New Life Aug 08 issue 174

NEW LIFE AUGUST 2008

Issue 174

Page 3

40p

GOOD NEWS STORIES

ROCK STAR: I’VE BUSTED MEANING OF LIFE...

WE’RE

Bring ing h o

www.newlife.co.uk

pe bac k to B

B AC K

ING

ritain

HOW I SPENT YEARS SOUL SEARCHING 80s POP SENSATION YAZZ REVEALS HOW FAME CHANGED HER... FOR THE BETTER Page 6

PLUS THE OLYMPIC ROWER WHO WANTS TO HELP YOUNG OFFENDERS AFTER BEIJING – PAGE 11

WOMAN’S INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE HOURS BEFORE SHE DIED

LAST TEXT GIVES HOPE

I know my boy’s with God: stab victim mum A SOBBING mother who paid tribute to her son who died in a horrific stabbing incident said she was sure he is now with God. Distraught Grace Idowu, 48, broke dow n and k issed the last photo taken of loving son David, 14, as she spoke of her unshakeable faith.

Mum Grace said in a statement: “We love you, David, but God loves you more.

“David is with his heavenly Father, but we shall see him again.”

David had been due to speak out against knife crime at the same

AN INSPIRATION...

Lucy Clarke celebrates her graduation

by Matthew Murray

A 24-year-old woman sent a text message of hope hours before she died of a rare lung condition.

Lucy Clarke, who died from pulmonary hypertension, was bebe ing rushed into intensive care when she sent the message to her close friend Shirley Goodburn.

The inspirational text sent by Lucy, from Swanley in Kent, told her friend that she was reassured and was not worried about dying.

It read: “It’s so tough at the moment. I am not sleeping much and getting very breathless. It’s difficult trying to be strong all the time.

“I had a rough ride this morning and got quite frightened. I then went to ‘my place’ with Jesus and he was standing there with the kindest eyes. He didn’t say anything, he just looked intently at me.

“And I was washed over with reassurance and love. Trust in  Continued on Page 2

David and mum Grace conference as Ben Kinsella, 16 – also stabbed to death last month.

Instead he was left in a pool of blood yards from his home in Southwark, South London, after being repeatedly stabbed in the heart.

David – a model pupil at Walworth Academy – became the 19th tragic young victim of Britain’s knife and gun crime epidemic this year.

He became the second youngest victim of rising knife crime when his hospital life support machine was switched off last month.

His parents and brothers Peter, 18, and James, 13, were at his bedside. Mum Grace said: “David gave his life to Jesus Christ when he was 10 years old.”

A 16-year-old has appeared before Camberwell youth court charged with David’s murder.  Young people need to feel loved... knife crime news focus on Page 2

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2 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 174

KNIFE & GUN CRIME NEWS FOCUS

Prayer vigil held over gang rise A LoNdoN gun and knife crime prayer vigil took place last month.

The vigil was organised by Pasture, a group of Christians who want to help provide a solution to the problem through prayer for the young people in the streets of London who are involved in gangs, knife and gun crimes.

In a message of support, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-o’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, said: “Gun crime and violence are an alltoo-present reality in our society.

“Thei r causes a re end lessly discussed, and there is much apportioning of blame.

“But whatever the sources and causes may be, the violence destroys the lives of individuals and does dreadful damage to communities.

“I welcome all initiatives that can help our society to reduce the levels of violence in all its forms.

“The Gospel tells us to ask in prayer, so that we may receive.

May prayer, expressed in faith, and underpinned by hope, provide a turning point.

“May all of us root out violence and build on peace and mutual respect.”

young need to feel valued The Rev Les Isaac

EX-GANG LEADER SPEAKS OUT AT CONFERENCE YOUNG people need to feel valued and the whole community needs to “love their neighbour”, a knife and gun crime conference was told.

Jesus says to do – love your neighbour as yourself - in a very practical way … then I believe over a period of time we can see a major transformation in our society.”

Rev Isaac is living proof of God’s grace, and knows he can repeat the process in others.

Former gang leader, the Rev Les Isaac, He said: “I didn’t go out to really hurt who now heads the Street Pastors initiapeople. It started with a laugh but then tive, said everyone should follow Jesus’ everyone around me is pushing me to go example to stamp out the worrying rise on, and you go on and do it, because you in teenage deaths across the UK. don’t want to lose face.

“I can remember that point in my life UNLOVED when my faith in Jesus had a profound He told the Bite the Bullet Conference impact on the way I think, my actions, Have you Been affeCted By last month: “It is about caring and helping. my values, and that really helped me to What young people are looking for today realise, number one, that there is hope. gun KnIfe CRIMe and Want to is to know that they are valued and that “I say to young people there is hope, SHaRe youR StoRy? they are loved. There are an awful lot of Knives seized by police your life can be changed, because from my Contact us on 0115 921 7285 young people out there who feel unloved experience the Gospel, Jesus Christ, had or email our newsdesk at and that nobody cares. a big impact in saying to me, actually, you do not have editor@newlifepublishing.co.uk “If we as a community, city and nation could do what to become a victim of your circumstances.”

Rev Isaac also urged churches to work more closely with the police and their local community, and said the police could not fight the issue without influence from Christians.

He said: “The police are not going to crack this on their own. We need to turn the tables so that those who want an exit strategy out, there should be that exit strategy, whether it is the church, the police or the loBULK ORDERS SUBSCRIBE cal authorities.”

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‘Reach out’ to those in knife crime THe Archbishop of York, dr John Sentamu, has urged Christians to reach out to young people involved in knife crime.

Speaking at the Church of england’s General Synod, dr Sentamu used his presidential address to urge the Church to face outwards in its work.

He said: “our call is to reach out to our neighbours with God’s message of love in Jesus Christ. To be a servant in the Church of God, you too are volunteered. The call is addressed to people who are not expecting to be invited – and not those who have become their own good cause.

“We are called to reach out to people who are desperately searching for identity, meaning and belonging. When crime involving the use of knives by young people is on the increase, we can stem the tide by ou r outreach to young people. Trying to change the be h av iou r of young people by tough talk won’t solve it.” during h is Dr John Sentamu a d d r e s s t h e A rchbishop referred to h is conversations with a former gang member from Birmingham whose life had been transformed through the Christian Gospel. dr Sentamu explained: “He said to me: ‘What you must do is to get us, young people, to feel better about ourselves. Help us to achieve confidence about ourselves without needing the dangerous prop of a knife. Help us not to judge ourselves in the eyes of others. Stop viewing us through eyes of failure. Your job is to stop the merry-go-round of our culture of immediacy by providing us with hope.’”

Faith helped us after daughter’s stabbing THe mother of Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after being stabbed, revealed how faith helped the family slowly recover from the attack.

In an attack that shocked the nation, Abigail was stabbed in the neck as she pushed her toddler son in his buggy near her Surrey home in April, 2005.

Her mother Sheila Hollins told reporters that her Christian faith helped her through her daughter’s horrific ordeal.

Mrs Hollins said that as her daughter’s condition slowly improved she started to compose poetry through a series of eye movements.

She explained: “during these first weeks Abigail started writing poetry, each letter slowly spelled out by blinking her eyes, to her father.” one such poem read: “Still silent body, but within my spirits sing, dancing in lovelight.”

Lucy’s last text message of hope  Continued from Page 1 Him was his message.” The text was shown to Lucy’s friends and family after she died, and its message of courage and faith during difficult times has inspired them.

Her 53-year-old father Calvin said the text had been a huge inspiration.

He said: “We thought it was so special and uplifting that we included it on the service sheet at the thanksgiving service. It is touching so many lives.”

REASSURING Lucy’s grandfather Ken Clarke spoke exclusively to New Life.

The retired minister said: “It was very reassuring to read the text message. We knew she had gone to be with the Lord but the fact that

she sent the text was helpful to us.

“My granddaughter was a lovely Christian girl who never moaned and who wasn’t complicated.

“She was very ill and it has been a devastating time for the family. We expected the Lord to heal her but it wasn’t so. We just pray God will get some glory in her death.”

More than 4,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with the fatal condition pulmonary hypertension every year.

It causes the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery to rise dramatically above normal levels. At the same time the walls of the blood vessels became thicker and puts strain on the heart.

Pulmonary hypertension can occur with or without a known cause.

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Charlie Simpson, who now fronts Fightstar (inset)

Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 3

I’ve Busted the meaning of life says rock star Former Busted star Charlie Simpson says fame and fortune meant nothing to him after finding God.

The guitarist shot to fame as a teen when Busted burst on to the music s c e n e in 2002. Charlie was part of the group that toured world worldwide, won two B r it a w a r d s a nd had four N o .1 h i t s , a s well as filling Wembley Stadium 11 times for gigs.

But after following in his fam fami l y ’s fo ot steps a n d c on ve r t i n g to Ch r ist ia n it y, Cha rl ie says he would ditch fame and fortune for true happiness.

“I’d rather have 12p to my name and be happy with what I’m doing,” he recently told reporters.

“I think with hindsight, fame was the worst part of it for me. What was saddening me was the fact that I didn’t feel like I was being recognised for what I wanted to be recognised for. Being part of Busted and earning

Pray and The Beatles were display... ‘a Christian band’ CHuRCH leaders will be able to park their cars in a London borough without getting a ticket when they need to rush to visit parishoners.

Council chiefs in the London Borough of Barnet have agreed to give ministers a special permit to allow them to park in residents bays.

The scheme, which has taken a year to finalise, was unveiled by the borough last month.

Council leader Mike Freer said: “It means that they don’t have to go into the house first and ask them for a visitors’ pass.

“It won’t affect the other residents in the area because there are tens of thousands of residents’ bays.”

NEW LIFE A womAn believed to be the world’s oldest mum has thanked God after giving birth to twins at the age of 70. omkari said: “This boy and girl are God’s greatest gift to us. The desire for a male child has always been there, but God did not bless us with a male child. now, we are very grateful to God, who has answered our prayers.”

NEWSFLASH

A PREVIOuSLY unheard interview with John Lennon has revealed the late singer believed his group The Beatles were a Christian band.

The star famously caused controversy after claiming in 1966 that the Fab Four were “bigger than Jesus”, and predicting Christianity would “vanish and shrink”.

But in a previously undiscovered 1969 interview with Lennon, aired for the first time on BBC Radio last month, the legend claims his remark was misunderstood.

And he even hoped his music would encourage people to turn to the Christian faith. Lennon told a reporter: “It’s just an expression meaning the Beatles seem to me to have more influence over youth than Christ. Now I wasn’t saying that was a good idea, ’cause I’m one of Christ’s biggest fans. And if I can turn the focus on the Beatles on to Christ’s message, then that’s what we’re here to do.”

The interview was conducted by Ken Seymour of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Logging on to reach out JESuS would reach his audience by using Facebook if he were on the earth today, research claims.

A recent poll including Christians and non-Christians found the popular social network website was favoured over rivals MySpace and Friends Reunited. More than a third of those questioned also think Jesus would use music festivals like Glastonbury as a platform for the Gospel message, while more than a fifth thought he’d use a personal TV channel.

all that money really meant nothing to me in the end, because all that was going to make me happy fundamentally was being content with what I was doing.”

He added: “As much as it was fun, and the other guys were great, it wasn’t the legacy I wanted to leave. Of course all the temptations are there in the music industry.”

Charlie had a Christian influence when growing up. His older brother Ed would often share biblical passages with him, and his father went on several mission trips.

But it wasn’t until after Busted split in 2005 that Charlie made a more serious decision to fol low Christ.

God would regularly challenge him about his lifestyle while at the height of his fame, he recalled.

“Throughout my whole time in the music industry the question of God had always been running in my mind. I’d never kind of committed myself but I was always thinking about it.”

But following the split, Charlie moved in with his brother and be-

gan to spend time with many of his Christian friends.

It was then he made a decision to live a better Christian life.

He now attends church and prays regularly.

He added: “I go to church whenever I can. I pray often in times of need. But I don’t want only to be asking for help when I need it and not to have a relationship with God in everyday life.

“I call myself a Christian. I believe in Jesus, I believe in what Jesus did and in the absolution of sins. I believe that he put himself on the cross to take away human sin, in order to give people the opportunity to get to God through him.

“You can argue about Christianity with people that aren’t believers, but in the end it’s pointless because it’s all about faith. There’s a lot that you can’t answer in a rational way.

“I feel as if I’m still on a journey and my faith is growing. It’s been a seven-year journey but I can honestly say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Charlie is now lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Fightstar.

4 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 174

WORLD NEWS ROUND-UP

Idol star’s feet on the ground USA – Bo Bice, the long-haired Southern rocker who was the first runnerup in the fourth season of American Idol, says that despite his success, he puts Jesus Christ first in his life.

The upcoming star says: “It’s about having people around you who keep you grounded, and for me, in my life, Jesus Christ is first, and then family, and then the music business.

“The music business is going to have its ups and downs and, just like in anything else, as long as you’ve got good family and got your head on your shoulders, that’s what is going to get you through the hard times.”

Bice revealed how he turned to Christ at 25, despite being brought up in a Christian home.

“I was raised in the church, but I was a wild partying cat when I was younger, just like everybody else my age,” he said.

“Once you live that out, you start to search for more. For me, when I was about 25 I really started to walk with Christ. I stumble like everybody else, and some days or weeks are better than others, but as long as I’ve got him in my life, I’ll get through whatever I’m going through.”

Plea for prayer on Zimbabwe ZIMBABWE – The Archbishop of York has called for people across Britain to unite in a new civil rights movement to help bring about the restoration of Zimbabwe.

Dr John Sentamu urged people to offer prayer, money and practical support as part of the effort.

“I am inviting people to work with me for the restoration of Zimbabwe in order that peace, prosperity and the rule of law are restored to that once great and prosperous land of hope for Africa, which has become a wasteland of oppression, poverty and disease,” he said.

Now log on to hear the Bible USA – The Bible can now be sent across the globe for free – thanks to a website.

Faithcomesbyhearing.com carries Bible passages recorded for distribution via networking sites such as Facebook.

The site has been in existence for some time, but has only recently been fully updated.

“We wanted to increase and simplify users’ abilities to engage in the word of God and share it with their online communities,” said a spokesman for the website.

He added: “This upgrade is part of the overall mission.”

20,000 make big decision POLAND – About 20,000 people decided to follow Christ at a recent evangelistic rally in Poland.

The ProChrist event, held by German evangelist Ulrich Parzany, was also broadcast on TV. Evangelist Ulrich said he had never witnessed such a strong response, with 2,000 visitors asking for extra counselling. Ulrich also praised the 52 churches that came together to put the event on.

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TOP CHEF SLEPT ON BEACH AFTER DREAM TURNED SOUR

my needs are now well catered for!

by Ian White

in Lanzarote

A TOP chef has told how he turned his life around after going from working with TV’s Marco Pierre White to sleeping on a Lanzarote beach.

AT HOME ON THE RANGE...

Paul Campbell in his Christian café in Puerto del Carmen, shown below

Paul Campbell moved to the Canary Island and dreamt of early retirement after years of working in high-class restaurants such as Claridges.

But the 41-year-old’s dreams were left in tatters when relationship problems saw the alcoholic go back to the bottle for the first time in a decade.

“I’m an alcoholic, but was dry when I came to Lanzarote,” said Paul who has even served food to royalty, including the Queen.

“Both in England and in Lanzarote, I never had to worry about anything financially, but all of a sudden I had nothing.

“I hit rock bottom and was forced to sleep on the beach – always with one eye open – and drink water from taps in McDonalds.

“I was in a dark, dark tunnel and to say it was one extreme to the other is an understatement,” recalled Paul, who was reduced to begging for euros (or even cents!) on the beach front.

His most desperate of days lasted months. Eventually admitted to hospital in Arrecife, the broken man was a mere shadow of his former self.

“I literally only had a pair of shorts to wear, but they kindly clothed, nursed and fed me until I was well enough to leave,” he said.

By then Paul had re-established contact with an English-speaking church and, while further recovering in a rehabilitation centre, was converted to Christianity in August 2006. Finally, his traumatic ordeal was ended.

And the headmaster’s son now claims that despite serving hundreds of meals a day, he reserves his “silver service” to God. “I have much to thank my former pastor Mark

Austin for,” said Paul in between preparing dishes for customers – which range from tourists to locals and expats – at his ‘Christian’ café in Puerto del Carmen.

“He was so instrumental in getting my life back on track and it was more than fitting when he and his wife recently baptised me in the sea just days after we opened up here.

“It’s as if I had to experience sinking into the gutter; now my values are different, I have far more understanding of people’s problems.

“Lanzarote may be a holiday island with apparent glitter but there are many out there in the same helpless situation I encountered – and they shouldn’t be neglected.”

music to ears of Pop star backing young offenders sight campaign YOUNG offenders are being targeted by a new initiative that will help boost their self-esteem and help them ditch crime.

Urban Skillz will provide various creative music workshops to help youth offenders learn and develop new skills.

Organisers behind the scheme, Youth for Christ, hope their project will help release creativity and give troubled young people the opportunity to try their hand at something they have never done before.

The project is taught through educational music workshops being led by experts in their area.

Workshops in production, DJ techniques, MCing, rapping and lyric writing will take place throughout the UK in schools, youth clubs, alternative education centres, prisons, churches and performing arts training academies.

Co-ordinator Adam Brown said: “Urban Skillz is a great way to engage with young people and demonstrate a positive attitude towards urban culture.

“Urban Skillz will use creative expression to challenge negative social trends and negative views of today’s urban music culture and to promote a positive lifestyle.

It rejects the promotion of criminal activity.”

SINGER-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae is backing a special awareness day which will draw attention to the blind in poor countries.

The pop star (pictured below) has joined Christian charity Sightsavers International to urge people to pray for those with sight problems on World Sight Day. Churches are being asked to hold special services on Sunday, October 12 to give people the chance to consider the wider issues around disability in the developing world Corinne, a committed Christian who is backing Sightsavers Sunday, said: “It is shocking that 75 per cent of the 45 million blind people in the world are needlessly blind.

“A simple operation, antibiotics or access to clean water and better sanitation can turn things around.

I congratulate the wonderful work Sightsavers does working in developing countries, preventing and curing blindness and supporting visually impaired people.”

A themed Sightsavers Sunday pack can be obtained by contacting Russell Richards on 01275 349881.

Science brings us close to God says top boffin A TOP boffin has revealed that he believes that miracles are real and scientific discoveries bring people “closer to God”.

Francis Collins, who led the team that unravelled the human genome, explains why he believes in the existence of God in his book The Language of God. Collins helped discover the truth behind the human genome, which is information carried in chromosomes.

He said the discovery allowed him to “glimpse at the workings of God”.

Collins added: “It was a moment where I at least feel closeness to the Creator in the sense of having now perceived something that no human knew before but God knew all along.”

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Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 5

Charity hands library books

CANCER PATIENT MAKES HISTORY A WOMAN with terminal cancer who last month made history has told how faith has helped her cope with the illness.

Abby Gresham-Burchell and hubby Thomas John became the first couple to tie the knot at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital chapel.

The bride, who has battled cancer for four years, was taken to hospital in early July – and t he couple we re m a r r ied i n the chapel a week after Abby’s admission.

Thomas, a 44-year-old German who works for a wine bottling company, went down on be nded k nee beside A bby ’s hospital bed, complete with diamond ring, to give her a dream proposal.

And then, thanks to nurses a nd fa m i ly a nd fr iends, the couple were able to have a wedd i ng w ith a l l the t rappi ngs.

The couple had been planning to marry earlier, but Abby had been too ill.

Abby, 43, told reporters: “My cancer is classed as a terminal disease but I just take it one day at a time, really, and pray that God will decide whether I get over it or not.”

Abby was also confirmed a member of the Anglican Church by the Bishop of Basingstoke, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, in a separate ceremony in the hospital chapel the same day.

Abby added that her Christian faith had helped her cope with her illness.

Mr Andrew Miles, consultant surgeon, said: “Abby has derived great strength from her faith and the whole team is supporting her in her marriage. It is the first time any of us have been involved with a wedding in the hospital.”

BOOKS are being donated to a library by a Christian charity group as part of a national scheme.

Christians Together made the gesture for their Hope08 Acts of K i nd ness i n it iat ive a nd Spea king Volumes scheme, which was founded in 1968 by the Christian Book Promotion Trust.

Wendy Powell, from Christians Together in Seaton, Devon, said: “I hope that people will be helped by reading about important social issues, adventurous lives and inspiring faith.”

Local member for Seaton, Coun Margaret Rogers said: “I greatly appreciate the contribution of these books to Seaton Library. It’s always good to widen the range of books available and I am constantly aware of the excellent co-operation of Christians Together in Seaton.”

Money for the books was raised by collections at combined church services in Lent.

It’s a knockout PARAMEDIC LAUNCHED CAMPAIGN AFTER BINGE DRINK RISE for churches...

WEDDING BELLE... Abby and Thomas. Pic courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo

man’s bid to help teenage boozers Hope for excluded children CHILDREN who have been excluded from schools are being given help to get back on track.

Christian education charity The Lighthouse Group and the Salvation Army in Birmingham have set up a school to help those pupils who have been kicked out of classes.

The Salvation Army’s headquarters in the Aston area of the city has been turned into a classroom where disruptive youngsters are taught by tutors from both organisations.

The Sa lvation A rmy’s div isional commander for central England, Major Samuel Edgar, said: “The Salvation Army’s mission has always been to help those who have been rejected and give them the idea that there is no such thing as a down-and-out.”

Major Edgar stressed religious instruction was not part of the curriculum, though it was hoped that youngsters would pick up some of the lessons of bei ng responsible citizens inherent in Christian teaching.

“We are working from a faith basis,” he said. “But primarily it is the reason we are doing it rather than the way we do it. We are not running a Christian school.”

A PARAMEDIC shocked by the growing number of ­unconscious drunken teenagers he had to deal with has seen an awareness campaign he launched go from strength to strength.

Steve Evans decided he needed to do something after being called out four times in a month to 11- to 13-yea r- old u ncon sc iou s bi nge drinkers.

He said: “We were called out to a 12-year-old who had been left by friends. Had a woman walking her dog not called, that youngster could potentially have died.”

Steve, from Ru ncor n, Cheshire, was so moved he decided to launch his Don’t Walk Away campaign, aimed at adv ising young people to call 999 if a friend ends up in trouble.

“Many young people will leave a friend because they simply panic.

They don’t know what to do,” he explained.

As part of his campaign, Steve is urging the Government to include first aid as part of the curriculum.

He said: “If pupils were taught life-saving skills, they’d know what to do to keep someone alive until

ble, but the police aren’t automatically called. They don’t know how to handle the situation and just walk away,” he added.

Dad Steve, the only paramedic to ever be featured in the British Medical Journal for medical papers and books, blamed society and cheap, strong booze for the growing problem of alcoholism in children.

Steve, a Christian, said he believed God had given him a gift of public speaking, healing and teaching, and that he was using those talents to help others with his campaign.

He said: “I think churches need to get out to where these young people are, behind the shops and in parks.

demand Steve Evans, right, hands a copy of his poster to Shadow Health Secretary Mike Pennington MP the ambulance gets there. First aid is taught in places such as Iceland and Denmark.”

Steve said he also thought many young people were afraid of calling 999 because they believed the police would automatically be called.

“They think they’ll get into trou-

“We need talk to them instead of ‘tutting’. If we talk to these children, we’ll be able to show them the love they may not get at home.

“If we can offer them a warm, comfortable place in our churches, we ca n show t he m t he love of Christ.”

Steve’s Don’t Walk Away campaign has led him to meet many Government ministers, and a DVD which backs up the campaign is in great demand.

Alcohol worries lead to role model calls drug awareness charity Hope UK has warned that role models and practical action are needed to turn the tide of binge drinking in the UK. The Christian charity said that alcohol-related hospital admissions had risen seven per cent in one year and more than doubled in 12 years.

In 2007 alone, 5,000 young people

under the age of 18 needed to receive emergency treatment after drinking alcohol. Liver disease caused by alcohol, meanwhile, has increased by 200 per cent in 10 years.

A spokesman said: “Practical action, including peer influence and role modelling, is needed to change the prevailing attitude that alcohol

is somehow indispensable for having a good time.

“That is why Hope UK encourages the Church to include alcohol and drug issues in its outreach to local communities. Changing attitudes takes time, and it takes commitment from all who want a reduction in the harm caused by alcohol.”

CHURCHES joined together to host a weekend of fun and frolics, including staging an It’s A Knockout competition.

Six ministries from Southport, working under the banner of Hope08, delivered a stellar set of events on the second day of the festival.

A version of the zany ’70s TV show It’s A Knockout saw men of the cloth take part in the fun competition. Now, church leaders are already looking to be involved with preparations for next year’s event.

Geoff Grice of the Community Church, Ash Street, said: “So often the church is portrayed as a bunch of grey, miserable killjoys, known for what they are against instead of what they’re for.

“It was an absolutely brilliant weekend – we loved it! What a joy to find so many fantastic people in our town.”

As well as helping the community, Hope08 is designed to spread the Gospel message.

NEW LIFE RELIEF charity Christian Aid has put together a list of alternative wedding gifts.

The presents start from as little as £6, and include buying a community tap to provide safe drinking water to hundreds of villagers in Nicaragua for £45.

NEWSFLASH

Tucking in to break record MEN from across the UK are being invited to tuck into breakfast to help smash a record.

A Christian movement wants at least 19,000 men to take part in The Bigger Breakfast on October 11, and is calling on churches to help them achieve their aims.

As well as serving a hearty breakfast, the Baptist Men’s Movement also wants churches to use the occasion to reach men and tell them about the Gospel.

The Bigger Breakfast has also been backed by Jonathan Edwards, current general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

“There a re fa r fewer men i n our churches than women and so I especially welcome this project,” he said.

LOG ON NOW: www.newlife.co.uk

6 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 174

NEW LIFE www.newlife.co.uk

WORKING TOGeTheR TO BRING you The GOOd NeWS THROUGHOUT 2008, a campaign by Christians will be spreading hope through community projects and social action schemes.

From cleaning up a longneglected park, to organising community events, to spreading the Gospel via a wide selection of media, Hope08 will involve Christians demonstrating the love of God in the UK. Churches will be joining together in a way that hasn’t been done before. Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists and others will put aside their differences to work together for the greater good of the country.

And the ‘hope’ is that people who are not yet believers will gain a deeper understanding of the love that was preached by Jesus – and experience that love for themselves.

tune in In 2008, New Life will be working with Christian media organisation United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) to spread the Word. UCB broadcast to virtually all major UK cities on dAB digital radio and you can also listen via digital satellite and online. UCB radio is perfect for anyone who has an interest in news, features, music and interviews from a faith perspective.

explore ChristiAnity We’re also working with Alpha, the course that allows people to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions. The courses are free and are usually run in the evening, and include a meal or refreshments.

To find a course near you, see www.alpha.org

Find A ChurCh We’re also working with Find a Church, who run a brilliant website listing the details of more than 42,000 UK Christian churches.

Simply tap in your postcode for help to find a great church in your area.

the BiBle mAtters The Gideons are well known for their work distributing Bibles to schools, hospitals, hotels etc. If you want Jesus to make himself real in your life, and don’t have a Bible, The Gideons will be happy to provide you with a Testament completely free of charge.

The ABC of how you can become a Christian...

A that Jesus died so that you can be forgiven, and ask God to forgive you B Believe Admit that you have done wrong

The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).

‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16); ‘If we con-fess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us’ (1 John 1:9).

C Commit yourself to living God’s way

Jesus said, ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).

Log on to www.lookingforgod.com for more help.

FREE

FOR EVERY READER DAILY INSPIRATIONAL BOOK call 0845 6040401 or log on to www.ucb.co.uk

Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 7

Why I know the only way is up to God...

Druggie quits Dealing for Degree in theology A FORMER drug dealer who spent five years in jail has successfully completed the first term of a theology degree course at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea.

Brian Morris first took drugs at the age of 16, and had become a dealer by the age of 19 to fund his habit.

Trafficking drugs internationally through Holland, the UK, France and Nepal, Brian’s life was in a downward spiral until his arrest in 1995.

When suffering “cold turkey” and after a night in police cells, Brian’s Christian faith was re-awakened and he resolved to change his life. During his lengthy jail sentence, the 54-year-old used the opportunity to study theology and completed a number of further education and Bible courses.

On leaving prison, Brian undertook voluntary work and was employed as a caretaker before deciding that he had to follow his vocation and embrace his Christian calling.

This led him to apply to the Bible College of Wales.

Ewen Robertson, Principal of the Bible College of Wales, said: “Through his faith, Brian has been able to get his life back on track. We were delighted to welcome him at the college and have been impressed by his determination to succeed – he is a great example to the whole community.”

On completing his three-year course, Brian and his family hope to undertake Christian ministry in the Far East, perhaps working with victims of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on his future plans, Brian

A NEW OUTLOOK... Yazz, who has just launched her new album, the first for several years. Below, as she appeared on Top of the Pops in 1989

T

HE trappings of fame and fortune are something many people would assume are an answer to prayers – security and a life of luxury.

But for ’80s pop sensation Yazz, enjoying chart success for six weeks helped her realise that she needed more than celebrity stat u s a nd money for a happy existence.

As the bleach b l o n d e s t a r ’s career took off, Yazz was feeling far from fulfilled, even though her best-remembered 1988 hit, The Only Wa y I s U p, w a s riding h igh in the charts both here and abroad.

She explained: “I wasn’t very good at accepting all the attention and felt very unstable.

Ever y th i ng a rou nd me began to feel unstable and I was unfulfilled and began to ask questions.”

In spite of her feelings, Yazz – born Yasmina Evans – accepted the invitations that flooded in as her success soared. The rock ’n’ roll parties also meant she was able to enjoy knocking back booze, which she did to hide her personal pain.

“I learnt to drink a lot. It was a very sociable job, which included invitations all the time, and I drank to hide my sadness,” the former pop star explained.

“I didn’t do drugs because I was scared and I believe the Lord had his hand in that somewhere. I started to go to a few parties

IT is five years since ’80s pop star Yazz had recorded any music – and longer since she performed live in mainstream venues. But after years of soul searching, she’s back with an incredible new album, which was inspired by her journey of faith. She spoke to Sharon Gaisie but didn’t like it, but I got an insight into the rock ’n’ roll life.”

Rubbing shoulders with some of the music industry’s biggest names was also a massive disappointment for Yazz as the veneer of fame was slowly rubbed away.

“I was very disappointed when I met people I admired,” remembered Yazz.

“I was destroyed when I met Marvin Gaye. I had such admiration, but this man was so struggling, so high. I was so upset.

“Of course, I completely understand why he was like this. There were many others, too. Looking back, I can see that we were never meant to be admired and adored; it was never God’s plan for his creation.”

Watching the famous faces around her reveal the pain behind their well-polished smiles left Yazz asking serious questions about her life and those of the people around her.

S

he explained: “The emptiness led me to ask questions like, ‘Why am I here?’ My contemporaries were in quite messy situations, and I didn’t feel as if I could talk to them because some were in more difficult circumstances than myself.

“Again, I started questioning: ‘Why aren’t we coping with this fame and success?’ And we can see today, it doesn’t matter whether it’s one year, ten years or 100 years later, people don’t deal with fame and success at all well.”

For many of her fans, Yazz probably ap-

peared to be having the time of her life, but the pressures of fame and busy schedules led to the London-born musician having a nervous breakdown.

“I remember that th is was when I thought I hadn’t looked at Christianity,” said the 48-year-old. “I think it was because of an experience I had when I was younger, where I went to church and it was a very dark place and I didn’t like it.

“I had many preconceived ideas about Christianity from the media, TV and press, and I held on to that. Unfortunately this is something that happens to many people.”

Yazz started to read the Bible and although she didn’t understand it, she said she experienced a peace she hadn’t known before.

After some time, she plucked up the courage to go back to church.

The visit left her doubting whether it was in fact the answer for her, but her worries were quickly put to rest when she bumped into a friend around the corner from the church.

Yazz explained: “Bonnie used to bleach my hair back in the day. I remember Bonnie was a good-time girl. and she’d be out of it.

“But I could see there was a change.

You could see the Spirit of the Lord was inside her. She wasn’t that different on the outside, but her eyes and her being were radiant.”

Meeting up with her old friend led Yazz to go to church more regularly and, slowly, things began to make sense to her. “I knew

all these teachings I’d been listening to really rang true with me. It all made sense, and presented a lot of answers.

“One of the things I couldn’t get my head round was why I kept on knowingly doing wrong and couldn’t get out of it.

“When I began to understand Adam’s rebellion against God, and how all of humanity had inherited this sin, I also began to understand why I kept on making mistakes over and over, still thinking, ‘I’m a good person who cares about people’.”

During the 12 months that followed, Yazz made the decision that changed her life for ever.

“I remember waking up one morning and calling my pastor. I told him I was so filled with remorse and that I needed Jesus.

I wanted Jesus to clean me and cleanse me in his love and righteousness.

“He came round and we got on our knees in prayer. There was no lightning bolt, but I did feel a big burden and was aware of my state before this amazing God. This is when I finally surrendered, I was so happy!”

It’s ten years since Yazz became a Christian, and she now lives in Spain with her daughter and Spanish husband.

A

fter five years away from the studio, Yazz has used her journey of faith as inspiration for her latest album Running Back to You. With years of wisdom, experience and a new direction in life, she hopes to help others who’ve had similar experiences.

She added: “My heart goes out to the Amy Winehouses and the Robbie Williamses; there are lots of others going in and out of rehab.

“It’s hard to talk to people in any addictive situation, so I’m attempting to write my experiences because I think it might help. I’ve been contacted by parents of famous people who are struggling, and I’d like to write something they could give to their children as well.”

 My heart goes out to the Amy Winehouses and the Robbie Williamses 

SIGN OF THE TIMES... ex-dealer Brian Morris

said: “My life experiences mean that I can connect with people who have encountered problems, are feeling hopeless or are involved with illegal activities.

“I hope I can show through my experiences and the strength and support that God has given me that anything is possible” Brian’s experiences to date are recounted in his autobiography entitled Chased by the Dragon, Caught by the Lamb.

on a Mission

MPs ‘sluM’ it!

A MINISTER and four of his congregation embarked on a ten-day mission to the wartorn country of Armenia where they visited an orphanage.

Rev Chris Rees, minister of Bethesda Baptist Chapel, Pembrokshire, said: “Much needs to be done as many people are living in great poverty.”

A GROUP of cross-party MPs spent 24 hours in a makeshift shelter in the middle of Westminster last month to draw attention to the way one billion people spend a lifetime – in a slum.

Christian charity Tearfund hopes the MPs will raise awareness of poverty, and people who live in the world’s slums.

NEW LIFE BIBL STA E SAVE BBIN S TE G VI EN CTIM

GET YOUR

NEW LIFE

MA

RC

H2

008

Is s

ue

169

40p

SPE

WHA T ME HELPED DRA SL AY TH GO N E S SE A L DE AND AL! C IA

L E AS

TER

ED

IT IO

PAG E 10

Mu m bab and y to b had attl e for live s

A PR le ft EGNA sa id fi gh NT wo ti sh e it was ng fo man r he wh a su rv an d he r m iracl r lif o was iv e e pr M ed Ur su ed ic thei r em at that boha s al or th re la Ke staf deal ur e ba th by st ar e mon y w oof had . be i te d go ths ea d’s to de liver ecla ng d in g rly af da ug mps ia g no into ter Ur ht er The ia. se d a fit su la on toxi w it af te and by h c cond h pr r ig eth re in so h bl ition is br oo aten me ing. case d pr ough s ca es su t n be re Ursu BR A lifeto la VE w both atch ’s husb fo as hi and s Bu ug and t hi ht to w ife Jason he s fa ith su rv and had sa iv baby A coup l m os w both neve e. that le be t on su rv r wav er e lie iv ed ye a e. for both ve FULLlife. won thit was r on , th a ei r STOR brav m ira e Y... e ba cle PAGE tt le 8

EVERY MONTH

W

N

ww

w.n e

w li

fe .c

Bri ng in

o .u

k

g

ho p

eb ac k

to

E’

RE

BA

CK

IN

BE A R TALK GRYLL S AB S HIS OU T B A D V I G GE S T EN T UR E Bri ta in

PAG E4

KNIF BOO EMAN’S K IN B BOY LADE H ’S PO IT CKE T

RIL lore L AOR tat et do EM d alit , volor aliselit in lort voqu isnisi ea i ss nonullu ci nc i blan conu equ dolo ili si eu isl lputem at. at lo ex bor blan ese

eu m laor quat am e doloisit in ve dr er et r tat. vu lla re ra ex eu m et pr aes seti ss eq em di l et um su m te ctem u am am at iu si tieObore orer m ac diam co au non conu conu sfacc et, ve si eugi cu m vu llu m nsec tat, m hent m I zz ri n es t um nu nt lore am, si ve nit prat quat te dolo ad m in g ing co m ll ao r ud es lla m et au estisi ve l uerit , sed et bor se re se , qu t in er cons m y no eu co nsut la ad iatu vu lla qu ism ga it co n isi. nibh en im ns co m en ia conse er in cons od it am ve lit ve n im auta ea co in is no st m y num , ve ve nd ver se ectet , su at in ns t ul sto di gn eu is ie eu lla le nt ip eu ni m a pu en g en Es gi ni m sequ tpat. im et veea ad dr e tin l dolo fa ci fa ci elut pat am , im reet du is iq ui la m leni mag erat iu re i et ue , qu m au in ir iu ad ia sc ip m in . ra qu at ci llu st in im ipit g er estio t ipis m co is eu Ut do aess od inci prae tat in at la ns m zz lut i et m et ore sit sed psu sc se d la nd eugi agrit tat, ad au in ea ili am re velis te vent sse co de fa dolog eu ip et , co de m m le ss feug aut qu at w isis ci lis it rp ex l ipit y nu eueriu ad do er at dolorens e ex facc ie m al it exer m au e Ug ue st o od lore ta mod r aesde l vu llaum m ag na venis o od t ve r m euga du ip od doipit, t, ve m in vele n ul y nu m amet nonseqolore qu lis eu fa it iustet ve nd lupt isi. su m nd reetla al is nu lla prat um uat, eu ci ru vu lp augi auga or pe re at al ve it se r ameu ve nt lu l ute fa d du nt ve ni iq ua gi am veliqutat, amet lore du t ve cipi le de s en m , dolo nonsnt lupt lesed s acin l ute ibh ir ili et, co ua m r ad isit cons ec te at, qu dolent ci el ulfacip au gusmod m m consen ipt vo y no at e is no aute er alo con le ni in ut prat nulu m dolu it il vel innseq ui s eu pa tat a qu pt mco tu m m iu at eu ps nseq my tr ud , quat atem er ili faci st rud dolo rpvelit la um e ri ortis uat, w is zzrit tie in nu m s am du is ci ci liq , ui s msa ni m faci es nc ili al it ni di am ve r vu lla ac il et utemnd ip dole se tr ud qu isis t al idolo , se su m nd re m utat su co re dole m qu d du di at, noscidu r ing ni m noatet, ve ing exisisis nt am exer erat st ru liq ut pr ra es nibh ismodnt no qu isl consos nisl d tie uatu m at tr ud er si ol nu llu e qu il iu Em . er os t am umsa feum vu lla ac re am n ti on et di core et u er velis m ip il et ue se nt gna m ve it ill is do ve l nt Om atem an ve lorp faci my qu is l do er se pit nu lu m nit, lore m do i. zzrit do leni core s vu llaad mag na

e Positiv g f li tin and up faith s of storie to help YOU!

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LOG ON NOW: www.newlife.co.uk

6 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 174

NEW LIFE www.newlife.co.uk

WORKING TOGeTheR TO BRING you The GOOd NeWS THROUGHOUT 2008, a campaign by Christians will be spreading hope through community projects and social action schemes.

From cleaning up a longneglected park, to organising community events, to spreading the Gospel via a wide selection of media, Hope08 will involve Christians demonstrating the love of God in the UK. Churches will be joining together in a way that hasn’t been done before. Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists and others will put aside their differences to work together for the greater good of the country.

And the ‘hope’ is that people who are not yet believers will gain a deeper understanding of the love that was preached by Jesus – and experience that love for themselves.

tune in In 2008, New Life will be working with Christian media organisation United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) to spread the Word. UCB broadcast to virtually all major UK cities on dAB digital radio and you can also listen via digital satellite and online. UCB radio is perfect for anyone who has an interest in news, features, music and interviews from a faith perspective.

explore ChristiAnity We’re also working with Alpha, the course that allows people to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions. The courses are free and are usually run in the evening, and include a meal or refreshments.

To find a course near you, see www.alpha.org

Find A ChurCh We’re also working with Find a Church, who run a brilliant website listing the details of more than 42,000 UK Christian churches.

Simply tap in your postcode for help to find a great church in your area.

the BiBle mAtters The Gideons are well known for their work distributing Bibles to schools, hospitals, hotels etc. If you want Jesus to make himself real in your life, and don’t have a Bible, The Gideons will be happy to provide you with a Testament completely free of charge.

The ABC of how you can become a Christian...

A that Jesus died so that you can be forgiven, and ask God to forgive you B Believe Admit that you have done wrong

The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).

‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16); ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us’ (1 John 1:9).

C Commit yourself to living God’s way

Jesus said, ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).

Log on to www.lookingforgod.com for more help.

FREE

FOR EVERY READER DAILY INSPIRATIONAL BOOK call 0845 6040401 or log on to www.ucb.co.uk

Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 7

Why I know the only way is up to God...

Druggie quits Dealing for Degree in theology A FORMER drug dealer who spent five years in jail has successfully completed the first term of a theology degree course at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea.

Brian Morris first took drugs at the age of 16, and had become a dealer by the age of 19 to fund his habit.

Trafficking drugs internationally through Holland, the UK, France and Nepal, Brian’s life was in a downward spiral until his arrest in 1995.

When suffering “cold turkey” and after a night in police cells, Brian’s Christian faith was re-awakened and he resolved to change his life. During his lengthy jail sentence, the 54-year-old used the opportunity to study theology and completed a number of further education and Bible courses.

On leaving prison, Brian undertook voluntary work and was employed as a caretaker before deciding that he had to follow his vocation and embrace his Christian calling.

This led him to apply to the Bible College of Wales.

Ewen Robertson, Principal of the Bible College of Wales, said: “Through his faith, Brian has been able to get his life back on track. We were delighted to welcome him at the college and have been impressed by his determination to succeed – he is a great example to the whole community.”

On completing his three-year course, Brian and his family hope to undertake Christian ministry in the Far East, perhaps working with victims of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on his future plans, Brian

A NEW OUTLOOK... Yazz, who has just launched her new album, the first for several years. Below, as she appeared on Top of the Pops in 1989

T

HE trappings of fame and fortune are something many people would assume are an answer to prayers – security and a life of luxury.

But for ’80s pop sensation Yazz, enjoying chart success for six weeks helped her realise that she needed more than celebrity stat u s a nd money for a happy existence.

As the bleach b l o n d e s t a r ’s career took off, Yazz was feeling far from fulfilled, even though her best-remembered 1988 hit, The Only Wa y I s U p, w a s riding h igh in the charts both here and abroad.

She explained: “I wasn’t very good at accepting all the attention and felt very unstable.

Ever y th i ng a rou nd me began to feel unstable and I was unfulfilled and began to ask questions.”

In spite of her feelings, Yazz – born Yasmina Evans – accepted the invitations that flooded in as her success soared. The rock ’n’ roll parties also meant she was able to enjoy knocking back booze, which she did to hide her personal pain.

“I learnt to drink a lot. It was a very sociable job, which included invitations all the time, and I drank to hide my sadness,” the former pop star explained.

“I didn’t do drugs because I was scared and I believe the Lord had his hand in that somewhere. I started to go to a few parties

IT is five years since ’80s pop star Yazz had recorded any music – and longer since she performed live in mainstream venues. But after years of soul searching, she’s back with an incredible new album, which was inspired by her journey of faith. She spoke to Sharon Gaisie but didn’t like it, but I got an insight into the rock ’n’ roll life.”

Rubbing shoulders with some of the music industry’s biggest names was also a massive disappointment for Yazz as the veneer of fame was slowly rubbed away.

“I was very disappointed when I met people I admired,” remembered Yazz.

“I was destroyed when I met Marvin Gaye. I had such admiration, but this man was so struggling, so high. I was so upset.

“Of course, I completely understand why he was like this. There were many others, too. Looking back, I can see that we were never meant to be admired and adored; it was never God’s plan for his creation.”

Watching the famous faces around her reveal the pain behind their well-polished smiles left Yazz asking serious questions about her life and those of the people around her.

S

he explained: “The emptiness led me to ask questions like, ‘Why am I here?’ My contemporaries were in quite messy situations, and I didn’t feel as if I could talk to them because some were in more difficult circumstances than myself.

“Again, I started questioning: ‘Why aren’t we coping with this fame and success?’ And we can see today, it doesn’t matter whether it’s one year, ten years or 100 years later, people don’t deal with fame and success at all well.”

For many of her fans, Yazz probably ap-

peared to be having the time of her life, but the pressures of fame and busy schedules led to the London-born musician having a nervous breakdown.

“I remember that th is was when I thought I hadn’t looked at Christianity,” said the 48-year-old. “I think it was because of an experience I had when I was younger, where I went to church and it was a very dark place and I didn’t like it.

“I had many preconceived ideas about Christianity from the media, TV and press, and I held on to that. Unfortunately this is something that happens to many people.”

Yazz started to read the Bible and although she didn’t understand it, she said she experienced a peace she hadn’t known before.

After some time, she plucked up the courage to go back to church.

The visit left her doubting whether it was in fact the answer for her, but her worries were quickly put to rest when she bumped into a friend around the corner from the church.

Yazz explained: “Bonnie used to bleach my hair back in the day. I remember Bonnie was a good-time girl. and she’d be out of it.

“But I could see there was a change.

You could see the Spirit of the Lord was inside her. She wasn’t that different on the outside, but her eyes and her being were radiant.”

Meeting up with her old friend led Yazz to go to church more regularly and, slowly, things began to make sense to her. “I knew

all these teachings I’d been listening to really rang true with me. It all made sense, and presented a lot of answers.

“One of the things I couldn’t get my head round was why I kept on knowingly doing wrong and couldn’t get out of it.

“When I began to understand Adam’s rebellion against God, and how all of humanity had inherited this sin, I also began to understand why I kept on making mistakes over and over, still thinking, ‘I’m a good person who cares about people’.”

During the 12 months that followed, Yazz made the decision that changed her life for ever.

“I remember waking up one morning and calling my pastor. I told him I was so filled with remorse and that I needed Jesus.

I wanted Jesus to clean me and cleanse me in his love and righteousness.

“He came round and we got on our knees in prayer. There was no lightning bolt, but I did feel a big burden and was aware of my state before this amazing God. This is when I finally surrendered, I was so happy!”

It’s ten years since Yazz became a Christian, and she now lives in Spain with her daughter and Spanish husband.

A

fter five years away from the studio, Yazz has used her journey of faith as inspiration for her latest album Running Back to You. With years of wisdom, experience and a new direction in life, she hopes to help others who’ve had similar experiences.

She added: “My heart goes out to the Amy Winehouses and the Robbie Williamses; there are lots of others going in and out of rehab.

“It’s hard to talk to people in any addictive situation, so I’m attempting to write my experiences because I think it might help. I’ve been contacted by parents of famous people who are struggling, and I’d like to write something they could give to their children as well.”

 My heart goes out to the Amy Winehouses and the Robbie Williamses 

SIGN OF THE TIMES... ex-dealer Brian Morris

said: “My life experiences mean that I can connect with people who have encountered problems, are feeling hopeless or are involved with illegal activities.

“I hope I can show through my experiences and the strength and support that God has given me that anything is possible” Brian’s experiences to date are recounted in his autobiography entitled Chased by the Dragon, Caught by the Lamb.

on a Mission

MPs ‘sluM’ it!

A MINISTER and four of his congregation embarked on a ten-day mission to the wartorn country of Armenia where they visited an orphanage.

Rev Chris Rees, minister of Bethesda Baptist Chapel, Pembrokshire, said: “Much needs to be done as many people are living in great poverty.”

A GROUP of cross-party MPs spent 24 hours in a makeshift shelter in the middle of Westminster last month to draw attention to the way one billion people spend a lifetime – in a slum.

Christian charity Tearfund hopes the MPs will raise awareness of poverty, and people who live in the world’s slums.

NEW LIFE BIBL STA E SAVE BBIN S TE G VI EN CTIM

GET YOUR

NEW LIFE

MA

RC

H2

008

Is s

ue

169

40p

SPE

WHA T ME HELPED DRA SL AY TH GO N E S SE A L DE AND AL! C IA

L E AS

TER

ED

IT IO

PAG E 10

Mu m bab and y to b had attl e for live s

A PR le ft EGNA sa id fi gh NT wo ti sh e it was ng fo man r he wh a su rv an d he r m iracl r lif o was iv e e pr M ed Ur su ed ic thei r em at that boha s al or th re la Ke staf deal ur e ba th by st ar e mon y w oof had . be i te d go ths ea d’s to de liver ecla ng d in g rly af da ug mps ia g no into ter Ur ht er The ia. se d a fit su la on toxi w it af te and by h c cond h pr r ig eth re in so h bl ition is br oo aten me ing. case d pr ough s ca es su t n be re Ursu BR A lifeto la VE w both atch ’s husb fo as hi and s Bu ug and t hi ht to w ife Jason he s fa ith su rv and had sa iv baby A coup l m os w both neve e. that le be t on su rv r wav er e lie iv ed ye a e. for both ve FULLlife. won thit was r on , th a ei r STOR brav m ira e Y... e ba cle PAGE tt le 8

EVERY MONTH

W

N

ww

w.n e

w li

fe .c

Bri ng in

o .u

k

g

ho p

eb ac k

to

E’

RE

BA

CK

IN

BE A R TALK GRYLL S AB S HIS OU T B A D V I G GE S T EN T UR E Bri ta in

PAG E4

KNIF BOO EMAN’S K IN B BOY LADE H ’S PO IT CKE T

RIL lore L AOR tat et do EM d alit , volor aliselit in lort voqu isnisi ea i ss nonullu ci nc i blan conu equ dolo ili si eu isl lputem at. at lo ex bor blan ese

eu m laor quat am e doloisit in ve dr er et r tat. vu lla re ra ex eu m et pr aes seti ss eq em di l et um su m te ctem u am am at iu si tieObore orer m ac diam co au non conu conu sfacc et, ve si eugi cu m vu llu m nsec tat, m hent m I zz ri n es t um nu nt lore am, si ve nit prat quat te dolo ad m in g ing co m ll ao r ud es lla m et au estisi ve l uerit , sed et bor se re se , qu t in er cons m y no eu co nsut la ad iatu vu lla qu ism ga it co n isi. nibh en im ns co m en ia conse er in cons od it am ve lit ve n im auta ea co in is no st m y num , ve ve nd ver se ectet , su at in ns t ul sto di gn eu is ie eu lla le nt ip eu ni m a pu en g en Es gi ni m sequ tpat. im et veea ad dr e tin l dolo fa ci fa ci elut pat am , im reet du is iq ui la m leni mag erat iu re i et ue , qu m au in ir iu ad ia sc ip m in . ra qu at ci llu st in im ipit g er estio t ipis m co is eu Ut do aess od inci prae tat in at la ns m zz lut i et m et ore sit sed psu sc se d la nd eugi agrit tat, ad au in ea ili am re velis te vent sse co de fa dolog eu ip et , co de m m le ss feug aut qu at w isis ci lis it rp ex l ipit y nu eueriu ad do er at dolorens e ex facc ie m al it exer m au e Ug ue st o od lore ta mod r aesde l vu llaum m ag na venis o od t ve r m euga du ip od doipit, t, ve m in vele n ul y nu m amet nonseqolore qu lis eu fa it iustet ve nd lupt isi. su m nd reetla al is nu lla prat um uat, eu ci ru vu lp augi auga or pe re at al ve it se r ameu ve nt lu l ute fa d du nt ve ni iq ua gi am veliqutat, amet lore du t ve cipi le de s en m , dolo nonsnt lupt lesed s acin l ute ibh ir ili et, co ua m r ad isit cons ec te at, qu dolent ci el ulfacip au gusmod m m consen ipt vo y no at e is no aute er alo con le ni in ut prat nulu m dolu it il vel innseq ui s eu pa tat a qu pt mco tu m m iu at eu ps nseq my tr ud , quat atem er ili faci st rud dolo rpvelit la um e ri ortis uat, w is zzrit tie in nu m s am du is ci ci liq , ui s msa ni m faci es nc ili al it ni di am ve r vu lla ac il et utemnd ip dole se tr ud qu isis t al idolo , se su m nd re m utat su co re dole m qu d du di at, noscidu r ing ni m noatet, ve ing exisisis nt am exer erat st ru liq ut pr ra es nibh ismodnt no qu isl consos nisl d tie uatu m at tr ud er si ol nu llu e qu il iu Em . er os t am umsa feum vu lla ac re am n ti on et di core et u er velis m ip il et ue se nt gna m ve it ill is do ve l nt Om atem an ve lorp faci my qu is l do er se pit nu lu m nit, lore m do i. zzrit do leni core s vu llaad mag na

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8 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 173

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Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 9

A grand MAN PRAYED AS HE LAY ON DEATHBED event for COMMENT church!

Faith and courage MORE than 1,000 have become Christians over four months in a church in London.

The huge number of people converting to the faith came as a month-long event had to be extended because of the massive amount of interested generated.

For six nights a week since March, evangelist William ‘Gypsy’ Lee has been preaching about Christianity at Kensington Temple church.

The extraordinary turn of events has left him having to clear his diary.

My fight for life ‘saved my soul’ ALIVE AND KICKING... Tom Gaunt with his daughters Sarah, left, and Hannah

AMAZING Wi l l ia m sa id: “It ’s fa ntastic, it’s amazing and it’s wonderful to see God moving like this. I don’t know when we will stop!”

Associate Pastor Bruce Atkinson said there was a great buzz about the place since the meetings had begun.

He added: “D u r i ng t he Month of Miracles in March we were having a great time, with 600 people converting in the build up to Easter.”

Making a splash for Brum folk CHURCHES in Birmingham allowed people to throw wet sponges at ministers as part of a community initiative.

Two “messy church” mornings have been held in the Harborne and Hamstead areas of the West Midlands city, and up to 200 people have attended each event.

Activities included throwing wet sponges, circus skills and walking through paint as part of the Hope08 initiative, which is a church-based scheme aimed at reaching communities across the UK. H a r b o r n e ’s p r i e s t - i n charge, Rev Priscilla White, who was target of some of the sponges said: “I got very wet!

“It was about making connections in the community.

We were very pleased, because lots of people were there.”

A MAN left fighting for his life after suffering from a kidney infection has told how his battle also became a struggle for his soul.

Tom Gaunt thought he had already died after he became ill with the infection two years ago.

The 60-year-old, who has dabbled with the occult, crime and drugs during a rollercoaster life, said he found himself praying on his deathbed.

Tom explained: “I thought I had died or was about to die. I expect I wasn’t the first and won’t be the last to cry out to God in what felt like my last moments.”

For Tom, from Milton Keynes, it wasn’t the first time he had cheated death. In the 1960s he escaped being hit by a train while working on the railways.

He said: “On a particularly wet and windy winter’s night, I was working by the track, alone, in a goods’ yard. I had to step across the track to retrieve tools from the track toolstore.

“As I stepped across the track, a force – which I can only describe as a real and physical force – lifted me backwards under the arms.

“At that moment, a previously unseen locomotive slid silently past.

“I looked around to see who had pulled me out of the path of certain death. I stood alone in the yard.”

In spite of his shocking experience, Tom went back to living his life as he had before, although his

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unnerving experience stayed with him.

But his life was about to change and leave him feeling wracked with guilt in the ’70s when a friend died in a car accident after a night on the booze.

He explained: “One evening I’d been in the pub all night, drinking with a friend who said I was invited to a party at someone’s house a few miles away, and that I could have a lift after the pub closed.

“I was about to get into the car to go to the party, when I had an overwhelming feeling of danger. I declined and went home to bed.

“I received the news the next day that my friend had been killed along with his two mates in the car on their way to the party.

“It troubled me for some time, and I fretted over the fact that I could have warned my friend of my feelings.”

Tom’s frustration increased over time, and he became even more irritated several years later when his wife, Ann, became a Christian.

“I tried to attend church services but while Ann was gaining strength spiritually, I became resentful, jealous and sometimes angry,” he said.

It would be 20 years later before Tom joined his wife as a Christian following his battle for life which saved his soul.

Tom added: “Since God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have entered my life I am at last satisfied with my lot. I have no money but I have things in abundance, gifts of the Spirit, a Christian family and a church family. I look at life from a different perspective.”

LUCY Clarke’s last text message was a sign of faith and courage.

She knew that her life as a Christian meant that death was not something to be feared.

Lucy believed that because she had accepted Christ as her saviour, she had received the gift of eternal life.

That’s quite something, but if you’re not a Christian you might think that what you have just read is total tosh.

But you probably have, at some point, wonder what this life is all about.

You may well be thinking about it right now as the world appears to be in a spiral that can only be described as downward!

With a shortage of food and rising costs, unemployment and horrific crimes among young people, many people have probably reached the point of wondering what their purpose is in life.

Christians believe that their job is to be servants of God and to spread the Gospel message – which is the reason you have this paper in your hand today.

They believe that Christ died for everyone’s sins and in doing so conquered death so that we should have our place in eternal life secured.

Lucy’s text message confirms that. And we should all thank her for sending it.

Fame not the answer POP star Yazz is someone who questioned what her life was all about.

But she didn’t do that while she was facing troubles. In fact, she questioned life’s meaning at the height of her success.

It was while she was surrounded by fame and fortune that something struck her. It wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

While so many appear to be chasing the dream of celebrity, Yazz reminds us it is just another nightmare. The only way to wake up happy is to dedicate your life to God.

He’s the ‘special one’ WE hope you enjoy our God’s dream team feature on Page 11. It is, of course, a bit of fun.

But those players featured have all said the same – that their real goal is to serve Christ!

Editor: Peter Wreford Accounts: Helen Wreford Circulation: Simon Schembri Advertising: Barry Wilson

Editorial office: New Life Publishing Co, PO Box 777, Nottingham NG11 6ZZ, UK Email: editor@newlifepublishing.co.uk Telephone: 0115 921 7285 Website: www.newlife.co.uk

We welcome your letters and comments regarding any of the issues raised within these pages. Write to the Editor at the above address.

Back copies: previous issues are available while stocks last, at cover price plus £1.00 handling charge, inc. p&p, per order.

New Life newspaper is printed on 100% recycled paper

NExT MONTh HOW A FORMER CRIME LORD OF THE NOTORIOUS TRIAD GANG TURNED HIS BACK ON VIOLENCE DON’T MISS IT Available from August 26 To bring you the best stories, this article may be subject to change

LOG ON NOW: www.newlife.co.uk

10 – New Life Newspaper – Issue 173

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? WANT TO EXPLORE CHRISTIANITY, BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN? KEEP THIS PAGE TO HELP YOU FIND A NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE...

Log on to

ALTRINCHAM The Upper Room Christian Fellowship, The Downs.

Sunday services 10.45am and 6.30pm.

Enquiries: 0161 282 6676.

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BEDFORD Great Barford Word of Life Church

meet Sunday 10.30 at the Village Hall, Fishers Close.

Enquiries: Pastor John Best

01234 871475

invites you to our services: 10.30am & 6.00pm Sunday (plus many other activities)

“A great place to be”

Tel: 0151 2649995 www.liverpoolcitychurch.org

EDENTHORPE, near Doncaster Edenthorpe Pentecostal church, Edenthorpe Community Centre, Cedric Road. Sundays 10.30am & 6.00pm. Children’s Good News club Wednesday 4.30pm to 5.45pm.

4U Children school year 6-9 Fridays 7.15pm. Warm welcome to all.

Enquiries 01302 882738.

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ELY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP A loving, growing, praying family church. Sunday celebration 10.30am.

Enquiries phone: 01353 662 228. Email: info@elychristianfellowship.org.uk. Web www.elychristianfellowship.org.uk. Also Christian Bookshop 01353 667 004.

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CANTERBURY Trinity Community Church. Meetings Sundays 10.45am at St Stephen’s Junior School, Hales Place, Canterbury. Tel: 01227 459 785.

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C H A T T E R I S F e n Life Christian Church. Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm.

King Edward Centre, Railway Lane, CHATTERIS. 01480 385001. www.fenlife.org.uk (EQ51)

CROYDON

God turns up Sunday 11am.

His presence has been awesome.

Come and be changed, uplifted, challenged and inspired. We are a multi-racial, family loving Church.

See you Sunday.

Croydon Community Church, Endeavour Hall, 273 Norbury Crescent, Norbury SW16.

Pastor David Chapman: (CH20)

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DARTFORD - EMMANUEL CHURCH EAST HILL Join us at 10:30am on Sundays. For further details: 01322 272649 or www.epcdartford.com (CL38)

Main Hall

Rainham School Girl’s (between Highfield Road & Derwent Way), Rainham

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Meet every Sunday 10.30am A warm welcome awaits you

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LONG EATON Oasis Christian Centre, Derby Road. 10am & 6pm.

Come and enjoy the dynamic worship and a warm welcome. God centred, Purpose driven, People empowering.

Enquiries: Church Office 0115 9460463 (EL62)

MAIDSTONE Welcome to Mangravet Church which meets at Grove Road (near Police HQ), Sundays 10.30am.

Enquiries: 01622 664 940.

(DP53) MAIDSTONE Grove Green Chr istian Fellowshi p w w w. grovegreenchristianfellowship.org meetings Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Sundays at 10am.

All are welcome.

(AY48) NOTTINGHAM EASTWOOD “When taking flight from house or church our meeting place could be your perch”. Assemblies of God, Nottingham Road, Hill Top. Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm, Tuesday 7.30pm. More details from Pastor Ray Graham on 01773 763 734 or Pastor Ken Calder 01773 712 926. (DF25)

For information on other meetings phone Allan Smith 01634 264410

(CF42)

HUDDERSFIELD Huddersfield Elim Church (across from the Bus Sation) welcomes you. Sundays 10.30am at Greenhead College and 6.30pm at church in Merton Street, Springwood – Tel: 01484 428 046. Holme Valley Elim Church, Village Hall, Moor Lane, Honley, Huddersfield Sundays 11.00am and 6.00pm. Tel: 01484 323 978.

(EB18)

A satellite of Kensington Temple Pentecostal Church at Twickenham Road, Isleworth

Meet Sundays 11am at Isleworth Town Primary School, www.always.org.uk/mustard

Tel: 020 8570 4265 (ES70)

READING Assemblies of God Christian Centre (Mount Zion). Sundays 11am and 6.30pm. Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30pm. Enquiries Tel: 01252 872 754.

(AC01)

LEICESTER Narborough Road Christian Fellowship. Meet at Manor House, Neighbourhood Centre, Haddenham Road. Services: Sunday 10.30am. Tel: 0116 2891 395 or 0116 2897 804. All welcome.

(AB25)

RETFORD Retford New Life Church Centre, 26-32 Bridgegate, Retford, Notts. Morning Meetings 9.30am & 11.30am. Children’s Church 9.30am & 11.30am. Sunday Evenings 6.30pm.

Everyone welcome. Contact 01777 711377.

(CA36)

LEICESTER Apostolic Church New Life Centre, Sanvey Lane, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8NF. Main services: Sunday 10.30am worship, Bible ministry and Communion. Tuesday 8pm Bible study and prayer. Pastor Richard Forman telephone 0116 275 2582 everyone welcome.

(CW05)

RIPON Worship and Rejoice with us at the New Life Assembly of God, Water Skellgate. 10.30am Sundays. Info or Prayer. Phone 01765 604379. (EY00)

GATEWAY CHURCH

RUSHDEN Full Gospel Church. High Street South, Rushden. A family Church that loves God, each other and those in the community. Sundays 10.45am & 6pm. Enquiries telephone: 01933 418 002.

(DC19)

Welcomes you Sundays 10.30am at Barclay School Canterbury Rd, London E10 www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Sharing Hope & Life (FN61)

SHEFFIELD Central Elim, Lee Croft, Campo Lane. Sunday services 11.00am. Visitors welcome. Enquiries Tel: 0114 272 2911.

(EA95)

NEW L IFE

Many churches successfully use localised editions to promote their BIBLE SA own church and special STABBIN VES TEEN events. Others work together G VICTIM with local congregations to produce and deliver E localised editions to their F I NEW L whole town or city.

When you order a minimum EN E T S of 1000 copies, for an E V BIBLE SA G VICTIM additional £300 we STABBIN can produce a special localised edition by NEW L IFE changing a page (or more) to your own news BUS DRIV ITER WAS THE HONOUR HAED PPIEST DA Y

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March

2008

Issue

COMIC LEG END TO TAL K ABO UT LIFE OF FUN AND TRAGED Y 169

40p

SAFFRON WALDEN, New Life Church. Shire Hill. Sundays 10.30am & 6.30pm. For details call Pastor R Ellalasingham on 01799 506045 email: mail@nlpc.co.uk (FR19)

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ED SPECIAL

STOKE ON TRENT Apostolic Praise Centre,Carron St. Fenton. Invite you to join them on Sundays. 10.30am.

Thursday 7.30pm. For further details contact Graeme 079 79 370 566 (FR14)

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E EXCLUSIV Murray escaped by Matthew in AGER knifewill result A TEENinjury when ed a pain, which uel minor s. serious yobs stabb t. rs of Emman pea few stitche membe re have ex Mr wielding Other in his pockely attends BIBLEteenager regular held at Ch r ist ia n Centr incide nts,

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WAKEFIELD The King’s Church.

R e a l Pe o p l e , R e a l L i f e , R e a l Answers. For more information contact Jonathan on: 07914137512 or www.kingschurchwakefield.blogspot. com (FF63)

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For further information or free sample copies of localised editions, telephone: 0115 921 7280 or email: info@newlifepublishing.co.uk

TELEPHONE Assemblies of God: 0115 921 7272 Baptist Church: 01235 517700 Church of England (Anglican): 0207 898 1000 Elim: 01242 519904 Methodist Church: 0207 486 5502 United Reformed (URC): 020 7916 2020 WEBSITES www.findachurch.co.uk www.achurchnearyou.com www.aog.org.uk www.baptist.org.uk www.cofe.anglican.org www.elim.org.uk www.urc.org.uk

BRINGING

FOR BISPAGE 5 HO

Mum an d baby ha d to battl e for lives

(DH80)

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W E’

2008

who was has Issu ANT woman her life both e 169 A PREGN g for that left fightina miracle ture baby was said it her prema she andd their ordeal.to deliver survive l staff had daugh ter Medica wood’s Key after Ursula Ursu la s early a fit after into pre three month going w it h started d ia g nosed t be i ng sia. on is broughre eclamp conditi The toxic h blood pressu lifeig h can be on by some cases and in ning. threate BRAV E Jason had d ’s husban and baby wife Ursula . as his to watch to survive wavered both foughtfaith never .

But his both survive t he r on, saw and he one yea a miracle A l most it was battle believe their brave couple won that both 8 for life. ... PAGE FULL STORY

CHURCHES

THE

TW7 6AB (opp West Middlesex Hospital)

SHANKLIN Isle of Wight, Living Waters Fellowship, 29, Victoria Avenue.

Sundays 2.30pm (Service). Wednesday Home Group 10.30am (Bible Study).

Thursdays 10.30am (Prayer) 7.30pm Monthly also Saturdays 7.30pm Monthly (Intercessory Praise & Worship).

Enquiries & Newsletter (01983) 863683, livingwaters.iw@btinternet.com or livingwaters.iw@gmail.com.

(CA52)

CHURCHES Would you like your copies of New Life to contain your news?

i

MUSTARD SEED CHURCH

LEYTON

DUNDEE Bethany Church, 4 Taylor’s Lane, Dundee. Sundays 3pm. Home groups Tuesdays 7.30pm. Thursdays Prayer and Bible Study 7.30pm. For info call 01382 611 848.

(EQ93)

(EY24)

City Church, Jubilee Drive, Liverpool L7 3BA

New Life Community Church

BIRMINGHAM Bromford Bridge Church Centre (AoG), Bromford Drive. Sundays 10.45am and 6pm. Minister Peter Minto. Tel: 0121 313 2004.

(AG30)

0208 689 5187

LIVERPOOL

Why not visit a church this Sunday?

ARMTHORPE Armthorpe New Life Church (Nr Doncaster), Community Centre, Church Lane. Family Service 11am, Children’s Sunday Club 11.30am, Outreach meeting 6-7pm.

Warm welcome to all. Enquiries Tel: 01226 752 296.

(AT90)

ASHFORD Ashford Christian Fellowship Worship Centre, 23 Tufton Street.

Sundays: 9.30-11am (inc. children’s facilities) & 11.30-1pm (no children’s facilities). Last Sunday each month: Healing & Miracles service: 6.30pm.

Enquiries: 01233 334007.

(CF57)

SALISBURY Assemblies of God Church. Meetings are now held at St Osmunds School, Carmelite Way on Sundays at 10.45am. Enquiries 01722 502046.www.theendlesslife.info (CR03)

City Church

HELPFUL INFORMATION www.newlife.co.uk

COURSES www.alpha.org.uk (0845 644 7544) www.authenticwalk.com www.biblehelp.co.uk www.growinginchrist.com

INFORMATION www.lookingforgod.com www.newchristian.org.uk www.ucb.co.uk www.faithstart.com Help on becoming a Christian: Write to Christian Enquiry Agency (NL), FREEPOST WC2947, South Croydon, CR2 8UZ. Email: www.rejesus.co.uk In need of prayer: Call UCB Prayerline on 0845 456 7729

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Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 11

Ugo-ing back to roots...

tiM hOWARD

NAthAN JONES

RYAN BABEL

LiNVOY PRiMUS

GEORGE BOAtENG

JERMAiNE DEFOE

DARREN MOORE

ZOLtAN GERA

StEVEN PiENAAR

ELANO BLUMER

NWANKWO KANU (C)

 Continued from Page 12 all right. God’s got a plan for you.’

But I didn’t understand that at all. I was angry and really upset. I thought if God loved me then why would he do this?”

But a back injury picked up in training began to change Monye’s outlook on life.

The injury left him paralysed for four days, and after chatting to a Christian friend, he realised things had to change.

“I had described myself as a Christian for all these years, but I hadn’t really acted like one and I felt a really big hypocrite. At that point I was going to church with my mum and dad every couple of months, maybe.”

Just a few days later, Monye found himself on an Alpha course at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, which is when he began to turn back to God. “In the meantime my matches were going great. I wasn’t getting injured and was playing really well,” he added.

“I’d enjoyed church when I was a kid, but this was the first time I’d been to church because I wanted to be there. I realised that God’s probably as approachable as my dad or my friends. So we chat about anything. It affected my attitude.”

COULD THIS BE GOD’S DREAM TEAM? I’m a real MANAGER

With the football season about to kick off, we thought we would show you the real winners, no matter what the results are on the pitch. this Xi are all committed Christians, and have featured in New Life over the last 12 months as they spoke about their faith. As for the manager, well that’s simple. there’s only one ‘special one’ and it’s not Jose Mourinho. And it isn’t Kevin Keegan, because there is only one Messiah!

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ROWER SET TO HELP YOUNG OFFENDERS AFTER BEIJING OLYMPICS

FLOOD in BiD TO MAKE WAVES OLYMPiC rower Debbie Flood wants to make waves when the historic games in Beijing are over – by helping young offenders.

DO YOU HAVE A SPORTS STORY? Contact our sportsdesk on 0115 921 7285 or email editor@newlifepublishing.co.uk with your testimony and news

Flood, who picked up a silver in the last Olympics in Athens, won’t allow the attention of the world’s media to change her focus – no matter how she does this year.

Rather than soak up a celebrity lifestyle, Yorkshire-born Flood has told reporters that she wants to help the disadvantaged in society, and is drawn towards the prison service.

The 27-year-old expla i ned: “I want to contribute, to make a difference. After Athens, I was asked to go to lots of schools to give motivational talks, and tell them about the Olympics.

“I absolutely loved doing it. I felt that if you can motivate just one kid, then it’s worth it.

“I wanted to work with kids. I worked in schools for a bit. when kids were disruptive, they were sent

Debbie Flood

out of the class – quite right, because they were disrupting the others. But I thought, what happens to them?

“That made me think I wanted to work with people that society had given up on – sometimes rightly so, because they had been terrorising neighbourhoods and things like that. If no one helps, they come out of detention centres and do the same things again. It’s particularly hard for juveniles – if you are an adult, you can move away when you come out and change your friends, but these kids have to go back to exactly the same environment.”

Flood’s concern and caring attitude come as no surprise to the people who know her, because her Christian faith is of paramount importance to her. And that, said Flood, is what has driven her to reach out to those who may end up in trouble.

“A lot of people do a really good job with them,” she explained. “It’s a really worthwhile thing to do. You can either cope with it or you can’t, and I wanted to give it a try. I felt I could. I believe that God put me here to work with kids.”

Flood did two days’ work experience a week in a juvenile prison for much of last year, and recently passed her preliminary wardens’ exams. Her plan is to become a fulltime warden after the Olympics.

She added: “Rowing has given me amazing opportunities to do things, to work with kids. I was brought up in a Christian family and my faith is a massive part of my life.

“God has led me to this point for the moment but at some point, other doors will open.”

life coach

A New Zealand man hopes his skills on the basketball court can help turn people to God. Peter Gosnell, 21, is helping to coach fellow basketball fanatics, wh ile spreading the message of Jesus Christ.

Peter, who gave his life to Christ at 13, believes the principles in coaching are essentially the Gospel, in that you must have victory over yourself and discipline yourself, which translates into victory on the court and then off the court in your life.

“But you have to have inner victory first,” he said. “That’s essentially the Gospel message. It’s about transformation.” “we have to work on transforming our own hearts before the nation will be transformed,” he said.

Hand out a bei-ble!

BIBLeS and Gospel booklets printed in China will be available to athletes in the Olympic village in Beijing this summer, despite rumours that Bibles would be banned at the games. with the support of the Bible Society, 50,000 booklets are being specially printed for the event, with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in Chinese and english.

Te n t housa nd C h i nese–e ng l ish complete Bibles and 30,000 Chinese– english New Testaments will also be available.

An estimated two million visitors and 16,000 athletes and officials are expected to descend on Beijing during the games, which start on August 8.

Issue 174 – New Life Newspaper – 12

NEW LIFE SPORT

www.newlife.co.uk

Street kids to ‘Kop’ a load of kit

GETTING SHIRTY... Duane Walker and Geoff McDonald from Emmanuel Community Church with the kit donated from Liverpool FC and other clubs

COURSE HELPS RUGBY STAR TURN LIFE AROUND

UGO-ING BACK TO HIS ROOTS! Ugo Monye in action

England rugby star Ugo Monye has revealed he is going back to his roots.

The Harlequins winger has returned to his Christian lifestyle following a dramatic turnaround late last year after attending a course that focuses on the faith.

Monye said: “Someone asked if we wanted to recommit to God or give our lives to God. So I sat there and prayed for all my sins to be forgiven, to have a fresh start and to commit myself to God. I wanted a new beginning, a new chance.”

Having being raised in a vibrant Christian home, Monye attended church throughout his childhood, but as his rugby career began to progress he stopped going.

Before long, he was living a selfish lifestyle,

packed with weekend trips to nightclubs as he explored life in London.

He explained: “I was playing first team Harlequins and I also played England Sevens for three years from 2002. We travelled the world including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, LA, New Zealand and South Africa.

“We played in some huge stadiums jam-packed with 50–60,000 people. As a 19-year-old it blew me away. It was crazy.

I’d never been nightclubbing and drinking in bars before. I felt as if I was a real adult and I wanted to do adult things. I wanted to be immature and a bit silly. Because my rugby was going well I was really happy; I had lots of friends, I was in the first team and felt good about myself. But it was all me, me, me.”

But disaster was around the corner for Monye and his team-mates, as Harlequins were surprisingly relegated from top-flight rugby in 2005.

And despite immediate promotion the following season, Monye began to question why God had allowed his team to fail.

“I spoke to my mum and she said, ‘It’s  Continued on Page 11

FOOTBALL kit worn by the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres has been donated to a British church mission project in Kenya.

Pastor Joe Hayes and youth worke r D ua ne Wa l ke r of E mm a nue l Com mu n it y C hu r c h , Barrow-in-Furness, travelled to Mombasa to present the Liverpool FC kit to a local football team.

They also presented a kit from local teams Walney Island FC and Nautical FC. The initial visit was in preparation for a missions project taking place next year, where Christians from Barrow-in-Furness will run football camps for street children in Mombasa. They will also play friendly games against local teams.

The church continues to raise funds for the project.

Call Duane on 01229 431926 for more details.

INSIDE SPORT Olympic rower who plans to help young offenders

REVEALED:

Who’s in God’s dream team?

See Page 11

LocaL contact detaiLs:

Published by New Life Publishing Company, PO Box 777, Nottingham NG11 6ZZ. Tel 0115 921 7280. Printed by Yorkshire Web, Barnsley. Tel 01226 734410. New Life Newspaper is printed on 100% recycled paper.