VOX January 2015

ISSUE 25 / JANUARY - MARCH 2015

Special Feature

ART & FAITH “If we believe that imagination and

creativity are gifts from God, why have we neglected them for so long?”

PRAYING NIGHT AND DAY

Reflections of the joy and journey of 24/7 prayer in Ireland

C R E AT E D

Free W I T H PA S S I O N

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VOX JAN - MAR 2015

EDITORIAL

Exploring Creativity blank canvas. A piece of clay. A few broken pieces of ceramic tile. Some scraps of fabric. Even sand on the beach or snow on a hillside. On their own, these raw materials might seem bland and uninspiring.

But add creativity, skill and time and, in the hands of an artist, they can each become something spectacular.

One of the great privileges of being married to an artist is the opportunity to witness the creative process from start to finish. It is a journey of discovery: exploring, illuminating, transforming - often with missteps and wrong turns along the way - until the final moment of completion and revelation.

For me, it is a breath-taking insight into the nature of God our Creator! He sees beyond a void to imagine azure skies and lace-topped waves. He shapes towering mountain ranges and intricate fjords. He layers emerald, viridian, lime and olive over forests and grassland. He

Calling writers, creatives, thinkers…

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HE SEES BEYOND A VOID TO IMAGINE AZURE SKIES AND LACE-TOPPED WAVES. paints feathers, and scales, and petals with unique hues and delicate detail. He moulds clay and breathes life into His masterpiece.

And the scriptures tell us that God has not finished creating. He is re-creating and transforming our mess and brokenness into something beautiful. He is making all things new!

In this issue of VOX magazine, we take a look at the Arts and chat with artists from around Ireland. Whether painting or printing, acting or filmmaking, singing or making music, we gain a fascinating glimpse into the life, work and faith of these “creatives” and consider what role the Arts could (or should) have in our churches.

Don’t miss An Italian Journey with Fergus Ryan (page 22), View through a Lens with award-winning filmmaker Phil Harrison (page 28) and Praying Night and Day for a close up of the creativity and passion of the 24/7 prayer movement in Ireland (page 14).

Ruth Garvey-Williams Editor (editor@vox.ie)

Join us for our VOX Dream Days Share, pray, listen, create, consider, worship, explore, discuss…

What is God saying to Christians in Ireland? How can VOX magazine reflect and share those important messages? How can we promote unity, challenge thinking and inspire Kingdom engagement in society?

Be part of the vision!

Sligo, 31 January Cork, 28 February Find out more by contacting ruth@vox.ie 01 443 4789 www.vox.ie/events

We experimented with removing the VOX cover price in 2014 and we’re now delighted to announce that…

VOX WILL BE FREE FOREVER! Want to support the vision? Find out how at www.vox.ie/give JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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JANUARY - MARCH 2015, ISSUE 25 ISSN: 2009-2253 P UBLISHE R The VOX Team EDI TOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie OP ERATION S , A DV E RT I S I N G & LAY O U T Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie P HOTOGR A P HY & L AYOUT Krista Burns alabasterphotography@gmail.com P ROJEC T A DV I S OR Tom Slattery SUBSC RIP T I ON S Ireland & UK: Min. €7 for four issues Overseas: Min. €15 for four issues All cheques should be made payable to 'VOX Magazine'.

V OX Mag a z ine Ulysses House 22 - 24 Foley Street Dublin 1 Tel: 01 443 4789 | info@vox.ie | www.vox.ie DISC LA IME R

The views expressed in letters and articles are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the VOX Team or our partners. The acceptance of advertising does not indicate endorsement.

P RINT Castle Print, Galway VOX magazine is a quarterly publication, brought to you by a passionate team of volunteers.

OUR PARTNERS:

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SELF PORTRAIT

ART AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

CONTENTS 14 19 16 18 20 22 25 26 28 30 34 36 39 41 06 08 10 13

COVER STORIES Praying night and day - reflections of the joy and journey of 24/7 prayer in Ireland Art and Faith Special Feature - introducing a range of interviews and articles from Irish artists along with your comments from our VOX readers’ survey.

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Ceol an chroí - face to face with Moya Brennan Sexuality and Same Sex Marriage - links to resources for information and further study.

Painting the mystery - artist Thomas Brezing asks what happens when art and faith intermingle.

An Italian journey - Fergus Ryan paints in the footsteps of the Masters.

Glorifying God creatively - actor Shay Phelan shares the joy of using his gifts for God. Art and Community Transformation - how can art shape and change your community?

View through a lens - exploring art and faith with film director, Phil Harrison.

Self Portrait - a young artist shares her journey.

Haiti five years on - rebuilding after the earthquake Best Reads from 2014 Best Sounds from 2014 with the team from UCB Radio Ireland.

Straight from the heart - Holly Krebbs meets a new Irish band.

REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts VOX: World News Your VOX: Letters to the editor Soap Boxer with Dr Ken Baker

17 43 44 46

Confessions of a Feint Saint Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

Cover Image: REFLECTION, oil on panel, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013 TM

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VOX JAN - MAR 2015

In 2003, David Wilkerson and his son Gary visited Dublin with a message to pastors: regain your passion for Christ! They believed that if you got the man in the pulpit right, the church would follow. More than 1,000 attended this conference, widely regarded as one of Ireland’s most important spiritual breakthroughs in recent times.

Today, Gary Wilkerson, Claude Houde, and others continue this ministry to the Body of Christ. They share a compassionate call from the Holy Spirit to encourage leaders and their spouses in the often difficult task of leading His Church.

Please join us at the Expect Church Leadership Conference in Dublin as we come together to experience the work of God in our midst.

Saturday March 14th, 2015 St. Marks Church 42a Pearse St., Dublin

Gary Wilkerson

Lead Pastor, The Springs Church.

President, World Challenge.

Author.

Claude Houde

Senior Pastor, New Life Church.

President, Christian Association for the French Speaking Nations.

10â‚Ź/person Early registration is encouraged due to limited seating.

Register online at worldchallenge.org/expect-ireland For additional information call 086 3923717 or email expectconferenceireland@gmail.com JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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VOX SHORTS

Expecting Great Things

2015 is part of his legacy. Conference Chairman, Pastor This March, St Mark’s Church in Dublin will host the Nick Cassidy shared, “Somehow the journey in ministry Expect Church Leadership Conference. The event is part of the can become clouded, and discouragement has managed World Challenge Ministry, founded by Pastor David Wilkerson and led by to destroy many great Christian leaders. I’ve always been greatly his son, Gary since his death. impressed at the integrity and genuine Christian compassion in which In May 2003, Pastor David Wilkerson visited the Goff’s Centre to this ministry operates. Pastor Dave never placed emphasis on wealth minister to Irish pastors and Christian leaders. Over 1000 attended the or success. Success was simply loving Jesus and being happy to be significant event, which challenged leaders to regain their passion for godly.”

Christ and His Gospel.

Pastor Gary Wilkerson was also part of the Goff’s Conference in Over the years, many stories have come to light which show the 2003. He is very much aware of the difficulties of pioneering and impact of that event. Paul Carley, a Kildare-based pastor, testified how pastoring churches and brings a compassionate call from the Holy he was away from God and his marriage was in grave difficulty. He Spirit to encourage pastors and leaders. encountered God so powerfully at the Goff’s Conference that his life, Morning sessions will speak directly to the needs of pastors and his marriage and his ministry were totally turned around. Since the ministry team leaders. A celebration in the evening will be open to all. event, he and his wife, together with others, have established a vibrant Find out more at www.worldchallenge.org/conferences. “My deepest community of believers in Celbridge. prayer is that together at this conference we find a renewed passion David Wilkerson always wanted to return to IrelandInbut sadlyDavid was Wilkerson and a great expectation for the future Dublin of our nation,” 2003, and his son Gary visited with Pastor Nick added. never able to make the journey. However, the Expect Conference in

a message to pastors: regain your passion for Christ! They believed that if you got the man in the pulpit right, the church would follow. More than 1,000 attended this conference, widely regarded as one of Ireland’s most important spiritual breakthroughs in recent times.

Protecting victims of human trafficking

The UK’s strongest anti-slavery legislation was enacted in Northern Ireland December, bringing in greater protection Today, Gary Wilkerson, Claude Houde, andinothers continue this for children and tougher punishments for those found guilty of ministry to the Body of Christ. They share a compassionate call trafficking. The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill will be the from the Holy Spirit to encourage leaders and their spousestoinbethe first dedicated anti-slavery legislation passed into law by any often difficult task of leading His Church.

UK parliament or assembly in more than 200 years.

The law introduces independent guardians for trafficked children, a statutory support service for victims Please join us at the Expect Church Leadership Conference in and a stay of prosecution on victims for all but the most Dublin as we come together to experience the work of God inserious of crimes committed while they were being exploited. Clause 15 of the Lord our midst.

Morrow Bill means Northern Ireland also joins Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Canada in criminalising paying for sex – a move endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council for Europe. The Bill also creates a new offence of forced marriage and will place a duty on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide support for those wishing to leave prostitution.

‘Encounter the persecuted church’ tour

Saturday March 14th, 2015

In 1955, Brother Andrew arrived in Warsaw, Poland and discovered the plight of persecuted Christians. It was the start of a journey that would lead to the work of Open Doors, helping millions of persecuted Christians around the world. Open Doors in Ireland is planning a whole series of events to spread the message of the persecuted church during 2015 and to celebrate this 60th anniversary.

The tour kicks off on January 28 and will take in 30 venues in 60 days! Inspired by Brother Andrew, the team will be setting off in a VW Beetle, complete with a suitcase of Bibles, to meet people the length and breadth of Ireland from Belfast to Enniskillen and Letterkenny to Cork. During that time, they will organise breakfast meetings, “secret” churches, blackout events for young people and “God’s Smuggler” programmes for children, as well as speaking in churches and inviting the ladies of Letterkenny to afternoon tea! The tour ends on 1 April with a Secret Church event held in conjunction with 24/7 Prayer.

Dates and venues for the tour will be on the website www. opendoorsuk.org and more up to date information can be found on the Open Doors UK Facebook page. To find out more email odireland@ opendoorsuk.org.

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For additional information call 086 3923717 or email expectconference Measuring just 4.76mm each side, the Jerusalem Nano Bible is a tiny chip containing all 27 books of the New Testament, written in the original Greek. However, with each printed letter measuring 18 millionths of a metre, you’ll need a fairly powerful microscope if you fancy using it during your devotional times. Made from a silicon wafer, the company designed the Bible to be embedded into jewellery and watches.

Buyers can carry it with them wherever they go!

Register online at worldchallenge.org/

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VOX JAN - MAR 2015

VOX MAGAZINE

Injecting hope into Ireland

Former Alcoholic/Addict John Edwards toured Ireland for six weeks in the autumn with the ‘Biggest Syringe In The World’. Visiting Roscrea, Clonmel, Shannon, Kilarney, Ballybofey, Tallaght, Drogheda, Navan and Belfast, John worked alongside local churches to bring a message of hope for addicts and the families of addicts.

John, who is Irish but now living in England, reached rock bottom as a homeless addict living on the streets of London.

He told VOX magazine, “I missed my father’s funeral and knew I needed to seek help. I had two options - suicide or getting my life together and the second took a lot more courage. I went to alcoholics anonymous and met some Christians who invited me to a meeting. I had an encounter with God that radically changed my life. I went along to St Mark’s church but I struggled as a Christian who was an addict until I heard about Teen Challenge and went across to Wales to the centre there. I have been clean and sober since then (24 years).”

John decided to tour Ireland with a message of hope after a visit when he encountered so much pain and brokenness. “I wanted to do something in my own country,” he shared. “I was determined that every household should hear the message of hope in the Gospel and as I was praying about how to get the message out there, I had the idea of a giant syringe.”

“We had an incredible reaction.

Thousands of people came to us and we were able to help some of them get into rehab and we were also able to pray with many of them - both addicts and their families. People were in tears and we had a tremendous response from politicians and the Gardai as well.”

John is planning to do another tour in March. If you would like him to bring the giant syringe to your town, please contact him on johnwalkingfree@gmail.com.

U2’s SONGS of INNOCENCE

Dublin band, U2, is the biggest rock band in the world. Their new album takes them back to their Dublin youth and finds them dealing with trauma and healing.

A teenage boy (in fact two) lost a mother, their friend gets caught up in a UVF bomb and they find solace and salvation in punk rock and the Bible. On Friday January 23, singers and musicians from Belfast and Dublin will perform songs from U2 while Steve Stockman, author and Presbyterian minister from Belfast will share his reflections on the songs. The event will take place at Crinken Church, Bray, Co Wicklow.

“And I’m a long way from your hill of Calvary. And I’m a long way from where I was and where I need to be.” from Song For Someone.

Catching Spiritual Waves Agape Ireland took 45 students from a number of Irish universities for a weekend of surfing in Lahinch, Co Clare over the October bank holiday weekend. The weekend opened up opportunities to build friendships and talk about Jesus in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

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WORLD NEWS

A BIBLE FOR THE HUPLA PEOPLE!

In the beautiful mountain village of Soba in Papua, the Hupla tribe received a priceless Christmas gift in December 2014 - the whole Bible in their own heart language! It was a time of great joy and celebration.

There are 6000 Hupla people and the translation of the Bible has been a labour of love for Sue Trenier from Cavan along with local translator Mathias from the Hupla tribe. The work has taken 25 years!

Sue first arrived in Papua in 1978 as a young nurse. For 19 years, she lived amongst the Hupla people in Soba. It took her two days to walk through the mountains from the highland city of Wamena to Soba. At other times, the journey took 15 minutes by light aircraft to the small airstrip that had been cleared in the village. In 1994, Sue joined the Bible translation team and the dedication of the new Bible was the fruit of her work over the last two and a half decades!

Before they heard the good news of Jesus, the Hupla people, like the other 250 tribes in Papua, lived in constant fear and oppression from evil spirits and the spirits of dead relatives.

Fear controlled every part of their lives and they offered many sacrifices to appease the anger of the spirits.

There was frequent fighting amongst the clans within the tribe and with other neighbouring tribes. The practice of revenge and “pay back” killings meant that there was no end to the fighting. Many died and others suffered terrible injuries. The people also practised cannibalism. Although the people lived in beautiful mountains their lives were very dark. But now that many know Jesus, things are very different.

Sue works with UFM (formerly Unevangelised Fields Mission), which focuses on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ across the world. Find out more at www.ufm.org.uk.

HUNGRY FOR GOD’S WORD

In Northern Iraq, where ISIS militants have extended their brutal campaign to establish a caliphate, the demand for Scriptures appears to be endless, especially among refugees and internally displaced peoples. “Every time we try to open a box or container to distribute Bibles, we get ‘attacked’ by people in their eagerness to get a copy,” said the director of a locally-based ministry which also gives practical aid. Nominal members of historic churches are seeking the Bible, as are Yazidis (who practice a blend of Christian, Islamic and Zoroastrian rituals) and Sunni and Shia Muslims. Many people are responding to the Gospel message and attending churches. “I strongly believe God’s hand is in this situation,” asserted the ministry director; “God brought all these people to us…”

HUGE RISE IN CHRISTIAN REFUGEES

As 2015 begins, Christian refugees in several countries are waiting to see if it will bring peace and the opportunity to return to their homes. Hundreds of thousands of Christians in Syria have fled because of the civil war that has lasted almost four years without resolution.

The situation of Christians in neighbouring Iraq worsened dramatically in 2014 with the advance of Islamic State militants who took over Mosul, Iraq’s second city and issued an ultimatum to Christians that they should convert to Islam, pay a religious tax or face death. Over 200,000 Iraqi Christians fled their homes and are now receiving aid in the Kurdish-governed region in northern Iraq. The Islamic State has turned some of Mosul’s historic churches into prisons.

In Nigeria, the ongoing attacks of the Boko Haram terrorist group, which has declared a caliphate (Islamic state under Sharia law) in northeast Nigeria, have led to thousands of Christians fleeing for their lives. They have escaped to other areas in Nigeria, where they live in makeshift accommodation.

Irish charity Church in Chains (www.churchinchains.ie) has sent aid, through trusted partner organisations, to each of these countries.

NEW DUTCH BIBLE

A new translation of the Bible in Dutch called, The Bible in Plain Language, was launched in October 2014. The first edition was sold out within a week, and during the first two weeks the new Bible translation was number one on the Dutch bestsellers’ list. A second print has been distributed and a third print is underway, bringing the total number to 195,000 copies of the Bible.

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The Egg that puts Jesus back at the heart of “If you landed here as Easter approaches, what would you think Easter is about?

Chocolate, bunny rabbits, cute little chickens?

Is that all?

I believe there’s more.

So here’s an Egg that reminds us why we celebrate Easter – because Jesus is alive again!”

Julie, founder of the Happy Easter Egg

We need your help This Egg is only available through local churches & online Would you promote it in your church?

Or with family and friends?

Register your interest at www.happyeasteregg.ie for further information and priority ordering

What’s included?

• Only €8 per Egg

195g delicious Irish ethical chocolate

• Minimum order 20 Eggs

• milk chocolate egg • honeycomb crisp milk chocolates Free Happy Easter Story booklet Online Happy Easter Story audio Happy Easter competition online

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Celebrate the happy Story Read the booklet & listen online too!

10c donation to the Hope foundation for each egg purchased JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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YOUR VOX

Letters to the editor

Star Letter

of VOX we In each issue all of a €25 One4 ize pr a d ar aw r. tte le ite ur r favo voucher for ou u!

It could be yo

An Important Contribution I am a subscriber to VOX (you now give it to me free!!) and I very much enjoy it. I loved your nationwide tour and to learn how God is working everywhere.

I also like the way you respectfully represent different views on controversial subjects that sometimes divide Christians. You have recently dealt with issues such as abortion, bullying in church organisations and homosexuality.

I am sure you don’t please everyone all the time (I don’t always agree myself with some of the points of

GRAVE CONCERNS

We are writing as the leaders of Mallow Street Christian Fellowship to express our concern at the article published in the last issue of VOX magazine by a practicing homosexual, living with another man and presumably sexually active. The article supports the position that being an active homosexual and same-sex relationships are acceptable for Christians.

Although this was an issue looking at human sexuality, it did not present the biblical teaching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage, and thus provide a frame of reference. By giving space to this article, without comment or biblical frame of reference, it gave credence to the LGCM (Lesbian Gay Christian Movement) position. This is not the majority position in evangelical churches in Ireland or worldwide and it seriously undermines the position of VOX as a voice for biblical/ evangelical Christianity in Ireland. It has caused considerable disquiet and upset in our church and I am sure also in many others.

There should have been instead an article outlining the orthodox position on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

The article in question should have been

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view expressed) but the provision of a forum to have all sincerely held views heard is good and I really value that. Too often such subjects bring out defensiveness in us Christians and a lack of respect, or even civility, for those we disagree with.

By providing such a forum, VOX is making an important contribution to Faith, Life and Reality.

MICHAEL O’CONNELL NEWCASTLEWEST, CO. LIMERICK

written by an evangelical of homosexual orientation but one who does not practice the homosexual lifestyle and rather describes honestly the struggles and difficulties that this brings. That would have been very helpful in the debate as it would give a biblical view from someone facing the problem.

As Christians and in our churches we should be clearly against homophobia and should welcome those of homosexual orientation into our churches, just as we welcome people with addictions, those who have issues with anger, promiscuity, lying, stealing, sexual abuse, those with marital problems etc., but without condoning such behaviour. We all have ‘natural’ flaws in our make-up, which cause us to sin and Paul says, “such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:9-11), but he also calls us to turn our backs on these behaviours.

Just because something is natural to fallen humanity does not make it right and acceptable or part of God’s plan for humanity. Paedophilia, lying, thieving etc. are all “natural” to some people but we are called to turn our backs on everything that is sinful, however natural it may seem, and put on a new self.

What VOX has done with this article

is to condone homosexuality and a homosexual lifestyle as a valid option for evangelical Christians, whatever the disclaimers. This means that we cannot trust VOX to present a Christian and biblical voice and we will have to vet each issue in future, or discontinue distributing it. (If we had known beforehand that this article was in the issue we would not have put it on public display.)

PETER E. CHILDS ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERS, MSCF, LIMERICK Ed note: Owing to its length, it was not possible to publish the full letter from the leaders at MSCF but the section above is published with their knowledge and approval. VOX magazine has responded in detail to their concerns and that response is available to anyone who shares these views. VOX magazine represents a broad spectrum of Christians in Ireland and provides a platform to discuss controversial issues and listen to opinions that we may not usually hear. In this issue, we have listed further resources on this subject that might be helpful to our readers. Please see page 18.

VOX JAN - MARLETTERS 2015 SEND YOUR TO EDITOR@VOX.IE OR VOX MAGAZINE, ULYSSES HOUSE, 22-24 FOLEY STREET, DUBLIN 1

A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

I felt compelled to write to congratulate the VOX team on an excellent recent edition of the magazine. As someone who affirms the full inclusion LGBTQ people in the church, it was encouraging to see a Christian magazine opening the floor for gay people to speak for themselves rather than make statements about them. You are to be applauded.

As Rory O’Neill eloquently described in his noble call at the Abbey Theatre earlier this year, it can feel oppressive to constantly live in fear of ignorant and abusive attacks and while the church should be somewhere everyone can know as a safe place, for many gay, lesbian and transgender people it is anything but. Thank you for giving a voice to those who largely feel voiceless in the church.

MELANIE MAXWELL DUBLIN

STARTING FROM A “PRIVILEGED” POSITION In his article in the last edition of VOX (Oct-Dec 2014), Pádraig O’Tuama, writing as a gay Christian, states that “truth does not suffer when privilege is named.” For heterosexuals privilege seeps through the daily expression of our sexuality. Whether in church, school, family or the workplace, the vast majority of us get to live out of an assumed starting point that offers greater safety, security and affirmation, irrespective of whatever behaviour choices may follow.

In this regard, churches have largely conformed to the pattern of this world by offering few places where, when it comes to LGBT experiences, truth telling can flourish as privilege is laid aside. The easy option is to restate that churches need to

offer greater hospitality to LGBT people while remaining within the “them” and “us” paradigm where the privileged decide who is guest and who is host. Or the offering of “we are all sexually broken” as if those who are privileged can decide whether we are on level ground. When we highlight common brokenness without naming diverging privilege, we fail to imitate the Christ who took on the nature of a servant and made Himself nothing.

In our churches there is an insatiable rush to answer Vladimir Lenin’s question: “What must we do?” without first engaging with Marvin Gaye’s more important question: “What’s going on?” or when it comes to LGBT experiences in Irish churches over the past few decades - “What went on?”

My prayer is that Pádraig’s excellent article would be a catalyst for churches not to settle for the easy option in which privilege remains unnamed, but instead to begin the joyful, sometimes painful, yet ultimately hope-full act of truth telling on LGBT experiences.

RICHARD CARSON CEO OF ACET (AIDS CARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING) IRELAND

MORE BALANCE NEEDED

Following the review of Equal to Serve by Dr. Trevor Morrow, I found the following on the Columba Press web page.

“Dr. Trevor Morrow has written Equal to Rule in order to show why churches like the Presbyterian Church in Ireland ascribe to full equality for men and women in leadership in the churches on the basis of the teaching of scripture.”

I have talked to several Presbyterians who disagree strongly with him. He does

not speak for all Presbyterians as there are many who take a very different opinion from scripture. If you look at Presbyterians in Ireland by Laurence Kirkpatrick then you will see that the rush of women to ministry has slowed up since 1994 with only four ordained since then.

One would expect balance in an issue like this. For example, why not have a review of Different by Design - God’s blueprint for men and women by Carrie Sandon. The book is published by Christian Focus Publications.

Carrie Sandom, along with a rising tide of like-minded Christians, is concerned about the growth of feminism in our society, our families and our churches - and the detriment this poses to all three. She clearly presents the problem and leads readers along the path to restore God’s design to its rightful place.

I do not expect everybody to have the same opinion on this subject but I would like to see balance in your publication.

HILLAS WILLIAMS NAVAN, CO. MEATH Ed note: At VOX, we love presenting a balanced view by expressing different opinions on issues over which Christians disagree! In this case, we carried a review of a newly published work by an Irish author whereas the book you mention was published in 2012 - reviews tend to be time sensitive. When we addressed the question of “Women in Leadership” in Issue 17, we did, of course, present comments from both sides of the debate.

JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity

Formore moreinformation informationemail emailDamian.Jackson@gmail.com.

Damian.Jackson@gmail.com.. To see an outline For of the day's programme and to book, go to www.licc.org.uk, email mail@licc.org.uk or call +44 20 7399 9555.

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VOX JAN - MAR 2015

R E X O B P THE SOA

VOX MAGAZINE

BY DR KEN BAKER

THE ART OF FAITH o you remember the good old days when folks like Michelangelo, John Donne and such, used to do their stuff for the glory of God? But now it’s all commercialised, like Christmas. Now faith is over here and art is over there, and never the twain shall meet.

Is that a true telling? Well, not really…

It’s like the old split between “Christian Music” and “Christians who do music”. In the first category, you have Matt Redman and Hillsong and Philippe Hanna. In the second, you have musicians who eventually get accused of selling out or even backsliding.

Or at least they seem forced to keep their Christianity under wraps, like Clark Kent cautiously watching that the secret blue fabric doesn’t peep between his shirt buttons.

And even that is part of a bigger split between sacred and secular. Sacred is about priests, Sundays, cathedrals and all that Holy Kamoly over here. And secular is all the rest of everything.

Again, is that true?

D

and to engage in all kinds of crafts.”

I like that. I like the verbs. “I have chosen him.” “I have filled him with the Spirit of God.” Both choosing and anointing are what made Bezalel special. But then, there’s a radiating outward from his inner self to the tips of his highly intelligent fingers. “Wisdom... understanding… knowledge… skills”.

Isn’t that a lovely picture of faith at the heart of art?

Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys. Sylvia Plath wrote beautifully of an ordinary event, a black rook on a branch in the rain, as so “seizing her senses” that she gained insight into another way of seeing life.

This is what faith does. God both chooses and fills Bezalel, gripping his senses, inspiring and yet flowing through his own abilities.

CREATIVITY IS A WAY OF LIVING LIFE, NO MATTER HOW WE EARN OUR LIVING In a Faith/Art context I suppose it depends on just what art is. In its broadest sense, art is communication, expression and creation. Art is the product of any kind of creativity, and creativity is a way of living life, no matter how we earn our living.

I love the story of Bezalel in Exodus 31: 1-5 (You mean you missed that one?). First there’s a list: a whole sequence of products to be made for the tabernacle, involving special perfume blends, carpentry, sculpture, fabrics, jewellery - the list is lengthy. And after all that comes a “Who is going to do all this stuff?” moment.

Answer: Bezalel.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood,

Dr Ken Baker is an author and pastor, based in Longford. Contact him on kenbaker255@gmail.com or feel free to heckle on Facebook or Twitter.

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G N I Y A PR

N NG O

TI C E L REF

Prayer Ireland is part of a global heart, we can’t fail to get involved in the movement, which began 15 years world outside. Our desire is that our ago in England. Pete Gregg and prayers don’t just stay in the prayer room his friends believed that prayer but move onto the streets and touch lives. would turn the tide of darkness We feel God has called us to the most around them. It’s been described as an “accidental broken places. prayer movement” because it started simply with people hungering for God’s presence. Inspired by the PRAYER ROOMS Moravian prayer meeting, which lasted for 100 years, A prayer room is any space that we they chose to pray night and day (24/7) for a month. dedicate to meeting with God. We have In that time, all sorts of wonderful things happened prayer spaces in schools, in churches, and so they kept going. From that point on, prayer in shops, in fact in any empty space. spaces started to spring up everywhere in shop fronts, They are happening in Ulster, Leinster, clubs, bars, naval academies….

Munster and Connaught. Often prayer In Ireland, there has been a steady development rooms have different prayer stations of 24/7 Prayer. About 10 years ago, we established a allowing people to focus on different leadership team. Over the last decade, we’ve seen God things. One area might be for worship use prayer rooms to bless, equip and inspire the church to pray again. It has OUR DESIRE IS THAT OUR PRAYERS DON’T JUST STAY IN THE PRAYER been a journey and ROOM BUT MOVE ONTO THE STREETS AND TOUCH LIVES. we’ve seen a new connectedness as God’s church has united in prayer.

One of the distinctives of 24/7 is a new expression and thanksgiving, one for confession of prayer. We often conjure up an image of the and laying down our sin before Jesus and midweek church prayer meeting in a cold hall with another for praying for our community a few (usually older) people sitting on green plastic and the world. All human emotion can chairs and praying one after another. be expressed, from joy and elation to brokenness and lament. In prayer rooms, While this has its place, it was not capturing the we find the freedom to pray prayers that heart of the younger generations. We encourage we would not necessarily pray in front of all forms of prayer and the 24/7 prayer rooms have other people! breathed a fresh life into prayer. People sign up for an Across Ireland, new prayer rooms hour to pray and meet with God through all sorts of are springing up all the time and in the creative methods. They write letters, paint pictures most unlikely places. In 2014, over 150 and use music to connect with the Father. prayer rooms opened up for a few days Early on, there was a sense that God was helping or even weeks at a time. 24/7 is a gift us to connect with His heart for us. But as we prayed and blessing to the church - re-inspiring it became clear that His love needed to overflow. As and re-invigorating the prayer life of the we are intimate with God and we connect with His churches all over Ireland and Northern

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Ireland. Many of the traditional denominational churches have found that prayer spaces are a great way to breathe new life into their parishes.

In the Church of Ireland Diocese of Down and Dromore, Bishop Harold Miller was helping his churches to prepare for a year of mission in 2015. The diocese chose to set aside 2014 as a year of 24/7 prayer.

They prepared a “prayer scroll”, which was passed like a baton from parish to parish. Each church was asked to pray night and day (24/7) for three, five or seven days.

Bishop Miller shared, “What amazed me was the sense of the presence of God. People started by wondering how they were going to cope with praying for seven days of 24/7 prayer. But they discovered such blessing in doing it. The predominant thing people say is, ‘We knew that God was here and we wanted it to go on for longer!’”

MAKING CONNECTIONS

God is using 24/7 to join up churches across the land (a bit like an electrical circuit board). I believe God wants to do something new. Often these moves of the Holy Spirit are limited or stopped because of relational problems between denominations and people.

God is doing something that is overflowing the traditional barriers of “denominations or tribes”.

We’d like to encourage other churches and groups of churches to get involved. Creating a prayer room is a great place to start. It can sometimes feel daunting but you

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PRAYING FOR THE ARTS AND MEDIA

The Big Ask is a Dublin prayer initiative focusing on praying for key areas of influence. The next event is “Pray for Arts and Media” on Saturday January 20 in the Basement, Filmbase, Temple Bar at 7.30pm. For more information visit The Big Ask Dublin Facebook page.

THE FIRE OF GOD, FUELLED BY INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER, COMPELLED THE CELTS INTO A LOST WORLD. will be surprised! Start small with a day or weekend of night and day prayer. And let us know what you are planning to do. We have regular gatherings to share stories and encourage one another. There are resources on the website and we’ll be praying for you too!

EXPRESSING CREATIVITY

24/7 Prayer is inherently creative. We are rediscovering something rich about the artistic heritage of the land. The Irish have a strong artistic side. Art opens us up to a whole new level of insight, mystery and wonder about God rather than just linear information. The prayer rooms bring the beauty of God’s heart to us. God is the creator and we are His workmanship - His poem! Where there is brokenness, God brings beauty.

LOOKING INTO 2015

There is still lot of work to be done in our land but God is stirring things. He is raising up His church to be a voice for The prayer spaces are a bit like the Celtic transformation. There is a new “normal” “thin” places, where heaven and earth seem to around kingdom thinking. The church overlap. Of course, we can engage with God is regaining its confidence as the people anywhere. But we cannot ignore that when displaying the manifold wisdom of God. specific places are dedicated and set aside for There is a whole generation that is less God, He honours that. In Ireland’s history, interested in tribal politics and more monastic communities established places interested in friendship, relationship and where they could connect with God. And doing stuff together. Religion, politics and what flowed from those places was mission! economics have let a lot of people down.

The fire of God, fuelled by intimacy with the While that can be a depressing thought, Father, compelled the Celts into a lost world. it is a massive opportunity. People are We travel around Ireland, visiting tired of the old narrative and hungry for different communities and saving some of something new! our best prayers for places beyond ourselves.

For the “circuit board” to work we need to rediscover the richness of family that we have Alain Emerson is the leader lost in the modern world. We want to create of 24/7 Prayer in Ireland and a culture where we celebrate one another so Assistant Pastor of Emmanuel your success is my success because we are Church in Lurgan, Co Armagh. connected!

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FACE TO FACE WITH MOYA BRENNAN alented singer- songwriter Moya Brennan has stood the test of time in the music industry. With her Irish family group Clannad, she has produced such timeless music as Theme from Harry’s Game, In a lifetime (Moya duetted with Bono), I will Find You and the soundtrack to the Robin Of Sherwood TV series, which won a Bafta for best original TV music.

Moya recently finished a Clannad tour. Since then, she has been in the US and Germany with Cormac de Barra for their Voices and Harps tour. Spirit Radio presenter Kelly Cassidy caught up with Moya to find out more about her life and music.

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DO YOU EVER MISS THOSE DAYS OF PERFORMING IN YOUR HOMETOWN OF GWEEDORE IN DONEGAL BEFORE YOU BECAME FAMOUS?

I’ve always loved. Cormac is a great inspiration to me and, in my opinion, is far and away the best harpist in Ireland. We perform in a very stripped down way - either just the two of us or with one other musician. I love the simplicity and purity of playing like this.

CLANNAD PUT IRISH TRADITONAL MUSIC ON THE MAP. DO YOU THINK IT ALSO INFLUENCED THE IRISH LANGUAGE? How much of an influence is difficult to say but I do know that when we started, unlike now, speaking Irish was quite uncool.

Harry’s Game, our biggest hit, is the only Irish language song to get into the UK Top Ten!

SOME WOULD SAY YOU REACHED THE TOP WHEN YOU PERFORMED THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE KING ARTHUR. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

There was an excitement at the beginning, which is difficult to recreate. I still perform in the family pub and have started a monthly singer-songwriter night, which has been amazing. I can see touches of myself as a young girl when I hear I TAKE MY LIFE AS IT IS AND HAVE the youthful talent up there. It’s a special LEARNED TO LIVE WITH MY MISTAKES. place.

It was an amazing experience. I spent a lot of time with Hans Zimmer in his studio in Santa Monica and he made me feel so welcome and valuable. When he asked me to co-write the end-credits song, I couldn’t believe it.

WHO IS THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE?

WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING YOU’VE HAD TO FACE?

I could think of all kinds of epic people but I’d always come back to my Mum and Dad. My Dad for his gentleness and kindness and my Mum for being so organised when she had nine children to bring up.

WHAT’S THE BEST AND WORST OF TOURING WITH YOUR FAMILY?

Best things are obviously an instinctive understanding and anticipation of what we do best. We’ve been playing music and singing together since very young so there’s a lot of ‘shorthand’ when we write and record. Worst things? I suppose the same that any siblings go through!

IN SEPTEMBER 2013, CLANNAD RELEASED NÁDÚR, YOUR FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN 15 YEARS. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RECENT RECORDINGS?

Nádur is my last release but I have enjoyed recording with harpist, Cormac De Barra. We have released two Voices & Harps albums, the latest is called Affinity. It’s a great opportunity to rediscover some of the wonderful traditional songs and tunes

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Writing my autobiography! It was a really difficult process of serious reflection and being prompted to remember things I’d almost forgotten. I had a very dark period in my life, which I knew I had to describe and, despite having come through it all with God’s grace, it still wasn’t easy.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I take my life as it is and have learned to live with my mistakes.

You can’t dwell on things you did wrong or have too many regrets.

You have to move on, improve and build on the positive things.

AS A CHRISTIAN, HOW DO YOU STAY CLOSE TO GOD BEING PART OF THE WORLD OF CELEBRITIES AND MEDIA?

I try to have a quiet time with the Lord every morning. It’s really important on tour - travelling and being in new places all the time so it keeps me grounded.

Want more? Read the full interview with Moya online at www.vox.ie.

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

On the road again...

By Annmarie Miles s I write this, I am surrounded by boxes. My whole life is being sorted out and anything that isn’t coming with us is being divided into typical “moving house” categories. …to throw out. …to go to the charity shop. …to ‘re-gift’. …would re-gift if I could remember who I got it from and could be sure they wouldn’t get it back.

As you read this, I’m sure I’ll still be surrounded by boxes; maybe one less because of the seven items I managed to assign to one of the above categories.

I lived in my parents’ house until I was 27. Since meeting Mr. Feint Saint, 16 years ago (I’ll wait while you count that one up on your fingers…), I have packed and moved ten times. The house I’m moving to now is only a temporary stop until we get somewhere else, which may possibly be a longer temporary stop.

I must say that I have got the moving thing down to a fine art; as fine as art can be when you are totally disorganised. As soon as we made the decision, we started sorting and packing. I made lists. I made labels for boxes, mostly for storage. But, of course, there is an “I-can’t-live-without-this” category. I packed a load of stuff to go to a car boot sale, which was duly brought back to me.

So, I’ve added a “car boot sale when I get there” category. With two weeks to go, we have a lot done.

It’s also time for me to finally take all my stuff from the attic in my parent’s house. That is much harder than packing. It truly is the end of an era, in a house where I lived for so long. To be honest, I feel in every way homeless. I’ve been on the move for some time now and it is with a heavy sigh (and an even heavier waffle iron) that I pack up my life again.

There is, however, a peace and confidence within me that moving back across the water is the right thing to do. There’s an element of, “I wish I didn’t have to do this,” alongside a “this is the path, walk in it,” type of assurance.

You never know what God is going to ask you to do next, or where He will ask you to go. In the Creator scheme of things, every stop is a temporary one until the final destination. My advice to all fellow travellers is… pack light!

Oh… and don’t buy a waffle iron unless you REALLY need one!

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“I must say that I have got the moving thing down to a fine art.”

Annmarie Miles is originally from Tallaght, now living in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. She is married to Richard from Wales. She spends her days writing, teaching and talking.

Her first collection of short stories, The Long & The Short of It, is available in all formats at www.emuink.ie (Fiction Section) and also in Footprints in Dun Laoghaire.

Ed Note: We are delighted that a move to Wales does not mean the end of our Feint Saint column. Annmarie has agreed to continue writing for VOX from “over the water”… our very first foreign correspondent no less!

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SEXUALITY AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RESOURCES Following our special feature in the last issue of VOX magazine, several people have asked us to publish links to resources that give a Biblical framework, further information and individual stories about sexuality and same-sex marriage. As always, at VOX, we have sought to provide a range of resources from different perspectives to reflect the breadth of Christian opinion on this subject. Please note: by publishing the links, VOX magazine is not necessarily endorsing or recommending these resources - simply sharing the details of websites where you may find additional information.

www.bibleteacher.org/hmarriage.html John Stott on Homosexual Marriage (first published in 1985).

This link was strongly recommended by Mallow Street Christian Fellowship in Limerick.

www.ionainstitute.ie Catholic website which defends a traditional view of marriage and argues against a change in the law in Ireland to support same-sex marriage.

www.livingout.com Stories from Vaughan Roberts and others who have chosen a celibate lifestyle.

www.faithinireland.wordpress.com Patrick Mitchell’s blog discusses topical issues from a strong theological foundation. Search on “marriage” for a number of posts on same-sex marriage.

www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk A confidential Christian support service for Christians with same-sex attractions who choose not to pursue relationships because of their faith convictions. www.gaychristian.net American website which seeks to build bridges and provide support for those caught in the crossfire of the culture wars. The “Great Debate” presents views and theological arguments from gay Christians who choose lifelong celibacy and those who choose monogamous same-sex relationships. www.core-issues.org Northern Irish website designed for people with unwanted same-sex attractions and for pastors, youth workers, relatives or friends.

www.eaiseanchai.wordpress.com Nick Park’s blog for the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, explores a range of issues including an article on the recent “Gay Cake” saga in Northern Ireland www.changingattitudeireland.org A Church of Ireland organisation working for the full affirmation of LGBT people within Irish churches. www.acceptingsexuality.org Informal Methodist group working for inclusion of LGBT people in the church. www.faithandpride.org Northern Irish based website for Gay Christians including papers presenting alternative interpretations for key Bible passages about homosexuality.

A West Cork

Springtime Welcome

Barn Meeting “Songs of Praise” the last Sunday of every Month at 7:30pm Tel: +353 (0) 61 395376 | Mobile: +353 (0) 87 279 1525 dohertycampingadare@eircom.net www.adarecamping.com 18

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www.topoftherock.ie

ART + FAITH

What you had to say about it...

n this edition, we explore the interaction between Art and Faith with stories and interviews from different artists around Ireland. But we start by hearing from you! Thanks for the tremendous response to our Readers’ Survey.

Space doesn’t allow us to share all your views but here is a taste of what you had to say. You can see the full results of our survey on our website at www.vox.ie.

While 51% of churches said art plays an essential part in the life of their church, for the majority the chosen art form is music.

40% say they never or hardly ever engage with any other art form and for most, embracing the full spectrum of the arts is rare.

Interestingly, almost 50% incorporate “film” into church services in some way.

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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ART IN FAITH AND HOW COULD (OR SHOULD?) CHRISTIANS IN IRELAND EMBRACE THE ARTS? in art is investing in faith enhancement. A barren + Investing church indicates a barren faith. is an essential part of my life and faith. Without it we are + Art impoverished. can often convey messages, which are too deep or + [Art] magnificent to express merely through words. an ‘arty’ person myself and I don’t really see the point, + Not unless you count the written word (Bible) as art? arts are a powerful way of engaging with society and + The encouraging Christians in their faith. I would love to see more in our churches.

the church’s art prophetically provokes the agents of + When injustice in our society, then we’ll be doing something right. has a culture and history full of artistic gifting. There + Ireland should be a natural outflow of this in the church.

someone has a gift, it should be used, but not have + IfChristianity shoehorned onto it.

first Friday of every month, we put up a new art + The exhibit from local artists, art collectors or even an art project by children on our church walls.

really think about the arts in connection with + Ithenever life of the church. Maybe it’s because our services are structured so there is not much space for things like this.

these art forms today can only appeal to the flesh. + All What we need today is not art forms but rather for

God’s people to get back to the simplicity of the Scriptures and follow the pattern of the early disciples in Acts 2:42. The Christian life is a life of faith and not a going after some new-fangled way of engaging in “socalled” worship.

CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

Every month in Dublin, a group of artists and creatives gathers for conversation, food and sharing work. Everyone is welcome, from the complete novice to the seasoned professional. Ages range from 18 to 80 and the artists represent a wide spectrum of creativity (visual artists, musicians, designers, writers, actors and performance artists, film and video makers and those in new media.)

A second gathering focuses on Christians who are artists and who want to meet specifically to pray for one another and to discuss how being a child of God informs our creative work. Coordinator James Pettit shared, “Our hope is to encourage and equip artists to enter more fully into church body life as creatives, bringing the kind of rich flourishing to church and the world which we believe God has prepared them to do. Often the church is a poorer place because we don’t recognise and encourage those among us whom God has gifted artistically.” To find out more, contact James at jpettit@live.com.

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PAINTING THE MYSTERY What happens when art and faith intermingle?

BY THOMAS BREZING

I WANT TO MAKE ART, INFORMED BY MY FAITH, WHICH CONNECTS WITH EVERYBODY.

hen I was a child, my father’s two aunts used to read to me from an illustrated Bible. I remember pestering them with endless questions about the images of Jesus on the cross (“Why is the sky so dark?”), the empty tomb (“Who rolled the stone away?”) and the resurrection. In a way, those questions linger in that room, with my great aunts and me, although the two ladies are long dead and the house where I grew up was demolished years ago.

When Bertha, the first of them, died, her death was a moment of fracture and brought me inconsolable sadness. It was a spectacular birth of grief and a million unanswered questions. I

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asked how death would call me and what stood between death and me? – wholesome but heavy questions for a child to ponder.

And then I saw her lying in the coffin. She had an amazing smile on her face. I remember thinking she must have seen something beautiful. This left a lasting impression. I always believed she saw God in those moments. This smile, in the presence of her maker, seemed to justify all existence; as if her whole life was needed to produce that one smile when it counted most; when, in the eyes of God, she was complete.

As the coffin was placed into the hearse, I drew a picture of the undertakers, the hearse and the coffin. Then the

picture ‘disappeared’ and, at her funeral, the pastor held it up in front of the congregation.

I felt embarrassed and sank into my seat. This was my first “accidental” showing of “art” in front of an audience - quite incredible to think it happened in a church! In hindsight, what a privilege!

MAKING A CONNECTION

Fast forward to today: the world I have worked in for the

past two decades, the world of contemporary art, is a distinct civilisation. It has its white cube temples, its esoteric value system, its priests and saints, its festivals and rituals. I want to make art that steps outside the contemporary art world and infiltrates its secular system with my Christian faith. I don’t want to make art that hides my faith nor art that stays in a little bubble for the Christian audience. I want to make art,

Made Of Breath Only

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IF WE BELIEVE THAT IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY ARE GIFTS FROM GOD, WHY HAVE WE NEGLECTED THEM FOR SO LONG?

informed by my faith, which connects with everybody.

There are no crosses in my paintings or installations, no images of Jesus holding a lamb, or tranquil scenes of charming churches in winter light. While there is nothing wrong with that, it’s not what my art wrestles with. I look at how we live our lives and where we fall short, our carelessness, brokenness, my own failures and how all this relates to Biblical teaching and faith.

The Bible is full of mystery and so is art. This is where the Gospel and art correlate at

their zenith. If we believe that imagination and creativity are gifts from God, why have we neglected them for so long?

Can art be brought back into churches?

Here are two of the projects I am currently working on: Carpet Man is a performance project, which started around 2011 during my show at Highlanes Municipal Gallery, Drogheda. Carpet Man is a man dressed in an old piece of carpet. His only possessions are the carpet, woolly socks and a suitcase.

Fifteen years ago, I spent a

few nights rolled up in an old piece of carpet sleeping on my studio floor. It was a low point in my life and, although I wasn’t homeless, I had a small glimpse into what it must feel like. When I perform as Carpet Man, people generally feel compassionate.

Sometimes they come up for a hug and I am reminded of Galatians 5:22: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Being inside a carpet is a humbling experience.

A LONG AND ARDUOUS PROCESS

Painting is my first love. It has to be real but I never paint something that already exists.

I have to surprise myself with a painting, so I can also surprise the viewer. Paintings often resist closure. The way I paint is a long and arduous process. Made Of Breath Only (see image) was ‘built’ over time and it went through different phases.

It was loosely based on an old black and white photograph of my late grandparents on their wedding day. What were images of them, in silhouette form, repeated across the painting are now hints and fragments.

When I rework a painting, I turn it on its head and start anew but some of the old painting might remain. These things go unnoticed in the ‘new form’ - comparable to our past, gone, yet still part of us, shards of memories of loved ones still within us. Through the centre of the painting, unresolved building structures flow like a cityscape. In the foreground, we see box-shaped junk, perhaps

the suggestion of pollution, a rubbish heap or illegal dumping.

Flowers grow in and around them, like flora on a landfill, rendering the pollution barely discernible, but lurking one layer beneath the surface. Boxes to me stand for houses, cars, rooms, TVs, computers… we spend most of our lives insides boxes.

The title relates to Genesis, when it describes God forming man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathing into it the breath of life. The rainbow with the “wrong colours” also connects with Genesis and God’s promise to Noah.

Made Of Breath Only is shrouded in mystery and ambivalence. It doesn’t set out to provide a single frame of reference or to answer any questions. Depending on the viewer’s personality, it can be interpreted as the end of something, as the beginning, or both.

Thomas Brezing was born in Germany in 1969 and moved to Ireland in the early 1990s to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.

He is married with three children, lives and works in North County Dublin and has been exhibiting his work nationally and internationally for 20 years. www.thomasbrezing.weebly. com JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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ART FAITH

An Italian Journey PAINTING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTERS

BY FERGUS RYAN

Fort Sangallo, Civita Castellana, from Villa Bianca, oil, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013

n the summer of 2013, I had the privilege of participating in a Masterclass with the noted Israeli painter Israel Hershberg, based in the ancient Italian town of Civita Castellana at the intersection of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria. For two sun-drenched months, we followed in the the footsteps of the famous 19th century landscape artists—Corot, Turner, Bertin—who made the Grand Tour, stopping to paint the spectacular orangey-ochre and silvery-green gorges that surround the town.

The Masterclass was a breathtaking, oncein-a-lifetime experience, not least because of the intense heat (41ºC) and - its main purpose - painting the landscape en plein air. Having to ‘schlep’ a heavy palette box and art supplies usually required painting in the cooler first light after six o’clock, often finishing a boldly-brushed canvas before breakfast. For a 65-year-old, more accustomed to ‘slow painting’ in a studio in Ireland’s moderate climes, this was just beyond the edges of my comfort zone!

Sarah and I drove from Ireland, our Land Rover piled high with easels, paints, brushes and canvases. Arriving in Civita Castellana, our startling introduction to the programme (before Sarah returned to Dublin) was the open-air briefing.

“I’m an atheist,” the American ex-pat administrator announced unexpectedly, “and probably the only atheist in town. But everyone needs to hear a rational alternative. Okay?’” For some reason, I expected she and I would have some interesting conversazione at the café-bar in the piazza! By the end of the summer, I was being invited to soirées at her palazzo apartment, where Corot had his Civita studio.

The larger group of painters here were either Hershberg’s Israeli students or American

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professional painters, including my friend, worldclass figure and portrait painter David Kassan (who later gave his own masterclass at the RHA in Dublin).

The approach of the masterclass was to get out into the landscape and paint every day. Hershberg and his wife Yael Scalia, also a very fine painter, wandered around the town, advising painters at their easels to avoid chasing detail and instead capture the essence of what was before them: the major forms, the values and chroma. “Don’t keep finishing,” said Hershberg, “keep starting.” I found that a challenge.

The townspeople were bemused at all these strange people painting odd corners no one had ever taken notice of before. As at home, we often don’t know what great events happen around us.

The culmination of each week’s work was the group critique. We each laid out our recent efforts while Israel and Yael moved around the studio commenting on each canvas. The critiques had a creativity and colour of their own. These were professional artists and students and often

I WAS OVERCOME WITH TEARFUL EMOTION AS THE VARIOUS STRANDS OF MY LIFE WERE WOVEN TOGETHER BY THE MUSIC.

First Light, Monte Sorrate, oil, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013 22

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Villa Bianca, oil, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013

the most valuable comments were the ones that enabled the painter to see some fault and so to make progress.

It was all about that wonderful light of Italy whose enveloping vespertine glow had enticed our artist forebearers and so, when one Israeli student produced a somewhat grey painting, the master asked pointedly if he had painted this in Ireland! At that, my national pride, taking this as a compliment, led me to shout ‘Well done!’, after which order was gradually restored. 65-year-olds can say things like that!

There was one magical moment as I was drawing the Duomo at the hilltop town of Nepi.

From an open window high in an adjacent building, the sound of an oboe filled the courtyard and I could just see a patrician, grey head moving rhythmically with the sounds. It was a hauntingly-beautiful rendering of Gabriel’s Oboe, and I remembered this was the theme music for a

wordless Aer Lingus TV ad from the 1980s, featuring the majestic Boeing 747, which I had flown for five years.

My young American painting companion, Lauren, had a spiritual journey similar to my own and, standing there, I was overcome with tearful emotion as the various strands of my life were woven together by the music—flying, art, and the community of faith. The anonymous musician and I shared a wordless visual exchange and the slightest acknowledging gesture of the hand.

Nothing needed to be said.

MY PAINTINGS RESONATE WITH THIS DUAL SENSE OF LOSS AND HOPE, IN THE MIDST OF A WILD BEAUTY. Every Thursday, there was a long coach journey to see the works of the great Italian painters of the Renaissance: painters such as Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, Filipino Lippi, with many biblical themes including Piero’s famous Resurrection (claimed by Aldous Huxley to be “the greatest painting in the world”) and the Flagellation of Christ. Our excursions took us to Florence, Siena, Bologna, Urbino, Arezzo, and Sansepolcro. Sitting beside Israel on the bus was an art education in itself.

“Fergus, you’re one curious guy,” Israel told me at the final group critique, “dogged, adventurous, ambitious…and curious.” I think that was a compliment. On the long drive back to Ireland, I had time to reflect on how this time in Italy would affect my painting at home, with the changing light of its rain-washed landscapes.

*** In contrast to Italy’s warm terracotta stillness, the salt-moist Atlantic wind on Ireland’s western coastlines searches the mystical and melancholic The Duomo At Nepi, charcoal, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013 JAN - MAR 2015 VOX

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WE ARE COMPRISED OF ALL THE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE HAD, AND THE PEOPLE WE HAVE KNOWN, THE TINY TESSERAE OF WHICH FORM THE MOSAIC IMAGE OF OUR LIVES.

Passing Rooks, egg tempera, © Fergus A Ryan, 2013

landscape for old memories, sweeps along stone-walled grassy lanes and breathes through broken windows in abandoned houses. But the ancient landscape is far from empty: it is filled with what I sense as the tangible “presence of absence”, a bittersweet visual melancholy, the drifting surging sound of a distant sean-nós lament . It is beautiful but, not for the present, a perfect beauty.

I experience this ‘absence and presence’ in two ways,

and it becomes the creative genesis of my Irish paintings.

It may begin in some unexpected encounter in which time itself seems to stand still, perhaps as an abandoned artefact that becomes a portrait of its now-absent owner.

These encounters are transitions between our world and a narrative that might otherwise no longer be accessible.

In Passing Rooks, it was the silence momentarily disturbed by a chattering flock of passing rooks before settling again to its vast emptiness. In Terminus, the rusting ‘high Nelly’ bicycle abandoned against the great ‘erratic’ Burren boulder once belonged to Sarah’s mother, and it became her ‘portrait’. Terminus is the end of Europe, the end of the bicycle, and the end of its owner’s journey to another shore.

If the first ‘absence’ bears a melancholy sense of loss, the second carries for me a wistfulness, a yearning, a longing for what is to come. Nature is groaning, the apostle says, as in labour pains, waiting for its deliverance at the coming renewal of all things. This restoration accompanies the final, redemptive revealing of the new humanity in Christ. My paintings resonate with this dual sense of loss and hope, in the midst of a wild beauty. This cosmic rhythm between nature and humanity means that people, despite their ‘in-betweenness’, are also invested with great dignity as bearers of the Imago Dei. My figure paintings aim to capture a very private reflectiveness in this space between two worlds, as in Liminal, a silent threshold between two experiences and Dreadlocks, which portrays a thoughtful figure in her own creative and artistic expression.

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experiences we have had, and the people we have known, the tiny tesserae of which form the mosaic image of our lives. I am grateful to have known Israel Hershberg and the artists I encountered in Italy and I am grateful, too, for my first encounter with the American painter Andrew Wyeth’s work at the MOMA in New York in 1970. It was in Wyeth I first understood that painting is about more than an arrangement of beautiful forms.

Beneath the surface of things there is always a depth, another presence. That is what I aim to explore.

Fergus Ryan was an Aer Lingus pilot from 1966 to 1994. He has an MA from Trinity College Dublin in theology and was senior leader of Trinity Church Network in Dublin until 2011. In recent years, Fergus has exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

His painting “Lightkeeper” is in the President’s personal selection at Áras an Uachtaráin. See his work at www.

FergusARyan.com

ART FAITH

VOX MAGAZINE

GLORIFYING GOD CREATIVELY

BY SHAY PHELAN

ong ago and not so very far away, I worked as a professional actor, mainly in the Irish theatre. It was a fulfilling experience but there were certain difficulties. Having become a Christian, and one with a sharp, sometimes overactive conscience, I often found scripts contained language and blasphemy I didn’t want to express.

And then, with even the greatest playwrights, there could be a conflict of worldview. Although an actor could bring much creativity and innovation to his or her interpretation of a role, our work was still subservient to the intentions of the dramatist in respect of the message the play was meant to communicate. I wasn’t happy about this. Increasingly, I desired to glorify God more

“Scripture recitation” may sound rather unexciting to those who haven’t seen my work. It isn’t a question of simply cramming a piece of scripture into my head and mechanically speaking it. Through meditation and prayer, I must enter into the meaning of the scripture, seeking God for insight into every phrase, every word, understanding as much as possible God’s love and passion for His children, as expressed through writers like Paul. Then, that passion and love must be expressed in the performance.

As an artist, I am concerned with beauty.

In the heart of God, truth and beauty are THERE IS NOTHING QUITE AS FULFILLING AS THE AFFIRMING one. Revelation ANOINTING I SENSE WHEN SPEAKING HIS WORD FROM MY highlights the sublime beauty HEART, WITH ALL THE SKILL I CAN MUSTER. even in such details as Christ overtly with my talents and use them to express washing His disciples’ feet. For me to His truth. communicate that, I must first see it.

I eventually quit the secular theatre scene and Eric Liddell, the evangelist who for a long period earned my daily bread in a hotel, won a gold medal for Britain in the working as a houseman. Not much creativity in 1924 Olympics, once said of his that, you might say, and for much of the time you running skill, “God made me fast. would be right. Yet, during this time in the hotel, I When I run, I feel His pleasure.” For was memorising the letter of Paul to the Ephesians me, the satisfaction is similar. There and that provided some very productive is nothing quite as fulfilling as the meditation while vacuuming. affirming anointing I sense when I can also recall one special afternoon speaking His word from my heart, composing the first part of a song about the with all the skill I can muster and blood of Jesus while engaged in the same activity, communicating it to hearts that are feeling the love and anointing of God fill my heart open. while I worked. Although these things were done primarily for my own benefit, I knew I could use my acting and song-writing skills to communicate Shay Phelan was born in Dublin. He has been a member of St God’s Word to others.

Mark’s Church on Pearse Street for 25 years. With experience in And so (rather slowly), a new, unique professional theatre, Shay is currently giving full-time commitment ministry was born, involving drama, songs, to his creative ministry. He has performed in various churches scripture recitation and even storytelling. I wrote and conferences in Ireland and the UK. Contact him on 085 139 some short dramas for solo performance and 4434 or by email: shaypphelan@gmail.com songs that came out of my own experience of Christian life.

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ART FAITH

ART AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

BY ANDREW GARVEY-WILLIAMS

HE WHO WAS SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID, ‘I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!’ REVELATION 21:5

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or 10 years, I have lived in the small like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew success and to recognise a community’s Donegal town of Buncrana working 9:36 heritage and achievements. Music, alongside others to bring about Engagement with art in the performance and the visual arts are community transformation. I’ve been reflecting on community enables us to participate often powerful features of celebratory the role of the arts in community and on my own role with others in shaping our community events or commemorative acts. as an artist and a Christian. positively. There are at least three main People are at the heart of I can choose either to separate myself and work stages in community transformation and community. And at the heart of within the confines of the church or to engage as a at each stage the artist has a role. community transformation is personal positive influence alongside those in the community First, a community has to be made transformation - becoming like who are involved in the arts. Jesus calls us to be salt aware of its needs, wrongs or failures.

Jesus. Through His life, death and and light - in other words to choose to engage and At this stage, like the prophet of old, resurrection, Jesus brought personal influence, not to hide. transformation at all levels From the so-called ‘high arts’ to the physical, emotional, spiritual and design of packaging in shops, art pervades social. Transformed by Him, we and influences our society at all levels.

IF WE CARE ENOUGH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL become examples of and agents for It reflects our humanity and defines our transformation.

DISCERN THE CRIES, QUESTIONS, IDEAS, JOYS, VALUES social values and concerns. I believe that Transformation has more to by creatively imagining and designing a do with relationship than with art AND PRIORITIES THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN THE ARTS. better world through our arts, we live as but art created in relationship with God intends, as stewards of His creation others bridges barriers, provides - and the results are noticeable! When we do nothing, the artist confronts with truth and an open and trusting environment we allow cynicism and despair to fill the vacuum with encourages others to express issues and potentially builds the spirit of destructive forces. of concern. A recent anti-bullying art community. The arts are a significant “I am so impressed with the great stuff that is going on exhibition in Buncrana invited children part of our world and can be a tool for in Buncrana and all over Inishowen… all over the place, and adults to explore the issue of bullying shaping and imagining our communities there are cultural, artistic, social business and educational and gathered over 200 pieces of art work for good or bad. Let’s redeem them for projects and organisations doing brilliant things. I am for exhibition - many paintings were cries good! proud to tell everyone about Buncrana. I might have to from the heart!

Here are a few practical suggestions move home and get involved.” Comment by a local Communities need to respond for churches wanting to engage with the musician after a recent visit home. by working collaboratively to seek arts in their community: Engagement with art in our community does not a solution. Art becomes part of the automatically mean endorsing or associating with solution as artists dialogue with others • Encourage members to attend arts all artistic activity. But if we care enough about our to imagine a different future – an ugly events in the community, listening community, we will discern the cries, questions, ideas, wall is beautified by a mural, or art work to and analysing what is expressed. joys, values and priorities that are expressed in the is used in leaflets and posters to promote arts. positive mental health and tackle the • Join arts classes to develop “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion tragedy of suicide. creativity. on them, because they were harassed and helpless, Finally, it is important to celebrate

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• Identify the artists in your midst. Support and encourage them to be involved– not just in church-initiated projects but also in positive community projects as well.

• Initiate arts projects in and for the community – concerts, exhibitions, workshops.

• Resource arts projects: offer your premises to arts groups or help source funds or manpower for positive community initiatives.

These are just a few of the projects I’ve been privileged to be involved in:

STREET ART

A group of teens worked together to learn new skills and explore and express their views about their community. One major issue was that of emigration. Eventually, they created a mural entitled, “Home is where the Art is”. This was painted over a sectarian slogan that had been there for 40 years. Many passers-by commented, “About time, too!”

Question: What ugly realities are your community struggling with?

How can these be transformed?

THE ARTS ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR WORLD AND CAN BE A TOOL FOR SHAPING AND IMAGINING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR GOOD OR BAD. AMAZING GRACE TRANSFORMATION

In 1748, as a godless young man, John Newton encountered God in a storm in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship found refuge in Lough Swilly and Newton celebrated “the hour I first believed” for the rest of his life - not least in his most famous hymn “Amazing Grace”. Over the last four years, Buncrana has worked to celebrate and promote the story. The historical link is celebrated through an “Amazing Grace” annual festival featuring music and arts.

This is a story of transformation through God’s grace and the town has just completed two “transformation” projects to mark the story. An ugly disused fishing platform is now an attractive Amazing Grace viewing point.

And a derelict wasteland has become the beautiful new Amazing Grace Park.

Question: What are the Gospel stories in your community and how can you celebrate and share them?

FEEL GOOD FORTNIGHT

This annual summer festival promotes positive mental health. The festival invites local groups to celebrate and build community resilience by running positive events, programmes and workshops. Many activities have

a creative and artistic element.

The festival involves businesses, social enterprises, local groups and individuals of all ages. Collaborative activities bring people together, new skills are shared and the environment is transformed and beautified. The organising group has embraced the need for a spiritual dimension, so a prayer room is a welcome part of the programme.

Question: What positive local festivals, programmes and events are happening in your community? How can your church get involved?

COMMUNITY REFLECTIVE SPACE

A recent project, as part of a suicide prevention group, is creating a “reflective space” where people can enjoy the scenery and remember lost loved ones. A wooden seat was created from a tree trunk and local artists are working to mosaic the walls using broken tiles and pieces of pottery. The broken pieces create beautiful designs symbolising hope and new life. This is a lovely reminder that God is able to bring beauty out of brokenness!

Question: How can art help those who are grieving? What legacy is your church leaving in the community?

Andrew Garvey-Williams is an artist who is passionate about working with others to transform his community and to reflect the beauty, creativity and grace of Jesus Christ.

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ART FAITH

VIEW THROUGH A LENS DISCUSSING FAITH AND ART WITH A FILM DIRECTOR

BY RUTH GARVEY-WILLIAMS

hil Harrison is an award-winning Back inside, Phil chats about how we studies) and literature, marked his independent filmmaker. Editor Ruth Garvey- all see things differently, depending on journey out of faith - something that Williams caught up with him in Belfast to our background and experiences. Our he says he did not take lightly. find out more and to see what role, if any, perspective has a huge impact on what “In my rejection of faith, I kept faith plays in his art. we see. Perhaps like viewing the sunset alive a love of the text. I’ve noticed After watching his compelling and thoughtthrough the windowpane…! that the people, who most want to provoking film The Good Man (reviewed in the last I’m intrigued to discover how Phil’s take the Bible seriously, do not take VOX issue), I was delighted when Phil Harrison work came to be infused with biblical all of the Bible seriously. We all read agreed to an interview. We had arranged to meet in themes. out of the lens of our histories and the Mac Theatre in Belfast’s cathedral quarter context. but the interview started badly, from my point “I’d be critical of of view, when I miscalculated the city traffic and anybody, atheist or arrived late!

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, religious, who was Phil accepted my apology graciously but as I uncritical about the stories headed off to order coffee, I spotted him walking YOU MUST CHANGE THE STORIES THEY TELL. that we tell each other. So towards the door. Had I blown it completely? much of our contemporary He signaled that he’d be back in a minute, so culture is vapid and I carried the tray to our table. And that’s when I saw “My background is in the evangelical ideologically problematic.” him, camera in hand, capturing the stunning sunset Brethren community in Belfast,” Phil behind St Anne’s Cathedral. The sky was molten shares. “But, in my late teens, I moved TELLING STORIES lava and the distinctive building was bathed in a into a political idea of Christianity after I Phil came to filmmaking with translucent pink glow. began travelling in Africa. Since then I’ve a background in photography and Fumbling with my phone, I finally managed to left that behind, too, as I’ve embraced a design but he is, first and foremost, snap the view through the glass (narrowly missing more radical uncertainty.” a storyteller. “A Nigerian author capturing Phil in the shot because he was already Abandoning his faith was a kind describes stories as ‘the secret returning to the café). Taking the photo felt like of “trauma”, Phil admits, “Your picture reservoir of values’. If you want to an intrusion - as if I’d stumbled upon an intimate of the world and God is shattering.” A change nations and individuals, you moment for the Belfast artist and storyteller. master’s degree in theology (Biblical must change the stories they tell.

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THESE “GODS” ARE SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED THAT ONLY THEOLOGICAL LANGUAGE IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO TACKLE THEM.

“For a while, I was straddling a lot of things: photography, storytelling, even business and entrepreneurship.

Film weirdly marries all those things in a way that is absolutely guaranteed never to make you any money,” he laughs.

“So much of our box-set culture is emotionally and politically empty.

I want to make compelling and engaging stories that entertain, up to a point, but don’t allow us to remain comfortable.”

“Film is probably the newest art form,” Phil muses. “It is still finding its feet. We are trying to work out the language of cinema. I think most contemporary films are made for consumers - I hate that idea. I’m interested in cinema that demands something of the viewer.”

CREATING TRUTH

We chat a little bit about the place of faith in art. Phil ponders how “truth” can be created or constructed through the stories we tell. “My problem with advertising is not that

it tells lies but that it creates truth. Once you hear something enough times you start to believe it.”

“Whether done badly or well, art does the same. When you watch ‘Homeland’ and you see ethnic stereotyping, it shapes your understanding of the Middle East, or politics, war and violence.”

Despite his personal rejection of Christianity, Phil still retains a respect for the role of faith and has a philosopher’s appetite for questioning and exploring.

“Everyone has gods,” he says. “A god is not what you believe in, it is what you worship. Somebody somewhere has authority. Right now, that authority seems to be situated in the market and in the state. These “gods” are so deeply embedded that only theological language is powerful enough to tackle them. In an ironic twist, it is the task of Christianity to kill these gods!”

THE PROBLEM OF SHAME

People become defensive when they are trying to protect themselves from one another. At the heart, is the problem

of “shame” - a very “anti liberal concept” which cuts people off from one another, Phil suggests!

“The Christian idea is more redemptive - we must embrace our own brokenness. That opens up the possibility of a genuine encounter with the other, if we can bare ourselves.

“I think so many of the questions around faith are distractions. They are questions about what you believe. The questions most of us are wrestling with are closer. ‘What is it that I can’t give up? What am I most defensive about?’ Usually, when we hold to certain positions, it is about us being unable to [be vulnerable],” Phil adds.

It is this “stripping bare” that informs Phil’s latest project - a trilogy based on Dante’s Inferno. And he’s already planning another trip to Africa, this time to shoot a documentary around the issue of football and identity.

I leave in a pensive frame of mind... What lenses do I look through and how does that affect my relationships? How often do I fall for the “truths” of advertising, the media and art without stopping to question the value systems on which they are based?

And how can Christianity “kill” the gods of power and money that Phil described?

Although we look through different lenses, I feel profoundly grateful for the opportunity to meet an artist who made me think. Thanks Phil!

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ART FAITH

A YOUNG ARTIST SHARES HER JOURNEY

BY RUTH GARVEY-WILLIAMS

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PRINTMAKER JILLY MC ATEER RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM NCAD WITH TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FOR HER WORK. SHE CHATTED WITH VOX EDITOR RUTH GARVEY-WILLIAMS, ABOUT HER ART AND HER FAITH. ELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

depression. For me, that is like asking, opposition”. I love that idea.

“Should you be honest?” I think an I’m from Dublin, born and bred. I My experience of the art world in important part of the Christian walk is grew up in Glasnevin and now live in Ireland is of a closed-minded liberalism; being honest and open with questions.

Cabra. I’m married to Marshall Kingston, a mindless pursuit of what seems the It is a healthy wrestling. who I met when I was 16 and he was 18. most liberal and innovative. But there My mum is a Christian and my Dad was from a is a lack of thought in that. People can YOUR FINAL YEAR PROJECT WON Catholic background but for most of his life was an be intolerant in their open- mindedness.

AWARDS. TELL US ABOUT THAT. agnostic. Growing up, my brother and I went to mass At the start, my friends probably took I was really blessed. After my one week and then to a Baptist church the next. offence at my views or thought I was graduate show, I was selected for a My mum is the godliest woman I know. I was indoctrinated. But when you love graduate award, which gave me free quite young when I met God. I really loved Jesus as people, they realise you are not judging membership for a year at The Graphic a child. I remember talking to my teachers and my them.

Studios, one of friends and I felt it was so Dublin’s two large sad that people didn’t know print studios. I God. I TEND TO EXPLORE THINGS THAT ARE SAD OR OUT OF CONTROL IN MY OWN LIFE. also received the In my teenage years, RDS Printmakers my enthusiasm waned. I Award. I’m currently was used to knowing all the exhibiting in three answers in Sunday school galleries. I’m also volunteering at and I was under the delusion that I knew everything Tearfund and helping out at my church.

I needed to know. The “idol” of academic success TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK really took hold. For me, achievement in grades and I chose to specialise in print. Some academics became a distraction, encouraging a kind of people want to “say” something with WHAT DO ARTISTS NEED FROM THE dormant Christianity. And yet, I still loved Jesus and their art. For me, is not a message but a CHURCH? wanted to be like Him. process of questioning. My work is quite As an artist, I would love to meet dark. I tend to explore things that are sad other artists who are Christians so WHAT CHANGED? or out of control in my own life. we can have a discussion. I have Going to the international Christian youth In my final year project, all of the wrestled for ages with how my work is conference “TeenStreet” helped me realise that I images were about the home we are “kingdom-bringing”. From the practical hadn’t “arrived” and that there was so much more. I now living in. When we moved in, the side, young artists who are Christians met people who humbled me by their lifestyle. back garden was overgrown with bushes will almost certainly fall away from God One of the more intense moments of my life was and it had become a dumping ground. if they do not have support, especially during my first year in Trinity. I was studying English We uncovered vodka bottles and beer if they see a disconnect with the body and Sociology and I suffered from depression. The cans. The previous owner had died of of Christ. Artists can be quite extreme. pressures built up and eventually I decided to take a alcoholism. That resonated with my own Christians who are artistic and creative gap year. personal experience. do not want to have to choose between I went to India twice, first with Oasis and then In most people’s lives, there is their art and their faith. They do not with Freedom Firm. I also went to Texas to do an dramatic, dark stuff happening. It could want to hide their identity. internship with Josh and Debs Walker (main speakers be grief, addiction, or sickness. It is the at TeenStreet) for three months. That helped me shed terrible within the domestic, the darkness WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU RIGHT my preconceptions about what God was like. in the familiar. I used the garden as a NOW? metaphor. In one image, my Dad is sitting God always takes me through SO HOW DID YOU GET FROM STUDYING ENGLISH AND on a chair. You would hardly notice him. “themes”. One of the themes I’m going SOCIOLOGY TO BEING AN ARTIST? It was a great way of showing him in the through now is the realness of God’s I come from a family of scientists. My dad was a midst of that, but separate from it. continuous presence. We can be so chemist. My mum did microbiology and my brother My tutor told me, “All of your work driven. I want to learn not to stress about “getting better at this” but instead is in the midst of studying for a PhD in physics. But is about the human condition…” I was I always loved art and painting, especially twothinking about this recently. I never want just to enjoy God. I still have so much more to learn. I know 100% that He dimensional images. During my gap year, I submitted to paint rainbows or doves. Through the wants me to rest more. I feel guilty if I my portfolio to NCAD and when I got in, I decided to artistic process, you can transform ugly stop. go for it. things into beautiful objects.

I listened to a really good talk by Tim Keller recently about, “blessed WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING A CHRISTIAN IN ART HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE DARK self-forgetfulness”. Too often low COLLEGE? THEMES IN YOUR WORK WITH YOUR self-esteem and pride are two sides of I was two years older than most of the other CHRISTIAN FAITH? the same coin. It is not about thinking students and I was glad of that. There is a lot pressure I’m still wrestling with my faith less of yourself so much as thinking of to fit in. I felt happy being different. You stand out as in terms of my art. Because I am a yourself less! I need to learn to enjoy a Christian - in fact, you stand out like crazy. There is Christian, should I only be doing things and to not worry about how they no hiding it and I didn’t want to. “happy” things? There is a tendency in are making me look or how they are I love talking to people with different points of Christian culture to demand that art adding to my CV. In God, there is no view. CS Lewis warned against “banding together should “improve” on life. This can lead more judging. We can just be. in our own cohorts of thinking.” Instead, we need to fluffiness and sentimentality. Some to meet those who have the “best arguments for the question why I would create art about

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REALITY

HAITI FIVE YEARS ON

REBUILDING AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

BY FLORENCE MUTESASIRA

ive years ago, an earthquake additional support of the international shelter in a local church in the aftermath measuring 7.0 on the community. of the earthquake. The church pastor Richter scale devastated When I visited Port au Prince last then introduced them to local Christian the Haitian capital Port au summer, I arrived in a vibrant, colourful Aid partner GARR who helped them Prince. The January 2010 disaster killed city, boasting a rich culture of art and build their new home. over 230,000 people, injured another music. As we drove through the capital, “In comparison to my old house,” 300,000 and left over 1.5 million our Haitian colleagues pointed out Fede says, “I don’t call this a house; I homeless. Within seconds, it reduced the new schools, hospitals and other call it a palace!” the city to rubble – destroying 4,000 buildings that have been built to replace Christian Aid local partners schools, roads, hospitals as well as key those flattened by the earthquake. determined early on that it was not infrastructure.

There are hills covered with enough to just give a family a house; Haiti is one of the world’s poorest hundreds of new multi-coloured we also needed to help people earn a countries but it had just begun to see houses – a stunning sight until you sustainable living. growth when the earthquake brought go by a similar hill, a short distance Fede and Elise received training in the country to its knees. beyond with just as many houses, agriculture and livestock management “The earthquake pulled us back all incomplete and unpainted with as well as how to run a small business. more than 20 years,” says Prospery boarded up windows. These halfThey also received seed funding to buy a Raymond, Haiti Country Manager for built properties are interspersed with cow. Elise bought a fridge and sells cold Christian Aid. old tents and tarpaulins. Five years drinks at the local market, while Fede After the earthquake, over takes care of the cow and grows 600,000 people left the capital crops for food in their garden. and moved to rural areas. Some “Our work is not simply set up temporary shelters while FIVE YEARS ON, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING about housing the homeless others moved in with ‘host but about creating the capacity IN TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ALONG DIRTY STREETS. families’. for the people of Haiti to build As news of the devastation a better future for themselves spread worldwide, people and their country,” Prospery in Ireland responded with emphasises. incredible generosity. Christian Aid on, hundreds of people are still living There is still a lot to do: the road to Ireland was profoundly grateful for the in temporary structures along dirty reconstruction is long and littered with support, which made it possible for the streets, surrounded by piles of litter and many challenges. As Haitians continue Haitian partners to help communities overflowing sewage. to rebuild, slowly but surely, Christian rebuild after the devastation.

Aid will support their work. We hope There has been progress made; BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE others will do so too! and despite unprecedented challenges, To date, Christian Aid partners have the Haitians remain unwavering in worked with skilled engineers and local their strength and hope to see their communities to build more than 360 communities back on their feet. new, earthquake-resilient houses for the homeless. These houses are not just MANY HANDS strong, but they are also a good size – Florence Mutesasira There is a Creole proverb, ‘Men with 2-3 bedrooms, a living room and works with Christian anpil, chay pa lou’ – ‘Many hands kitchen.

Aid Ireland and is make a load lighter’. This has been Fede Dunois, his wife Elise and their based in Dublin. proven true since the earthquake. The nine boys (six of their own and three progress made to date is a result of local they took in) now live in one of these communities working together with the new houses. Fede and his family found

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REVIEWS

Best

Reads from 2014

We asked VOX readers around the country to tell us their favourite “reads” of 2014. From Donegal to Cork, they shared some inspiring books that are well worth checking out!

Emma Lynch, Mullingar, Co Westmeath / Tearfund One of my best reads of 2014, which I will read again over Christmas, was Soul Keeping - Caring for the most important part of you by John Ortberg. It was written shortly after the passing of his friend and mentor, Dallas Willard and is full of wisdom, some of which he gleaned from spending time with Dallas over many years. Here is one of my favourite quotes from the book, “You must arrange your days so that you are experiencing deep contentment, joy and confidence in your everyday life with God” - Dallas Willard.

Another book to look out for is How Good is the God we Adore by Charles and Yoke Fong Harvey. They went out to Thailand from Mullingar in the early 1990s and have been working to provide viable alternatives to sexual and labour exploitation for girls (and now boys as well) from impoverished families. It has been published on both Amazon and on Barnes and Noble in e-book form. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to Grace Ministries Thailand - www.gmfthailand.org.

Mark Loughridge, Letterkenny, Co Donegal Is the Trinity a philosophical conundrum or essential heartwarming truth? In The Good God, Mike Reeves writes the simplest and clearest book on the Trinity, showing how essential this great truth is for even the most basic understanding about God. More than that, he shows how the very love of God flows out of this truth. If you’ve ever been thoroughly perplexed or thought, “This is for the theologians,” you must read this. It is heart-warming, soul enriching fare.

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Matt Tuttlebee, Nenagh, Co Tipperary One book that has made a big impact in recent years is by Cornelius Plantinga entitled NOT the way it’s supposed to be. God used this book to wake me up to the reality of why our community was in such a mess, why there is so much pain and hurt all around in our rural town. Pantinga claims, “In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Saviour opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom He delights. Shalom is the way things ought to be.”

He then brilliantly describes sin as the vandalism of God’s shalom. The concept of vandalism is one I was familiar with growing up in Dublin - it is the deliberate destruction of God’s good purposes by the enemy. I found this had a profound impact on my heart. It disturbed me to note the reality that our community desperately needs the Gospel of life. It motivated me afresh to share the good news of God’s grace and it gave me a determination, with God’s help, that life here doesn’t have to stay the same. Life is not supposed to be the way it is for so many. But only the Gospel, which is the power of God that brings salvation, can restore shalom.

Karen Huber, Dublin Writer, church-planter and speaker Jen Hatmaker’s latest offering, is a revised and updated version of her seminal book, Interrupted:When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity. This book catalogues the Hatmaker’s’ journey from suburban megachurch pastors to church planters on the outskirts of American Christendom. Highlighted with insightful excerpts from husband Brandon, Interrupted deftly reveals the Hatmakers’ intentional avoiding of sin “hit lists” and political scorecards in favour of barefoot Easter services and sacrificial community. Now six years on, Jen updates us on the journey (including the risks and missteps) and the wisdom she’s gratefully gleaned along the way. With an unabashed love for Jesus, she honours the Bible and interacts with the text in a way that keeps you on your toes and leaves you grateful for modern-day prophets.

David Ross, Drimoleague, Co Cork I am thoroughly enjoying Alister McGrath’s CS Lewis: A Life. The Cork/Dublin/Belfast family connection, his experience of the Great War and, of course, his conversion and writings are all very topical. CS Lewis was an apologist who spoke forward to our time; therefore Alister McGrath has rightly subtitled the book: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet. This is an important book for today.

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REVIEWS

Best

Sounds from 2014

Who better than the folks at UCB Ireland Radio to share their favourite songs and albums that were played over the airwaves last year? You can listen to UCB Radio live online at www.ucbirelandradio.com or tune in to podcasts of your favourite programmes, including the popular “Word for Today” devotionals.

Vincent Hughes Programme Director 2014 has been a year for the BIG songs, most notably epics like Oceans’ - Where feet may fail and Like an avalanche by Hillsong. These were songs that, because of their length, were difficult to place on radio playlists, but which simply had to be heard. With so many great songs coming across my desk, it was difficult to pick a favourite. However, two songs really impressed and spoke volumes to me.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

by Casting Crowns - I’ve always felt that the world doesn’t know enough about what believers stand for.

Too often they only know what we’re against. This song is a reminder that we all need to do something about that.

My other big favourite is Blessings by Laura Story.

She wrote the song after almost losing her husband to a brain tumor in 2006.

The lyrics remind us that God remains faithful even when things don’t turn out the way we expect them to. This song was awarded a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Song that, in my opinion, is destined to become a classic.

Ger O’Reilly, Breakfast presenter As UCB Ireland’s breakfast presenter, my job is to kickstart our listeners’ day with inspiring, uplifting and thought-provoking music. It has been an easy job in 2014!

Two tracks really stand out. We believe by the Newsboys - If you want to know what we believe here at UCB Ireland, take a listen to this song. In four minutes, it sets out very clearly what we believe as Christians. When someone asks me what song I have in my head, this is usually the one. Brilliant!

The second track that topped my favourites list was My Heart Is Yours

by Kristian Stanfill. This one expresses how I feel when I pray and worship. As Christians we can be so lukewarm, yet when we go to a football match or a rock concert we have no problems whatsoever in showing our emotions and punching the air. This song allows us to do just that! It’s a powerful anthem of praise and worship that is literally bursting at the seams with energy.

Adrianne Murphy - presenter It’s often said that the best advice you can receive comes from someone who has gone through a similar problem already. If this is true, then Scottish singer songwriter Steph MacLeod must surely be listened to. His album Light In The Darkest Nights, which chronicles his recovery and salvation from homelessness and drug addiction, is truly inspirational. No song tells his story better than When I found Jesus. A big favourite on UCB Ireland Radio in 2014, this song in one sentence, holds the key to his and our salvation, “Just one touch from the King of Kings changed everything.”

Therese McGarry - programmer and producer Taken from Chris Tomlin’s new Album Love Ran Red, the track Jesus Loves Me reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love. No matter what situations we have got ourselves embroiled in, no matter how sinful or covered in shame we think we are, Jesus’ arms are open wide, ready to embrace us, if only we will run to Him. Every track on this album introduces us to the concept of God’s love but none as powerfully as this song! Wrap your ears around the lyrics!

Aileen Hudson - Presenter of Praise and Worship Hour The song that stood out for me in 2014 was How Great is Our God, the international version performed live by Chris Tomlin and a cast of thousands. Believe me, the YouTube video has to be seen! The moment I heard it, I was reminded of just how my own life had been so touched and changed by the love and mercy of this great, great God! Watch the video, soak up the awesome performance and experience it for yourself.

John Broderick - broadcaster Overcomer was my favourite during 2014.

It was written by Mandisa to encourage her brother who was facing what he considered to be insurmountable problems. The song reminds us that because Jesus has overcome the world on our behalf, we ourselves are overcomers. If we rely on His promises we can overcome any problem that comes our way. If you want assurance of this and an uplifting, uptempo song of encouragement, then give this song a listen!

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REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART NEW IRISH BAND MAKES MUSIC THAT IS HONEST AND VULNERABLE

BY HOLLY KREBS

resh off the heels of their successful first album “We’re not a Christian band; we are a band. And some of launch at Whelan’s in Dublin in November 2014, us are Christians. Those two things can coincide and that’s Hvmmingbyrd is a new Irish band making beautiful fine. There shouldn’t be a separation between the sacredness music full of honesty and vulnerability. of the church and being a Christian and what’s secular. We The all-female band led by Deborah Byrne is made up of exist as Christians in every context we are in.”

Becca Carroll, Dolores Fogarty (currently replaced by Louise “For me, if God has given a talent or gift and you keep Hacking), Helen Lane and Catriona Mitchel. Self-described as that only in the sacred space of the church… I don’t think indie-folk, Hvmmingbyrd also borrows from blues, pop and it’s being congruent if you’re not bringing that into the rest of reggae, leaving listeners to make comparisons to the likes your life and using your gifts in multiple settings. of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and the Staves. It’s that classic Sharing how the world of music can seem intimidating and feel, driven by strong lyrics with common themes of love, exclusive at times, Deborah said the need to prove oneself friendship and sadness, which makes Hvmmingbyrd’s music can take the joy out of it. However, the recording process relatable and lasting. with producer Aisling Jarvis and the I sat down with Deborah Byrne and chance to hear themselves objectively, Becca Carroll to talk about their personal as well as the overwhelmingly positive experiences of finding their wings in the AS A LYRICIST, I WANT TO GET IN A PLACE reviews of their album, has given the mainstream music industry. group confidence.

WHERE I CAN BE FULLY HONEST.” Deborah began by quoting from Philip Deborah has loved the synergy that Yancey’s Vanishing Grace, “We must be comes from being part of a band, adding willing to let our artists be human beings that as much work as it is, the dedication instead of spiritual heroes and to let mystery and uncertainty and commitment from all members has kept everything exist side by side with clarity and conviction.” coming from a place of joy and pleasure. “As long as it’s fun, She says, “The way humans are is the way art should be – we’ll keep doing it!” it should be multi-faceted.” Because of this, Deborah doesn’t Hvmmingbyrd is already looking ahead to this year as they shy away from the messy bits of life and she avoids smoothing prepare for summer festivals and a return to the studio for over of experiences when writing lyrics. She says, “The funny their second album. Hvmmingbyrd’s self-titled first album is thing about song- writing is that a song stays there forever available now on iTunes, Spotify, and BandCamp. but it is really just a snapshot of feelings in that moment… As a lyricist, I want to get in a place where I can be fully honest.”

Holly Krebs is just a girl who passionately loves God. Originally Becca joined the group after Deborah had posted a need from Oklahoma, she loves calling the seaside town of Dungarvan, for an additional member on Facebook. Despite her initial Co.Waterford her home.You can find her wherever there is hesitation, she says by joining the group, “It opened up [the good singing, good coffee and good conversation. Check out her idea] that my musical gifts can be used outside church walls.” blog: www.dunlizzie.blogspot.ie

F

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REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

50 DAYS OF READING THE RED

BY NICK PARK REVIEWED BY BISHOP KEN CLARE

few miles from where Nick words of Jesus Christ are words of truth Park grew up, a 13-year-old and life. The truth sets us free and His life boy discovered a Bible in a is abundant. As Nick unpacks these words wardrobe at home. The Bible of Christ, he earths the words in their had belonged to his father who had died original context. He helps us understand some years before. He was delighted to the force and power of Christ’s sayings. find his father’s Bible and read it almost He applies them to our context in the every day for years, until the covers were 21st century. coming off it and the pages were falling It was George Bernard Shaw who out. He knew he would have to buy a was reported to have said, “The Bible new one, but was not looking forward is as up to date as this morning’s to that purchase. This was his Dad’s newspaper!” This book by Nick indicates Bible and that family connection meant the prophetic element of Shaw’s words! so much to him. One day, he told an I love some of Nick’s insights, which elderly Christian, “Isn’t it amazing how I believe are not just information for you can get so attached to a Bible?” The our minds, but are about formation of wise reply came, “Yes, that’s right, but it is more THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST ARE WORDS OF TRUTH AND LIFE. important to be attached to the Author!” I have never forgotten those words spoken our characters. About the Sermon on to me when I was a student in Dublin. the Mount he writes, “Here we have the Nick Park’s desire is that through 50 first of a series of sayings that moves the Days of Reading the Red, we will be more whole issue of morality from one of ruleattached to the Author of the Bible, and keeping to one of relationship.” to know more deeply the Jesus who Later he writes, “Put all these spoke the words, which are the focus verses together and you have the idea of this study. In his introduction, Nick that discipleship is not something that writes, “Our goal is not simply to look at conveniently fits in with our current where Jesus has been. We want to know lifestyle. It is a radical forsaking of the Him. There are almost 2000 verses in past to follow Christ.” the New Testament that contain direct This book is a great read but it is quotes from Jesus Himself; I pray that more than that. As we read these words as we read and reflect we will be drawn of Jesus, we will discover that He reads closer to our Saviour, Lord and King.” us, He knows us by name. He loves us I believe this will happen. All with a cross-shaped love. Thank you Nick Scripture is inspired. This book is a for this excellent book and for helping us specific study of Christ’s words, which know Jesus better. The Bible’s Author is are both inspired and inspiring. The well worth knowing!

A

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EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when January Strength to Strength Course 16 – 17 January New Life Church Centre, Belfast www.vitalconnexions.net OM Ships Special Event Sunday, 18 January, 7:30pm Cork Church ludie.creech@om.org U2’s Songs of Innocence - an evening of performances and theological thoughts Friday, 23 January, 8pm Crinken CoI, Bray,Co. Wicklow delwenbowler@gmail.com VOX Dream Day Sligo Saturday, 31 January, 10am Cork | www.vox.ie/events

Faith in the Fog with Jeff Lucas & Searchlight Theatre Company 25 – 28 March Dublin, Belfast & Ballynahinch www.searchlighttheatre.org

Imagine Church Workshop Saturday, 31 January, 9:30am Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church, Dublin 2 www.licc.org.uk

June Summer Fire Conference 26 June - 3 July Trabolgan, Co. Cork www.summerfireconference.com

February VOX Dream Day Cork Saturday, 28 February, 10am Cork www.vox.ie/events

July Sligo 15 Conference 12 – 17 July Sligo www.newwineireland.org

March Expect Church Leadership Conference Saturday, 14 March St. Mark’s Church, Dublin 2 www.worldchallenge.org/expectireland

Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing.

(You can also inform us about your upcoming event there.)

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REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

THE LOCUST EFFECT: WHY THE END OF POVERTY REQUIRES THE END OF VIOLENCE

By Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros REVIEWED BY CLAIRE ELLIOTT

hat was “the great heresy of twentieth century evangelicalism”? According to Jim Wallis, John Stott and others, it was the church ignoring biblical demands for social justice.

While many of us may stand guilty as charged, the same cannot be said of Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission. Haugen led a UN investigation into the Rwandan genocide It was while standing knee-deep in corpses in a church where hundreds of Rwandans had sought sanctuary that he realised the urgent need for someone to answer Isaiah’s call to seek justice and defend the oppressed: “What was so clear to me was the way these very impoverished Rwandans, at their point of most desperate need, huddled against those advancing machetes in that church, did not need someone to bring them a sermon, or food, or a doctor, or a teacher, or a micro-loan. They needed someone to restrain the hand with the machete – and nothing else would do.”

Almost twenty years later, International Justice Mission has operations in nearly twenty communities throughout South and South-East Asia, Africa and Latin America, rescuing thousands from slavery, sex trafficking, police brutality and other criminal violence.

Haugen’s latest book, The Locust Effect, seeks to make the case that, just as the infamous 19th century plague of locusts in the American Midwest decimated everything that struggling settlers had worked so hard to build, so the plague of violence that dogs the poor people of the developing world threatens to undo every good achieved by efforts to alleviate poverty.

We all know that the poor need clean water, shelter, education and healthcare, but probably not

W

many of us have given any thought to their particular vulnerability to violence and this is where The Locust Effect opens our eyes. Haugen likens a functioning justice system to a vaccine: when you have one, you forget all about it, but it serves an invaluable purpose; when you don’t have one you are at tremendous risk. As Haugen says, if you are not safe, nothing else matters.

Haugen has seen firsthand the tragic effects of broken justice systems: the reallife stories he tells hammer home his point like no statistics could.Yuri, the little girl in Peru who was raped and murdered, the perpetrators getting off scot-free because they were rich and could bribe the police and the courts; Dan, the Kenyan teenager who was imprisoned on a fabricated charge, detained for months before trial; then, unable to afford legal representation, sat through a trial conducted entirely in a foreign language, facing a life sentence.

The Locust Effect is a clarion call to Christians to use our resources and voices to protect the poor with proper law enforcement. A line in one of our popular worship songs begs God to “break our hearts for what breaks yours”. If that is our earnest prayer, then The Locust Effect is essential reading.

Claire Elliott is a qualified solicitor and used to work for a Belfast city-centre law firm before having three children.

She is a self-confessed bibliophile.

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VOX PS

FACEBOOK AND FRIENDS

BY SEÁN MULLAN

ammy, you probably haven’t quite understood the thing even know from Adam, I’m not sure. So on Facebook, about “friends” on Facebook. The reason we got you to sign “friends” doesn’t mean friends. up was so you could be in touch with the far-away children Now that I think of it, “like” on Facebook doesn’t mean and grandchildren, see the photos and read their news. And “like” either. On Facebook you can like something that you you’ve been doing so well with the iPad that we’re sure you’ll soon don’t really like at all and you can have friends who you’ve master Facebook too. But sometimes it can be confusing. never met, don’t care about and wouldn’t even know if they The grandchildren that are old enough to have their own Facebook were to pass you in the street tomorrow. pages are not so keen on having their Gran look at their posts. They’re Mammy, you have lots of friends who will never be afraid of what you might see. That’s why they won’t be your “friends”. It your “friends” on Facebook. And you have “friends” on doesn’t mean they don’t like you. It means they don’t want to be friends Facebook who will never be your friends. I know this is on Facebook. probably very confusing; : I’m getting a bit confused myself.

In fact, when you say “friend” on Maybe we should write to Facebook, it doesn’t mean “friend” Facebook and tell them to in the way you usually mean it. I find some other word of MAMMY, YOU HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO WILL NEVER BE their own. But I don’t rate have friends on Facebook that I haven’t seen in 30 years. I was just YOUR “FRIENDS” ON FACEBOOK. AND YOU HAVE “FRIENDS” ON our chances. being nosy when I sent them a I wonder should we FACEBOOK WHO WILL NEVER BE YOUR FRIENDS. request to be my “friend.” I wanted find a new word for friends to see what they look like now and - I mean the people you’ve if they’ve put on more weight than shared your life with, like me. Now that I’ve seen that, I really have no interest in staying in touch.

Rosie down the road that you met the first day you went to And they probably haven’t either. But it seems a bit rude to unfriend school. Or Joan who took you out to lunch every week the them. year Daddy died. Or Mick from over the hill, who still takes People that I don’t even know send me “friend” requests. But I accept you to the hairdresser every Saturday even though he’s because I’m afraid I should know them and they’ll be offended if I don’t hardly safe to let behind the wheel of a car. And I think of accept them. Though why I’m worried about offending someone I don’t Mary that you’ve written to every Christmas and birthday since I was a child even though she hardly ever writes back.

And the girls at the bridge club who probably know you better than any of us do.

They’re FRIENDS rather than “friends”. The thing about FRIENDS is that you don’t really choose them - you don’t accept or reject them. You just wake up one day and realise they are your FRIENDS - usually you’re not even too sure how it happened. But somehow you’re together.

It brings to mind a line I heard read out in church - I think it was Jesus talking to the 12 apostles - the greatest love is to lay down your life for your FRIENDS. But we’re a long way from Facebook now!

M

Seán Mullan has been working in church leadership for many years. He has developed a new project in Dublin City Centre called “Third Space”.

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