VOX July 2017

ISSUE 35 / JULY - SEPTEMBER 2017

FREE

FINDING FA I T H TOUR 2017 adare ballycastle ballymun blarney bray

donabate drogheda drung dublin

dungannon galway kilkeel

kilkenny lahinch

letterkenny longford

DESERVING OR UNDESERVING

lucan naas omagh

roscommon waterford

ARE WE CATEGORISING MIGRANTS?

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

01

02

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

EDITORIAL

He Will Hold Me Fast few days ago, I was reading the comments section on a popular news website (always a mistake).

Underneath an article drawing attention to record numbers attending this summer’s New Wine conference in Sligo, there was a collection of rather derogatory remarks.

Those of us who believe in Jesus, the commenters suggested, are deluded “fruit loops” (that being the politest of terms deployed) who are only interested in money.

Don’t get me wrong; in more than four decades following Jesus, I’ve met my fair share of real fruit loops and one or two folks for whom the love of money has been their downfall.

But as I reread those comments, my mind was filled with the stories of people I met on this year’s Finding Faith Tour as well as memories of my faith heroes.

These are people like Liz McElhinney, who died on Tuesday 13 June - a beautiful, vibrant woman who held on to her Lord Jesus through her diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease and the subsequent deterioration.

A

WHEN I FEAR MY FAITH WILL FAIL, CHRIST WILL HOLD ME FAST … FOR MY SAVIOUR LOVES ME SO, HE WILL HOLD ME FAST This week, I listened to the beautiful sound of a choir from the US singing the Getty song He Will Hold Me Fast. When the choir director shared his own story of finding comfort and hope even in the face of his son’s tragic death, there were very few dry eyes in the audience.

This issue of VOX magazine is packed full of story after story of faith; lives transformed and relationships restored.

Facing tragedy and loss, people have discovered refuge, strength and peace beyond human understanding.

I’m not going to get upset if people call us “fruit loops” people were pretty scathing about Jesus, as I recall - but I do hope that one day they will also encounter a Saviour who loves them so and can hold them through the darkest of days!

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

Support VOX and have the postman personally deliver your copy.

VOX is a ministry run by a passionate team of volunteers and relys on donations to cover 50% of our costs.

Donate as little as €10 and get VOX delivered to your home for a year for free!

ears!)

(or €20 for two y

www.vox.ie

CONTENTS

JULY - SEPT 2017 ISSUE 35 ISSN: 2009-2253

12 19 20 22 26 28 29 30 32 34 36 40 31 38

COVER STORIES Finding Faith Tour 2017 - stories of Faith, Life and Reality VER STORIES FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Finding Faith Tour: What matters most?

E DITOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie L AYOUT, ADVERTISING & PROMOTION Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie

Finding Faith Tour: Caring for the elderly

OPE RATION S Tara Byrne tara@vox.ie

Finding Faith Tour: Caution God at Work My Story: “God was there through all the traumas and in all my suffering.”

P34

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ireland & UK: Min. €10 for one year or €20 for two years Overseas: Min. €20 for one year or €40 for two years

Finding Faith Tour: Passionate About the Gospel Finding Faith Tour: Darkness into Light Finding Faith Tour: Connecting with Artists My Story: “I would lie in bed at night and listen to the screams of the other women.”

Immigration and Integration - Creating a community where everyone feels safe, secure and respected.

P38

Weeping with those who weep - standing with the persecuted church.

Celebrating five years of YWAM in Sligo

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

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 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 Creation Care and Mission - part one Deserving or Undeserving? A visit to Italy raises questions about categorising migrants

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

P45

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 Media Reviews

43 44 46

Music Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

TM

IRELAND

04

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

PROTECT FAMILIES FROM BEING TORN APART

80% of children living in orphanages have at least one parent alive. Help us to keep families together.

TO FIND OUT HOW VISIT TEARFUND.IE OR CALL 01 878 3200 /tearfundireland

@TearfundIreland

tearfund ireland

Photo: ChildSafe Movement/3PC. Tearfund Ireland registered Charity No. CHY 8600

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

05

VOX SHORTS

Children can’t afford to wait

Children’s charity Barnardos is calling on the government to address long waiting lists by providing essential health assessments and treatments for children. In a campaign launched in May, they highlighted some of the shocking figures, including 2,500 children waiting to access mental health services (an increase of 44% on the same time last year) and over 11,000 children waiting for speech and language assessment. The

average wait for disability assessment is 11 months, far longer than the three-month limit set out by legislation.

Out of desperation, some parents are paying for private medical care for their children, but others simply cannot afford to. “Children’s health is suffering. Delays are damaging their health, well-being and development,” a Barnardos spokesperson said.

Combating Human Trafficking

A Sligo woman is giving up her full-time job to set up the first ROI branch of UK charity “Invisible Traffick.” Mary McSharry is working to raise awareness of human trafficking in Ireland and campaigning to bring it to an end.

“About three years ago, I prayed one of those dangerous prayers: ‘God, break my heart for the things that break yours…’ I discovered that there are more slaves today than ever before in our history. I thought it was out in Asia and my heart was to go and do something, but when I realised it was right here in our own country, in my county and town, I knew God was telling me to get involved. For example, the justice department reported 65 actions to combat human trafficking in Ireland last year alone. And the highest incidence per capita is in the North West, in places like Sligo and Letterkenny!

“It is such an atrocity and injustice that it can paralyse you. But we are asked to be light, and even the tiniest little bit of light can make a difference.

The darker it is, the brighter your light will be.”

The organisation ‘Invisible Traffick’ started in an Elim church in Bangor. Some of Mary’s greatest support in setting up an ROI branch has come from the Mothers’ Union, especially during their 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, which is held in November each year. Find out more at www. invisibletraffick.org.

06

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

Belfast city ‘sleep out’ highlights the plight of refugees

The 60th Christian Aid Week was launched on Friday 12 May with a ‘sleep-out’ in Belfast city centre to remember the millions of people worldwide who have been forced from their homes. The overseas aid organisation was joined by members of the public in Buoy Park, Belfast city centre, who slept out from 12pm on Friday 12 May to 12pm on Saturday 13 May in solidarity with the millions of people who have fled violence and war.

This year’s Christian Aid Week, highlighting the refugee crisis, ran until Saturday 20 May, with house-to-house collections and fundraising events taking place across the island.

Rosamond Bennett, CEO of Christian Aid Ireland, said, “Christian Aid Week began 60 years ago to support the aid effort helping refugees fleeing war in Europe. In the decades since then, it has continued to raise millions of pounds to help people in need.”

According to the UNHCR, 65.3 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Syrians continue to be the largest group of refugees worldwide. Rosamond said, “So many people have undertaken long and treacherous journeys in fear for their lives, only to face long stays in cramped tents and refugee camps. Many are trapped, unable to travel onwards or to go home. Christian Aid supporters took part in the sleep-out to demonstrate their support for war-weary people, who spend every single night in poor, cramped conditions.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity and goodwill of our supporters, including churches, communities and volunteers, who will raise vital funds for life-changing work with people in need.” Find out more at www.christianaid.ie or call 028 90 648133 (Northern Ireland) or 01 496 7040 (Republic of Ireland).

VOX MAGAZINE

Project Hope

ACET Ireland’s “Project Hope” was among the social enterprises that pitched to judges in the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards Programme at the RDS in May. Richard Carson shared how Project Hope aims to address the problem of vulnerable migrants, their poor integration into Irish society and their poor health outcomes.

“The solution that we found is to work particularly within faith communities. For many migrants, this community is not just a space for religious practise but actually their key community support in Ireland,” he said.

“We work within that using an ecological model: top down, mentoring and providing support for leaders, and bottom up, with one-toone supports, particularly in the areas of sexual health, mental health and HIV.” The project helps to train and support leaders in caring for vulnerable migrants.

Leaders like Amos Ngugi who is an Irishman working in partnership with ACET to care for his peers amidst their significant mental, medical and social health challenges. His story began as an asylum seeker in Mosney, Co. Meath, when he took the lack of educational and vocational opportunities offered by Direct Provision into his own hands and walked 10km to the nearest town to present his credentials as a hospital chaplain.

Known locally as ‘Pastor Amos,’ today he provides counselling for vulnerable migrants in what was once a brothel in the 19th century and is now a place offering new beginnings for many of our newest citizens.

Remembering Liz

Known and loved by many across Ireland and Northern Ireland, Canon Liz McElhinney died on Tuesday 13 June. A woman of infectious faith, Canon Liz worked well into her “retirement” serving in a number of Church of Ireland parishes in Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Diocese.

Eleven months after her diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease, Canon Liz shared her thoughts in a YouTube video (still available) that helped and inspired many. “I’m not terribly courageous or brave, but I did know that this challenge was a journey of faith,” she said. “For so long, I have encouraged others, saying, ‘God’s grace will be sufficient.’ Each day, I have a choice to believe that God is sufficient, and as Psalm 46 says, ‘He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in times of trouble.’ I have a sense of real peace that is beyond understanding.

“I don’t want to be parted [from my beloved husband, children and grandchildren] but because I know that they too love the Lord, I know we will meet again. There is no cure for MND, but I know that He is able to carry me through.”

People gathered from all over Ireland to give thanks to God for Liz at her funeral service in Shankill Church in Lurgan.

Thy Kingdom Come

Christians in Belfast and Dublin came together for special prayer meetings over Pentecost as part of the global prayer movement “Thy Kingdom Come.” Hundreds gathered at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, while over 100 people came together in St. Catherine’s Church in Dublin. Organised by 24/7 Prayer Ireland, the prayer meetings united Christians from across different denominations in praying for Ireland and for issues affecting the wider world.

Keep in touch with 24/7 Prayer Ireland for news of future prayer gatherings.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

07

WORLD NEWS

IT IS ORDINARY SYRIANS WHO ARE HURTING THE MOST, AND IT IS BORDERING COUNTRIES LIKE JORDAN THAT ARE HELPING THE MOST.

EU ‘COMPACTS’ COULD PUT CHRISTIANS AT RISK

Church in Chains and the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) sent a joint letter to the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in June, urging him not to sign a number of secretive ‘compacts’ that would circumvent measures to protect refugees and make it much easier for governments to send refugees back to dangerous areas.

These measures could be used, for example, to send Christian refugees fleeing persecution back to their persecutors in places like Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan. However, such compacts must be signed by every nation’s Foreign Minister to take effect. Even one refusal will scupper the arrangements. One of the nations being considered, Eritrea, has a horrendous track record in persecuting Christians. EAI National Director Nick Park said, “We need to pray that Ireland will take a stand for the human rights of all but especially of persecuted Christians.” To find out more, visit www.churchinchains.ie.

08

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

OVERWHELMED WITH TRAUMA

Recently, Niamh Daly from Tearfund Ireland travelled to Jordan to meet Syrian refugees participating in programmes implemented by Tearfund Ireland partners with support from the Irish Government (Irish Aid), Irish churches and individuals. Niamh shares her experiences here: I sat with Jaydah in her two-room apartment and heard her story. One morning four years ago, shortly after kissing her 12-year-old son goodbye, she heard an explosion and ran out to the street. First she found the body of her husband, followed by the bodies of her brother and then her young son. She wept as she re-enacted with hand gestures how their bodies were strewn on the pavement. Muhammad, her 17-year-old son, was also caught up in the explosion, and his leg was badly damaged.

She tried to get him help, but he lost his leg.

As she told their story, he sat next to her staring at the ground. Now 21, Muhammad is her main cause for concern.

He didn’t go outside their apartment for over a year after they moved to Jordan.

The trauma and grief overwhelmed him and he was deeply depressed. Ordinary Syrians like Jaydah and Muhammad are hurting the most in this conflict.

Jaydah recently participated in a series of counselling sessions, run by a local Tearfund partner, that encourage Syrian women to share their stories and give them tools to cope with the losses they have experienced. The sessions are also aimed at helping the women to identify symptoms of trauma in other family members and to

seek specialised referrals, especially where situations of gender and sexual-based violence are exposed.

These sessions have been her first opportunity to talk about what she has experienced and to meet other Syrian refugees living in her area. The counselling sessions are run by trained Jordanian facilitators. It is especially helpful for women like Jaydah to be cared for by Jordanians because it helps them feel welcomed in this country that is not their home, and it builds relationships between the two communities.

In the afternoon, we attended a ‘home visit’ with a mom who recently gave birth to twins. The father explains that he ran his own electrical shop in Syria. His twin baby sons lie wrapped in heavy blankets on a mattress on the floor of their unfurnished two-roomed home. The father explains how he wants to return to Syria someday, but he knows it is not safe now. He is grateful for the new start in Jordan. The family is surviving on a monthly food permit of approximately €60 and some odd electrical jobs the dad can find.

Against the backdrop of discussions about Ireland’s immigration policy and the resettling of Syrian refugees here in Ireland, experiencing the refugee crisis at the coal face is a reminder that in this conflict, now running longer than World War II, it is ordinary Syrians who are hurting the most, and it is bordering countries like Jordan that are helping the most, setting the example for a national response.

“ An incredible learning experience ...�

IBI: mind-stretching, heart-warming, character shaping Courses for everyone

We are open all summer - we would love to see you.

Apply now for 2017-18

www.IBI.ie

01-8069060

Sarah@ibi.ie JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

09

YOUR VOX

Letters to the editor

Star Letter

of VOX we In each issue all of a €25 One4 award a prize r. tte le ite ur r favo voucher for ou u! yo It could be

Time for action It is one year since the untimely death (May 2016) of former MayilWestbank orphanage resident Victor Stevenson. Victor devoted all of his energies to the recognition of and compensation for the forgotten Protestant victims of Ireland’s sectarian welfare regimes. He was careful always to emphasise the similarity of experiences between neglected and marginalised Catholic and Protestant children and of their more-oftenthan-not equally marginalised mothers.

Victor made sure that the voices of others were heard before reluctantly speaking of his own journey. Like Victor Stevenson, most of our lives have been spent waiting in vain for people in authority to do the right thing.

In continuing his work, as former residents of Protestant-ethos institutions, we call on the Irish government to act immediately on a recent recommendation from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Inquiry.

The Commission discovered “evidence that there was an element of State involvement with Westbank [orphanage in Greystones, Co Wicklow] in that children were sent there by the health authorities.”

It continued, “There is an argument that it should have been included in the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme.” The Commission reported that Westbank was “associated with the Bethany [mother and baby] home” which also had a “strong case for inclusion” in the redress scheme.

Westbank was not included because the state, civil society and media were fixated on abuse in institutions under the control of the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, an unrelenting focus has been on extracting compensation only from that source.

Protestant churches and members of Protestant communities were not pressurised to speak out about the treatment of unmarried Protestant mothers and of their abandoned offspring. No apology has emanated from any representative Protestant organisation or church for abuse in Protestant-ethos institutions. No monetary contribution was given to the state to be offset against compensation paid to Protestant victims of abuse.

Protestant institutions conveniently keep their heads down. Many Protestant victims remain ignored by the state and by Protestant churches. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Children should immediately act on the recommendations of their own Commission of Inquiry.

COLLEEN ANDERSON, AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND - WESTBANK ORPHANAGE PATRICK ANDERSON MCQUOID, LEITRIM - BETHANY HOME COLM BEGLEY, CORK - BETHANY HOME, WESTBANK ORPHANAGE ELIZABETH CHIKANY O’TOOLE, WICKLOW - BETHANY HOME, WESTBANK ORPHANAGE SIDNEY HERDMAN, ARMAGH - BETHANY, WESTBANK ORPHANAGE JOHN HILL, MEATH – CHURCH OF IRELAND MAGDALEN HOME, NURSERY RESCUE SOCIETY LORRAINE JACKSON, MEATH - BETHANY HOME JOYCE MCSHARRY, DUBLIN - BETHANY HOME ANDREW YATES, DOWN - BETHANY HOME, WESTBANK ORPHANAGE

10

ABORTION AS HEALTHCARE?

I was surprised to hear that two midwives (Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen) who have conscientious objections against assisting with abortions have been unable to work in hospitals in Sweden. Grimmark – having trained to help bring new life into the world, not to end it - was asked by her manager, “How could you even think of becoming a midwife with these opinions?”

I suspect this contradictory situation has emerged for two reasons: because the concept of abortion as healthcare has become so deeply entrenched, and because the concept of the unborn child as a separate human being with his/her own rights in parallel with the mother’s rights (as recognised in our constitution’s 8th Amendment) has been so thoroughly eroded.

As the “Dublin Declaration” by hundreds of healthcare professionals has confirmed, abortion is not needed for optimal women’s healthcare, and there is a crucial distinction between procedures with different intentions - to save life, or to end life. If abortion is essential healthcare provision for women, then of course it should be legal. However, this common perception is far from true and ignores the hard reality that every abortion, for whatever reasons, ends the life of a vulnerable human being.

As Christians, are we not called to do what we can to defend these babies’ right to life, as the effective “orphans and fatherless” of our day? Are we able and willing (and if not, why not?) to shine a light of truth on these issues among our family, friends or colleagues, and in the wider public square, in these times with an abortion referendum likely coming soon?

It is vitally important, in parallel, to recognise that pregnant mothers, fathers and families sometimes find themselves in very difficult circumstances with abortion presented as the best solution – though in many cases a “solution” with long-term mental and emotional consequences for mothers as well. They, as well as mothers who are considering raising their child in spite of challenges, or placing him/her for adoption (now very rare), are in much need of Christlike care and compassion, not only during pregnancy but beyond.

What efforts are Christians in Ireland making, as communities as well as individuals, to reach out to them, and how can we do more?

RUTH FOLEY CLONDALKIN, DUBLIN

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

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

Still the same low fees in 2017

1-800-558-792 moneygram.ie Fast ¡ Reliable ¡ Affordable

/moneygram

@moneygramME

MoneyGram, the Globe and MoneyGram Bringing You Closer are trademarks of MoneyGram International Limited. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. MoneyGram International Limited is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. Copyright 2017 MoneyGram.

16-01495

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

11

// The 2017 Tour //

Finding Faith Tour 2017 2 - 8 May

During the fifth annual VOX magazine “Finding Faith Tour”, editor Ruth Garvey-Williams took to the road to hunt down stories of faith, life and reality across the island of Ireland and to find out what God is doing in and through different churches, organisations and individuals. In seven days, she travelled 1249.7 miles / 2011 km and drove through 21 counties interviewing 49 people from at least 13 different denominations and types of churches including (in alphabetical order) Baptist, Catholic, CCI (formerly Assemblies of God), Church of God, Church of Ireland, house church, independent evangelical, Methodist, Pentecostal, Plumbline Ministries, Presbyterian, RCCG and Vineyard.

This special edition of VOX magazine includes many of the stories from this year’s tour and you can also find the daily blog accounts on our website www.vox.ie/vox-blog.

FINDING FAITH

If our reader survey last year told us one thing, it was this - you love to read people’s personal stories. So this year on the Finding Faith Tour as we travelled all over the island, we focused on capturing those life-changing journeys.

We hope you will find these as moving, inspiring and encouraging as we did. Enjoy!

D

DEEP WITHIN I KNEW SOMETHING WAS MISSING STEPHEN WILSON LETTERKENNY, CO. DONEGAL

I started my business life in the shirt factories in Derry, and as the factories closed, I moved on and ended up working and travelling all over the world with the shirt manufacturing industry. You would have thought I had everything, but deep within I knew that something was missing.

My wife, Ruth, became a Christian before me and began praying for me. Our family situation had become strained to the point of breaking because of my travel. I would come back, turn the house upside down and then leave again.

Ruth gave me a travel Bible and I carried it everywhere I went. In 2001, in a hotel in Phnom Penh in Cambodia, I was reading Matthew 11 where the Lord Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden…”

Suddenly, I realised that it was only through Jesus that I would find peace and rest.

Right there in that hotel room, I got down on my knees and wept and prayed that God would forgive me. I prayed that He would help me to follow Him. I remember lying on the bed immediately afterwards, thinking of all the pressures of the business. I realised that they had disappeared and the peace I had been searching for had come.

All this left us with a

VOX MAGAZINE

decision to make as a family.

Should I give up work, come home and try to rebuild the family? But God had a greater plan. The day before I planned to resign, my boss called me in to ask whether I would move my family to work in Mauritius. God moved us to the other side of the world where we could grow together as a family. We were part of the International Baptist Church in Mauritius, and it was there that God worked in both our lives, restoring us and preparing us.

When the work finished, the Lord laid it on my heart to go to the Irish Baptist College to study. People told me, “You are absolutely mad.” I was giving up a high-powered executive job with a top salary for nothing. And yet, we never lacked anything throughout that time!

I always believed I would be called to some kind of mission.

To be a pastor of a church wasn’t really on my radar, yet before I even finished college, the church here in Letterkenny (County Donegal) asked if I would be interested. I have been here for four years.

I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD ELAINE MARRETT, DROGHEDA, CO LOUTH

I grew up in a legalistic church, and I never knew about God’s grace. My upbringing was very strict and I did

everything right until I met “that” guy. I craved love.

When I became pregnant, the elders did not know how to handle it. I had to write a letter to the church to say that I was sorry. The letter was read out to the church and I remember all I could do was cry. But then one guy stood up and said, “Let’s join hands and pray for Elaine.”

That was a defining moment.

The church could have turned on me. I’m sure there was judgement but the main thing I received was love and support.

My daughter was my wake up call. My dad wanted me to marry her father but I knew I couldn’t. I’d have all the nice things in life but God would be forgotten, and that was not the future I wanted.

I would have done anything to get right with God. I remember lying in bed one day feeling so empty. In my eyes, I had committed the ultimate sin.

I cried out and said, “If you are still there, if you still love me, I need you.” It was like someone got into the bed beside me, took my hand and spoke to me.

“Put me first. Trust me.”

I remember being able to end things with the guy. Even though I was very shy, I stood my ground. The guy showed his true colours, and I moved forward. It was lonely and hard but I found my hope and strength in God. A couple of years later, I met and married my husband.

I always thought I couldn’t do the college thing. When I

finally told my husband I was thinking about going back to college, we had no money.

We were planning to take out a loan from the credit union but then I saw an advert in the paper that said, “You can win a scholarship to a beauty course.”

I kept saying to God, “Please show me how to win this.” I wrote in and I won the scholarship, which was for over €5,000. Eventually, I became a beauty therapist with my own business.

Ed. note: Today Elaine is on the leadership team of Solid Rock Church in Drogheda!

THE ‘FASTER PASTOR’ JUMPED IN FEET FIRST! TIM SHIELS - OMAGH, CO. TYRONE

There has never been a day in my life when I haven’t believed in God, but my question was, ‘Why would God want anything to do with me, someone who is so broken?’

I grew up in a home where we were all high achievers. I misinterpreted the recognition of achievement as love and felt I had to be performing all the time.

Eventually, I gave up trying and got mixed up in drugs and alcohol. I started off partying on a Friday night and ended up spending €400 a day on cocaine. Eventually, I found myself homeless in Dublin wondering, “How on earth did I get here?”

I went into rehab in Athy, Co Kildare, for 12 months.

When I came out, I thought I was cured. I met my wife in a nightclub. She was selling drugs and I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

In the first year of our relationship, Jennie got pregnant with twins. We both realised that to change our lives and flourish, we needed to get away from Dublin, away from the drugs and the social circle.

We lived in Liverpool JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

13

// The 2017 Tour //

where I ran a motorcycle training school, but when Jennie’s mum got sick and died at 48, Jennie had a nervous breakdown. She got involved in drug use again. We went our separate ways. At the time, Jennie was pregnant with our third child.

I came back to Derry with the twins. Jennie moved in with her aunt in Dublin who is a Christian counsellor, and she started to connect with Jesus. Her life started to change. She moved to Derry, started studying nursing and got plugged into Cornerstone Community Church. Her life was transforming, but the higher she got, the lower I sank.

She was thriving in church and I hated it. I was angry, frustrated and jealous.

My kids asked me to come to church, and every time I went, it felt like the pastor was talking about me. After fighting it for a while, one day at church there was opportunity for people to surrender their lives to Jesus, and I jumped in feet first. I realised that if Jesus could do what He had done

14

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

for Jennie, He could do it for anyone.

My issue was never Him, it was what He thought of me.

When I realised He loved me, it was an easy transition. Within six months, I was a full-time volunteer in the church, and soon afterwards I was on staff!

In the middle of all of that, we decided to revisit our relationship. We had dinner one night and by the time dessert came, we had decided to get married. Jesus had transformed our perceptions of each other. After that, child number four came along!

Today I am serving as pastor of Omagh Community Church. I am known as the “Faster Pastor” because I am the Irish Masters 400 and 800 metres athletics champion (indoor and outdoor).

IF THIS PERSON TRUSTS GOD, THEN IT MUST BE TRUE ANDREW FORSTER DUNGANNON, CO. TYRONE

There were three main influences in my life. One was

my church, the second was the Scripture Union camps I went to, and the third was Crusaders (now Urban Saints).

But as a young teenager, there was a moment when I realised I had to make a personal commitment. What really made me take Jesus seriously was the death of a close friend called Hazel. She had such a clear faith and a love for the Lord. I thought, if this person who has gone through so much trusts God, then it must be true.

THE HOLE I HAD FELT IN MY LIFE FOR SO LONG WAS SUDDENLY FILLED DANIELLE DUFFY DONABATE, CO. DUBLIN

I was born and loosely raised Catholic but never went to mass. I was always the deep thinker of my family. I remember buying a picture Bible with my pocket money.

I would sit on my bed reading it all the time. When I was a teenager, my mum and my stepdad separated and there was a lot of violence in the home.

I remember standing at the back of a church. The priest was tidying up and I said, “Can you talk to me about the Bible?” He told me, “The Bible is not for you to read. It is for me to read for you.” That was discouraging.

At 15, I was sexually assaulted, and this spiralled me out of control. I went nuts

with a party lifestyle. I was self-harming and suicidal and became promiscuous. At 18, I fell pregnant with my son Joshua. I think he saved my life (I don’t think I would still be here without him). It was the best thing in the world having him, and it gave me the motivation to sort myself out.

Joshua went to the Discovery Camp [the summer camp that Donabate Presbyterian church runs].

I’m not religious. I had a messed-up lifestyle but Andy (the minister) invited me to a Sunday service and gave me a Bible.

On the Sunday after Discovery camp, I went along.

I can’t remember what it was about but the hole I had felt in my life for so long was suddenly filled. I was laughing and crying at the same time. I had tried to fill that hole with so much “crap.”

Through learning about the grace of God, I have forgiven the person who assaulted me.

The book What’s So Amazing About Grace? changed my whole value system. I had held on to so much anger and bitterness.

Andy was running the Alpha course in the back room of the local pub. I went in with questions prepared even before I had watched any of the talks.

Andy answered my questions, helping me to understand, and never made me feel bad.

It really does take a

VOX MAGAZINE

me and the problems I am facing are nothing compared to that.

WHATEVER YOU TELL ME TO DO, I WILL DO IT JOHN ENIOLA, BALLYMUN, DUBLIN

community to raise a child.

Joshua’s dad and I are not together but our church is really incredible. I feel accepted and I know that I’ve been adopted into God’s family. They are there to support each other.

My friends see a difference in me. I’m 28 and I’ve been through enough stuff. You can’t go forward broken. It’s not just a patch-up job. When God heals you, you can literally take on the world and all its challenges.

IF I WASN’T A CHRISTIAN, I’D PROBABLY BE A TRAIN WRECK JOSH MCCANCE - BANGOR, CO. DOWN

My mum and dad are both Christians, and they read a storybook Bible to us. When I was five or six, I wrote in my Bible, “I have decided to follow Jesus today.”

In secondary school, I wandered away from God and began hanging around with people who weren’t into it. I put my faith to sleep for six or seven years. A friend invited me to this event called “Hope” in the Odyssey Arena. The guy who was speaking told the story of the two lost sons. God was speaking to me and saying, “Come back home to me.” I could see myself in both sons.

I made a commitment, and God put people in my life to help me. There was a guy who met me for coffee every week,

answering questions for me.

Jesus is my Saviour and my best friend. I love reading John’s gospel especially and the account of the cross and the resurrection. I honestly don’t know how I would function without Him. I wouldn’t have any hope. I’m naturally anxious and over-think things.

If I wasn’t a Christian, I would probably be a train wreck.

Every time I get anxious, I remember that Jesus died for

I was brought up and mentored by Irish missionaries.

I went to a Catholic school and I was meant to go to a seminary but I rebelled against being a priest because I wanted to have a wife and kids. Even my name, John, was given to me by an Irish priest.

Fifteen years ago, my wife and our baby moved to Ireland, and I was looking after our five children in Nigeria. I wanted to join my wife but I didn’t want to leave any of our children behind. I applied for residency for five children and me. It looked crazy because we had never been to Ireland. I said to the Lord, “If you can grant me the visa, then whatever you tell me to do in that country, I will do.”

Miraculously, the visa was granted. People who applied for just one person were not granted a visa. But we received permission for all six of us!

When we arrived in Ireland, I joined my wife at the RCCG headquarters in Bluebell. I thought it was a great privilege to come to God’s own country but I realised that there were more people in the pub than in the church! I said, “God, if I could be of any use to you in this nation, I would be so glad.”

A church was starting in Navan, and the pastor came to ask for my son to join them as a drummer. I said, “Don’t just take my son, take me also. I want to serve God.” After about a year in Navan, the pastor was starting a new parish in Cavan, and he said I should go and pastor the church.

I said, “No; I didn’t come to Ireland to be pastor!” When I was growing up, my mother dedicated her three boys to service and prayed that they would be pastors. I had a bet with my mother that I would make sure that prayer would never be answered.

One day, the Lord reminded me of the time in Africa when I knelt down and said, “Whatever you tell me to do, I will do it.” So I told the pastor, “I will go to Cavan but I don’t want to be the pastor.”

After a year, I joined with other leaders for three days of prayer and fasting. One brother saw me in a vision. I was on my knees and there was a baton coming from heaven. I was begging, “Please don’t give it to me.”

I explained, “I’ve been struggling over this pastoral work. God wants to give me the baton and I’ve been refusing it.”

That was when I fully accepted the call to be pastor. Since then we have progressed with the work. I have a passion and burden for the nation of Ireland.

For 11 years as a pastor in Cavan, every Saturday night, I would stay in the church over night into Sunday morning, praying for revival.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

15

// The 2017 Tour //

We came to Dublin in January 2010 and started providing hot meals for the homeless. We started Hill City Church here in Ballymun in August 2014 (referring to Matthew 5:14). We met in the kitchen of a local crèche with a handful of people.

Within a few years, God gave us this property in a Ballymun industrial estate. The church has grown to about 80 people.

It is a completely multinational church with more white than black in the church.

I BEGAN SEARCHING FOR THE ANSWERS TO LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS JAMES REILLY, NAAS, COUNTY KILDARE

I grew up in the country, worked hard, and went to mass on a Sunday. My parents were great. The impression I had was that the Gospel was good news if you were good but we needed to be good enough to make the grade.

16

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

As a teenager, I began searching for the answers to life’s big questions. I went to Dublin to work for a year, and during that time I read philosophy but I still wasn’t finding answers. I started reading the New Testament too.

One day, on my lunch break, I took a walk down behind the railings of Trinity and saw a poster on the side of a building - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8) That building was Merrion Hall. I thought, “You could love a God like that who offers grace as a free gift.”

Later, I read another verse from 1 Kings 18:21. Elijah said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” So I thought I had a choice.

I thought, I believe in Jesus; of course everyone does, but they don’t seem so excited about it. I set my direction to celebrate this gift of salvation God had given. I was smiling so much that I was embarrassed.

I kept on reading my New Testament and over again it kept repeating what I had seen on the poster. I thought this was wonderful!

When I moved down to

Galway to go to college, there was this man selling magazines on the campus. They were 20 cent each so I didn’t buy one.

A few days later, in the coffee shop, along came magazine man. We chatted and he shared with me the “four spiritual laws.” I thought, “That is what I have already done.”

He gave me a magazine (for free), which was cool. The face on the cover was Joan Brown, a staff member in Campus Crusade. (Today her name is Joanie Reilly!)

I was invited to a meeting.

Here people were singing songs and studying the Bible. They were excited about it. These were the first Christians I knew and it was just super.

After college, I moved into a teaching job but it came to their attention that I was a Christian, so they gave me notice. I told them, “I hope I will be a blessing.” And I tried to make sure that there would be nothing bad they could say against me except that I was a Christian.

Eventually, we ( Joanie and I) came up here to Naas; I got a job in Tallaght teaching in third level and we connected in with Naas Community Church.

Along with another guy, I was asked to join the leadership team. I said “Yes” but the other guy said “No.” Then the pastor resigned, so I was left as leader of the church. I kept waiting for the “real” leader to show up.

That was in 2001!

I HAD BECOME SO BUSY AND I HAD FORGOTTEN WHAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT MICHAEL KENNING, BLARNEY & MALLOW, CO. CORK

Liz and I go to the Church of Ireland here in Blarney. It is exciting because they are planning a new church in a nearby town. We actually used to go to Grace Christian Church in Cork City. It is a great church and it is growing but about six or seven years ago, a friend said, “You are leaving Grace and you are going to be involved in helping a small church grow.” We said “No!” But then about a year later, we began to feel that God wanted us here. We live in Mallow, so it is closer. We left Grace very amicably and settled into the Church of Ireland.

It has been lovely to get to know all these folks and to experience the mix of traditional and charismatic.

Personally, I’ve been on a journey. God ambushed me on the “Camino Way.” I had wanted to do the walk for a few years. I thought it would be good exercise and I wasn’t really imagining that I’d get anything out of it spiritually.

On day three, I found myself in tears and thought, “Why am I crying?” I felt the Lord talking to me, and I found myself sitting in churches for hours just listening to God. Reading The Celebration of

VOX MAGAZINE

Discipline, I realised that this is what God was saying. I had become so busy and I had forgotten what was most important.

Since then, I’ve been spending a lot of time sitting in my room, meditating on Bible verses. I feel strangely more refreshed. I thought when I left Grace (a dynamic church) it might be difficult. But funnily enough, I feel more refreshed spiritually. I’m serving where God wants me to be.

MY BIG QUESTION HAD BEEN, “HOW CAN A GOD OF LOVE ALLOW SUFFERING?” NICK JONES, DRUNG, CO. CAVAN

I grew up hearing about Jesus from a young age but my mum got cancer when I was 13. We were praying that she would be healed and some people in the church were promising that she would be healed. When she died, I was very angry with God and I felt let down by the church. I felt this gave me licence to live however I wanted, so I joined a heavy metal band and adopted a lifestyle to go with that. I still called myself a Christian. I

knew deep down that God was there but I was sure He wasn’t pleased with me.

I studied law at university, and a friend of mine, who thought I was a Christian, asked me to be a leader on a Scripture Union camp in Romania. They were short of wind surfing instructors.

I jumped at the chance to go to Romania but I felt like a hypocrite.

I was a leader on a Christian camp but I wasn’t following Jesus. One leader talked about having a foot in two boats and going in opposite directions. He spoke about the forgiveness that was available through Jesus. I thought that was incredible.

I came home thinking that something had to change.

I’d had the mistaken view that Christianity was about doing good things, and if we do enough good things, we’ll get to heaven. When I realised that it was about what Jesus had done for me, suddenly Christianity became about a relationship rather than rule-keeping.

My big question had been, “How can a God of love allow suffering?” When I saw that His son had died on a cross, I

saw His love. The resurrection showed me His power. I needed to trust Him that even though my mum had died, He was good and loving, and He had shown that at the cross.

Once I figured out that was true, it changed my life immediately. I went to Brazil with LatinLink and did a STEP programme helping street children. These children had nothing but they had more joy than I did. I came back from there eager to serve God. I went to theological college and that’s where I met Dorothy. She is from Dublin, and when we got married,

she persuaded me to consider ordination and to think about coming to Ireland.

Our daughter Bethany was born by C-section nine weeks early with a twist in her bowel, which meant she was dying.

They had her on a life-support machine, and eventually they sent us to a specialist hospital for an operation to cut out 20% of her intestines. It means she has multiple food intolerances.

For a while, we thought we were going to lose her and that brought back everything with my mum. But there was a difference. This time, I knew that God is loving. I knew that He is powerful. So we trusted Him. Whatever happened, we knew God was acting for our good even if it meant losing her. By the grace of God, she was okay, but it has been a long, hard struggle.

When William came along, he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Caring for both our children brings us back to trusting God. At the moment, there is a treatment that has been approved in other European countries but has not been approved by the HSE. We have been campaigning for William and the others with the same condition to have the medication.

To sign the petition in support of Nick and Dorothy and other families in Ireland, please visit www.mdi.ie/translarnapetition.html JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

17

R E X O B P A THE SO

BY DR KEN BAKER

FINDING FAITH - TOGETHER? The statement is very strong. I heard of a Christian priest esus once asked an odd question. It was, “When the inviting a Muslim imam to speak in his pulpit and of a church Son of man comes again, will He find faith on earth?” joining with a Hindu temple to hold a prayer service. One (Luke 18:8) I’m pretty sure that the correct response might applaud the desire to share and talk together in is a thoughtful silence, not a breezy “Why, yes, communities that are often riven with friction but the Bible’s certainly!” statement not to be “yoked together with unbelievers” Another question might be: what kind of faith will He find? precludes such behaviour, I think. Light and darkness have no What will the lifestyle of the “faith community” look like? fellowship with each other.

Things change so much. And, generally, not for the better.

At the same time, unity among true Christians is important.

Things that would have seemed scandalously abhorrent even That familiar Psalm reminds us that it is “pleasant when 50 years ago are passed over without comment. brothers dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). And Jesus But before I travel further down the track of how bad prayed (John 17:22) “that they may be one as we are one …” things have become (in my role as Elderly Curmudgeon But what if some of those who profess Christianity deny among the staff of this magazine), let me celebrate an area certain fundamentals of the faith? One must consider each where (in my opinion) things have much improved. It’s in the situation individually. Many reference the name of Jesus area of finding faith together.

Christ and even state that He is Lord and Saviour yet clearly As a young pastor, some decades ago (he added coyly), reject what the Bible says about Him. Obvious examples there seemed to be deep trenches between denominations are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who claim to be from which we would occasionally take pot-shots at rivals.

They were seen as competitors and any proposed cooperation “Christian” yet deny what the Bible declares concerning Christ’s nature and work. was viewed with the deepest suspicion that one’s own people A not-so-obvious example is liberal Christianity, which might be lulled away under the lure of a warmer sanctuary, is found in almost every denomination and often rejects more comfortable seats, and better-quality biscuits. No one questioned theology at all but a regular bloodbath was fought essential truths such as the inspiration and authority of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), the exclusive over matters of heating, seating nature of salvation in Christ (1 Timothy and eating.

2:5), and the total dependence upon But my present experience is of a much greater sense of THESE ARE BIG ISSUES AND NEED CONSIDERATION. God’s grace, apart from human works, for salvation (Romans 3:24, 28; commonality, of shared purpose, Ephesians 2:8–9). These are big issues shared resources and ideas. The and need consideration.

Alpha Course has contributed But let’s finish with a refreshing quote from a theologian: to this a great deal, plus a developing ideology of mutuality “…how much effort do we make to consider what… [other in our Bible colleges. Even this magazine is dedicated to a celebration of diversity in Christian expression, rather than the denominations] …have to say to the rest of us out of their differences, as well as out of the affirmation in common narrow promulgation of just one type. with other Christians? …our patterns of ecumenicity tend And this, according to Walter A. Elwell, in The Concise to bracket out our differences rather than to celebrate and Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, is the dreaded E-word. capitalize upon them. Finding common ground has been Elwell defines Ecumenism as “the the first step in ecumenical relations. But the next step is to organised attempt to bring about acknowledge and enjoy what God has done elsewhere in the cooperation and unity among Body of Christ. And if at the congregational level we say, ‘I Christians.” I used the word can’t do everything myself, for I am an ear: I must consult with “dreaded” and that’s a mite unfair, a hand or an eye on this matter,’ I suggest we do the same but it’s how I was introduced to the among whole traditions. If we do not consult with each other, conversation years ago. we are tacitly claiming that we have no need of each other.” Look, for example, at 2 John G. Stackhouse Jr., Making the Best of It: Following Christ Corinthians 6:14. Paul instructs the in the Real World. young church: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ Ken Baker is a writer and and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an pastor living in Bandon, unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of County Cork.

God and idols?”

J

18

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

VOX MAGAZINE

WHAT MATTERS MOST...

// The 2017 Tour //

V

VEN. ANDREW FORSTER DUNGANNON, CO. TYRONE

“Ministry is not about a role we have; it is about all our life and about how our relationship with God affects the people we minister to. The most important thing about ministry is actually my own personal relationship with Jesus. As a minister, I see people’s lives transformed through the love and life of Jesus, even in the most extreme and difficult circumstances. That is a huge privilege. The hardest part of ministry is also one of the most precious parts. It is coming alongside people in their brokenness and their heartache.

It is precious to accompany people through their pain.”

TIM SHIELS OMAGH, CO. TYRONE

“One of the first things we did was to open up a Community Centre - a place and space where people feel loved. We are accessible and present in the community. When people come into the drop-in centre, they are met with a warm welcome and a great cup of tea or coffee. Everything we do is focused around the kitchen table - a sense of coming together. Everybody is present and everybody feels a part of the family. So we have a large table in the centre of the room here. We are open

Travelling around the country, one of the themes that emerged again and again was the importance of relationship. The greatest impact in Christian ministry, people told me, comes when we don’t just preach a message but also live out that message by loving people and sharing in their pain. every day with different church folks volunteering. People come in and get to feel part of something. There is a space at the table for everybody.”

MIKE WALSH ROSCOMMON

“You might impress people at a distance, but you impact them up close! Recently I heard that someone’s dad had died. I ran to his house. We were there just to listen and to let him cry.

I wish I was a more passionate preacher but what makes up for it is if you love people and you are in their homes.”

REV. SAHR YAMBASU WATERFORD CITY

“Ministry is not on Sunday. It is going to people in their homes, sitting with them, praying with them and encouraging them. It is being with people in times of pain or struggle. I find that ministry is easier when you know people. Generally speaking, people understand that there is not much you can say to them at times of crisis.

What they appreciate is that you are there. You are willing to go straight away and be with them. No one has a magic wand to make it better. Sometimes you just need to cry with them.

People appreciate that.”

CHRIS & HELEN MCCUNE GALWAY

JAMES REILLY NAAS, CO. KILDARE

“Our ministry is very much about relationship and culture rather than strategy. Everyone plays their part and it is a very organic. Our tagline is ‘Reaching out together.’ We have tried some organised things, and funnily enough those haven’t been most effective. Probably the biggest impact is with neighbours or workmates.”

YOU MIGHT IMPRESS PEOPLE AT A DISTANCE, BUT YOU IMPACT THEM UP CLOSE!

“We have such a heart for Galway. When we moved here [from Northern Ireland], God really put it on our hearts to build relationships. We love getting people together, laughing, chatting and sharing.

I don’t think Galway is that kind of city where you just preach at people but it is a place where you see lives changed relationally. Galway people need to know that you are there and that you are going to stick around. It is all about spending time with people.”

MICHAEL KENNING BLARNEY, CO. CORK

“Sometimes as churches we have become ‘project’ orientated when actually it is all about relationships. We forget what is most important.”

JIMMY EARLE GALWAY

“We moved to Ireland [from the USA] in 2008, and we were working with a local church here. When the economy crashed, we went back home to the States but we were miserable. Galway steals your heart. It was our home. God brought us back here in 2013.

We believe in integrating into Irish life. We feel God has sent us here to live alongside Irish people. It is exciting to see the change in the culture, both the positives and negatives, since 2008. Our ministry is living out our faith in front of the community and in our circles of friends. We want to help the community to see Christianity on a relational level. It is the Celtic way of outreach. One of the happiest things we can say is when people come to us and say they feel loved and respected whatever their beliefs or background and that they can have a logical conversation with us.”

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

19

VOX MAGAZINE

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY

// The 2017 Tour //

Occasionally during the Finding Faith Tour, a theme emerges that we had not anticipated. This year, the importance of providing care and dignity to elderly people both in our churches and in the community was repeated again and again. And there were important reminders about how isolated and lonely many older folks are.

E

ELAINE MARRETT DROGHEDA, CO. LOUTH

“When I was 10 years old, I remember a woman in her 60s who used to attend our church.

Recently, I had a dream about her (this is almost 30 years later). I wanted to find out whether she was still alive. It turned out she was living in a private nursing home close by, so one day I bought flowers and chocolates. Without knowing exactly which house it was, I thought I’d knock on every door until I found where she lives. I sat with her and told her I used to know her from church and that I’d come to find her because I had a dream about her. She started to cry and said, ‘The Lord hears my prayers.’ It turns out she is an only child and nobody visits her. Now I drop by when I am passing, and I even organised a party for her 90th birthday. Sometimes we sing and pray with her.”

LIZ KENNING MALLOW, CO. CORK

“I am a home help and I always want to treat people kindly and with love. Our culture thinks it is a demeaning job, but it is an opportunity to show the value that God places on people, no matter what their age. Elderly people are often isolated and lonely, especially if they are not well. They don’t get listened to.

I want to show love and respect.

Even the way you brush their hair or prepare a sandwich can 20

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

give value. I’ve had some really interesting conversations with my patients.”

MARY JO, BLARNEY CO. CORK

“I have a heart for older people.

I know the Lord wants me to do an Alpha course in a nursing home. I just feel for the older generation. For many of them, they have served a God of sin and condemnation. Many do not understand a God of forgiveness.”

VEN. ANDREW FORSTER DUNGANNON, CO. TYRONE

“We take seriously what it means to have all-age worship.

We serve the community from 0 - 90. Our services are what we like to refer to as a ‘blended’ style - we may have traditional hymns led by the organ and choir plus more contemporary worship. I think the older generation appreciate that it helps to attract the younger generation and the younger ones appreciate that the older ones have been here for a long time. There are good relationships across the generations.”

PASTOR PETER BURROWS GALWAY

Galway Christian Fellowship has been running a lunch club on a Tuesday that attracts up to 30 people, Pastor Peter shares. This has been a great opportunity for the church to serve and get to know elderly people in their community.

SHE STARTED TO CRY AND SAID, ‘THE LORD HEARS MY PRAYERS.’

REV. NICK JONES DRUNG, CO. CAVAN

In Drung, the church of Ireland has started a monthly daytime meeting for older members of the parish who don’t get out so often. Volunteers provide lifts for those who need them, and folks gather for a cup of tea in the rectory. “We’ve called these meetings ‘InTouch’. These folks are often on their own, so this is a chance to keep in touch with others and with God. We might read a psalm together or pray,” said Rev. Nick.

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

Dance Like There’s No One Watching

By Annmarie Miles here’s a fantastic park near us. It’s my usual walking/ running venue these days. It’s always kept in pristine condition and a new riverside path has just been opened, adding another option to the varied routes I like to take.

My favourite path is a tree-lined, winding avenue that leads away from the main park to some exit gates. They open out onto the main road that would take me in the opposite direction to where I live. So, when I get to the end of that path, I U-turn and go back the other way, and I always feel totally stupid doing it.

I don’t know why, but I feel anxious as I get to the gates.

Inevitably, there’ll be cars stopped in traffic just outside. Drivers sit staring into the park as I do a ‘180’ as if I’ve forgotten where I was going. Or worse, another runner enters the park just as I’m about to U-turn, so it looks like I’ve taken a shine to them and decided to follow them.

It’s such a beautiful path, I can’t not take it but for those few moments as I reach the end, I dread the about-turn.

A couple of weeks ago, I THOUGHT I had the path to myself.

As I got near the gates, there was no traffic and no sign of any one entering the park. I ran a few steps further than usual just to make sure that I was alone. I peeked out the gates; there was not a soul in sight. In celebration, I added a couple of dance moves to my U-turn. I did a bit of cha-cha, complete with hand flourishes, and swung around only to be greeted by two joggers, a mum walking with her little one in a pram, and a council worker doing some litter-picking - all coming towards me.

You know when they tell you to dance like nobody is watching… well, guess what? NOBODY was watching!

They weren’t taking a blind bit of notice of me. They didn’t stop, stare, or applaud (#gutted). The mum walked her little one out of the park and up the road. The litter-picker didn’t miss a beat of his whistled tune. And here’s the real kicker! The joggers got almost as far as me when they nonchalantly U-turned and headed back up the path.

Who knew?! The world is not standing around waiting for me to look stupid. The world is not poised, mocking grins ready, waiting for me to fail.

And neither is God, even though I do fail… every day.

I believe it’s quite the opposite with God. I believe He is poised, loving smile ready, waiting for me to succeed. Applauding my efforts. Ready to forgive and encourage if I blow it.

So I’m off to the park. There may be running. There may even be dancing, but I’m not going to worry about who’s watching me, ‘cos I know Who’s watching over me.

T

“Who knew?! The world is not standing around waiting for me to look stupid.”

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.

JUL JUL--SEP SEP2017 2017VOX VOX 2121

// The 2017 Tour //

CAUTION: GOD AT WORK! One of the great privileges of the Finding Faith Tour is the opportunity to visit different churches and groups of Christians to find out what God is doing in their part of the island. Here is a little taste of what is happening from Letterkenny to Blarney and from Donabate to Lahinch.

CHANGING THE STORY OMAGH, CO. TYRONE

O

OPEN DOORS AND OPEN HEARTS LETTERKENNY, CO. DONEGAL

Letterkenny Baptist Church will be 40 years old next year. In recent years, the church has grown and the church members are finding new ways to reach into the local community. The Open Door Christian bookshop, run by volunteers from within the church, has been an important point of contact.

“For us, it is not about selling books, although the shop keeps itself going. Mostly we sell Bibles, cards, gifts and 22

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

children’s books these days,” explained minister Stephen Wilson. “People come in who just want to talk. Everyone knows where the Christian bookshop is in town, so it has become a landmark.

“We try to do events that give something to the community. For example, we recently raised money for the Donegal Hospice. People see that the church is doing something for the benefit of the community!”

For several years before they moved to Omagh, Tim Shiels and his wife had felt a sense of burden for the town.

When Tim became pastor of Omagh Community Church, he felt God was saying, “The future of Omagh is so much brighter than the darkness of its past.” In a place that is almost synonymous with “bomb,” the church is seeking to carry a message of life and hope to the very heart of the town.

The church opened a community centre and began to run a community Christmas meal each year (over 90 people attended in 2016). Church members worked tirelessly to transform a piece of waste ground near the original church building (they now meet in a school) into a beautiful community garden.

IN A PLACE THAT IS ALMOST SYNONYMOUS WITH “BOMB,” THE CHURCH IS SEEKING TO CARRY A MESSAGE OF LIFE AND HOPE

“We have redefined the culture of the church because for a number of years, the church existed for the people within the walls. Now we exist for the people outside,” Pastor Tim explained. “It has allowed us to redefine our reputation.

For a long time, the reputation [of the church] was not so positive. Now when people think of us, they think of what we do, rather than the things of the past.”

A CHURCH FOR ALL AGES DUNGANNON, CO. TYRONE

The Church of Ireland parish of Drumglass has a history that dates back to 1343!

VOX MAGAZINE

Today, Archdeacon Andrew Forster leads two thriving sister churches, which are growing and active in the local community.

A monthly “Messy Church” attracts around 60 - 70 people to an interactive, all-age act of worship complete with crafts, music, Bible stories, food and fun! The church also provides materials for the local branch of a food bank run by a Christian charity.

“We have just started a ‘Fit for Life’ programme for women. The participants join together for a stroll, a walk or a run followed by a healthy supper and a short epilogue,” Andrew explained.

“Over the last ten years, we have seen a lot of growth in our congregation, right across the age range,” Andrew added.

“That has been a blessing, and it means we have a lot of young people involved with the church.”

NEW CHURCH FINDS SPIRITUAL INTEREST DONABATE, CO. DUBLIN

Seven years ago, the Presbyterian church in Malahide was getting too big for its building. With a number of people travelling from Donabate to attend the church, the minister saw the need for a new congregation to be established.

Donabate Presbyterian Church began in someone’s sitting room before moving to a room in the local community

interacting with one another.”

The group has also found ways of engaging with the wider work of the church, contributing baby supplies for a container bound for the developing world and helping to raise funds for the charity “Fields of Life” to build a well in Uganda.

A NEW MOMENTUM DUBLIN CITY CENTRE

centre. Now on a Sunday morning, 80 to 100 people gather for worship and the church has had to move into the community centre sports hall.

Each summer, the church’s “Discovery Camp” attracts around 200 children for a

the church who are actively volunteering with different community organisations.”

A RAY OF SUNSHINE! BRAY, CO. WICKLOW

In Bray Methodist Church, Colleen Blaney Doyle pioneers a weekly group for preschool-

I HAVE BEEN REALLY SURPRISED AT HOW INTERESTED PEOPLE ARE. classic holiday club of drama, games, songs, memory verses and Bible stories.

“There is genuine spiritual interest,” explained Josh McCance, who is the church’s community and outreach worker. “The church family is connecting with the community in so many ways, with many people from

age children and their parents and carers. Called “Sonshine Kids,” this provides a “Sunday School” experience for younger children.

“Most of the children are between the ages of two and four,” Colleen explained. “We try to have a loose theme every week. It usually consists of a Bible story plus a craft or art project around it. We’ll have games or a little song. Probably the most important part is having a cup of tea and biscuit, and goodies for the children.

It is a very niche type of group, but it has grown in popularity, with between 11 and 15 families coming each week.”

Tapping into social media, the group has attracted parents, carers and grandparents. “I have been really surprised at how interested people are,” Colleen said. “We feel like it is filling a need. One of the mums said she really likes it because the parents and the kids are

Assistant Pastor Christine Hand of Dublin Vineyard shared how the story of Jesus telling the disciples to “throw the net over the other side of the boat” has taken on new meaning for their church in recent months.

“We feel that is a real word for us with Alpha,” Christine said. “We used to run Alpha courses all the time. But now we are on our third course since last autumn, and the number of young Irish people who are coming along has just amazed us.

“One of the young women who attended was in tears every time she heard people mention Jesus. It seems like there is a new momentum. We feel the Lord is saying, the things you tried in the past, try them again.

We do a soup run on a Sunday evening, and one of the guys we met doing the soup run came along to Alpha.”

NEW LIFE AT EASTER DROGHEDA, CO. LOUTH

Over the Easter weekend, Solid Rock Church in Drogheda gave away 2,500 hot cross buns. “We got our church people to take away packs of the buns and to give them to friends and neighbours,” explained Pastor Nick Park.

“We then ran a party on Easter Saturday with bouncy castles set up in the church car park along with lots of food and live music. Around 400 people came along to the party, and 25 of these came to the Easter Sunday service in our church, at which 15 people gave their lives to Christ.”

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

23

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN

A 60th birthday celebration provided an opportunity for Pastor Kunle Daniel to invite a wide range of friends to a special celebration in his church, which is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is also excited about an opportunity with Irish television.

“RTÉ is coming to our church because they want to see the way we worship and how that can be shown in a TV programme. I believe that the name of Jesus Christ will be magnified in the Republic of Ireland,” Pastor Kunle said.

have a force of people who are willing to step up and step out and because we are doing it together; nobody is burnt out or worn out.”

A WARM WELCOME IN THE BARN! ADARE, CO. LIMERICK

For the last 40 years, Hugh and Marie Doherty have been

WHEN GOD LOOKS DOWN ON US, HE DOESN’T LOOK AT THE LABELS OVER OUR CHURCH DOOR ON A SUNDAY MORNING.

UNITY INSPIRES GROWTH BLARNEY, CO. CORK

A cross-community gathering of Christians in Blarney that grew out of an Alpha course has been a source of encouragement and help to many local believers. Meeting to study the Bible, worship and pray together has also led to many new initiatives being birthed both in the Church of Ireland and Catholic parishes.

“The Growth Group is such a beautiful opportunity to be with others from different backgrounds, putting aside our diversity but embracing it. Unity in the church doesn’t have to mean uniformity,” explained Mary Jo, who started a Sunday club during mass in her local parish church.

“We teach the children about Jesus in a child-friendly and fun way. They love their time there because we are able to speak to them on their own level. Our own kids are now teenagers and they enjoy helping out with the younger children.”

Theresa Cronin added, “We are nurtured [at Growth Group] but it is also equipping us to hear God’s call on lives.

We are in such a wonderful community and we are growing and deepening our relationship with God, but we are also encouraged to step out. There is such a sense that we want to be a blessing. You seem to 24

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

running a weekly Bible study in their home on the family-run Adare Caravan and Camping Park. In 2000, they launched a monthly meeting in their barn and have been meeting ever since, ten months of the year. The former stable block has been transformed into a cosy space with the addition of a stove and a rather random collection of comfortable chairs and sofas donated by local people.

“We have different speakers on the last Sunday of each month,” Hugh explains. “It is

a short meeting. We sing a few songs at the start and once it finishes, we sit around and chat.

People just keep on coming from all different churches and backgrounds. When God looks down on us, He doesn’t look

at the labels over our church door on a Sunday morning. He simply asks whether we are His or not.”

LOVING JESUS AND LIVING FOR JESUS LAHINCH, CO. CLARE

Started seven and a half years ago with just five people, the North Clare Community Church is a now a vibrant congregation of people who love Jesus and live for Jesus in north County Clare.

“There has been a wonderful subtle awakening

to the fact that you can follow Christ and that Jesus is alive,” explained John McCarthy.

“Maybe people thought that Christianity was finished. It has been amazing to see the church grow.”

The church is active at local community events such as the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival and the Willy Clancy Festival. They are seeking to bless the local area by helping to promote tourism, and the new “Cliffs of Hope” film series (see page 28) is sharing the reason for the hope that they have!

HUMBLED BY GOD’S PROVISION ROSCOMMON

Miracles of God’s provision have characterised a project to transform an abandoned pub on the Roscommon to Athlone road into a church, bookshop and coffee shop.

Originally from Chicago, USA, Pastor Michael Walsh first came to Ireland in 1990 and since then has worked with various churches around the country. In 2005, he

// The 20

VOX MAGAZINE

017 Tour //

moved to Roscommon with his family with a vision to start a new church.

“When we started off, it was just our family meeting in our living room, but within four months, we had to move out of our house and rent a room in a hotel,” he smiled.

Today the church is home to around 60 people from different nationalities and backgrounds. After meeting for a while in a former Methodist church building in Roscommon town, the church began to look for new premises and spotted the old pub just a few miles out of town.

“I met with the owner of the pub here and asked if he would be willing to wait until Christmas to see if we could raise the funds. The estate agent wasn’t happy but the owner said, ‘Yes,’” Pastor Michael explained.

Raising the funds both to purchase the pub, its car park and surrounding buildings and to refurbish the property was a step of faith, and yet the congregation was thrilled and surprised again and again by gifts, both large and small, that came in from around the world.

“I was teaching on prayer

today. The encouragement I was sharing with folks is that we are not going to a tyrant begging for things. Christ is interceding with us and for us.

He has unlimited resources and He is good!”

As they were planning the refurbishment of a storage shed into a church sanctuary - one of the largest undertakings of the project - Pastor Michael received a message from a tiny church in Chicago. With an ageing congregation, the church had taken the courageous decision to close its doors and merge with another church. In the process, they decided to invest the proceeds from the sale of their building into the work of the kingdom of God around the world.

Grace Community Church in Roscommon was to be one of ten churches or organisations to benefit.

Grateful for their kindness, Pastor Michael flew over the visit the church for its closing celebration. He was moved and staggered by the size of their gift - a huge contribution to the building project.

But small gifts also made a big impact, like a ladies’ group that makes handmade cards that are now sold in the new bookshop or other churches that have donated a shelf of books for sale.

Learning the art of making good coffee [Ed. note: and it certainly was good] has been an important new skill for members of the church as

they develop the vision for the property.

“A coffee shop in town was going out of business and I was able to negotiate with the owner to buy his coffee machine and all the cups etc. at less than half their original value,” Pastor Michael said. The brand on the cups is ‘Casadio’ - an Italian espresso company – which, literally translated, means ‘House of God.’ “This could be a bit like a Christian Starbucks, especially if we have the right people running it. There is a school close by and in the daytime, I would love to see mums calling in here for a cup of coffee and a chance to relax after dropping the kids off at school. It’s a place where people can chill and if they want to talk, they can. At night, this could be a venue for book clubs or poetry readings or even an intimate music evening.”

A PLACE SET APART FOR GOD 24/7 LONGFORD

Set in a side street in Longford Town, “The Well” is a small house that has been converted into a worship centre and prayer room. It is run by a small group of Christians from different churches called “Longford Bible Alive.”

June Murphy explained, “We began by running a Bible study in 2003 as follow-up to an interdenominational Alpha course. From 2006 until summer 2010, we had Graeme

EACH MONDAY MORNING, CHRISTIANS MEET TOGETHER TO PRAY FOR LONGFORD.

Wylie as our teacher, and at its height, we had 40 people coming together each Tuesday night from seven different local churches. Eventually in 2012, our dream of renting a premises became a reality. We believe God wants a place in the heart of the community set apart for Him 24/7 where His Name is exalted.”

Each Monday morning, Christians meet together to pray for Longford. Wednesday morning is an opportunity for Bible study, and on Thursday evenings there is a united time of praise and worship.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

25

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.

EILEEN’S STORY

VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams and Chloe Hanan from Agapé had the privilege of meeting Eileen in Kilkenny during the Finding Faith Tour. Here, Ruth shares about that encounter and retells Eileen’s moving story.

here are a few rare occasions in life that leave you with a sense of awe and wonder. This was one of them. It was as if, for that hour or so, on a glorious Friday morning in May, the window table became holy ground.

As I walk into the hotel dining room in Kilkenny, a beautiful, elegantly dressed lady looks up, waves and smiles. She thinks I’m Chloe at first. “No, I’m Ruth. Chloe is on her way,” I explain.

“I’ve no idea why I’m here,” she tells me candidly. “I’m just doing a favour for a friend. She asked me to tell you my story.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, ordering an Americano from the waitress before I explain about the Finding Faith Tour. “I’d love to hear your story!”

Eileen takes a sip of her tea, unfolds and smooths out the neatly written notes she has prepared and launches into her story.

Somewhere along the way, Chloe arrives and slips into the chair next to me, but it barely interrupts the flow.

Eileen is 74, she tells us. Although there are years of pain behind her beautiful eyes, it is still hard to believe!

“I come from Tipperary,” Eileen explains. “I was the second youngest of seven, and we were a very religious family.

Of course, we had rosary, confession and Sunday mass. The God I knew was very angry and judgemental. He lived in the church and I went to see Him once a week.

He was somebody I respected and tried to

T

26

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

be good for but He didn’t come home with (She remembers helping a neighbour to get me.” a tank of gas.)

Eileen’s mum died when she was just “Philip, you go away out and play,” she 19. Four of her sisters became nuns, but told her son. They were the last words she Eileen met and married T.J. They bought would ever say to him. a farm and moved to Kilkenny. Soon two Shortly afterwards, Philip’s friend girls and a boy arrived. The young couple phoned and Eileen sent her daughters to set up a milking parlour and a herd of cows fetch their brother. “The hay barn where and did up their gorgeous farmhouse. he was playing was out of view. The two Everything girls came in seemed perfect so upset saying with the that Philip was IN A FEW SHORT YEARS, SHE HAD BURIED HER dead. The whole prospects of a bright future.

SON AND HER HUSBAND AND LOST HER HOME. house was in Then, T.J. uproar. We tried became ill. to phone 999 but His condition we couldn’t speak. deteriorated rapidly, and after a while, The woman on the phone was giving out, Eileen found herself as his primary carer. thinking we were making a joke. Eventually, “My husband spent the last few years a neighbour came and then our local GP of his life in a wheelchair. He kept hoping and that was it. My son was dead. ” every month that he would get better but Philip had died in a tragic farming he was deteriorating fast. I had to dress him accident. Numb with shock and grief, and shave him. And of course, the farm was Eileen did her best to shield her husband gone to pot and we were losing money.” from the pain. “I knew he was terminally T.J. had developed Motor Neurone ill.” A year and nine months later, T.J. died Disease. With low blood pressure, he at the age of 52. experienced blackouts and was growing With no income coming in, the debts increasingly weak. He knew he was dying. had been piling up. Both the farm and her During the annual Novena to Holy Cross beautiful home had to be sold. Eileen was Abbey, T.J. said, “I think I’ll take a grave broken-hearted and angry. In a few short here.” Their son Philip, just 11 at the time, years, she had buried her son and her told him, “I’ll visit you every Sunday, Dad.” husband and lost her home.

One month later, on Sunday 7 October, “I blamed God. Sometimes I came to 1984, Eileen came home from the shop the church door, but I was so vexed and having done her “good deed for the day.” angry that I couldn’t go in. I felt God could

VOX MAGAZINE

work miracles but He had taken everything looking and searching, and I came across I know what it is to be there. I learned in from me.” the verse, ‘Those who seek me will find me.’ hindsight, God was there through all the Eileen began a desperate search for Those words came alive to me.” traumas and in all my suffering. He was in answers. “I decided to find out who this Eileen became a reader at mass, my boat and He brought me to the other God was and why He was out to get me. I volunteered with the Samaritans, and even side. And today I can thank Him. lived in churches, crying out for answers. formed a little group for parents who had “I don’t know where I would be today ‘Why me? Why would you do this to me?’ lost children. All the while she was still without Him. When people see the joy in I begged Him to answer me and to show searching. my life, they think I don’t have trials and Himself to me, but there was only silence.”

“Finally, I decided to have a Bible group suffering and pain. But the joy you see Eventually a friend invited Eileen to in my home. I wanted to read the Bible from is because the Lord is on my side. Every attend an Alpha course run by Fr Joe in cover to cover. In 2008, a group of seven morning when I wake up, I raise my hands Callan, Co. Kilkenny. She thought, “This is started at the very beginning and took a in praise and love and joy and surrender my my chance to get my answers.” chapter each week. We read the Bible right day to Him.” “On that very first night, I heard three through. It took five years and we never “I know my joy comes from Him. I words. They still ring in my ears. ‘God loves missed a night. We were so hungry. It was a learned I can’t hold on to all my old stuff. me.’ I kept saying that over and over. ‘God beautiful time, and I learned so much.”

I had to let go and make room for change. loves me. He loves ME.’ I forgot everything Eileen had completely changed. From a I love the story of Job. He lost everything else. Still, I didn’t know Him or much about woman who was so full of anger and envy, he had, just like me, and he said, “I know Him, but to think that this God who I had she became someone who was quick to that my redeemer lives.” I can say the same. never met loved me! I knew I had to learn offer help and comfort to others, reaching All I want to do is get to know Him and the all I could about Him. I continued the ten out and joining voluntary organisations. power of His resurrection. Jesus is alive and sessions of the Alpha His word is alive and active. course and loved every bit Sometimes it just jumps out of it.” at me.”

The following year, years on, Eileen GOD WAS THERE THROUGH ALL THE TRAUMAS AND IN ALL MY SUFFERING. still Thirty Eileen helped to run misses her husband Alpha in her parish and and her son every day, but eventually had one in her she knows she will go on home. She was learning enjoying life. about a loving God, a God who was alive “And even yet it is painful and very “Jesus lives in me and loves me and who lived within her. sad and lonely,” her eyes fill with tears and unconditionally. I am rich in so many ways.

“I was very determined that it wasn’t Chloe and I find ourselves wiping our own And I am happy. There are times I don’t going to be second-hand information. I had eyes. know myself. I have changed so much. I to find it out for myself. I was hungry for “But I wouldn’t change and go back. It have so little and yet I have so much - a life answers. There were times when I spent all draws me to those who are suffering as I worth living.” day long reading the Bible. I was constantly was. I put an arm around these people and JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

27

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GOSPEL

// The 2017 Tour //

What if we expected every Christian to share the Gospel?

E

E3 PARTNERS

church-planting movement that reaches each of the 32 counties by sharing the Gospel, discipling new believers, gathering believers into churches and them multiplying.

Find out more at www.

E3partners.org.

Andrew Clements is based in Kilkeel, Co. Down, and works with a missions organisation called E3 Partners. Here he talks about his passion to see Christians actively sharing their faith.

In recent times, God has given me a boldness to be open about who I am and to share the Gospel with all sorts of people. What if every person had the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus presented to them personally?

No farmer complains about a good harvest. What if we started to believe that there really is a great harvest [as Jesus talked about in Matthew 9]?

We’re reading the Gospels and Acts and asking, “What did they do?” And then we start to do just that.

We’ve been going from door to door looking for the “man or woman of peace.”

We keep it simple and share a Gospel presentation from the Bible. And we want to see that multiplied with Christians all over Ireland.

E3 Partners was started in Texas, USA, and is working in 65 countries around the world. We are just kicking off here, and our vision is for a

CLIFFS OF HOPE

28

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

hope. I have that same desire!

In August 2015, God put the idea for “cliffs of hope” into my mind. Part of it was to get back on my surfboard and use my gift as a way to connect with people. It is great when we hand over our gifts to God. I was catching big waves for His glory. It doesn’t get better than this.

It is so important for the world to see that we have joy and hope. I tried to communicate the message showing that there is great freedom.

We started filming some interviews with people sharing their stories, and God brought some people on board to help me. I’ve been doing some video blogs and uploading to www. cliffsofhope.com, on YouTube and on social media.

Cliffs of Hope is about sharing; it is not a place for preaching but a place to share good news. We are trying to bring it to a level people can understand.

Irish champion surfer John McCarthy has combined his passion for the waves with his passion for the Gospel to produce an exciting new video resource.

He hopes to share the good news of Jesus but also promote the beautiful part of County Clare where he lives.

Paul said, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel…” Paul had experienced the grace of God. He heard the call of Jesus to tell the world this message of

“OUR VISION IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE TO TAKE UP THE GREAT COMMISSION, TO GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES. WE REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE GOSPEL AND IT IS POWERFUL. IT CHANGES LIVES!” REV. STEPHEN WILSON, LETTERKENNY BAPTIST CHURCH

VOX MAGAZINE

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

// The 2017 Tour //

Mental health, depression and suicide were hitting the headlines during the Finding Faith Tour. On Saturday 7 May, thousands of people around Ireland got up before dawn to walk or run 5km for the charity Pieta House, and many of the people we met on the tour were planning to take part. Many also shared their own struggles with depression and mental illness. This continues to be a major focus for churches across the island.

Christians were talking about God’s love. But I thought, ‘I’m not feeling this right now.’

“Thankfully, the Lord healed me and I rebuilt that relationship with Him. Because I had become a believer at a young age, I didn’t have a huge story. That time of rediscovering His love for me and trusting Him again was my journey.

S

TEPHEN WILSON LETTERKENNY

The organisers of Darkness into Light in Letterkenny came to Rev. Stephen Wilson from Letterkenny Baptist Church to ask, “Do you have any songs about hope? Would you mind singing for us?” The worship group responded with a resounding “Yes!” Setting up at 4am, they serenaded the walkers with beautiful, hopefilled worship music.

ANDREW CLEMENTS KILKEEL, CO. DOWN

“One of the things I’ve struggled with is depression.

I feel like Jesus helped me. He gave me something to live for and I felt that kept me from the darkest moments. There was always that glimmer of hope - inexplicable hope at times. I can’t imagine what would have got me through without Him in my life.”

KAREN HUBER LUCAN, CO. DUBLIN

“I had a mental breakdown when I was 20, just six weeks before I got married. It was very jarring. God felt so far from me. We got married, but I had to take time away from the bubble of Christian faith.

“Since then, I have always struggled with anxiety and depression. I had postnatal depression with two of my children. It is always there.

I also know that it is part of God’s story in me, and that is how He has allowed me to know Him… [even in the midst of dark times].

“I don’t like to get to the end of a story and for it to be all rosy, as if God fixed it all in the end. A lot of times God doesn’t fix it. We still have to live in the middle. A friend of mine once said, ‘The gift God gave you is to experience His mystery.’ There were a lot of

things about God that I could not comprehend, and it was driving me crazy. I had never understood that as a gift. That was a game changer for me.

God is mysterious and there are things that only He knows. I don’t have to worry about that.

I don’t have to get a handle on everything.”

JOANIE REILLY NAAS, CO. KILDARE

As an accredited counsellor, Joanie Reilly supports many people through times of crisis and stress, but her desire is to promote emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing.

This year, she has launched a new series of one-day workshops designed to help people flourish.

Joanie explains, “In a safe and professional environment, you can find the courage to lift the lid off your life in order to have a look inside and also find tools to bring lasting change.

The course is designed for anyone longing to find answers to the question, ‘Why am I the way I am?’ and who has the courage and willingness to come and explore the answers.”

To find out more, visit The School of Emotional and Spiritual Health (@ JoanieSESH) on Facebook.

THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT GLIMMER OF HOPE - INEXPLICABLE HOPE AT TIMES. JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

29

CONNECTING WITH ARTISTS

// The 2017 Tour //

L

LENTEN LABYRINTH

Matthew and Karen Huber first moved to Ireland in 2008 and returned again in 2013 with a vision to stay long term.

Based in Lucan, they work alongside their church (Trinity Church Network) in the centre of Dublin and also focus on connecting with artists through a range of projects.

“It is a bit like being a pastor to artists,” Matthew explained. “We are meeting a lot of different people, getting to know Christian artists in Dublin and building relationships with artists who are not Christians. We recognise that discipleship begins before people know Christ, and we are embracing that by being proactive in how we introduce people to Christ but doing it in a way that is natural and relational.”

The importance of relationship was a recurring theme during this year’s Finding Faith Tour and especially for two couples working in Dublin with mission agency GEM (Greater Europe Mission) to connect with artists and musicians.

During Lent, Matthew worked on a collaborative art project, setting up a Labyrinth in an empty retail unit in Smithfield. Working with six other artists, Matthew created the labyrinth using recycled coffee bags as the walls. “Most of my work involves reusing things that would be ordinarily be thrown away,” he explained.

“The idea was to create a place of peace. Instead of giving up something nice for Lent, we wanted to invite people to give up something like anxiety or fear, or some kind of burden.”

Art was displayed on the walls throughout the labyrinth.

In the centre was a prayer room with a wooden tree bearing a sign that said, “What would you leave on the tree to be free…?” A notepad allowed people to respond.

“It was designed to engage people with the idea that you can lay down your burdens

WE RECOGNISE THAT DISCIPLESHIP BEGINS BEFORE PEOPLE KNOW CHRIST.

30

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

and that Jesus offers a freedom from these things,” Matthew explained.

“We could not control how people responded and the idea wasn’t to mastermind a certain response. I have a make-ithappen mentality. Every time we try to force something to happen, it always ends poorly but when we wait for open doors, we see God work. When I was sitting praying in the

Labyrinth for people to come in, I felt like God was speaking to me. Our job is to be faithful.

We cannot control the results of what God is doing.”

MAKING FRIENDS AND MAKING MUSIC

Ryan Ashley and his wife, Maryann, never imagined coming to Ireland - “I’m one of the few Americans who doesn’t claim Irish heritage,” Ryan grins. But a series of events led

up to a life-changing move to Dublin 18 months ago.

“My parents were both pastors, and I was called into the ministry in my late 20s.

At our church, I was one of the pastors on staff and was running the worship ministry and it was pretty normal until God started shaking things up for us.

After a couple of years, our ministry became more about supporting other ministries around the city and using music to reach out to musicians who were not in church. We experimented with worship gatherings in public spaces, gigging in bars and

concert events in the hopes of finding ourselves in spiritual conversations.”

After a trip to Dublin to shoot a video, God began speaking to both Ryan and Maryann about the possibility of moving to Ireland to work with GEM (Greater Europe Mission).

“Our calling is to use music to develop relationships and to bring Christ into areas where people don’t know Him. In the daytime, I try to go where musicians hang out - like in guitar shops. In the evenings, we play for worship gatherings, and we’ve also started a weekly gathering for musicians to come and play and drink tea. It has been a great place to gather musicians both from within the church and from outside. We also play in homeless hostels, and I have a friend who is starting a band.

“God gives us abilities, talents and passions, things that really light us up, and the whole point is to use these things; they are like tools in our toolbox. We make ‘mission’ about having all the right answers. In reality, you’ve been given exactly what you need according to who you are and what God wants you to do. If you are a musician, be a musician - it is a vessel for faith and a vessel for ministry! If you are a doctor, do that, or if you are a writer, do that.”

FAITH

CREATION CARE AND MISSION

PART ONE

VOX MAGAZINE

BY MATT WILLIAMS AND JONNY HANSON

That creation care is part of the mission of the church is widely accepted.

But is creation also relevant to the other marks of mission? In the first of a four-part series, Matt Williams and Jonny Hanson look at proclamation. efore we even open our mouths, creation is involved in proclamation: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork’ (Psalm 19). The purpose of all God’s creation – including us! - is praise (Psalm 150), and when we forget this, we inevitably fail in our responsibility for the environment.

This in turn can undermine our evangelism, particularly if our words aren’t matched by actions that cherish God’s world. We are also dependent on nature for all that we do, including for something as intrinsic to our faith as preaching a sermon. And this faith is itself based on following the God who left the splendour of heaven to become an incarnate part of the world He had made.

Clearly, proclamation engages with creation.

Part of what it means for humanity to be fallen is that we don’t see what should be obvious when we look around us. In fact, God reveals Himself in creation – at least His ‘eternal power and divine nature’ – but because we’ve turned from God, we just don’t see it (Romans 1:19-20). This is not to say that words are unnecessary or that the Bible is a superfluous luxury for bookish Christians. But the awesomeness of the natural world calls us to seek the Creator; wrecking this same world is a sure sign that we are ignoring its call.

There is nothing more off-putting than saying one thing and doing another. For onlookers (and many insiders!), preaching about a Lord who made all and has given Himself to reconcile everything to himself (Colossians 1:15-20) doesn’t sit well with carelessness over the environment.

B

‘Millennials’ are especially likely to notice this, and whatever their many weaknesses (and both authors fit this bracket) they do have a heightened consciousness of the world’s interconnectedness. Taking creation seriously is not about the church kowtowing to a popular cultural trend but having our attention drawn to a neglected Christian principle.

Just as our care for creation authenticates our evangelism, so too creation enables our evangelism. Guy McPherson famously quipped that “if you think the economy matters more than the environment, try holding your breath while counting your money.” The same could be said in theological terms: If you think the environment doesn’t matter to the Christian faith, try preaching a sermon while holding

THE GOD WHO MADE MATTER BECAME MATTER AND SHOWED WHY IT MATTERS.

your breath. Even this most basic of Christian activities requires air, food and water at the very least, and reflects the role creation plays in sustaining us.

The final dimension of the creationproclamation link draws these threads together. The God who made matter became matter and showed why it matters. The incarnation was completely necessary for God to do His saving work that most reveals His nature. Jesus’ life, suffering, and bearing

of sin all depended on His physical body, thus refuting the Greek view that physical reality was inferior to the metaphysical.

Sadly, such pagan thinking still influences how the Church under-prioritises material concerns, including the environment. Yet Christ did not just speak from heaven; He lived in the painful reality of our world. As Visser’t Hooft put it, “A Christianity which would use the vertical preoccupation to escape from its responsibility for and in the common life of man is a denial of the incarnation.”

Whether it points to God’s greatness or enables us to do the same, creation is connected to proclamation. How we treat the environment can also authenticate or undermine our evangelistic efforts. And as long as we say ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ ( John 1:14), we are reminded that Jesus’ incarnation, death and resurrection offer hope to a world, human and non-human, that sorely needs it. Thus Paul urges us to stick to this gospel hope, ‘which has been proclaimed in all creation’ (Colossians 1:23).

Matt Williams and Jonny Hanson are two of the cofounders of Jubilee, an Antrim-based interdenominational Christian environmental and agricultural organisation launching in Autumn 2017.

JUL JUL--SEP SEP2017 2017VOX VOX 3131

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.

ROSEANN’S STORY

“I bought a big red Bible - a real beauty. Even on the train home, I was hugging it to my chest.” VOX editor Ruth GarveyWilliams met Roseann Woods in Donabate during this year’s Finding Faith Tour. Here, Ruth retells Roseann’s powerful story.

arred with hardship and course, back in those days, I thought reluctantly gave her a job in the kitchen heartbreak, Roseann’s you could get pregnant by holding but refused to pay her the full cook’s childhood is a legacy from hands! That was in 1975, so I left and got salary. “I was a bit miffed because I was Ireland’s painful past. married and we’ve been together ever still being paid as a domestic in a cook’s Brought up in Goldenbridge Orphanage, since.” uniform. I was angry because I had she experienced “normal” life when a With no education, she worked for spent three years studying. Ten years family in Donabate fostered her when 15 years as a domestic in a hospital but later, they demanded that I take early she was about four years old - she loved she longed to do more. She devoured retirement, so I ended up with a big it! But then she was returned to the books, desperate to learn as much as she pension plus a big lump sum.” orphanage for another five years before could and feeling embarrassed that she Suffering from osteoarthritis, the family officially Roseann was adopted her at the glad of the early age of nine. retirement but All seemed AT NIGHT, I WOULD LIE IN BED AND LISTEN TO THE SCREAMS OF THE OTHER WOMEN. she felt at a bit well until the of a loss. “My husband died. two children Unable to care had grown up for her, the family sent Roseann to the had never done her Leaving Cert. and gone away. I knew that I had not Magdalene Laundry in Drumcondra She began to dream of training been a great mother. I felt bad about when she was just 14. For the next three as a chef but when she told her boss, that.” years, her existence was bleak. he laughed and said, “There’s no way She recalls walking along the road “Our education was only one hour you’ll get in.” At the college interview and wondering what she would like to in the morning and the rest of our day they asked, “Why should we give you a be. “I thought, ‘I would like to be a saint was spent in the laundries. You got 10 position out of the 320 people who have but you have to be dead to be a saint.’ cigarettes a day as your pay. At night, applied?” Roseann told them, “Because Then I thought ‘I want to be an angel but I would lie in bed and listen to the I’m keen as mustard.” you have to be dead to be an angel.’” screams of the other women. Out of the Miraculously, Roseann got onto the Suddenly a voice out of nowhere 20 or so who were there, very few of us course, but almost turned and walked said, “Go in and buy a Bible.” Nervously, actually made it. Most are now in homes out again when the lecturer started Roseann walked into a bookshop and or have died either by committing speaking French on the first day. “I asked to see a Bible. The sales assistant suicide or by taking an overdose.” thought, ‘I don’t know what this fool is showed her different types and she Desperate to escape, Roseann talking about,’ but this girl sitting beside picked out a big red King James Bible remembered a young boy she had met in me took me under her wing and, for the “a real beauty.”

Donabate who had asked her to marry three years, she protected me and taught “Even on the train home, I was him. “I told the sister I’d get pregnant me all the French terms. I passed my hugging it to my chest,” she said. “Sitting if they didn’t let me out to get married exams with full credits.” on my bookshelf at home were all my when I was 17. She nearly fainted! Of Back at the hospital, Roseann’s boss books on spirituality - books about

M

32

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

VOX MAGAZINE

Islam, Buddhism, the Tibetan book of the dead, and so many more. I got all of them down and put them in the fire press! That night I went to bed with my new Bible, hugging it and grinning and hugging it some more.”

About three in the morning, Roseann woke up with her heart pounding and unable to breathe.

“I knew that there something in the room. It was pressing down on top of me, choking me. Eventually, I managed to say, ‘In the name of Jesus, get off me’ and, just like that, it was gone. I sat up, picked up the Bible, hugged it and that was it. I was home.”

She began devouring the Bible stories, and the words seemed to leap off the page. She found she had “aha” moments as she realised what the stories meant.

“I started to read the story about this man bringing his boy up to a mountain [Abraham and Isaac]. Immediately, I knew it was the same mountain that Jesus was crucified on. When I read the story about Joseph where it said, ‘What you meant for evil, God turned to good.’

It reminded me of what happened in my job. I knew straight away that I had always been blessed and that there had always been someone watching over me.”

Eager to find out more, Roseann visited a prayer group at the house of a friend. She had so many questions that eventually her friend told her.

“Roseanne, you ask an awful lot of questions - you should go to the Presbyterian Church.”

Nervously, Roseann turned up at Donabate Presbyterian Church one Sunday morning, expecting them to turn her away because she was Catholic.

Her fears seemed to be realised when the minister, Andy Carroll, walked towards her.

“Before he could say anything, I said, ‘I’m a Catholic. If you want me to leave, I will go.” But he laughed, ‘What are you talking about?’ and welcomed me.”

“They sang a beautiful hymn, “In Christ Alone,” and I wept. Luckily enough, I was up at the front so people couldn’t see. It just hit home. It captured me, and that was it. I’ve been going there ever since, and I love it.”

“My husband says, ‘Are you going to church again?’ I say. ‘Padraig, I wrestled with a demon; of course I’m going to church again.’ He sees a change in me these last years. I’m not so self-centred or stuck in my ego box. He sees that.”

The last five years have been a journey of discovery for Roseann, now age 60, who describes her newfound faith as “more precious than winning the lottery!”

Hungry to find out more, she is constantly studying the Bible and learning new things. “I didn’t like the word ‘repent’ until I realised what it means. It is not feeling sorry or feeling guilty but actually changing the way

you think about everything. I thought ‘meditation’ was rocking to and fro and saying a mantra, but to meditate [as a Christian] is to think about God’s word and allow it to bring fruit into your life.”

“Five years ago, I would have put my head on a chopping block for the Pope. To come to the point of having a relationship with God was a big turn around.”

For years, Roseann was a massive fan of the series Game of Thrones. “I used to get the hardback books hot off the press. It was agony to wait 24 months for the next instalment. I knew everything about Game of Thrones. But when I got the Bible, I could not look at Game of Thrones any more. I gave all my books away. The Bible was so different because I was actually partaking in the story!”

THAT NIGHT I WENT TO BED WITH MY NEW BIBLE, HUGGING IT AND GRINNING AND HUGGING IT SOME MORE.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

33

REALITY

IMMIGRATION & INTEGRATION

34

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

VOX MAGAZINE

How one church is working with community groups and civil authorities to create a community where every person feels safe, secure and respected

BY REV. SAHR YAMBASU

ahr Yambasu grew up in Sierra Leone and was ordained as a Methodist minister there. When he was granted a scholarship to continue his studies at Queen’s University, Sahr met his future wife while spending Christmas with a friend in Longford town. They were married in 1988 and returned to teach in the theological college in Sierra Leone in 1992.

Forced to return to Ireland during the civil war, Sahr went to work for the Methodist Church in Ireland and has ministered in Wicklow, Galway, Carlow and Kilkenny. For the last three years, he has worked in Waterford city. His personal experiences as a reluctant immigrant have given him unique insight into the challenge of immigration and integration in Ireland. During the Finding Faith Tour, he spoke extensively to VOX Editor Ruth GarveyWilliams about this vital issue.

S

establish Waterford as a ‘City of Sanctuary.’

Basically, the movement encourages community groups to work together with civil authorities to create a society of acceptance, welcome and support to those who are coming from outside. By providing sanctuary, we help them feel safe, secure and respected.

We have done a bit of fundraising to help with housing for those leaving direct provision. It is very difficult to find housing and especially to pay a deposit. There are people in direct provision who cannot leave even though they have papers.

We provide training courses, because if you are going to live in any society, you have to know how it works. We also train people to tell their stories so people know what they have gone through and what their aspirations are. And we encourage them to volunteer in the community so that they can get to know people and so that others will accept them as “real” human beings.

One of our principles is that everybody in the community needs to feel that they are safe and secure. That includes any groups that feel marginalised or intimidated, whether immigrant or Irish.

Finding work is one of the main challenges for migrants. A lot are highly educated, but when they apply for jobs here, 95% of the time, they don’t even get a reply. When a potential employer sees an

application form, the first thing they look I never planned to come and live in at is the name. If they cannot pronounce Ireland but when civil war broke out in the name, then the person often doesn’t 1995, we had to move back to Ireland with get an interview. People quickly become our children. I found it quite traumatic to be disheartened. here. I was living in Ireland but my spirit was One of the phrases they used was that in Sierra Leone. The war lasted for ten years. they feel they are being “raped” of their Our children were growing up and there was culture. That is such a strong word. Our no way we could uproot them again. culture is something sacred. It is a Eventually, I had to come to terms powerful and painful thing when it with it. is taken away from you against your I came here [to Waterford] WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY will. three years ago. This is a very mixed Another problem we are facing SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO KNOW PEOPLE AND SO THAT congregation with 15 different is that the children of immigrant nationalities. Three-quarters of them OTHERS WILL ACCEPT THEM AS “REAL” HUMAN BEINGS. parents, who have been born and are migrants. When you move from raised in Ireland, feel Irish. The your culture into another place, there parents don’t understand. When the are a lot of problems. children come home from school, it Ministry here is both practical and Recently, I have been quite concerned is like going to a strange country. Home is social. When people lose loved ones back that there was a lot of talk about integration where mum and dad are but the kids cannot in their home countries, it places immense in all the public literature but in reality there relate to them. This creates a lot of conflict stress. Some cannot travel because of their is very little of it happening. You might think and tension. financial or visa situation but they still feel that everything is wonderful but it is not.

I think there is a huge need for an obligation to help with funeral costs. We I decided to have a focus group intercultural education, even within families. encourage them to organise a memorial discussion with migrants in the city. I invited We need to create space where people feel service or vigil in the church. They invite 25 of them from different parts of the world, free to have a conversation about these their friends in the city and people in the divided them into groups and had them issues. People need to be confident, and if church, and through that, we encourage reflect on questions and their experiences. It they don’t know, they need to feel free to ask. people to give them financial support. This was all recorded, and I put it all together and Imagine the joy it will create if people could helps them either to travel home or to send called a conference to share the findings. As talk about things. I’m hoping that we will money home. a result, they decided that we should set up a be able to encourage the local authorities to When I came here, we helped to Migrants Forum for Waterford city. take integration more seriously.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

35

REALITY

weeping with those who weep Standing with the persecuted church

While VOX editor Ruth GarveyWilliams was on the Finding Faith Tour around Ireland, she had the privilege of sitting down with Chris, who works with Open Doors Ireland. At exactly the same time, an even more epic journey was taking place as Stephen Kyle was cycling from Belfast to Turkey to raise awareness of the work of Open Doors.

36

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

VOX MAGAZINE

eading the story of Brother Andrew as a teenager, I was always aware of Open Doors,” Chris from Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, shared. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of charities, and I’m delighted to join the team at Open Doors here in Ireland.

“Open Doors is all about supporting the persecuted church. Here in Ireland, we are mobilising the local church to be on their knees in prayer and on their feet in action,” Chris said. “We feel like Brother Andrew all those years ago. If one part of the body is hurting, then the rest of us should be hurting too. Sometimes we miss that side of our identity in Christ that we are part of the family. Too often we thank God for the freedom we have without appreciating what other Christians are suffering. As the body of Christ, we need to look beyond ourselves and see these people as our brothers and sisters.”

Open Doors produces a World Watchlist focusing on the 50 countries where persecution of Christians is most severe.

North Korea remains number one, but the list also features places like Yemen, where a huge humanitarian crisis has gone almost unnoticed by the rest of the world.

“Around the world, people are meeting in abandoned buildings,” Chris explained.

“Secret church meetings need to stay quiet, so some will sing in whispers. Others are memorising Scripture because they cannot carry their Bible. I’ve heard of children forced to leave their homes and the one thing they want to take with them is their Bible. You cannot help but be inspired by them.”

“When I hear that Christians are facing

R

but this help comes at a financial cost. So I decided to try to raise some much-needed funds.”

Setting off from Bangor on 19 April, the journey took him through Ireland, France, Italy and Greece before he finally arrived at his destination in Turkey on 30 May. It certainly wasn’t an easy ride – camping in freezing temperatures, cycling in the pouring rain, punctures, knee injuries and angry dogs were all challenges that Stephen had to face along the way. He also found it difficult spending so much time alone – he says, “I THE CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME normally like my own company, but even Stephen Kyle, a driving instructor and I was starting to go a bit mad spending day father of two from Bangor, Co. Down, after day by myself!” He particularly missed first felt God giving him a heart for the his wife, Michaela. persecuted church at the Bangor Worldwide But it wasn’t all bad – Stephen’s favourite Missionary Convention. Hearing Canon part of the trip was cycling through the Andrew White speaking about the beautiful Verdon Gorge in the south of challenges facing Christians in the Middle France. He also says, “I have to give thanks East, he said, “I was appalled at what my for the people that the Lord placed along the brothers and sisters in Christ were going way.” He experienced the kindness of many through for their strangers during the faith. The Lord trip: Some friendly has placed on my Canadians in a VW heart a love for the IF ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HURTING, THEN camper van took persecuted church.” THE REST OF US SHOULD BE HURTING TOO. pity on his poor So Stephen camping skills and decided to take on gave him food; an what he described Italian hotel owner, as ‘the challenge of a lifetime’ and cycle from who was in a good mood after his football Northern Ireland to Turkey to raise money team won the Italian league, insisted on for Open Doors to support persecuted driving Stephen around; but he says the Christians.

Greeks were the friendliest people he met.

“The Bible tells us to love our brothers Stephen says, “It was hard work, and sisters in Christ,” he explained. “What but Christ gave me the strength. It was would we do for our biological brothers and absolutely worth it.” So far he has raised over sisters? How much more should we do for £13,500 – his JustGiving page is still open our brothers and sisters in Christ? Many (search for Stephen Kyle) for anyone who of them receive help from Open Doors, would like to support his efforts.

persecution and yet are still praying for their cities, it makes me ask why we are not standing strong and praying for our cities. I want to do as much as I can to increase the understanding.”

Open Doors has been working to support persecuted Christians since 1955 and today works to help believers in over 60 countries. You can contact the Open Doors team through their website on www. opendoorsuk.org or connect on Facebook at OpenDoorsInIreland.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

37

REALITY

D

g n i v r e es

or

undeserving?

A visit to a “hotspot” in Italy raises questions about categorising migrants

BY DR. DAMIAN JACKSON

hat would you do if your persecution. The situation is different in But he missed. family had no way of getting the Eastern Mediterranean, where most It’s hard to believe that such things enough food? I think the people are fleeing war in Syria and the are happening on Europe’s doorstep, answer is pretty simple Middle East. but they are, largely hidden from the and obvious: you’d set off in search of I spoke with Emmanuel, who had media headlines. Emmanuel was so it. That’s what people have done for been stuck in Libya for months. He had glad to speak to me. Although I could thousands of years. Joseph’s family do nothing, the fact that I cared travelled to Egypt when they hadn’t and that he could share his story enough food (Genesis 42). The meant so much to him. However, it Egyptians didn’t have to travel is unlikely that his account will be ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND because Joseph managed their for the Italian authorities to ALL DESERVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE. enough resources in times of plenty so grant him refugee status. that they had enough in a time of We differentiate between these famine. “categories” - one being deemed Last month, I was on the worthy of asylum and the other not islands of Sicily and Lampedusa, in been imprisoned there, having been - but they are all people in situations of the southernmost part of Italy, as one abducted and “sold” for his labour. He extreme vulnerability, making decisions member of a group sent by Churches was then forced to work to repay his no differently to us. I believe that as Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). “owner.” He escaped and ran but was Christians, we should not be confined Lampedusa is the location of one of the caught and beaten. He showed me the to these state-defined categories of EU “hotspots” built to process people scars on his arm. He was also missing refugee or “economic migrant” - deciding who have arrived irregularly. several teeth. What really stunned me, which is more worthy than the other. All The people I met had risked though, as if enslavement wasn’t bad people are created in God’s image and all their lives crossing first the anarchy enough, was his account of his friend’s deserve a safe and healthy place to live. of Libya and then the danger of the death. He said an Arab “boy” had a gun This is how the ecumenical Mediterranean Sea (where 5,000 died and, for sport, forced his friend to stand Federation of Protestant Churches in last year). Most of them did so because still, put an egg on his head and, like Italy (FCEI) has responded, setting of poverty and hunger, not because of William Tell, shot at the egg. up an initiative called Mediterranean

W

38

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

VOX MAGAZINE

HOPE. It does not distinguish between The atmosphere of love and care people based on a judgement of their is tangible and has its roots in that motives for travelling but seeks to serve Christian response. We asked the local them without discrimination based on Methodist minister why the centre is in their needs as human beings, beloved by Scicli (which is not an obvious location God. as it is not on the coast), and he simply We visited one of Mediterranean said, “Because we said, ‘Yes!’” HOPE’s projects in the town of Scicli, As Christians, we need to look at on Sicily, which exemplifies this what’s happening through God’s eyes, by openhearted and trusting response to the help of the Holy Spirit, and this can God’s call. “Casa delle Culture,” or the mean questioning dominant discourses, House of Cultures, is a centre where even those that are benevolent. We unaccompanied need to respond teenagers and with generosity mothers with to the needs of children live refugees fleeing AS CHRISTIANS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT together as persecution but WHAT’S HAPPENING THROUGH GOD’S EYES. that does not family, sharing meals with mean that those volunteers. They escaping hunger receive supports are any less such as language lessons, art workshops, deserving of our concern. We must also counselling and training as well as help remember our complicity in systems of navigating the process of applying for injustice on a global level that contribute refugee status. The children attend the to forced migration. Our comparative local crèche, which is also run by the wealth here is connected to poverty church. The teens play and coach football elsewhere. with the local kids.

Dr. Damian Jackson is Programme Officer for the Irish Council of Churches (irishchurches.org) and co-led the delegation to Italy. Read further reflections from the team at CTBI’s focusonrefugees.org website.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

39

REALITY

CELEBRATING

Five YEARS

YWAM SLIGO PROVIDES DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MISSION his year, Youth With A “We love discipling young Mission (YWAM) in people and watching them discover Sligo is celebrating five what God has called them to,” the years working to impact couple shared. “We are also involved the city, this island and the world. in many local activities to reach Since the arrival of YWAM in out to our community including Sligo in 2012, they have welcomed toddler groups, a community 43 trainees representing nine nations gospel choir, Healing on the Streets into our four Discipleship Training prayer ministry, a weekly café where courses. 11 of those trainees are anyone can come for a hot drink and now working full time in missions a chat, ‘Spring to Life’ outreaches in seven different nations, with four and services during Holy Week, more planning to move overseas outreach to university students, and after further training. Most of those work with local youth groups. All of who have gone back home are still these are in connection with local serving God passionately in the churches. place He has called them to live and “We as YWAM Sligo are so work. excited about the things God has The trainees in these courses done in the last five years, and we receive 12 weeks of teaching and are expectant for what will happen one-on-one discipleship while living in the days to come. We believe and serving the community in Sligo God is on the move and is ready to together. Topics covered can include do new and incredible things in the intimacy with God, identity and purpose in Christ, evangelism, WE AS YWAM SLIGO ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS relationships, spiritual warfare, GOD HAS DONE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND WE ARE and many more.

EXPECTANT FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DAYS TO COME. When these 12 weeks are completed, the training continues as the students west of Ireland and beyond. We look and staff members go overseas for forward to starting new training eight to nine weeks of practical programmes and building on the application of the teaching they heritage of Christianity and missions have received. During this outreach in this land. We believe there will phase, the trainees and staff build be a reawakening of God’s love and relationships, start Bible studies with power here that will once again locals, and share the love of God in spread across this island and beyond, practical ways in places like North and we are excited to be a part of it.”

Africa and the Middle East.

A new DTS begins on 18 George and Gwyneth Rich September. If you would like more run the Discipleship Training information on how you can be a School (DTS) in Sligo. George has part of this exciting adventure of been with YWAM since 1984 and serving God, please get in touch Gwyneth since 2007. Gwyneth is a with YWAM Sligo via email at: native of Ireland, and George comes ywamsligo@gmail.com or visit: from the USA. www.ywamsligo.weebly.com.

T

40

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

DIRECTED BY GREG FROMHOLZ REVIEWED BY JAMES GALLEN

BIRTH EQUALITY

BY NICK PARK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

The newest book by prolific author Nick Park has received a warm welcome from Christian leaders and pro-life campaigners across Ireland.

Sub-titled “How a child called Grace taught me the value of a human life,” the book charts the heartbreaking yet beautiful story of Nick and Janice Park’s daughter.

Christine Hand, Assistant Pastor of Dublin Vineyard, wrote, “Everyone loves a good story.

And Nick Park has written a very good story.

His description of the birth, life and death of his precious daughter Grace is written with raw openness and deep sadness mixed with the joy of having known this little gift from God. The book is thought-provoking and challenging, and as I read it, I felt a deep urge to pass it on to everyone I know who questions when a human life begins.

“I would challenge anyone who has ever thought that a baby is just a clump of cells to read Nick’s book and listen to the argument for the protection of the unborn as a basic human right.”

In Tony Campolo: Divine Dissatisfaction, director Greg Fromholz distills the essence of the life of acclaimed pastor, author and sociologist Tony Campolo and captures the legacy of a man whose love of Jesus drips from every word captured on film.

This short film continues Fromholz’s legacy series gathering the lives of a generation of Christian influencers and thinkers, and complements beautifully the other films in the series, concerning Eugene Peterson and Phyllis Tickle.

The unique contribution and great advantage of Fromholz’s style of filmmaking is to reveal the humanity and personal lives behind these thinkers and leaders. In Tony Campolo: Divine Dissatisfaction, the portrait of Tony Campolo reflects his genuine, humble and loving nature and his sense of humour, as he recounts his journey of faith and doubt, his public career, including his role as spiritual adviser to Bill Clinton, and his influence on successive generations of Christian leadership, including such individuals as Shane Claiborne.

Throughout the film, Campolo articulates a constant flow of challenging and provocative Gospel wisdom, stating, for instance, “You cannot express love and power simultaneously,” reminding us that Jesus came to save the world not through power but through loving sacrifice, before concluding that “if you don’t be believe love can change the world, you don’t belong in the Christian movement.”

In each of his legacy films, Fromholz depicts the marriages and families that ground and guide these giants of the modern Christian world. In these personal and intimate elements of the film, Tony and Peggy Campolo share their married life, their son Bart’s journey towards atheism and humanism, Peggy’s leadership in the family’s public affirmation of LGBT relationships, and the hostile Christian reaction that greeted this announcement. Evidencing a life pursuing compassion, Tony Campolo shares that the significant personal cost of such hostility was nothing compared to that which gay, lesbian and bisexual Christians experience daily from religious communities.

Towards the end of the film, Campolo concludes that his role as a pastor was to invite others on a journey with Christ.

None of us are there yet, but we are all in the process of becoming what God calls us to be. In his final thoughts in the film, Campolo quotes Robert Frost: “I have miles to go before I sleep.” In Tony Campolo: Divine Dissatisfaction, Greg Fromholz skillfully synthesises the breadth and depth of the love, wisdom and service in Campolo’s life and uses his example to remind the viewer of the invitation to journey passionately with Christ, in good times and bad, until we sleep.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

41

Sozo_Advert_A6.pdf

1

04/10/2016

08:58

BETHEL SOZO IRELAND

S AV E D H E A L E D D E L I V E R E D

HELP I N G YOU ON YOUR J O U R N E Y TOWA R D S FREE D OM & I N TI M AC Y W I TH GOD

C

M

Are your Bank Deposits making Cents?

Then why not consider switching some of your deposits to the very attractive alternative offered by an easy access Investment Bond which offers you: √ greater potential for return than deposits √ access all of your fund anytime √ no early encashment penalties √ a wide choice of investment funds

Y

√ minimum investment €5,000

CM

MY

For further information/brochure:

CY

CMY

Email: info@crolyinsurance.com

K

Phone: Rodney Croly or Sylvia at 01-2989166 We are a Christian financial broker with over 40 years experience. The success of our business has been based upon forming lifetime relationships with clients by providing honest and objective advice.

YO U CA N F I N D U S AT: 7 c Ch u r c h Te r ra c e , Bray, C o W i c k l o w Helen +353 (0)86 861 5128 / Carmel +353 (0)87 912 4364 e m a i l : s o z o @ b e th e l s o z o . i e www. b e th e l s o z o . i e

R J Croly & Co Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Registered in Ireland no. 108865. Registered office 4 Finsbury Park Dundrum Dublin 14 Directors Rodney Croly QFA FLIA , Sylvia Croly QFA

R.J. CROLY & Co.

LTD The specialist for the Christian and charity community.

Have you reviewed your pension lately? rement?

How much will you need at reti How much can you co ntribute?

Is it enough?

Trillium Financial Services can go through all your options and find the pension that best suits you. We provide pension advice tailored to each individual’s financial aspirations.

When a client meets with us, we carry out an assessment, review their current pension and discuss in detail their expected retirement objectives. Once we have a clear picture of our client’s retirement fund, tax liability and retirement goals, we can determine which type of pension is best suited to achieve those goals. The desired outcome is to have a financial plan that outlines the appropriate steps for the client and serves to guide them towards a financially secure retirement.

James Garza, QFA, of Trillium Financial Services, has over 17 years experience in the financial services industry.

Mention this advert to avail of a free one-hour pension consultation with James Garza, QFA.

Christian Retreat Centre Greystones, Co. Wicklow

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

Accommodation for up to 70 people 24 en-suite bedrooms

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

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

Contact James Garza at james@trillium.ie or 086 073 9902 or 01 442 9950.

James Garza T/A Trillium Financial Services is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

42

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

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

www.coolnagreina.ie

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

HYMNS: Anthem Lights

I had never heard of this group before. Acapella has never been a style that appealed to me, so when this album crossed my desk for review, I thought I’d give it a quick listen and then just forget about it. So, I did, and then, I didn’t… forget it, that is. This is very good. It is refreshing to listen to something so stripped back. No booming Hillsong anthemic sound here; just piano, occasional strings, and vocal harmonies that are pure and perfect and yet so simple. I found them irresistible. There are no “spontaneous” overlong songs here. The longest track on the album comes to a whopping 3 minutes 30 seconds. Most are traditional hymns, and yet they have managed to breathe such vitality into these old favourites that you might believe they were written recently. They have come up with brilliant medleys that fit together perfectly. A good example is their combination of Amazing Grace and Be Thou My Vision, which actually sounds like two parts of the same song. Ten beautiful tracks and medleys make up this surprisingly lovely album. For me the standout track is Doxology, which features Selah’s Amy Perry’s vocals. It is simply breathtaking. The other eight tracks are brilliant and the ninth (a Christmas carol) …well, I won’t play that until December. I recommend this album heartily.

This Changes Everything Lou Fellingham

I have always loved the music of Phatfish. Fronted

by Lou Fellingham, they spent 20 years writing and performing their own brand of worship-oriented rock, as well as leading worship both in the UK and across the world. Following a farewell tour in 2014, the band went their separate ways. The good news is that Lou Fellingham is back with This Changes Everything, and it is good! Recorded at the Old Market Theatre in Brighton, UK, the album features 12 new songs plus a cover of Matt Maher’s Lord, I Need You. This is vintage praise and worship music, without any hype. From the first track, Praise the Name of Jesus, right through to the title track, there isn’t a weak link in this truly wonderful experience. This is a ten-out-of-ten album!

On My Side

Kim Walker Smith

Kim Walker Smith is a name I have been familiar with for quite some time now, as one of the founding members of the ever-popular Jesus Culture. Her voice has become synonymous with many great worship anthems the group has produced.

It is always risky for a singer who has been

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.

so long associated with a group to step out and produce solo material, but in this regard, Kim Walker Smith need have no worries. Her new solo album, On My Side, is superb. This is a very fine album, and although she hasn’t strayed too far from the formula used by most worship groups, there is a vibrancy about each track that more than makes up for her taking the safe route. One song that encapsulates the struggles she has experienced is the opening track, Brave Surrender. Other stand-out songs are The Throne Room and the title track, On Your Side, which assures us that no matter what we are going through, the Lord is right there with us. If you are a Jesus Culture fan, you will love this album. If you have never listened to Jesus Culture before, I think you’ll be hooked.

Forever Grateful Sandi Patty

It’s sad but true that an artist’s talents and achievements are rarely recognised fully until they have either retired or indeed died.

Now it’s time to say a farewell to another great stalwart of Christian music as she takes her final curtain call. I am referring to Sandi Patty. In her 40-year career, she has won 5 Grammy Awards, 40 GMA Dove awards, sold over 12 million albums, and graced the stages in more than 90 countries. It is appropriate, then, that her

parting gift to us is a live album of her classics recorded during her farewell tour and featuring many of the great songs that we have come to associate with this wonderful performer. Forever Grateful features 15 tracks and is a must-have album for Sandi Patty fans, and indeed for anyone who wants to hear great Christian music, performed the way it used to be performed… and should be performed more often today.

Beatitudes Stu Garrard

I was blown away by The Beatitudes Project.

Stu Garrard, formerly of Delirious? and currently playing with Michael W. Smith and One Sonic Society, is the driving force behind this collaboration, and he says, “I think there is something for every human being in here. In the Beatitudes, Jesus shows us what ‘the way’ looks like.” Garrard had no trouble assembling what reads like an A list of Christian performers, but he never expected the level of enthusiasm and commitment that they brought to the project. With songs by Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Matt Maher, Martin Smith, Amanda Cooke and Hillsong UNITED, to mention but a few, it would be difficult to single out any one song in this superb collection. Having said that, though, the one that I have on repeat play is Oh Mercy, which features Stu Garrard, Matt Maher and Audrey Assad. It is sublime.

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

43

EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when

July Summer Madness 30 June - 4 July Glenarm Estate, Co. Antrim www.summermadness.co.uk Sligo 17 Summer Conference 9 - 14 July Sligo Institute of Technology www.newwineireland.org European Leaders Advance 9 - 12 July Harrogate, UK www.europeanleadersadvance.org

Holy Ghost Rally 2017 Saturday, 15 July RDS, Dublin 4 www.rccgireland.org Pulse Camp 24 - 29 July Drewstown House, Co. Meath www.ccireland.ie/pulse August WORD International Ministries Family Camp 2 - 6 August Nenagh, Co. Tipperary www.wordinternationalireland.com

Bride’s Glen Farmhouse Shankill, Co. Dublin

Bed and Breakfast

www.bridesglenhouse.com Convenient for visiting Dublin city and County Wicklow

Bethany at Bride’s Glen

Self-catering accommodation and conference centre for small retreat groups. www.bethanyatbridesglen.com Residential and Non-Residential

These facilities can be booked together or separately.

Contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Betty Stevenson | 01-2822510 |bettystevenson2014@outlook.com 44

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

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 get your event listed there.)

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

THE SHACK REVIEWED BY TARA BYRNE

une 2017 saw the release of the movie The Shack, based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name written by William P. Young. Since it was published, The Shack has sold nearly 10 million copies

the shack, where he encounters three strangers led by a woman named Papa (Octavia Spencer). Thus begins Mack’s journey of understanding tragedy and how to reconcile that with a God he holds accountable for the terrible events in his life. worldwide.

From an acting point of view, the characters are well played, especially the three strangers Mack meets at the shack. Mack The film narrates the journey of Mack Philips (Sam himself is played by Sam Worthington, who for most of the movie Worthington) as he faces a crisis of faith and his struggle to does a good job except for the odd slip in accent whilst delivering reconcile the personal tragic events in his life with a God who a questionable script. The movie certainly has moments of supposedly loves all His creation. The film begins by setting the scene of Mack’s happy family-centred life, which is then ripped inspirational heart-changing insights into God’s love for His people. However, this is often peppered with typical Christian apart by the abduction of his youngest child, Missy, during a family camping trip. It turns out that the area had been the jargon and phrases that are only accessible to people who are already church goers. hunting ground of a man known to have abducted little girls Throughout the movie, there are some powerful moments before. illuminating God’s character that we often don’t think about Whilst the police are unable to find Missy’s body, they do but one would wonder if someone with such harsh personal locate the scene of the crime, a run-down shack located high up in the mountains where Missy’s torn red dress and blood stains experience of suffering could be satisfied with the wishy-washy, almost bland answers are found. Time passes and we find Mack given as to why God allows suffering in the deep in depression world. Despite this, The and without hope, ONE WOULD WONDER IF SOMEONE WITH SUCH HARSH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Shack is worth a watch and the rest of the family is struggling OF SUFFERING COULD BE SATISFIED WITH THE WISHY-WASHY, ALMOST BLAND and will no doubt leave to survive. Mack the viewer thinking one ANSWERS GIVEN AS TO WHY GOD ALLOWS SUFFERING IN THE WORLD. way or another! receives an unusual invitation to return to

J

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

45

VOX PS

IS ALL GOOD GOD?

BY SEÁN MULLAN

wo conversations got my grey matter moving the other morning.

Number one: two business people. We’re discussing a couple of events they want to organise: one a business reception, the other a personal celebration. They want to figure out how both events would benefit someone else, a person or a cause that would receive help as a result. I find this intriguing. The conversation moves on to the notion of values in business and the challenges involved in that.

Number two: a small group of church leaders. We’re discussing a couple of recent church-related encounters that have left one of them seriously bruised. Bad behaviour, arrogance, poor relational skills and plain old dishonesty have all been significant factors.

T

“It’s as bad as being in the business world,” comments one of our group.

Having just come from the first conversation, that touches a nerve. “People in the church world,” I say “are no better than people in the business world. So why do they think they are?”

In work, I deal with a good few business people who have no interest in church or 46

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

religion but who are good and reliable and that in their company, no one was going to honest. The enterprise I work in has been look down on Him. They had no interest in trading for over five years. So we’ve done judging Him. They were just intrigued that a business with a lot of people, suppliers, person like Him would delight in spending tradespeople and salespeople. Of that group time with people like them. there have been Now stick with a tiny number of me here - we’re crooks and a larger nearly done. What number of people this man from THE MAN THAT THE CHURCH SEEKS TO ifNazareth only interested in is, as the FOLLOW WAS PRETTY WARY OF PEOPLE WHO church claims, a you for what they can get out of you.

SAW THEMSELVES AS BETTER THAN OTHERS. picture of how God But the largest is? Then God likes number have been hanging around fine people who with non-church do their job well and have become good people and getting involved in their lives. colleagues and, in some cases, friends.

What if the goodness I saw in those two So where does the idea come from people that morning was a result of God that church people - and I’m sure you’ve hanging out in their lives whether they guessed I’m one of them - must recognised Him or not? Perhaps all the be better because they’re church many kindnesses and the good business people? Maybe it is born of the relationships of our years in business are the idea that they should be - that the result of God hanging out with people who church, by its very nature, should didn’t recognise it. be better than the rest. There can be It’s too easy for the church to limit God’s something attractive in the notion activity to the people of the church. That that in this world there is a group old phrase “the people of God” can become of people who are more caring, an excuse for criticising, judging or even more wise and more loving than despising people who don’t claim to belong society at large is. That’s a notion to God. What if, instead, the church were we pursued in Ireland with some to become the people who recognised and pretty awful results. celebrated the work of God wherever it The man that the church seeks showed up, in business, on the street, and to follow was pretty wary of people maybe helped others recognise it too? What who saw themselves as better than if the church simply began to consider that others. Jesus of Nazareth developed all goodness might come from God? Or put a reputation among the church it this way: maybe the church’s job is to help people of His day for being far too fond of everyone answer the question, “Is all good disreputable people like prostitutes and God?” tax collectors and for being a glutton and a drunkard because of His partying habits.

Those good church people couldn’t figure Seán Mullan has been working in church out why Jesus would hang around with leadership for many years. He has people who weren’t as good as they were. developed a project in Dublin City Centre Why did Jesus party with people the called “Third Space”. church looked down on? Perhaps He knew

JUL - SEP 2017 VOX

47

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD IRELAND

HOLY GHOST Rally 2017

A Special Holy Ghost Night Of Miracles, Healing, Worship & Fellowship For All People

ON

ISSI M D A E E FR Ministering:

Pastor E.A. Adeboye

SATURDAY, 15TH JULY, 2017 DOORS OPEN AT 6PM RDS BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN 4 Tel: 01 4299919 48

VOX JUL - SEP 2017

All enquiries:

Email: centraloffice@rccgireland.org

Website: www.rccgireland.org