VOX April 2016 by VOX Magazine

ISSUE 30 / APRIL - JUNE 2016

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THE FUTURE OF OUR PAST HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD FROM 1916?

CELEBRATING THE LIFE & LEGACY OF

ST. PATRICK

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

TRINITY CHURCH DUBLIN IS SEEKING TO APPOINT A

FULL TIME SENIOR LEADER Trinity Church is a charismatic evangelical church in Dublin city centre Our vision is to help people discover their true identity and destiny, sparked into life in a radical encounter with Jesus. We are looking for a Senior Leader who will be a ‘ﬁrst among equals’ on a team of leaders in other employments. The new leader will act as a catalyst and spearheader of the Trinity Church vision, leading a church of 300 adults and children, its staﬀ, main leadership team and ministry leaders.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading a team, s/he will have excellent people skills, and be passionate about the calling and speciﬁc values of Trinity Church (www.trintiy.ie/about/values). (www.trintiy.ie/about/values)

Interested applicants my email their expression of interest and CV to leaders@trinity.ie A detailed job description, person proﬁle, conditions of employment and application form will be issued to suitable candidates. Interviews for short-listed candidates will take place in May/June 2016.

VOX APR - Trinity JUNE 2016 Church Network, 50 Gardiner Street Lr, Dublin D01 VC03, Ireland

EDITORIAL

Going Green... t is amazing how colours have different meanings in different cultures. A shade that resonates with positive symbolism for one people group can sound a discordant note with another. Did you know that in South America, the colour green symbolises death? Yet for anyone in Japan it means eternal life. In most western countries, green has echoes of “spring” - new life, new birth and regeneration - and yet in Indonesia it is a forbidden colour! Here in Ireland, green has a special prominence - especially when we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (I live close to Malin Head, the northern-most point on the island, which “goes green” every March 17). And with the 1916 commemorations, the green, white and orange of our tricolour can be seen everywhere. Sadly, in our not-too-distant past, people used colours as weapons to divide communities and to mark territory. And some still do. Yet for Christians, every colour is a gift from our amazing Creator God. He is the great artist who imagined every shade of green and every other colour in the spectrum, too. (According to Jonny Cash there are 40 shades of green in Ireland. But I don’t think anyone has actually counted!)

HE IS THE GREAT ARTIST WHO IMAGINED EVERY SHADE OF GREEN AND EVERY OTHER COLOUR IN THE SPECTRUM, TOO. In the changing landscape of 21st century Ireland, I hope we can learn to celebrate the diversity of our colours and our cultures. It is time for us to envision a different future, one that is forged in the refining fire of God’s love (see Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow’s thought provoking article on page 12). This means facing the pain of the past and asking God’s comfort and healing for those who mourn (“weep with those who weep”). But, for me, it also means donning my greenest of green outfits and joyfully marching in the St Patrick’s Day Parade (after a hearty St Patrick’s Breakfast in Derry - see page 20) because this is a special day for my beloved town - and I want to be part of it (“rejoice with those who rejoice”).

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

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BODY IMAGE AND THE CHURCH

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A CULTURE OF WORSHIP

SHINING LIKE STARS

CONTENTS 12 20 15 17 18 24 30 32 33 39 22 28 06 08 10 16

COVER STORIES The Future of our Past: How do we move forward from 1916? Celebrating the Life and Legacy of St. Patrick.

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Ireland - a people shaped by Easter Finding Faith Tour 2016 - do you want us to visit you? Christ comes while it is dark - celebrating Easter on the border My Story - Two “Voice of Ireland” contestants are singing for Jesus! A culture of worship - releasing young people into their potential. Shining like stars - the real heroes behind the Christmas Shoebox Appeal. The birth of hope - how one man’s life was changed through child sponsorship. Pearse’s Premature Proclamation - a poem for 1916.

VOX VIEWS Body Image and the Church - Are we crippling a generation of women? A people of hope - why the church must respond to the suicide epidemic.

REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts

19 VOX: World News 41 Your VOX: Letters to the editor 44 The Soapboxer 46

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

OUR PARTNERS: TM

IRELAND 04

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

2016

1916

Before the Easter Rising. Before the Somme. Before partition, the Belfast Blitz. Before thirty years of troubles. Before the term ‘Good Friday’ became synonymous with political agreements. Before human rights and equality commissions. Before parks, shops, cinemas and sport were open on Sundays. Before secularism, consumerism, and multiculturalism. Before the television, internet, smartphones and social media... Jesus came and spoke of an everlasting kingdom and taught us to pray that this Kingdom will come and his will be done here on earth. What does this mean for us? What did Jesus say about the kingdom, the lost and the church?

6 –12 August 2016 Ulster University, Coleraine NEWHORIZON.ORG.UK

Evening Celebrations Gavin Calver & Trevor Morrow

Bible Teachings Scot McKnight APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

VOX SHORTS

Honour for Bluebell Church

Bluebell is a small community of approximately 2,000 people that sits between Ballyfermot and Inchicore in west Dublin. Calvary Christian Centre moved into the community four years ago, and after months of prayer, God gave them a vision for their community. Using the principles of Prayer Evangelism, the church sought to bless, build relationship, serve and share the Gospel in Bluebell. Calvary Church began to meet needs by giving and supporting projects that reached out to all the disadvantaged areas of the community.

In February, Pastor Jimmy Dunne and his wife, Deirdre, were invited to City Hall to the Community & Recreation Volunteer Awards 2016 and, on behalf of the church, won the award for Outstanding Services in the Local Community of Bluebell. “We believe that God gave us this vision to make His church relevant to local community as He always intended it to be. We are called to serve in the heart of community to make a difference in the lives of many and bring hope again to the hopeless and deprived. We believe church must become real, relational and relevant in these times.”

Leadership Development Opportunities Rubicon Exploring 1916-2016: Before, Between and Beyond

Exploring the interplay of 100 years of Irish culture, arts and faith. This year’s Rubicon event takes place on Saturday 16 April, 9am-5pm, at the Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines. Book tickets and find out more at www.wearerubicon.com. There is an exciting lineup, with Brian Zahnd (pastor and author of “Water to Wine”, “A Farewell to Mars” and “Beauty Will Save The World”) as keynote speaker, plus a range of other speakers including Stephen James Smith, slam poet, writer and performer of “Dublin You Are”; Padraig Ó Tuama, Corrymeala community leader; Sr. Imelda Wickham, Wheatfield Prison chaplain; Ferg Brown, founder and owner of Roasted Brown; Natasha Paulberg, Dublin composer; and Sr. Denise Boyle, director of MECPATHS (Mercy Efforts to Counter Child Prostitution and Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector).

SUMMER CONFERENCES

As always, there is a great lineup of Christian conferences to choose from this summer, with top speakers in the various venues around the country. Here’s a few details for you as you plan your summer programme: 21 June - 1 July: Summer Fire, Trabolgan Holiday Village, East Cork Family conference with children’s and youth programmes. This year’s speakers include Pastors Carter and Teresa Conlon from Times Square Church, USA. Conference fee: €115 per family / €70 single. Chalet accommodation from €495. More info: www.summerfireconference.com.

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

Innovista Ireland is offering two great opportunities for young leaders to grow and develop. In partnership with VOX magazine, the Learning and Leading Across Generations event will take place on Thursday 21 April at Third Space café, Smithfield, 7.30pm - 9pm. Following on from last year’s Young Adults Survey, this is an opportunity for younger and older leaders to find the way forward in bridging the divides between generations, facilitating cross-generational leadership and strengthening communication. Leading for Life Local is planned for Saturday 11 June from 10am to 5pm in the Riasc Centre in Swords. As leaders, we are called to serve those we lead and our communities, but what does this look like in practice? How does it affect how we approach teams, mission and working with others? LFL Local is a day of practical training, learning with and from others. Find out more about both of these opportunities at www.innovista.ie.

1 - 5 July: Summer Madness, Glenarm Estate, County Antrim Christian youth festival set in the beautiful Glenarm Estate with worship, teaching, sports, arts, community and more! This year’s theme is “Up Close and Personal” - looking at what it really means to have a relationship with the creator of the universe. Conference fee: €105 per person (before 1 June). Accommodation: free - bring your own tent. More info: www.summermadness.co.uk/ festival. 10 - 15 July: Sligo 16 - New Wine Summer Conference, Sligo IT, Co Sligo Family conference with children’s and youth programmes. This year’s speakers include Danielle

Strickland, Pete Grieg, Greg Venables and Bruce Collins. Conference fee: €150 (before 31 May) per adult with reduced prices for teens and children. Accommodation from €100 per room or €335 per house. More info: www.newwineireland.org 6 - 12 August: New Horizon - University of Ulster, Coleraine Family conference with children’s and youth programmes. This year’s speakers include Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow, Scott McKnight and Gavin Calver. Conference fee: free but donations requested. Registration for children’s and youth programmes £20 per child (pre-booking). Accommodation - own arrangements. Parking fees apply on site. More info: www.newhorizon.org.uk

VOX MAGAZINE

Christian Aid Big Brekkie

Fancy a fry? Partial to some pancakes? Or craving a croissant? Whatever your favourite breakfast, you can raise money with the Christian Aid “Big Brekkie”. The new fundraising initiative for churches and groups in Ireland will be launched during Christian Aid Week 2016 (15 - 21 May). The Big Brekkie aims to raise funds for people like Morsheda, a single mother who lives in Bangladesh (one of the poorest countries in the world) with her three children. Their single-room, corrugated-iron shack has been flooded four times. Christian Aid Week will help Morsheda to build a new flood-proof home. Big Brekkie resources, including posters, invites, bunting and children’s activities, are available at www.caweek.ie/bigbrekkie or by contacting Christian Aid on 01 496 7040.

Want some SOUP?

A brand new Dublin initiative aims to find new ideas and innovative ways to make Dublin better. Third Space at the Y and Dublin YMCA hosted the first of the “SOUP” events in March. People paid €5 to attend and received a bowl of soup and a vote. Four speakers pitched their idea for four minutes each and were asked four questions from the audience. After eating their soup and discussing the ideas, the audience then voted for a winner, with all the proceeds for the night going to the top idea. On the first evening, the four speakers pitched ideas on alleviating the accommodation crisis, creating fashion design that empowers migrant women, a social media campaign on how to make a change in Dublin, and a potential littering solution. The winning idea this time was the social media campaign, pitched by Ally McGeever. To find our more or to get involved in the future, check out the SOUP Dublin Facebook page, email soupdublin@gmail.com and come along to their next event!

Big Gospel on the Small Screen

OM Ireland appeared on RTE’s Sunday Service programme on Palm Sunday. OM staff members assembled a programme of worship, prayer and teaching from Scripture for broadcast into homes across Ireland but with some special guests as well. The Creative Arts Team of OM Ireland, helmed by Junior De Larina, has employed puppets to share the Gospel in primary schools for over a decade. Through popular schools tours, God first opened the door to relationship between the ministry and RTE in 2013, so it was no surprise when RTE requested puppetry in the Sunday Service to engage children and adults together. This is now the third time in four years that OM Ireland has produced Gospel-centered content for RTE. “It amazes me the great freedom we have to be on public TV proclaiming God’s truth,” said Junior. “I hope to have more opportunities in the near future.” He alluded to another potential collaboration this coming Christmas. Find out more about the work of OM Ireland on www.ie.om.org.

Facing a task unfinished…

Many churches across Ireland and Northern Ireland joined more than 5,000 churches in 100 countries to sing the same hymn on Sunday 21 February 2016. An estimated one million believers contributed to the global hymn-sing reminding the church of the call to global missions! First penned by China Inland Mission worker Frank Houghton, the hymn “Facing a Task Unfinished” was reworked by Christian songwriting duo Keith and Kristyn Getty, who commented, “We are delighted to introduce this missions hymn to a new generation with the prayer that it will be an anthem for rising up to face the unfinished task and going to all the world to proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name.”

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

WORLD NEWS

ETHIOPIA, EL NIÑO AND TEARFUND IRELAND’S RESPONSE

El Niño conditions, which stem from a natural warming of Pacific Ocean waters, lead to droughts, floods and more frequent cyclones across the world every few years. This year’s event is said by meteorologists to be the worst in 35 years and is now peaking. Its effects on farming, health and livelihoods in developing countries could last two years or more because of failed harvests and prolonged flooding. Insufficient rains since March 2015 have resulted in drought conditions. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 10 million people need food in Ethiopia. Fears are also growing that international donors have been preoccupied by Syria and the Ebola crisis and have not responded to food aid requests from affected countries. Tearfund Ireland’s programme in Ethiopia, supported by Irish Aid, aims to increase the resilience of foodinsecure households, empowering them to become self-reliant. The project uses the highly costeffective Self Help Group approach, which enables the poorest to form groups and save small amounts of money, thereby increasing both their social and financial capital. Since Tearfund started to use the Self Help Group approach in Ethiopia in 2002, about 12,000 such groups have formed, impacting the lives of more than 1 million people. 08

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

CHRISTIAN LAWYER “CONFESSES” ON CHINESE TV

Zhang Kai (36), a leading Christian lawyer, was paraded on state television in China in late February to “confess” to his crimes. His confession was broadcast after six months of imprisonment in a “black jail” (secret location) without any communication with family or lawyers. After the TV confession, Zhang’s friends and colleagues – who are convinced that the confession was coerced – expressed concern about his appearance, noting weight loss, lack of glasses and signs of stress and physical exhaustion. Zhang Kai, who is married with a baby girl, was arrested on 25 August 2015 after opposing the communist party’s cross removal campaign in Zhejiang province (over 1,800 crosses have been forcibly removed from church buildings in the past two years). In many cases, the authorities also partially or entirely demolished church buildings, and many Christians have been injured and detained trying to defend church property. Those affected include Protestant and Catholic churches, both registered and unregistered. Zhang had been providing legal support to churches in Zhejiang facing the forced removal of their crosses or the demolition of their buildings. Although based in Beijing, he had lived in Zhejiang Province for a year prior to his arrest, organising a team of over 30 legal professionals to defend churches. Just before his arrest, he told friends: “I’ve made up my mind: the most they can do is jail me. But if I stay silent, I’ll regret it my whole life.” Activists believe he was arrested to silence his outspoken criticism of the cross removal campaign. Find out more news about persecuted Christians around the world from www. churchinchains.ie.

UNREST CONTINUES IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Observers had hoped that President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s accession to power would close a three-year spiral of violence between rival groups that has left thousands dead and displaced more than 400,000 people in the Central African Republic. A recently released UN report warns of the devastating impact the ongoing conflict is having on children. The UN documented the killing of 333 children and maiming of 589 others in attacks targeting communities for reprisals between January 2011 and December 2015. In the Central African Republic, Tearfund Ireland, supported by Irish Aid and working with 12 local churches, is seeking to improve food security by providing seeds for fast growing crops, distributing tools and providing training on farming techniques and soil conservation. Church-based volunteers will also help facilitate practical cooking demonstrations and teach nutritionally diverse recipes. Find out more at www.tearfund.ie.

Break bread and beat poverty this Christian Aid Week. Host a Big Brekkie fundraiser for our global neighbours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; get your free pack of goodies at caweek.ie/bigbrekkie

UK registered charity no. 1105851 company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. ÂŠ Christian Aid January 2016 J4862

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

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

Remembering and Forgetting Well Seán Mullan, in his article ‘Remembering’ (VOX Jan - Mar 2016), speaks of remembering well. I agree that we should remember many things that occurred in the past, particularly when it recalls the sacrifice of lives laid down for the freedom of others. My heart goes out to all the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters of those lives cut short in strife. Some memories are happy, but some are sad; we sometimes say: ‘that is better forgotten’. But how can it be done? I find that forgetting is very difficult, and in fact, I wonder if there is any way to forget what is better forgotten, like wrongs done by others or things I did that I should not have done. Forgiving comes before it, but it is different, although it may be impossible

LET’S LISTEN TO THE MILLENNIALS

I found the autumn issue of VOX (Oct Dec 2015) about the young adults survey so insightful and important. I fall into the ‘over 35’ category and found the hunger in the younger millennial generation for a real, relevant and authentic Christian community so encouraging! What stood out for me was their dream of a church that sees genuine growth and people having an authentic experience of Jesus; a church that embraces the local community, engages with real issues of human brokenness and need both locally and globally, and is defined by unity,

except with God’s help. Certainly only with God’s help can it be attempted. But the wonderful thing is that God Himself forgets; not only that, but He remembers no more. Both prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah foretell this to God’s people, and in the book of Hebrews, I find God’s promise repeated, that He will forgive wickedness and remember sins no more. Now that is a forgiving and forgetting that gives me great comfort. It is forgetting well. (See Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34, and Hebrews 8:12.) JOAN BRADLEY DUBLIN 8

inclusivity and radical love toward the marginalised. I felt it was powerful to hear the younger generation express gratitude for and their need of the older generation, their desire to be invested in by them and to be trusted and sent out. This highlights the gap in discipleship in many churches in Ireland, and it is really encouraging that the next generation wants to build on the one before. But in order to harness this, we need to listen to them too. With every generation, the church needs to be soft, responsive and unafraid to engage

theologically with the questions the younger generation has around what a real, life-giving Christian community and the Gospel of Jesus might look like today. This millennial generation highlights for the church today an immense need for us to ‘major’ on love and humility, and ‘minor’ on theological hard lines. We would be wise to heed their warning against judging others who are very different from ourselves before lovingly embracing them.

SARAH MARSHALL DUBLIN

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO EDITOR@VOX.IE OR YOUR VOX, ULYSSES HOUSE, 22-24 FOLEY STREET, DUBLIN 1 10

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APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

1916 / 2016

THE FUTURE OF OUR PAST How do we move

forward from 1916? BY REV DR TREVOR MORROW

Early this year, the Very Rev Dr Trevor Morrow was one of the keynote speakers at a conference in Northern Ireland exploring the legacy of 1916. Trevor has dedicated years to working for peace and reconciliation on both sides of the border and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Ulster for his contribution to peace-making. Here VOX magazine brings a summary of his timely message: here is a fundamental distinction between historical analysis and historical narratives. Historians examine primary sources with some level of objectivity and attempt to verify what has taken place. Those who engage in narrative are more selective. They use stories to justify who they are and to find some sense of identity. Such narratives have moulded our thinking around 1916. At the battle of the Somme, the engagement of Britain and France against Germany was based on their belief that this was a just war. Those involved in the Easter Rising also believed passionately that it was necessary as an act of justice. Significantly, all of them called upon God for support.

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

NAKED JUSTICE RESULTS IN TRAGEDY. IRELAND SHALL NEVER BE AT PEACE IF WE SIMPLY PURSUE JUSTICE.

VOX MAGAZINE

I am a theologian who has lived in both narratives. I am Trevor Willy John Morrow. Both my grandfathers were masters of their respective Orange Lodges, and my father had photographs of relatives who had died at the Somme. But I moved to Lucan Presbyterian Church where members of the congregation, including elders, spoke of 800 years of English oppression. They saw what took place at the GPO as a necessary, if in some ways unacceptable, form of liberation. My responsibility as a minister of the Gospel is to analyse and assess these stories from the perspective of a greater narrative: the kingdom of God. Followers of Christ know that this gives us our primary identity while not denying our other identities. For example, I have lived in Leinster for 32 years, but I still stand up for the Ulstermen when it comes to rugby. And Paul did not become a Gentile when he became a Christian.

JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION

In Luke 12:13-21, a man comes to Jesus and says, “Tell my brother to give me my portion of the inheritance.” He was demanding his rights. This is the only incident recorded where Jesus specifically addresses the issue of land. Jesus’ response is extremely curt. “O man, who has made me an arbiter…” There is a play on words here between the Greek word for “arbiter” and that for “reconciler”. Jesus did not come as an arbiter (delivering judgements on the issue of rights) but rather as a reconciler (restoring relationships). To illustrate this, Jesus tells the story of the rich fool. The problem is not that this man becomes wealthy and successful but that, in a society where the ultimate virtue is hospitality, his attitude is entirely selfish. He talks about “my land, my crops, my future…” What happens is death followed by judgement. Justice is a controlling motif in this passage as it is in our thinking. People cry out for justice. But when we pursue justice, it is from our own perspective. Each of us overestimates what is due to us and underestimates what is due to others. Too often, our pursuit of naked justice produces a constant process of retaliation. At the end of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the Prince says, “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords, too have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished.” Naked justice results in tragedy. Ireland shall never be at peace if we simply pursue justice. By comparison, God’s final judgement is liberating because the innocent are vindicated and the guilty are exposed and judged. The heart of the Gospel is that justice has already come. The judge has been judged. He died for our sins. The cross is the ultimate act of forgiveness in dealing with the past in which, “justice is not minimised, rather it is enthroned because justice and mercy meet and cause the enemy and the alienated to be embraced.” ( Jürgen Moltmann) As Christians, this is how we deal with the past. Through the cross, we have been given the ministry, not of arbitration, but of reconciliation.

NOT MINE BUT OURS

The rich fool is judged because of his attitude to land. He thinks it is his. We must understand the importance of land in the story of God’s kingdom if we are to deal with what has taken place here in Ireland. Land is a central to the biblical story. God created a portion of land - Eden, in which His presence was evident, in which He entered into covenant and exercised kingly rule. Abraham and Moses were promised a land of their own. The people in exile longed to return to their land. All of these narratives find their fulfilment in Jesus. His disciples asked, “Will you at this time restore the Kingdom?” (Will we get our land back now? Will these dreadful Romans be thrown out?) He answered, “No, when the spirit comes, it won’t just be in Jerusalem; it will be in

UNLIKE THE FOOL, WE MUST SEE THAT THIS LAND IS NOT OURS. IT IS A GIFT. AND IT CAN ONLY BE ENJOYED WHEN IT IS SHARED. Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world.” This “land” is going global. Eden will be restored. Jesus encourages us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on the land as it is in heaven.” The vision of the book of Revelation is of a new heaven and a new earth - a land through which flows the river of life. If that new “land” is the fulfilment of God’s purpose, then we have a responsibility to adjust our attitudes and actions toward where we live now, on the basis of what will be. In comparison to the rich fool, how can we be rich toward God in terms of this land? Unlike the fool, we must see that this land is not ours. It is a gift. And it can only be enjoyed when it is shared.

A SHARED NARRATIVE

On a visit to the Maze Prison, I overheard two women talking behind me. One told how the previous week she had missed her bus. A man offered her a lift but the woman told him, “I can’t go on your bus because I’m UDA and you are IRA.” But he insisted. So she got on the bus and they took her right to her door. As she got off, she told the man, “If Us’ns and Yous’ns could get together, we could solve this problem.” That is a shared narrative. Out of kindness, people who are polarised begin to share their stories. This process was repeated hundreds of times, and it was the precursor for the peace movement. Often it was structured, and we commend organisations like Corrymeela, the Rostrevor Renewal Centre, and Nexus Ireland in Lucan that were involved in cross-community and cross-border reconciliation. We also commend organisations like the Irish Rugby Football Union. Recognising how difficult it was for the Ulster Unionists on the Irish team to sing the Irish national anthem, they deliberately created the song “Ireland’s Call” so that all Irish people could share together in the song they created a shared narrative.

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

HOW CAN WE HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

Unless there is a radical movement of the Holy Spirit Munther Isaac says, “A church in a particular land exists for in transforming people’s hearts, this cannot happen. The the sake of that land and takes her mission agenda from it.” ministry of changing hearts is the very essence of the We have an appalling record in terms of how the Gospel. institutional churches have contributed to the peace process. Miroslav Volf quotes an amazing lady (a 19th-century The effective ministries of reconciliation and peace-making abolitionist and women’s rights activist) with the fabulous have been done on the fringes, and many have been looked name of Sojourner Truth. It is from a sermon called, “When upon with suspicion. I Found Jesus”. Too often, the moderators and archbishops etc. were “Praise, praise, praise to the Lord… I begun to feel such chaplains to their tribe, perpetuating their own narratives a love in my soul as I never felt before, love of all creatures, instead of developing a bridging narrative for the future of and then all of a sudden it stopped and I said, ‘There’s the Ireland. white folks that have abused you and beat you and abused Recently, I worked with Palestinian Christians and your people, think of them.’ But there came another rush of Messianic Jews in Cyprus. The Lausanne Congress asked me love through my soul and I cried out loud, ‘Lord, I can love to facilitate conciliation and bridge-building between these even the white folks.’” polarised peoples. That’s grace; that’s amazing grace. At what seemed like an impasse, a Palestinian (a follower One seminal moment of Jesus) said, “You of the peace process was the know this is hard, but response of Gordon Wilson the cross leaves us HERE ON THIS LAND, THE CHURCH IS TO BE A SIGN OF THE KINGDOM with no option.” As to the Enniskillen bombing. Some people think he forgave believers, we have been WHERE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT NARRATIVES, DIFFERENT at that moment. He did not. the ministry of CULTURES, DIFFERENT TRADITIONS, AND DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS given reconciliation, and we Forgiveness is incredibly WILL FUNCTION TOGETHER IN ONE COMMUNITY OF FAITH. difficult. What he said was, “I have no option. feel no ill will towards these In 2009, the people. I will pray for these Christians in Israel and people.” Forgiveness of those Palestine produced the who had killed his daughter was a long process of struggling “Kairos” document, and I think it is a prophetic word for us as in the context of pain, of anger, and of moral outrage. That is we think of Ireland, north and south: the underlying story of the peace process. “Our land is God’s land. It is holy in as much as God is For me, however, the church is not just to be a safe present in it, for God alone is holy and sanctifier. It is the duty place for people to share their narratives, but it is to be the of those who live here to respect the will of God for this land. bridging narrative. We are part of a new mankind in which It is our duty to liberate it from the evil of injustice and war. It there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Here on this land, the is God’s land and therefore it must be a land of reconciliation, church is to be a sign of the kingdom where people from peace and love. This is indeed possible. God has put us here different narratives, different cultures, different traditions, as two peoples and God has given us the capacity, if we have and different expectations will function together in one the will, to live together and to establish in it justice and peace, community of faith. making it, in reality, God’s land...”

The Very Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow recently retired after many years as minister of Lucan Presbyterian Church. In 2000, he served as the youngest and first Republic-of-Ireland-based Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Today he is an author and preacher who continues to work for peace and reconciliation, both in Ireland and beyond.

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

1916 / 2016

IRELAND - A PEOPLE SHAPED BY EASTER BY NICK PARK

wenty-two years ago, when I was setting up a Pentecostal of the participants in the Easter Rising. Our nation has changed church in County Louth, I wondered if we would ever dramatically in recent years, and many people are struggling to be truly accepted as part of the local community. After express what it means to be Irish. We are a people who are rethinking several years, a representative from Sinn Fein invited us to participate our identity. in the annual Easter Sunday parade through Drogheda to mark the It seems fitting, therefore, that evangelical Christians should Easter Rising. take the opportunity to present a case for Irish identity that is not I felt torn. It was wonderful that someone considered us to be just based on the events of 1916, but which recognises the impact of part of the local community, but Easter Sunday is also the most other Easters – such as the activities of St Patrick in the 5th century important day of the year for a Christian and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. church. On that day, we meet to celebrate And, of course, all these events would be the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. meaningless were it not for the first and Eventually I replied that, while we WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A RISING OF OUR OWN greatest Easter of all, when Jesus defeated really appreciated the invitation and the death and arose from the tomb. THAT WE CELEBRATE ON EASTER SUNDAY. thoughtfulness behind it, we would be Ireland: A People Shaped by Easter is rather busy on that day since, as a church, a collaboration between myself, David we happen to have a Rising of our own that Wilson of Agapé Ministries, and VOX’s own we celebrate on Easter Sunday! Ruth Garvey-Williams. The book explores That incident caused me to reflect on how Easter has significance how these various Easters have combined to produce a nation for Irish people on several levels. We are indeed a people shaped by where Christians are learning to live out their faith in diverse ways Easter! that are both biblically faithful and authentically Irish. A number of This year, the State is celebrating the centenary of the Easter churches from various denominations and traditions have purchased Rising. Hopefully, those of all political and faith traditions can bulk quantities of the book and are distributing thousands of free recognise the bravery and self-sacrifice of those who led the Rising. copies over Easter to encourage conversation and witness about the Yet the centenary celebrations have also provoked much soulinteraction of faith and culture. You can also purchase the book for searching among politicians and journalists. The Ireland in which €3.99 from Christian bookshops, direct from Evangelical Alliance we live today looks very different from Ireland as envisaged by many Ireland (www.evangelical.ie) or as a 99-cent eBook from Amazon.

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

R E X O B P A THE SO

VOX MAGAZINE

ARE YOU BUILDING BRIDGES OR FENCES? BY DR KEN BAKER

he phrase “Judge not lest thou be judged” is across the hard drive, corrupting the whole. Criticism left apparently the most quoted verse in the Bible. unaddressed will eventually mean a crash. I guess the reason is that When Jesus summons us to “be anyone - Christian insider to like little children,” he was calling for “pagan” outsider - can lay claim to at a radical reboot. Start again. Be born least some measure of understanding PERHAPS WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE FORGIVE all over. of what it is to condemn someone Our job on Earth isn’t to criticise, TOO EASILY – OR AT ALL - WE’RE LETTING or at least to criticise them. So it reject or judge. Our purpose is to offer becomes translated as “Back off and a helping hand and show compassion. PEOPLE WALK ALL OVER US. leave me alone.” Loving someone can never be difficult; Is that what the Bible teaches? it’s when you judge the other person Someone recently sent me a gift. that everything tumbles. Finishing off It was a t-shirt with “Love thy neighbour” on the front. On with that James Patrick Kinney poem, The Cold Within: the back it developed the idea: “Love thy Muslim neighbour; love thy lesbian neighbour; love thy atheist neighbour…” Six humans trapped by happenstance I find it challenging and have not yet summoned up the In bleak and bitter cold. courage to wear it when I’m preaching. What do you think? Each one possessed a stick of wood When Jesus said “Love your neighbour,” he was Or so the story’s told. immediately asked: “But who IS my neighbour?” And he told Their dying fire in need of logs the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. Samaritans were The first man held his back outsiders. The Bible noted explicitly that “The Jews had no For of the faces round the fire dealings with the Samaritans.” Why not? Because they were He noticed one was black. different. Because they were perceived as less than pure. The next man looking ‘cross the way And so we arrive at the principle: “Do not judge, or you Saw one not of his church too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, And couldn’t bring himself to give you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be The fire his stick of birch. measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2). The third one sat in tattered clothes. So what is “the measure you use”? It’s the way you think He gave his coat a hitch. about people who are different to you. Why should his log be put to use The trouble is we nearly always get it wrong. Not To warm the idle rich? everything is as it seems, and sometimes although one The rich man just sat back and thought person looks weak, they might be strong, and another person Of the wealth he had in store might look a tad And how to keep what he had earned peculiar, but he From the lazy shiftless poor. might be one of The black man’s face bespoke revenge the kindest people As the fire passed from his sight. you’d ever meet. For all he saw in his stick of wood Time is (as Was a chance to spite the white. someone said The last man of this forlorn group recently) “slippery,” Did nought except for gain. so we have to enjoy Giving only to those who gave every second, love Was how he played the game. with all our hearts, Their logs held tight in death’s still hands all we can, while we Was proof of human sin. can. When we make They didn’t die from the cold without judgements, we’re They died from the cold within. inevitably acting on limited knowledge. If you withhold love as a form of punishment, who is Isn’t it best to seek being punished? It’s either bridges or fences. to understand? Perhaps we hold on to our criticism (or even hate) because we want to avoid dealing with our pain. Perhaps we Ken Baker is a writer and pastor believe that if we forgive too easily – or at all - we’re letting living in Bandon, County Cork. people walk all over us. The trouble is that criticism can’t be isolated. Eventually it sprouts up in our physical health, our belief systems, and our life choices. It’s like a computer virus spreading

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

FF TOUR

FI N D IN G FA IT H TO U R 20 16 : 3 - 10 M a y What is God doing in Ireland? VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams will climb behind the wheel again this May to hunt down stories of faith, life and reality in an epic journey around the island of Ireland. You’ve told us that the popular tour inspires and encourages your faith… so we are delighted to do it again. The itinerary is slowly coming together but there is still a chance to make a quick detour along the route to visit YOU and hear YOUR story. We love meeting people whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing grace. We love to share what God is doing in churches of different flavours and backgrounds and to highlight the work of wonderful ministries that are making a difference in their communities. And we love to show how Christians are living out their faith in daily life. You’ll be able to follow the journey each day and interact with what is happening through our blog updates with photos and videos on our social media pages (Facebook/VOX magazine and Twitter @vox_ie). And, of course, the July issue of VOX magazine will be packed full of stories - the perfect summer reading! Here is the rough plan (all subject to change). If you are able to offer accommodation along the way, that would be a blessing too! Our main focus is on calling at places we haven’t visited before. tions us destina io v re p r u O

TUESDAY 3 MAY Northern Ireland Accommodation needed in County Down or County Louth

SATURDAY 7 MAY Kerry (possibly North Cork), Limerick and Clare Accommodation fixed

WEDNESDAY 4 MAY Meath and Wicklow Accommodation needed in Wicklow or south Dublin area

SUNDAY 8 MAY Galway and Westmeath Accommodation needed in the Westmeath area

THURSDAY 5 MAY Dublin area Accommodation needed in Dublin

MONDAY 9 MAY Longford, Cavan, Leitrim Accommodation fixed in Cavan area

FRIDAY 6 MAY Visiting Kildare, Carlow and Portlaoise Accommodation fixed in Limerick

TUESDAY 10 MAY Returning to Donegal via Sligo or Fermanagh/Tyrone depending on invitations!

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

FAITH

CHRIST COMES WHILE IT IS DARK!

n Easter Sunday resistance is most real. Yet people from morning this year, both traditions have to work together three beacons were if we are truly to see change. The lit along the border good news of the kingdom of God between Ireland and Northern is bigger than we often allow, and Ireland: just outside Derry at yes, even insignificant outsiders the western end, in Rostrevor have a role to play. at the eastern end and outside I dream of beacons along the Enniskillen in the village of Irish border - a place of hurt and Kinawley in the centre. The conflict over so many years. At same service was shared at the beacons, followers of Christ each venue, with Catholics and can meet on Easter morning to be Protestants looking to Christ to changed by Him. The beacon speaks BY RICHARD BEADLE continue to change us. This is a little of God breaking into the darkness of of the story behind the symbolic act. our world and of our divisions, bringing I’m an outsider who has lived healing, hope and restoration. in Northern Ireland for 15 years. I live I dream of young people from both daily with questions such as, “What do communities each year taking a cross up I understand about this Catholic/ Cuilcagh mountain (the highest point Protestant thing?” in the border) in some symbolic and I work with the Church of Ireland, prayerful way, taking away some of the ministering and living just outside THE BEACON SPEAKS OF GOD BREAKING INTO THE pain of the past and committing a new Enniskillen, geographically in the future to God. DARKNESS OF OUR WORLD AND OF OUR DIVISIONS, middle of the border separating the Dreams are one thing, but giving Northern Ireland from the Republic. In them feet is something else. If I am BRINGING HEALING, HOPE AND RESTORATION. this often-neglected corner, God has, I honest, God has been incredibly patient believe, given me a vision. It’s scary and with me. Every time I’ve tried to let the I know that others think I’m mad, but it thing go, God has put it back before me. never goes away. Many times I have wondered if I am mad, but God has shown His It began in 2010, when a scene from the film The Lord of the way at key moments on the journey. Rings came into my mind as I considered the venue for an Easter In 2013, a beacon was lit in joint services on Easter morning sunrise service for our church. In the scene, beacons are lit across with our Catholic neighbours. This followed a Lent when Catholic mountains. I was thrilled – what a great idea to have Easter services and Protestant churches shared “stories of hope.” The newly-built among our local Protestant churches linked by beacons! community centre in the village was also jointly opened in the Then God convicted me in the middle of one night that this hope that it can be a shared space. The Easter service has continued service should involve our Catholic neighbours. My initial response as well as a small, shared service on Good Friday. was fear. “Lord, do you know where I am? I don’t even know any This year, 2016, on Easter day, while others pondered the Catholics!” history of Ireland and an Easter uprising, at three venues, the I purchased the DVD furthest ends of the border of the film to check the and in the middle, small scene that I had recalled. gatherings rose while it was I’m not big into Tolkien still dark ( John 20:1) in awe but the parallels were clear. of the greatest story of all. A troubled history means The Easter revolution began that two earthly kingdoms in Christ 2000 years ago. struggle to even speak It changed the world. May to each other. It takes an it be a living tradition that insignificant outsider (a continues to change us. hobbit) to light a beacon to bring these groups together in the battle against the evil Richard Beadle, originally from forces of Mordor. England, is a Church Army Here on the border, Captain and serves with the we have two communities Church of Ireland on the border that still struggle to relate of County Cavan and County at a deep level, and faith is Fermanagh. one of those areas where

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

Where’s you bin ?   (Where’s you’ wheelie bin ? ) By Annmarie Miles ’m delighted to announce that instead of commuting to a full-time job, I’m now living within walking distance of my new part-time job. I was working on a national government helpline. Now I work for local government, taking calls and enquiries about local issues. Street lights, potholes, naughty doggies that leave little “gifts” behind them on footpaths… and bins. I spend a lot of my day talking about bins. I never realised how passionate people are about their refuse and recycling. Some folks are very enthusiastic about how and when their bins are collected. It’s been an eye opener, I can tell you. In my 40-plus years, I’ve never thought about bins for more than five seconds at a time. I just throw stuff out and there’s a crew who come around every so often to take it away. I’m vaguely aware of collection day; the beloved is responsible for that particular blessing in our house. (He hasn’t called the customer service line yet. We’re new to the area, though, so it’s probably only a matter of time.) Another thing I’ve learned is how little needs to be thrown away as waste for landfill. So many things can be, or should I say MUST BE, recycled. Gone are the days when we can just dispose of anything we like as rubbish. I do recycle responsibly, but after putting the particular material into the relevant receptacle, I remember it no more. Hang on… that sounds familiar! I am reminded of the disposal service of our inner rubbish. There are things in our lives that absolutely have to go, habits and attitudes that if we don’t jettison will literally rot. But a lot of stuff can be used again in the future - recycled, if you like. God takes some negative experiences and difficult memories and makes them useful again, turning them to good. They become lessons learned, testimonies to His greatness. In a world where so much is disposable, God is not just upcycling; he’s renovating and renewing our very souls. He can give purpose and meaning to even the most dilapidated life and I should know. When I’m on the phone in work, I try to bring a positive outlook and outcome to the calls. When it comes to recycling, I’m trained to reassure, reorder, recommend, resend, rearrange and resolve, all the while remaining calm (ish). I hope that the small task of sorting out a missed bin collection or replacing a recycling container will bring big relief to the stresses of their day. Your Feint Saint is loving her rubbish ministry. If ever you have to ring your local authority, be gentle! I know it can be frustrating if your wheelie bin hasn’t been emptied, but don’t flip your lid!

“ There are things in our lives that absolutely have to go, habits and attitudes that if we don’t jettison will literally rot.”

Annmarie Miles is originally from Tallaght, now living in her husband Richard’s homeland, Wales. If you’d like to read more between VOX Magazines, her blog is called Just Another Christian Woman Talking Through Her Hat. The Long & the Short of it, her first collection of short stories, can be found at www. annmariemiles.com/books, or you can pick it up in Footprints bookshops in Dublin. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

1916 / 2016

VOX MAGAZINE

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SAINT PATRICK BY REV. DR. KEITH MCCRORY

t has been a busy few weeks for the members At a leadership level, we run training events in of the Saint Patrick Foundation, with five the areas of conflict and team building (our Leading events in Dublin, Maynooth and Derry from through Conflict Seminar and Building Healthy Teams February 20 to March 17. Here the SPF Chairman, Dr seminars). Keith McCrory, tells us a little about SPF’s work and We are just beginning to develop our schools work, why these next 12 months will be exciting ones for those which centres around the ‘Conflict Course’ - a seveninvolved in this conciliation charity. week introduction to conflict and how to approach it The Saint Patrick Foundation is a conciliation with health and effectiveness. We hope that the Conflict ministry based around the life and legacy of our patron Course will run in schools from January to March. saint. Our goal is to help reconnect Saint Patrick’s Day In early November this year, we hope to formally with the ancient story that gave it birth and, in doing so, launch the SPF Conciliation Service around the to harness the celebration of our largest annual festival country (in partnership with the Irish Bible Institute to make a contribution toward peace and reconciliation and Evangelical Alliance of Ireland) and begin the on our island. process of developing trained conciliators who March 17 is one of the biggest parties in the world’s can provide this service in their local areas. These annual calendar. Over 80 conciliators will attend our million people in more than Leading through Conflict 200 countries around the Seminar (LTC1), and then PATRICK CHANGED OUR NATION BECAUSE OF proceed to training in the world participate in its annual pageant. Without question, it is HIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE LOVE OF GOD. formal conciliation process a great day filled with ceol agus (LTC2). They will then assist craic, with music and fun. And in actual conciliation processes we should be rightly proud of and, finally, will be confirmed that. as accredited conciliators. But we believe that this day could be so much more Next March, we are also hoping to run the pilot for and has huge untapped potential. Patrick changed our our Dublin Saint Patrick Breakfast and Saint Patrick nation because of his encounter with the love of God. It Concert and are actively seeking the funding to enable is the story of that love, and the one who gave it, that St these events to get started. Eventually, our hope is to Patrick’s Day should surely be known for. see a large Saint Patrick Breakfast take place in Dublin At the moment, the celebration of our patron one year, and in Belfast the next. We feel that such an saint is mainly led by sweet and alcohol companies, by event would make a great statement about what we political groups hoping to get their convictions across, want St Patrick’s Day to be about and would, in itself, and by activists for one cause or another. This is all fine, be a significant contribution to peace. but we believe that the celebrations of March 17 should So why not join us? Whether you would like to primarily be led by those of us who are Christians and come to one of our seminars, help to start SPF events that St Patrick’s Day should focus on the things that in your area, support us financially or simply to pray Patrick was passionate about. We have been deeply for us, we would be delighted to meet up. You can find encouraged to see what happens when Christians come most of the information you need on our website: www. together and seek to serve their communities. saintpatrickfoundation.org or please feel free to contact The Saint Patrick Foundation works at three basic me by email at keith@saintpatrickfoundation.org. levels: Community, Leadership, and Schools. And most of all, please pray for us as we meet with At a community level, firstly, we provide broken people and communities and seek to help them conciliation services to voluntary organisations, find healing and restoration through the one who lifted individuals, families and churches, helping them to Patrick from the mire and set him firmly on top of the work through difficulties that arise. wall. Secondly, we host Saint Patrick Breakfasts on the morning of March 17. These breakfasts are designed to create cross-community and cross-cultural contexts in Rev. Dr. Keith McCrory which people from all traditions and backgrounds can is Chairman of the Saint meet, enjoy one another’s company and be inspired Patrick Foundation and by the story of Patrick. So far, these have been held in the pastor of Maynooth Maynooth and Lucan, and this year for the first time in Community Church. the city of Derry. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

LIFE

Body Image

and the Irish Church BY SARAH MARSHALL

t doesn’t take long to notice our obsession with bodies in Ireland. Weight, diet, anti-aging, and beauty are continually scrutinised in popular culture, on social media and in our everyday conversations. Yet in church, body image is hardly mentioned. We can be tempted to dismiss it as trivial, superficial, and innocuous. Yet how we feel about our bodies can have significant and far-reaching implications. I have experienced the crippling effect of an unhealthy body image throughout my teens and for most of my adult life. I came to a point where I was desperate to understand how and why my body image could rob me of the freedom and fullness in life that I knew Christ had for me. Having begun to study at the Irish Bible Institute, I decided to explore biblical theology for some answers.

HOW DID IT BECAME A PROBLEM?

Consumer culture and mass media play primary roles in shaping how women see their bodies. They have cleverly crafted a story that idolises, idealises, and increasingly sexualises the female body for profit. Advertising and media overwhelm and saturate our living spaces with this story, using images of the ‘ideal’ woman (flawless, young, thin, sexy, and, more recently, fit and strong.) The constant association of this ‘ideal’ female with the satisfaction of basic human needs and desires leaves women convinced that being physically attractive is the answer to all their problems. Thinness has come to symbolise having it together. To be thin is to be successful in life, relationships, and career. Sexiness has become synonymous with popularity, value, and worth. Staying or becoming thin is commonly associated with ‘being good,’ encouraging a sense of morality about weight and body type. Though most women would not consciously define weight loss as their life’s purpose, many of their everyday thoughts and actions centre on this hope. Throughout my theological studies, I explored how issues of body image impact the life and spirituality of Christian women and girls in Ireland. I undertook qualitative

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

VOX MAGAZINE

research, interviewing women of various Others admitted to jealousy or to feeling Consumer culture was the primary voice in ages and church backgrounds. self-conscious in everyday situations. their understanding of the body. Many felt I found that these women were as “It just throws up a lot of sin sometimes, shame, expressing confusion about how to equally affected by issues related to body as well in me as in other people - jealousy, view themselves in a godly way. They were image as women who were not Christians. coveting, gossip - and that’s so detrimental to left to struggle with these issues on their Their longing to achieve the ‘ideal’ body our spiritual lives.” own. often became more fundamental to their This picture of Christian women feeling “I still feel unsure as child of God how feelings of happiness, security, meaning, and sub-standard, divided, and pitted against one I’m supposed to view my body with its identity than God. Yet, instead of finding another paints a sad contrast to the call for imperfections. …how do you have a good answers, they found themselves enslaved us to be as one body and to “shine brightly understanding on what is bad about body and worn out by their efforts to chase the as stars in a crooked, broken, and depraved image or what’s bad about your body and ‘ideal,’ which directed them away from generation.” what’s good, and should you even talk about finding true satisfaction in Christ. The women expressed regret that it like that?... It’s very hard for me to accept One participant expressed a belief that seeking to become more beautiful in unconditional acceptance for my body or that becoming thinner would change God does; I don’t know what He her life: “I know that I am buying thinks about it.” into some kind of lie but … [I] A healthy theological THIS NEGATIVE IMPACT OF BODY IMAGE ON IDENTITY SEEPS INTO framework will equip the don’t know how to let it go or break it. I’d feel more beautiful and MANY WOMEN’S ABILITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH. Christian community to identify more confident and probably more lies within our culture. Only then desirable to my boyfriend.” can we can repent, work toward Another participant revealed, change, and become a light in a “If you could grab and just pull it off [weight] character and Christlikeness was often world entrenched in brokenness. I think I would be happier and more willing to trumped by their drive to become more The Irish church has an incredible go out there and do things and people would beautiful on the outside. opportunity to counteract the toxic attitudes receive me better… it’s another lie that people “You can get so focussed on the physical of contemporary culture. Imagine if we tell you – that attractive people go further and that you actually forget you’re spiritual … you were able to provide a community where they’re happier and they have more friends.” can forget what really matters and forget the women and girls—worn out by striving, Another woman responded, “…on a bad kind of person you want to be… the focus goes competition and severe social comparison— day the cover of a glossy magazine can make off growing and changing and developing as a found themselves accepted and lovingly me feel sad or bad about myself… like I’m not person.” supported, not for their appearance, but enough.” This negative impact of body image on based on who they are! The consumer narrative on female’s identity seeps into many women’s ability I believe the church can foster loving bodies has become increasingly sexualised, to fully participate in church; women often interactions with one another—especially promoting the de-humanisation of females fade into the background. among women. We should challenge as sex objects. This has a devastating impact; “I think how we look would still stop a lot unloving consumer messages, choosing it degrades the whole personhood of of women from doing things… if you don’t instead to be people who build, encourage, women, undermining their sense of Godfeel you look great then you don’t feel very and enable one another. Church leadership given value. confident, and that’s why in church, women can lead the way by deliberately recognising “What your body looks like is everything, will always be on the serve teams and minding and celebrating the gifts of women. This so if your body looks like what it should the children, whereas men will very happily encouragement will empower women look like according to society then that is a volunteer themselves for the ‘up the front’ jobs to exercise and grow in their God-given massive piece of currency … it doesn’t matter or the leading kind of roles, the stronger, more strengths. how successful you are, how wealthy or how visible roles, because they couldn’t care less Something as crippling as negative smart, how powerful or how effective you are what they look like…” body image should be part of an ongoing politically, if you don’t look good then there’s no These accounts show that body image conversation within the body of Christ. I point.” has a far-reaching impact on spiritual hope we continue to explore what a truly My research found that the way a woman formation, Christian community, transformative and life-giving community feels about her body influences not only discipleship, leadership and ultimately the looks like—a community that mobilises how she feels about herself, but also how vibrant involvement and contribution of and empowers women as equal and valued she feels toward others. This was a significant women in the Great Commission. members of the church, each with a specific finding for the Christian community whose purpose within God’s Kingdom. foundational call is to a sacrificial and JesusHOW SHOULD WE RESPOND? like love of others. We are called to be a countercultural Some women experienced feelings of and transformational presence in our Sarah Marshall was born in inferiority or superiority based on how they communities. To do so, we need to take Australia and having moved looked compared to other women. Others issues like body image seriously and engage to Ireland in 2008, fell in love described feeling insecure, intimidated, with them in real and practical ways. with the country and now and “less than” based solely on appearance. The first step is for the Christian considers Ireland her home. This constant need for affirmation drove community to point to a biblical view of the She is a recent MA Graduate with Irish Bible them to judge and mistreat other women, human body. A recurring theme with the Institute where she focused her studies on body discrediting them and putting them down women I interviewed was how they felt the image, contemporary culture and spirituality. in order to feel better about themselves. church failed to engage with these issues. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

REALITY

A PEOPLE OF HOPE

SUICIDE PREVENTION AND THE CHURCH BY BRIAN SYNNOTT

told him about a Christian meeting that Friday night. Feeling totally lost, the 15-year-old walked into the meeting. He understood nothing. The people appeared to have something he desperately needed. His pain became unbearable. Eventually, a 19-yearold came over for a chat. The older teenager told him, “Jesus Christ can save your life.” For the first time in years, life and hope seemed within his grasp. Scared and in tears he said, “I’ll have that.” Immediately, like heat from sun on a frosty morning, hope and life dawned in his soul. This was the most pivotal moment in his life. His problems were not all healed, including his depression. That wouldn’t

ver 150 people attended VOX magazine’s series of conferences on suicide prevention in Dublin, Cork and Sligo in January and February. TODAY, ONLY 3% OF THE POPULATION SEES With a range of expert speakers, THE CHURCH AS A PLACE TO SEEK HELP. the conferences inspired, equipped and challenged people to respond to the tragedy of suicide in our communities and within the church. In Cork, Christian counsellor Brian Synnott happen until 15 years later. But on that day delivered a moving keynote message. Here we a platform was inserted into his soul upon bring you a summary of what he had to say: which a new life was going to be built. That young boy was me. I have a passion to put hope within the reach of every Irish person. In our church, THE HOPE OF THE WORLD like most other living churches, we have our I was truly hopeless and lost fair share of broken people - every one of in so many ways, and it was the them, in fact. Our vision is to bring hope to church that prevented me from the most hopeless. attempting suicide. Bill Hybels says, “The church is the hope ENTERING THE SUICIDAL MIND of the world.” I want to tell the true story of a 15-yearSomehow we’ve given old boy. When it came to the Junior Cert the care of vulnerable year, he knew he was failing. His parents people over to secular had been told that the best thing he could organisations and do was to drop out. He knew he didn’t government agencies. stand a chance of getting a job. Pain and We have lost faith in the hopelessness were like a physical weight Gospel that promises bearing down on his chest. abundant life for every All he wanted to do was to escape his sphere of human life. life. He had gone well past crying himself to We have followed sleep. In the silence, feeling utterly hopeless, Greek thinking in he prayed, “If you are there, show yourself to separating the spiritual me.” But there was no reply. from the physical. He used to plan his own death. At We find the church least then this ton of dread would be gone. relegated to the Although he felt too hopeless to even spiritual realm (that attempt suicide, he saw no other way to end part of life that no the pain. one cares about One day, he noticed changes in another anyway). boy at his school. He began to pick on the Today, only 3% boy, but the more he picked on him, the of the population more he saw a difference. Finally the boy sees the church as 24

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a place to seek help. We often blame the government for their lack of provision. We complain that the state has failed. I thank God for what our state provides and I will lobby for more resources. But it is my firm belief that as the world may look to the government, the Lord is looking to us. He has entrusted us with the most significant key in helping those with suicide ideation - hope. Eugene Peterson puts it this way in The Message: “You’re here to be saltseasoning that brings out the God-

VOX MAGAZINE

flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to

others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Why do people take their own lives? The problem is hopelessness. They cannot face the prospect of living with unrelenting pain. Of all the people on earth, we should be the people of hope. In Ireland, 500 people die by suicide each year and 12,000 people arrive in emergency departments because of deliberate self harm (it is estimated that the real figure of those who self harm is around 80,000 people). One million people have had poor mental health. Jesus describes His church, with all its brokenness, as the salt and light of the world. We need to recapture this vision. Your average Joe (or Joanie) within the church has huge advantages: They have a relationship with the person who feels suicidal. They are close geographically. They love their neighbour. They can give immediate help and support - they are not confined to office hours. They speak simply (not in complicated medical language). They have a testimony of what Jesus has done in their own life. They can pray to a God who hears and answers prayer. They know a vast network of people who know more than they do and can access help from Christian organisations and individuals with relevant skills, often for free. They have access to a wholesome network of positive relationships within the church community from a wide cross-section of society. They can usually find someone a bed to sleep in, a meal, or some other practical help. They can offer people basic tools for living (many folks simply don’t know how to live anymore). The church should be able to specialise in setting

HOW CAN I ACCESS TRAINING FOR MY CHURCH? One of the most significant outcomes from the conferences was the discovery that churches need to be adequately trained in suicide prevention and in caring for those with mental ill health. Equipped to Care is an excellent resource developed by Hope Trust. For more details, visit www.hopetrust.ie and click on Training and Resources, or email info@hopetrust.ie. Alternatively, write to us at VOX magazine (info@vox.ie) with your name and contact details and request to be put on our mailing list for news of future events and conferences around suicide prevention and mental health.

people free from guilt, fear, and shame, and the Holy Spirit is able to renew people’s minds (the place where suicidal ideation dwells). And, most importantly, they have Christ, who is the source of all hope, including the source of all secondary hopes (jobs, families, relationships, etc.) The message of the Gospel is that you have significance because you are created by God. You are loved beyond your dreams. You matter, and God has a plan and purpose in life. Irrespective of all you can or cannot achieve, of whether you own your own home or have a family, there is hope for you. A note of caution: There is need for training in suicide prevention. We need to be equipped to deal with loss, guilt and shame or to know where to send people for specialist help. If we offer something but don’t adequately deliver it, then folks will get sick again. We will be “good for nothing”.

Brian Synnott holds a degree in Christian Ministry & Theology. He is currently completing his doctorate in Theotherapy and is a trained counselling supervisor. He currently works as a teacher, trainer, supervisor, and counsellor with three drug and alcohol residential centres (Teen Challenge UK). APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

MY STORY “My Story” is an opportunity for ordinary people living in Ireland to talk about their journey to faith or the impact God has in their daily lives.

MATHEUS’ STORY

Meet “The Voice of Ireland” contestant Matheus Soares n April 3, Matheus Soares will appear LIVE on RTÉ TV as one of the final 36 contestants in the “The Voice of Ireland” knockout round. Chosen out of more than 5,000 applicants, this Navan teenager longs to use his voice to praise God. VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams caught up with Matheus to find out a bit more about this remarkable singer, about his faith in Jesus and what it is like appearing on the popular show.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Before the blind audition, there are two rounds of auditions, narrowing us down from an initial 5,000 people to 150 who will take part in the show itself. There is a long way to go before you get to the big stage. At the blind auditions, the judges select 56 contestants (14 for each judge). I was absolutely terrified when I got up to sing. If you look at the video, you can see it looks like I’m talking to myself. Actually, I TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. was praying the whole way through! Almost I’m 19 years old. I’m from Brazil but I as soon as I started singing, Rachel turned live in Navan, Co Meath. I moved here nine around. (Ed: Rachel Stevens, one of The Voice years ago with my parents and my sister, judges, began her career as part of pop group S so I’ve been in Ireland for most of my life. Club 7.) There are times when I thought, “I can I feel more Irish, and breathe now.” I was very there are times I feel nervous, but at least I more Brazilian. I know I WAS PRAYING, “PLEASE GOD, IF could relax because she everything about Irish had turned her chair THIS IS MEANT TO BE FOR ME, LET ME around. It means a lot history and very little about Brazil, so I think GET THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND. to me that my sister and I’m a bit more Irish. my parents were there At the moment, I’m with me to support studying at Dublin me. For my parents, Business School and I also work in a hotel. it is also their dream to see me follow my I’m the choir director of my church (People’s dreams. It was comforting that no matter Church in Duleek, Co Meath). what happened, they were there for me.

WHY DID TO YOU APPLY FOR THE VOICE OF IRELAND?

I’ve received a lot of prophecies that I was going to sing in front of a lot of people. Last June, I was sitting on the couch watching TV and the ad for The Voice came up. I felt I should apply, so I did, not thinking much of it. A few days later, I received a phone call saying that I was through to the first round of auditions. It was a surreal experience. 26

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AFTER THE BLIND AUDITION, YOU HAD TO BATTLE AGAINST ONE OF THE OTHER SINGERS IN TEAM RACHEL. TELL US ABOUT THAT. When we all start to get paired up, in the back of my mind, I thought I would be against Stephanie Anketell. A few moments later, we were paired up. It was terrifying. She is a natural rock singer. I remember thinking; “This woman can swallow me whole!” We had to wait a long, long time to go on stage. When we got up to sing, I

was praying, “Please God, if this is meant to be for me, let me get through to the next round.” Even so, I was gobsmacked when Rachel picked me to go through. It was worth the wait.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

The Live Knockout Show is on Sunday 3 April. I will basically have to sing my own song against two other people from Team Rachel, and they will choose one of us to go through to the next round. I’m praying every day, “Please, God, give me one more chance!” I have a lot of rehearsals and sound checks and vocal training. I’m trying to juggle that alongside work and college and church as well. It’s quite hectic.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAITH. WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN TO YOU?

Jesus is everything to me. If it wasn’t for Him, I certainly would not be here today. So many things happened to me but by His grace and love I’m still here. It means a lot to know that I have someone who will never let me down. I’ve always followed Jesus because of my parents. When I was a kid, I used to find church very boring. I would fall asleep in the back row. It is hilarious because nowadays I get mad at people who fall asleep in church! I’ve grown up in church and knowing God.

My parents taught me about God and to follow Him and honour Him in all I do. When I arrived in Ireland, I had no English and I used to be a very chubby kid. People used to pick on me a lot, call me names and call me “fat”. With all the struggles and the bullying I used to suffer, I knew that I could always call on God. My parents didn’t know what was happening. I was always praying and asking Him to help me deal with the situation. I never retaliated, and I tried to show Jesus’ love to those who were bullying me. Now, we are friends.

to bring a little happiness into their lives and show them that they are not alone.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SONG?

My favourite song is “The Revelation Song” - it has so much passion and meaning. Even Christian songs can sometimes miss something and be too commercialised. They lack Jesus. I love that song because I can really feel God’s presence straight away, and I like to sing it in church almost every week.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

I really want to go around the world and spread the good news through song. Whether through Christian music or secular music, I still want to have that message, no matter what song I’m singing. I’ve learnt through the years that we cannot put a limit on God. He works in His way. God uses whoever He wants to use. I say to God, “You gave me the gift of song, and I want to use it to praise your name.”

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR CHURCH.

Our church is mainly Brazilian, but sometimes we have Irish, Nigerian or other folks visiting us. My parents are the assistant pastors there. We are part of the Church of God network in Ireland. We use both English and Portuguese in the services depending on who is there. There are people in the congregation who don’t understand English at all, so if we have visitors, we use English, but we always provide translation into Portuguese as well. We are trying to reach out into our community, mainly through the youth in the church. We visit old people’s homes to bring them presents, to sing with them and to share God’s love with them. Some of them don’t have anyone anymore. We want to visit APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

MY STORY

MEET DAVID IDIOH atheus Soares wasn’t the only Christian Church of God in Limerick). David is convinced that he owes his Christian to find singing success In February, the Limerick Gospel success to God’s goodness. “I used to play with “The Voice of Ireland”. Choir won “Gospel Choir of the Year” in the piano in church but I would never sing. On Easter the Limerick Choral My voice used to be terrible. Someone told Saturday, David Idioh Festival with their me that God was going to give me new gifts, appeared in the live rendition of the and since then, I’ve been able to sing! I wish knockout phase having DAVID IS CONVINCED THAT HE OWES much-loved Agnus Dei you knew what I used to sound like.” also won through to (check out the video on Describing Jesus as “the closest friend HIS SUCCESS TO GOD’S GOODNESS. YouTube). “We were the final 36. At time of you can have,” David shared how his faith going to press, the result so happy,” David said. helped him to cope with the tragic death was not known. “This is a community of his baby sister. “People around me David was born in choir that loves Gospel asked, ‘Do you still believe in God?’ I told Lagos, Nigeria, into a Christian family. His music, but they had lost hope. Our success them, ‘He is the only person who helps me musical talent, especially as a pianist, was [in the competition] made them feel more understand. He gives me peace and hope, evident from a young age, and at just ten confident. “ whatever happens.” years old, David began to play the piano in David applied David dreams church. for “The Voice of of using his music Eventually becoming a church music Ireland” simply to to reach out to director, David began to study music theory, try something new. GOD HAS BROUGHT ME HERE FOR A REASON. people in Ireland. and in 2013, he was offered a scholarship to “I did it casually. It “God has brought study for a master’s degree in Community was just something me here for a Music at the University of Limerick. After to look forward reason. I dream of graduating, David became Musical Director to in the New Year,” he told VOX. So it was having a concert that will bring everybody of the Limerick Gospel Choir and is also the a huge surprise and bonus to find himself together in worship.” choir director for his church (the Redeemed through to the final 36 of the competition.

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APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

FAITH

A CULTURE OF

Worship

Releasing young people into their potential BY PETER O’BRIEN

People are still chatting as the worship leader gives the signal to start. With just a few taps on the drumsticks and some rhythmic strums on the guitar, a unified purpose emerges. Words for the first song appear on a screen. The worship leader motions toward the microphone and in unison, the whole room begins declaring God’s goodness and exalting Jesus’ name. It is wonderful. It is heaven on earth. There’s nothing too unusual about this scene. The songs, and perhaps the equipment, may be different, but this is familiar in church gatherings and prayer meetings around the world for people who love Jesus. In this case, the worship leader just happens to be a teenager, but again, that’s not uncommon. However, a quick scan of this worship team reveals something a bit more unusual. With their odd socks, hoodies, and fresh faces, they clearly all have school in the morning. Yet this is an important public event with people from other churches coming and friends invited. Is this an experiment? A token show and tell? Far from it. If we expect the young people in our church to be mature Christians, they need to exercise their spiritual muscles. Joseph, Joshua and Josiah are examples of people who took up leadership positions at a young age. Before them, a young Miriam stepped out

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from the bulrushes to be part of God’s plan for delivering His people. Stepping out, speaking up and serving humbly are the traits of leadership in God’s kingdom. As unmarried apprentices, many

IF WE EXPECT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH TO BE MATURE CHRISTIANS, THEY NEED TO EXERCISE THEIR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES.

of Jesus’ disciples were in their late teens. When Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that as believers we are a temple, he didn’t qualify it with ‘when you are old enough’. There is no Junior Holy Spirit that dwells in us until we’re ready for the unrestricted, fully loaded version. A number of years ago, Trinity Church Network began providing opportunities for our teenagers to grow through serving in a youthled service. We already had a few teenagers involved in the regular worship team rota but this would involve greater responsibility. Since

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then, the path has unfolded in ways we did not envisage. The numbers of teenagers involved has grown as we seek to respond creatively to God’s goodness. Our hearts are open to the possibilities of exploring more of what God has in store for us. We haven’t gotten it all together, nor do we know exactly what we’re doing - some things we tried didn’t quite work. But we remain confident that God has begun a good work in our youth and that He will perfect it. Here are some things that we are discovering that may help your youth group start or go deeper in expressing (and leading) worship.

HAVE A CLEAR VISION

It is easy to get caught up in the “what and how” of worship and youth ministry. Having a clear, meaningful vision really helps keep things in focus. It took us nearly two years to express ours: “We want to develop a culture of worship in our youth that is authentic, accessible, and acceptable.” This has helped with engaging others and is a litmus test for choosing what to do or not to do.

BALANCE

The creative and performance elements of worship can be rewarding musically and emotionally. It is tempting to focus exclusively on that, particularly as other aspects (witness, welfare, and word) of the Christian life can be challenging. However, the greatest growth in worship expression can be found by investing time letting your light shine, caring for others, and delving deeper into the Bible. Ensure that teenagers are growing in all aspects. “Being on the aXcess worship team has been an amazing blessing… it has allowed me to explore and develop the gifting God has given me, grow relationships and build community within our youth group. The worship team has given me a place where I can bring ideas, learn, and put into practice what gifts I have in a safe environment with leaders who wish to see me succeed and pursue God wholeheartedly.” - Holly Doran

PASSION OVER POLISH

Note that this doesn’t say ‘passion, not polish’. There certainly has to be a level of capability, some substantive polish to get started. We should work on these skills so that we give our best, but it is our praise that the Lord inhabits, not the performance. Work out what criteria is appropriate for your situation. However, be clear that a

desire to encounter God and to help others do the same is the priority.

LAUNCH PAD

The modern rocket launch provides a useful analogy for the developmental youth worship team. A launch-pad structure provides resources (e.g. fuel) and protection and keeps the rocket pointing in the right direction. When we first introduced violins, the launch pad was evident. We arranged some dedicated workshops on improvisation and playing in a band (resources); for the first worship session, we kept violins to one song rather than the full set list (protection) and reminded them that they are playing to an audience of one (direction). Now, our teenage violinists make a contribution to the mix in almost every song.

RELATIONSHIP OVER ROUTINE

As a group involving teenagers that are still growing in their own identity as well as their abilities, there may be some things that you will do differently to the adult worship team. It may be extra practice sessions, or the worship may have different elements. The most effective tool we have is the Hangout Practice. We eat together, have a short team-building exercise or discussion, and then get on with rehearsing. The relationship and trust built up around sharing food and fun brings about a real sense of team, which shows when they play together. Find routines that foster relationship.

THE HEART IS THE PRIMARY INSTRUMENT OF WORSHIP Music is the most common expression of worship, particularly in a church context. Not everyone who worships sings or plays a musical instrument. It is important to encourage the use of technical and creative gifts in our teenagers. Keep the workshops and practice sessions open to all the

teenagers to attend. Having Colossians 3:17 as a criteria, be open to the collaborations and innovations that come from the group. “We play with a higher purpose, and that’s different from being in a regular band.” - Luke Nolan

ADAPT

Now more than ever, there is easy access to inspirational worship events, worship teaching, great worship songs, and tutorials on how to play them. With limited reference points, a teenager may have no hooks on which to hang these pearls of wisdom. What they are familiar with is their own church context, so involving people from the existing worship team to share their own experience is very effective.

RELEASE AND REPEAT

In general, one of the main jobs will be providing structure, a bit of discipline on time keeping, and staying focused on the task at hand. Look for those times when it is appropriate to release more responsibility. It can take time for the true leaders to emerge. Then, as suddenly as it all comes together, it is time to repeat and go back over topics (even the basics) again.

Peter O’Brien serves in the wonderful space where youth and worship ministry overlap. The Dublin-based software developer grew up in a Christian home but did not choose Jesus until his teens. Not long after, Peter learned three guitar chords and joined others more gifted than he in worship.

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REALITY

SHINING

LIKE STARS THE REAL HEROES BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL BY RUTH GARVEY-WILLIAMS

Every year, thousands of Irish people pack shoeboxes full of small gifts for the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal. In 2015, over 200,000 boxes were collected. In December, VOX editor Ruth GarveyWilliams travelled to Romania to help distribute the gifts alongside one of Team Hope’s charity partners - a Christian charity run by Corneliu Medrea.

here are times when words run out and when even the most poignant images fail to capture reality. Visiting Hunedoara, Romania, with the Team Hope shoebox distribution team was one of those occasions. Hunedoara (population 60,500) is a grey place. Over 30,000 people were once employed by the steel industry in this town. Today, the steel mill only employs 700 people. With massive unemployment, neglect and despair hang in the air like smog from the factories. Even months later, I’m still processing the myriad experiences that made up our trip… Ramshackle homes built on the site of a rubbish dump. The “ghost” apartments - a five-story unfinished concrete block where up to ten people cram into each of the 80 single rooms. A frail grandmother shivering in the cold. Another woman, crippled and bedbound but trying to take care of her

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grandchildren following her daughter’s murder at the hands of an abusive husband. A small boy hugging a tube of toothpaste to his chest. Another child struggling to carry a shoebox almost as big as he is. And the awestruck smiles of children opening their little gifts, overwhelmed that someone in Ireland sent them such wonders. The truth is, we are not the heroes of this story. Our Irish gifts bring a ray of sunshine into little lives. They are precious to the children but they are not transforming this community. The real heroes would be quick to refuse the title… they are Corneliu and Diana Madrea, a local pastor and his wife who have spent over 20 years loving and serving their community along with their small church in the heart of Hunedoara. Corneliu was born in the town, the youngest of ten children. Before communism, his father was a successful businessman, a craftsman who fashioned expensive leather hats. Unwilling to lie and cheat to gain favour with Ceaușescu’s

regime, he chose instead to move to Hunedoara to work in the steel mill. “The values I have come from my parents,” Corneliu shares. “My father was a lay preacher. You would see him coming home with bare feet. If he found people with no shoes, he would literally give the shoes off his feet. My parents prayed for us that we would have a servant heart. They were a model for us.” Corneliu remembers choosing to follow Jesus as a 13-year-old boy. Three years later, the revolution came, and in the subsequent freedom, there were unprecedented opportunities for the Gospel. “It was our time. We ran 16 big events every month to bring the Gospel to the streets. And at that time God spoke to me very clearly, ‘I desire for you not only to be a simple Christian. I desire for you to be my servant, to do what I have for you to do.’ I said, ‘Yes, Father.’” That choice to obey God was to profoundly shape Corneliu’s life. Desperate to escape the poverty and pollution of his hometown, he dreamt of travelling to the

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do, you disable him. It is very hard to find the balance. When you encourage them to do what they can, they will be lifted up. We still give a lot for free, but we ask them to give what they can.” That also meant developing ways for the work itself to become self-sustaining. “If you receive but you don’t self-support, how can you teach others to do the same?” So Corneliu developed four charity shops throughout the town along with a transport business and minibus-hire company that help to fund the work. He has even completed a master’s degree in Social Enterprise. “My vision is that our churches will understand better and better what it means to be the church. Even now, it is very easy for people to see what happens inside the walls West to become a pastor. But God closed Corneliu and the local believers and the church services. We want to be a the door. developed homework and literacy clubs, model for this to help people go outside the “A family from Scotland supported me a kindergarten, a hygiene and feeding walls and to live as church day by day. to study in a theological college in Eastern programme, a sewing project (creating “We pray that the light that is here will Europe,” Corneliu said. “God changed my employment) and a free dental and medical enter into people’s hearts and they will start heart. I saw so many people in Romania. I clinic. to live, not in darkness but to receive the saw their need to receive the message of light. It is part of our vision to be the salt the Bible.” and light of the world, that they would This passion flows from Corneliu’s see our good works and praise our vibrant faith. His eyes shine as he WE BELIEVE THAT A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES Father who is in heaven.” describes what Jesus means to him. “Jesus In 2015, Corneliu and his church is my Lord, my shepherd, my provider, my STARTS WITH A CHANGE OF HEART. distributed over 9,000 Team Hope shelter… I think he is ALL.” shoeboxes in Hunedoara and the And so in 1994, Corneliu returned to surrounding area. The boxes open doors Hunedoara with his wife, Diana, and began It has taken a long time, and along the - enabling them to connect with dozens of weekly Bible clubs for 1,200 children (20 way there have been many challenges and state orphanages and homes for children years later, they still have 700 children in the obstacles. “All the time I am thinking, ‘How with special needs, as well as hundreds of clubs each week). can we help better? How can we extend our families living in extreme poverty. The gifts “That is still our main activity because help?’ All the time I’m faster than God. I bring enormous joy to each individual child. we believe that a change in circumstances have to learn to go at His pace,” Corneliu But it is through the long-term work starts with a change of heart,” Corneliu said. explained. in the community by ordinary (and at “But as we visited the children, I realised One of the greatest challenges was the same time rather extraordinary) that when the steel mill collapsed, many discovering that sometimes helping hurts. Romanian Christians that real and lasting of the kids were suffering the most. God “We need to be careful when we feed transformation is coming to Hunedoara. put a vision in my heart to develop social someone every day that they do not become Find out more about the work of Team programmes to help them.” fat. When you do what the person is able to Hope at www.teamhope.ie. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

LIFE

m or n sf A life t r a

THE BIRTH OF HOPE ro u

g h c h il d s p o n s

s or

e grew up in an environment where it was survival of the fittest. We used to just have one meal a day. It was a struggle because I had siblings and my mum’s job could not support all of us. My dad looked for work, but there was never any breakthrough at all. I didn’t really expect anything. I never thought about

SHE CARED ABOUT ME AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACHIEVED MY DREAMS. what I wanted to be; I had no dreams.” - Ronnie from Kampala, Uganda Ronnie Mulema’s life was transformed when he was sponsored through Compassion. In December, he visited Ireland to help support the work of Compassion Ireland, and he took time out to share his story with VOX magazine. Today, I’m 34 years old and I work as a teaching assistant at a primary school in London. 34

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When I came to the UK eight years ago, I saw people from Compassion at a conference and it really, really moved me. I was a sponsor child and I saw people advocating for children living in poverty. It was a lightbulb moment for me, remembering what my life was like as a nineyear-old boy. I am the firstborn child out of six. My father did not have much education and he had hoped that his children would do better, but he had so many children that he couldn’t educate all of us. My father lost his job and everything started going downhill. My brother and I would go to school, but we were sent home because we hadn’t paid the school fees. Sometimes we would sneak into school and give excuses that our parents would pay soon. Extreme poverty took its toll on my parents. I wished to be anywhere but home because it was so stressful. As firstborn I had to take care of my other siblings. I knew I had the responsibility but thought I would never be able to do what I needed to do.

TURNING POINT

On one particular day, I went into school and they read out a list of familiar names (all the poorest kids). Instead of being sent home, we were sent to the head teacher’s office. That is never good news. All of us were shaking, preparing our excuses, when suddenly we were told about this organisation that was going to cover our school fees. They took measurements. We would receive school uniforms. Four months down the road, we were given mattresses and mosquito nets. What changed dramatically inside me was the birth of hope. Before I had mere fantasies - all the evidence said I would not achieve them. Now I had the opportunity to dream dreams for the future. We were encouraged to write letters to our sponsors. A lot of my time was spent thinking about this lady, who didn’t even know me but said she cared about me and wanted to make sure that I achieved my dreams. I spent nine years in the project, throughout primary

VOX MAGAZINE

Tiō Conference Honouring the Indispensable 10-11 June 2016 Belfast Bible College The Conference offers a unique space

school and secondary school. Because of the sponsorship and the positivity from my sponsor, I achieved high grades so I could qualify for university.

NOT JUST ME…

for all of us. And when they gave us food, there would be sufficient for the whole family. Whenever I received a letter from my sponsor, I took it home for my mum to read. It inspired her and gave her hope. She shared in my joy. I was a nine-year-old who hated myself and thought no one loved me. But God spoke to

My brother was drafted into the programme at the same time as me (that was rare) because our family was in such a desperate situation. Because my parents did not have to think about I WAS A NINE-YEAR-OLD WHO HATED my brother and MYSELF AND THOUGHT NO ONE LOVED ME. me, they were able to channel their few resources to educate my other siblings. Last somebody far away, telling her to year, my youngest sister Rita care about me. That showed how graduated. much God loves me. In 1997, I The sponsorship had an asked Jesus to be my Lord and impact on my whole family. Saviour. In my culture, your siblings I’m hoping people here in look up to you as the firstborn Ireland will hear my story and child. I was the torchbearer, and be inspired to support other anything positive for me was children living in extreme automatically positive for them. poverty. Such a small amount of My brother and I shared money by western standards can our two mattresses among the give those children a hope and six siblings. If the Compassion a future. offices gave me soap, they gave To find out more, visit www. me three bags of soap - enough compassion.ie.

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Online registration is now open. Find out more at www.belfastbiblecollege.com/tio Or email tio@belfastbiblecollege.com

APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

Summer FIRE

CONFERENCE 24th June - 1st July 2016

International Speakers I Childrens Ministry I Praise & Worship

SF2016 Trabolgan Holiday Village, Co. Cork 36

VOX APR - JUNE 2016

FIRE Register today!

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Spiritual Renewal for the entire family Trabolgan Holiday Village June 24th - July 1st

Located in an idyllic and tranquil setting beside the beach in East Cork, Trabolgan Holiday Village promises memorable yet stress free breaks which are great value for money.

The 140 acre venue has something for everyone - a safe and friendly environment for toddlers, a host of indoor and outdoor activities for energetic kids and teens, and great entertainment for Mums, Dads and Grandparents with many opportunities to relax.

Included in Trabolgan’s many activities are: • The Sub Tropical Wave Pool with a Super Waterslide, wave machine and toddlers pool • 18 hole par 3 coastal Golf Course with FREE rental of golf clubs • Crazy Golf • A fantastic 10,000 sq ft Indoor Sports Complex with facilities to play Badminton, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball and Volleyball • Access to the Fitness Suite, Steam Room and Sauna

• Great FREE activities for toddlers include a variety of Kids Clubs, supervised kiddy cars and indoor and outdoor playgrounds with slides, tunnels, ball ponds, rope bridges, swings, slides and climbing frames • Why not make the most of the following: Trabolgan Adventure Sports, Go-Kart Tracks, Beauty / Relaxation Rooms, Arcade, Trampolines, Paddle-Boats and Mini-Karts.

Summer fire conference caters to the needs of all the family. You will find a ministry to meet the need of every individual young and old.

Children

Children’s ministry and crèche is one of the highest priorities of summer fire conference. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Conference provides a quality crèche for all our 1-3 year olds, and dynamic children’s ministries for our 4-12 year olds, where warm, friendly and competent workers will minister Christ’s love to each child. Kids’ ministry will coincide with all main services and seminars

Youth

This dynamic ministry is geared to challenge, sharpen and equip Christian young people for the ministry life of the church. By the end of conference week, our young people will leave inspired to walk in a more intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Young Adults

This ministry is focused on young adults aged 18-30. With great activities and late night events, there will be some wonderful times of spiritual fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ from across Ireland. This is an ideal ministry for young singles to find a place to fit in and feel welcomed. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

Lucan Centre Whether its a weekend retreat or technology-intensive conference, the Lucan Centre is perfect! Meet, eat and sleep in the tranquility of the woods, near the heart of the city. The Lucan Centre sleeps 40 in comfortable ensuite rooms. The fully equipped conferencing area seats 80. The food is excellent — and there is a self catering option. The Lucan Centre is amazing and affordable!

www.lucancentre.ie Office: +353 1 628 0393 Bookings: +353 85 8669224 Lucan Centre, Primrose Lane, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland, K78 XT10 | CHY7328

13-14 JUNE

ESSENTIAL 2016 RESIDENT ALIENS

Dr. Don Carson: Studies in 1 Peter Dr. Mike Ovey: Thinking Biblically about tolerance, equality & gender

COST Two days: €40 One day: €20 Two days Student: €25 One day Student: €15 Location: St. Catherine's, Thomas Street, Dublin

To register please go to www.irishchurchmissions.ie/essential2016 Photo credit:Giuseppe Milo - www.pixael.com

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Essential is an annual theological conference in Dublin city centre, designed to equip and encourage pastors in the Irish context. This year we are delighted to welcome Dr. D A Carson (Research Professor of NT at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois) & Dr. Mike Ovey (Princinpal of Oak Hill Theological Colloge, London). Dr. Carson will bring God’s word to bear on our lives as Resident Aliens by expounding the book of 1 Peter. Dr. Ovey will deliver practical seminars on tolerance, equality and gender in order to provide us with a framework and a vocabulary for interacting with these issues in a Christian way.

1916 / 2016

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Pearse’s Premature Proclamation Visceral vision, Ireland’s solipsist Saviour, Republican romantic: feint, fallible failure? Martyr-memory sacred, unquestioned price: Feather-bare phoenix rose from blood sacrifice. Proclamation printed, only heard by few, perfunctory their muted cheers on cue; ironic, a pacifist the first rebel executed, half-forgotten hero, Skeffy goes un-saluted. Pearse no prophet, nor priest anointed, not national Saviour, not by God appointed: bookish, belligerent, old-style scholastic, Gael-gospel mystic, somewhat bombastic. Rebel song unevenly sung in Sackville Street accompanied by Brit artillery, Brit marching feet; rebel flag reluctantly lowered, insurgent defenders Stood down, lofty Nelson observed their surrender. Bullets hit Hibernia’s heroes, no trigger hesitation: unfairly executed martyrs couldn’t save our nation; by what uncertain Saviour was Pearse consoled, last rites, tongue silenced, body soon stone cold. No resurrection redemption after three dark days, bitter spirits sang, passionate patriot eyes blazed; mythic religious your vision, Christ-less its creed, civil-war demagogue speeches sowed stillborn seed. Messianic-minded, almost-hero, not heaven’s hope: Enfield rifles primed by your triumphalist trope; much of God’s truth distorted by Jesuitical twist did you die in gospel grace, where mercy only exists? Louis Hemmings, 10 March 2016

By Saturday 29 April, all the rebels had surrendered. At Kilmainham Prison, Pearse was charged with treason by a military court and sentenced to death. On May 16, Pearse was shot by firing squad. Eventually, 14 other rebel leaders would also be shot. Ironically, it was in death that Patrick Pearse found real fame. louishemmings.com / writer & poet @louishemmings / cowbird.com/louis-hemmings APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

Christian Counselling Courses and Workshops The Irish Association of Christian Counsellors are hosting 4 workshops which are suitable for anyone who has an interest:

VITAL CONNEXIONS FOUNDATION COURSE

PERSONALITY DISORDERS 9th April with Denise Mullen

Friday 29th and Saturday 30th July and Friday 26th - Sat 27th August

HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY 21st May with Joanie Reilly

Dublin venue to be confirmed

“STRENGTH TO STRENGTH” with Andrea Wigglesworth and Vicky McEvoy

Further details and registration forms please log on to www.vitalconnexions.net.

SUICIDE 1st October with Heather Moore ADDICTION 19th November with Derek Morgan

BELLWEATHER CENTRE

“ENCOURAGEMENT COURSE”

Venue: The Riasc Centre, Swords

Starting April with Linda Wagner and Joanne Mahon in the Riasc Centre, Swords Further details and registration forms log on to www.iacc.ie.

Further details and registration forms please log on to www.iacc.ie.

VHI WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON Monday 6 June 2016

Run for Christian Aid Contact us T: 01 496 7040 E: dublin@christian-aid.org Visit christianaid.ie/running

till whilues. s d n a t s t ’ If you cagno hungr y, run for people

Christian Aid Ireland Charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928.

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REVIEWS

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HOW GOOD IS THE GOD WE ADORE

New author Charles Harvey read from his book, How Good Is the God We Adore, at a special book launch in Mullingar in February. Charles grew up in Castlerea, County Roscommon, and served as a Captain in the Irish Army in Athlone and overseas in Lebanon. He retired from the Irish Defence Forces in 1990. Called by God and filled with compassion for the plight of exploited girls in Thailand, Charles and his wife Yoke Fong became “Dad and Mum” to eight girls in a renovated pig barn in Northeast Thailand in 1996. They have spent the last 20 years providing a nurturing family environment and a quality education for poor and underprivileged children through Grace Ministries Foundation Thailand. During the book launch, Charles entertained the audience with some humorous stories of his youth in County Roscommon and his early interest in helping the poor and disadvantaged. Today, Grace Ministries is home to over 70 at-risk girls and boys, young women and men. Charles spoke of God’s extravagant blessings and faithfulness over all these years. He shared the lessons learned in a life filled with hard work and sacrifices, fulfilling relationships, heartbreaking betrayals, and joyful successes. How Good Is the God We Adore is available from Google Books and Barnes and Noble or from Amazon on Kindle. Find out more about Grace Ministries on www.gmfthailand.org, or contact them at graceministriesnetireland@gmail.com.

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APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

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“Remember my chains”

Have you reviewed your pension lately? rement? How much will you need at reti How much can you co ntribute? Is it enough?

Trillium Financial Services can go through all your options and find the pension that best suits you. We provide pension advice tailored to each individual’s financial aspirations. When a client meets with us, we carry out an assessment, review their current pension and discuss in detail their expected retirement objectives. Once we have a clear picture of our client’s retirement fund, tax liability and retirement goals, we can determine which type of pension is best suited to achieve those goals. The desired outcome is to have a financial plan that outlines the appropriate steps for the client and serves to guide them towards a financially secure retirement.

Keep up-to-date with news from the Persecuted Church with our weekly email

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James Garza, QFA, of Trillium Financial Services, has over 14 years experience in the financial services industry. Mention this advert to avail of a free one-hour pension consultation with James Garza, QFA.

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REVIEWS

Audrey Assad Inheritance

Inheritance is the new album from American singer-songwriter and contemporary Christian music artist Audrey Assad. This, her second independent album, was released to critical acclaim in February and is a collection of hymns and original songs that pay homage to both her childhood heritage and her Catholic faith and charismatic spirituality. Having been raised in a Plymouth Brethren family and worshiped in a church where musical accompaniment was not permitted, Audrey learned and perfected the vocal style that makes listening to her such a warm and intimate experience. Very much her own person, deeply spiritual and a strong-minded woman, Audrey provides a voice for those wishing to experience faith outside the box. In a market saturated with hymn recordings, she has resisted the temptation to change or modernise the songs. Instead, she takes the listener to the depths of prayer, contemplation and worship with simple, beautiful and reverential arrangements and honest, heartfelt vocals. I absolutely love this album.

Hymns that Are Important to Us Joey & Rory

Country singing husband-andwife duo Joey and Rory Feek’s new album, Hymns that Are Important to Us, is currently sitting at number one in the Christian album charts, and at number four in the American top 200. Sadly, at the time of writing this review, Joey has just passed away after her two-year battle

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with cervical cancer, diagnosed shortly after the birth of their beautiful Downs Syndrome daughter Indiana in 2014. Her courageous and inspiring battle with cancer is chronicled in the blog that husband Rory has faithfully and meticulously maintained throughout this long and heartbreaking fight (www. thislifeilive.com). The album, Hymns that Are Important to Us, bears testimony to the faith of this remarkable woman. These are the old hymns. The ones we grew up with. The ones often overlooked in the maelstrom that is the Christian music industry today. The ones that thankfully many churches are now coming back to. The arrangements are simple, beautiful and deeply intimate. Get this album and make it part of your quiet time, your prayer time. Hum or sing these songs out loud and experience the peace and quiet reassurance that Joey Feek experienced at the end of her journey home. I did today, and I love it.

Deeper

Meredith Andrews

Deeper is Meredith Andrews’ fourth album; it is also her most honest and personal album to date. Written during a time of upheaval and personal difficulty, the songs speak about God’s never-ending love for each of us. “This album came from the last year and a half, which has been a nitty gritty season for me,” Andrews shares. “In these past months, I finally got to the place where I realised the Lord is all I’ve got. I realised that He has to take us to hard places to receive the blessings He has ready for us, where we can just truly focus on Him.”

If you are going through a tough time right now and are looking for some encouragement and reassurance, you should have a listen to the songs on this album. No, don’t just listen to the songs; read the lyrics as you listen to them as well. “Every valley made me lift my eyes up, every burden only made me stronger. Every sorrow only made Your joy go deeper and deeper, deeper, and deeper.” We are still only in the first quarter of 2016, but already I believe this to be one of the most relevant and vital albums of the year.

New Take

Danielle Seewald

With such little turnover in the albums and singles in the Christian music charts, and with so many of the same artists dominating the music scene, it is always refreshing to find new talent and recommend new artists, and when such an artist is just 16 years old and is right up there with the best of them, it is even more exciting. Danielle Seewald’s first EP has already entered the top 100 Christian music charts at number three, so someone obviously thinks that she’s good. So do I. Danielle says of her work, “This EP is a collection of some of my favorite songs, songs that have inspired me and lifted me up. I hope they will do the same for you and point you to the One who created music. Without Him I am nothing and with Him I can do anything or be anything that He calls me to be.” Five really good songs, available for download on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Music.

Music Review by Vincent Hughes from UCB Radio, an Irish Christian radio station that broadcasts 24/7. You can listen on DAB Radio in Dublin and Cork, on SKY Channel 0214, UPC (TV) Channel 918, and online at www.ucb.ie. Contact UCB Ireland at ucbireland@ gmail.com, 01 4299899, or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

EVENTS

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Events Calendar What’s happening where and when June Essential 2016 13 - 14 June St. Catherine’s, Thomas Street, Dublin 8 www.irishchurchmissions.ie/ essential2016

April Amazing Grace Festival 2016 2 - 8 April Buncrana, Co. Donegal www.amazinggrace.ie

Catalyst 24 - 26 June Glenarm Estate, Co. Antrim www.catalystireland.com

Sozo Inner Healing Training 8 - 9 April Cornerstone Church @ The Well, Bray, Co.Wicklow www.healingways.ie

Summer Fire 24 June - 1 July Trabolgan, Co. Cork www.summerfireconference.com

May Rend Collective in Dublin Friday, 20 May The Academy, Dublin

Sligo 16 10 - 15 July Sligo www.newwineireland.org Pulse 25 - 30 July Drewstown House, Co. Meath www.agireland.org/pulse-camp New Horizon 2016 6 - 12 August University of Ulster, Coleraine www.newhorizon.org.uk

July Summer Madness 1 - 5 July Glenarm, Co. Antrim www.summermadness.co.uk

Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing. (You can also inform us about your upcoming event there.)

go dtaga do ríocht . . . your kingdom come

Compassion Projects 2016 DIY & Gardening Projects Welcome Packs for Women’s Refuge Want to get involved? liffeyvalleyvineyard.ie

Volunteers welcome.

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Christian Retreat Centre Greystones, Co. Wicklow

suitable for all ages and groups: Conference room, wi-fi access, Excellent catering team

Accommodation for up to 70 people 24 en-suite bedrooms

ideal for: church groups, weekends away, workshops, kids camps, team building, seminars, leadership retreats, midweek breaks and much more.

2 mins to the Sea/Beach, 20 min drive to Wicklow hills, Local amenities: Leisure centre, swimming pool, coffee shops, restaurants and much more....

TOP OF T H E R O C K P OD PÁ I R C & WA L K I N G C E N T R E Drimoleague, West Cork

david@topoftherock.ie | 086 1735134 | www.topoftherock.ie ''Poets, Pilgrims and Places'' Walking Tours 20 - 24th June & 18 - 23rd September 44

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For enquiries & bookings: 00353 12874221 ywcagreystones@eircom.net

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REVIEWS

RISEN

Reviewed by Jonny Lindsay “A body must be found in order to quash these rumours!” That’s the premise of the latest in a string of biblically-themed Hollywood releases in recent years. And this one stays closer to the biblical narrative than most – but if you’re planning on bringing a Bible (and a torch) to your local cinema and factchecking your way through Risen, please don’t! Much better to allow yourself to be drawn in. Put yourself in some Roman shoes (or rather sandals) and experience the biggest event in history from a fresh perspective. Which brings us to Clavius, a Roman military tribune (solidly portrayed by Joseph Fiennes) on the road to promotion and close ally to Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth). When the dead body of a certain Jewish leader-of-sorts goes missing, ridiculous rumours circulate that he has risen from the dead.

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But Clavius, having witnessed the crucifixion for himself, knows better and is tasked by Pilate to find the body pronto and dispel these rumours once and for all before Yeshua can be hailed as the Messiah. Thus begins a Columbo-esque investigation into the facts, interviewing of witnesses, bribing a snitch and even the possibility of planting evidence in order to wrap up the case. No stone is left unturned as they dig up graves of all those recently buried, seeking answers. And the answer comes in the form of a life-changing encounter for Clavius. I’ll say no more. This is a beautifully shot, epic retelling of a story that is oh-so-familiar to many of us. One needs to see it as based on a true story, with the biblical facts fleshed out in some surprising and unexpected ways; an eyewitness account from someone on the outside, a sceptical non-believer, desperate to get to the bottom of the recent unexplained events. At times the pace slows down, probably too slow for the average moviegoer, while others will enjoy the imaginative details of what might well have been omitted from the Gospel accounts. Why do almost all biblical characters seem to have thick English accents on the big screen? I found this slightly distracting. But thankfully Jesus himself is played by the darkskinned Maori actor Cliff Curtis, giving the cast a bit more credibility. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking exploration of the resurrection, the reality and brutality of life and death in first-century Israel (not quite as hard to stomach as The Passion of the Christ, but still…) and a perspective on the events rarely told before. I found myself identifying with the Roman Clavius as he encounters Jesus with a mix of doubt, shock and a growing sense that he has encountered someone who will transform his life forever. APR - JUNE 2016 VOX

VOX PS

COME ON, ARMAGH! BY SEÁN MULLAN

ary follows Armagh – the Gaelic So far this year, the results haven’t been call a sympathiser. You’ll never accuse me football team. She’s from Armagh in Mary’s favour: beaten by Meath, beaten of being extremist or fanatical over Cork and she follows her home team. by Laois, beaten by Cavan – you get the and Gaelic football. But I have to say I She lives in Dublin, though. So on picture. At least in Gaelic football you never envy her that passion, that fire. I love that wet a February Sunday you’ll find her on the get a goalless draw! So there are always a few commitment to the sport in general and to road to Armagh or Galway or Derry to cheer scores to cheer. But in the gloom of a wet the cause of the men in orange and white in on her team. February Sunday evening, that drive back to particular. “Come on, Armagh!” I heard her once. On the radio. She Dublin listening to RTÉ’s experts tell her all A passion for sport is something that was sitting so close to the commentary of Armagh’s faults, she must now and again most admire, even if they don’t have it box that I could hear this themselves. voice shouting over the We love commentary and the noise of and admire the crowd. It was her; “Come We SOCIETY, AT LEAST IN THE WEST, IS TERRIFIED OF SERIOUS FOLLOWERS OF RELIGION. followers. on, Armagh,” she pleaded. tell stories of For the uninitiated, for fanatical fans those who prefer rugby and and the things hockey, I should explain. The they get up to football Mary heads off to watch is not the consider the possibility that there are better as they follow their team. Some followers best football you’ll see. It’s National League, ways to spend your weekend. may be a bit over the top at times, but a Division 2. Occasional bursts of excitement But ask her why she does it and she serious dedicated following of sport is not can be expected but don’t hold your breath. stares at you, lips compressed to a thin an issue anyone is worrying about. straight line. “Why?” It Not so with religion. That’s another seems the question has never story. Society, at least in the West, is terrified entered her head before. The of serious followers of religion. Sympathisers shoulders shrug but there’s no are much preferred to followers. Religious explanation forthcoming. She extremism is always seen as bad – a threat. has, it seems, no real thoughtSo if you want to practice your religious out explanation for why she beliefs, the West may defend your right to does it – it’s just what she do so but would seriously prefer that you does. never take it seriously and that you keep it I, in case you’re interested, to yourself. After all, terrible things are being follow Cork – yes, the Gaelic done by religious extremists in God’s name. football team. But I think I’ve Religious coercion and religious-based been to one National League violence are evil. Let’s continue to oppose game in my life. Come August, them. But dedicated, wholehearted and if Cork are still in the running public following of a faith that teaches you for the all-Ireland, you just to love your enemies, to receive and give might find me in Croke Park, forgiveness, to care for those in need and to sun blazing, cheering on the love a loving God with everything you’ve boys in red. But ask me who got? Doesn’t seem to me that even a liberal they’re playing in February or secular society has got too much to fear from how they got on last Sunday that kind of wholehearted following. and I either won’t have ever “Come on, JC!” known or won’t remember. The Rebels, as they’re known, Seán Mullan has been working in church And it’s a long drive to Galway or Derry; the are a fine side and have been fairly successful leadership for many years. He has chances are it’s raining there, that the wind through the years – far more successful developed a new project in Dublin City blows the rain right in under the roof of the than Armagh. But for me it’s just not that Centre called “Third Space”. covered stand, into her face as she shouts important. “Come on, Armagh!” She’s a follower; I’m what you could

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