EXCLUSIVE
Home for Good
Krish Kandiah and Alan Donaldson urge the church to take action on fostering and adoption
Let Hope Arise
Fred Drummond
20Schemes
A new initiative to bring Gospel hope to housing schemes of Scotland
People of hope take the long view Elaine Duncan 1
2013 Deeper & further... Where the river flows everything will live Ezekiel 47:9
Andrea Wigglesworth // Bonnie Chavda Debra Green 4th and 5th October 2013 Central Halls, Edinburgh www.clangathering.org.uk 2
Scottish Charity No SC034886
4th and 5th October 2013 Central Halls, Edinburgh
CLAN Women 2013 is about God calling us in deeper. It's about more of Him as we choose to go deeper, and how that water of life then ows out into the world where people are dehydrated and need the living water that brings real life. "Wherever the river ows, life will ourish" (Ezekiel 47:9 The Message) CLAN Women 2013 is a call to come deeper into the river so we will live the fruitful, ourishing life that our Father has planned for all people. Bonnie Chavda is a pastor and leads a worldwide apostolic ministry with her husband Mahesh. For over thirty--ve years, the Chavdas have been reaching the nations with the gospel accompanied by signs and wonders with a vision to proclaim Christ’s kingdom with power, equip believers for ministry and usher in revival. Debra Green OBE is the National Director and Founder of 'Redeeming Our Communities'. Debra has twenty years of experience in bringing organisations together towards the goal of social transformation, and has acted as a consultant to many other towns and cities with signiicant results. This year our full 2 day event is open to all women and during the Friday there will be 2 seminars and a lunch for women in leadership so we can continue to support you. Lunch, hot drinks and home baking each day are included in the ticket price.
Book Online at clangathering.org.uk or by telephone 01771 637962 WHOLE EVENT Friday & Saturday 9am - 9.30pm
Friday from 7pm & Saturday 9am - 9.30pm
Early Bird
£60
£35
Post April
£65
£40
There is a small booking charge to cover the cost to CLAN of paypal and credit card processing. It may be possible to pay on the door for an evening ticket - please check the website nearer the time for details.
www.clangathering.org.uk Scottish Charity No SC034886
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Ian Black
CONTENTS
WELCOME
Editorial Advisory Board Team to be announced in upcoming Spring Summer 2014 edition of the magazine.
Magazine Delivery Scottish Christian Broadcast (SCB) is printed twice a year and is free to collect from any one of the Collection Points listed (see centre pages of magazine for full listing). If none of these venues are convenient we are delighted to post out to your church in multiples of 10. SCB ask churches to consider a donation. Please make cheques payable to Dundee For Christ and post to the address below. All contributions very gratefully received to help cover print, design and delivery costs. Thank you.
How to contact us Scottish Christian Broadcast The Steeple Nethergate Dundee DD1 4DG t: 07704773382 e: ian@scottishchristianbroadcast.com facebook: facebook.com/scottishchristianbroadcast twitter: twitter.com/ScotChristBCast instagram: instagram.com/scottishchristianbroadcast
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TENTS ONTENTS
Editorial Team
Welcome to the new edition of Broadcast magazine. Our theme for this edition is Hope.
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"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
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There are so many incredible stories and articles in this magazine declaring our God is a God of Hope - and is a God who is moving in Scotland!
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We look at the 20Schemes initiative bringing the good news of Jesus to some of Scotland’s poorest housing schemes; Foodbanks delivering food parcels to the hungry and saving lives. Our main feature in this edition is ‘Home For Good’, a wonderful new initiative of Care for the Family, the Evangelical Alliance and CCPAS. ‘Home for Good’ is a call to the church to explore how adoption and fostering can become a key part of their work. There are 50 children taken into care in the UK each day, each child removed from chaotic, traumatic, abusive, neglectful or desperate situations. There is an urgent need and hence also a great opportunity, for Christians to become foster carers or adoptive parents. Are we a people filled with hope this day? Fred Drummond of the Evangelical Alliance shares in his article ‘Let Hope Arise’ that as we wait in His presence our strength is renewed and our hope rises. Elaine Duncan of the Scottish Bible Society encourages us in her article that when our hope is grounded in trusting God - then it has the surest foundation possible. I hope and pray you enjoy the read, that these stories and reports act as fuel for prayer and action as God calls. Every blessing
Ian Black Scottish Christian Broadcast
Let Hope Arise Fred Drummond
Morphe Arts
Home for Good
Faith, hope and the long view Elaine Duncan
Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing Jeremy McQuoid
SCB Recommendations
20Schemes
Interview with Steph MacLeod
Interview with MPFree
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LET
HOPE ARISE That was my reflection as I sat in the Omni cinema in Edinburgh. I had just watched JJ Abrams new Star Trek movie - Star Trek Into Darkness. Lots of times in the movie it looked like the end for the crew; explosions, attacks, deep frozen terrorists and even Klingons. Lots of shots give the impression of fear, doubt disagreement and doom.... Things are stacked against the enterprise and crew. At the same time there was the sense that despite whatever depth of darkness they were facing the crew would overcome. So there is sacrifice, courage and bravery. So the same scene can leave you feeling the end is nigh or courage will overcome. It all depends how you look at it. In Micah the situation for Israel looks awful. From any angle and with any conceivable lens things appeared to be desperate. The prophet tells us that all the Godly had been swept from the land and not one upright person remains. Violence seems to be everywhere and corruption is rife. Trust has broken down and there is no community 6
spirit. Looking from one perspective the situation is one of despair and hopelessness. There are times when we can look at Scotland and be almost overwhelmed by the problems that appear to be everywhere. Drowning us in a sea of discouragement. There is godlessness, hopelessness, pain and community breakdown. Add to that toxic mix is recession, the banking crisis and all the other social ills we could list. A lot to be discouraged about. Perhaps if we looked to the church. However, we sometimes find decline, disunity lack of spiritual power or missionary zeal. Yet if we look again at Micah he is a person of hope. How can he be a man of hope in such a time for the nation and the people of God? The answer is that neither is the dominant vision of his life. His vision is God. God is able to turn any situation around. God is great and utterly faithful. Micah is able to be a person of hope because God is his primary focus. In Micah 7 V7 the prophet has three ways
This week I have been at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. I have come away encouraged. Not by any particular debate. Indeed some have been difficult. However, in conversation I have heard of people coming to faith, prayer growing, congregations moving into wider community transformation. Mission becoming the magnet for unity. In Glasgow, Stirling, Arbroath and Inverness I heard of God at work. we grow in hope when we focus upon what the Lord is doing. Micah also waited upon God. As I look at my ministry I know that sometimes I have been too impatient. I have fallen into the trap of thinking more activity means more effectiveness. This is the fatal trap of activists. It is those who wait upon the Lord that see their strength renewed. It has taken me a long time to realise that God’s timing is perfect and that just to be in His presence is enough. I believe that some of us need to rediscover how wonderful it can be just to be in the place of trust. God will work and call us to get involved in what He is doing. For
God is able to turn any situation around. God is great and utterly faithful over two years I have been asking God to provide a way to bring certain leaders together. I met each one individually but for various reasons could not get a meeting together. However, after considerable prayer God brought up an issue that meant leaders approached me to see if I could organise a meeting to build trust and prayer. Our hope rises as we wait in His presence, when we delight ourselves in him. A huge weight is lifted from us when we really believe that it is God who builds, not us. How good are you at waiting? How much time are you spending just lying before His holy presence and waiting on Him. Has our diary become so full of what we are doing for God that we don’t make space to wait upon Him?
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A lot depends on how you look at things.
of engaging with God that lifts his hope. He watches, waits and exercises faithfilled prayer. Can we learn from Micah? What about watching in hope. As we look around where are we finding signs of his grace? Let me give you a couple of things that I believe God is doing. At the moment there are various organisations who work in the Christian voluntary sector talking about creating a council which will enable local church and organisations to work together more effectively. The initiative is called serve SCOTLAND and involves groups like Tearfund, Evangelical Alliance, Bethany Trust, Blythswood and lots of others. It is at an early stage but there is an openness to talk, share and gain wider vision. It is great to watch God bring people together.
Lastly Micah had hope because he knew God heard his prayer. Whether it is local or national; 24/7; global day of prayer or a mid-week congregational gathering, I believe prayer is rising in Scotland. Continually in Scripture we are told that God hears the cries of His people. Hope comes from having the faith to believe that God hears and answers prayer. I believe Scotland needs Christians to be a people of Hope. Those who watch what he is doing, delight in waiting upon Him and pray with faith. Is this a chance to take stock and see things in a new way? Fred Drummond Fred Drummond is an Author, Speaker and Head of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland. Fred also heads up the UK prayer for the Alliance 7
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Operation Mobilisation. Registered office: The Quinta, Weston Rhyn Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7LT Registered as a company limited by guarantee no. 2564320 and charity no.1008196 (England and Wales), and SCO40988 (Scotland)
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transforming lives and communities
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coming this summer
A NEW WAY TO SHOP.
How important is hope? Before I started working in International Development, more than 11 years ago, I thought it was a bit of a cop out to provide hope to families in desperate need.
In the grand scale of things hope seemed so intangible to families in need of food, water and a safe place to sleep at night. But over the past decade or so my opinions have changed. Perhaps the penny really dropped for me when I met a young man named Samuel in India. “When I was a kid I had dreams, but not anymore,” he told me with tired, expressionless eyes. Samuel got up at 4am each morning to carry tomato boxes. He started to believe one of the greatest lies that poverty teaches; “you don’t matter”. Consequently, at the tender age of 14, Samuel had lost all hope. Samuel’s outlook on life was in stark contrast to that of Cristuraj, Samuel’s neighbour in Chennai. Hope danced across Cristuraj’s eyes as he spoke of his ambition to become a doctor. As a Compassion-sponsored child Cristuraj was registered into a church-based programme where, amongst other things, he was supported through school, received healthcare and learnt of the hope he had in Christ.
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This combination of economic, physical, spiritual and social care that Cristuraj received as a Compassion-sponsored child has recently been the subject of research conducted by the University of San Francisco. The research, led by development economist Dr Bruce Wydick, compared the life outcomes of Compassion-sponsored children with their non-sponsored peers. The findings showed that sponsored children spent longer in school, studied at a higher level and were more likely to gain secure and better paid employment. In short, sponsorship radically improved their lives.
But why did the projects have such an impact? According to the report, Compassion’s commitment to provide both practical support and inspire hope could make all the difference. “I think what the Compassion programme does, almost uniquely among the organisations I’ve worked with, is work on issues of aspiration development and building self-esteem and a spiritual relationship with God,” says Dr Wydick. “These are things that may be just as important, maybe more important, in shaping life outcomes.” To sponsor a child with Compassion www.compassionuk.org 01932 836490 Kate Sharma Compassion UK Compassion is an international Christian child development and child advocacy ministry. Partnering with local churches, we are committed to the spiritual, economic, social and physical development of children living in extreme poverty in 26 countries, enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. To read more about the research conducted by the University of San Francisco visit www.compassionuk.org/research.
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MORPHE ARTS LAUNCH
NOMAS*PROJECTS Morphe Arts continues to broaden its contribution to the arts in society The recent launch of Nomas*Projects is proving to be a positive way forward in providing a meaningful contribution to the arts community in Dundee.
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Nomas*Projects began when Central Baptist Church allowed me access to utilise their four window office space in Ward Road, Dundee.
so I invited artist Owen Daily to partner with me on the project. Together we approached the McManus Gallery to ask if we could hold an artist talk to coincide with the work showing in the space and thereby offer greater public awareness. McManus were supportive of the idea and provided their learning room for us to use once a month.
The idea started as an opportunity to give artists within the Morphe network and beyond an opportunity to show artwork. It became evident early on that there was potential to offer more,
The name Nomas derives from the Greek nomad - meaning ‘roaming in search of pasture’. Using a small available space, the project relates to nomadic practice and aims to be intentionally fluid as we
Our hope is that this project will contribute to the growing cultural life of the visual arts in Dundee, by showing strong contemporary work from around the UK and abroad, and offering an opportunity to investigate the role of art in society. With the awaited arrival of the V&A to Dundee, it’s an exciting time to be working on art projects in the city. We believe it is important that a Christian contribution is included and available for any dialogue on the arts in society. Our first two shows featured photographer Kieran Dodds and graphic designer Ed Watt. Kieran’s work ‘Displaced People’ taken in China’s Qinghai province documented China’s highland clearances of modern Tibetan nomads, a subject matter that was an excellent starting point for our project. Kieran expressed that ‘working with Nomas*Projects provided an excellent opportunity to show my photographs and engage with an audience by way of the artist talk’. His work from this series will be exhibited in the Scottish Parliament from July.
Ed took the opportunity to launch his own project MakeMatter, a response to the growing issue of food poverty across the UK. For his show, the aim was socially engaged design practice, matching creative projects with social action. He made posters relating to the subject of food and the money from sales was given to the Dundee Foodbank. Ed responded to his experience working with us by sharing, ‘It is a privilege to be part of Nomas*Projects. I admire the creative vision to see such potential in four windows. It is motivating to work with others who have a genuine heart for relevant and authentic art and supporting creative people’.
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are aware of the need for artists to be seeking physical and spiritual inspiration wherever it can be found.
The current show features a collaboration between 3 MFA students at Duncan of Jordanstone and in June, Louise Ritchie, president of the Society of Scottish Artists(SSA) will be exhibiting. Future plans include producing a publication with a wide range of writings on the arts as well as documentation of the shows. More information about Nomas*Projects, and the artists featured can be found at www.nomasprojects.org.
Cully. Morphe Arts To know more about Morphe Arts visit www.morphearts.org or email cully@morphearts.org
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Three ways fostering and adoption can change the world
We have only been foster carers for seven years but it changed our world from day one. Because we had three birth children already when we were approved, we thought we knew a few things about parenting. But our eyes were quickly opened to the challenges and trauma that children in care have had to face. As we heard the heartbreaking stories of addiction, chaos, abuse and neglect that children we have cared for have experienced, there was something inside of us that made us want to do everything we could to show something of God’s perfect love and kindness to children who have suffered so much. We have learned the power of therapeutic
www.homeforgood.org.uk
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It can change your world
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Record numbers of children are coming into care so that the system is bursting at the seams; so sadly stories like this are not unprecedented. In response, the Evangelical Alliance, Care for the Family and the Churches Child Protection Agency Service have launched the Home for Good campaign. Our prayer is that by asking churches to encourage, pray for and support more foster carers and adoptive
carers to step forward from our churches, more children will find homes where they are truly accepted, listened to, cared for and valued. Here are three ways that fostering and adoption will change the world:
Like many churches ours was a predominantly middle class church and we were used to praying for typical middle class concerns. But a growing passion for fostering and adoption has spread through our church. In our small church, there are two adoptive families, and three fostering families. But this is the tip of the iceberg. Most of our church members express affection and interest in the lives of the adopted and fostered children, and go the extra mile to help the families involved with them. They have provided toys, clothes and practical support. They have helped us access appropriate medical treatment. They have laughed and cried with us. They have prayed for the wider issues around poverty, deprivation, mental health issues, rehabilitation and neglect. They have committed themselves to supporting local struggling parents. When we threw a farewell party for a little girl who had been with us for three years half the church turned up and many were in tears when they left. Despite having never said a word due to her disabilities she had deeply impacted everyone with our loving nature, kind disposition and winning smile. Our church has become a more loving and caring community because of its encounter with vulnerable children.
I am nervous every time I pick up the newspaper that I will come across yet another bad news story about the Church. We have developed a reputation for being judgemental hypocrites, saying and doing the wrong things at the wrong time. Thanks to excellent initiatives like food banks, Street Pastors and Christians Against Poverty things are beginning to change as our local communities begin to see the love of God demonstrated practically through our churches. Fostering and adoption has the potential to change our nation. Successful committed placements reduce the chance of scarred children turning to crime or drugs or becoming homeless, sectioned, or incarcerated later in life. But we do not need to wait 18 years to make a national impact. Currently there are 4,600 children waiting to be adopted, and recruitment teams desperate to find 9,000 more foster families to keep up with the growing crisis of large numbers of children coming into care on a daily basis. The Church can meet this entire national need. Through Care for the Family, CCPAS (Church’s Child Protection Advisory Service) and the Evangelical Alliance, 15,000 churches are being asked to find one family in their congregation who can open their home for the good of vulnerable children, and wrap around that family with informed and committed encouragement and support. What better way of showing the unconditional, sacrificial compassion of God than to open our hearts and homes to these children? What a radical way to see change in ourselves, our churches, and our nation. Come and join us. Together we can do this.
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Just a few miles from where I live six girls aged between 11 and 15 years old were raped by a gang of men. The tragedy is that this did not just take place once, but repeatedly over a period of eight years with physical violence involving knives, baseball bats, meat cleavers and hard drugs. The girls were in the care system and despite numerous cries for help, for a long time they were ignored. Sadly many children in the care system are seen as insignificant, irredeemable and inconsequential – we want children to know a different story.
It can change your church
It can change our nation
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home for good
parenting and the impact of helping children to rebuild trust and form meaningful attachments. This could have frustrated our birth children but it has been a delight to see them grow in understanding, compassion, and through the experience of learning to care for foster siblings. Constantly juggling meeting everyone’s needs is hard work – but to be honest it has been an immense privilege to offer a loving home to some wonderful children. Taking a child to the beach or the cinema for the first time or treating them on their birthday, or just watching them develop physically, socially and emotionally is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved. Yes, we have helped change the lives and futures of vulnerable children, but thanks to our foster children, our lives also have been changed and deeply enriched.
Read more in “Home for Good” by Krish and Miriam Kandiah, Hodder, 2013
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Fostering for us as a family began with the call of Jesus who said “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me,” and also said “I have come to bring good news to the poor... to set the oppressed free.” Fostering was for us an opportunity to participate in the imitation of Christ and help some families through difficult times but that decision to foster drew our children and churches into fostering. Many Christians we have spoken to about fostering have said that they could not do it because of the impact it might have on their children. And certainly any family considering fostering should count the cost. Our 6 year old daughter, Amy, ran to church one night to fetch me, Alan, from the service because a 12 year old foster child had tried to jump out of the upstairs window and Ruth was holding on to her by the ankles. A year later Amy locked herself and her brother in her bedroom for an hour because the two girls we were caring for were attacking Ruth and she was not big enough to defend herself or help her mum. This is the real cost of fostering. To welcome foster children into your home is to become vulnerable. It is to choose to sacrifice your own comfort, privacy and occasionally safety for the sake of developing a young life that is in most cases has been severely impacted by neglect or abuse. However, we would be glad to testify, as would every teacher that had ever taught our kids, that exposing them to some of the most needy children in society has created in them a character that is unique amongst their peers. Fostering shaped our children for the better. Paul our 17 year old son wrote recently in an English Essay “For the past 14 years of my life I have been a foster carer.... Being a foster carer is part of my identity, it makes me who I am and most of the time I am proud of it.”
The decision to become foster carers has also drawn two local churches into fostering. That has been a challenge but also a great growth opportunity and means of participating in the mission of God. All of the children we have fostered have attended church. Church is a language rich environment, broadens social interaction and is general a good influence on children. We discovered people in church who had professional skills and connections who helped them; like the optician who discovered blindness in one of our foster kids or the psychiatrists who had a cancellation and at 5 minutes notice phoned us up to see if we could attend. Not to mention all the lovely grannies who spoiled them at Christmas. The churches that we pastored were not always ready for the kids we brought, there was a steep learning curve. Yet the churches started to learn, as we were learning, about the real needs in the community around us which were hidden from most. Occasionally our services or more regularly Sunday School was disrupted by the foster children. A tirade of foul sexualised language to express dissatisfaction at a Sunday School lesson or a temper tantrum that resulted in a few minutes delay in the preaching of the sermon were not uncommon. Yet overwhelmingly the desire to love these children overcame the behaviour issues although few have followed us and become foster carers themselves. Foster caring makes a huge impact on the life of the child but we have discovered that it will also enrich the life of your family and your church. Why not look into what you can do to help those who foster or even consider fully what it would mean for you to be give a child a “Home for Good.”
GIVEAWAY Scottish Christian Broadcast have 5 copies of Krish Kandiah with Miriam Kandiah book ‘Home for Good’ to give away! To enter simply email: ian@scottishchristianbroadcast.com with ‘Home for Good’ in the subject header by October 31st 2013 and we will then select 5 winners to send to. Every 22 minutes a child enters the care system.
IT’S TIME FOR US TO HELP. ‘Challenging, thought-provoking, biblical, moving – full of hope and inspiration.’ ROB PARSONS
HOME FOR GOOD
Alan & Ruth Donaldson
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Alan Donaldson is married to Ruth - Baptist Ministry for 20 years - General Director of Baptist Union of Scotland. Foster Carer for 14 years - 10 of them whilst in two local churches. My wife and I have 2 birth children who were aged 3 and 5 when we began fostering.
Krish Kandiah with Miriam Kandiah 9781444745313 £12.99 | Trade Paperback Publishing on 14th March 2013
www.hodder.co.uk
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wedding photographs, would be looked at and show not perfection, but Someone said this on the radio this morning, contrasting our approach to weddings today compared with the past. it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. People of faith and hope take the long view. It is not about instant gratification and perfection now. It is like looking at the wedding photo and seeing hope, not perfection - seeing what has been promised and trusting that it will come to fulfilment. We live in a very ‘now’ culture. We do not like to wait for things. We know what we want and we want it now! The Old Testament characters were commended for their long view of life. They knew what God had promised and they trusted him that it would happen - even if it didn’t come to pass in their
lifetime. They were confident that God would deliver on his promises. Their life on earth was shaped by a vision of heaven. That gave them confidence to live vigorously and courageously here on earth. Taking the long view changes our perspective on many things. If this life is not all there is and we have been promised something better and more permanent then perhaps we do not need to cling so tightly to wealth and material possessions? Perhaps we could be more generous in what we give away? What about ambition and success? Could we hold more lightly to status and prestige? Taking the long view can also give us more confidence in inviting others to get to know Jesus. What have we to lose? If our hope is grounded in trusting God to keep his promises then it has the surest foundation possible. Taking the long view enables us to live the adventure God has called us to. I do
hope " worry that many in our churches today are bored Christians. We have somehow lost sight and confidence in a God who works in amazing ways, does amazing things and definitely keeps his promises. Recapturing the long perspective can fuel our courage and our confidence. The record of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 also encourages us to take a deep view of life. The Old Testament characters named are not perfect humans. They are commended and described as righteous because of their faith in God. We can read these names and feel so inadequate compared to them. But they are normal humans and feature here because of their trust in an extraordinary God! A deep view of life is to believe the gospel and to live out the security it gives us with enthusiasm! A wise person has said: A person can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without air, but not for 1 second without hope! So, how is your long and deep view of life? If I took a photo of you today would I see, not perfection, but hope?
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She made the point that ‘saving to get married’ used to mean saving towards a deposit on a house or furniture that would last a lifetime. Now it tends to mean saving for the wedding day, which seems to have become an end in itself. The rite (the wedding day) now means more to us that the passage (the marriage) and our keenness for lavish weddings contrasts with a casual attitude towards the responsibilities of marriage. However, this is not a piece about marriage! It was the comment about hope that grabbed my attention and reminded me of the verses in Hebrews 11 - the chapter that names great heroes of the faith from the Old Testament. The writer of the letter starts by defining faith as ‘the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.’ Then after speaking about Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah these few verses: 13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed
People of faith and hope take the long view.
Elaine Duncan
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Elaine is the Chief Executive of the Scottish Bible Society. Her previous employment was with Scripture Union Scotland (11 years) and the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (14 years). She has a degree in Behavioural Sciences (Psychology) and worked for 18 months in a psychiatric unit. Elaine is originally from Cumbria. She now lives in Glasgow, works in Edinburgh and supports the Scottish rugby team!
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Keep
the Mainthe Thing Main Thing (and when July holidays came, the rain would teem down). During those sunny May days, almost anything could distract me from my books. There was football to be played, girls to be dreamed about, plenty of ‘standing-around-in-thesunshine-doing-nothing-very-much-at-all’ to be done – I even offered to do the house chores! Almost anything that would distract me from the main thing – study. If students need to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’, how much more churches, in a nation that desperately needs re-evangelising! Over my 12 years in pastoral ministry, I have had heated letters from Christians about spiritual gifts, the doctrine of predestination, the place of Israel in God’s plans, and even why I choose to wear a tie when I preach. We love to major on the minors, until the Gospel, like the glory of God in Ezekiel’s temple, disappears from sight while no one is looking. Paul urged the Corinthians to ‘keep the main thing, the main thing’. He defines his whole ministry in Corinth by saying, ‘I chose to know NOTHING while I was among you except Jesus Christ,
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and him crucified.’ You can sense his frustration when he has to deal with a myriad of secondary pastoral issues in the troublesome Corinthian church (leadership divisions, sexual immorality, marriage confusion, spiritual gifts), before finally coming to ‘the main thing’. And it’s not until chapter 15 when he says, ‘Now brothers I want to remind you of the Gospel (which is)…of first importance’. And what is that Gospel? ‘…that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day.’ The cross isn’t just the ground for meaningful Christian unity, it is the message we need to take undiluted, unashamed, and unrestricted, to a dying world. The cross compels us to stop being inward looking, and focus on the mass of humanity on our doorsteps who are gently slipping into eternity without realising that Christ has paid the price for sin.
We love to major the minors
Sin, ah yes! If we are ever going to ‘keep the main thing the main thing,’ surely we must keep preaching and talking about the ‘s’ word. It is disturbing how many times you listen in to a message aimed at explaining the core of Christianity, and the ‘s’ word is skipped over or airbrushed out of the picture. People will never understand the Gospel in Scotland, or anywhere else for that matter, if we refuse to talk about the ‘s’ word! Christ didn’t die to give us ‘the good life’. He didn’t die to create yet another in the myriad forms of spirituality on offer today. And he certainly didn’t die just to be an example of sacrificial love (though the cross is a wonderful demonstration of that). No. ‘Christ died for our s**’. Don’t sell the message short. Keep the main thing the main thing before the Gospel becomes nothing more than ‘the guide to the happy life’ and loses its Spiritdriven, life giving power. Yes, we are sinners, because God isn’t just good, or very good. He is ‘holy, holy, holy’. He is dazzling in glory, the sum of all perfections, and though he loves his image-bearing creatures, he is revolted by our sin. So revolted that his Son hung in naked agony, suspended between heaven and earth, mourned by angels and mocked by demons, so that he could rescue us from sin, provide us with a righteousness not
our own, and propel us to future glory in a new heavens and new earth. And what about resurrection? Has the scepticism of 21st century scientists made us go quiet about resurrection? The resurrection is the key to the whole Gospel narrative. Because Christ rose, we will one day rise. You couldn’t be an apostle of Christ if you had not seen him risen from the dead, because his sin-and-death-defeating resurrection was the basis for the renewal of broken lives today, and the hope of glory tomorrow. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ forms one single, sweeping, salvation event – the hope that will ultimately renew the entire cosmos (Rom 8). Don’t get distracted. ‘Keep the main thing the main thing.’ Preach the Gospel, gossip the Gospel, find creative ways to share the Gospel. And don’t ever forget what that Gospel is – ‘Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.’ Don’t edit it, or downplay its miraculous elements, to gain an audience. Christ is God’s chosen Saviour, ‘given over to death for our sins, and raised to life for our justification’ (Rom 4:25). That is the Gospel. Come Mayday rains, or July showers, ‘keep the main thing, the main thing!’
Feature
They say no one can predict the weather. I think that’s probably true for most times of the year, but when I was growing up, you could bet your mortgage that during the month of May, when school exams were in full swing, the sun would be blazing...
Jeremy McQuoid Jeremy McQuoid is the Teaching Pastor at Deeside Christian Fellowship Church in Aberdeen. Jeremy also speaks at national and international conferences. Jeremy earned his Masters degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is married to Elizabeth and they have 3 sons.
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GIVEAWAY
What are you doing this summer?
Scottish Christian Broadcast have 5 copies of Jeremy McQuoid’s new book ‘The Amazing Cross’ to give away! To enter simply email ian@scottishchristianbroadcast.com with ‘The Amazing Cross’ in the subject header by October 31st 2013 and we will then select 5 winners to send to.
New from ICC for Summer 2013 Summer schools from International Christian College Church after Christendom August 19th-23rd A week for Christians to explore Biblical teaching on the church and the practical challenges of how we can plant and develop churches which will thrive in our new cultural landscape.
For more information: www.icc.ac.uk 0141 552 4040 facebook.com/icc.glasgow
Evangelism and Conversion August 26th-30th A week for leaders and those with an interest in theology to explore in more depth some biblical, theological and sociological perspectives on the themes of evangelism and conversion. 28
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“In church I have to share my Bible. But if I had a Bible of my own, I would read it slowly and savour it word for word.”
A Publicity & Communication Training Day for the Church in Scotland Scottish Christian Broadcast launch a
NEW one day training event designed to better equip the church and its ministries to make the most of media as we seek to communicate the Gospel as widely as possible.
The training day will cover • • • • • • • • •
social media advertising press and press releases video print & design partnerships websites e-newsletters… photography and more
And all on a shoestring budget!
To make further enquires or a booking please email ian@scottishchristianbroadcast.com or tel 07704 773382
the BIBLE changes lives For just £4 you can put a Bible into the hands of a Christian in Cambodia. www.scottishbiblesociety.org/cambodia 30
The Scottish Bible Society, 7 Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5XU, Tel: 0131 337 9701, Fax: 0131 337 0641 – Scottish Charity No. SC010767 A company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. 238687- registered office as above (Formerly The National Bible Society of Scotland) 31
Scotland
‘Powerful, personal and relevant’ Bear Grylls
Be led into a deeper faith and a closer walk with God CVM Scotland is part of CVM, an international movement of men who simply want to tell other men about Jesus. We equip the church, train leaders, set up and enable men’s groups, produce evangelistic resources, run conferences and evangelistic men’s camps and much more!
To find out more about how you and your church can join this movement then please contact our Director for Scotland, Stephen McGuire. Email: scotland@cvm.org.uk
CVM Office: 01246 452483
Equipping and resourcing you to share Jesus with the men around you
This powerful series of Bible notes for men is written by Carl Beech of CVM. Each book contains 60 daily readings and prayers, two guest contributors and themes to encourage men from all walks of life.
networking || events
CVMScotland 32
resources || training
cvm.org.uk/scotland
CVM Scotland is a registered charity (no. SC043446)
CVM is a registered charity (no. 1071663) and a company registered in England and Wales (no. 3623498)
cvm.org.uk/themanual Also available from CWR, Amazon and Christian bookshops eBook versions available in Kindle and ePub formats
CVMScotland
cvm.org.uk/scotland
CVM Scotland is a registered charity (no. SC043446)
CVM is a registered charity (no. 1071663) and a company registered in England and Wales (no. 3623498)
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GIVE A YEAR AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR GOOD DNA – a full on year of radical church based discipleship, delivered in Scotland and England » Take a year in with God » Discover who you are in God » Find out how you can live for God Find out more visit:
dna-uk.org 34
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Scottish Christian Broadcast recently met up with Dave Morris, newly appointed Project Manager of this member charity of the Trussell Trust foodbank network – a network of some 350 foodbanks across the UK with 16 of these now in Scotland with 19 more in development. Hi Dave! Tell us, when did you start with the Dundee foodbank and how have you found your new role? Good! Busy…challenging! You can never sure what each day will bring
Your foodbank covers the whole city of Dundee? Yes that’s right. We have 2 collection points, one in the Hilltown area of the city at the AoG ‘Full Gospel Church’ and in 36
the Menzieshill area at the local Church of Scotland. We are currently looking at developing another 2 collection points. Our phones are open from 10-4pm Monday to Friday.
Talk us through what happens when someone in need phones in? Well, we operate on a referral basis, so most calls that we take come in from local frontline care agencies, who will be making a referral of folk in crisis need of
DUND food to us. We are linked in to around 80 referring agencies in the city which includes organisations such as Welfare Rights, Dundee City Council services, Education, Social Work, Health teams and many more. Some calls do come direct to the Foodbank and we would make sure that this person is linked into the appropriate provision of care to address their core need, so it’s important to ensure that the volunteers have a knowledge of the services that are available across the city to help get people back up and on their feet again.
Any encouraging wee stories of late to tell? Lots! One guy recently housed and referred onto us by Dundee City Council received a food parcel from us and now wants to volunteer as part of our supermarket collection teams!
How else do you source food for the foodbank? Churches do collections at special events and some collect every Sunday. Individuals also drop in food, and some companies across the city hold workplace collections, so it comes from all across Dundee. We are tremendously grateful for all the food we receive but as I mentioned at the start of the interview the need is great and growing. In Dundee we provided food to 3379 individuals last financial year. In this financial year the need is rising and my predictions that this figure will easily top 4000 and possibly rise to 5000.
Feature
The Dundee foodbank is the busiest in Scotland
You can find out more about the Dundee foodbank and the Trussell Trust foodbanks at www.dundee.foodbank.org.uk www.trusselltrust.org
Fantastic! Tell us a little about supermarket collection teams? We go to the largest supermarkets, hand out leaflets to shoppers as they go in asking if they would be willing to buy a few extra goods for the foodbank. It’s proving a really successful model – Dundee folks are really generous. Dave Morris Project Manager Dundee Foodbank
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Christian bookshops BOOKS BIBLES Are you looking for resources and gifts that will truly bless and inspire those you love? Love the idea of encouraging a global Christian literature ministry by simply supporting your local shop? Why not visit your nearest CLC shop to discover some amazing resources and what we are doing around the world! Find us on Facebook & Twitter simply search for CLC Bookshops
Loyalty Voucher
Shop online: www.clcbookshops.com
15% OFF everything at these CLC Bookshops!
(Aberdeen, Dundee & Inverness) Expires: 01/12/13
*Not valid with any other offer.
CARDS GIFTS
MUSIC
M A P
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* Christian Books and Music * Christian Stationery and Gifts * Fair-trade Food Items * Fair-trade Third World Crafts
112 Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4EH Tel: 01382 226 859 Email: dundee@clcbookshops.com Open Mon to Sat: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
YWAM Seamill releasing radical world changers Youth With A Mission
Discipleship Training Schools School of the Word & Spirit Retreat & Conference facilities Intercession & Leadership training Seminars A vibrant Christ-centered missional community of radical world changers, located on the West Coast of Scotland. www.ywamseamill.org seamill@ywamscotland.org Tel: 01294 829400
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Credo Centre, M 14-20 John Street A Aberdeen, AB25 1BT P Tel: 01224 641 620 Email: aberdeen@clcbookshops.com Open Mon to Sat: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm M A P
A tiny shop with a big ambit
Christian books can change lives, encourage, instruct or inspire. The MusTard seed 86 Victoria street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1dQ
01856 871596 mustardseedorkney@btinternet.com Open Mon - sat 10.00am - 5.00pm (except Weds and suns)
Visiting Blairgowrie? Please pop in! 62 High Street I Blairgowrie I PH10 6DF t: 01250 873509 e: number62@tiscali.co.uk www.contactnumber62.co.uk
Tanglewood Trust Christian Bookshop in Shetland
We stock Bibles, books, music, greeting cards and gifts. Come in to browse, chat, relax and enjoy the atmosphere. We look forward to meeting you! Open Mon - Sat 9.00am - 17.00pm (Closed for lunch 12.30-13.30)
Youth With A Mission Limited is registered in Scotland Registered Company No. 77148, Registered Charity No. SCO13315 The Seamill Centre, 9 Glenbryde Road, West Kilbride, KA23 9NJ
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Tanglewood Trust Christian Bookshop 30 Market Street I Lerwick I Shetland I ZE1 0JP t: 01595 694816 I www.ttcb.org.uk 39
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Welcomes you to a meeting with Neal & Sandra Schafferius Meeting Venue: Holiday Inn (next to Zoo) 132 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 6UA For dates and times see website. Neal’s desire is to lead people into God’s presence through worship. Sandra’s heart is to preach God’s Word and see people healed and set free in every area of their lives. www.healingthewholeperson.org A ministry affiliated with the Elim Pentcostal Church
N & S Ministries Registered Charity Number: SC042247
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Magazine Collection Points ABERDEEN
Scottish Christian Broadcast is Connecting Christian Scotland. To win Scotland for Christ the church in our nation will need to be working in close partnership. To do this effectively will require excellent communication between every partner to ensure every effort is coordinated avoiding any duplication of effort or areas of provision left uncovered. Scottish Christian Broadcast (SCB) is designed to be the one-stop shop communications network in our nation that helps to better ‘Connect Christian Scotland’.
r
The first Scottish Christian Broadcast magazine had a print run of 7500, and demand has seen this double to 15,000 in less than 2 years.
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What is the cost? Its FREE!
How many are printed and how often? The magazine is printed twice yearly. The Spring Summer 2013 edition had a print run of 12,500, while this new Autumn Winter 2013 edition has a print run of 15,000.
Where is it distributed? Throughout Scotland’s Christian bookshops, cafes, colleges, outdoor centres and churches (full list on opposite page). We are looking for Broadcast magazine church reps to take responsibility to ensure your church allocation is received and distributed. Please email ian@scottishchristianbroadcast.com or Tel 07704773382 for information.
How can I get copies for my church? The magazine is FREE and can be collected from any number of collection points across Scotland (see our Magazine Collection points list). If none of these are convenient we can arrange delivery to you/your church. If you would like a magazine display holder (see pictured) we can also supply one of these for FREE.
How can I Advertise? Advertising starts from as little as £99 and when you book we will advertise via our extensive social media platform for free. We believe this offers the church the best value advertising in Scotland.
W: clc.org.uk/findus.htm E: aberdeen@clcbookshops.com T: 01224 641620
Scripture Union, 70 Milton St, G4 0HR W: suscotland.org.uk/contact/offices.aspx E: info@suscotland.org.uk T: 0141 332 1162 CARE
Number 62 Bookshop, High St, PH10 6DF
Challenge House, Bill Baird, 29 Canal St, G4 0AD T: 0141 332 7212
W: contactnumber62.co.uk E: number62@tiscali.co.uk
HAMILTON Hamilton College, Bothwell Road, ML3 0AY
CRIEFF
W: hamiltoncollege.co.uk E: marketing@hamiltoncollege.co.uk T: 01698 282700
BLAIRGOWRIE
Christian Book Shop, 19b High Street, Crieff, PH7 3HU E: books@crieffbaptist.org.uk T: 01764 652075
CUPAR The Lighthouse, 63 Bonnygate, KY15 4BY E: Jane@thelighthouse.myzen.co.uk
INVERNESS CLC Bookshop, IV2 3EP W: inverness.clcbookshops.com E: inverness@clcbookshops.com T: 01436 242486
T: 01334 656287
KILMARNOCK
DUNDEE
John Ritchie Bookshop, 40 Beansburn, KA3 1RL
CLC Bookshop, DD14EH W: dundee.clcbookshops.com E: dundee@clcbookshops.com T: 01382 226859
W: ritchiechristianmedia.co.uk E: shop@johnritchie.co.uk T: 01563 536394
MOTHERWELL
Glo Bookshop, ML1 1BN Faith Mission Bookshop, 4 Canmore St, KY12 7PX W: globookshop.com E: books@glo-europe.org T: 01383 720 643 T: 01698 275343 Vine Church
DUNFERMLINE
W: thevinechurch.com E: mail@thevinechurch.com T: 01383 631 001
EDINBURGH Faith Mission Bookshop 548 Gilmerton Rd, EH17 7JD T: 0131 672 2152
Scottish Bible Society, 7 Hampton Tce, EH12 5XU W: scottishbiblesociety.org E: info@scottishbiblesociety.org T: 0131 337 9701
Wellsprings W: wellsprings.uk.net E: info@wellsprings.uk.net
Central W: jesusattheheart.org E: hannah@jesusattheheart.org T: 0131 447 9787
FALKIRK Falkirk Christian Bookshop W: falkirkchristianbookshop.co.uk E: fcb@falkirkchristianbookshop.co.uk T: 01324 612955
GLASGOW
ORKNEY
The Mustard Seed Bookshop, 86 Victoria St, Kirkwall E: mustardseedorkney@btinternet.com T: 01856 871596
PERTH
Broadcast
In addition to this growing bi-annual magazine SCB is the number one communication platform on social media for Christians news, events, jobs and more; supported also by a monthly e-newsletter that reaches around 2000 people. Sign up today at our website www.scottishchristianbroadcast.com
Broadcast Magazine
CLC Bookshop, AB25 1BT
Faith Mission Bookshop, 240 High St, PH1 5QJ T: 01738 638 142
PETERHEAD Faith Mission Bookshop, 2 Erroll St, AB42 1PX T: 01779 471 961
SHETLAND Tanglewood Trust Christian Bookshop 30 Market St, Lerwick W: ttcb.org.uk E: sales@ttcb.org.uk T: 01595 694816
STIRLING Faith Mission Bookshop, 36 Barnton St, FK8 1NA T: 01786 451 152 The Leprosy Mission Scotland Suite 2, Earlsgate Lodge, Livilands Lane, FK8 2BG E: stuartm@tlmscotland.org.uk T: 01786 449 266
STORNOWAY
Faith Mission Bookshop
Stornoway Religious Bookshop,
24-28 Bothwell St, G2 6NU T: 0141 221 8913
T: 01851 703334
30 Kenneth St, HS1 2 DR
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Land of
and Hubris As we head towards the Commonwealth Games in 2014 let’s reflect back on some of the lessons learned from the Olympic Games in 2012.
The opening ceremony was surprisingly good. It was quirky, thematic and told well a colourful and varied tale of modern Britain. On the other hand the closing ceremony was surprisingly bad. Actually, astonishingly bad. If anyone wants to see how modern Western democracy, stemming from the JudaeoChristian view of the world has evolved into a self-destructive hubristic parody of itself, then the closing ceremony of London 2012 is the classic evidence. The theme of the ceremony was a good idea – a celebration of British music. Even in that it failed because it largely missed out classical music, heavy metal, hymns, folk music and apart from one tiny bit – the ultimate in musical instruments –the bagpipes! Greeks and Scots were united in bewailing the lack of wailing. However it was what was sung and said, rather than what was not, which gives evidence to the view that we are returning to a Greco-Roman pagan view 44
of Europe, rather than the two millennia of largely Christian Europe. John Lennon’s Imagine was one of the lowlights. Together with the ‘angelic’ choir everyone joined in to sing about imagining that there is no religion, God etc. The irony of the most materialistic consumerist culture singing ‘imagine there’s no possessions’ was matched only by the audience applauding as they sang ‘imagine there’s no countries’. This in celebration of an event which is all about countries competing with each other (and spending billions to do so) in order to get shiny new medals! Then we were treated to George Michael singing Faith. At the centre of the podium, in the centre of the stadium he told the congregation, “Remember right now you are at the centre of the universe”. We live in a world where atheistic naturalistic secular humanists tell us that we are just ‘a speck of carbon in the universe, floating from one meaningless existence to another’ (Bertrand Russell). As a result human beings are denigrated to the status of vegetation, and animals are disneyfied to the status of humans. We think we have the right to take life in the womb and to get rid of unproductive elderly people who are a drain on the State. We devalue humanity in the name of humanism and yet deify humans to make us feel good and to grant even more power to the powerful. What absolute Herodian hubris to claim that those in the Olympic stadium at this time were the centre of the universe.
And it got worse. Along came the skating nuns and Eric Idle singing Monty Python's crucifixion song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Whilst some just see it as a harmless piece of jolly music with a vaguely uplifting message – I see it for what it is, a blasphemous fantasy based upon a degraded and degrading view of humanity. For life is quite absurd And death's the final word. You must always face the curtain with a bow Forget about your sin, Give the audience a grin. Enjoy it, it’s your last dance anyhow. Forget about your sin. Give the audience a grin. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. It is to such people that God says ‘you fool’, and of such people that God demands an accounting for their soul. Perhaps though, this song is a good theme for those who govern 21st century Europe – let the people eat cake, give them bread and circus’s, and lets not think about wider issues of justice, democracy, love and mercy. It was profoundly depressing to see the Prime Minister of Great Britain, David Cameron, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, attempting to dance to the Spice Girls. Thoughts of Nero fiddling whilst Rome burned sprang to mind. I did however come across some hope in the whole shambolic mess. One of
the singers sang, “if the truth has been forbidden then we’re breaking all the rules”. One suspects the songwriter meant to say ‘wow, look how trendy, radical and rebellious we are’ – although the reality is the reverse. Ironically it is those who are termed ‘conservative Christians’ (i.e. Christians who actually believe what Christ said) who are the new rebels. We are the ones who have to break the rules as the corporate State and its compliant media legislate or bore us into submission. And we do so by living proclaiming and loving him is the Truth.
Feature
British people are generally very cynical (and maybe us Scots especially). So when it was announced that London was to host the 2012 Olympic Games there were plenty who were ready to pronounce it a failure before the first event had even begun. However the naysayers (including yours truly) seem to have been wrong. The games were well run, the venues were excellent and some of the performances outstanding. Whether it was worth the £12 billion and the increased tendency towards corporatism in sport we will leave to a future date.
Glory Another line in that song was “you’ve got the light to fight the shadows so stop hiding it away”. If ever there was a message for the Church in Scotland today it is that. We do not fight like with like. We do not fight darkness with darkness. We do not fight the gloom by moaning about it. We go joyfully into the night with the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and watch as it shines all the brighter in a Scotland/ UK which seems bent on a path of selfdestruction. Who knows but that we may yet be saved – and that Scotland will become the first post-Christian country to be brought back to Christ?! Wouldn’t it be great if 2014 was not so much remembered for the Commonwealth Games, or the Independence referendum, but as the year of Revival and Reformation?! David Robertson Director Solas Centre for Public Christianity Minister of St Peters Free Church, Dundee
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Back to School with God 2013 Resources for an all-age service to pray for and support your young people and the school community at the start of the school year.
Now in its 7th year, Back to School with God Sunday is held in a wide variety of churches across Scotland, the UK and many other countries.
Everything you need is provided to run an all-age service, including: - Prayers, - PPT slides, - Teaching points, - Praise suggestions - illustrations. Supporting resources include children’s activities which can be used in Sunday School or Bible class at a future date, plus promotional posters and flyers.
"A number of the schools said how much they appreciated the interest and prayer support of a church."
Download your resources from
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suscotland.org.uk/bsg
God’s
Kingdom
on the move...
National youth conference for S4-S6 pupils who want to grow in their relationship with God and understand how the Bible shapes all areas of life...home, school and church
Fri 11 October - Mon 14 October Lendrick Muir suscotland.org.uk/goconference 47
ncover
UCCF make
50,000 Uncover Gospels
50,000 hardback Moleskine-inspired UCCF Uncover Gospels have been made available to local churches in Great Britain. UCCF’s decision to print an additional 50,000 Gospels comes in the light of widespread demand from church leaders who have seen students distribute and personally use around 80,000 Gospels with non-believing friends as part of UCCF’s ‘Pray for 5, Give to 5, Read with 5’ seeker Bible study campaign. Linda Macarthur, a member at Glasgow Caledonian University – who became a Christian through a CU member - said, ‘Our missions week at Glasgow Caledonian CU was based around UCCF’s uncover gospels. We started to go through the set of 6 studies on Luke’s gospel. The questions were so easy to understand and could be answered from both a Christian and a Non-Christian point of view.’ Richard Cunningham, Director of UCCF, adds, ‘More students have been coming to 48
faith in the past year than at any time I can remember. We are just coming to the end of over 90 missions in our leading universities at which Uncover Gospels were given to around 80,000 students - many thousands of whom will be in Uncover Seeker Bible Studies. All of this remarkable activity has not gone unnoticed in the churches up and down the UK. Church leaders have asked UCCF if we would train their church members to do Uncover Gospel projects and to lead Uncover Seeker Bible Studies and to make available all the Uncover resources as soon as possible.’ The Gospels, which converge digital with traditional print media have generated widespread acclaim from church members and Christian leaders alike. Luke Davydaitis, Pastor of King’s Church,
Edinburgh, said, ‘I’m excited about the project because it’s about seeing Jesus directly through the gospels – going straight to the heart of what we believe. Both challenging and accessible for those seeking to explore.” In a lengthy commendation, Theologian, Don Carson, commented that Uncover, ‘empowers Christians to get into direct study of Scripture - in this case, Luke’s Gospel – with unbelievers.’ He continued, ‘Some multi-media tools seem more concerned to show off the technology than to study the Bible. This is not true of Uncover: the contemporary feel of the material never detracts from studying the biblical text and drawing people to Jesus. Uncover is direct without being intrusive, bold without being pushy, clear without being simplistic, challenging without being condescending. This material deserves wide circulation not only in universities and colleges but in local churches and then it should be translated and circulated some more’ Rico Tice, creator and founder of the Christianity Explored Course and Associate Minister at All Souls Church,
Langham Place, was equally impressed by the suit of resources, saying, ‘Uncover and all of the one-to-ones it has unleashed all over the country is such a significant contribution. It is enabling me to say to my people, “If the students are doing it – so should we”. I’ve never had that sort of leverage before, and am saying it on a Christianity Explored Table Leaders Tour.’
Feature
available to churches
Pod Bhogal, Head of Communications for UCCF, explains how the digital innovations that the gospels feature differentiate Uncover from other paper back gospels. He said, ‘QR codes – or Quick Response codes– are a type of barcode that can be scanned by smartphone users to access data from the internet. These have been imbedded in the text throughout the gospel so that users can access a variety of short evangelistic and apologetics film presentations as they read through the text of Luke.’ He continues, ‘The gospels are hardback and are attractively designed for a contemporary audience. We’ve also allowed plenty of room for notes so people can interact with the text by writing notes and underlining verses.
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Finally, commentary notes have been placed throughout the gospels to draw people into the text and help them think about what they’re reading. Our vision is to empower everyday Christians to open up Luke’s Gospel with their friends. There’s no need to be an expert or to have all the answers. All you need is to be willing to pray for your friends and invite them to read it with you.’ Uncover resources can be purchased from thinkivp.com/uncover. Uncover is also being supported by a national training tour by Seeker Bible Study expert and Uncover author, Becky Manly Pippert. Churches and students will be invited to receive training on Saturday the 19th October. Venue and ticket prices TBC. Contact CDodds@uccf.org.uk for more information about the training days.
environment and requires a degree of interest and commitment from them to start with. The jump is so big for our friends that many of them go without any opportunity to really look at the life of Christ at all. Uncover seeks to bridge this gap equipping ordinary Christians to do extraordinary evangelism. Introduce your friends to Jesus with Uncover. 1.
Uncover is relational and can be read anytime, anywhere Uncover helps you to talk about Jesus with you friends, in a coffee shop, in the pub, over lunch or wherever they are.
2.
Uncover brings the experts to your door When you read Uncover with a friend you bring the experts with you. Through a host of interactive and online features, you and your seeking friend will have instant access to a number of the UK’s best evangelists and apologists speaking into a range of key issues, including suffering, other religions and the reliability of the Bible.
Uncover helps you to introduce your friends to Jesus Uncover is an examination of the evidence about the life and purpose of Jesus Christ from Luke’s Gospel. Our vision is to empower everyday Christians to open up Luke’s Gospel with their friends by using a suite of resources that are relational, accessible and easy to use. Church based courses have been running for 15-20 years now and known huge blessing under God. Increasingly, people don’t have a church background or know much about Jesus from education or family. Therefore, it’s a big ask for friends to come to a course on our terms in our 50
3.
Uncover is easy to use The Uncover suite of resources is a ready-to-go package needing very little preparation time. As well as immediate access to a host of online features, study questions have been written by evangelist and seeker Bible study expert Rebecca Manley Pippert. Everything a person might need to open up the Bible with their friend is provided.
Uncover helps you to introduce your friends to Jesus Uncover is an examination of the evidence about the life and purpose of Jesus Christ using Luke’s Gospel.
Join the UCCF Scotland team for a day of evangelism training with Seeker Bible Bible and Uncover author, StudyStudy expertexpert and Uncover author, Rebecca Rebecca Manley Pippert. Manley Pippert. Date: October Date: October 19th 19th 2013 Venue & Columba’s Booking: Details TBCEdinburgh Venue: St Free Church, Email Caz Dodds at cdodds@uccf.org.uk Booking: Email Caz Dodds at cdodds@uccf.org.uk to outdetails more for find booking
Find our how to order copies for you and your church at thinkivp.com/uncover
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IS THERE MORE TO LONDON THAN JUST A POSTCARD PICTURE?
WWW.LCM.ORG.UK
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Sharing Jesus Christ with all London
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Missiona Missionary
From
Prisoner to
prayers of Christians I found what I had always needed. I repented and became a follower of Jesus. I have been sharing the living hope of Jesus with others ever since.
John Hamilton spent most of his early life in prison. Today he works in London as an evangelist with London City Mission. This is his story. I work as an evangelist for London City Mission, but you might be surprised to learn that I am a former criminal and drug dealer. As a boy I started running with gangs in the West of Scotland. Shoplifting led to juvenile detention, but sadly this did not stop me. A limited sense of right and wrong and mixing with the wrong crowd soon led to a life of habitual criminality. Inevitably, this also led to drugs. By the time I had reached my 28th birthday, I had spent more than half my adult life in jail. Many of my friends had died from violence or drugs. Prison had kept me alive, but I 54
was without hope for the future. I knew something had to change. Thankfully, so did God.
My colleagues and I share the gospel in the area around Kings Cross, the same area where my old friend came to faith! Every day is different. Our ministry reaches out to the street population around King’s Cross. People in hostels and those who spend their days on the streets, alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and those struggling to make ends meet; this is our mission field.
Those we encounter are on the margins of society, without hope and in deep material and spiritual need. God works in amazing ways. Sitting in a cell in Barlinnie prison all those years ago I could never have imagined that one day God would call me to share the love of Jesus with people in London. I’m so thankful that God, in his grace, has redeemed my past and now my story helps me reach out to the marginalised and those who have no connection to the church.
Feature
After church work in Scotland and Bible College I moved to London to serve with London City Mission. Here in London I see such great gospel need every day. I meet people who feel far from God and without hope for the future. Twenty years ago I was just like them. I pray that my story will show people that no-one is too far away that God cannot reach them. No one is beyond the living hope of Jesus.
“No one is beyond the living hope of Jesus.”
To find out more about London City Mission visit: www.lcm.org.uk
A friend of mine from the bad old days had become a Christian while he was living in King’s Cross in London. He’d been involved in criminal activity in London, but had been greatly influenced by a London City Missionary and was a different man. He came back to Scotland with a mission to share his new faith with the old gang. At first I thought he’d lost the plot, but he was faithful and shared the gospel with me. With the support and 55
SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN BROADCAST own boundaries. Elsewhere, it’s clear that Lyon and his colleagues are having fun in the folk-tinged “Rejoice” before the album closes in stirring improvisational style with “Hallelujah”. Lyon chivalrously hands the vocal duties over to his other half on numbers including the hymn-like “God Most High”,“You See Beautiful” and the title track - all of which are immediately enhanced by having that Yvonne Lyon sound - but it is his own captivatingly sincere vocal performance that helps make this exemplary offering just that bit more special.
FAITHFUL David Lyon Scottish singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist David Lyon has been central to the recent burgeoning of the Scottish Christian music scene and his input has significantly benefited the work of other artists such as his wife Yvonne, Allan McKinlay and Gareth Davies-Jones. Thankfully, the aforementioned return the favour by contributing either vocally or instrumentally to Lyon’s fourth solo album which sees him once again team up with the in-demand Foundry Music Lab production duo of Graeme Duffin and Sandy Jones. The jaunty “We Fix Our Eyes On You” and “No Greater Love” open proceedings and set the scene for an album of quality new worship material that gently seeks to praise God at every turn and, as you would expect from a songwriter of Lyon’s calibre, there is a refreshing variety in terms of style to keep things interesting throughout. For instance, the simply stunning title track boasts a gentle Celtic beauty whilst the repentant “Forgiveness” is a brooding piece of work that sees Lyon pushing his
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Excellent
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman for Cross Rhythms Available from www.eatacd.com/davidlyon
Paisley’s Mossvale Community Church is a case in point. Featuring twelve brand new worship songs, Mossvale’s album sees lead singers Peter Chalk, Esther Orr and Peter Allan backed by a delightfully heavy band that ensures that this release is a high octane one which seeks to glorify God at every turn. Following more or less the standard worship release formula, proceedings kick off with the thundering “Lift Up The Name” closely followed by the equally booming “Everything” before settling down to some more reflective moments in the likes of “Consume” and “Yours Forever More” – the latter showcasing the substantial vocal talents of Esther Orr. The team at Mossvale then ramp everything back up again with the stirring “All My Life” and “Take My Heart” to complete what is an accomplished offering of new worship material.
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman Available from www.eatacd.com/mcc
A LITTLE LIVE EP Lins Honeyman For Lins, this ‘toe in the water’ album does exactly what it says on the cover. ‘A Little Live EP’ was released in March 2012 and it recreates tracks which give a taste of what he brings to a live event. Lins Honeyman enlisted Gilbert Speirs from Dayspring Studios to record three of the four tracks and the quality of the finished product shines through. Recording live events brings its own challenges but these tracks make you feel as if you were there. The tracks highlighted in this small but perfectly formed EP are well known but Lins adds an extra blues dimension to these particular songs. He has chosen tracks which are gems, plucked from a traditional and sometimes forgotten mould, to breathe new life into them. You are drawn to listen to the words anew. I suppose there is disappointment that the album only contains four tracks but I imagine it is only a taster of good things to come.
Recommend
ECOM
RECOMMENDS...
The opening track shows the result of working vocally with Morna Young. It is a joy and sets a high standard which
Scottish Christian Broadcast CD recommendations in partnership with
eatacd.com
YOURS FOREVER Mossvale Community Church If further proof were needed to confirm that the Scottish worship scene is a burgeoning one, the new release from
Very good
Good
Average
Poor 57
Scotland punches above it weight when it comes to musicians and it is great to discover this CD form Perth based Lins, someone who has been on the music scene performing for some time.
Reviewed by David Aird, Producer of “Heart of the Matter” Black Diamond FM Available from www.eatacd.com/linshoneyman
intro and then kicks in to become a high energy rock track with an infectious chorus. ‘Forever Love’ has a really cool funky bass riff with a catchy dance style female vocal over the top and Mpfree doing his thing encouraging the listener to ‘get your hands up coz worship is the answer!’ I love the way that Mpfree has managed to cleverly mix and infuse different musical styles throughout. It definitely leaves the listener wanting more and I’m sure there will be an excitement building over his next release.
Reviewed by Allan McKinlay
Reviewed by Allan McKinlay Available from www.eatacd.com/thomasdean
‘Kingdom Come’ is Steph’s second album and is focused on looking at his faith and seeking the heart of the Father God. And it is off the scale fantastic! Possibly the best of its kind I have heard come out of Scotland. Personal stand out tracks for me are Let Me Know Your Heart - a wonderful upbeat track that reminds me of a favourite Springsteen sound. It has heart felt lyrics of gratitude to God for all He has done. Damascus Road and The Passion are also personal favourites from this album - outstanding tracks on which Steph (and we as listeners) are blessed with a wonderful new collaborative working between Steph and composer Stu Kennedy whose talents as a composer and arrangements bring an awesome majesty to these tracks with exceptional majestic orchestral arrangements. Out-and-out hope-fuelled sunshine rock track of Beautiful Morning - Switchfoot haven’t done it finer! The track 'My Father' is a heart- rending song that takes us to the 23rd Psalm with lyrics “Sometimes hard times fall and I am spent. Weary I call Cease Relent. But wait! No I need not tremble. I know whatever my path I’m not alone.”
KINGDOM COME Steph Macleod
HE KNOWS MY NAME Thomas Dean Thomas Dean is the worship pastor at Central in Edinburgh and also leads at various other events around the city, including Powerpoint. He Knows My Name is Thomas’ first venture into the world of worship recording and he gets of to a great start! There’s something different and fresh about this EP - ranging from the opening track ‘Stars Ring Out’ which has a winning combination of really interesting melodies and intelligent lyrics, right through to the brilliant string accompanied modern hymn ‘Broken as
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I Am’. Every one of these songs are of a high standard but the stand out track is definitely “Father’s House” which is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard written on the story of the prodigal son. The recording is top quality and has an impressive line up of musicians who do a fantastic job. You get the sense that this E.P is the product of real, authentic community. From the songs that were birthed out of local church to the music recorded by a collective of artists called the Push community, this is a must addition to your CD collection and I hope we see more from Thomas in the years to come.
Excellent
BATTLE MPFree Mpfree is a Scottish emcee artist from Cumbernauld who heads up a powerful evangelistic ministry proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus to young people in schools, clubs, prisons and festivals all over the UK. There is no doubt that this five track E.P is an impacting collection of hip hop infused beats, hook filled guitar riffs and anointed lyrics. Each song has it’s own style, flavour and equally important message. Particular stand out tracks are ‘Fly Away’ which has an epic orchestral
Very good
Steph Macleod is a 32 year old singersongwriter from Edinburgh with an extraordinary ability to write powerful, impassioned, beautiful worship songs. Unsurprisingly he is quickly seeing his name and renown spread throughout Scotland and the UK. Steph has a powerful testimony. Having fallen into alcohol and drug addiction he came near to losing his life. It was during a spell in a Bethany homeless hostel that the recovery began. He gave his life to Christ and found the strength to beat his addictions. The writing of Steph’s first album was strongly influenced by testimony of how Jesus pulled him out of the darkness.
Good
Recommend
ECOM
the rest of the album maintains. Lins is joined by a range of talented musicians who support him well. He has worked widely across the central belt of Scotland from the intimacy of ‘living room gigs’ to the larger ‘performance type’ venues.
This is a truly remarkable album. Take the chance to hear this artist live at a venue near you soon if you get the opportunity. I predict you will be seeing Steph playing considerably larger venues in days to come!
Reviewed by Ian Black
Correction. In the last edition of the Broadcast we carried a review by Ian Black for book ‘Running The Race’ by John W Keddie. We apologise in featuring the wrong book cover alongside the review – pictured is the correct cover.
Average
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NEWS Sorted ‘‘
’’
NEWS
The Sky’s the Limit: Getting a bigger vision for your youth and children’s work In 2014 Deep Impact is looking to break down some barriers.
Let’s be real, getting a bigger vision for youth and children’s work can be difficult in a climate that is telling us to be realistic, stay quiet and cut back. But we have a big God. Of gigantic, cosmos-shaking, earthchanging, life-transforming, miracleworking proportions. And The Sky’s the Limit is about dreaming about what is possible with Him.
This January, we are welcoming Danielle Strickland as our main stage speaker (Salvation Army Captain, Author and worldwide speaker). She will be joined by a diverse team who are on the frontline of youth and children’s work throughout the UK. The Edinburgh based Powerpoint ‘house band’, will be returning to lead us in worship, and a host of other creatively gifted individuals will be inspiring us to think outside of our boxes in terms of relating to God, communities and young people.
Deep Impact is Scotland’s national training conference for Christians involved in youth and children’s work. Are you in paid employment with a church or Christian organisation? Great. Are you a volunteer in your children’s work or youth ministry? Brilliant. Are you a Christian working with children and young people as a teacher, social worker, youth worker, LSA… ? Then this is for you too! We’re passionate about seeing Christians representing churches, local authorities, other agencies join together to wrestle with the issues that matter. We’re excited to see those with decades of experience encouraging those who might be starting out on this journey. Deep Impact will be taking place from 17th – 19th January 2014 at the MacDonald Highland Resort, Aviemore. Check out the website at www.deep-impact.org.uk for the latest information or booking details, or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter. See you there!
Mrs Livingstone, I Presume? Award-winning radio production team, Glasgow-based GRF Christian Radio has helped set the record straight about the life of one of Scotland's great missionary heroes. No, not DAVID Livingstone, but his wife Mary. David Livingstone's bicentennial is celebrated this year, but in all the coverage, little mention has been made of Mary, who shared two of his great expeditions across the Kalahari. She was pregnant both times and, on the second trip, actually gave birth in the scrubland in a make-shift camp. Born in Africa, died in Africa, Mary still lives in the shadow of her famous husband. 62
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Based on recent research by journalist and travel writer, Julie Davidson, and by Marion Moffatt, Mary's great-greatgrand niece, GRF's radio programme tells the lost story of Mary Livingstone, missionary, wife and mother. Mrs Livingstone I Presume? is a 27-minute radio programme and is broadcast on Premier Christian Radio, Heartland FM (Pitlochry), Manx FM (Isle of Man) and on Stations across the UK. www.grf.org.uk www.premier.org.uk
MAGAZINE
Down to earth, real, ‘un-religious’ – that’s why Sorted has helped my Christian faith so much! BEAR GRYLLS
www.sorted-magazine.com SORTED MAGAZINE, PO Box 3070, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6WX Tel:
01903 732190 |
Email:
steve@sorted-magazine.com
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Homeless people need change. Donate today and bring lasting change to the lives of vulnerable people across Scotland. A regular gift of just ÂŁ3 a month to Bethany will give someone in need support to overcome their struggle with homelessness and rebuild their life. Please help us change Scotland for good. Call 0131 561 8930 or email supporters@bethanychristiantrust.com to ďŹ nd out how you can transform someone’s life today. Giving homeless and vulnerable people hope and a future 64 Bethany Christian Trust is a registered charity no SC003783
www.bethanychristiantrust.com
@_bethanyct
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Why do we want to do this? For a number of reasons: 1. We believe that the Gospel changes everything. We believe that we need to raise up a generation of Bible teachers and preachers who will go into the forgotten schemes of our country.
November 2012 saw the launch of a new church revitalisation & planting initiative aimed at bringing gospel hope to the housing schemes of Scotland.
The brainchild of Niddrie Community Church Edinburgh, in partnership with Bardstown Christian Fellowship in Kentucky, and supported by the 9Marks network, this exciting new ministry aims to reach out to some of the least evangelised areas of our country. Mez McConnell, the Director explains: “During a detailed survey of the 50 most deprived schemes in Scotland we discovered that at least half have no gospel church present and of the rest, even though there was the presence of some form of church, we were uncertain as to their theological and gospel convictions. One thing was clear, though, not only were Scotland’s 50 most deprived schemes in trouble economically and socially, but they were desperately deprived spiritually too. Therefore, if we were really going to see a turn around in the lives of
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residents in council estates and housing schemes then we were going to have to embrace a radical and long-term gospel strategy which will bring hope to untold thousands.”
The broad aim of 20chemes is as follows:
3. We are heavily burdened for Scotland’s housing schemes as we see these communities with no, or very little, gospel witness. Planting new churches is a key strategy in reaching the lost in these areas. 4. We desire to assist and resource existing churches – across denominations – and/or gospel ministries in these areas in order to bless them and further Kingdom work. We will plant if we have to but we would rather support and encourage existing work by offering people, resources and training.
How will we do it? 1. Identify 20 schemes as priority areas.
4. Develop church partners worldwide to support and resource our work in the schemes. 5. Invest long-term in indigenous leaders by providing training, resources and support. Please pray for us in this new endeavour. We realise that we will need crossdenominational support and we have been blessed immeasurably by local church support in Edinburgh and across Scotland. If we can serve you or your church community please contact me. If you are interested in finding out more about how you could serve as a planter, a women’s worker, a ministry apprentice or an intern, please also contact me at mez@niddrie. org or use the form on the website. We will be happy to help. We are currently seeking financial help and are looking for opportunities to share about the work in churches. Thanks to you all in advance and praise God for His great mercy. Let’s pray for a gospel revival in Scotland’s housing schemes.
Feature
20schemes
2. We recognise that the presence of the Church is mercy ministry. In other words, we want to see local churches built up, evangelising, discipling and equipping a new generation of men and women from within these housing schemes who, likewise, will go and make disciples.
3. Recruit Church Planters, Female Outreach Workers, and Ministry Apprentices to send into those schemes as the ‘first wave’ of a longterm strategy. We aim to recruit local leaders if possible but we will recruit outside the UK if necessary.
2. Identify, where possible, church revitalisation partners in those schemes.
We want to send 20 Church Planters to train 20 local leaders, 20 Women’s Workers to train 20 local women & 20 Ministry Apprentices to make 20 discipling relationships as we see 20 gospel-centred churches developed and established in 20 Scottish housing schemes.
The mission is simple. Building Healthy Gospel Centred Churches for Scotland’s poorest communities.
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How can we impact our community
The Association of Scottish Businesswomen supports women in the business world throughout Scotland. We aim to be the leading Scottish network association for businesswomen. Linking, Inspiring and Supporting for personal and business growth.
Membership £25 a year Join Now! Direct www.asb-scotland.org/join-us.cfm
What has to change to reach a new generation 2012 Business Awards winners and finalists
10 growing churches Story 1: Glasgow Youtube.com/alphascotland
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To become a member of ASB, for details of events, or affiliate clubs, or for details about our awards, please visit our website; www.asb-scotland.org or email admin@asb-scotland.org 69
Steph MacLeod
Interview Steph MacLeod is a 32 year old
Steph MacLeod has a powerful testimony to tell, having had a severe alcohol and drug addiction which saw him almost lose his life. In 2006 Steph began living at the Bethany Christian Centre homeless hostel and it was here he gave his life to Jesus Christ and found the strength to beat his addictions and begin living life once again!
Hi Steph, good to have the opportunity to speak with you! Particularly grateful when you have such a busy schedule just now. I saw you in Edinburgh duet on stage with Nathan Jess in his support slot to Phil Wickham a few weeks back – a great night (!) How did the duet with Nathan come about? 70
Nathan’s manager invited me over to Northern Ireland to record a house concert with Nathan, Chris McLarney and Brain Houston. The concert was filmed – will give you a shout when it’s due to be released….Nathan and I recorded a track ‘Come Lord Jesus’ which is on his new album ‘Love Stands Forever’
Superb! And today I believe I catch you having just performed for Songs of Praise? Yes, I had already recorded a song for the show but was then also asked through to be interviewed at Paisley Abbey by Sally Magnusson.
We at SCB were keen to interview you at this time having just released your stunning new album Kingdom Come. It really is
just off-the-scale fantastic! Is this an album of new material or a mix or old and new? Thanks for the kind words. The album is definitely new – though there are some tracks on from my EP My Father which was recorded to help raise funds for this album. One of the blessings about recording this album was meeting and working with Stu Kennedy who is a composer and helped with some amazing arrangements on the new album on tracks such as Damascus Road, My Father and The Passion. I met Stu at a picnic and he was a gracious man who wanted to help me out. He is an incredibly talented man. Stu has worked with the likes of Chris Tomlin and on TV shows such as Torchwood, Sherlock and with the main composer David Arnold on the last Narnia movie Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
How does it differ from your first album Light in the darkest of nights?
The first album was mostly testimony looking at my life distracted by addiction and how Jesus had pulled me out of the darkness. This new album is more about looking at my faith and seeking the heart of God.
Interview
singer songwriter from Edinburgh whose ability to write sublime powerful, impassioned, beautiful worship songs is seeing his name and renown spread throughout Scotland, the UK and Europe
Have you a national tour planned? A mini-tour in association with Tearfund later in the year with Allan McKinlay and David and Yvonne Lyon
Can churches simply get in touch to book a gig and if so how best to get in touch? Yes, please get in contact by emailing admin@stephmacleod.com or through Facebook
Steph Macleod Interviewed by Ian Black 71
We’re passionate about seeing the children and young people of Scotland exploring the Bible and responding to the significance of Jesus.
SU Scotland invites you to...
the
Big Celebration
Sat 24 Aug 2013 Lendrick Muir
“Thank you for giving me one of the best experiences of my life and also encouraging me in my faith.” We rely on legacies and donations to help provide these experiences.
To find out how you can help, please contact us on 0141 352 7606 or legacies@suscotland.org.uk. Registered charity no. SC011222 72
Guest speaker: Alan McWilliams worship • prayer • Bible teaching • commissioning • café crèche, children's & teenagers' programmes • bookstall • seminars inflatables • go-karts • high ropes • bungee trampoline • ceilidh Registered charity no. SC011222
www.suscotland.org.uk/bigc73
How did you get into rap music? When I went to high school, the older brother of one of my friends gave me a rap mixtape and I was just hooked from the start. I loved the sound and style, and felt I could relate to the emcee’s telling stories about there upbringing and lifestyle. When I became a Christian, I left it alone for a while because I realised its content wasn’t doing me any favours. I was then given the opportunity to perform at an outreach and people really responded and opened up. It became very clear God had a plan, that was 4 years ago.
Who influences you now?
MPFREE is a Scottish rapper that ROCKS OUT! Having just returned from playing one of Europe’s largest Christian Festivals in Slovakia, playing alongside likes of LZ7 and !Audacious, Scottish Christian Broadcast were hugely excited to catch up with this man whose heart, passion and raw talent have been impressing us greatly.
Where do you hail from and what church do you attend? I’m from Port Glasgow but I now stay in Cumbernauld (right in the heart of Scotland) with my wife and kids and we attend Freedom City Church there. Its 74
an awesome church that is continually growing.
What is your ‘rap’ name about and what is your real name? My real name is Marc Pawson, when I started mucking about with rap music in high school with friends, I liked the name MP3 for its obvious digital music relation, also it used my initials and the fact I was 1 of 3 kids in my family. Then when I became a Christian, realising Jesus sets us free from any chains life brings, a friend in the church said “you should change your name to Mpfree” and it just stuck.
What do you hope to achieve with your music? I just want to serve. Recently I have a real great opportunity to witness and perform in some prisons, which is continuing to grow and it’s amazing to see these guys respond. I suppose its because most of them can relate to what I’m saying and they understand the music. I’ve been on some tours with other amazing bands and done some festivals, I’ve also been into colleges and local community centres doing hiphop workshops which I’m really thankful for. My aim is to impact as many people as possible with lyrics that would mentally and physically challenge them about faith, life and why we’re here. I write my music with the mindset that people who don’t believe in Jesus will listen to it, and be challenged, and that Christians would listen to it and are strengthened.
Email: mpfree@ymail.com Bookings: info@spiltmilkbookings.com Social media: facebook.com/thisismpfree Twitter.com.thisismpfree YouTube.com/mpfreemuzic Upon release, Mpfree’s debut album ‘Battle’ reached #2 on the Amazon hiphop charts and is available now on iTunes, Amazon and most digital retailers.
I just want to serve. Recently I have a real great opportunity to witness and perform in some prisons, which is continuing to grow and it’s amazing to see these guys respond.
Interview
MPFREE
Musically, there is a rapper called Lecrae who has paved the way for Christian artists in the music industry, particularly in terms of quality and recognition, plus other artists such as Bizzle, Trip Lee and Bumps INF. I get influences from all over though, friends, family, faith. Most of my songs are written from situations I’ve been through or have witnessed.
How to get in touch?
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Switzerland
2014
GAP YEAR
ski
Villars
Outdoor Instructor training courses
at the Abernethy School of Adventure Leadership Whether you have 6 weeks or a year to spare, Abernethy has a great range of outdoor adventure courses available.
6 week ow! n y l p p A ski instructor
training course starts Jan 5th 2014
!Chalet holidays w o n k Boo availability from Jan—April 2014
The School of Adventure Leadership on the west coast of Scotland is home to the flagship Professional Instructor Training Course. This one year residential course has provided outdoor instructor training to many Christians in the last 17 years. Covering kayaking, climbing, skiing, walking, archery and much more, the fully inclusive course also aims to develop the students faith and encourage them in their walk with God. As Rachel, a former student says, "put the effort in, and you gain so much from this superb course of Adventure Leadership! I am now qualified in numerous NGB's which has enabled me to work in many interesting places all over the world. The Course was a stepping stone to a new era of my life! Totally Awesome and Totally of God!"
For those who only have a short period of time to spare, the ski instructor training course is a great way to spend the winter. Jo, mum of a previous participant, sums up the course ... “Our 18 yr old son spent 6 fabulous weeks on the Abernethy ski course in Switzerland. to say he enjoyed it is an understatement, he absolutely loved it! The course was great, his skiing improved immeasurably, he made new friends and he learnt more about our amazing creator God.”
Trainee Instructors from the Abernethy School of Adventure Leadership courses go on to a wide variety of careers but all agree that their gap year could not have been spent!
For more information on the School of Adventure Leadership call 01967 A Foundation Instructor Training 411222 or e-mail Course is also available and is shorter ardgour@abernethy.org.uk in length at only 7 months. Both courses start in September and appli- www.abernethy.org.uk cations are open now.
ardgour@abernethy.org.uk www.abernethy.org.uk 76
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THE CHURCH IN ACTION ..........ON THE STREETS
Join us and become a Street Pastor A Street Pastors is a Church member or leader/minister with a concern for society – in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised – and who is willing to engage with people where they are, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out – be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc). There are Street Pastor Initiatives in the following areas: Aberdeen Arbroath Bathgate Dunfermline Edinburgh Elgin
Falkrik Glasgow Inverclyde Inverness Kirkcaldy Levenmouth
Orkney Paisley Perth Stirling Tain
For more information, please call 01738 248143 or visit www.scotland.ascensiontrust.org.uk
Commonwealth Games 2014 Street Pastors from all over the UK will have the opportunity to provide a presence throughout the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Existing Street Pastors should register an interest at http://perth.streetpastors.org.uk/commonwealth-games-glasgow-2014/ If you are not a trained Street Pastor but wants to be part of the team at Glasgow 2014, please email your details to cg2014@ascensiontrustscotland.org.uk
CARING
LISTENING
HELPING
To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to a 12 session training course. The course includes subjects such as counselling skills, drug awareness, sociology, knowing your community, roles and responsibility and street safety. Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three members, and will work a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to 4am.
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Jesus said...
To celebrate 140 years of Scots bringing healing & justice to people affected by leprosy, The Leprosy Mission Scotland is looking for 140 churches to join the
“I have come that they may have life... to the full.”
gapyear140
For many people affected by leprosy, a “full life” is a distant dream. In Christ’s name The Leprosy Mission support them to see that dream become a reality. We’d love to show you and your church how we do it.
“He has sent me ... to set free the oppressed...”
Our free lesson plans for primary, secondary and Sunday schools will open your children’s eyes to see the world around them as God sees it and to see how their generation can defeat poverty and injustice. www.tlmscotland.org.uk/teach
“... cleanse those with leprosy...”
Nearly 700 people will be diagnosed with leprosy today. We will answer His call, helping them to overcome it; striving to see leprosy eradicated and lives transformed.
John 10: 10 | Luke 4: 18 | Matthew 10: 8 | Matthew 25: 40
www.tlmscotland.org.uk/talk
By Giving, Acting and Praying the church in Scotland can do so to. www.tlmscotland.org.uk/gap
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”
What will you & your church do for Him today? Call 01786 449 266 to find out. Registered Scottish Charity number SC022411 A company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland number SC356041.
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give
Throughout 2014, gapyear140 churches will focus regularly on leprosy and the issues surrounding it. Together they will
to enable to a project of their choice to transform the lives of people affected by leprosy. *
act pray
to raise awareness about leprosy within the church and their community.
regularly for people affected by leprosy and the work of The Leprosy Mission to bring healing & justice in Christ’s name.
Will your church join gapyear140?
www.tlmscotland.org.uk/gapyear Registered Scottish Charity number SC022411 A company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland number SC356041. * appropriate target to be discussed with each gapyear140 church
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What do you do when you see your community suffering? It’s always painful to see hopelessness and despair on our streets but thanks to an initiative launched by ‘Redeeming Our Communities’ in 2004, it is possible to do something to combat factors such as social and economical decline. ROC Projects bring together people of goodwill to make safer, kinder communities. Faith based groups join alongside agencies such as the Police, Fire and Rescue, Housing and other statutory authorities to work strategically in order to meet the very specific needs of local areas. Needs such as youth disengagement, care and support for the elderly or other people who are at risk of ‘falling through the gaps’ in our towns and cities all over the nation. The projects have been very successful with Anti-SocialBehaviour reduction figures ranging from between 3075%. In one area, this has meant a cumulative public service saving of around £300,000. There are now over fifty such ROC partnerships across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and on February the 5th, 2014, the ROC project launches in Scotland. Debra Green, OBE (Founding Director) told us. “I’ve been travelling back and forth to Scotland for a couple
of years now meeting with local groups who have expressed an interest in setting up ROC community projects such as ROC Cafe youth clubs and ROC Care which meets the needs of those who are older in life. Even ROC Football! We are looking forward to our community showcase event at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on February 5th and I hope you can join us."
“Reading the Bible reminds me that God cares about me and the choices I make. I don’t have all the answers in life but the Bible helps to guide me.”
Preparations for the community showcase event are already well underway, the evening will be an inspirational time featuring interviews, music and art. Confirmed guests include Chief Constable Stephen House, the High School of Glasgow Choir (winners of Songs of Praise school choir competition) and Sally Magnusson. Tickets are free of charge (a small charge is made for P&P), they are available via www. roc.uk.com and if you’d like more information about setting up a ROC project in your community then email info@roc.uk.com or call 0161 946 2373.
the BIBLE changes lives Find out more about our small group Bible study resources for your church today.
www.scottishbiblesociety.org/equip The Scottish Bible Society, 7 Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5XU, Tel: 0131 337 9701, Fax: 0131 337 0641 – Scottish Charity No. SC010767 A company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. 238687- registered office as above (Formerly The National Bible Society of Scotland)
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“I am who I am
right now because God used my sponsor so much. She is the way that I saw God in my life.”
Ginsely, formerly sponsored child from the Dominican Republic, now working as a dentist.
{ www.compassionuk.org { SPONSOR A CHILD tODAy
Poverty is complex. It’s about more than just a lack of food and shelter; it strips away dignity and crushes the spirit. This is why Compassion’s approach to fighting poverty is long-term and complete. Through our church-based projects and with the support of loving sponsors, Compassion addresses the holistic needs of each child, including their spiritual growth, education, relational development and health.
When you become a Compassion child sponsor for just £21 a month, you play a pivotal role in changing the story of a child for eternity.
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