New Wine Magazine - Issue 48 - Winter 2010

connecting. equipping. growing.

Winter

Intimacy Vs. Accessibility How do we find intimacy in our worship while being mindful of newcomers?

p.18

Teaching

Stories

Culture

Transforming Prayer How united prayer and action can bring hope to a hurting world. p.12

Loving Your Neighbour How can you be good news to the poorest people in your local community? p.28

Celebrating Our Differences Mohan Seevaratnam shares his vision for building ethnically diverse communities. p.36

Want FREE copies of the New Wine Magazine for your church? Email us at: info@new-wine.org Would you like to advertise?

0208 799 3777 advertising@new-wine.org

Editor Mark Melluish Magazine Manager Lucy Williams Commissioning Editors Kirsty Wilkins Lucy Avery Advertising & Classifieds Jeremy Geake Jonathan Tearne Creative Phil Revell Print Halcyon

Find us: 4a Ridley Avenue Ealing London W13 9XW Phone us: 0845 437 8656 Fax us: 0208 799 3770 Email us: mag@new-wine.org Visit our website: www.new-wine.org

Cut and Paste You can copy text from the New Wine Magazine into local newsletters, church magazines and similar non-commercial communications provided you put a credit line: ‘This material copyright New Wine Magazine and used with permission’.

(This excludes any material marked ©).

New Wine Magazine is published three times a year by the New Wine Trust as part of their mission. Your feedback is welcomed; letters may be edited and published in future issues.

News Teaching Stories Culture

Winter 10 Issue 48

What’s happening.

Learn together.

Our God at work.

Looking at our world.

04

12

24

36

06

16

26

40

08

18

Intimacy Vs. Accessibility Leading worship that allows God to work.

28

42

In the News Be encouraged by some positive stories.

Loving your Neighbour Is your church good news in your community?

Wonderfully Made An insight into celebrity culture and self image.

10

22

32

45

New Wine New Zealand Find out how New Wine is impacting church life in NZ.

Recommended Reads Looking for a good book? Check out our top five.

34

46

A note from John Coles Being at home with God.

Editor’s Letter Mark Melluish reminds us of the call to ‘Go’.

Challenging and Exhilarating Initial reports from the New Wine Training Partnership.

11

Event Highlights Some feedback from our 2009 events.

Transforming Prayer How can our prayers lead to action benefiting God’s world?

Elijah: passionate and daring, but reassuringly human A new teaching series on biblical leaders.

Bridging the Divide Discovering the power of prophecy in reconciliation.

Why are you a Christian?

Andy Croft from Soul Survivor shares his story.

Integral Mission How the local church can be a driving force for development.

Faith at Work What happens when you put your business in God’s hands?

Celebrating our Differences Building ethnic diversity: from vision to reality.

Taken on Trust A powerful story of success, suffering and submission.

TGI Sunday Time to get things in perspective.

NEWS

A note from John Coles Dear friends, A couple of months ago I was in a ‘house church’ meeting of about 20 people where the worship was free, flowing, and unashamedly charismatic in its expression. A newcomer to the group found herself caught up in singing new songs, listening attentively to the interactive teaching and then involved in group discussion and prayer. At the end she said: ‘I felt closer to God today than I have ever felt in my life. I feel I have come home.’

One of the group then led her in a prayer committing her life to following the Jesus to whom she had just been singing.

Stories such as this one shouldn’t surprise us for at least two reasons. The first is that the Bible tells us that this sort of thing happens when Christians encounter God in worship.

In one of the first worshipping Christian communities in Corinth, unbelieving newcomers would say “God is really among you!” (1 Cor 14:25). The second is that God is constantly at work seeking the lost, and when they are found he brings them home. This sense of being ‘at home’ with God is what will dominate our experience of heaven: ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’ (Rev 21:3). Whenever we pray The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-15) we are asking that something of the future Kingdom will come into our present experience, as God’s will is done ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.

I well remember my first experience of visiting Vineyard founder John Wimber’s church in California in 1984. I went for a conference on ‘Signs and Wonders and Church Growth’. It was a life-changing trip as I saw miracles happening in front of my eyes for the first time. I realised that the ministry of Jesus was the ministry he expected the church to exercise today. The highlight of the trip was my encounters with God in worship.

I wrote home to Anne saying: ‘I feel as if I have come home.’ There is something deep within our human psyche that can only be satisfied through intimacy with the God who creates us to be loved by him and to love him in response.

That’s what this magazine is about. Of course different people will find different ways of ‘coming home’; charismatic worship isn’t for everyone. But the destination is the same for all, for none of us will ever be satisfied with anything else. As we contribute to the life of our local churches, each of us is on a journey ‘home’, and each has the responsibility, privilege and joy of helping other people on their journey. As we draw closer to God we draw closer to a heart of infinite compassion, so that we cannot bypass those who are still ‘lost’. Even as God is at work seeking the lost we find ourselves in partnership with him in the same glorious enterprise of bringing them home.

I hope and pray that as you read this magazine you will enjoy being more intimately ‘at home’ with God, and be motivated to reach out to others to ensure they too find his heart and home accessible to them.

With very best wishes,

John Coles DIRECTOR OF NEW WINE

4

s Plu ries of

A se a r s. .’ semin s ..

O T ‘HOW luable serie An inva r all church fo of talks ders. lea

5

OUR VISION

is to see the nation changed through Christians and churches being filled with the Spirit, alive with the joy of knowing and worshipping Jesus Christ, living out his word, and doing the works of the kingdom of God.

OUR CORE VALUES

• Local Church Life that is welcoming, relational, accessible for all generations, and builds family and community life.

• Inspiring Worship that is passionate, intimate, culturally appropriate and facilitates encounter with God. • Anointed Leadership that is visionary, courageous, humble, consistent, full of faith, and releases church members into their Godgiven ministries.

Welcome to the new look New Wine Magazine. I hope you enjoy the different style. This edition is focused on Jesus’ invitation to come into an intimate relationship with him: to know him, enjoy him, be with him, walk with him and journey with him.

The ministry of Jesus never ceases to inspire, encourage and motivate us to live life as he did. When I read the Gospels I find a constant invitation for us to come to him: the weary, the burdened, the thirsty, the hungry, the lonely, the outcast, those who need love, and those who need forgiveness. It is a wonderful invitation that we can embrace as well as live out so that others will know the good news of Christ.

As we come and be part of Jesus’ family we realise his message is also ‘Go’.

There are people out there who are broken and bound by things in the world today. We are called to go to them with a message of hope, healing, good news, new beginnings and resurrection. It seems to me that we are called to discover the richness of life that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Then we are called to go and share that richness with others.

I hope that as you read this magazine you will stop and reflect on the incredible richness of our relationship with Christ and then be encouraged, not to keep it to yourself, but to go and share this good news with others.

Yours, as ever

• Spirit-empowered Mission that is evangelistic, holistic, kingdom centred and concerned with justice and care for the poor, and encourages new churchplanting initiatives.

Mark Melluish Editor

mag@new-wine.org

New Wine Events

• Bible-based Teaching and training that is thoughtful, relevant, and equips for everyday life and ministry.

Leaders Wives Getaways 15-17 January Buckinghamshire

Women’s Days 27 February London

3-5 February Harrogate

6 March Harrogate

Rural & Village Ministry Church Leaders’ Forum 26-27 January Leicestershire

Inner-City & Urban Priority Area Church Leaders’ Forum 25-26 March Leicestershire

• Personal Discipleship that is based on living like Jesus, exemplifying love, prayerfulness, holiness, integrity, accountability, humility and generosity.

• Every-member Ministry that discerns each person’s calling and expresses God’s love through the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.

JANUARY - APRIL

Healing Ministry Training Days 30 January Stockport 6 March Stoke-on-Trent 20 March Berkshire 24 April Middlesex

Visit us online. www.new-wine.org 6

2010

• Orthodox Theology with doctrine and ethics founded on the person, teaching and work of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible.

MAY - JUNE

JULY - SEPTEMBER

Prophetic Gifting Training Days 8 May Merseyside

Prophetic Gifting Training Day 3 July Greater Manchester

22 May Peterborough

UNSTOPPABLE Summer Conferences London & South East 24-30 July Shepton Mallet

Kids Work Training Days 8 May Cheltenham 15 May Ripon 5 June London Leadership Conference 17-19 May Harrogate Healing Ministry Training Day 19 June Leeds

OCTOBER Kids Leaders Conference 4-6 October Swanwick Derbyshire

North & East 31 July – 6 August Newark Central & South West 1-7 August Shepton Mallet Healing Ministry Training Days 18 September Liverpool 25 September Ross-on-Wye

For more information: Visit: www.new-wine.org Phone us: 0845 437 8656 Email us: info@new-wine.org

7

NEWS

IN THE NEWS

SHOP AND STOP CHILD TRAFFICKING A new online Fairtrade shop has been launched to raise money for child victims of trafficking and exploitation. The innovative idea is the result of a new partnership between Christian company Ethic Trade and charity Jubilee Campaign.

An impressive 20 per cent of the money generated by sales from the shop will go to the charity.

The shop sells a wide range of Fairtrade items including furniture, homewares, arts and crafts, sports equipment, clothes, toys, jewellery, beauty products, handicrafts, stationary, music and books.

A girl rescued from sex slavery by Jubilee Campaign at their shelter in Bombay’s red light district. The money raised by the online shop will help many girls like her.

Photographer: Hazel Thompson

‘This is a fantastic development and a win-win situation for everyone’, said Danny Smith, founder of Jubilee Campaign. ‘Customers get first class products and also have the satisfaction of knowing that all their purchases come from producers who pay fair wages and do not exploit their workers or use child labour.

In this way, shoppers play a direct part in helping to fight poverty.’

Go to www.jubileecampaign.co.uk and visit their Ethical Gift Shop.

The Jubilee Campaign shop offers a wide range of quality products that benefit the producers as well as children at risk.

MORE THAN CONQUERORS Simon Guillebaud is well known to New Wine, and has been a regular speaker at our Summer Conferences.

He has spent the last decade living in the war-torn country of Burundi in Central Africa. He is an evangelist, author and founder of Great Lakes Outreach, working with streetkids and orphans, and countrywide in schools, on campuses and with Muslims. Travelling through some of the most dangerous conflict zones on earth, he has amazing stories to share of faith amid suffering.

His recently released DVD, More than Conquerors, features 13 stunning short films which form an excellent teaching series for churches, small groups or outreach events.

Shot on location in Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and the Sudan, these films will challenge and inspire you to transform your faith from the hypothetical to the complex, the everyday and the impossible.

Visit www.more-than-conquerors.com for more info.

8

LUNCHTIME ALPHA COURSES OFFERED TO SCHOOL CHILDREN

Growing numbers of Youth Alpha courses are being run in schools to give pupils the opportunity to explore Christianity, according to The Times Educational Supplement. The courses are taught in lunchtime and after-school sessions.

Almost 300 pupils at Archbishop Blanch High School in Liverpool, now in its third year of running Youth Alpha, have completed the course.

It runs for eight weeks in lunch hours.

Head Jane Griffiths said: ‘It is a hugely successful and popular part of our church life here.’

‘Everyone is welcome, whether they are Christians, of another faith or don’t believe’, said Rev Kate Wharton, the Bishop of Liverpool’s appointee to the school’s board of governors, who set up the course with the head’s backing.

‘They can ask questions without being signed up to anything. It is a fair and balanced introduction to the Christian faith.’

Reverend Wharton is hosting a visit from another diocese next week, which is keen to introduce Youth Alpha into its schools. ‘I think it would work well in any school’, she said. ‘It is a valid thing to run in a secular school as much as a faith school. We have a responsibility to equip young people to make big decisions in their lives. They should be free to choose, but they need to know the options to choose from.’

Visit www.youthalpha.org for more information on the course.

Email mag@new-wine.org for your chance to win a free copy of More Than Conquerors on DVD, using ‘Conquerors’ as the email subject.*

WIN

We also have a free copy of Simon Guillebaud’s book For What It’s Worth to give away. It’s a book about risk taking, trusting in God and ultimately surrendering to the reality of life with Christ. It’s a call to radical discipleship that can take place anywhere from urban England to rural Burundi. One of the pertinent questions Simon asks is, Do you want the adventure of living or the safety of existing?

Email mag@new-wine.org using ‘What It’s Worth’ as the email subject for your chance to win.*

*Names will be selected at random and notified before the end of February 2010.

WIN

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was at the Nestlé factory in York to witness the production of the first Fairtrade version of one of the UK’s favourite chocolate biscuits: the Kit Kat. The first certified Kit Kat four-finger bars have since arrived on shop shelves, benefiting thousands of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, one of the poorest countries in the world.

‘Cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire struggle under the relentless pressures of poverty with shockingly high levels of illiteracy and poor access to healthcare’, said Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation. ‘The significant volumes of cocoa that go into making Kit Kat will open whole new possibilities for these farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, giving them a more sustainable livelihood and the chance to plan for a better future.’

make their chocolate Fairtrade and many people in York stood up to support the campaign for Fairtrade justice. It goes to show that people can make a difference. The next step is to make all other produce Fairtrade where possible.’

NEWS

FOUR FINGER GOES FAIRTRADE

A clever Kit Kat advert.

The Archbishop of York with David Rennie of Nestlé Confectionary and Harriet Lamb of the Fairtrade Foundation at the launch of the Fairtrade Kit Kat.

‘Nestlé must be congratulated in going beyond the profit margin’, said Dr Sentamu. ‘I can remember two years ago saying that Nestlé should

9

NEWS

Challenging and Exhilarating

In September 2009, 37 students bravely embarked upon the first courses from the New Wine Training Partnership. These are part-time certificates in Kingdom Theology, validated through Westminster Theological Centre’s (WTC) partnership with the University of Wales, Lampeter. The students are based in hubs in Hampshire, London and Gloucestershire.

Encounter and release

So how has the training been going? It’s clear that God has been very much at work; let’s hear from the students and hub churches themselves:

Training Director Chris Pemberton reports on the launch of the New Wine Training Partnership

‘It has been completely transformative. It has thrown unbiblical theology out of the window and brought me into a fuller understanding of God and his purposes for me.’

‘It felt like an incredible privilege to be getting input from someone so experienced in leadership and ministry with so much humility.’

‘God has become so much more real to me this week; I feel like a new creation, with a weight lifted off me.’

‘God engaged with me powerfully on multiple occasions and I have experienced the release of the Spirit in a big way.’

Growing excitement

These are a couple of excerpts from students’ letters to us about their weekly sessions: ‘I am finding the subject matter both stretching and sometimes challenging, but also exhilarating; perhaps even liberating. I look forward to Monday evenings hugely…I want to talk about it to everybody I meet. I would never have thought that theology could be so compelling.’

The purpose of the New Wine Training Partnership is to train a new generation of disciples, leaders, evangelists and church planters in Kingdom ministry and mission. It allows local churches to deliver training to a group of students who will contribute energy, passion and wisdom to church life. It offers students seeking a confident grasp of the biblical worldview a clear foundational understanding of biblical, historical and doctrinal character of the call to the life of service, leadership and mission.

If you are interested in studying with us or becoming a hub church, visit www.nwtp.org.uk or email info@nwtp.org.uk

10

‘As the group prayed together I was stunned into silence. I felt that no words or actions from me could be an appropriate response to the greatness and love of God. The sense of awe and worship was wonderful – a new experience of worshipping God with my mind. And that sense has remained as I have come home.

I am continuing to reflect on all that you taught and to feel the excitement, joy and worship from it. I feel so grateful to God that he has enabled me to do this study at this time. I felt like a child let loose in a sweetshop all week!’

Reflecting and planning

Together with the students we are now reflecting on the success of the launch, the work that is being done in the hubs on a weekly basis and planning for the future.

In starting the New Wine Training Partnership we are offering local churches and individuals the opportunity to invest time and energy in training that equips the whole body of Christ to see Jesus’ kingdom grow – we are building a legacy together.

This partnership is only possible because of the strength and resources of the New Wine Network. We hope you will join us in this exciting venture.

KINGDOM TRAINING DAY

The Kingdom Training Day in Ripon last November made me feel like a real apprentice of Jesus.

Gary Best spoke about how we are God’s partners today in the same way that Jesus showed in the Gospels. He acknowledged the tension of unanswered prayer and spoke candidly of how he had felt like a ‘spiritual slug’.

A large part of the day was taken up by actually doing it! We listened to God for each other in groups and one lucky man stood at the front while 50 people lined up and spoke surprisingly accurate words of encouragment and direction to him. I think everyone wanted to be in his position at that moment.

More than anything else, I took away the invitation to meet the person of the Holy Spirit, instead of being obsessed by the power. Gary talked about how ‘competition over the power grieves the Spirit’, and so as we waited on the Spirit to meet with us we didn’t wait in order to be validated by him, but to meet with him.

It was an example of what most of us imagine church to be – a safe place where God takes the lead and enables us to be naturally supernatural.

Jon Tearne is a worship leader at All Saints’ Peckham in London.

There were eight Kingdom Training Days held in November, scattered across different regions throughout the country. Look out for one happening near you in 2010.

NEWS

New Wine hosts many different events throughout the year, with fantastic speakers from around the world. Read how two delegates benefited from conferences they attended last year.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Last May I attended my third Leadership Conference with great expectation. Met with fresh insight and new challenges, I was not disappointed. God personally challenged me as Carl Medearis encouraged us to spend more time being with people than we do locked away in our offices. This continues to be a daily challenge but as a church we are seeking to reach out more into our community, both individually and corporately.

One of the things that I valued was the opportunity to attend an area networking session plus another for women in leadership. These provided a great opportunity to link up with people rather than just hoping I might come across someone in a large crowd.

If there’s one conference I would encourage you to attend it is this one. If you’re undecided I recommend ordering a copy of Flint McGlaughlin’s session from the 2009 conference to give you a taster of what’s in store for May 2010. You won’t be disappointed, but you will be challenged.

Karen Hedges leads The Stable, an independent church in High Barnet, Hertfordshire.

Visit www.new-wine.org for more information and to book for the New Wine Leadership Conference, 17-19 May 2010 at Harrogate International Centre. Confirmed speakers are Jay Pathak - Senior Pastor of the Arvada Vineyard in Denver, Colorado - and Flint McGlaughlin - a business leader, theologian and Pastor of The Beaches Vineyard in Florida.

love God love young people live differently Find out more about our new projects in Bradford, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield at

www.eden-network.org 11

TEACHING

Transforming Prayer We long to see our towns, cities and communities transformed, but how can our prayers bring this about?

Debra Green shares from her experiences of leading city-wide prayer in Manchester 12

TEACHING

T

HIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT PRAYER. NOT PERSONAL PRAYER, IMPORTANT AS THAT IS, BUT CORPORATE PRAYER. PRAYER THAT DRAWS BELIEVERS TOGETHER, ACROSS DENOMINATIONAL BOUNDARIES AND SOCIAL DIVISIONS. I’m talking about prayer that bridges the generational gap, the culture gap and the gender divide. Prayer that looks away from the needs of the church and the desires of the individual and focuses instead on the issues that affect the world outside: education, healthcare, crime, poverty, justice and entertainment. Prayer that not only touches the lives of those outside the church in our towns and cities but also draws them in, includes them and involves them. The kind of prayer that celebrates the unity and diversity of the family of God, follows the agenda of the kingdom of God and spills over into action for the glory of God and the benefit of his world.

My journey of leading a city-wide prayer movement started in Manchester in 1993 with a handful of enthusiasts. Gradually, as the Lord has guided us, it has grown into thousands of ordinary Christians praying together regularly. It has also birthed and supported all kinds of Kingdom activity including: youth missions; breakfast meetings between church leaders and MPs; and Crime Reduction Partnerships with the police and government.

We’re not claiming to be experts but we have stumbled across a number of principles that seem to be of great importance, three of which I’d like to highlight. These are the key elements of what we believe make up the distinctive outward thrust that God is seeking to establish in the prayers of his people.

1. Ask for Vision The Bible says ‘where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Pro 29:18, KJV ). A more recent saying is ‘those who aim at nothing are almost certain to achieve their aim’. Experience shows that where there is vision, a great deal can be achieved.

What we discovered in Manchester is that the kind of vision that mobilises people to effective prayer and action is realistic, sustainable and easy for people across the board to grasp, understand and buy into. I’d say that vision is the single most important principle in mobilising Christians to pray for their town or city. Ask yourselves, what do we want our town or city to look like five years from now? Then pray along those lines to accomplish the vision.

Find out what’s breaking God’s heart, let it break yours also, then share it with others and watch the fire spread!

2. Demonstrate Unity Unity is a much-used word in Christian circles but it has many different interpretations.

For some, unity is forming a committee of representatives from different churches to organise the annual summer fete.

Hundreds of police and church leaders at Wythenshawe Forum.

‘

’ For others, it is where everyone closes down their meetings, denies their traditions, burns their statements of faith, and sacks their elders and bishops to start meeting together every evening in a football stadium!

The fact is: we’re already united. As Paul points out, there’s only ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all’ (Eph 4:5-6). The trouble is that although we’re all one in Christ in the spiritual realm, from an earthly perspective the Body of Christ appears fragmented. That is why Paul urges Christians to demonstrate that oneness: ‘make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’ (vs 3). In the Amplified Bible ‘make every effort’ is translated as ‘strive earnestly’.

Jesus prayed for the Father to make the church one ( John 17:11). He wasn’t just talking about the disciples of his day but also future believers; you and me, 2,000 years later. Christian unity is not an optional extra but a core component of the Kingdom. God is calling Christians to pray and act together in a way that highlights the central truth of the gospel and allows his Spirit to flow out in power and love to a hurting world. But it’s not easy, is it?

Anyone who’s been involved in any of the many attempts to get Christians together from across the denominational divides will know how excruciatingly difficult, and sometimes unfruitful, it can be.

But, where the vision is clear and sound, unity is not only possible but also very sweet. ‘How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. It is like precious oil poured on the head’ (Ps 133:1-2). A recent example of this is the good work achieved by churches working together under the banner of Hope 2008.

13

TEACHING

We’ve discovered that the key to uniting Christians in prayer is not to blur the theological differences but to celebrate them! Over the years we’ve honoured different styles of prayer in our gatherings and been enriched by the experience. Unity is so much easier when the purpose is clear. Unity is not the aim, rather transformation is the goal, but united prayer and action are the means to achieve that goal.

to God for all that’s praiseworthy: the schools, the hospitals, the police force and the sectors of the economy that are doing well.

God called us to pray for the police in Manchester in 1998 at a time when the whole nation seemed to be angry about issues of corruption and racism that seemed to be plaguing the national force. We felt strongly that we ought to pray positively for the police and express our gratitude for their brave and tireless work on our behalf. We put up ‘Thank You’ posters in all the police stations. Back in those days we had no specific contacts with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), just one or two Christian police officers that we knew.

We now find ourselves working in formal partnership with police forces all across the UK through the ‘Redeeming Our Communities’ initiative. The police have appreciated the work so much they have even given grants from their crime reduction budget to Christian organisations and we regularly use the GMP logo prominently on our publicity!

Debra Green with Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy.

3. Have a Positive Focus Every city, town and village on the face of the planet is made up of precious, creative, caring, hard-working people all made in the image of God. Rather than focusing only on the many challenging social issues in Manchester, we began to celebrate the good things and speak well of the city in the same way that you’d encourage a child to develop.

Have you ever thought to do that in your town? Celebrate the positive aspects of your town or city. Talk it up. Give thanks

It’s time we started to pray in a positive direction for our towns and cities with an attitude of gratitude and an agenda of support. You’ll be amazed what doors this sort of prayer can open for the advancement of the gospel and the transformation of communities. Positive prayers lead to positive outcomes and God is glorified far more through the fruitful relationships that emerge.

Debra Green Debra is Director of City Links, a charity promoting partnerships for spiritual and social transformation, through prayer and action. Debra will be speaking at the Women’s Day in London on 27 February.

How DO you encourage spiritual gifts whilst developing character and maturity....?

With John Paul Jackson’s Biblically-based Streams Training Courses on prophecy, dream interpretation and revelation.

www.streamstrainingcentre.co.uk office@streamstrainingcentre.co.uk

14

TEACHING

Elijah: passionate and daring, but reassuringly human

R

aising the dead, miraculous food, commanding the weather…

When I was asked to write a series of articles on leaders in the Bible my mind went straight to Elijah. He’s a bit of a hero of mine, and particularly Elijah as we see him in 1 Kings 18 and 19. I love his boldness, his faith, his resolve, and his vision. But I also draw deep comfort from his flawed, fearful fleeing, and God’s faithful restoration of vision, hope, passion and mission. Elijah is a leader to follow. If you haven’t read his story in a while, I recommend a quick recap of chapters 18 and 19.

Standing Firm We begin our look at Elijah as he is accused of being a troublemaker by Ahab, a failing king who has fallen out of love with God (1 Kings 18:16).

Does he hide? On the contrary, he has sought the meeting with Ahab and now he stands firm against his unfair accusation. Godly leaders have nothing to fear from the panicked accusations of those whose worldly grip on power looks absolute. As Elijah will discover, life is often full of sound and fury, but unless God is 16

in the earthquake his plans will not be shaken. Elijah knows how to stand firm.

And so Elijah sets up a contest: God versus Baal. He’s putting his faith on the line. It is not a theoretical exercise; it either works or it doesn’t.

I drive a 37-year-old Land Rover.

Whenever I can, I take it off-road.

It’s either an off-road vehicle or it isn’t. I have just spent an entire day fixing and cleaning it, but it is not going to sit on the tarmac and rust; that’s not what it’s for. Elijah’s God is in the business of saving people, not sitting in the synagogue. Faith is either ‘out there’ or is about as much use as a Porsche in the mud!

sometimes appear ungracious. Much ruthlessness is, of course, not of God, but the follower of Christ is called to love with a tough love.

The test is whether we are serving the King and the Kingdom or building up ourselves. Elijah is ruthless in grace.

He then stands firm in prayer for he has seen God bringing an end to the drought. He refuses to give up in prayer until God provides water.

I have much to learn from a man who will not stop praying until God does what he has said he will!

Real in Weakness But then it all goes wrong. Queen Ruthless for God Jezebel flies into a rage and swears When God wins, Elijah slays the lot vengeance on Elijah. The man who of them. Awful, bloodthirsty and has stood firm against Ahab, and who unloving though it may seem, those has seen off 400 occult prophets, now who stand against God are dealt with. flees before a furious queen. Perhaps We don’t ever talk about it, but we he feels that God hasn’t done enough need to spend some time reflecting in response to his bold stand of faith, on the necessary ruthlessness and now he wants to give up and die. of Christian leadership. I’m not advocating putting the deacons to the God has not given up on him though. sword or smiting the church council. An angel touches him (I think the Hebrew word means ‘hit’; I quite like Christian leadership demands the idea of God sending an angel to humility, grace and a servant heart, but it also needs determination, focus clout him round the ear!) and tells him twice to eat. sacrifice and commitment that may

TEACHING

‘The cave is a vital place for a Christian leader. Spirit-filled leadership is not about pretence; it is about genuine response to genuine encounter with the living God.’ And then, strengthened, Elijah walks alone and unfed for six weeks.

He knows where he is headed: the mountain of God. Where do you go when you reach breaking point? God does not give up on his children, and leaders are fed even when they feel fed-up. And so Elijah finds a special, permanent but temporary home in a cave on God’s mountain. He’s still angry and disillusioned, but he knows what God’s voice sounds like. So the tempest and shaking, the roaring and burning will not impress or fill the void left by a seemingly absent God.

Fresh Encounter And then God appears, literally in the sound of silence. Elijah knows his voice and responds. His accusations sound different in this holy place, and it is only here that they are changed. For now his heart is tested and his spirit is able to receive.

It couldn’t have happened before, but now Elijah is re-commissioned and re-empowered.

The cave is a vital place for a Christian leader. Spirit-filled leadership is not about pretence; it is about genuine response to genuine encounter with the living God. In response to this meeting Elijah raises an army and appoints two kings and a prophet. His faithfulness builds a kingdom, and ensures the powerful proclamation of the word of God for another generation.

And it comes from his weakness and God’s strength. As Paul would

discover centuries later, God’s grace is sufficient for us, and his power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

Are you called to lead? Let Elijah encourage you. Let him embolden you to seek all the power of the Spirit afresh and stand against every foe.

Let him release that ruthless goodness and grace within you. And let him encourage you to be real in your weakness. Not to wimp out, but to learn to wait… for Jesus’ leaders, like Elijah, are only empowered through ongoing encounter with the King of Kings.

Mark Tanner Mark leads Holy Trinity Church in Ripon, North Yorkshire with his wife Lindsay. He is the Regional Network Leader for New Wine in the North and East.

17

TEACHING

Intimacy

How do we find intimacy in our worship while being mindful of newcomers in our midst? Nick Drake explores how to open the way for God to work.

I

ntimacy and accessibility were two of the original Vineyard values for worship and are frequently adopted today by many New Wine churches.

In theory, they sound great together, but in practice it can often feel like they are working against one another. Do we need to change our worship style for when we have guest or seeker-sensitive services? Or is there a radical middle ground where our worship can be powerfully intimate and yet open and accessible to the visitor?

Why might Intimacy and Accessibility clash?

The value of accessibility is about making it as easy as possible for new/non-believers to attend and participate in the church meeting. Putting it the other way around, ensuring as far as possible that there are no unnecessary barriers to people simply coming to Jesus. Taken to its extreme, this value results in ‘seeker-sensitive’ services, whereby the entire service is designed to attract and interest the non-believer.

What is Intimacy?

The founder of the Vineyard movement, John Wimber, defined intimacy as ‘belonging to or revealing one’s deepest nature to another (in this case to God)…marked by close association, presence and contact’.

If we are to wholeheartedly pursue both values, we hit a point of tension. Desiring and expecting a personal encounter with God in our sung worship does not always result in a straight-forward, pre-planned, polished and perfectly presented church service.

Intimacy is a dynamic, relational event. Hearts and minds sometimes need space to breathe as they encounter God’s presence. Dialogue needs time and transformation needs room. If we long for God to reveal his deepest nature to us while we reveal our darkest nature to him, then controlled, contained, set sung worship sometimes needs disturbing. If we value intimacy in worship, we need to also value space, freedom and spontaneity in our services as we respond to what the Spirit is revealing and working in his people. This can be the point of tension between intimacy and accessibility.

Intimacy is both a theological position and a heart posture.

It is the belief in the ‘block’ of songs becoming a place for personal and corporate encounter with God’s presence, a space where the worshipper can dialogue with God through singing directly to him (a form of sung prayer), rather than the more traditional form of rehearsing truth ‘about’ him. It’s about self-disclosure and self-offering; God drawing near to us in Christ, by his Spirit, as we draw near to him. Above all, intimacy in worship is about being present to God’s presence, being open to him as he has proved open to us. Anything could happen when we value intimacy in our worship!

18

TEACHING

How can we Value both?

1. Name what God is doing One of the best descriptions for a church leader is someone who can name for others what God is doing.

Someone who has the experience and theological knowledge to confidently yet humbly speak out into the congregation, into the individual: this is what God is doing in our midst right now. By naming and explaining what may be happening among the congregation as they enter the ‘unscripted place’ of intimacy, a leader can release confidence and assurance to the meeting that what is being seen or experienced is okay and expected.

By speaking words into felt experience, leaders can make universal what can seem individual, make invitational what can seem inaccessible. This can be done either by the worship leader or by the pastor, but is often best when both work together as a team as often one can see or sense what the other can’t.

2. Maintain order As 1 Corinthians teaches us, a certain amount of order in worship is important. God is never a God of chaos and confusion, but of peace and communication.

Intimacy in worship doesn’t need to equate with disorder. Meetings still need to be led and have a destination, even while giving the Spirit freedom to move among his people.

Again, this is about giving confidence to the congregation. Rather than losing people, it will instead help to take everyone on the journey together.

3. Keep the narrative Ensure the big salvation story of God is present overtly in song lyrics, prayers, liturgies and also covertly in signs, symbols and architecture around the worship space. It is the presence of the story that defines the reality we are inviting people to enter into as they draw near to God in intimacy. Absence of sufficient narrative can lead to directionless and intellectually light worship which can be a barrier to the new/non-believer.

4. Believe in the things unseen Remember that intimacy is primarily about a theological position and heart posture: the belief and desire to personally encounter God in sung worship. Intimacy doesn’t have to necessarily translate to any specific reaction, feeling or observable response/phenomenon in a meeting. It’s very important as a leader to have faith that God is meeting people and transforming lives as we worship him, even if we can’t see it in front of us.

Meeting with God With the rise in the last decade of the value of excellence in sung worship and the anthemic in songwriting, intimacy has increasingly been pushed out of vogue.

While a certain corrective swing was necessary (fear as well as friendship, transcendence in imminence, the objective alongside the subjective), it feels we are in danger of swinging too far away from the simple centre of worship: heart to heart, self-disclosed and self-surrendered relationship with the living God. Without God’s invitational presence when we gather together to worship, how will the non-believer know we are his people (Ex 33:15-16)? Without the manifest presence of God we will become merely a nice social club or an interesting historical building. The value of intimacy in worship is therefore crucial. It preserves and promotes the expectation and imagination of meeting with the living God. The value of accessibility meanwhile acts as an essential check and balance on any poorly led and potentially introverted pursuit of experience for its own sake.

Hearts and minds sometimes need space to breathe as they encounter God’s presence. Dialogue needs time and transformation needs room.

Led by the Spirit The deeper answer to leading intimate and accessible worship is to always lead worship by and in the power of the Spirit. The Spirit is our access to the realities of the God-head and facilitates intimacy with the Father through the Son. The Spirit is accessibility and intimacy personified. He will never make God inaccessible. God in Christ is in the business of drawing people in, not keeping people out. Intimacy in worship goes wrong when we try to lead in our own strength, when we succumb to the temptation to try and ‘make it happen’. As church leaders and musicians we need to seek the Spirit and remember that he can never be confined, controlled or contained.

We need refreshing in our relationship with him as often as possible. We need to listen to New Wine founder David Pytches’ first lesson: ‘Our method is there is no method’ and pursue what Matt Redman calls the ‘adventurous whispers of the Spirit’. All so that the non-believer will ‘fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”’ (1 Cor 14:25).

Nick Drake Nick is Worship Pastor and Songwriter at St Paul’s Hammersmith.

19

TEACHING

Bridging the Divide: How can God use us to reunite people with him and each other? Bob Ekblad shares his journey of discovering the power of prophecy in achieving reconciliation.

G

od is at work reconciling the world to him and gathering his children into a united family.

The Holy Spirit is breaking down ‘the dividing wall of hostility’ (Eph 2:14).

Prophetic words can bridge divides between God and humans, the past and present, believers and unbelievers, people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, theological traditions and political ideologies, bringing reconciliation amid every imaginable difference.

Born of God Early in John’s Gospel it is written that those who receive Jesus and believe in his name are given authority to become God’s children who are ‘born of God’ (1:12-13).

Intimacy with God is a lifelong process that grows as we learn to hear the Father’s voice, see what God is doing, and become transformed by his compassion and engage in Jesus-like actions. Jesus says: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does’ (5:19-20). See also 5:30, 8:28 and 12:49.

As we become more aware of our identity as God’s beloved sons and 22

daughters, the Father will inevitably seek to reconcile us with estranged siblings.

Friendship with God will also lead us into friendship with God’s many friends, bringing us across every imaginable wall of separation as the Father makes us one in Jesus ( John 17:11).

My story For most of my Christian life I was estranged from the charismatic part of the church. Years of ministry among the poor in war-torn Central America and among immigrants and inmates in labour camps and a jail in the United States put me at odds with my government and with many evangelicals and charismatic Christians who supported its wars and laws. I was inspired by Jesus’ life and teachings in the Gospels, the desert fathers, liberation theology and Mother Theresa. I pursued academic study of Scripture, contemplative spiritual practices and sought to combat the roots of poverty and oppression through contextual Bible study, sustainable development and human rights advocacy.

For 10 years I counseled inmates and immigrants in crisis and led bilingual Bible studies in our local jail and storefront at Tierra Nueva in Washington State. I saw firsthand how harsh laws and immigration policies, poverty, drugs and alcohol

destroy people’s lives. I became increasingly discontented with the gospel I was sharing, and longed to see more of God’s power to bring transformation. My desperation for breakthrough in ministry became so great that I ventured across the line into an ecumenism broader than I’d ever considered – attending a pastors and leaders conference at the infamous Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship.

The Spirit’s prompting I was struck from the start how much the Holy Spirit was moving during a session on the importance of forgiveness. As the speaker taught and prayed, vivid memories came to mind of offenses and judgments held against people in my distant past who I felt compelled to forgive.

After another stirring session on Jesus’ ministry announcing the kingdom of God I lined up to receive prayer with hundreds of others for greater fruitfulness in ministry.

I soon had my turn before a young man from the UK on the ministry team. His words opened me up as he spoke what only God could have shown him: ‘I see you in a circle of men in red uniforms, I think they are prisoners’, he started out, getting my rapt attention. ‘The Father is saying “I am delighted how you love

TEACHING

‘Intimacy with God… grows as we learn to hear the Father’s voice, see what God is doing, and become transformed by his compassion and engage in Jesus-like actions.’ my prisoners and I’m going to give you deeper revelation from the Bible that will make their hearts burn”’, he continued, moving me with this reference to my favorite picture from the Emmaus road story in Luke 24.

Then a final unexpected clincher: ‘He is releasing an anointing for healing on you so your words will be confirmed with the signs that follow.’ I fell to the ground, overcome by the Spirit, my hands burning. I continued to be touched by the Holy Spirit at that conference in ways that transformed my life and ministry.

Prompting forgiveness Since that time God has used me to invite many people from diverse camps in the body of Christ to receive from each other. Over the past six years I have learned to identify the Spirit’s promptings to pray for people in ways that show me Jesus’ longing

to reconcile people. While I have seen God heal hundreds of people in many nations and subcultures, what most touches people is the recognition that God personally knows, loves and welcomes them into his family and offers the Holy Spirit to bear witness that they are indeed his children (Rom 8:15-17).

Once after a Bible study on Jesus’ healing of the bent-over woman in Luke 13, a Chicago gangster named Santos asked if I would pray for him for a lifelong nervous tick that caused his face to dramatically flinch several times a minute. Upon praying I got an impression that as a child he had been beaten in the head by his father.

When I asked him he nodded and began to weep. After leading him through prayers of forgiveness, his humiliating tick went away and he gave his life fully to Jesus.

Across boundaries The Holy Spirit inducts us into filial intimacy and membership in God’s borderless family. When

Jesus’ followers received the Spirit at Pentecost, the tongues of fire that rested on each of them ignited their tongues to proclaim God’s mighty deeds across the boundaries of language and culture (Acts 2:1-13).

Peter’s use of Joel 2 to interpret the coming of the Spirit re-enforces this notion of the prophetic as barrier removing: sons and daughters, young and old, female and male slaves will all prophesy (17-18).

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, directing him to the road to Gaza where he met an Ethiopian eunuch who came to faith and carried the gospel into Africa (Acts 8:26-40).

Peter received prophetic revelation in the form of a vision that opened him to minister to Cornelius, a Gentile (Acts 10). As we grow in intimate communion with God, we will find ourselves bringing Good News across borders that show that ‘[we] are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household’ (Eph 2:19).

Bob Ekblad Bob is Executive Director of the Tierra Nueva ministry and the People’s Seminary in Washington, USA. He’s on the faculty of the New Wine Training Partnership, which aims to train disciples, leaders, evangelists and church planters in Kingdom ministry. Find out more at www.nwtp.org.uk

23

STORIES

Why are you a Christian?

In a new regular feature Andy Croft of Soul Survivor

shares his story.

There are all sorts of answers I could give to this question. I could point to the fact that I grew up in a Christian home with loving parents who set me an example of what it is to follow God. I could write about the fact that I used to go to church regularly.

I could talk about how, when I was 16, a friend dragged me to Christian youth events and I finally heard the gospel put in ways I could understand. I could explain how my fledgling faith was carefully supported and encouraged by some amazing people. I could explain how my years at university tested logic and reasons behind my faith and, while challenging, left me more convinced than ever of its truth. I could bore you with stories of any one of these stages in my walk with Jesus, but I wouldn’t have answered the question. These are the reasons I have come to know Jesus, but not the reason that I follow him. I can’t name the exact starting point of my life with Jesus, but I know that the more I live it out, pursue him and get to know him, the more I trust him.

The perfect answer The answer has little to do with me and everything to do with Jesus. He fulfils everything the human soul is longing for. To people desperately trying to find a purpose in their lives, Jesus offers the opportunity to live for something more: to shape eternity as part of his Kingdom adventure. To those of us with more material things than we’ve ever had, yet suffering from anxiety and depression more than ever before, Jesus offers peace with God. To those of us who are questioning everything, cynical and struggling, Jesus offers genuine truth: he speaks words that can be built upon. For those of us who repeatedly try and draw self-confidence from our looks, skills, friends or successes, Jesus frees us to be uniquely us because we are uniquely his. For those of us who are searching for real love, Jesus expresses it with his words, life and death in a way that nothing else in the universe has ever come close to.

A relationship Jesus offers real purpose, peace, truth, identity and love. I’m a Christian because I couldn’t say no.

Is it a bit selfish and a bit self-centred to become a Christian on the basis of what God can do for you?

Perhaps, but that’s what happened with me. I’ve come to understand that the real treasure is Jesus himself. It’s out of this relationship, where the more I get to know him the more I realise I don’t deserve it, that everything else flows. There are plenty of times in my life when I haven’t known peace and perfect happiness, but I’ve still known Jesus and that’s been enough.

Offered life I’m not a Christian because I know all the answers or can explain everything in the Bible. Nor am I one because I’ve thrown myself into weighing and testing all the alternatives. I’m a Christian because Jesus called my name. There was a time when I wasn’t thinking about God, I was doing all sorts of things for me. Then somehow, miraculously, I was given the privilege of doing all sorts of things for him, such as spending time with children in India and South Africa.

I don’t just trust Jesus; I love him and want to give my whole life to him. The prostitutes he spoke to, the tax collectors he befriended, the sick people he healed... what better reason could they give for following Jesus than that he reached out to them.

I’m a follower of Jesus because he wouldn’t let me get away. He offered me life and when it finally dawned on me what I was being invited into I reached out and grabbed it with both hands.

Consider him It took me a while and a few attempts to write this. I think it’s because I was trying to give the perfectly reasoned and polished answer. In the end I thought I’d just be honest. Someone once said that it is the task of the Christian to say, ‘Sir, consider Jesus...’ again and again, patiently and with compassion.

Why am I a Christian? Well... consider Jesus.

Andy Croft Andy is Associate Director of Soul Survivor.

He spends most of his time helping young people explore the Bible.

24

Friends Ad 90x135

Transform Community & Outreach Conference

Saturday 24 April 2010 St Barnabas, Finchley

Join us for a day of worship, inspiring teaching, ministry and testimonies, which will motivate and equip you and your team with fresh vision and understanding, as well as giving you some top tips, tools and techniques for your ministry.

15:30

Page 1

Standing

together

Coming together is a beginning

You can help make our vision a reality by becoming a friend of New Wine.

Your regular financial support will enable us to reach more individuals, more churches and even more countries.

Keeping together is progress Working together is success

Henry Ford

Cost: ÂŁ10

17/12/08

Become a friend from just ÂŁ2 a month

Contact Helen on 020 8343 5789 or email helenshannon@stbarnabas.co.uk St Barnabas Church Finchley in association with New Wine

you can join at www.new-wine.org 25

STORIES

WHAT PART CAN THE LOCAL CHURCH PLAY IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT? Tearfund’s Jonathan Spencer shares what has been achieved in poor rural communities in Tanzania and Kenya.

26

When the Diocese came to the village they mobilised the community first, without involving the church. As a result the church was marginalised. They have learnt that church involvement – the body of Christ mobilised – enables the church to be the driving initiative in a sustainable mobilisation programme.

Meeting Needs The Church and Community Mobilisation Programme (CCMP) that the Diocese has run for the last 10 years, in partnership with Tearfund, has seen many people in the village community come to faith in Jesus Christ – benefiting from the programme physically, socially and spiritually. Tearfund calls this integral mission: meeting the needs of the whole person; transforming lives.

‘Through the programme in Wagete they have built the road, a church, two schools, a water catchment dam, five wells and a health clinic.’

The Diocese worked to find the poorest and most rural communities in which to run CCMP and have now established it in 15 communities. Their vision is for 50.

Through the programme in Wagete they have built the road, a church, two schools, a water catchment dam, five wells and a health clinic. A self-help group for women has managed to buy 10 sewing machines, and the women sew for the whole community. The men have got together, saving enough money to buy manure carts for the community, replacing small rickety wheelbarrows.

Gratitude and Pride ‘There are still many needs in this community, but when meeting with the elders of both the church and the community, one thing is very clear’, says Janet May, Tearfund’s Church Relationship Manager. ‘They are all so grateful to us and the Diocese, but most of all to God. Almost every person I spoke to greeted me with Bwana Asifiwe, which is Swahili for ‘Praise the Lord’.

‘The whole community acknowledges that much of what they have achieved is only through the grace of God’, Janet continues. ‘Humanly speaking, they should not have been able to do what they have done. And what really struck me was the pride that shone through each individual as they explained the process and their motivation to do more.’

‘What is so inspiring in Wagete, is to see people with so little, who eek out an existence, achieving so much’, adds Janet.

‘Let them be an inspiration to us and a real example of how the church is in the thick of it when it comes to sustainable development.’

Radical Changes In Entiak, near Narok in Kenya, the Diocese of Kericho has been working with the local Maasai community.

Nearly every household now has a water collection tank and a kitchen garden. Most of the people in Entiak have built new houses.

STORIES

T

here wasn’t even a road going into the village when the Diocese of Mara and Ukurewe of the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania (AICT) first met with the elders of Wagete, a small rural community of around 300 families. There were no local schools, no water wells and no businesses. There is still no electricity and water isn’t plentiful but the people of Wagete don’t let poverty get in the way of what needs to be done.

Mary, who had no formal education when the Diocese started working with the community, teaches women how to grow vegetables. Now she has obtained 17 certificates and other achievements and has taught her husband Joseph to read and write. She teaches at the local primary school that was built by the community. Educating girls was not a priority before the Diocese arrived but recently a girl was among the first of Mary’s students to go to university.

Joseph, who described himself as ‘a bad man and a drunkard’ before the church got involved to help the community, has refused to let his daughter go through the ritual of female genital mutilation. He is the first in the village to take this stand and in doing so has brought significant change for his family and the whole community.

Water and Healthcare The community of Nkareta, also near Narok, is facing food and water shortages because of successive drought in the region. With no rain in eight months there has been widespread crop failure. Moses owns a dam which was built before the dry season and it still has water in it.

Once the other dams are full, they should supply water to the community throughout the dry season.

With the water crisis gripping the country, the Maasai community, working through the CCMP, have dug 12 dams by hand and holes to plant 1,000 trees, to try to attract more rain. Their newly built primary school has a rain collection tank to provide water for students. It’s just a question of rain…

Committed to helping his community, it’s Moses who ensures people talk about HIV, despite them being averse to doing so. He also visits other Maasai communities, telling them about the importance of getting tested, healthy behaviour and nutrition.

A Spirit of Resilience These are just some of the differences the church can make in development. We should remember this spirit of resilience – perhaps when we next turn on a tap – and pray for people like Moses and Mary. They desperately need rain. We should also thank God for their inspiration, their partnership with the local church and their sense of proud ownership, not wanting to rely on outside help.

The church in these communities is seeing amazing growth as a result of this mobilisation. ‘Many people have turned away from worshipping traditional idols and have turned to Jesus Christ’, explains Janet. ‘God’s hand in this community was acknowledged as they spoke and praised him for all he has made possible through the local church.’

Jonathan Spencer Jonathan is part of Tearfund’s Media Team, focussing on communicating the role of the local and global church in overseas relief and development.

27

28

STORIES

STORIES

Loving your neighbour How can your church be good news to the poorest people in your local community?

Morris Rodham shares what his church have learned about practically serving those in need.

J

esus said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news...’ (Luke 4:18).

We sometimes miss the last part of this sentence: ‘...to the poor.’ How many of us are missing a major thrust of the Bible without even realising it? I missed it for many years until an encounter about 20 years ago with an alcoholic who stated that he wasn’t welcome in churches. He changed my approach to ministry and what I mean by ‘community’.

Making a difference If your church was suddenly air-lifted away and not replaced, would the local community, especially the poorest section of it, miss you? Is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 4:17) so near to them, expressed through the church family’s loving care, that they would feel a marked change in atmosphere and support?

I’ve come to realise that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not about playing games with spiritual toys. It’s having our hearts broken by the things that break God’s heart, and being empowered by his Spirit to start making a positive difference. The Spirit’s work, ever since he hovered over the chaos before the creation (Gen 1:2), has been to bring about transformation: beauty out of mess. So the role of people filled with the Holy Spirit is to ‘hover’, looking to bring something beautiful out of chaos in people’s lives and environments.

Starting something When I arrived as vicar at St Mary’s in Leamington 12 years ago, the church had done some amazing work

in the community in its longer term history, but this had waned a bit. There happened to be a redundant school on a local estate that was being increasingly vandalised.

So that’s where we started: initiating a purpose-built community centre in the school. This may sound like a large first step, but the real task and benefit was not raising the funding. It was getting local people to join in something that gave them hope, listening to their individual stories about experiences of life on the estate, and trying to help them, individually, with practical support.

Our community engagement started by serving one life at a time, because we looked for the mess, stretched out a hand and built a relationship. The same happened in the severe floods in Leamington in 1998. We started to get a reputation in the local area as a church that did practical things to support the community so we just kept the ball rolling.

Searching out needs Our youth worker, previously a drug addict, was recently awarded a civic award by the local District Council for outstanding contribution to local youth. She’s been working with a small team of people for the last four years doing detached youth work on a nearby estate. This involves befriending young people and families, especially those effected by negative circumstances. She’s also started mentoring in our local secondary school with kids that are in danger of being excluded. She’s already seeing positive changes in attitude in the kids.

She was one of the many on our recovery scheme for people addicted to drugs or alcohol, or with offending backgrounds.

29

STORIES

We also run a Christians Against Poverty Debt Advice Centre in ecumenical partnership with other churches. We have a housing scheme for the homeless, working with local landlords and the local Salvation Army, by providing the first month’s rent and deposit, and acting as a guarantor for the first six months rent. We provide many of the essential furnishings for setting up a new home. We offer lunches on Sundays for people who are homeless or on their own.

Showing we care Everyone in the church, with no exception, is expected to stretch out a hand to the poor. All small groups arrange social events to increase the number of contacts they have with people in the community. We give away 15 per cent of all general income, a third of which is put into our Community Aid Fund. This enables us to give immediate financial assistance to people in our community who are in sudden financial need.

This fund has provided washing machines, bikes, holidays for people who have never had one, carpets in homes with young children crawling on floorboards, car repairs for single parents, cash for people whose credit cards have been cloned, even money so that people can take up hobbies they could not otherwise afford.

We give away about £7,000 a year to help our local community. We give non-church-based local community projects over £2,000 a year.

We give the local state primary school £1,000 a year to use however they wish. We’ve bought the school staff ice-creams on hot days for their lunch break and made cakes during their OFSTED inspection as a sign that we care for them. We have also provided gap year volunteer youth workers as Classroom Assistants. We run ‘bless the community’ days which have included decorating, gardening, and clearing two tonnes of rubbish from a mile-long stretch of a local brook. Our church centre is used by about 50 different community groups.

Eternal investment St Mary’s is known as a community where anybody, irrespective of their background or current situation, is welcome, as long as they are not intent on any harm. And people come because they have been helped, or they know of others who have been. We’re not a big church, around 150 adults. We’re not financially rich, but we try to be as generous as possible, especially to our local community. And God seems to honour that by being generous to us. He gives us more to give more.

We place a high value on serving the poorest in our community. And the rewards for the congregation are seeing the powerful transformation of people’s lives and community in front of them. It certainly helps show that their giving is being invested in something of more present and eternal significance than the church heating!

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

1

Look for the mess

• Pray that God would give you eyes to notice someone significantly less well-off than you who needs practical help and support.

• Don’t be naïve and taken in by people who are expert manipulators.

Pray that God would show you the genuine cases.

• You’ll probably make some mistakes and may get taken in a few times before you learn discernment built on experience, but don’t give up!

2

Stretch out a hand to help

• Listen to people’s stories.

• If you perceive there is a practical need, think how it could be met.

We work on the basis Jesus teaches in the Parable of the Talents: if they are faithful with a little, we will give some more (Matt 25:21).

• Work in the context of a team when providing assistance. Get your small group or other friends to join with you in praying for, meeting and supporting individuals.

3

Build a relationship

• Keep listening. You will discover more needs the longer you stay in relationship.

• Widen the network of Christian people they know by working in the context of a team.

• Don’t be embarrassed about asking them to help you with something.

Most genuine people do not like to receive something for nothing, and most friendships are mutually beneficial rather than one-sided.

• Forgive them when they hurt you.

Morris Rodham Morris has been Vicar of St Mary’s, Leamington for 12 years. He helps to host the New Wine Urban Priority Area Network.

30

HAL100 Ads HP 13 july Q7:Layout 1 copy

Inner-city & Urban Priority Area Leaders Forum

21/7/09

19:41

Page 4

d Doing missionisacnip les making d 25-26 March 2010 Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire

UPA churches matter immensely to God, but how do we ensure they are places of blessing within our community? This forum will focus on how to build real communities that love the people both inside and outside our churches.

With space and time to worship, network, share stories, and receive personal prophetic ministry, this forum will encourage and resource you in your mission and ministry.

For more information visit www.new-wine.org, phone 020 8567 6717 or email info@new-wine.org

HAL100 Ads HP 2july:Layout 1 copy 02/07/2009 17:50 Page 2

New Wine Networks

Our vision is to support, equip and resource all church leaders in their local mission

Link with Like-Minded Leaders Training and Resources Core Groups for Mutual Mentoring

Local Network Groups for Worship, Teaching, Ministry

Get Connected: www.new-wine.org/leaders

31

STORIES

new wine new zealand Lydia Read Lydia heads up the leadership team for New Wine New Zealand. Find out more at: www.newwine.org.nz

32

Since it was established in 2003 New Wine New Zealand (NZ) is rapidly advancing – a cause for celebration and prayer. In the last 12 months we will have offered a total of 22 events nationwide comprising leaders’ days, training events, team training, summer conferences, leaders’ retreats and networking events involving more than 3,500 people.

Our aim isn’t to build an organisation, but simply to learn to minister as Jesus did and support the local churches in doing this. New Wine NZ is achieving recognition for consistently offering events which are impacting both individuals and local churches.

Overcoming Challenges Churches in New Zealand are diverse and the message that New Wine is non-denominational and loves the whole church only began to penetrate in the last two years.

We are now actively networking with nearly 500 churches and over 4,000 people.

New Zealand is a small country of four million people, with Auckland in the north home to 1.5 million. The large geographic spread gives rise to challenges, as does the busy nature of the summer holidays, with Christmas, New Year, extended school holidays, family holidays and our New Wine summer conferences (two in the North Island and one in the South) all taking place over a short period of time.

We are increasingly seeing lives impacted, people healed and leaders refreshed. Here are just a few stories from recent events: • An elderly lady gave testimony that she felt God asking her to kneel in worship. As she worshipped God she realised belatedly that she hadn’t been able to kneel for many years as her left knee had been fused. In that moment it had been miraculously healed! With tears in her eyes she reported that it had been the most wonderful experience.

• One man said he’d been a Christian for 18 years, but always knew something was missing, although he wasn’t sure what. After hearing a talk on self-forgiveness, he went home and prayed. He says he has ‘engaged with that forgiveness and knows he is different.’

• One man asked for prayer for a problem with his shoulder. He had received prayer for it before and received partial healing, and further prayer saw the shoulder completely healed.

Churches Changing Church life in New Zealand is being seriously impacted by the ministry of both local and international speakers, many of the latter from the UK. One Anglican Bishop told us that he can identify the churches who engage with New Wine summer conferences; as the year progresses

he finds they are more keenly focused on reaching out, impacting local communities and being Christ-like.

STORIES

‘God is working through New Wine New Zealand to impact lives across the country.’

Church leaders are initiating contact as they too want to know more about this work. For many it’s not a matter of anything new but it draws threads of ministry, training and experience into cohesive teaching. Our aim is for church leaders to see God’s kingdom advance in their local setting on a weekly basis. Here’s some encouraging feedback we’ve received: ‘I am so excited about the things going on in our church. We have come back totally ‘fired up’ after the Kingdom Intensive course. We received refreshment and affirmation, and now have 50 people coming to the New Wine summer camp!’

‘The conference was hugely informative, inspiring and encouraging; I came away feeling really blessed. Incidentally, the service at my church yesterday was one of the most encouraging I’ve experienced - God moved awesomely, people gave their lives back to the Lord, there were words and prophecies given, God healed people. It was amazing.’

Passion and Energy The national leadership of New Wine NZ is shared between a trust board, a leadership team and a board of reference. Heather Darnell, the National Administrator, and I oversee 250 volunteer workers who bless our events with their passion for serving.

‘One Anglican Bishop told us that he can identify the churches who engage with New Wine summer conferences; as the year progresses he finds they are more keenly focused on reaching out, impacting local communities and being Christ-like.’

The three summer conferences are still the most visible events we organise, and provide significant impact to local churches. Two years ago a young couple attended the Waikanae event in the North Island, the largest of the conferences. They asked us to explain New Wine’s heart ‘to equip the local church to see Jesus’ kingdom grow’.

Their pastors attended this year’s summer conference and found it to be a place of refreshment. The families who accompanied them left energised and actively seeking ways to serve. The pastor now promotes the summer conference as the annual church camp. From experience we know this will change the culture in the local church.

They see healings, engage in prophecy and encounter Jesus as they worship and serve together, and when they return home the impact will be ongoing.

New Wine NZ is equipping Christians, changing church culture and inspiring church leadership to courageously engage in Kingdom ministry.

For more information on the New Wine International Network, visit www.new-wine.org/international or email tim.starling@new-wine.org

33

STORIES

faithat

work

What work do you do?

I’m self-employed: I have a property renovation business and work as a freelance artist. I mostly renovate domestic properties, usually period homes. This involves working with the clients and using a variety of trades to complete each project. I normally offer the finishing trades of carpentry, tiling and decorating and bring in other specialist trades when needed.

How did you get into this kind of work?

While I was at university, a friend’s brother, who had his own building business, took me under his wing and trained me. He specialised in the finishing trades and project management. It was during this time that I learnt the trades I use today.

At the same time I started receiving art commissions so after graduating 34

I became self-employed and continued combining the two types of work… living the dream!

What kind of artist are you?

Do you exhibit or sell your work?

Most of my art work is commissionbased which can be anything from cartoon illustration to fine art paintings. I have had a couple of exhibitions and I’m working on one now: a collection of drawings and paintings of friends. I love to draw, whether it’s a cartoon seeing the funny side of a biblical story or a friend’s side profile. I try to take a sketch pad and pen wherever I go.

What’s a typical working day for you?

These can be very different, especially if I’m working on a commission.

The most typical day would be a building day: get ready for the day’s

work by loading the van, arrive on site at 8.30am and brief any other tradesmen on the day’s task, buy materials, speak to clients about the current job and contact clients about the next job, leave site at 5pm.

What do you love most about your work?

I love being creative and seeing a project go through the stages from making it worse to the finishing touch that ends the transformation.

Paul said to imitate God in every way (Eph 5:1), and I love to stand back and look over a completed job and see that it is good (Gen 1).

How do you practise your faith in your working life?

Being self-employed has helped me rely on God in every area of my life. It can often seem like you are on your own and it’s all up to you.

Praying for provision, tithing my

Can you give an example of where you’ve seen God at work in your job?

When I was starting up I didn’t have much work coming in. I fasted, prayed and put my business into God’s hands.

The day after my fast ended, my phone was alive with customers asking for and accepting quotes. Since then I have had consistent work and I’m very often booked up for five months in advance…hallelujah!

STORIES

income and being open to God’s guidance to walk in the path he has for me has completely changed my outlook.

I no longer see myself as self-employed but rather in a partnership. This has been life-changing. Since becoming a committed Christian I see my work very differently: people invite me into their homes and I respect that.

I like to pray over every home I work in, that God’s love would be present there. When I’m replacing or renovating front doors I commission that door for God’s glory!

What are the biggest challenges and how do you deal with them?

It’s hard to budget on a varying monthly income. Having a small building business also means that after working a physical day, my evenings are spent writing quotes and invoices and doing accounts. This means it’s often hard to switch off. I try and set boundaries, such as not being on my PC after 9pm and sitting down at the table to have dinner. Putting God first has been an objective of mine for the last few years. When I wake I give a prayer of thanks and will try and read the Bible before breakfast or doing anything else.

Penguin on the rocks. Acrylic on canvas.

Malcolm’s business, MAHB, is based in Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol. Find out more at www.mahb.co.uk

35

CULTURE

CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES How multicultural is your church family? Why does it matter?

Mohan Seevaratnam shares his vision for building ethnically diverse communities.

36

CULTURE

s I was growing up I had a real struggle with my identity. Born and brought up in London, I was a second generation South Asian, of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. Was I British or Sri Lankan?

I became a Christian at university, and God began to confirm in my heart that it does not matter what cultural or ethnic label I give myself; my main identity is as a child of God, dearly loved and special to him.

Mohan, his wife Sarah and their three children.

In 1992 I married Sarah, who is white British. We have three children.

For seven and a half years we lived and worked in Sri Lanka with the mission WEC International, and we returned to the UK in 2008. Cross-cultural issues have had a significant impact on my life story, and play a foundational part in who I am.

The vision and the reality In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the church as truly multiethnic: ‘I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb’ (Rev 7:9). Here the Great Commission is fulfilled and we see that in heaven our ethnic differences are not taken away.

Rather the ethnic diversity reflects even more of God’s glory in that different people are united in their worship of the one true God. As Christians, whoever or wherever we are, we are called to work towards that biblical vision that God has destined.

However, when we look at the church today, we sadly see that we are not immune from issues of racial prejudice and discrimination. Just as our society speaks of political correctness with regards to race and ethnicity, so in the church we can speak of a theological or religious correctness. We can talk all the theory of being one in Christ no matter what our background, and that we are without prejudice and discrimination, but is that a heartfelt and lived out reality?

Deep-rooted prejudices Racial prejudice and discrimination are part and parcel of human sinfulness. They affect the human heart worldwide. Even as Christians it’s so easy to have cultural and ethnocentric pride and prejudices.

I have seen it in myself and in many Christians, including church leaders, around the world.

An example of this is seen in the apostle Peter. Despite being one of Jesus’ closest friends, despite being aware of Jesus’ attitude towards Samaritans, despite being filled with the Holy Spirit and mightily used by

37

CULTURE

God at Pentecost, Peter still had the same ethnic prejudices of his fellow Jews in his attitude towards Gentiles.

There was still racial prejudice in Peter’s heart and therefore he needed a special vision from God to teach him otherwise (Acts 10). As God’s people, we must try to identify and repent of cultural pride and prejudices in our lives. And this we can do through the help of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and our fellow Christians.

I was a stranger…

The Bible has much to say about race, ethnicity, prejudice and discrimination, from practical care of the stranger/alien in the Old Testament to challenging the hatred between Jews and Samaritans in the New Testament. In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46), Jesus identifies himself with the stranger or alien: ‘I was a stranger and you invited me in’. The Greek word for ‘stranger’ is ‘xenos’, which also means ‘foreigner’ or ‘alien’ and from which we get the English word ‘xenophobic’ (fear or hatred of foreigners). A better understanding of the term ‘stranger’ here would be someone who is ethnically different to us, rather than simply somebody we do not know. As both warning and challenge, this parable reminds us that our welcoming of those who are ethnically different to us is one of the criteria by which we will be both judged and rewarded when Jesus comes again.

Cultural mixing As Christians today, we are living in a unique time in history. Due to globalisation, greater migration of people, greater ease in travelling and advances in information and communication technology, there has never before been such a rich mixing of cultures and races, and awareness of each other. This brings challenges as well as opportunities.

A great blessing in my life has been engaging in cross-cultural friendships and relationships. Yes there are challenges and efforts to be made, but the blessings far outweigh them all.

For example, the godparents of our three children come from Scotland, England, Hong Kong, South Korea, 38

Holland, Northern Ireland, India and Sri Lanka. And I truly believe our children’s lives are enriched because of it.

Greater opportunity The centre of gravity of the worldwide church is rapidly shifting from Europe and North America to Africa, Asia and South America.

Consequently there should be greater interaction and learning from the perspectives of our non-Western brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our welcoming of those who are ethnically different to us is one of the criteria by which we will be both judged and rewarded when Jesus comes again.

Britain today is a multicultural society. Being ‘British’ is far less simple to define than it was 100 years ago. The nations are here and there are fantastic opportunities for crosscultural mission, especially in cities.

Even if you live rurally, there are no doubt people in your community from different ethnic backgrounds. Let me encourage you to discover some of these people’s life stories as well as sharing yours with them.

Building bridges Building multiethnic churches is a tremendous witness for the gospel in Britain. It proclaims that the good news of Jesus Christ is something for everyone, everywhere. It is also a visible demonstration to the world that the love of Christ has the power to build bridges across ethnic groups.

In Britain today we have a number of mono-ethnic churches, such as Chinese, Hindi-speaking and black churches. These have a place in helping people worship in their heart

language and affirming their cultural and ethnic roots. However, I believe that if this is someone’s only spiritual interaction with fellow believers then it is to the detriment of their faith, of the church’s spirituality and of Christianity’s witness to British society.

Out of our comfort zone For us to build genuine multi-ethnic churches requires plenty of dialogue, acceptance and sacrifice in terms of how we do church. We need to reflect on the make-up of our church leadership, our worship songs and musical instruments, who we invite into our homes and even the food we serve and eat. It will certainly require going outside our comfort zone.

In the book of Revelation we are told that all that is good and wholesome from every culture and ethnic group in the world will be brought and treasured in the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:24-26). Do we in the church in Britain today desire to display a foretaste of that?

Sharing our lives I have a dream that the church in Britain will truly be a loving multi-ethnic community drawn from all the various ethnic and social backgrounds that make up this nation. I long that our churches would be places where people’s stories are listened to, treasured and embraced for the blessing of the community. Let me encourage you to join me in that dream and to play your part in fulfilling it, and let us live the truth that Christ on the Cross has broken down every dividing wall (Eph 2:11-22). Let us also rejoice and celebrate ethnic diversity among us and the different life stories that God has given us.

Mohan Seevaratnam Mohan is a GP at St Peter’s Medical Centre, Harrow and a leader at Fairfield Evangelical Church, Northwood Hills, Middlesex. He recommends the book From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race

by J Daniel Hays, published by Apollos/IVP.

The Nazareth Trust is the operating name of EMMS Nazareth a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No: SC 225661 and a charity registered in Scotland - No: SC 032510. Registered as a foreign owned company and not-for-profit institution in Israel - No: 560019945. REGISTERED OFFICE 151 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5NU, Scotland

39

CULTURE

‘So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows’.

MATT 10:31

40

How do we hold on to our faith in God, whatever happens?

Nick Battle shares his powerful testimony of learning to trust.

As a northerner, brought up in Yorkshire, I grew up safe in the knowledge that men were hunter-gatherers whose main task in life was to put bread on the table and money in the bank. I’ve been taught to work hard, pray hard and God will provide.

So it’s all taken on trust. Or is it? Life and our relationship with God are never that simple. This is because we continually obscure, complicate and fail to see what God wants from us. We have our own selfish agendas, which are sometimes God inspired at the outset, but through a variety of circumstances have become hindered or even polluted by what we think God wants from us. So given all our human weakness and fallibility just how do we trust God? I would say it’s a learning experience and for some of us it is perhaps a lesson that gets repeated time and time again until it finally sinks in.

Success and suffering For 31 years I worked in the music business. For at least 20 of those I had a big fat salary, a gas-guzzling car and an expense account that would make an MP blush. I went to church and would service my relationship with God by writing out a cheque to whoever I thought needed it.

Surely that way I was honouring God? I was hunting, gathering and providing and even tithing. I prayed for success, trusted God that it would come, and it did.

We signed the biggest global pop phenomenon since the Beatles, a group called The Spice Girls, whose extremely savvy manager earned them a vast earthly fortune in a very short space of time.

In the middle of all this my wife Lynn contracted cancer and I began to trust God for something entirely different and far more valuable: her life. She fought this rapacious and ugly disease with every fibre of her being. Over the course of 10 years she underwent a mastectomy, had her ovaries removed, had a reconstruction and then an endoscopy which confirmed the cancer in her lungs, and finally a stent put into the vena cava of her heart.

Through all of this she endured chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as a massive cocktail of painkillers.

Choosing to believe So just how did I trust God? Well not surprisingly I went to whole new levels of intimacy with him: places I never knew existed. Some were desolate and overwhelming wilderness places. Others were beautiful and gave me a

CULTURE

peace and joy like nothing I’d experienced. I learnt to trust God for a little bit at a time, rather like a toddler taking their first steps: they stumble and fall but eventually they get to be quite mobile. I trusted God that he would heal my wife. After all, surely that was what he wanted?

Lynn died in my arms on 20 February 2003. Despite all the drugs, prayers, fasting and healing services, God chose to take her home. And a greater mercy endured.

Her suffering stopped. So then I had a stark choice. Do I carry on believing and trusting in God or do I deny his existence because of what felt like robbery with violence?

I chose to carry on. I still choose to trust and I have come to a place of reluctant faith.

Letting go I loved Lynn but she was not mine to own. She was a beautiful gift from God to cherish all the days that she was with us. I have realised that I own nothing in life. Everything is a gift from God to look after and be accountable and responsible for. This realisation has totally turned my life upside down. Now, nearly seven years on, I am so grateful to God and I have learned in a whole variety of ways to trust him for everything.

‘I have realised that I own nothing in life. Everything is a gift from God to look after and be accountable and responsible for.’

This has meant a career change from the comfortable confines of the music industry to the more challenging coal face of having a ministry. It has also brought me great joy with my beautiful new wife Nicky, and the most recent addition to the Battle family, our son Jesse.

I trusted God that one day he would find me a new wife.

He did. I trusted him that my daughters, who endured the loss of their mum, would find faith. They have.

And now, with no visible source of income and the rampant northern male tethered securely, I trust that God will provide for my family and my ministry. It’s not easy. I spend some days wondering how we’ll cope when my daughter goes to university and worrying about what will happen when I’m 70! I don’t have any long-term financial plans. But I know that God does. He’s brought me and my family this far. If we continue to seek his will for us and live in it, I know he will not fail us, for which we give him all the glory. After all, it’s taken on trust.

Nick Battle Nick is an author, speaker and founder of The Gravel Road Trust, who seek to comfort and support long-term carers and the bereaved: www.gravelroadtrust.info

41

CULTURE

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR SELF-WORTH IS BASED ON WHAT GOD THINKS OF US IN A CULTURE OBSESSED WITH CELEBRITY?

Dani Knox shares her insights gained from working with young people.

A

s a young girl I struggled with who I was. I looked to the media to see how I should dress and who I should be. As a result I was left confused, with little selfworth and feeling the pressure to look a certain way. When I compared myself with other girls, particularly those who made looking good seem effortless, I appeared to be the only one struggling. I later learnt that this wasn’t the case.

Now that I work with young girls I see a generation more confused, misguided and with a lower self-worth than ever.

I’ve been challenged to look at how the lies from the media about having to look a certain way can be dispelled, and how we can find healthy role models. In search of answers I started with the very place that causes our confusion: the media, particularly celebrity culture.

Failure and Forgiveness Celebrities are constantly in the limelight. One moment they’re on the front cover of a magazine looking flawless, happy and perfect. The next they’re headline news for all the wrong reasons, and pictured in a tracksuit, looking bigger than the heralded size zero, covered in spots, cigarette in hand and looking decidedly unhappy. Having the red carpet moments splashed across newspapers and magazines can be uplifting, but the paparazzi also capture the low points, and it’s these shots that earn the big money. Imagine having your life brandished across publications for all to see, to have your secrets revealed and for everyone to know when you’ve messed up.

As Christians we believe in a God who constantly sees all we do – hears every conversation, observes every action and knows every thought, good and bad.

42

CULTURE

‘I’m starting to see young women take hold of their selfworth, be lifted from despair and to begin to believe that they are precious, unique and ultimately loved.’

The difference is that in the high moments he says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ (Matt 25:21), and in the low points we can know the forgiveness of a gracious God, instead of having our sins splashed across the tabloids.

Finding Acceptance In working with young people I have discovered that forgiveness is a foreign concept. Revenge runs rife and guilt can tear them apart because they don’t understand that God offers forgiveness to anyone who says sorry to him. They need to know that when they’ve gone too far in a relationship, or they’ve hurt themselves or others to cope with the pain inside, God longs to heal them and take away the guilt that restricts them and keeps their self-worth low.

we’re not makes us feel inadequate, and will always lower our self-worth.

Boasting in God If Christians were to follow the example of celebrities we would make an art form of showing off our achievements. Celebrities are so called because they celebrate their fame. In the book of Jeremiah God reminds us not to boast in our wisdom, strength or riches, but to boast instead in understanding and knowing God (9:23-24). We should not sing our own praises, but give glory to the talent giver. And if we boast in God’s achievements rather than ours, it takes the pressure and responsibility off us. This also means that when others do better than us we can celebrate what God is doing through them.

Inner Beauty We see celebrities that are constantly striving for attention. And when they get it, the task is to keep it! Pop superstar Madonna has reinvented herself numerous times just to stay at the top of her industry, knowing that the public’s love is fickle. But as Christians we know a different kind I have also learnt the importance of love. One that is both eternal and of integrity. When I was younger unconditional. So instead of putting I would try to be different things our efforts into getting short-term to different friendship groups. attention, we can look to God for love Eventually I decided to simply be me, that lasts a lifetime. and that’s when I felt most accepted.

Proverbs 10:9 tells us that ‘The man I run courses for girls in the local of integrity walks securely, but he high school, and various other who takes crooked paths will be settings, based on the popular reality found out.’ Trying to be something television show Britain’s Next Top

Model, in which a number of women compete for the chance to start their career in the modeling industry.

I use lessons that models need to learn: doing makeup and hair, taking good photos, looking after skin and health, fashion design, what not to wear, and how to be a lady, and then use them as a way to build self-worth. The comments from girls who have completed the course are encouraging: ‘I’ve learnt that I don’t have to be shy and I can leave the house without looking great because it’s all about my inner beauty’; ‘I am beautiful don’t matter what they say. Cause you are who you are’; ‘I’ve learnt my personality is my best feature’; ‘I discovered that I’m special and people do like me.’

I’m starting to see young women take hold of their self-worth, be lifted from despair and begin to believe that they are precious, unique and ultimately loved.

Good Role Models With so many distractions and people that can lead us astray, it’s important that we have role models to look up to.

But where do we begin to find them?

Perhaps it’s those who trust in God’s forgiveness, have integrity, boast only in God’s achievements through them and what he has done, and those who trust in God’s love more than anything else. I would also suggest it should be those who place reading the Bible as a higher priority than reading a celebrity magazine. So let’s ask ourselves, how good a role model are we?

Dani Knox Dani is the senior youth worker for a church based on an estate in Birmingham. She works in the church, the local high school and throughout the surrounding area.

Dani and her husband Phil also run a youth team at the New Wine North & East Summer Conference.

43

CULTURE

Recommended Reads The Furious Longing of God Brennan Manning

‘This is not a religious or philosophical book and it won’t teach you any great doctrine. Rather, it’s a beautifully written, poetic look into the heart of God. Manning is not interested in the “domesticated, feel-good Jesus of TV evangelism, who is committed to our financial prosperity!” Instead he introduces us to the Christ of John’s Gospel, who has made his home in us and “who invites us to walk with him daily in humble service, even unto death.” It is a strong reminder that God is not out to get us; what he wants is a relationship. This is an extraordinary exploration of prayer, healing and our union with the God whose furious longing will only be quenched by our being consumed in the fire of his love.’

Mark Bailey

The Prodigal God Timothy Keller

‘The author begins this book by telling us that it is based on a sermon about the parable of the Prodigal Son by theologian and pastor Dr Edmond Clowney. Keller explains that this sermon changed his life and shaped his ministry. The book’s focus is not on the younger son or the father, but the thoughts and life of the older brother and the audience Jesus is speaking to.

The audience are: the tax collectors and sinners, to which the story of the younger son relates; and the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, to which the story of the older son relates. Keller’s message is that if our churches aren’t appealing to younger brothers who have left and are lost in the world, but are full of elder brothers, we are missing the point. The wonderful way in which he crafts the extravagant grace of God, balanced with the sharpness of the gospel, is truly profound.’

Mark Melluish

Shaped by God’s Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches Milfred Minatrea

‘This book is designed to be a tool to equip leaders to transition churches to a greater level of missional intentionality and effectiveness. The author suggests that the measure of a missional church is the transformational impact of its members’ lives in the world. The heart of the book is the unpacking of nine core missional practices, all revolving around a profound Kingdom concern and with a very practical basis. Each chapter unpacks one of these practices and has a simple self-assessment tool to enable the reader to measure the effectiveness of their church in each critical area.

Final chapters apply all that has gone before to the nitty gritty of appropriate church structures, effective missional leadership and the process of transition from maintenance to missional. This is an inspirational read and at the same time enormously practical. It’s a good book to give to your church leadership team.’

Ian Parkinson

One Generation from Extinction Mark Griffiths

‘Unless we do something about it, very few youngsters these days will find their way into the arms of a loving God. That is why this is such a relevant book for our time. Mark shows that Robert Raikes, who initiated the Sunday School Movement in the 18th century, was also working against the grain of church life with formidable social challenges affecting every part of society. Mark’s study shows how others were swept up in the impressive success of the Sunday School movement and how teamwork was essential to the entire enterprise. However, this is far from being a sociological and historical study. The book examines contemporary features of work among children that give considerable hope to the future of Christianity in this land. But have we the courage to listen to the story? It is my hope that this hopeful and well written book will galvanise us all to include children in our mission.’

George Carey

Coaching for Performance John Whitmore

‘This is a book about relationships.

Whether you are managing people in a work environment, overseeing volunteers or simply wanting to improve your people skills with peers, colleagues, family and friends, this book will help you grow in the way you treat people, think about them and behave around them. It will help you use effective questions to bring out the best in everyone you come into contact with, helping them find meaning and purpose for their lives and, in turn, raise their self-awareness. It’s an invaluable book for all leaders and will bring helpful insights for everyone who has a heart for people. Read it and adopt its principles and you will become a blessing to everyone you meet.’

Lindsay Melluish

3 FREE TO GIVE AWAY! We have three free copies of One Generation from Extinction to give away: claim yours by emailing your name and address to mag@new-wine.org and using ‘One Generation’ as the email subject.

Winners will be chosen at random and notified before the end of February 2010.

Each book is available to buy from New Wine Direct Visit: www.newwinedirect.co.uk Phone: 01494 567 254

45

CULTURE

Last Sunday in church we were singing with gusto the worship song Our God Saves by Paul Baloche.

We then continued with these lines from You Alone Can Rescue by Matt Redman: ‘You alone can rescue, you alone can save, you alone can lift us from the grave.’ As I sang, the truth of these lyrics began to resonate. We’re saved now, not for some time in the future, because Jesus came to give us abundant life today.

More to life

Perhaps you have seen the ‘Jesus saves!’ graffiti on motorway bridges, where some joker has written underneath, ‘with the Abbey National.’ Many people don’t see any more to life than earning a bit more so that you can rest from earning a bit more. Monday to Friday is spent working and the weekend is when you spend the money. It’s souldestroying, yet somehow it goes unnoticed. When we worship God we are brought back to Jesus, who has rescued us and gives us new purpose and new power to fulfil it. Now that’s worth singing about!

I’m a ‘detail’ person. I get thoroughly engrossed in the minutiae of daily routine and when troubles or tensions arise I can let them blur my vision of the bigger picture. Thank God for Sundays! Worshipping God with others reminds me that this life isn’t all there is. It restores the big picture of salvation and puts my week into the right perspective.

Sunday is a day for considering life in its fullest remit. In worship the Holy Spirit assures us of the truth that Jesus died and rose again so that we can be raised to new life through him. Death is not the end. There’s a curious blindness in our culture to the inevitability of death. Nobody talks about it, unless you’re an insurance salesman. As I worship, the truth of Jesus saving me and lifting me from the grave impacts me again. I truly have nothing to fear.

Saved for a future

Recently I spent a week visiting Christian friends in Colombia. Many, particularly in the countryside, find themselves caught between leftwing guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries, both armed with guns. Pastors often ‘disappear’ or are murdered to intimidate churches and communities and force them to flee and hand over their land.

Churches have been given orders not to meet and worship, or face the consequences. There is a great deal of fear and grief, yet in the midst of this Christians continue to worship the God who has saved them for a future, and will lift them from the grave. As I worship Jesus in freedom, I know I am united with those who are suffering, and praying for them is a natural response. In my helplessness, Jesus is there to respond.

The American restaurant chain TGI Friday’s might be a destination for good food, but there should be a sign over our churches: ‘TGI Sunday, where you can get the food that lasts forever.’

Anne Coles Anne and her husband John have been leading New Wine since 2001. Anne has overall responsibility for developing New Wine’s women’s ministry and is also Ministry Pastor at St Barnabas North Finchley.

46

BE REFRESHED & EQUIPPED at St John’s College, Nottingham

Join our worshipping, learning community to deepen your faith, grow in understanding and be equipped for ministry.

•

Study for a Certificate, Diploma, Degree or Masters in theology for ministry. Study full-time, part-time or by distance learning.

•

Upgrade current qualifications to a BA or MA

•

Join us for a study week, sabbatical or retreat

For more information, email: admissions@stjohns-nottm.ac.uk, phone: 0115 968 3203, or visit: www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk (quote New Wine)

How can a Bible college Advert_(CHR, YW, NW) 90x186 13/10/2009 16:09 Page 1

How can a Bible College change the world?

S P I R I T UA L P R AC T I C A L AC A D E M I C R E L AT I O N A L

One Year Courses, BA & BA (Hons) in Applied Theology, MA in Applied Theology,Christian Leadership, Youth Work, Community & Family Studies, Children & Schools, Pastoral, Evangelism and Cross Cultural Studies

www.moorlands.ac.uk Degree courses validated by

Moorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch, BH23 7AT Tel: 01425 674500 e-mail: admissions@moorlands.ac.uk

47

CLASSIFIEDS HOLIDAYS

GREETING CARDS

EAST DEVON FARM, SELF CATERING 4 cottages on family farm sleeping 5 to 15. Can accommodate groups of up to 43. Also camping and caravan site; games room, trampolines & climbing frames.

Easy reach of sea, moors & many local attractions. 01404 841238 www.westcottfarm.co.uk

There are plenty of fish in the sea but... if they are not swimming in your direction, join friendsfirst.

0121 427 1286 www.friends1st.co.uk

PORT ISAAC, N. CORNWALL 2-bedroom character cottage, ideal for surfing beaches and coastal walks. Check out www.catscottage.info.

Email archie@stpetersbrighton.org Tel 07887 522402

MUSIC

SOUTH WALES, Little Mill near Usk. SD house sleeps 5-6.

Comfortable base to enjoy beautiful area and visit interesting places. £210-£250 pw.

Tel: 01443 831069 Email: ahbookless@googlemail.com NORTHUMBERLAND Cottage, sleeps 4. Peaceful with amazing views.

Visit Holy Island, Alnwick Castle etc. Further Details: www.cottageguide.co.uk/kypieview Phone: 0191 281 2309 NORTH CORNWALL. Port Isaac village. Lovely Victorian house.

Luxury kitchen, woodburning stove. Sea views. Beaches 5 minutes’ walk. e-mail: mollypeterlarkin@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01803 326888 Web: www.cornishhouse.com CYPRUS, PAPHOS Studio for 2.

Well-equipped, pool, sea view, £25 - £35 pn.

Tel: 0114 2305522 or website www.thejonesclan.force9.co.uk

Real Spain www.haveagreatholiday.com ALTEA, COSTA BLANCA Modern, luxury two- bedroom, twobathroom apartment; heating, pool, tennis, garden, garage.

Shops, restaurants, beach close.

Golf, hill-walking, watersports.

Renowned for warm winters.

Discounts. 029 20759314; dee.jones@virgin.net TOPSHAM, DEVON 2-bedroom newly furnished maisonette overlooking Exe estuary and hills. Local shops, inns, teashops, walks. Coast, moors, Exeter nearby.

Tel 029 20759314

48

PERSONAL

LYRICS wanted for composer of modern worship songs and hymns. info@whitestonemusic.co.uk 01403 822024 (home) 822669 (studio). Chris Westbrook

PEMBROKESHIRE: Secluded family cottage on coastal path and beach, stunning sea-views, wonderful all season walking.

Well equipped; sleeps 4 www.bettwsbach.com

CONN BB CONSTELLATION TRUMPET A superb unused instrument in good condition, with case purchased new but no longer required £675 ono Pete Wynn 0208 799 3761

MULTIMEDIA

AUSTRIA & ITALY, ALPINE ARENA small Christian organisation offering walking from Chalets.

Spectacular mountains Tirol & Dolomites. Includes activities.

Alpine flower walks, cooking, viaferrata, scrambling, group Christian retreat weeks. Order brochure now 01347844161 info@alpinearena.com www.alpinearena.com

CHRISTIAN? SINGLE? WIDOWED? DIVORCED? Don’t be alone another weekend! Call NEW DAY INTRODUCTIONS on 01706 224049 www.marriageintroductions.co.uk Hundreds have married through New Day Introductions.

CONFERENCE CENTRE CONFERENCE/SEMINAR CENTRE, Dinan, Brittany, France: Word of life International offering Dinan site to church/youth groups, self-catering basis, excluding July/August.

10 euros pperson, pday, 4 euros per child. Hiring of kitchen/ dining hall 30–50 euros per day.

Contact: Location.lmb@gmail.com or jlhiggens@aol.com www.paroledeviefrance.org

CHURCH

real luxury, real value, real convenience • Shared infinity pool • Sleeps 2-8 • Close to town, beach & waterpark

COUNSELLING

Please support us by mentioning New Wine Magazine when responding to an advert.

Thanks! NW

01494 672372 07923 374 638 Individual or group counselling, motivational talks and teaching (Including spiritual restoration from ancestral iniquity, soul ties and spiritual strongholds) info@lifeskillcounsel.com www.lifeskillcounsel.com Member of the Association of Christian Counsellors

Advertise here.

Reach a readership of 45,000*people!

Contact us today for a detailed Rate Card.

E advertising@new-wine.org * New Wine distributes 30,000 magazines.

T 0208 799 3765 An estimated 45,000 get their hands on it!

How would you cope if you lost your job, your family rejected you, your friends threaten you, the authorities spy on you – all because you became a Christian?

For countless Christians in the Middle East and North Africa these are daily realities.

SAT-7 brings friendship, comfort and strength to persecuted believers, right in their own homes, through its Christian satellite television programmes.

Find out how you can help this ministry help persecuted Christians.

Telephone: 01249 765865 Website: www.sat7trust.org Email: inforequest@sat7trust.org SAT-7 Trust, The Coach House, 43 New Road, Chippenham SN15 1HL Viewer quote: “I am calling on behalf of our house group. We were recently caught by the authorities and cannot fellowship anymore. At the moment your programmes are the only fellowship we have.” – A viewer from Iran

49

Easter Breakfast 201O Mercy Ships is holding an Easter Breakfast event for Easter 2010.

Will you organise your own Easter Breakfast event in your church or home and raise vital funds for this life-saving Christian charity?

Mercy Ships operates the world’s largest charity hospital ship delivering free health care to the forgotten poor.

To organise your Easter Breakfast for Mercy Ships, visit: mercyships.org.uk/easter-breakfast or call 01438 727 800 for a free fundraising pack Mercy Ships, The Lighthouse, 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF Registered Charity No 1053055 / A Registered Charity in Scotland SCO39743 / Company No: 3147724 (England & Wales)

20 Orde 10 r t BR he NO OCH NEW W! U RE

Too busy? … take a break at Lee Abbey!

Events which include teaching in our programme for 2010:

l Activity weeks for all the family in The Beacon Outdoor Activity Centre l art, performing arts, music and writing l retreats l women’s events l Band of brothers: men’s retreats l relational l walking

d , retreat an Conference tre in beautiful holiday cen n North Devo relax@leeabbey.org.uk

To see our full programme visit www.leeabbey.org.uk or call 0800 389 1189

Full Time Adverts_BCC Advert (NW) 67x186 29/10/2009 10:33 Page 1

FULL TIME COURSES Three Month or One Year Certificate Two or Three Year Diploma

50

BTh; BD; Masters/PhD Youth Ministry Degree