From the Editor Well, the cat as they say is finally out of the bag! Many of you will be wondering why you haven’t heard from Mari Clifton in connection with the magazine for awhile and that would be because Mari has stepped down to devote her attentions to the successful Messy Church operating in Kings Worthy. (See page 5) Personally, I would like to say thanks to Mari for all the hard work she has put in, she has been an amazing member to have on the magazine team and we wish her well with her new endeavours. While we’re talking about change, I’m very excited to let you know that Naomi Best and Jen Pringle have both agreed to come on board. So as in times of change - there are exciting things ahead! You never know where a theme will take you. It is our practice to give only the theme as a guide to those contributing and sit back and see how that associates with them. This theme is no different. Growing through adversity, however you look at it, life touches us all in ways sometimes, that seems to cover the sun. Many philosophers, writers and dreamers see that this is the classroom of life that can deliver the best to us. Not the easiest, but the best. It is in these enforced lessons that our attitude and decisions choose whether we grow, or we remain stunted until the next time this same lesson clothed as a different animal touches our lives. Sometimes we need to pass through these classes numerous times before we see it for what it really is...a chance to grow. If you’re reading this and you are in a time of adversity, you’re not alone - that is a powerful thing to hold on to. My prayer for you is that when the sun begins its descent, the day’s memories will be full of evidence that in the face of life God’s goodness has shown through and when it rises, you will be refreshed by the morning breeze of new promises. Peace to you, 1
Melissa
CONTENTS Lesotho Visit 2012 page 3
Messy Church page 5
Meet the Student page 16
Favour Cluster Report page 18
The Relational Way page 20
Winbap F A M I LY NEWS
page 15
The next magazine will be due out in October. If you have anything you’d like to submit, the deadline will be 14th of September. You can submit via email on winbapeditor@gmail.com and if you send photos, could you please send them as separate .jpgs.
One final thought. It is much easier to grow through adversity with the support and encouragement of others. The challenge however, when a community faces adversity, is to push through it together, not complaining, but positively and in faith. We need to help each other recognise the growth potential in both a burden shared and in sharing one another’s burdens. It is certainly true when it comes to exercise. I have no doubt I would have lasted longer on that rowing machine if I hadn’t been exercising alone. Paul Bulkeley
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. Helen Keller
grow. ing through ad . ver . si . ty
It is rarely a quick process and certainly not an enjoyable one but it is quite likely that we won’t do much growing, in the important things like character, without it. So if you would describe your current circumstances as ‘adversity,’ try not to fear. God will not test us beyond what we can bear. In just a little while these times will pass and something more precious than gold may well have been distilled in the heat and pressure of your current circumstances.
noun: Difficulties; misfortune.
So how is adversity good for us? The apostle Paul boldly says, ‘for when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Cor12.10), and ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength.’(Phil 4.13) It is when we approach adversity with humility, and the recognition of our need for God’s help, that we find our circumstances and perhaps more importantly, our attitude to those circumstances, is transformed. The pain, anguish, disappointment and fear caused by adversity can then be moulded
into the virtues of godliness.
synonyms: misfortune - disaster - distress - calamity - hardship
I was on my rowing machine this evening pondering what is means to ‘grow through adversity’. Then, as the pain increased, it struck me. I was growing through adversity! We don’t always have to grow through adversity, but it is amazing how often adversity is a prerequisite to growth. In fact adversity rarely leads to a continuation of the status quo. When faced with adversity we either grow or recede. The funny thing is, more often than not, it is the thought of impending adversity that causes us to recede and pull back from the challenges before us more than the experience itself. The experience of adversity can more often than not cause us to grow. Recognising this can help to ensure that our fate is not the former. If we can learn to confront the challenges before us and determine to push through them we will find, in time, that something good will emerge.
adjective: adverb: Become greater in quantity, size, All the way; along the extent, or intensity whole distance Having or showing life Throughout From beginning to end
Letter from the Leadership...
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lesotho visit 2012
We travelled out to South Africa via Dubai this time and were picked up at Bloemfontein by Heather and Barry amid loads of hugs and kisses. Having driven some three hours across the border we stopped for pizza (!) before making it to Maphutseng at around 9pm and just missing a wild tortoise on the road.
We were thrown in at the deep end the very next day, as the Project was expecting a group of 30 Dutch young people and the bunk beds had to be assembled, moved, re-assembled and made up. The next day we went shopping at Zastron (across the border) for one massive shop: how much rice do you need to buy for 30 people who are staying a fortnight? The following day we cleaned and packed up before Heather and Barry moved from a house at the back of the village (and a drive through a donga – not easy when it is flooded and in the dark) to a new build on the Project. From where every-day life included a long drop and feeding next door’s 3
pig with veg which didn’t keep in the unreliable fridge to an indoor loo and a shower; from a walk to a standpipe to hot running water! We set out for a few days’ holiday with Heather and Barry at Ramabanta, which was lovely. The scenery is spectacular, and so green! When you go out and about you see the shepherds herding the sheep, cattlemen and their dogs, travellers in their horses, women washing blankets down at the river and drying their clothes on the rocks and bushes and children playing. We drove around villages and found a waterfall by which to have a picnic. The agapanthus was out, and we saw growing wild swathes of red hot pokers – amazing! – and an unknown flower like a phlox. . We also went to a weaving centre at Ty before shopping for supplies once more for the Dutch group at Maseru. When we arrived back the group had moved all of Heather & Barry’s stuff into the new house, and all we had to do was clean and unpack it and make it feel like home.
Christmas Day was spent at August and Anita’s, with them, Anne and August Junior (Gustav was away spending time with his girlfriend and her parents), plus a couple of the workers from the Project. Anne is a good photographer and August junior makes a mean hunting knife. A new addition to the family is a jack Russell called Ruby. We had the task of providing dessert and so delivered (courtesy of Heather & Barry) a steamed Christmas pudding and a freshly cooked pineapple upsidedown cake, before exchanging presents. On Boxing Day we enjoyed Springbok, followed by apple crumble and custard (you just have to do it!) and learnt a game called canaster, which we played until the early hours (and definitely past Missionary midnight). The weather was a little mixed, sun, rain, storms and rainbows – at one point the river at the Project was shallow and the next raging – we did, however, manage to swim in it on Boxing Day, which was a real treat!
Barry and Heather would like to say a huge thank you for all your prayers, plus the trousers for a slim Barry, and August and Anita send their thanks for all your financial support. As mentioned, their personal support is proving to be a bit of a struggle at the moment and I enclose some further details about that below:
The Project were growing maize and beans and intercropping with squashes and pumpkins. We picked peaches and dried them and the soya beans, which they then sell. In the villages they also grow potatoes, cabbages and onions. The nearest we came to a spot of wildlife, however, was a litter of kittens at the Project where they ‘forgot’ to remove the male cat in time! I understand a second litter has subsequently arrived.
Financial support for August and Anita Basson: The average support (taking account of regular monthly and regular occasional, plus ad hoc donations has been going down slowly over a long period of time. They have been on the mission field for some 20 years now and it is difficult to generate sustained income from the same places over that length of time, and they recognise the need to generate fresh support: they lost one church last year which contributed R2,000 a month, which made a big dent in their support, but when he visited the Cape in early May this year August was able to increase their support by R1,000 (half the amount), and they are continuing to look to other sources. They have also lost some bigger occasional donations, but again have received a single big donation and this, together with WBC’s donation, has helped bridge the immediate gap.
I was also able to do a spot of baking for Heather and Barry and left them with a little bit of England in the form of Bath Buns, and of the European Continent with French Stick and Focaccia bread. Dave was also kept busy laying a new floor in their new house, supported by August jnr. The next trip to Lesotho and Growing Nations Project is planned for March 2014. Accommodation is in place: the old Pastor’s house has been concentrated into segregated bunk-bed rooms - some of them really cosy (how many bunks can you get into a room?). It has its own kitchen and cooks come from the village and a purpose-built girls and boys toilet and shower block. More accommodation is also located in the Project – some more salubrious than others! More details on the trip will follow.
Ideally, they need a working balance of two months’ support to help cover the shortfalls that come from time to time, and again appreciate they need to feed the ‘little stream’ that comes in each month. August says “I realise the church [WBC] has many obligations and we appreciate everything you guys are doing for us, but if you are willing to take up a collection it will help a lot while we are working on getting
the ‘little stream’ fed”. To this end we are arranging for a collection to be taken at a Sunday morning service in early June, and this will be announced ahead of time. David & Carol Bailey
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We also visited a Pastor, Zach, and his wife and twin boys, at Bethsaida Mission, where we were able to pray for a girl at senior school who had come under Satan’s attack and was learning how to walk out her freedom under Christ – what a privilege – and saw the first mission house built into a cave.
Humans are amphibians - half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. CS Lewis
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, a mbition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller
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Mari Clifton
By the time you read this we will have delved into a sty of jelly, created pig-in-the-pen biscuits (not pigs in blankets as a certain member of my household was hoping for!), covered a myriad of feet in paint…and taught a whole new church congregation the actions to ‘God’s Love is Big’…Exciting Yes! Daunting – Definitely! But this is Messy Church – and it’s likely to be just that… A few years back I remember hearing a sermon by Ewen and about how messy church can sometimes be, just as the stable was when Jesus was born. I guess you can’t get a messier church than this, but something beautiful and awe inspiring is also happening here too . A brand new congregation, Christians from different denominations working together, a whole new concept of doing church – and we get the privilege of doing this in our own back yard! Ben & I have never been involved in Church Leadership in the classic sense. But after several years of co-leading small groups and supporting various individuals through pastoral situations, we are learning that 5
nothing beats stepping up and out in God’s power. Yes we feel vulnerable. We are stepping out literally onto our doorstep – the venue for Messy Church is less than two minutes from our front door. There is no place to hide as we live out our lives on the school run, bike commute to work, and various activities in the village. But this is exactly where God put us. We keep asking and checking that we are in the right place and one day we may be called elsewhere, but He keeps confirming that we are to be His lights right here, right now! (Now I have Fat Boy Slim’s song in my head!!) So why do it? Isn’t one congregation enough for us.? Well if we’re honest yes. We are totally and fully committed to WBC. We are fed, nurtured, challenged, comforted and surrounded by friends here. But we have also known that we were being called to step out on a more strategic level in our community, and after 10 years of learning, growing, making mistakes and praying, this is our next step. The Kings Worthy Cluster is strong,there are many Christians in the village, and the support we have is growing as word spreads on the street
we’ve let ourselves into – of course - we’re only human. But as I learnt during the community outreach testimony service, so many of you are doing the same thing. Your home, right now is WBC, but you’re up till the small hours of Sunday morning with the Street Pastors, you’re ministering on the wards and in the prisons during Sunday morning services, you’re downstairs teaching our children. So if this new congregation grows and develops we will keep seeking God’s will and guidance and we walk one day at a time. After all we are His vessels and He will use us in the best possible ways – and walking in step with His will is the safest and best place to be. If you want to know more come and chat to us, take a look at the MC official website. We pray that He would continue to guide and encourage you as you follow your calling for Him in Winchester and beyond. Kings Worthy Messy Church: When: Every 3rd Sunday afternoon of the month Where: St Mary’s Chapel Hall, Springvale. 4.15-6.00pm
A
SENTENCE MOST COMMONLY HEARD...
Here is a sentence that is quite often heard in our house: “...and you can stay there until you’ve calmed down and are ready to behave nicely.” Unfortunately Ed doesn’t really fit on the naughty mat so I need to think of somewhere else to put him; the shed, maybe.
Of course we are to live this life victoriously, for this world which causes us so much trouble has been overcome. But there is a reason we weren’t created as superheroes. In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul refers to his own human frailty as a jar of clay holding the treasure of the gospel. I think the jar of clay is a great picture. It works in
a practical sense but you wouldn’t necessarily want to put something too valuable in it in case it breaks. We may sometimes feel so incredibly fragile that the merest breath of hardship might cause us to crumble but when we endure and come through it shows that “this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Naomi Best
A
y rsit dve
Playing up when something doesn’t go your way is all part of being a two year old but what about those of us who are apparently old enough to know better? What is your first reaction when the going gets tough? I would love to say that my first thought is a bible verse or a quick (or long) prayer and if that is what you do I sincerely say well done but if I’m honest that is where I get to...eventually. Often the reality for me is pouting, sulking, sighing, pot-clattering, chocolate, despair, denial, more chocolate and then eventually remembering to do something useful like pray. I find it much easier to respond to other peoples’ “bad news” prayerfully than when my own circumstances are difficult.
The modern day proverb (and Billy Ocean) says that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. However, I don’t often feel very tough. I like the alternative interpretation to this which hints that those who like to appear tough, superior and proud will probably clear off when a situation becomes difficult before they get found out to be just as weak, vulnerable and frightened as the rest of us. My version of the proverb goes: when the going gets tough, normal people who aren’t superheroes and are sometimes a bit rubbish but know a brilliant God should most definitely get praying. Ok it’s not quite a catchy but it works for me.
strong
is like a
WINDtears
IT
away from us all
but cannot be torn
the things that
Arthur Golden 6
The Elders (as at Feb 2013: Tim, Sheila, Carol and Andy Marshall) visited Redding, California, USA to attend a prophetic conference entitled “Power and Love” at Bethel Church on 13-15 February this year. The speakers were Stacey Campbell, Doug Addison and Kris Vallotton, who is the founder and overseer of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding. He is also the Senior Associate leader at Bethel Church and has been a part of Bill Johnson’s apostolic team
three campuses – the church itself, Bethel Media and a satellite campus. It connects with children, youth, young adults, seniors (which they call their ‘diamond fellowship’!) and a transformation centre which offers inner healing, counselling, deliverance ministries (eg Sozo) and marriage counselling.
•The culture of love and honour
It offers all sorts of classes to grow disciples eg Firestarters, couples, etc, and is as hot on serving, too. It has specific outreach ministries in Treasure Hunts, a food
•They gave thanks for everything
•The high percentage of men in the Sunday evening service •How normal it was! •The length of worship – people wanted to worship and it was wholehearted
This ethos comes out of its values which include Connect - finding a place where you can connect
A visit to
Bethel redding, ca
over 26 years. Stacey Campbell is a well-known prophetic voice in America and is the founder and facilitator of the Canadian Prophetic Council, and is on the apostolic team of Harvest International Ministries under Che Ahn, among other things. Doug Addison is a prominent international conference speaker and author, with a stand-up comedy and unique prophetic style which he has exercised over the past 20 years, and remains cutting-edge in his interpretation of dreams, tattoos and piercings. This was our first visit to Bethel Church. It is a nondenominational charismatic church led by Bill Johnson. It was established as an Assemblies of God congregation in 1954 and has grown to an estimated attendance of over 3,000 people. It is both a local church and a mega church: one church over 7
Bethel Prayer Room programme and many more, plus healing rooms. It also runs various schools: a Christian school for children, the BSSM (which is a School of Ministry offering a 3-year programme, founded in 1998), School of Worship (classes) and a language school (where they teach Mandarin, Hindu, Spanish, Russian and Arabic, etc). It also provides an International Conference Centre, which is what we experienced. We also took the opportunity to visit the Prayer Room, Healing Rooms, Prophetic Booths and a Sunday morning and evening service. There were a number of things that caught our attention: •An expectancy of God’s presence
and be nurtured and grow; building community and not doing life alone. They do this via Connect Groups expressed through core groups, life groups, homefire groups, etc. They suggest you need to be part of a group in order to exercise accountability. These are like our cluster groups. Their values also include Mission – and revival, and they are passionate about God (and people, their city and the world). They have a marvellous outreach ministry and their vision is to build, equip and mobilise the church to help bring about City transformation eg feeding the poor, supporting the Redding Policy Department to help lower crime in their communities, hosting evangelistic events and supporting other churches with the goal of helping train and equip them. They have a Kingdom focus and a culture of Honour.
In a nut-shell, they want to know God and make Him known, and it is out of this that their ministries have grown and are established on: •A personal relationship with the Triune God – to love Him first and foremost •God’s Word – The Bible – is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God •All Member Ministry – we can all demonstrate God’s grace and bring God’s kingdom to earth •Jesus is coming back! The Church is set on a hill within a ring of mountains, and it is a truly beautiful setting. We were able to sit out over lunch, taking in the snow-topped mountains, enjoying the spring sunshine and watching the eagles soaring overhead on the thermals. We had a lovely time, and were also challenged by God in different ways. In particular, how we might influence the atmosphere around us, rather than the atmosphere influencing us. It remains a challenge to bring the Kingdom of God into every place I go! I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to Bethel, and I know God started something in me which I would like to fan into flame – that is also part of my personal challenge from this time away. Keep me accountable! Carol Bailey
Girl’s Night Out There is something quite unique about a group of women all gathered together in one place. The Girls’ Night Out organised by World Vision was a great example of this. Lured by the promise of a goody bag and a free cupcake, the lovely ladies of Winchester filled the Middle Brook Centre all waiting to be entertained, inspired and more importantly have 2 ½ hours of enforced inactivity. We listened to the life story of the host Carrie Grant, heard her sing and watched videos of the work World Vision is currently doing in Uganda. Her co-host and husband David then took over for a spell and managed to get a group of 200 or so women singing together and actually sounding quite good. I think he could give Gareth Malone a run for his money! It was a bit unexpected and it didn’t really have much of a point to it
but there I was, with a big smile on my face, singing “Let it be” purely because it was fun. It made me think what sort of fun one of the women featured in the videos could possibly have. A young widow with two children who lived in something Eeyore would have turned his nose up at; a handful of branches stacked together to provide the most basic of shelter. So we sang, we laughed, we ate, we were hopefully challenged and then we went off to face the challenges of our own circumstances. Possibly a little bit more grateful for what we have. It’s wonderful to get together and have fun in a big group and hopefully help to make a small difference. Naomi Best
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This is the day...
Jen Pringle From a societal perspective, I guess you could say I’ve had a pretty good life so far. I grew up in a loving and supportive family, I passed all the big exams, got some life experience on my gap year in London and have just completed three years at university here in Winchester. I do feel privileged to have been able to experience everything I have over the past 22 years. But of course I wouldn’t be human if there hadn’t been some setbacks and painful struggles along the way. People quite often look at Christians and say things like, ‘Well it’s alright for you because you have it really easy’. Whilst my Christian faith is, by far, the most important thing in my life, I cannot agree that living a Christian life is easy. I would instead argue that it is alright for me, because I have a faithful God who will never leave my side and who will support me through the tough times like no human being could. Looking back on my life so far, there are key points where I can pinpoint my relationship with God growing, and in 90% of those times, it’s been when I’ve been particularly low and looked to God to pick me up. I’m slightly 9
ashamed to say that all too often, those are the times when I really make the effort with God. Those are the times when I give God the exclusive on how I’m doing. Those are the times when I give God my prayer check-list and occasionally remember to thank Him for ticking a few of them off. But most importantly, those are the time when I have absolute trust and faith that God will get me through, because it’s through that process that I realise just how weak and helpless I am on my own. My life seems to go through the same routine time and time again. It goes a bit like this: something bad happens, I feel completely lost and helpless, remember that God is good in these situations, ring the God speed-dial number and have a chat, realise we should have done this sooner, feel much better, praise God, carry on with this positive mentality, forget to check in as regularly with God, begin walking in my own strength… until something bad happens and I go back to the start of the cycle. As I get older, I’m more aware of this cycle and it doesn’t necessarily take something bad happening any more for me to become close
with God again, but it can still take a while sometimes. When looking at the tough times and specifically how my relationship with God has changed, I can honestly say that there is not one time where I’ve felt abandoned or completely out of my depth after speaking to God. One thing that has become really apparent to me in the last couple of years is that God will never give us more than we can handle. I was really made aware of this when I was in Africa last summer. There were plenty of times where I came close to feeling too overwhelmed with life, but I was often reminded of God guiding me, and others around me, through every step of the way, and what a wonderful thing that is. Even through the hard times, there is always reason to praise God. In the same way that feeling God’s presence when we’re at our lowest can be the most comforting feeling ever, being free to praise Him anyway can be equally rewarding and satisfying. Finally, what is important to remember is not comparing ourselves and questioning why some people seem to have it better than us.
Rather, we should assess the lives that we do have, always remembering what is going well and what we can praise God through, and then making sure we do it! Therefore, I would really encourage you to always be conscious of the positives and watch how your faith can grow through the good as well as the bad. ‘This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalm 118: 24
I remember listening to a sermon several years ago where the preacher said that 80% of all believers in the United States come to faith before the age of 15. That figure really stuck in my mind. It simply emphasises the importance of all those who are involved in children’s ministries. The Agape puppet ministry http://www.theagapepuppets.org/ home.htm is a wonderful example of lives wisely spent sharing the love of Christ with as many children as possible seeing each child as a precious gift.
‘This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalm 118: 24
We have also invested our time and resources in helping people in children’s ministries. One of the groups we have supported for the last ten years run children’s camps in Central Asia. It costs about £20 for each child to attend a summer camp for a week. At the camps they receive food, fun, love and good news. The camps are then followed by offering the children the opportunity to receive regular correspondence with the team leaders.
If you would like to give a child a precious gift of one week’s relief from their regular grind of poverty where they can receive fun, food and hope for the future then please send a gift to our address above. £20 for one child for a whole week would make a valuable gift. You can also give using our website http://www. bringinggoodnews.org/index.php/ how-you-can-help Thanks. If you would like to know more or find out how you could support the work of Bringing Good News, please visit their website: www.bringinggoodnews.org/
Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not. Henry Fielding
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Q&A
Ask the righ
I
t wouldn’t be right to major on the theme of ‘Adversity’ without giving Job a glance. In the Bible, the book of Job (find it just before the Psalms) is considered, even from secular viewpoints, to be one of the alltime outstanding commentaries on suffering, adversity and the great conundrums of life. Here are a few questions to be going on with over a cup of tea… How could such a good God make such an evil world? Why should we do good? What reward is there for living life aright? Why do some righteous people suffer and why does sin sometimes go unpunished? How does this square with a fair, holy, loving God? Does God really care for and protect His people who revere Him? Are adversity and affliction a sign that the sufferer is wicked? If God is good, why does He allow the suffering of the innocent? (If you ask one of the Elders next Sunday morning they will cheerfully explain the answers to you… ha!)
we know it. We don’t have space here to tell the full story but when you have time, have a look at it. I will endeavour here to offer some thoughts about living with adversity. Maybe I will answer some of those questions (…and maybe I won’t!)
Job’s story unfolded in the land of Uz, probably near Palestine. He is thought to have been a contemporary of Abraham. The book stands alone in scripture. It is nearly all poetry, apart from three chapters of prose, not that we would think of it as such because Hebrew poetry is based upon repetition of thought and contrasting thoughts rather than rhyme or rhythm as we know it. We
He asked many questions of God during all his adversity and it seems that God chose not to answer, as such, but you can read it yourself to hear what God did say, and how Job responded. In short, God revealed His sovereignty.
Job was a good, upright, prosperous man whose life was totally crashed by the devil, apparently with God’s say-so. Job had three friends (I use the term loosely) who came alongside to ‘help him’ and ‘counsel him’. A fourth commentator also turns up part-way through . “Who needs enemies with friends like these?” I wonder. I am not sure how much his friends learned about God but Job came into a totally different relationship with God through his devastating trials. He was tragically bereaved, stripped of everything he had and then, as if that wasn’t enough, desperately afflicted with physical pain and suffering.
Having had a bit o’ trouble myself, I have, as you might imagine, given it all a great deal of thought. You may have heard me even dare to
preach on it (what folly!) May I, as a good starting point, suggest that take on everything and all that happens to me is essentially about ME… a quite inappropriate stance that might get me into deep trouble and further confusion. I am the centre of my world, aren’t I? As Christians we might vociferously disagree. And yet, deep down, we believe that God came into this world, in the person of His Son, Jesus, to save me from my sin through His death on the cross when He died and paid that heavy price for me that I might never be separated from God’s love and know eternal life from the moment I accept this staggering grace gift. It’s true. Believe it. Get saved! But there’s a side to this rendering of the Good News which is too much about Me and not enough about Him. He did it not because He felt sorry for me but because He is love. He is unable to respond to any predicament with anything but love. Trusting that this is so is a basic stepping stone across the river (and it just happens to answer quite a few of the questions above). God is also just, no matter how loudly we might protest and He is also right. Not only is He love, He is also good… and faithful… and so on. If you apply this thinking to the questions above, you will see there is a problem. Job had the same difficulties so don’t worry, you are in excellent company. Could it be that your fundamental viewpoint is adrift and it is your questions
A
ht questions! hardly a glance over my shoulder. Many of you will know that what I am setting out here is true. You We do have a problem with this will have had your own times of stuff, let’s be honest. If I had a desperate adversity and you may couple of quid for everyone who have come to the point of smiling has asked for prayer because they a wan smile and saying, ‘God is so are suffering…. John Wimber used wise. I hated it, but He is so wise to say that when people become in His dealings with me.’ If you Christians they expect to wander haven’t got there yet I say to you down to the quay-side to find a with absolute conviction, ‘You will shiny white cruise liner awaiting get there’. God will not fail you them. Actually, he pointed out, if you will trust Him. God is the when we get there, to our surprise, Master Planner! We are safe with we find a grey battleship! You see Him. If you are not with Him this is war! It’s nearly sorted but then you are at risk. The risk is that we are not yet home. That final you will miss His love, possibly salvation awaits us. Meantime for eternity. He knows this. He our loving, faithful, just, wise, is calling you back. Sometimes it merciful, generous all-seeing seems people are deaf to Him and God takes us through some pretty are getting away with it. Ha! Don’t difficult territory (instead of the believe it. God is JUST. No one sweet shop) because He knows gets away with a thing. Not a jot. His immense capacity to make us Not a tittle. One day we will stand massive people, overflowing with before Him. Only the Blood of His love and power is something the Lamb covering us will satisfy we rarely learn from Him except His penetrating gaze. Without when we are stripped bare with atonement it seems He cannot look nowhere to go. We wouldn’t give at us let alone invite us in. His His astonishing restorative powers love-desire is to get us all to that and love-laden gifting a second place of total restoration because glance if we were on a cruise, would He is love. But He won’t force you. we? Instead, as any good father YOU have to change your stance. knows, although it pains Him not On that day we learn… It’s really cave in to our querulous demands, all about Him. Our perspective sweeties rot your teeth and having is changed. Job’s supposed constant liberal access to the Mars Comforters were so wrong because Bars (wine gums in my case) does they wanted, with their ridiculously nothing for my all important limited understanding, to explain relationship with Him, or my teeth. why Job was in his mess. Why we I will just make it all about ME and seek to make such explanations is a grab the goodies and run with mystery. Are we playing God
perhaps? “You’ve sinned secretly somewhere Job… you were too successful… too proud… lacking in faith…..” Rubbish! There’s a very funny, albeit tragic comment from Job in Chapter 21 v 1 (of which we who dare to give counsel might take note) that goes like this in the Strutt translation… “Do me a favour, will you? Just shut up and listen to me! When you have really listened to me, you can say what you like. ” God did one thing for Job. He showed Job the sheer wonder of His incredible majesty, and you will have to read the ending for yourself (Chap 42) to see how Job reacted. If you understand that famous response, you will most likely not need to ask an Elder next weekend!
“Who shall separate us “
that are wrong (and maybe that is why God chose not to answer Job.)
from the love of Christ….? Romans 8 v 35 David Strutt
Always My foes are many, they rise against me But I will hold my ground I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm My help is on the way, my help is on the way Oh, my God, He will not delay My refuge and strength always I will not fear, His promise is true My God will come through always, always Troubles surround me, chaos abounding My soul will rest in You I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm My help is on the way, my help is on the way Oh, my God, He will not delay My refuge and strength always I will not fear, His promise is true My God will come through always, always I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord From You Lord, from You Lord Oh, my God, He will not delay My refuge and strength always I will not fear, His promise is true My God will come through always, always Oh, my God, He will not delay My refuge and strength always, always Kristian StanďŹ ll
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We had asked Barry and Heather Mann to write for us on the subject of Growing through Adversity before they had left on their holiday. As requested by Barry, this is a song that holds meaning for them - we hope it speaks to you.
For a lot of my life, I have lived voiceless. The sounds of life swirling around me, but never in me. You ask me how I am, I would reply ‘good’ and artfully deflect the conversation away from the most painful thing I could talk about - ‘me’. I was interrupted, punctuated, and locked within myself. I have however realised, that God really doesn’t want to leave you in the condition life hands you. After running away from the truth for most of my life, God brought me full circle, slowly and painfully and then handed me a choice. Did I choose to face my past and all that it held or would I choose to run as far as I could away from
it. I think sometimes when you are at your lowest, when you feel so utterly alone and desperate, it is the time when God leans down and whispers in your ear. He holds the broken close in a faithful and gentle way. (Psalm 34:18) I know this, because I was broken, broken and then broken...and He comforted and held me until I could stand again. Little giraffe on wobbly legs.
My life has changed. I am changing - not there yet, but moving away from the child of silence and towards an emerging adult, standing on solid ground and not shifting sand. I am learning what it really means to trust not in my protective wisdom, but to lean on the understanding that comes from One greater than my emotions, my thoughts and my pride.
I chose to stop running and face my past. Acknowledging who I was felt like it nearly destroyed me and in those tenuous moments between rationalising, excusing and hiding, I felt the full comfort of the One who wants me whole. It is very humbling to place yourself where you belong and not where you thought yourself to be.
There have been a number of verses that have held me throughout the years, but this is the verse that comes back over and over again - my promise spoken centuries ago and still true not only to me, but to all the other ‘drops’ in the bucket of life.
It is true, that the truth, it sets you free, though I have days where ‘free’ is really not what I feel. But then, life is not always about feelings, its about trusting in the One who gave you life. The One that knows the paths your feet will tread and the One who can take evil and find good. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Philippians 1:6 promises:
“
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
“
Well, I never thought I’d ever be sitting here writing this. In fact, I never thought about it at all. How do you measure how much you’ve grown through your own personal adversity? Maybe, you can’t, maybe its the trusted friends you allow over the wall and become accountable to, that can measure the steps of your journey far better than yourself. Maybe your only job is to take those steps, one after another.
And so I wait, knowing that everything is in God’s perfect timing, whether I see the reason or not and I awake to the full knowledge that with every sunrise God’s promises are renewed to me. 14
Winbap F A M I LY NEWS
Alan and Clare Gregory welcomed Joshua Wyn born 16th May, 9.33am weighing 8lb 10oz.
SPECIAL B I R T H D AY S to Doris Piercy, who turned 100 on the 14th May.
100 90
Ali, Naomi and Lily welcomed Reuben James on the 7th April, 1.40am weighing 7lbs 8 1/2oz.
to Ken Reveley on his 90th birthday on the 26th May.
Luke, Joanne and Isla Meharg welcomed Poppy May Breaker into their family 14th May at 4.57am.
B MS
birthday JUNE 6th Heather Jealous 30th Barbara Pratt
JULY 10th Liz Stacey 15th Jean Sweetenham Congratulations to Marlene Lee for making the finals of UK’s Brilliance in Blogging 2013 Award for the Photography category 15
AUGUST 4th Lois Graveley HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL
I’d like to say a very BIG thank you to Mari Clifton who has been an amazing part of putting the magazine together over the last two years. Mari has stepped down to be able to give more attention to the very successful Messy Church in Kings Worthy. We will miss her fantastic contributions - thanks Mari!! The next display for the Mission Action Group board will be about the Persecuted Church.
t e e M the t n e d Stu Name: Jennie Holt Age: 20 Course studying: English and History Where are you from? Sherringham, Norfolk How long have you been coming to Winchester Baptist Church? Since September 2012 What’s your favourite... Thing about Winbap? Family atmosphere Home-cooked meal? Lasagne Song? Don’t know Bible Verse? Too many verses to choose from. TV Program: Again too many to choose from but enjoy Dr Who. If you found yourself on a desert island, what three things would you take with you? An aeroplane, pilot and CS Lewis
What was your dream occupation as a child? To be a tomboy. If you had a day to do anything, what would you do? Travel to Paris for breakfast, Rome for lunch and St Petersburg for tea.
Go way back in time and meet your ancestors (pre 1800s) or go way into the future and meet your great, great, great grandshildren (Post 2200)? Go way back in time because if I go into the future I’ll learn all the mistakes I made.
What is your first memory? Not sure but it probably involved food. What’s something you have learnt in the last week? I don’t like the French language. What’s the last film you saw at the cinema? Hansel and Gretel - it was awful. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Russia What are you listening to right now? The dishwasher
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C S Lewis
Would you rather... Bungee jump or skydive? Skydive Have all summer or all winter? All autumn 16
Writing about two-year-old twins, one of our followers says, “It seems lately that the tools we have used in the past are just not relating to them anymore. Our version of the ‘Uh, Oh, Song’ and removing them from a situation (time-out) is not relating to them these past two weeks. With them everything is, ‘No.’ Any suggestions?” The solution to this problem is the consistent use of the “Uh, Oh, Song” applied exactly as prescribed instead of a version of the technique.
Many parents confuse the “Uh, Oh, Song” with “time-out.” However, the above elements are not included in “time-out” and that is the reason why it has limited effectiveness. The “Uh, Oh, Song” includes a number of solid psychological concepts, and was developed to: Help parents establish themselves as loving authority figures.
General tips Mums…do you ever feel like the weight of the world is resting firmly on your shoulders? Do you ever feel like it’s your job…YOUR JOB… to make sure that your kids always do the right thing and turn out well? Do you ever worry that the entire neighbourhood is aware and judging you when your kids sneak out of the house with mismatched socks, messy hair and
Parenting Tips 1-5 years If you find it not being effective, ask yourself the following questions: Am I actually singing instead of talking? Singing “Uh, oh,” instead of saying it indicates that the problem is the child’s problem, not the parent’s problem. Is the child staying away from the family until perfectly calm, regardless of the amount of time it takes? Am I using the egg timer after the child proves to be calm? Is the “egg timer time” adequate? In the event that the process doesn’t seem to get the desired results, lengthen the amount of “egg timer time.” Strong-willed children often need more time. 17
Help parents establish loving limits and boundaries. Help parents simplify their job. Use this technique for every undesirable behavior. It even should be used for misbehaviors that no child has dreamed up yet. And it should definitely be applied when a youngster says, “No!” Use with children ages 1 to 5. Hear the “Uh, Oh, Song,” modelled on the audio CD, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers. Thanks for reading.
less-than-polite attitudes? Oftentimes, the most loving and effective mothers take the most heat from others and themselves. Wonderful mums understand that kids need to make plenty of small, affordable mistakes. They know that kids must experience occasional struggles and disappointments. They also know that constant rescuing or micromanaging just creates kids who need constant rescuing and micromanaging. Because of this, the best mums
often feel a bit lonely and unsure of themselves. They feel lonely because our society too frequently rewards what looks good rather than what is good. They feel lonely because they rarely overhear other mothers bragging about allowing their kids to learn by forgetting a lunch, misplacing an occasional homework paper, or having to pay for a lost coat. The best mums often feel a bit lonely and unsure of themselves. It’s easy to feel guilty or insecure when you see so many “super hover mummies” acting like pack mules, carrying all of their children’s sporting equipment, back packs and other responsibilities. It’s easy to lose perspective when your minivan is the only one without an “Honour Student” bumper sticker. It’s tempting to waver when the parents next door are working harder completing their child’s homework than their child is. I hope to encourage all of the wonderful mothers who let things fall apart from time to time… who understand the wisdom of providing a rather imperfect world for their kids
Jim Fay If you want more tips and ideas come on the next parenting course!!!
Eight adults and two children put their own pressing needs to once side and gave up their Saturday morning to help three different people - there were a variety of gardening activities, taking things to the tip and doing some DIY jobs in the bathroom! The church office received a phone call from one of the people we helped to say she was very grateful and wanted to say a BIG thank you! One volunteer said, ‘I just knew we were in the right place at the right time for the lady we helped.” “Thank you for your team’s hard work on Saturday morning. A big thank you to all involved. Take care of each other.” Unfortunately, three volunteers couldn’t be used on the day, because we didn’t have enough people to help. Do you know someone who could do with a hand??
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Napoleon Hill
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Church Secretary’s Report
AGM
We have a new moderatorKeith Hawton from North Baddesley Baptist Church and we are receiving names of potential new ministers from the National Settlement Team. It is an exciting and challenging process as we try to match expressions of interest with our Church Profile and Person Specification.
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2013
We have also just joined with St Mary’s, Kings Worthy, to set up “Messy Church”- we had 73 people at the first meeting!
The AGM marked the end of one financial year and the start of another. The requirement to write the annual report is a good time to take stock and it was a great privilege to write the annual report from scratch for the first time.
Structurally, in terms of procedures and processes, we believe that we remain in good health; our policies and procedures have been reviewed and updated. We are not complacent but things seem to be in good shape. The truth, however, is that the risk assessment and policies only have limited power. They cannot stop natural disasters or stop or create government legislation, they cannot deal with illness, they cannot increase unity or brotherly love, they cannot ensure we appoint the right person to be the next Senior Minister and they cannot bring about revival; that is why we have the weekly Wednesday morning prayer meetings, the monthly prayer meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, the Mission Action prayer meetings and the prayer walks by the Favour Cluster. Join us for all or any of them if you can- Wesley said that God does nothing except in answer to prayer... and he seemed to know a thing or two.
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The Church, through its members, is involved in a huge amount of work and it is edifying just to collate the details of what people are doing- and there remains much that people don’t mention but just get on with. To try to mention everything that goes on is futile, but volunteers are at the core of everything we do, including, Sunday services, Children’s Work, Edge, Silver Service, Clusters, Intercessors, Sozo, HOTS, Street Pastors, Friday Fun, Alpha, CAP, the Parenting Course, Overseas Work, Being Men, Woman2Woman; members are also involved in Olive Branch counselling, 24/7 prayer, Winchester Churches Night Shelter, Winchester Basics Bank, Winchester Churches Family Project and Winchester Churches Housing Group; Boaz, Hospital Chaplaincy, City Centre Chaplaincy, a dementia activity group, Winchester Bereavement Support, the Methodist Winchester Live at Home Scheme, Abbeyfield Winchester Society at Twyford and many, many more things. 19
As we learn how to be Church in an increasingly secular society, I was reminded of what Julian the pagan emperor was forced to admit even as he tried to stop the spread of Christianity in the 4th century; “The godless Galileans” he said, referring to the early church,” feed our poor in addition to their own”. Much of what we do involves leaving our own walls and feeding society’s poor as well as our own, metaphorically and literally.
It has not been an easy year in some respects, and, on behalf of the leadership team, I want to pay tribute to all of the staff and volunteers who have taken on an increased work load to compensate not only the absence of a permanent Senior Minister, but also the extra work that seeking a new one brings.
At the AGM I paid particular tribute to Tim and Cherie who have borne the immediate brunt of the increased work load, but no one has been unaffected and everyone has stepped up. We couldn’t have kept on going without you- thank you.
The Relational Way
Review by Jo May
•
The Teg Down House group has spent the last two terms working through the Relational Way. Each evening was spent discussing one chapter at a time and thinking about the implications for ourselves as individuals and as a group. In The Relational Way M. Scott Boren looks at small groups in relation to their purpose within a church and how this links with God’s wishes for us as set out in the Bible. Boren challenges us to establish a way of living that runs counter to the society in which we live. He suggests that Small Groups are the medium through which individuals can get support for this way of living. To make the process easier he has broken each chapter into two sections; the first covering the theology of his ideas and the second how these ideas can work practically. Boren bases his book around what he calls 10 myths and develops 10 relational truths in response to these myths. He works through each one chapter by chapter trying to define relational Kingdom living; what he called the Breath of God. He also gives some elements that should be considered within the running of the group: • Edification: love builds up/ encouragement
Spiritual Gifts: share and • Forwards: Jesus leads identify these in each other people to new places, leadership when coming together. development strategy, people to grow up and take responsibility • Reconciliation: removal of for passing on what you have barriers / pre judgement learned; development of leaders etc. and birthing of new groups. The people of God are called to • Creativity: freedom to action a way of interacting with move as Spirit takes us. the world that infects it with the life of God. The New Testament • Risk: following the spirit abounds in commands about how we should relate to one another. • Prayer Love one another, serve one another, edify one another and Small Groups need to be based consider others more important upon the expectation of Christ’s than self. Boren states that the presence in those groups and operating system of God is Love. develop a strong foundation of He suggests that Small Groups prayer and love for each other. He should have the love of their states that only with the dynamic members at heart; that we should engagement of the Holy Spirit challenge and build each other can we successfully step out in up, but that the group should Christ. also have permeable boundaries, so that we maintain an outward Boren goes on to suggest that focus and continue to grow. small groups should provide an environment where each individFor our House Group it has ual is supported in building strong left us with some key questions relationships with each other. He which we will be exploring as suggests that there are four areas we continue on our journey we should focus upon: with Christ together. How do we become a people that live in • Upward: worship, prayers community that stands in direct and intersession: - Following contrast to the social structures of Christ together in communion this world? What ways of living with the Triune God, being with would manifest in being a church God in the presence of others. on mission with God? How can we develop a ‘permeable boundary’ • Inward: loves others in the for our group? group, acceptance and forgiveness, building a community. We have enjoyed this process of challenge and discussion and • Outward: mission, going suggest that should any other out onto the streets, inviting Small/House Group be looking people to his banquet, go with for material to cover in their Christ and open doors and hearts sessions then this would be a good to those who do not love Jesus. book to consider. We have some copies available; if you need them please contact me. 20
Sunday
What’s on...
10am - Morning service with tea and coffee afterwards Creche - up to 3 years Sparklers - 3 to Yr R All Stars - Yr 1-3 Trailblazers - Yr 4-6 FRESH - Yr 7 upwards 6.30pm - Evening service with tea and coffee afterwards Monday 10am - Re:Store ladies group (creche provided) Helen Revans Tuesday (Small Groups and Clusters meet fortnightly) 2.15pm - Tuesday Afternoon Women’s Fellowship (alternate weeks) Roz Gearon 8pm Prayer and Praise Evening (first Tuesday in the month) 8pm - Teg Down Small Group Jo May 8pm - Location Cluster Dave & Ali Stanbrook 8pm - Favour Cluster South Winchester Gareth & Catherine Bartlett 8pm - Connect Cluster Ben Clifton & Rachel Dawson 8pm - Vision Cluster Wednesday (Small Groups and Clusters meet fortnightly) 7-8am - Prayer Meeting in the Tweedley Room 8pm - Chandler Ford Small Group Carol and David Bailey 8pm - Bishopstoke/Eastleigh Small Group Chris Aslet Thursday 1.30pm - Silver Service (1st in the month) 7.30pm - The Edge (Year 9 and above) 8pm - Badger Farm Small Group
David & Hannah Strutt Becca Baxter Jean Sweetenham
Friday 9.45am - Real Life Cluster
Tony Mundy
Saturday 2pm - HOTS on the High Street 21
Eunice Nicholson
Associate Pastor Rev. Tim Williamson tim @ winbap . org.uk Mission to Seniors Hannah and David Strutt hannahanddavid @ winbap . org . uk Children’s Ministry Worker Eli Stewart eli @ winbap . org . uk Associate Youth Worker Becca Baxter becca @ winbap . org . uk Pastoral Worker Eunice Nicholson eunice @ winbap . org . uk Elders Carol Bailey Cliff Turner Paul Bulkeley Sheila McAulay
01962 868770 01962 868770 01962 868770 01962 868770
Secretary James Dawson churchsec @ winbap . org . uk Assistant Secretary John Pickett assistantsec @ winbap . org . uk Treasurer Peter Howes churchtreas @ winbap . org . uk Bookkeeper Alison Stanbrook bookkeeper @ winbap . org . uk Deacons Wayne Isaac
01962 868770
Mission Joanne Meharg
01962 868770
Winchester Baptist Church Swan Lane Winchester SO23 7AA 01962 868770 office @ winbap . org . uk
June SUN
MON
TUES
WED Prayer Meeting 7-8am
2 PM Communion Service
9
16
3
10
Re:store Ladies Group
11
17
18
24
25
Re:store AM Communion Ladies Group Service
23
4
Prayer Re:store & Praise Ladies Group Meeting
Re:store Ladies Group
5
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
12
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
D AT E S F O R Y O U R D I A R Y
THURS
FRI
Silver Service
6
Silver Service
13
The Edge
SAT 1
7
8
14
15
19
20
21
22
26
27
28
29
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
MON
30
1
TUES
2 Prayer & Praise Meeting
7
8
9
14
15
16
22
23
29
30
Re:store PM Communion Ladies Group Service
21
AM Communion Service
28
Re:store Ladies Group
Re:store Ladies Group
WED
3
THURS
FRI
4
5
Silver Service
SAT 6
12
13
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
31
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
9th -
Volunteer Thank You Party 4-6pm Hall
13th - Edge @ Home - The Revans’ 16th - Family Outreach Meeting 4.30 - 6pm - Youth Room 17th - CAP Money - 7.30pm Lounge
23rd - Morning Baptismal Service Lesotho meeting after church 27th - Edge@Home - The Jones’
17
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
6th - Silver Service - Edge@Home - Wayne Isaac’s
22nd - Edge Trip to Splashdown, Poole
11
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
Prayer and Praise Evening
21st - Edge band practice 7.30-9pm - Trailblazer Bowling Sleepover
10
Prayer Meeting 7-8am
4th -
20th - Edge @Home - The Breakwell’s
July SUN
June
28th - Fresh/Edge band practice July 2nd - Prayer and Praise Evening 4th - Silver Service - Edge@Home -The Feltham-Kings’ 5th - Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 11th - Edge@Home - The Myers’ 12th - Fresh/Edge band practice 17th - Church Meeting 19th - Edge - End of Term BBQ
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