTH PLAN

N IO AT LV SA

ay da I w rk en lig ness t fr ht to om

Facing up to the gangs crisis in our major cities

PRAYING 24/7 FOR A WHOLE DECADE

The church celebrating 10 years of prayer ministry The little Elim church with a big vision

IC SU

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Volunteers are the backbone of the Church PLUS We talk to Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre

WHAT’S A NON-VOLUNTEER SUNDAY? How Coventry Elim learned to value its volunteers

CAPPUCCINO COMMUNICATION Exciting initiative to benefit all Elim members

SHORT TERM MISSIONS WORK Don’t just stay at home, argues Chris Jones

WHY CARE ABOUT THE LAW? Stand up for truth, says Lyndon Bowring

y all re at rk th wo

NOVEMBER 2012 Issue 134 £1.70

FAITH & FINANCE Why we need to rethink money Solving the debt headache Tithing isn’t giving God a tip!

PLUS DAY I WAS THROWN OUT OF CHURCH

Kissagram girl who kissed a preacher, then married one!

STAMPING OUT SLAVERY IN THE UK

How churches can help in the fight against trafficking

DISPELLING SUICIDE MYTHS

There can be a better day for you

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TH E GA GA T TH PA HE ER CE RS ING

PUT FOOD IN ITS PROPER PLACE

AY AW

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Newport Elim is making the most of its location

CO M Ch MU rist NIT ia

REACHING OUT ON A ROUNDABOUT

BA M UA M

of walk p in pra ow g ye er o pro r’ f of

We have to find balance in the Bible, says Mervyn Tilley

THE UNSUNG HEROES WE CAN’T DO WITHOUT THE MINISTRY WITH 8,000 VOLUNTEERS

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WHY THE CHURCH MUST BLESS ISRAEL

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PLUS How a Muslim drug dealer found freedom in Christ

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Learning to influence others for Christ

DECEMBER 2012 Issue 135 £1.70

CHRISTMAS PRESENCEGet

your

Direction Magazine

Celebrating the season in the community z New movies retell the old, old story z How the festive fractions add up z

PLUS

SHADES OF GREY VS BLACK & WHITE Love, marriage and sex the way God made them

WHY GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK Ethics aren’t a fad, argues Emma Greenwood

ever y mon th

M Y A HE N A D R TE TB RR R E O A R K

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B TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

THE DAY GOD CALLED ME BY NAME

SEPTEMBER 2012 Issue 132 £1.70

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AUGUST 2012 Issue 131 £1.70

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