VOX April 2017

ISSUE 34 / APRIL - JUNE 2017

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SPECIAL FEATURE

THE CHANGING FACE OF CHRISTIANITY IN IRELAND ABSENCE OF HOME

“I KNOW THAT JESUS WOULD WEEP.” APRIL - JUNE 2017 VOX

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EDITORIAL

Not Dead Yet! he report of my death was an exaggeration.” Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), 1897.

When a 2016 study predicted a 30% decrease in mass attendance by 2030, journalists gleefully autopsied the findings and picked over similar reports for Presbyterian and Church of Ireland churches. With aging congregations and fewer clergy, a “slow death” for Christianity in Ireland was the general consensus.

Yet while the more cynical “religious” correspondents rushed to pen obituaries, reports of the church’s demise were greatly exaggerated by those who either didn’t know or didn’t want to know the spiritual landscape of our nation.

Largely under the radar, the last 30 years has seen an unprecedented explosion of new congregations across the island, as well as some dramatic new growth and transformation within mainstream denominations.

Young, vibrant, growing, active, engaged, compassionate… these are NOT words that our society usually applies to the Irish church. They don’t make for good

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THESE CHURCHES ARE SMASHING THE STEREOTYPES AND UNDERMINING THE CARICATURE OF CORRUPT OBSOLESCENCE. headlines (except perhaps in VOX magazine) because these churches are smashing the stereotypes and undermining the caricature of corrupt obsolescence.

In this issue of VOX, we take a look at the changing face of the Irish church. Learn about Ireland’s third-largest denomination with our special report on the Redeemed Christian Church of God (page 12). Hear the moving story of church members who turned a warehouse into a place of worship in just 28 days (page 20). And discover how young Christians in Galway are serving more than just great coffee in “An Tobar Nua” (page 28).

Hope. Joy. Excitement. New life… we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, we follow the one who died but now is alive forevermore!

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

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CONTENTS

APRIL - JUNE 2017 ISSUE 34 ISSN: 2009-2253

12 24 17 18 18 20 21 22 26 28 31 34 32 36

COVER STORIES The changing face of Christianity in Ireland meet the Redeemed Christian Church of God

E DITOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie

Absence of Home - “I know that Jesus would weep.”

L AYOUT, ADVERTISING & PROMOTION Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS A new name for a new day - celebrating with CCI.

OPE RATION S Tara Byrne tara@vox.ie

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Finding Faith Tour 2017

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ireland & UK: Min. €10 for four issues Overseas: Min. €20 for four issues

Global Outreach Day A Remarkable Journey - the story of Betania Church

Subscribe online at www. vox.ie. All cheques should be made payable to ‘VOX Magazine’.

Meet the Filipino church with a heart for Ireland Hope for the Homeless - Cork Christians respond to the homeless crisis My Story - Coming Home!

An Tobar Nua - so much more than a café

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Writing competition seeks to celebrate the gift of life.

VOX Ma g a z i n e Ulysses House 22 - 24 Foley Street Dublin 1 Tel: 01 443 4789 info@vox.ie www.vox.ie DISCL AIME R

The Big House - helping young people to know God’s love, even when life get’s tough.

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

VOX VIEWS Post-truth Christianity - how much do tradition, upbringing and emotion affect our interpretation of Scripture?

PRIN T Ross Print, Greystones, Co. Wicklow VOX magazine is a quarterly publication, brought to you by a passionate team of volunteers.

God loves the foreigner - thinking biblically about refugees

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OUR PARTNERS:

06 08 10

REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts VOX: World News Your VOX: Letters

16 19 41

The Soapboxer Confessions of a Feint Saint Music & Movie Reviews

45 44 46

Book Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

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IRELAND

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LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CHURCH

VOX SHORTS

A Journey to the Potter’s House In October 2016, psychologist, college professor and potter Dr. Michael Ferris visited 16 congregations around Ireland with a presentation of “A Journey to the Potter’s House.” Creating pottery on a wheel, Dr. Ferris’ presentation blended a powerful message of hope and healing for our emotional and spiritual life. The message that God uses our brokenness to form us into a vessel of beauty fit for God’s use struck a chord with many.

“Dr. Michael Ferris’ ministry allows you to see an enthralling and heart-warming metaphor of your life at its best, and, sometimes, at its worst. Underpinned by solid, Biblical teaching, ‘A Journey to the Potter’s House’ will persuade you toward the Father’s love,” shared Pastor Frank

Copeland from New Hope Christian Centre, Kilkenny. “’The Journey to the Potter’s House’ delivers simple and important life lessons in an unforgettable visual way. It is relevant to anyone on the Christian path, no matter what stage they are at, and whatever their background. I highly recommend it,” added Pastor James Reilly from Naas Community Church.

Dr. Ferris will return to Ireland from 9 - 31 August 2017. If you would like to see or schedule the presentation at your church, please contact Patrick O’Loughlin, Community Care Pastor, Life Church, Portlaoise, at patrickandmichelle91@gmail.com. For more information visit: www. ajourneytothepottershouse.com.

In brief - upcoming events

IRELAND4JESUS (29 MAY - 11 JUNE) Ireland4Jesus is a two-week outreach sharing the love, power and forgiveness of God with Irish people. Between 500 and 700 Christians from across the globe will be partnering up with churches in Ireland to host daytime activities and nightly meetings. For more information: www. ireland4jesus.com.

SUMMER FIRE (23 - 29 June) The Summer Fire conference unites Christians from across Ireland to hear from God and to enjoy great fellowship. It is hosted in Trabolgan, in beautiful East Cork, a very family friendly destination. For more info: www.summerfireconference. com.

SLIGO17 - New Wine Ireland summer conference (9 - 14 July) Join other Christians from across Ireland and Northern Ireland for a week of Bible teaching, worship, fellowship and fun in Sligo. It’s an opportunity to explore God’s word and experience His presence together, catching something fresh of His heart for this island. Special programmes for children and young people. Find out more at www.newwineireland.org.

NEW HORIZON (5 - 11 August) A week of Bible teaching, worship and fellowship with speakers Heather Morris (Methodist Church in Ireland), Dave Richards from Edinburgh and Jago Wynne from Holy Trinity in Clapham. The event is held in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, with programmes for children and youth. Find out more at: www.newhorizonni.org.uk.

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Turning Off the Red Light!

Tearfund Ireland welcomed the historic passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill has passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and is the result of tireless campaigning by many organisations and dedicated people.

“Our partners work vigorously to combat and prevent human trafficking, particularly child trafficking, in countries where we work.

Through our partnership with Turn Off the Red Light, we have also endeavoured to tackle this heinous crime here in Ireland and raise awareness of the violence associated with human trafficking and forced prostitution,” Tearfund Ireland CEO Sharan Kelly said.

Welcoming the passing of this Bill, she added, “We believe this Bill will be instrumental in curbing the demand for prostitution and will reduce human trafficking. Ireland will no longer be an attractive destination for traffickers, and the most vulnerable and marginalised people both here in Ireland and in our partner countries will be better protected from sexual exploitation and abuse.”

The Joy Bells

Church bells rang out across the country at 11am on Sunday 19 March as the aptly-named “joy” bells of Waterford Cathedral were re-commissioned. Cathedrals and churches across the country joined in, ringing their bells as a Christian proclamation of faith, trust, love, peace, reconciliation and joy.

VOX MAGAZINE

And the winner is…

Rusangano Family

The RTE Choice Irish Album of the Year was Let The Dead Bury The Dead, the debut album by multiethnic band Rusangano Family, based in Limerick and Co. Clare. This hip hop/rap trio features Zimbabwean God Knows, MuRli, originally from Togo, and Ennis MC mynameisjOhn. Their critically acclaimed music explores issues of identity highlighted by immigration and social problems in modern Ireland. The album also includes a powerful collaboration with spoken-word artist Denise Chaila, whose emotionally-charged track Isn’t Dinner Nice breaks the norms of the rap world to give voice to women who have been abused.

While Saturday nights might find the Rusangano Family performing in prestigious Irish music venues such as Dublin’s Whelan’s, band members will drive through the night to make it back in time to worship in Shannon Christian Church and Limerick Baptist Church on a Sunday morning. And mid-week, the artists are involved in teaching and encouraging a new generation of musicians through “Music Generation.” Produced without a record label, Let The Dead Bury The Dead is available on www.bandcamp. com, and you can follow Rusangano Family on Facebook and Twitter. This is definitely “one to watch”!

The Big Mad Maracycle

Summer Madness turns 30 this summer and to celebrate, some of the organisers and supporters are undertaking a sponsored cycle.

As founder John Kee says, “It’s become quite a popular fundraising activity these days, but even back in 1987, I remember cycling a circuit around the whole of the six counties as a project to raise support for Summer Madness and Tearfund; it took us at least a week.

“This time, we are riding out from Castle Archdale in Co. Fermanagh, where the festival began, and following our journey to Gosford Forest Park, then the Kings Hall, Belfast, and then Glenarm Castle Estate. It’s about 140 miles, and we are attempting it in just one day! It will be quite a nostalgic journey for many of those taking part – many of whom attended or volunteered at the festival from the early days.”

Several generations of young people can now look back and trace their

Nua!

“It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread!” Jonny Sommerville told us… and at VOX we are inclined to agree!

For a long time, the Irish church has relied on using many (excellent) international video resources, but March saw the launch of a high-quality Irish video series called “Nua” - aimed at tackling the tough questions of faith. This beautifully-crafted new Scripture Union resource, filmed by Irish company Tiny Ark, features “conversational apologetics” with a series of eight films that explore issues such as suffering, the resurrection and Christian stereotypes.

Scripture Union Ireland’s long partnership with Alpha makes this an ideal follow up to the Alpha course, but it is also a standalone resource. “Alpha gives you a wonderful overview of faith,” explained Jonny Sommerville, who hosts the series. “Nua looks honestly at the frequently asked questions. It is primarily geared to teens and young adults but could be used with any age group from 13 upwards.”

Each episode is 15 minutes long with convenient pauses for discussion. With a seamless collage of familiar Irish scenes, stunning photography, funky graphics and some fun special effects, this is a classy production ideal for use in a variety of settings, from classrooms and colleges to churches and homes. Visit www. nuafilmseries.org to watch the trailer or order the set (on USB) and you’ll receive a facilitator’s guide and training videos as well.

“We’ve done our best to equip people to use Nua,” Jonny explained.

faith heritage to a soggy tent in big field. This is where they heard God speak clearly into their lives or where they wrestled with how to connect their beliefs and values into the real world and culture around them.

John continues, “So it is really exciting to be celebrating another year of Summer Madness in 2017. We are looking forward to a mainstage with Matt Chandler, Rachel Gardner, Simon Lennox, Craig Cooney and Stu Bothwell, a plethora of seminars, workshops and outdoor activities, along with local bands, musicians, magicians, dancers, mentalists, all sorts of artists and eejits alike!”

If you’d like to find out more about the festival, check out www. summermadness.co.uk or the Big Mad Maracycle event on Facebook. You can join for the whole journey or just a leg. There will be a BBQ at the end!

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WORLD NEWS

TERRIFIED CHRISTIANS FLEE SINAI

COMPASSION FORCED TO CLOSE ITS WORK IN INDIA Child sponsorship charity Compassion closed its operations in India on March 15 following financial restrictions from the Indian government. The charity began working in India in 1968, and over that time, more than a quarter of a million children and young people have benefitted from its programmes.

In a statement issued online, the charity said, “This is a decision that impacts more than 147,000 children, their families, and more than 589 church partners. Compassion is not the only ministry impacted. More than 20,000 non-profit organisations had their charitable registrations revoked, and 300 currently face similar restrictions. Despite the end of Compassion’s work in India, we know that God’s work has not ended. We serve a faithful, almighty God who will continue to work in the lives of these children. The local church remains committed to the community. And the investment made by each sponsor in their child’s life will not be forgotten.”

Find out more at www.compassion.ie.

THE KJV BIBLE “ABUSIVE AND CRIMINAL” - UK

Two men have been found guilty of a public order offence in the UK and ordered to pay £2,000 after preaching on the street in Bristol. The men were arrested as they argued with people from other religions and quoted John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” The public prosecutor told the court that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society, “must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter.”

Andrea Williams for the defence expressed concern at the ruling and said that the men will appeal. “It is extraordinary that the prosecution, speaking on behalf of the state, could say that the Bible contains abusive words which, when spoken in public, constitute a criminal offence,” she said.

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Egyptians Christians are leaving Sinai following Islamic State’s killing of seven Copts in the town of Al-Arish between 31 January and 23 February. More than 118 of Al-Arish’s 160 Christian families have fled, most heading for Ismailia, 200km away on the west bank of the Suez Canal. About 70 families sought aid and shelter at Ismailia’s Evangelical Church, while others found refuge in Saint Antonio’s Coptic Church, in the homes of local residents, in rented apartments and in youth hostels.

As they arrived in Ismailia, pro-Islamic State slogans appeared on the town walls and in its Coptic cemetery.

All seven murdered Copts were shot dead by masked gunmen. Several were killed in their homes, two of them in front of their wives and children. A woman whose husband and son were shot in their home said the gunman crossed their names off a list. Flyers have been circulating in AlArish threatening local Copts, including threats to kill 40 named Christians.

On 19 February, a group calling itself Islamic State of Egypt released a video threatening Coptic Christians.

A masked speaker wearing camouflage vows to kill all Christians in Sinai, saying: “We will chase you. We will put an end to you. You won’t escape from us.”

President Sisi is taking the plight of the displaced Copts seriously. The Cabinet set up an operations room and several Ministers promised support. The Minister of Social Solidarity visited Ismailia to arrange accommodation for the displaced Copts and said that her Ministry would pay fees for children and students to join schools and universities.

The Health Minister sent a convoy of 26 mobile medical clinics and promised free hospital treatment, and the Labour Minister promised jobs for displaced Copts in their host towns. Find out more about persecuted Christians around the world from www.churchinchains.ie

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YOUR VOX

Letters to the editor

Star Letter

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

It could be yo

It’s our problem!

Whatever happened to loving your neighbour? There is no such thing as ‘The Homeless Problem.’ This is our problem and we need to do something about it! If each citizen took on their moral responsibilities to other citizens, we wouldn’t have such a homeless problem. More than social services, doctors or professionals, our homeless, poor and disenfranchised need us.

They need a smile as you pass, as well as the euro or two you put in their hat. They need the extra cup of coffee or burger that you wouldn’t even notice. They need that rug that’s been lying under the guest bed for decades and, more importantly, they need you to hand it to them with love.

Not too far from most of us, someone is weak with hunger, sore from the concrete, wet from the damp, lost in despair and hopelessness. A stabbing pain jars in their heart every time a person passes and averts their eyes, confirming the feeling that they are worthless.

Mother Theresa observed, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.”

To go through trauma of any kind is difficult. To go

WE CAN DO BETTER It is time for churches to reflect on the damage their teachings may be doing to young LGB people in their congregations. Research by the Oasis Foundation in the UK, In The Name Of Love: The Church, Exclusion and LGB Mental Health Issues, found that all major Christian denominations, apart from the United Reformed Church, discriminate on some level against LGB people, making them institutional discriminators. The report also establishes that churchgoers are the biggest source of negative attitudes toward same-sex relationships in the media, society and political debate.

If churches are to be the embodiment of the love and grace of Jesus Christ, they should look at their teachings and how they may be affecting young LGB people in their congregations who are already at a higher risk of mental health difficulties. These teachings may be further

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through trauma whilst surrounded by neglect, poverty and non-verbal messages of rejection is a living hell. Many are just trying to find an escape, a way out of the pain and misery they feel inside, but our corporate and personal neglect and rejection is consistently tripping so many up.

Two former homeless people told me that the generous ones were low-income people. “The middle class with their trolleys brimming full of food and bottles of wine rarely, if ever, stop, and, more often than not, look away.”

One man sat outside a large city-centre church with a sign - “hungry and homeless”- while hundreds of people passed by as they went to worship. He had intended to worship that morning but couldn’t bring himself to as he wrestled with this dichotomy.

We need to wake up and stop passing the buck to governmental systems. No one decided to be homeless. Yes, they have responsibilities, but maybe we have more. If each of us did a little, we could substantially solve the problem.

What if our churches opened their doors to the homeless?

BRIAN SYNNOTT BANDON, CO. CORK

CHRISTIAN RADIO

exacerbating feelings of internalised homophobia and lead to feelings of social inferiority.

I agree completely with Rev. Steve Chalke when he says, “It is no secret that the negative stance taken by the church… has a hugely distressing impact on large numbers of LGB people and leaves countless numbers of them living lives of forced secrecy and dishonesty.

Tragically, it is also common knowledge that the resultant anguish and distress often leads to spiritual, mental and physical harm, and in the worst of cases to people making the desperate decision to take their own life.”

We can and should do better, and I pray that this research may start us on the road to fulfilling the commandment to love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

I was interested to see your letters regarding Christian radio programmes in the January VOX. I have been on a panel for over 10 years that produces a half-hour religious programme on Dublin South Community Radio 93.9 FM at 5.30pm every Sunday. The radio station approached the churches in the Dundrum area asking them to put three lay people from each church (Methodist, Church of Ireland, Catholic and others) on a panel to produce this broadcast, which we are still doing. We have a good working relationship and take turns in putting on a magazine-type programme with music and interviews. I very much appreciate VOX and enjoy the news it gives of what God is doing in our country!

STEPHEN SPILLANE CORK

CHERIE RITCHIE DUNDRUM, DUBLIN 16

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

VOX APRIL - JUNE 2017

An encounter with the Holy Spirit

SATURDAY 15TH JULY, 2017 RDS, BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN 4

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND W W W. R C C G I R E L A N D . O R G TEL: +353 1 4299919

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SPECIAL FEATURE

“SOMEONE SAY GOD BLESS IRELAND!”

“THE PEOPLE AT THE JESUS CENTRE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR FAITH - FOR THEM IT IS SOMETHING VIBRANT AND ALIVE, ROOTED IN THE BIBLE, THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, PRAYER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

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hat’s a line the congregation has become accustomed to hearing from the Regional Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Ireland. Pastor Tunde has a passion for the country he relocated to about 10 years ago. And his passion is not misguided, as the RCCG has grown steadily to become the third-largest Christian denomination in the Republic of Ireland.

The RCCG was born in Nigeria the early 1950s in the southwestern part of the country and currently has a worldwide following that runs into tens of millions of people spread over more than 200 countries. The expansion first came to our shores in 1998. Since then, the church has gone on to establish almost 200 parishes across the island.

As part of the Pentecostal movement in Ireland, RCCG congregations are now located in many of the country’s business parks, in keeping with one of the RCCG mandates to be within a five-minute drive of every part of the world.

Dr. Gladys Ganiel, a research fellow at the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queens University Belfast, released a book last year entitled “Transforming Post-Catholic Ireland: Religious Practice in Late Modernity”. In it, she profiles RCCG Ireland and the role it could play in incorporating faith back into the Irish mainstream.

I asked Gladys what she thinks is the reason behind RCCG’s

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VOX MAGAZINE

THE CHANGING FACE OF CHRISTIANITY IN IRELAND The last 30 years have been a period of rapid change in Irish society politically, economically and socially. If you believe the popular media, they have also been a time of massive religious decline.

While ageing and shrinking congregations may be a reality in some traditional denominations, this is by no means the full picture. In fact, the last three decades have seen explosive growth of vibrant new churches and denominations. In this issue, VOX finds out more.

To launch our special feature, Olajide Jatto looks at the rapid growth within the Redeemed Church of God in Ireland.

phenomenal growth here. According to her, the growth ambitions of the church and the increase in Ireland being a multicultural society are big factors.

“When I was working on the research project, Richard Carson was the research assistant who interviewed people from the Jesus Centre. He told a story about a visit to the Jesus Centre office. On the wall, there was a map of Ireland, with a pin representing each RCCG parish. At the time, there were about 80 pins on the map. Richard thought this was an amazing number of parishes for the church to have started in such a short time—but this was not the perspective of the National Pastor. Rather, he said the map ‘keeps us humble’ because it reminds them of how much more they have to do. This message was conveyed without arrogance and indicated the hope and high expectations people from the RCCG have for their church.”

“I’m glad to see churches like RCCG in Ireland. They are a great resource for immigrants and help them find their feet when they arrive here. They provide people with social, emotional and spiritual support. There’s always the potential that new churches like this will become inward-looking enclaves, particularly if they continue to cater only to immigrants and don’t seek to interact with other churches and groups in civil society.

“In his study of Pentecostalism in Ireland, Abel Ugba argued that this was what is happening. But this doesn’t have to be inevitable. It would be great to think that Ireland’s ‘new’ churches, like RCCG, and its traditional churches, can learn from each other and serve God together,” Gladys said.

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

RCCG has an organised structure worldwide under the leadership of Pastor

Enoch Adeboye. A former University don, Adeboye has been the General Overseer of the church since the early 80s. According to Newsweek, who in 2008 listed him as one of the 50 most influential people in the world, “His aspirations are outsize. He wants to save souls, and he wants to do so by planting churches the way Starbucks used to build coffee shops: everywhere.”

Right at the centre of the RCCG is the belief in God and the belief in the miraculous. The worldwide motto of the church is “Jesus, the same yesterday and today and forever,” quoting from Hebrews 13:8. There is a firm belief that anything and everything is possible.

Overseeing the phenomenal growth in Ireland is Senior Pastor Tunde AdebayoOke, or Pastor Tunde, as he is fondly called.

A civil engineer by trade, he was charged with overseeing the church in Ireland in 2007.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

“IN HEAVEN, THERE WILL BE NO SEGREGATION, AND WE NEED TO START PRACTISING THAT HERE.”

astor Tunde Adedebayo-Oke is Regional Pastor and leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ireland. VOX magazine editor Ruth Garvey-Williams spoke to him about his vision and some of the important issues facing the church in 21st-century Ireland.

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WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR IRELAND?

I’m encouraged about the future. My vision is very simple, for the church and for Ireland, that Jesus will take over. I want to see the atmosphere changing, and I want people to appreciate who Jesus really is. People need to know that Jesus did not come to condemn but to love. I want His love to be widespread and to introduce Jesus to the nation. John 3:16 sums up that vision!

WHY IS UNITY SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

At the end of the day, we are one family. We have the same Father but different mothers (denominations), but all those walls don’t count for anything. We preach the same message. We follow the same Lord. In heaven, there will be no segregation, and we need to start practising that here. Even though we are part of a denomination, we don’t push that. We don’t say, “Come to our church.” If I speak to someone about Jesus, I encourage them to find a church close to where they live. The church belongs Jesus Christ! The more the Holy Spirit convicts us, the more we will live in unity!

For that reason, as a denomination, we have joined the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) and I have become a member of the EAI Council of Reference. We are joining hands together. From a perspective of unity, it is crucial. We speak the same language. We have the same vision. I am totally supportive of everything that EAI stands for. We want to strengthen what they are doing in the nation. It is about the kingdom of God, and our voice is stronger and more influential when we have greater numbers. The churches need to come together - so there is no colour, denomination or separation, but rather unity in Christ.

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RCCG CHURCHES ARE SEEKING TO REACH OUT TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WHY IS THAT SUCH A PRIORITY?

The Bible says it is better to give than to receive. The only way you can share the love of Christ is to be involved in community.

Otherwise, you can become insular. We are blessed to be a blessing. Helping others, especially those in need, is the best way to show who Jesus is. Show them unconditional love and let them make up their own mind. Through friendship at some point they will realise that it is not about me; it is about the one with whom I have relationship. When people can see the love of Jesus and know that it is genuine, the love of God draws them in.

WHY DOES IRELAND HOLD SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF NIGERIANS?

If you speak to ten Nigerians, at least seven of them would have been influenced in some way by Irish missionaries. They came to Africa and set up schools and hospitals, but they did not discriminate between Christians and non-Christians. If you look at what they did, it was really remarkable. We are the harvest because they sowed that seed.

SADLY, RACISM AND PREJUDICE IS A REALITY IN IRISH SOCIETY. HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

We teach our people to be bigger than racism and not to be offended by it. It takes a narrow-minded person to be racist.

Rather than feel hurt by it, we pray for them and pray for ourselves and that we can overcome the hurt. The interesting thing about racist people is that once you speak their language, they forget about colour. Racism is born out of fear. The truth is, there is racism everywhere - in Africa as well as here in Ireland - but the Holy Spirit can help us to overcome it. The church is the last place you should find racism, so let us keep praying and loving!

VOX MAGAZINE

RCCG IN THE COMMUNITY

Also at the heart of the growth of the church and its acceptance into mainstream Irish society is the work of RCCG in the community. At the Jesus Centre in Dublin, the “Friend Forever” outreach is a soup run that goes out every Friday into inner-city Dublin.

Volunteers give out more than food; they spend time speaking to homeless people. There is also a food bank within the church premises in Bluebell to aid needy people in the community.

Other congregations have developed their own community outreach programmes across the country.

A BIGGER ROLE TO PLAY IN CHRISTIANITY IN IRELAND

In her book, Gladys Ganiel argued, “Because the Jesus Centre is not caught up in the sectarianism of the island’s past, they may have unique contributions to make to reconciliation.” When I asked her what role she thought RCCG had to play in Christianity generally in the country, she added: “RCCG’s fresh approach to ecumenism means that people from RCCG have the potential to operate outside or transcend some of Ireland’s traditional Christian boundaries.

This could be a good example to other Irish Christians who may struggle with the divisions of the past. The people at the Jesus Centre also are excited about their faith—for them it is something vibrant and alive, rooted in the Bible, their relationship with God, prayer and the Holy Spirit. They want to share this faith with others.

“There might be some tensions if it seems RCCG is trying to ‘re-convert’ the Irish. But there’s also the potential that as RCCG interacts with ‘traditional’ Irish Christians, those traditional Christians can find their own faith renewed if they are open to learning.”

HOW HAS ATTENDING THE CHURCH AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY?

Foluwake: Personally, I love going to church. I find comfort, strength and encouragement in church. It’s helped me grow in my walk with God and in my relationships with everyone around me. RCCG is a family oriented church and the people are usually warm and friendly. There is a real sense of community and it’s easy to build lasting relationships.

Dolapo: I’d say the biggest impact is being able to give my children a home church and getting them into attending church.

Michael: The church has affected my life in a major way. I’ve matured spiritually during my time here. I’ve also been privileged to meet a lot of great people who have helped me to mature in Christ. I’ve gained brothers who I regularly pray and study the word of God with. I also feel that the church has given me opportunities to serve God with the unique abilities that God has given me.

Afolabi: The church has influenced my spiritual growth with God, kept me grounded and disciplined. In decision-making, it has encouraged enquiring from God before making decisions relating to my life in general.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWTH OF RCCG IRELAND?

Foluwake: The growth of the RCCG in Ireland is primarily a result

of God’s grace and mercy. The church was originally founded in Nigeria, West Africa and it has millions of members. Naturally, when these members move to a different country, in this case Ireland, they will look out for a branch of their home church, thereby making their transition into a foreign country easier.

Michael: I think a key factor is the growth of RCCG internationally.

As the ministry grows globally, more people become aware of it. I have a lot of respect and admiration for RCCG, but as things stand, many of the RCCG parishes in Ireland are predominantly black African churches.

I feel that a true indicator of the growth of RCCG in Ireland will be the diversification of its members. The gospel is for everyone. Hopefully in the future, people of other nationalities will have joined the church.

DO YOU THINK THERE’S EVEN MORE ROOM FOR GROWTH FOR THE CHURCH? Foluwake: The RCCG in Ireland is still predominantly an African church, and while that’s great, we can spread out more. We need to reach out to people in communities around Ireland and spread the good news to them as well. The Bible encourages the church to preach the good news to everyone, not just people who look like us.

Dolapo: Yes, that’s true. I don’t believe the church was sent to the African community but to Ireland as a whole.

A VIEW FROM INSIDE



I spoke with four members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God congregations to hear their views about the church. Foluwake Imonopi is a medical doctor, Dolapo Ola is a finance expert with the Bank of Ireland, Afolabi Yisa is a finance professional with a health insurance firm and Michael Isichei is a lecturer with Dublin City University.

Olajide (Jide) is an IT professional based in Ireland. He loves photography and reading magazine articles. He is married and lives in Kildare with his wife.

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R E X O B P A THE SO

VOX MAGAZINE

BY DR KEN BAKER

IT’S TIME TO BE SALT His death. Of course, Jesus accepted the religion of His day, ou are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it just as He accepted everything in the world He lived in … has lost its flavour?” (Matthew 5:13) everything except certain attitudes. It was the attitudes that This is Jesus’ description of the role of His raised His ire. followers in the world. I’m reading it this morning He left no instructions for liturgy or public prayers. When as an instruction to the believers in Ireland and thinking of the disciples, feeling down in comparison to the superour place in a fast-changing culture. “Change” is the only religious Pharisees, asked Him to teach them how to pray, He constant thing… and this instruction: “Be salt.” says, in effect, “It’s as simple as saying ‘Father.’”

Salt is used for flavouring and preservation, and it’s Some respond to structure with needed by all known living pride….a beautiful sacred place, a creatures. It regulates the water polished pulpit performance, the content in our bodies. But minimum of fuss, heating, seating if abused, it can be harmful.

TO BE SALT MEANS TO BE FOCUSED, and eating all happening with Anyone who has accidentally INVISIBLE, POWERFUL AGENTS OF CHANGE. breathtaking precision. To others, emptied a pot onto their fish the very machine-like smoothness and chips has learnt the danger of all this is an offence! People sing of overkill. Jesus used salt to “There must be more than this,” and they begin to suspect describe how Christians are needed to bring balance and that if God wanted to do a work in this area, then this old hope to a tasteless and decaying world. building (this cross between a museum and a fridge) might There’s another little point there, though: “What good be the very last place where He’d do it! is salt if it has lost its flavour?” Salt can get diluted and Is the decline of an ecclesiastical institution the same as lose its flavour. We can become diluted (or altered) by our the collapse of Christianity? No Christian would agree. And experiences and circumstances. We get weary. I can’t always yet we seem to anticipate it with pain, anguish and a sense of control the trials I face, but I am the keeper loss. We gird ourselves to make yet more heroic efforts and of my “salt.” Will I be bitter or better? painful self-sacrifices to prevent it.

Less seasoned or more flavourful? Will But to be salt: that’s different. To be salt is to think I disappear into the background, or will networks of friends, total “lay” participation. To be salt the flavour of my life create change? means to think community, to think about how evangelism Let’s turn it around and think of what works in secular culture. To be salt means to be focused, God has for Ireland: He has salty people! invisible, powerful agents of change. To quote Margaret Salt works invisibly. It enhances the flavour Mead (entirely out of context): “Never doubt that a small of what is already apparent. It creates group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the change beneath the surface. Maybe that’s world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” exactly what “kingdom thinking” is all about.

Do you not secretly think that ecclesiastical organisations were a bit of a mistake?

It’s hard to imagine Christianity without its special Sabbath Day, without its special buildings and its Ken Baker is a writer and professional clergy. Are these things necessities of the pastor living in Bandon, human condition that God tolerates? Jesus was thrown out County Cork. of synagogues and was careful not to lay anything down that could be construed as “law”. The zealous “righteous” bunch of assorted clerics and teachers were the ones who arranged

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FAITH

VOX MAGAZINE

A NEW NAME FOR A NEW DAY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IRELAND (CCI) HAS A PASSION TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE rom humble beginnings 30 years ago, CCI (formerly Assemblies of God Ireland) now has 32 churches across the island of Ireland with another 70 associate churches. Sean Mullarkey, National Leader and Senior Pastor of St. Mark’s Church in Dublin, spoke with VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams about the changes in one of Ireland’s thriving church networks. This is what he had to say: When I started in the role of National Leader, we began talking about our name. Was it a name people could relate to and understand? We realised that “Assemblies of God” means very little to people on the street, and they are the people we are trying to connect with. The heart for the name change was a desire to connect with people and to ensure that people can understand what we are about.

Although we belong to an international family (Assemblies of God), that does not dictate what we do as a national movement, which is a blessing. The same is true here in Ireland. In CCI, we are in partnership with each other but every individual church has autonomy. There are different styles of church and different styles of leadership but all are part of the same movement.

We believe we are living at a time when there is a shift in the spiritual atmosphere, not just nationally but globally. We are positioning ourselves for a move of God and to be part of that move.

Things are changing and we need to get ready for what God is going

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to do. For me, that means we need to be more accessible. My desire is to make access ramps for the Gospel.

Our vision is to see more churches established, more people being reached with the gospel and more leaders being trained up. We long to see Ireland having an impact in Europe with the Gospel. We are back again to the age where Europe is now the darkest continent spiritually. There is such a need.

God has blessed our churches with a beautiful mixture of national expressions. We have had people come in, get saved and then go back to their home countries - like one Polish lady and her husband who have planted a church back home. That is so exciting.

Our vision is not to replicate our church but to replicate kingdom churches around Europe.

On the night of the launch of CCI, I spoke from the story of the wedding of Cana. This was a “nowhere” place and we find Jesus there.

It was an insignificant town and God chose to move powerfully.

That is our heart. We want to see life-giving churches in every town and village in this land. And we know we won’t do that on our own.

As churches, we need a non-competitive desire to see each other succeed.

That was another reason why we changed the name. We wanted a name that would be inclusive. Our heart is for unity and a desire to have a banner that people can connect with. We need that unity in this land. That is integral to God blessing our nation.

WE BELIEVE WE ARE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A SHIFT IN THE SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE.

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FAITH

FINDING FAITH TOUR 2- 8 MAY

“We’re on the road again...”

Or we will be at the beginning of May. VOX Magazine’s editor, Ruth Garvey-Williams, is heading off on another epic tour of the country hunting down stories of faith, life and reality, and this time she’ll be joined for the ride by Chloe Hanan from Agapé. As well as helping to share the stories in new and creative ways, Chloe will be exploring how these faith stories can be used to share the good news of Jesus.

Chloe shares, “Stories are a vital part of Irish culture. Our history is told by them, our lives shared by them. We are putting the rubber to the road to get face to face with those in real life who are experiencing God. Watch this space for what we uncover!”

ITINERARY

This is NOT set in stone! We go where we are invited, especially if there is a place we have not visited before (okay… we know that is getting harder, but there are still a few gaps on the map).

So it is over to you. Invite us to visit. Tell us about YOUR story, YOUR church or YOUR ministry. We want to know what God is doing in YOUR part of the island. Email ruth@vox.ie or call 087 795 5401.

TUESDAY 2 MAY Ruth heads south from Donegal down through Northern Ireland hunting for great stories along the way.

WEDNESDAY 3 MAY The journey continues through Louth and Meath before Ruth joins up with Chloe in Dublin.

THURSDAY 4 MAY Ruth and Chloe will be on the hunt for stories in the Dublin area with maybe a jaunt into Wicklow - anything’s possible.

FRIDAY 5 MAY Heading south and not quite sure where we’ll end up, but hoping to visit Kilkenny along the way.

SATURDAY 6 MAY Looking forward to visiting the south west today… Kerry, Limerick and Clare are definite possibilities.

SUNDAY 7 MAY Heading for Galway and places thereabouts.

MONDAY 8 MAY Definitely want to visit Co Longford (anyone with a story to tell?) but apart from that, the map is wide open.

TUESDAY 9 MAY Ruth waves goodbye to Chloe (aww!) and heads home to Donegal with maybe a few stops along the way?

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GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY

BY STUART BOTHWELL

Imagine thousands of Christians across the island of Ireland sharing the story of Christ with those closest to them. What could happen as we look our neighbours, friends and colleagues in the eye and communicate with them how Jesus has changed our lives?

That is what Global Outreach Day is all about. On 27 May, millions of people across the world will step beyond fear and share their faith. We are excited to join with this global movement here in Ireland.

Our vision is to see the diverse body of Christ from across denominations, traditions and backgrounds scattering throughout their local communities on the 27 May to express their faith in the context of their everyday lives.

As we’ve travelled the length and breadth of the island, meeting people in communities from Derry to Cork, we can’t help but get excited about what might happen through this initiative.

Yet our dream is not simply for one day but for every day thereafter - we want to equip you for the work of ongoing ministry beyond Global Outreach Day. We have prepared training resources on our website that will help you grow in boldness to share your story.

In meeting people just like you, we’ve heard plans for individuals to meet friends for coffee, to share meals, and to share their story online as well as local churches and groups organising community parties and practically serving their neighbourhood, all with the intention of finding opportunities to share the story of Jesus’ love.

We would love to invite you to join with thousands of others as we raise our voices and together share our story.

Connect with us at: www.ireland.globaloutreachday.com.

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

Power to Change

By Annmarie Miles f you know the Feint Saint, you will know that food, weight and exercise (or lack thereof) has long been an issue for me.

Something happened about a year ago that has changed me, in every way, and I would love to share it with you.

I have been reading a particular American health and well-being blogger for more than two years. Every time I read the posts, it felt like she was talking about a country that I’ve never been to and don’t know how to get to. She had her mindset changed by God. This lady had lost 18 stone and had kept it off. And the only regime she was on was listening to God. I would read her posts and think... “How super duper spiritual is she?!

If I was a better Christian, maybe I would be a skinnier Christian.”

I’m not sure how best to describe it, but one day, while reading her blog about a year ago, I just... woke up.

I read this: You can’t keep doing this to yourself. You are going to have to turn around and start to undo the damage you’ve done. And the longer you leave it, the harder it will be. Don’t wait another moment. Turn around right now, and start moving in the other direction.

And just like that, I was awake.

This was the answer to a deep prayer that has been said so many times, it’s part of me. But as is often the case, the answer came in an unexpected way. Almost immediately, I started to look at myself differently. I’d hated myself for so long. I knew that, in itself, was wrong.

So I gave myself permission to stop resenting the very sight of me. I decided I could, and so I would, change. With God’s help, I no longer allowed the words, “I can’t do this” to be part of my vocabulary.

I CHOSE to believe in myself and DECIDED to change.

I won’t mention the D word as I am not on a… D. I made lots of small changes, which have resulted in some big changes. Sitting down had become what I did. It was what I tried to do more than anything else.

What ever the task, I always wondered was there a way I could do it sitting down. But we were not designed to sit; muscle and bone want to move.

Now I know, there is ‘no zealot like a convert,’ and nothing more annoying than somebody who thinks they have conquered the universe.

I just hope you lovely readers know me long enough to know that that’s not my style.

But I have learned something…

I do have the power to change because of Jesus. I have the ability to alter how I see myself, when I agree to see myself as He does. I can choose to do so. I do not have to live a life of despair over my weaknesses. I can admit them and work on them.

Yes, I have lost plenty of weight, more than 4 1/2 stone. And I love to walk and even run, when I used to love to sit. But this is about so much more than my physical health. This is about me treating my body like the temple the Bible tells me it is. This is about me realising that God loves me and wants so much more for me than I could ever want for myself.

So rather than making you sigh and throw your eyes to heaven, I hope I have encouraged you to think about that part of your life that you just can’t deal with, or you don’t want to face; given you a reminder that our struggles really are in God’s hands, and if we just listen to Him and let Him do that work in us that He wants to do, then we really can do all things through Him. Hey, where have I read that before?

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“I won’t mention the D word as I am not on a...…D.”

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.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

A REMARKABLE JOURNEY

THE STORY OF BETANIA CHURCH IN DUBLIN

etania (or Bethany) Church is a Romanian Pentecostal community of around 500 adults and 400 children.

Founded in November 2010, the church began with a small number of young families.

“We have seen God’s providence in every detail, and His hand took care of our every need,” shared Valerian Jurjea, one of the leaders. At first, the church met every Sunday evening in the building of a Nigerian church in Dublin 15. But as the membership grew, the facilities could no longer meet their needs.

“We asked the Lord to give us a building that we could use 24/7, and through a miracle, in approximately three months, we located a site large enough,” Valerian said.

Church members sacrificed in an amazing way to refurbish the building. After work, people would go directly to church to continue working until late at night,

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IN JUST 28 DAYS, THE BUILDING WENT FROM AN EMPTY SHELL TO A COMPLETED CHURCH SANCTUARY!

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only going home to sleep, and following the same routine day after day. Women in the church brought food for the workers, morning and evening, so that they could keep going. In just 28 days, the building went from an empty shell to a completed church sanctuary!

Lack of finances for the building materials meant that the leaders had to place orders by faith, hoping they would have sufficient funds when the invoices arrived. The church members gave sacrificially, with some even borrowing money to donate to the church.

“I remember vividly declaring in front of the church that through faith all our debts would be covered by the next Sunday,” Valerian said. “After the service ended, we did not have the necessary amount and I didn’t know what to think.

But the next day, as I went to my front door, I discovered an envelope lying there - an anonymous donation.

“My emotions were running high. We calculated our remaining debt and realised that God had worked with us in every detail. The amount in the envelope was exactly the amount that we needed to pay our debt!”

Situated in an area with a large Romanian community, Betania sought to be a blessing to their community. A few years ago, they obtained a radio license for the winter holiday so they could broadcast in Romanian to people living in the surrounding area.

In December, the church orchestra gathers in the local shopping center where they sing and remind shoppers about the real reason for the celebration. And the annual Betania Carol Service has become one of the largest gatherings of Romanians in Dublin.

Recently, on International Women’s Day (8 March), the church held a service for women who were then served a special menu prepared by the men in the church.

“We are a church that heavily invests in the next generation as we are aware that there is no success without successors,” Valerian added. “The motto that we have on the front wall of the church is: Bethany, Church for the generation of today and tomorrow... We want to be relevant to our children, and we have one goal: to bring people into our church to become disciples who in turn will make disciples.

“Recently, I’ve understood on a more profound level that a church can do many things correctly, but if it doesn’t begin with making disciples, they are not fulfilling what Christ has entrusted them to do.”

The church is now in the final stages of obtaining their own land and planning permission to build their own church.

“With the Lord’s help, it will be a building that consists of over 1000 seats and with the appropriate space to meet our needs,” Valerian said. “Looking back now, we can only acknowledge that everything is God’s gift to us, and we wish for Him to receive the glory through us.”

“WE SEE SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN

WORD INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES

THE CHURCH. THEY ARE YOUNG AND DEDICATED - THAT EXCITES ME.

MEET THE FILIPINO CHURCH WITH A HEART FOR IRELAND

n 2001, a church sprang up in Dublin to meet the needs of Filipino health care workers, following an influx of immigrants in the late 1990s. By 2008, the church had grown and became affiliated with Word International Ministries - a Pentecostal denomination that originated in the Philippines and has spread out across the world, with many churches in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Pastor Manny de Leon came to Ireland in 2011 to lead the church, and the following year, a new congregation was established in Carrickmacross under the leadership of Pastor Jojo Geroche.

“In Dublin, our church is still 90% Filipino,” Pastor Manny explained. “We have two congregations with around 150

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people in Chapelizod and in the city centre. Many are health care workers and we have a lot of young families. We have a strong emphasis on discipleship and on outreach. We are open to all communities, not just Filipinos, and we are gradually becoming more international.”

In addition to two congregations in Dublin and one in Carrickmacross, there are now new groups starting in Newbridge, Cavan and Cork.

The Carrickmacross church is multinational in flavour, with Filipinos, Polish, Vietnamese and Irish people worshipping side by side. Pastor Jojo shared, “We started with Filipinos working in the food factories, but we quickly became more international. Today, we have around 50 people (30 adults and 20 children). We feel God is calling us to reach out, so we visit the local nursing homes to sing carols each Christmas and engage with the Alzheimer’s society.”

With a strong emphasis on family life, Word International in Ireland runs an annual family camp attracting around 300 people each year and organises children’s holiday clubs that attract over 100 children.

Pastor Jojo shares, “People are very open

to faith here in Ireland and I really enjoy the religious freedom we have. I observe that Irish people are friendly. Wherever you go, they smile and greet you even if you don’t know them.”

Pastor Manny appreciated coming a country where he is able to speak the language fluently (previously he had been pastoring in Germany). “We see so much potential in the church. They are young and dedicated - that excites me. We are blessed by being in Ireland, but we also want to bless Ireland. We are trying to connect with groups involved in homeless ministry, collecting goods for homeless people. And we are praying about ways in which we can be part of the greater work God is doing here.

“We want to support what others are doing and work in partnership rather than just doing our own thing. That is why we became members of the Evangelical Alliance and attend conferences around Ireland. We don’t want to be in competition with others but to be part of the kingdom of God and working together.”

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

You can bless each other and the world is blessed.”

Empowering people to grow and to fulfil their calling is something Pastor Manny is passionate about. “As pastors, we are not the answer to all problems - only Jesus is!”

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REALITY

M EL ES S HO PE FO R TH E HOhom ele ss cris is Cor k Chr isti ans res pon d to the

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VOX MAGAZINE

ccording to homelessness charity Focus Ireland, 7,167 people are now homeless in Ireland. The total number of people homeless rose by 25% from January 2016 to January 2017, and 1 in 3 people experiencing homelessness in Ireland is a child!

Spurred on by the transformation within her own life, Gillian Horgan was determined to respond to the crisis in Cork City by bringing hope and love to homeless people in practical and spiritual ways.

“I’m a Christian myself for eight years now,” Gillian shared. “For a long period of time, I was

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WE WANT TO BRING A SENSE OF FAMILY TO THE STREETS. without hope and very broken, so I can really connect with people who are on the streets. I want them to have the hope that I have.

“Jesus is my life. He saved my life. I wouldn’t be here only for Him. He has just changed me completely from the inside out and He is still changing me. He has healed me from so much. I have no shame. I tell everybody, ‘I’m a Christian and Jesus is my Saviour.’”

After reading The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson and visiting The Lighthouse, a ministry reaching out to homeless people in Dublin, Gillian felt God speaking to her and giving her a vision for a new ministry in Cork City.

With the support of her church (Good News Christian Church in Cobh) and a group of volunteers, Gillian launched “Hope for the Homeless” with a sleep-out outside Cork City Library last September.

The team set up a marquee for the night and invited homeless people who would normally be sleeping rough to come inside.

“We want to embrace homeless people with love, acceptance and forgiveness and to show them love in practical ways,” Gillian explained. On the second Friday of every month, the team heads out onto the streets, where they meet up to 20 people sleeping rough. They give out food and toiletries, sleeping bags, clean cardboard and bubble wrap.

“The teams ask what people need. Sometimes a homeless person won’t leave their spot, so we will go and bring them supplies. We offer to pray for them and invite them up to the tent.”

The marquee is pitched outside Brown Thomas in Cork city centre and provides a safe place for homeless people to relax and connect with the team.

“We want to bring a sense of family to the streets,” Gillian shared.

Every Saturday, the team also runs “Hope Café” in the Haven Centre. They provide a three-course hot meal for homeless people with the chance to sit and relax in a warm, friendly environment. Every few

weeks, someone will come and share a testimony.

As relationships are built, the team encourages and supports people to get into rehab (if necessary) or supports them through the process of finding somewhere to live. This may mean helping to find furniture for a new home or going with them to a meeting.

“We are working to set up a 12-step programme called ‘Hope Recovery,’ and we are hoping to start that after Easter,” Gillian said.

Around 100 volunteers are now supporting Hope for the Homeless and Gillian ensures that those who go out on the streets receive proper training. “We do first aid, conflict intervention and self-defence training. Just last week, a girl overdosed in front of me and we were able to get help for her. The Gardaí are really good to us. They keep an eye out for us and we always know where they are if we need them.”

In the future, Gillian’s dream is to get a building that is open five days a week. Often, the hostels and other facilities are only open during the evening, so many are left to wander the streets throughout the day.

“I want to provide somewhere like The Lighthouse in Dublin where they can come in for food, perhaps play some board games or do art classes and where we can run the Recovery course.”

“We need more Christian volunteers to come alongside and get involved,” Gillian added. “People should not be afraid. We need to go and do what Jesus did. He is the strength behind it. I really do think that the Christian church needs to step out. There are not enough Christian people doing this.

“A lot of homeless people are coming from difficult homes and they simply can’t handle it any more. Some are struggling with addiction, but there are also homeless people who are not addicts.”

While the experience on the streets can be horrendous (“I’ve had a grown man crying, saying he had been urinated on and beaten up,”) Gillian’s experience of Cork people is of generosity and kindness. “For me, Cork people are a blessing. They just want to give. I could not believe how generous the Cork people are until I experienced it for myself.”

Hope for the Homeless welcomes I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE CHRISTIAN donations of clothing, CHURCH NEEDS TO STEP OUT. THERE ARE NOT toiletries ENOUGH CHRISTIAN PEOPLE DOING THIS. and other supplies.

Financial donations enable the team to buy whatever supplies are most needed. New volunteers are also welcome to help out on Friday nights or at the Hope Café each Saturday from 4 - 6pm.

To get in touch, visit Hope for the Homeless on Facebook.

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REALITY

ABSENCE

suppose it’s my home now.” A fractured silence pierces me, causing a tear to prick my cheek. At 19, living rough has become normal for Cara, so much so that she has ‘prettied’ up her sleeping area with a few bits and pieces. A grin spans her face as she tells me that she was given a teddy bear today and she is going to put it by a photograph of her sister.

I take a sharp intake of breath and I gaze into her wide saucer-shaped eyes. I see a sensitive young woman who is made in the image of God, but I also see a person who has been crushed by her life narrative.

My attention is drawn to the man beside her.

Hollow eyes have nearly consumed his face and his skeletal jaw hangs loosely. He is her pimp.

ease. I could not fully rest nor sleep as I was always semi-alert. There are too many predators willing to take advantage, especially of a woman on her own.

I learned to become invisible from the penetrating eyes of judgement, and soon I was able to slip into the local bus station for a wash - until they got wind of me, that is. I never felt clean.

The human condition hides a darkness that unfolds and manifests through living rough. I learned to survive, but in the process, I learned to cheat, lie and fight. I also learned to trust no one.

Violence is never far away. As a consequence, I shut myself down. I felt nothing. To feel anything can make you a victim.

The days ahead seemed endless and I would take one faltering step after another to nowhere. To break the monotony, I would often E TAK LD WOU I AND visit churches, which opened their S LES THE DAYS AHEAD SEEMED END doors and gave out free meals. Those E. ONE FALTERING STEP AFTER ANOTHER TO NOWHER meals were a lifeline and so were the free clothes. I would eat quickly, paying attention It is five minutes to one in the morning on a to no one; it was easier that way. boisterous Friday night in Cork. I was out on the It was at one of those drop-in centres that I street with Hope for the Homeless, an agency set up met Iain. I had no real feelings for him. But I was to assist those who exist on the street. I was initially desperate to move away from the cold, cracked reluctant to join them, but I sensed a quiet stillness pavements. His house was very basic but offered of the Holy Spirit prompting me to go out. It wasn’t comfort and I was elated that I could finally make a fear that was holding me back; it was memory. cup of tea from a newly boiled kettle.

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MY SECRET

It has been 19 years since I escaped from the snarling jaws of homelessness. There is no visible evidence to suggest that I ever spent 17 months, two weeks and two days without a home. Today, it’s my secret to share.

The streets are unforgiving and yield a cold fury.

There is never any comfort and you never feel at

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OF HOME

VOX MAGAZINE

BY RAE MCKINLAY

However, slowly and steadily he chipped away at Like so many others, she has been physically, my confidence. He began to dismantle my personality emotionally and sexually abused. Abuse tears at your and rebuild it into his image of what he thought I emotions, mind and soul. It distorts thinking, and it is should be like. Like shards of glass, I soon became so easy to take a path spiralling towards sabotage. It’s brittle, my fierceness masking hurt, pain and rejection. the beat of cracked silence… the waiting… waiting for Perhaps we should the volcano to erupt… the refer to homelessness roller coaster of emotions, P. I KNOW THAT JESUS WOULD WEE as the absence of home. down, up and crashing.

I did not rough sleep I pray with Cara and I for the whole period of my homelessness. I was so pray for the same miracle that God gave me, a home crushed that to move in with a man who used and and womanhood. And Cara needs a miracle. There is abused me seemed a better option. I may have had a little accommodation to rent and the rental housing roof over my head, but I was as much homeless with sector is in crisis. The hostels are over capacity and Iain as when I was living rough. several residents have been in them for several years.

Though I have been off the streets for nearly 20 years, the brutality of it can cauterise your emotions, JESUS WOULD WEEP but God has been good. At least now I can cry, an I square my shoulders and force myself back to experience denied to me for so long because I was so the present. After all, I have a home now. It is Cara traumatised. who is existing on the edge of an industrial estate.

Morning breaks through and the sun gives a smile.

“I’m too afraid to sleep in the city,” her voice weaves into the cold night air. “I’ve had My shift has ended and tiredness has come upon me.

I am thankful. I am looking forward to that cup of tea people pour coke all over me. I from my own newly-boiled kettle. even had one woman come over and kick me.” I want to cry, but I have to be strong for Cara. I People find it hard to believe that Rae know that Jesus McKinley was once homeless on the would weep. streets of Glasgow. Today, she is a storyteller, digital artist and mother of three children who lives in Bandon, West Cork, and attends Gateway Fellowship. She is currently writing a compilation of stories based on life experiences.

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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.

SIAN’S STORY

Brought up as a pastor’s daughter in Dublin, Sian Fitzgerald’s journey took her to heartbreak and back before she returned “home” in more ways than one. Sian shared her story with VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams:

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I was born in Scotland and raised in a Christian home. My dad is a pastor, and we came to Ireland when I was two years old.

We were here in the Apostolic Church in Dublin until I was 13 years old. Dublin was very much in my heart, and when we left I found it difficult. I always had a longing to come back.

WAS IT ALL PLAIN SAILING FROM THEN ON?

SO HOW DID YOU END UP BACK IN IRELAND?

Around that time, I was invited to a wedding of a very dear family friend in Dublin. I wasn’t planning to go, but my friend rang me and asked me to come. As soon as I got off the boat, I knew I was home. Within a few days, I found out about a Bible school in Greystones and applied.

In 1998, I moved back to study at Carraig Eden. I wasn’t planning to go into ministry.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH Having grown up in a pastor’s home, I never wanted that, but I loved the Lord so JESUS? much and I wanted to give Him a year of I walked with the Lord until I was about my life.

15, and then I completely left the church.

While I was in the Bible school, I woke Those were hard years. In my heart, I didn’t up one night and felt God saying to really want to leave the Lord me, “All those years you thought you behind. But I’m very much were homesick, and it was me calling a black and white person and I couldn’t live two lives. I ENDED UP BACK ON MY MUM’S DOORSTEP WITH SEVEN BOXES you back to Ireland.”

For four years, I walked My dad used to say, “You were CONTAINING EVERYTHING I OWNED AND A BROKEN HEART. away from the church, but born for Ireland.” I have such a deep in my deepest heart I still connection in my heart. I adore this loved Jesus. I felt like I was a place, and I adore the people here and failure, and I was so broken. feel very much a part of this.

When I was a 19, a lady called Audrey moment I fell in love with Him. I ended I met Patrick about six months later, Harper was speaking at a special service. up back on my mum’s doorstep with seven and we knew God was speaking to us even She was a converted witch, so I went to boxes containing everything I owned and a though we were very different people from hear her. It was the first service I had been broken heart. In that time, I met with God different backgrounds. We were married in to in four years. The Holy Spirit began to in a very deep way. He lifted me out of my October 1999 and came to minister at the move, and I knew I couldn’t stay away from brokenness. They were six months of deep Apostolic Church in Dublin - a different the Lord any longer. That night, I gave my inner healing. building but the same church where I was heart back to the Lord. as a child.

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For a while, life was quite good. I walked with the Lord for many years, and by the time I was 27, I was living in Windsor with a nice job, a nice car and a nice home, but suddenly I found myself in a crisis. It affected everything. I lost my home. I lost my job. It is amazing how in just a moment everything can look so different. One night, I didn’t know if I wanted to live or die. I fell on my knees and said to the Lord, “I’ve made a mess of my life. I’m so broken. Lord, if you want my life, you can have it.”

I knew the Lord, but that was the

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AS A PASTOR’S CHILD, YOU NEVER WANTED TO BE IN MINISTRY, YET YOU ENDED UP DOING JUST THAT. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE?

I had such an issue with ministry, but God brought me on a journey. I had seen my parents’ struggles, but the vital element I had overlooked was the grace of God. Although I had seen them come through hard times, I hadn’t experienced God’s presence in the same way as they had.

Ministry has been tough. There have been heartbreaking times and disappointing times. There are nights when you go to bed and you can hardly sleep.

There have been many times I have felt like running away to the hills, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. I love God’s people. I love serving God. Our love for Him keeps us going.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR MINISTRY?

One of the frustrations I feel is seeing so many Christians in bondage. Jesus came to give us life abundantly. It is as if I gave you €100 for your birthday but you only spent €50. When people come into that freedom, that revelation and that relationship with Jesus, they experience such joy. When I see that operating in people’s lives, that is my highlight!

YOU HAVE JUST BEEN ORDAINED AS A PASTOR IN THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH - THE FIRST WOMAN TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

people’s lives. Our ideas of God can be so distorted, and that breaks the heart of God. Our heart is to reach into our community, reach as many people as possible with the Gospel and encourage people to come into that freedom of relationship with Him.

I’ve been operating in a pastoral role in the church for 19 years, but up to this point our denomination has never ordained women. I was raised in this WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PARENTS WHOSE church, so I’ve been on a journey. So often, CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR people inform us what our theology is, FAITH? but I began to search the Scriptures for I always try to encourage parents with myself. I spoke to people I really respect my story, that even when I turned my in authority and leadership. The Lord back on God and wasn’t where I should began to challenge me that ordination was have been, I still loved Him. As a parent important. myself - we have I feel a bit three daughters different since I - I know that was ordained in life is crazy. I I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE February. I didn’t people to TEACH OUR CHILDREN, AND WHAT WE MODEL want think I would! I know that what IN FRONT OF THEM NEVER LEAVES THEM. really feel that God we teach our children, and has such a heart what we model for this nation and in front of them wants to impact never leaves them. I think of it like oxygen people’s lives. We have recently changed - even though we cannot see it or feel it, the name of the church to “People’s we know it is all around us. That was how Church”. Jesus didn’t come to authorities and dignitaries; He came to the ordinary it was for me. I had been taught that Jesus people. was the Son of God and that He would We meet so many who are searching always love me. That was the underlying and struggling. Life looks glossy, but foundation for my life, even when I walked beneath that surface is a lot of turmoil in away from the church.

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LIFE

TOBAR

SO MUCH MORE THAN A CAFÉ

BY CHRIS MCCUNE

Introducing a ministry hub in the heart of Galway that is transforming the lives of young people.

alway is a beautiful city and not them to Ireland to serve Him. So the Currys passion and prayer that in the next few years, just visually. The diversity in packed up and came. Over those early years, we will reach so many more young people, personalities and nationalities the vision grew and changed; the building not just in Galway but all over Ireland. mixed with a strong Irish identity developed from a run-down hostel to a busy On our busy days, you could be forgiven make it more than a little bit special. It’s a city ministry hub within the city! In essence, for thinking we have been invaded by that searches for many things: freedom, hope, something abandoned was being transformed hundreds of young people. We feel like we happiness, fame and authenticity. Some into a place of beauty and hope - a symbol for have at times and it is brilliant. The café is mornings you can feel the city breathe, hear the ministry itself. usually crazy-mental busy in term time, its heart beat.

As relationships grew and developed especially at lunch. We have a lot of students An Tobar Nua sits on the banks of a canal and changed, God was doing something. who come in every day for their chicken in the West End of Galway, as diverse and Organically, this Christian ministry involved rolls, chips, one-euro pizza, homemade alive as the city it calls home. Its heart cookies and brownies. God has done beats for the city, but in reality, this is amazing things through this little café, selling it short; the heart of An Tobar and we are excited by what God wants Nua beats for Ireland.

BUILT ON A FOUNDATION AND PASSION TO SEE LIVES to do.

Built on a foundation and passion CHANGED AND TO SEE GOD MOVE, AN TOBAR NUA So if you ever find yourself to see lives changed and to see God wandering through this diversely move, An Tobar Nua strives to be a light STRIVES TO BE A LIGHT AND SAFE PLACE IN THE CITY. wonderful city of Galway, make sure and safe place in the city. Walk into the to duck into the yellow building sitting café and if you are not greeted by an beside the canal. Grab a cup of coffee, exuberant, helpful, friendly member tease the barista about the weather of staff, you have quite possibly walked into people from a range of different church if it’s nice, and slip some homemade the wrong place. This isn’t just a café; this is a backgrounds and traditions, intent on chocolate chip cookies into your pocket. place to grow, to learn, to hope and to share. sharing the Gospel of Jesus in any way we As you walk out the door and enter the An Tobar Nua is built on relationships; could. A massive part of our youth ministry flow and bustle of everyday life, as you take we care for our regulars, and we know that is creating a safe space not only to enjoy in the cries of the sea gulls and the hum of a kind word can be the difference between cookies and food at lunchtime but in creating traffic, know that we walk the very same a good day and a bad day. Our focus is Jesus and nurturing relationships with the many streets every day. Know that we dream big Christ and this is what drives us. students who come in. This takes many dreams for our city. Know that our hearts The café itself is only a small glimpse of different forms, from playing board games travel the footpaths and cobblestones that what An Tobar Nua is all about: we have a and hosting murder mysteries to Free Ice characterise Galway, always looking ahead large youth ministry and run school retreats Cream Fridays. to transform the city and her people into most days of the week; we have a counselling Last year, we shared the Gospel with those who are driven by hope… hope in department, a Scripture school, a bookstore, a almost 3000 secondary school students Jesus Christ. reflective Bible Study, an interns programme, in and around County Galway. How does Find out more about An Tobar Nua a Saturday youth group, summer camps and this look? We have developed a programme at www.antobarnua.com. street outreach. We are busy and we love that incorporates games, personal stories, every minute of it. interactive presentations (this year’s was Chris McCune has worked with CEF God has been expanding our vision in Social Media), a Gospel presentation and Ireland in youth and children’s ministry for amazing ways. Galway is the start, and it is our prayer experience. We love to encourage over 10 years. He is also a trained barista vision and prayer to see the Gospel making young people to explore their faith and to ask and slightly snobbish about coffee. Nine an impact in more schools and in the lives of questions in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. months ago, he joined the staff of An Tobar more young people.

The café has facilities to run retreats and Nua and is excited about what God is doing This ministry started almost 20 years ago to host about 30 students at a time. We also in Galway. Chris loves Jesus, blogging, when a family from America felt God call travel to any school that wants us! It is our coffee, preaching, movies and music.

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Liberty Christian School Mungret College - Limerick, Ireland

Preschool To College Level Liberty Christian School uses the A.C.E. Curriculum, a Character-Building, Individualised Programme Accelerated Christian Education's programme is individualised and based on continual assessment. It is designed to allow students to work at their own level of achievement, which may vary from subject to subject. A.C.E. offers individualised core subjects with a scope from preschool through secondary levels in Math, English, Social Studies, Science, and Word Building ( Etymology for level 9) in addition to electives and provides for students' essential educational needs. Our Advanced Certificate students are accepted in all Irish and international universities.

ENROLLING NOW! 0871262601 www.lcsmungret.com

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LIFE

VOX MAGAZINE

Writing Competition seeks to Celebrate the Gift of Life

BY NICK PARK, EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE IRELAND

everal months ago, I was approached by Joan Bradley of the Irish Christian Writers Fellowship. She was concerned to see a fresh generation of Christian writers rising up in Ireland. Could Evangelical Alliance Ireland do anything to encourage this? Her concerns struck a chord, and the idea of a National Writing Competition was born.

Around the same time, in discussions about the national debate over abortion and the Eighth Amendment, we saw a need for Christians to affirm the wonderful value of life itself – that life is a gift to be celebrated rather than a burden to be eliminated.

Synergy, according to one dictionary, is the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

ECWF and EAI are working together to promote the Celebrating the Gift of Life Writing Competition. Cooperating with several other Christian organisations, we are gathering an impassioned team of writers and communicators as judges. The competition launched on St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and entries can be submitted up to the end of June via the competition website: www.writingcompetition.org.

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There are seven categories: • Fictional Short Story • True Life Story (testimony) • Poetry • Blog Post • Journalism (opinion piece) • Drama • Song (both lyrics and music) Each category includes an adult (over 18) and a youth section.

There are cash prizes for winners and runners-up in each section, but the main incentive for any writer is to see their work in print. The best entries will be included in a paperback book, ‘Celebrating the Gift of Life,’ to be released in the autumn of 2017. The competition judges will also recommend exceptional pieces of work for inclusion in magazines (such as VOX), to be read on radio, and to be distributed as resources for use in churches.

We have an opportunity to harness the creative power of writing and storytelling to affirm the truth that life, even when it doesn’t conform to all our expectations, is a gift from God to be celebrated.

I am looking forward to seeing a new generation of Irish writers using their God-given talents to encourage and inspire. Ireland can once again be known as a land of saints and scholars.

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FAITH

POST-

Chris HOW MUCH DO TRADITION, UPBRINGING AND EMOTION AFFECT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FAITH AND INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE?

BY PETER VAN DER BURGT

ollowing the EU referendum church when I went to university. After I There is an ongoing debate in Christian in the United Kingdom and finished my university education, I took circles about the validity of speaking in the presidential election in the up a temporary contract at a university in tongues and about whether it is a second United States, Oxford Dictionaries chose North Carolina (USA), were I encountered blessing that is distinct from becoming born “post-truth” as the Word of the Year 2016.

Christians and came to know God. Not again. When after some years I prayed and Post-truth is defined as “relating to or knowing anything about Protestant or told God that I was willing to accept this denoting circumstances in which objective evangelical churches, I followed a few friends gift, the answer from the Holy Spirit was facts are less influential in shaping public to an Assemblies of God church, which was immediate: “You have everything you need.” opinion than appeals to emotion and mildly Pentecostal and very welcoming. I So this gift is not for me, but it may be of personal belief ”. The concept of post-truth was confronted with two issues I had not relevance to others. Due to circumstances, has been around for about a decade, but encountered before: speaking in tongues over the years I have attended charismatic is considered to have influenced global and recent creationism. and traditional churches more or less politics for much longer. Undoubtedly alternately. On the wider issue of the internet and social media are major charismatic gifts, I have a feeling that contributors to this. It has never been these are overemphasised in some easier to express a biased opinion or churches and unjustifiably ignored IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT POST-TRUTH IS report biased news on a website, in a blog in others - post-truth in action.

EQUALLY INFLUENCING GLOBAL CHRISTIAN THINKING. or in a tweet.

In the church I attended in Looking at the great variety of North Carolina, a university positions on a variety of issues found on lecturer in biology was giving Christian websites, it is abundantly clear Sunday School classes on recent that post-truth is equally influencing global I don’t remember exactly the first time creationism, which I did not attend. I have Christian thinking. Christians must have that I heard speaking in tongues. It must always been interested in science. One of voted for opposite sides in both the Brexit have sounded unintelligible. A good friend the first science books I bought as a teenager referendum and the US presidential election. helpfully provided a copy of a book entitled was about prehistoric animals. It gave an However, instead of exploring postGod’s Gift of Tongues, written by a theologian overview of evolution and the history of life truth in Christian decision making and on who had graduated summa cum laude from on earth, a story that I have always found Christian websites, in this article I would like one of the seminaries in the USA. This book to be magnificent. At university I wanted to to recount a series of personal encounters I defended the dispensationalist perspective study geophysics, but I continued in physics have had over the years with aspects of the that tongues have ceased. Another good because I didn’t want to work in the oil Christian faith. friend was occasionally speaking in tongues industry.

I grew up in the Netherlands in a Roman during worship and there seemed to be For me recent creationism is simply Catholic tradition but stopped going to nothing unnatural about it. unbelievable. The first chapters of Genesis

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TRUTH

tianity are unjustifiably read as a scientific textbook, perhaps as a consequence of the scientific culture that is permeating modern society, and every bit of science that contradicts this is vigorously dismissed as being invalid. I keep on running into Christians who believe that the earth is only thousands of years old, and I continue to be baffled by this.

The situation we find ourselves in now is that huge amounts of money are spent annually by well-meaning Christians in the promotion of a picture of the universe and the planet we live on that is contrary to what the great majority of scientists – including many Christians – are finding.

If Christians are proclaiming that God is the Creator of the universe but cannot take into account the findings of modern science, then that proclamation completely loses its credibility.

Over the years, I have been going to Christian churches of different traditions or denominations, and have encountered widely different viewpoints on other issues as well. Examples are: physical healing, the role of women in the church, and dispensationalism versus kingdom theology.

I do not have space here to explore these further. On each of these issues I find it difficult to take a definitive standpoint.

These issues are often being claimed to be peripheral to the main Christian tenets of faith (the existence of God and the

atonement of Christ), but they are key issues nonetheless.

Often Christians, and in particular church leaders and preachers, justify their stance by referring to the “inerrancy of Scripture.” However, if churches of different traditions or denominations hold different viewpoints, then errancy in the understanding of Scripture must have crept in somewhere along the line. A key question

POSITIONS TAKEN ARE OFTEN INFLUENCED BY THE PARTICULAR FAITH TRADITION THAT THE PERSON HAPPENS TO HAVE GROWN UP IN.

in this regard is whether God’s works (explored through science) can be allowed to inform or enhance our understanding of God’s Word. Positions taken are often influenced by the particular faith tradition that the person happens to have grown up in, and the sources of information that the person has access to and deems to be reliable. These can contain post-truth elements.

I have a picture in my mind of Christendom (the worldwide community of Christians in a

post-truth era) as a large flat plane with a lot of big open holes in it. Each hole has a large number of people sitting in it, each of whom considers the walls of his/her hole as the boundary between truth and error. Every so often a person in any one of the holes raises his/her head above the rim of the hole, and points a reproachful finger to the people in a neighbouring hole, loudly proclaiming that they have completely misunderstood a particular aspect of the Word of God. I am still wandering around on this plane and haven’t yet found a hole in the ground in which I would feel comfortable.

I will probably never find such a hole. I am not sure whether the issues raised in this article could ever be resolved, but after all these years as a Christian I still very much feel like a stranger in a strange land.

Peter van der Burgt lectures in physics at Maynooth University, is involved with Christians in Science Ireland, and regularly hikes on Saturdays with the Irish Christian Hillwalking Club.

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REALITY

THE BIG HOUSE

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW GOD’S LOVE EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS TOUGH!

BY COLIN COCHRANE

hat do you say to a young person who is addicted to pornography?

What do you do if a young person talks about ending their own life?

How do you respond when you discover that a member of your youth group is harming themselves? How can you support a young person when their family is changing?

If you are engaged in any way with young people in a church, youth organisations or in your family or neighbourhood, then these are questions you may well find yourself asking.

Young people in Ireland are dealing with a wide range of difficult issues and circumstances. For example, of the 835,000 young people on the island of Ireland, one in five will suffer mental ill health. As the church, we are called to come alongside young people and show them God’s love.

Often we find that we don’t know what to do. We are scared of saying the wrong thing or getting in out of our depth. But if the Christians around young people when

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they are struggling don’t talk to them, avoid the issue, or worse, avoid them altogether, what does that tell them about how God sees them? Maybe they will think, “He doesn’t care about this part of my life. I’m too messy for God. He isn’t interested in helping.”

We know God’s heart is for young people, but if we don’t show them God’s compassion, how will they know that He sees them, understands them, loves them and can help?

WE ARE SCARED OF SAYING THE WRONG THING OR GETTING IN OUT OF OUR DEPTH.

The Big House is a non-denominational Christian charity that exists to help young people know God’s love as they encounter Jesus and are cared for by the church,

especially when life is difficult.

One of the ways we do this is through providing high-quality, accessible training for youth leaders and volunteers. In Ireland, we are blessed to have Christians with professional expertise, willing to share their knowledge for the Kingdom. They can help us better understand the issues young people are facing, their causes and how they impact their lives. We also have individuals who can provide valuable insight into the young person’s perspective as they share their stories of struggling as teenagers and their experience of God during those times.

In our training, we take time for biblical reflection, looking at how our Christian faith should shape our pastoral response. Above all, we want to give youth leaders practical advice and tools, equipping them to care well for the young people around them. Part of this involves learning what isn’t the youth leaders’ role, and when and where to get further help and support.

On Saturday 6 May, The Big House will

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be running a training event for youth leaders (church leaders, parents and others who are over 18 are welcome too). The event will be held at the Irish Bible Institute in Dublin and will focus on four topics: pornography, suicide, self-harm and family change. There will be a choice of two seminars in the morning and two in the afternoon, so bring a group of leaders from your church or organisation if you can. The cost will be €30, with discounted rates for groups and those who are not in full-time employment.

We will also be running training events in Belfast on the evening of 8 May addressing the issue of pornography and how to support young people who have been bereaved.

Training isn’t the only way that The Big House seeks to help young people and equip the church. Our name comes from our vision of a place where young people can come for camps or weekends away, a place steeped in prayer where they encounter God’s love through His presence and experience His care through His people.

This vision isn’t just for the residential centre we hope to have one day; it is for all of our churches and youth groups to become places like this for young people when they are finding life difficult.

We don’t have a place of our own yet.

But we do run camps and weekends in other

venues. We know from our experience and from that of countless youth leaders that residential camps can be powerful and lifetransforming. They may also be times when young people choose to share things they are struggling with and seek God’s help.

We also know that one-off “mountain top” experiences can fade and fail to make a lasting change unless they are part of a regular youth programme or church community. We want our camps to support

ONE-OFF “MOUNTAIN TOP” EXPERIENCES CAN FADE AND FAIL TO MAKE A LASTING CHANGE UNLESS THEY ARE PART OF A REGULAR YOUTH PROGRAMME OR CHURCH COMMUNITY.

the week-in-week-out youth work of our churches, and we encourage youth leaders to come away with their young people.

Our camps are filled with great craic and fun activities, but they are also places to be honest about our struggles and explore what God has to say to us in them.

We are currently fundraising to provide a counselling service for young people.

Counselling can be a very effective way of helping people deal with a wide range of issues, but it can also be hard to access. The Big House previously ran a counselling service in Belfast for two years. During that time, we met with almost 50 young people as they worked through issues including abuse, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, stress, eating disorders, bullying, bereavement, and more. We want to begin providing this service again as soon as possible, and we would love to be able to offer it in other locations in future.

We support youth groups by visiting them and delivering interactive programmes about difficult issues, giving them biblical ways of thinking and practical ways to cope well when things are hard.

We provide support for individual youth leaders as well, supporting them as they journey with young people in their group.

At present, our camps, counselling and youth group visits are based in Northern Ireland, but we would love to provide all of these services throughout Ireland. We want to develop and deliver more resources online, too. There is no shortage of demand for what we do, but to do more we will need a lot of help! If you would be interested in supporting The Big House financially, through praying for us or volunteering, please get in touch with us.

To book a place at our training in Dublin or in Belfast, or to find out more about The Big House, please visit our website: www. thebighouse.org.uk, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at “bighouseireland”.

Or get in touch with us by email at info@ thebighouse.org.uk, or phone our office in Belfast on 048 9066 4300.

Colin is the Support and Communications Officer for The Big House (because Swiss Army Knife apparently isn’t a job title).

After leaving engineering, Colin was involved in a range of Christian youth ministries. He enjoys using a computer to help The Big House with everything from web design to payroll.

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REALITY

GOD LOVES THE FOREIGNER

THINKING BIBLICALLY AND THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT REFUGEES

BY PATRICK MITCHELL

e live in a violent and broken A refugee is defined as a person who world. People have always had has fled their country because of a wellto flee war, famine, torture and founded fear of persecution as a result of persecution. But today, the race, religion, nationality, membership scale of forced population movement is of a particular social group or political unprecedented. The implosion of an entire country like Syria, added to desperate crises in THE UNCOMFORTABLE POINT OF JESUS’ TALE IS THAT places like Myanmar, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia THE NEIGHBOUR-LOVE INCLUDES THOSE RELIGIOUSLY, and Afghanistan, has forced CULTURALLY, POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY ALIEN TO US. millions of refugees to seek safety outside their home nations. The UNHCR says that today, there are about 65.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, opinion. Refugees are typically in a highly and a further 21.3 million people are vulnerable situation: often without official refugees. status; lacking access to basic resources;

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removed from networks of family, language and culture; and often deeply traumatised by violence or fear of violence. Over half of refugees globally are under 18 years old.

Three ‘solutions’ face refugees. One is voluntary repatriation, in which they return in safety and with dignity to their own country. Second is local integration, in which the government enables refugees legally to integrate into a host country.

The third is resettlement to a third state, which has agreed to give them permanent residence status.

Tragically, of course, for most refugees none of these ‘solutions’ is their reality. The vast majority are left in limbo: stateless, homeless, friendless and penniless, living in camps or trying to survive on the margins

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GOD LOVES THE OUTSIDER

But even more counter-culturally, God ‘loves the foreigner’ residing within Israel and takes care of their needs. This is not just something He likes doing; it is something He is. We could quote multiple texts from the OT and NT related to this theme. God is a God for the poor.

GOD’S PEOPLE ARE TO LOVE AS GOD LOVES

within neighbouring nations. It’s important to know this: only about 1% of refugees are ever resettled to a third country despite the fact that the UNHCR reckons that about 8% of refugees globally now need resettlement.

That’s the context. It is, of course, a hugely political issue in Europe and the USA as politicians grapple with their own populations’ fears of ‘uncontrolled immigration.’ So how should Christians think about one of the major humanitarian issues of our day?

What follows are proposals drawn from two key Bible texts that I believe should shape a biblical and theological response.

My main concern is to argue that there are absolute non-negotiable attitudes and priorities for Christians when it comes to thinking about refugees because they are based on the character of the God we worship.

KEY TEXT 1: DEUTERONOMY 10:17-19

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.

GOD IS IMPARTIAL

The great news of this text lies in the character of God. God is utterly unimpressed by important people with money, power and all the right connections.

This magnificent indifference to human status means that He is impartial and incorruptible. He treats people equally. This goes utterly against the power structures of the world, then and now.

As God loves the foreigner, so are His people to imitate Him. They should do this because they had been slaves in Egypt. Another important example is Deuteronomy 23:15 - “If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.” This is radical stuff. Instead of hard borders and forced repatriation, the refugee fleeing from slavery is to be given shelter. Instead of oppression, they are to be given freedom, safety and a new start in life.

This is exactly what refugees today long for (if they can’t go home).

traumatic experiences of their lives, and yet we view them primarily as a threat to our way of life. They are lucky if we permit them to enter our promised land. And, if they behave themselves, they will be blessed to become like us.

Rarely, if ever, do we think that we might have a lot to learn from them. Yet Abraham and Sarah, Lot, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, all of Israel, Ruth and Naomi, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Esther, and Daniel and his friends were all refugees for various reasons, as were many of the first Christians (Acts 8:1, 11:19). God Himself enters our world and becomes a refugee (Matthew 2:13-15). What questions do you think this raises for those of us living in freedom and security?

CHRISTIANS MUST BE DRIVEN BY LOVE, NOT FEAR

There is a tremendous sense of fear in much of the West today. Fear of terror.

Fear of the future. Fear of refugees. Some politicians are ruthless in exploiting this fear to get elected. Many others are afraid of those politicians. Christians are not to KEY TEXT 2: LUKE 10:25-37 - THE PARABLE be people of fear but of faith, hope and love. In Deuteronomy 10:16, Israel is told OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN Jesus’ famous parable about ‘neighbourto “circumcise your hearts’ and love the love’ deepens and radicalises the teaching foreigner. Similarly, Jesus’ parable of the of Leviticus 19:18 to ‘love your neighbour’.

Good Samaritan is aimed at those who felt justified in not helping those in need.

Leviticus is aimed within Israel. The We need to hear these texts afresh and uncomfortable point of Jesus’ tale is that have our own hearts the neighboursoftened. We fool love includes those ourselves if we think religiously, culturally, politically and socially CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO BE PEOPLE OF there is some great alien to us. The FEAR BUT OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. status gap between ‘us’ parable puts flesh on and ‘those refugees’. the bones of other God doesn’t see it that famous commands to way – remember, He ‘love your enemies’ (Matthew 5:44) and ‘do is magnificently indifferent to our manto others as you would have them do unto you’ made boundaries of money, identity and (Luke 6:31). power. Rather, He calls us to be people of Like Israel’s love in Deuteronomy, radical counter-cultural generosity; to be Christians will love this way out of their communities of welcome and grace to those own prior experience of God’s saving love. in need of help. For this is what our God is That experience should transform us to be like. the neighbours that Jesus calls us to be. In a globalised world, our neighbour surely includes the Syrian refugee. Each one of us should ask ourselves, “How would I like to be treated if I was in his or her shoes?”

The teaching of Jesus raises two final Patrick Mitchel lectures in points. theology at the Irish Bible Institute. He blogs at www.

REFUGEES - OUR TEACHERS faithinireland.wordpress.

So much of the refugee crisis is framed com and is currently around what we (in the West) will allow writing a book on The Message of Love refugees to do or not do. It is a fantastically within the IVP Bible Speaks Today series. unequal relationship of us versus them. We have all the power. They have had the most Photo: David Cavan / Tearfund APRIL - JUNE 2017 VOX

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Resolving Conflict & Restoring Relationships IACC Workshop for Counsellors, Pastoral Carers, Couples & Individuals Facilitator & Trainer: Fiona Burke IACP, IACC Accredited Counsellor, Psychotherapist & Supervisor.

Date: Saturday 20th May 2017. CPD Cert given for 6 Hours.

Time: 10am – 4pm (Registration at 9.30am) Venue: Riasc Centre, Feltrim Road, Swords, Co. Dublin.

Cost: €40 (Members) €45 (Non Members) €60 Couples !

An interactive, encouraging day. Some of the areas we will explore: Needs & Expectations, Boundaries, Positive Communication, Conflict & Growth, Empathy & Forgiveness, Connection & Restoration.

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From Hear To Eternity

Trainer Rory Bell is director of Teaching and Training Ministries,

an organisation that equips ordinary people to teach the Bible to children. Rory and his wife, Kim, have worked in a number of different sized churches in a range of contexts both in South Africa and the UK. He has conducted extensive training in churches and theological colleges in South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong, Australia and throughout the United Kingdom.

Telling a better Bible story A training day for those serious about teaching the Bible to children.

TnT Ministries publishes Mustard Seeds Bible teaching resources.

Training Outline 40% of the Bible consists of stories.

So, learning to tell a story well is an essential skill for anyone serious about teaching the Bible.

This training day will teach you the theory of preparing and presenting a Bible story as well as give you ample hands-on experience with a particular passage for you to take away and use in your ministry.

Saturday 23 September 2017 Venue: Irish Church Missions 28 Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1

Bring your whole team and be encouraged, enthused and equipped!

10:00am to 4:00pm, €20 per person (includes refreshments - bring your own packed lunch)

Thanks very much for Saturday. It’s changed my whole approach to lesson planning. Great stuff!

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

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TnT Ministries (Registered Charity No. 1102864) 236a Canbury Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 6LG Telephone: 0208 549 4967

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It was such a great help for me and all the team I lead.

I wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of our Youth and Junior Church team for your input to our children’s ministries on Saturday. We are so grateful for the teaching, encouragement, discipline, validation, wisdom, food for thought and wealth of ideas we now have to put into practice.

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

THE UNDERSEA WORLD OF GOD REVIEWED BY CLIVE PRICE

rowing up in the 70s, I remember my dad buying our first colour telly. It was like a massive drinks cabinet.

On opening the mahogany veneered doors, instead of cocktails we discovered a huge cinema in a box.

As the screen flickered into life, a highlight was watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. This was a dramatic documentary series that brought bright ocean adventures into our dull living room. Just made for our telly!

With episode names like Savage World of the Coral Jungle, The Night of the Squid and The Sleeping Sharks of Yucatan, this was marine science presented as grand theatre. Forgive the pun, but I was hooked!

Those memories came flooding back with The Odyssey (L’Odyssée), a French dramatisation – with English subtitles – about the life and work of Jacques Cousteau. At the time of writing, the Cork French Film Festival is about to open with a preview screening.

This honest and compelling movie takes us into a world of wonder. Director Jérôme Salle has made the film every bit as engaging as Cousteau’s own TV programmes. Cousteau – played superbly by Lambert Wilson – was to make it his mission to present this undersea realm to a wider audience. But first, he shared it with his family.

As the Cousteau household enjoy their Mediterranean paradise in summer 1946, we see something spiritual happening.

Exploring the unknown brings a kind of conversion. “I remember the sensation the first time I put my head underwater,” Cousteau

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reflects. “The immensity. The pureness.”

But this is a warts-and-all story. Later, we find that Cousteau has a mistress and a second family. He’s driven by a desire to subdue creation – “The Americans want to conquer space; we’ll conquer the sea,” he exclaims.

His relationship with his children becomes a tortured one.

Adult son Philippe – portrayed passionately by Pierre Niney – challenges his father’s ego, criticising the way he uses ocean creatures as performers on his media stage.

Another near-religious experience takes place. Cousteau stands by a sea of ice, the camera panning over an awe-inspiring universe of white and blue. His attitude to nature changes. “Thirty years ago, I discovered a new world,” he reflects. “I wanted to conquer it, when I should’ve protected it.”

There are claims elsewhere that later in life, the famous diver talked more about spiritual things. “The glory of nature provides evidence that God exists,” he is reported as saying. Cousteau died in 1997 and had a Christian funeral.

Church folk do ‘God’ talk well. This movie made me think that we need to learn to talk nature, too. As Scripture tells us, creation displays the ‘invisible qualities’ of the Divine. It’s where we find pictures of a heavenly love.

Clive Price is a communications specialist for companies and charities across the UK and Ireland and a writer for various publications including VOX, Families First and Irish Music magazine. He is based in Newry. Contact him at www.cliveprice.com.

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REVIEWS

Phoenix

Nathan Jess

Nathan Jess’s second album in four years in my opinion marks his coming of age. I have enjoyed Nathan’s performances in small venues in Ireland over the past few years, but I believe these songs give him a much bigger platform to showcase his incredible songwriting talent.

Whether you are looking for some good music for the car, or in-ear music for a walk or a jog, there is something on the album that will suit your needs. Listen to a very unique version of Amazing Grace, to the tune of Danny Boy, and then let your heart melt with the stringed arrangement of Sweet Communion.

Here I Am, Send Me Darlene Zschech

Whatever became of Darlene Zschech?

It is now seven years since she left the Australian megachurch Hillsong to take up the reins with her husband at Hope Unlimited Church. In that time, Darlene has focused on developing her ministry at Hope Unlimited and was also engaged in a tough but ultimately triumphant personal battle with breast cancer. Now her work at Hope UC has brought her once again to the forefront of Christian worship music. Here I Am, Send Me is Darlene’s new album and it is worth the wait. She has crafted eleven exquisite

VOX MAGAZINE

tracks with the assistance of some of the finest Christian writers and musicians such as Jenn Johnson, Thomas Macken, Martin Smith and Paul Baloche. The result is an album that draws the listener into a true worship experience from the first song, You Are Great, through to the finalé, Go, which will leave you wanting to take this Gospel message to the world. This album has been made with the congregation firmly in mind.

It will inspire the listener to become a true worshipper, the utmost goal of every good worship record.

Unbreakable

Selah

It is hard to believe that three years have passed since Selah’s awardwinning album Amaze Me topped the Christian music charts. Over the years, it has been very hard to pigeonhole Selah. They are well known for the diversity of their sound and, on this new album, we get to experience this versatility across 13 tracks. Unbreakable consists of hymns and old spirituals as well as newly crafted songs, all presented in a variety of styles from pop to Southern Gospel. There is no compromise on Scripture or the Gospel message. It comes across loud and clear. Five of the 13 tracks are hymns, and I loved their fresh take on such standards as This Llittle Llight of Mine and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. For me, though, the standout track is Allan Hall’s beautiful cover of Point of Grace’s Jesus Will Still Be Here. It is breathtaking. Close your eyes and listen to this beautiful acoustic piano song.

The Garden Kari Jobe

Speaking about her new album, Kari Jobe says, “This album was written out of experiencing God’s closeness, goodness and mercy even through a season of great loss for my family. He can redeem any situation we are going through. The Garden is all about seeing the beauty and kindness of God in the midst of the difficulties. He’s not distant or disconnected from our pain; in fact, He’s been right here the whole time, turning ashes into beauty.” The Garden comprises 11 tracks containing so many breathstopping moments that it has merited repeated plays over the past few days, particularly during my evening quiet time when I just put on my headphones, switch off the lights and let this sound seep into my soul. The opening track, The Garden, is achingly beautiful. “I can see the ivy growing through the wall, ‘cause You’ll stop at nothing to heal my broken soul.”

Albums reviewed by UCB Ireland Radio producer/presenter Vincent Hughes.

Listen to UCB Ireland Radio on Virgin Media Channel 918, on Sky Channel 0214 or on your smartphone with our new Android app free from all app stores, and on your iPhone with the app free from the Apple store. UCB Ireland Radio: www.ucbireland.com.

Facing a Task Unfinished Keith and Kristyn Getty

Facing a Task Unfinished was written in 1931 by China Inland Mission (now OMF International) worker Frank Houghton as a call for 200 missionaries to go into the heart of China at a time of turmoil. Eightyfive years later, Irish Christian singer/songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty were commissioned by OMF International to update this hymn.

It is the opener on the latest album by the duo, who have been dubbed the 21st century’s equivalent to Charles Wesley. They have given us some of the most beloved modern worship songs, including the classic In Christ Alone. The album is remarkable for its ethnic influences: bluegrass in May the People Praise; African on Children Come, with the amazing Ladysmith Black Mambazo choir adding their distinctive vocals; Irish with the heel-kicking Lift High The Name of Jesus; and Middle Eastern undertones in the beautiful Psalm 24.

The Gettys are now a worldwide phenomenon. Oh, that they would receive the recognition in their own land! In the meantime, go get a copy of this album and delight in the very best of Christian music.

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EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when April Amazing Grace Festival 6 - 12 April Buncrana, Co. Donegal www.amazinggrace.ie

Ireland4Jesus 29 May - 11 June www.ireland4jesus.com

Tim & Sue Eldridge in Kilkenny 8 - 9 April New Hope Christian Centre www.newhope.ie/events May Big House Youth Leader Training Day Saturday, 6 May Irish Bible Institute, Dublin 1 www.thebighouse.org.uk “Everything Can Change” Conference 12 - 14 May Limerick Christian Centre, Mungret College www.limerickchristiancentre.org

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June Summer Fire Conference 23 - 29 June Trabolgan, Co. Cork www.summerfireconference.com Summer Madness 30 June - 4 July Glenarm Estate, Co. Antrim www.summermadness.co.uk July Sligo 17 Summer Conference 9 - 14 July Sligo Institute of Technology www.newwineireland.org

Pulse Camp 24 - 29 July Drewstown House, Co. Meath www.agireland.org/pulse-camp August WORD International Ministries Family Camp 2 - 6 August Nenagh, Co. Tipperary www.wordinternationalireland.com New Horizon 5 - 11 August Coleraine, Co. Derry www.newhorizonni.org.uk Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing.

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

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

By Ruth Garvey-Williams

ABOUT FACE: FINDING PEACE WITHIN THE BATTLE

By Bethany Barnett

Adrenaline-pumping, laugh-out-loud, raw, edge-of-the-seat, heartbreaking, real… I’m searching for adjectives to describe About Face after binge-reading for the last several hours.

Bethany Barnett’s must-read book recounts the story of three Irish men - soldiers, bikers, fathers and sons. Brothers John and Ger Corcoran and Kevin Burke all served with Irish peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.

With vivid descriptions of the violence and horror of conflict, this no-holds-barred account is punctuated with humour - “You know you’re Irish when you’re eating Cup-a-Soups in the scorching 40°C heat” - and the fragility and beauty of family relationships.

As the men return from war with countless scars, both seen and unseen, their lives and relationships begin to unravel. Riding with a 1% motorcycle club (an “outlaw” club calling themselves the 1% after the American Motorcycle Association declares that 99% of motorcyclists are respectable, law-abiding citizens) provides camaraderie and temporary release. But the downward spiral continues into grief, pain, violence and addiction.

The three stories interweave as we discover that, for each man, reaching rock bottom was not the end. Crying out to God, John, Ger and Kevin find their lives turned around.

“I was standing there thinking, ‘Am I really buying a Bible’?”

“My son, Jamie, had invited me to church five thousand times. When I finally went along, he was shocked.”

“I stopped the truck, got out on the side of the road, and knelt down.”

Over time, there is restoration and forgiveness, but there is also the stark reality of grief and loss described with aching sensitivity. This stunning book is beautifully written with exquisite imagery. But the real masterpiece, for me, is the story of three lives transformed. Get your copy as soon as you can. And while you are at it, buy a copy for a friend! Pre-order from www. bethanybarnett.ie - it will be available from Amazon in May.

I AM YOUR IMPOSSIBLE FRIEND

By Louis Hemmings, illustrated by Katya Zhu

After his poignant last booklet, A Sunny Saturday Kicks Off, I was intrigued to read Louis Hemmings’ latest collection of poetry.

I Am Your Impossible Friend seems more eclectic, drawing inspiration from diverse seasons of life. It is a poetic smorgasbord with a range of themes, styles and emotions.

Standout for me were the sumptuous Summer Pastoral Scenes in Rural Russia, with its luxurious use of language, and the delightful Baby Hats for Bread seasoned with effortless alliteration.

I enjoyed No Haloes Required, smiled at the nostalgic Taking the Edge off Autumn, and thrilled to read Somewhere Better Beckons You (Tir na n’Óg) - a delightful fusion of past, present and future. With more abstract illustrations from Katya Zhu and some edgy moments, there may be some dishes that won’t be to your taste. But that’s the joy of the buffet.

To order your copy, write to Avonbeg, Newtownpark Ave., Blackrock, Co Dublin with your address and payment of €12 plus €1.70 (p&p). Cheques payable to Louis Hemmings.

TIM & SUE ELDRIDGE (Presence Ministries UK) will be ministering in the areas of healing & revival at

New Hope Christian Centre, Kilkenny Saturday, April 8th (7pm) and Sunday April 9th (11am/7pm) for our

Download a conference brochure at www.newhope.ie/ events

SPRING CONFERENCE (We regret that we are unable to accommodate children under 10 years at our evening meetings.)

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/newhopekilkenny

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 For families, couples and walkers

 Walking and Gospel Music Weekend: 10 - 14 May 

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VOX PS

“SORRY? YEAH, RIGHT!”

BY SEÁN MULLAN

ay sorry!” Most parents have Components of an Apology” and “The given that instruction to their Delivery of an Apology” and “Phrases to children more times than they Avoid when Apologising.” want to remember. It often No, I’m not making this up. That comes with a good dose of indignation and documents needs re-labelling. It should be frustration at their behaviour. One of my called “How to say sorry when you’re not.” I many “dad dilemmas” was dealing with the don’t mean that the individuals concerned times when my children obeyed me and did are not sorry. The Health Service is say “sorry” like I told them. But both they populated with many fine professionals who and I knew full well it was a lie. They weren’t seek to do their job as well as they can and sorry; they were only saying “sorry” to make are genuinely sorry when something goes life easier for themselves - and maybe even wrong. But the issue is this: Is the institution for me as well. sorry? Can institutions be sorry?

Most parents don’t just want their child Take a recent example from the media of to say “sorry;” we want them to be sorry - to an award to a young child left severely brain feel some level of genuine remorse. “How damaged by a failure to run a simple test in could your sister not cry after what you said the hours following the birth. The Health to her?” “Who do you think’s going to have Service accepted 100% responsibility and to fix that window?” “How do you think apologised. But here’s the thing - the birth your mother feels took place over six when she finds two years ago. What months of the school does “sorry” mean THERE’S AN AWFUL LOT OF SAYING “SORRY” to those parents lunches she made in the wardrobe?”

GOING ON IN THE IRISH STATE RIGHT NOW. when you have spent Ok - that’s the end of six years in a court the autobiographical process, risking your section! finances, your health There’s an awful lot of saying “sorry” and your well-being to get professionals going on in the Irish state right now. Run a to take responsibility for failures that they web search for “HSE Apology” and the first probably fully understood and accepted hit is a document produced by the Health within days of the original event?

Services Executive last November entitled By and large, parents in these situations “The Apology - Saying Sorry to Patients/ face stonewalling, a kind of institutional Service Users and/or their Families.” What silence where no one tells you anything. The follows is advice under headings like “The doctors and nurses who seemed to be such

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good carers suddenly seem embarrassed to see you and don’t have anything to say.

Afraid for their own jobs and future, they clam up. Eventually, the truth emerges but only after years of anxiety and anger that add immeasurably to the original trauma.

It’s not only the health institutions that are saying “sorry” these days - state and state agencies, churches and religious organisations are all involved. And most of these are characterised by this same refusal to own up early and take responsibility for the consequences. Apologies eventually emerge like some deeply rooted molar that only comes out because it’s been forcibly dragged from a jaw that refused to let it out.

“Sorry” means dealing with an issue as quickly as possible. “Sorry” means revealing all the facts to the people who need them to know as soon as those facts are known.

“Sorry” means offering appropriate support and compensation long before the courts or the media know anything about it. “Sorry” means we’re starting work now to try and make sure this doesn’t happen again to someone else.

And finally, “sorry” means we will try to develop an institution that puts the people it serves first and tries to treat them better.

Most of the institutions involved in the apology business have mission statements. I suggest they all be replaced by one. It’s been around a while but seems to have become less familiar, and that’s our loss. The man from Nazareth suggested that it was the second-most important phrase you could ever learn: “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

Imagine a country in which every consultation with a professional of any kind begins with the client saying “I am your neighbour” and the professional replies “And I am yours.” Try that one on the next professional whose services you need. And don’t say “sorry” when you do.

Seán Mullan has been working in church leadership for many years.

He has developed a project in Dublin City Centre called “Third Space”.

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