THE MAGAZINE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
THE
CHURCH
EDITION
We explore the Church in all its glory
BIG INTERVIEW
DIVORCE
GOOD QUESTION
Terry Virgo on his
Newfrontiers legacy
How do churches deal with marriage
breakdowns in their congregations?
What’s the point of church?
On the Job
Connect
60 seconds
with…
Culture
GLOBAL
Big Interview
www.eauk.org/idea
MAR/APR 2014
NEWS
COMMENT
features
Europe’s leading
Christian Resources Exhibition
EQUIPPING AND EMPOWERING YOUR CHURCH
CRE On The Road – Wales
CRE North
CARDIFF
MANCHESTER
All Nations Centre,
26 March 2014
Event City,
8 & 9 October 2014
30th
Birth
day
CRE International
CRE South West
Sandown Park, Esher
13 – 16 May 2014
Westpoint Arena,
10 & 11 February 2015
EXETER
SANDOWN
For up to date information and to buy tickets go to
CREonline.co.uk
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@CRE_churchshow
www.YouTube.com/CREvideochannel
IDEA MAGAZINEResources
/2
Christian
Exhibitions is part of Bible Society (Charity Reg. No 232759) Tel 01793 418218
Chine Mbubaegbu:
I hope, like us, you will be inspired,
encouraged and challenged by all that
churches are doing across the country.
idea-torial
Why I love church
I love my church. When I walk through
its doors on a Sunday morning, it feels
like home: a safe space where I can come
and meet with God alongside my church family.
We are not all the same. I love that my church is
a great reflection of the diversity and creativity of
the God we worship. I love that in my church there
were babies born this week, and there are greatgrandparents and teenagers and students and
couples and singletons.
In 1 Peter 2, we hear how the Church is “a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God”. I love that though we are a holy,
chosen priesthood belonging to God that our church
is a place where we can come; broken. I love that
in my church there are widows and divorcees and
hurting people and lonely people; people who are in
need of healing; people who are in desperate need
of God’s transforming, life-giving grace. I love that
as the 1 Peter passage continues, we can “declare the
praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into
His wonderful light”.
“A chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God.”
I love that we know that our mission is for other
broken people to come into relationship with this
God. We know that that’s the best thing we can do
for our neighbours and that it’s this that will lead to
the transformation of our community.
CONTENTS
FEATURES
7 Geoff Tunnicliffe
As secretary general of the
World Evangelical Alliance
(WEA), Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe
has a unique perspective
on the Church around
the world.
20 Divorce
How should the Church
respond to rising rates
of divorce among its
congregation?
12
Once laughed at as one of the worst
places to live in the UK, Hull is on the up.
Having been awarded the Capital of Culture
2017 award, church leaders want to use it to
further improve the city’s image.
30 Big Interview
Terry Virgo has helped
plant numerous churches
but he has now handed
over leadership of
Newfrontiers to others.
We catch up with him.
REGULARS
4-5 Connect
Find out what the Alliance
has been up to…
11 Good question
22
Are mono-ethnic churches
a good thing? We get the
lowdown from both sides
of the argument.
27 Theology
What’s the point of church?
Church leader Jason
Clark answers.
Being a chaplain and acting as a
representative of the Church can be
challenging whatever the environment,
whether Manchester United or the
local hospital.
36 In your words
idea readers respond…
38 Last word
The general director writes…
That’s not just the mission of my church, but the
heart-cry of thousands of churches up and down the
country who – driven by God’s love – want to tell
others about Him.
In this special themed edition of idea, we
celebrate the Church in all its glory: including
exploring how churches engage with the world and
how they respond to divorce in their congregations.
Our big interview this edition is with Terry Virgo, the
founder of the Newfrontiers movement which has
planted 900 churches in 60 nations around the world.
There’s lots more packed into this edition. I hope,
like us, you will be inspired, encouraged and challenged
by all that churches are doing across the country.
Chine Mbubaegbu,
Head of Media
@ChineMbubaegbu
We’re on Twitter!
Follow us @idea_mag
MAR/APR 2014
32
Holly Price from the Damaris Trust
explores the message behind Stephen
Frears’ film Philomena – set for release
on DVD in March.
Head Office
Evangelical Alliance has moved:
176 Copenhagen Street,
London N1 0ST
tel: 020 7520 3830
(Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm)
fax: 020 7520 3850
info@eauk.org
www.eauk.org
Evangelical Alliance
leadership team
Steve Clifford, Helen Calder,
Fred Drummond, Elfed
Godding, Krish Kandiah,
Dave Landrum, Peter Lynas
Email address changes to
members@eauk.org
Northern Ireland Office
First Floor Ravenhill House
105 Ravenhill Road,
Belfast BT6 8DR
tel: 028 9073 9079
nireland@eauk.org
Scotland Office
International Christian
College, 110 St James
Road, Glasgow, G4 0PS
tel: 0141 548 1555
scotland@eauk.org
Wales Office
20 High Street,
Cardiff CF10 1PT
tel: 029 2022 9822
wales@eauk.org
IDEA MAGAZINE / 3
News from the Alliance
CONNECT
apping the wells of our
T
Christian heritage
by Daniel Webster, advocacy programmes manager
Across the UK we have
inspiring examples of what
it means to be a Christian
and to transform society.
It’s easy to look back down the centuries
and see evangelical leaders who stood
up and made their voice heard, and made
a difference for their communities and
our country.
We can look at Wilberforce who loosed
the bonds of slavery, introducing the same
bill into parliament year after year until it
passed and freedom and justice reigned,
or 7th Earl of Shaftesbury who looked upon
the plight of the poor and factory workers
and said that this will not do. At the start
of the 20th century the tradition was still
strong. William Booth, growing up in the
East End of London, saw the ravaging
effects of poverty and committed to fight.
Another century on, and it still goes on.
Christians are in every area of public life,
they are in politics, they are in media, they
are leading in public life, and they are
being a voice for good in their communities.
In Tottenham in the wake of the 2011
riots and after the inquest verdict into the
death of Mark Duggan, it was Nims
Obunge, a local church leader who became
the go-to person; the person who mediated
between communities devastated by death
and authorities seeking to maintain order.
We build on the legacy of our spiritual
forefathers not by seeking to return to an
age past, but by learning from them and
working out what we can do in our context
to provide leadership.
The Evangelical Alliance wants to see
Christian public leaders across the country
and in every area of life. Public leaders are
not a special class of people; it is you and
me, it is people committed to making their
voice heard and working for good. It is why
a new website will launched be shortly,
resources provided and training events held.
You can register to find out more and if
you would like the advocacy team to come
to your church to provide training please
get in touch.
thepublicleader.com
IDEA MAGAZINE / 4
Pray with us
Please pray with us for the Church and
the wonderful work that God is doing
in our churches across the UK:
1. P
raise God for the work churches are
already engaged in with their local
authorities and communities, and
pray for God’s blessing on this work.
2. With Mothering Sunday just around
the corner, please pray for the
hundreds of churches that are part
of Home for Good, encouraging
Christians to step up and fulfil the
need for thousands of adoption
and fostering homes in the UK.
Mums for Good
Take part in our Mums for Good photo
competition launched in February and
the chance to win a professional family
photo shoot. As part of the competition,
we want to find the best photo showing
both the highs, and lows of being a
mum. The image could be a tantrum, a
messy teatime, or a serene scene of calm
with your tot – whatever it is we would
love to see what precious moments you
feel sum up being a mum.
3. Pray for the launch of our Public
Leadership programme this spring;
pray that God would work through
the Alliance to raise up Christian
leaders in the public sphere from
our churches.
4. Please join us in praying for the
Alliance’s Confidence in the Gospel
events, bringing churches together
in cities across the UK to work for a
renewed boldness in sharing the
good news.
5. Please pray for all those in leadership
in our churches; pray that God would
strengthen and guide them in all that
they are doing.
The competition is part of our
celebration of motherhood and will play a
part in our Home for Good campaign. With
6,000 children currently waiting to be
adopted and 9,000 more foster families
urgently needed, we know there are
thousands of mums out there who could
give them a loving home. Look out for
more details of the competition on our
website and our promotion for Mothers
Day in March eauk.org and also visit
homeforgood.org.uk/mumsforgood
Terry Ally: There are more Christians
who tune into the secular media than
those who tune into the Christian media.
in the media
ecular media:
S
fear not
by Terry Ally, press officer, Evangelical Alliance
In another couple of
months a new book –
Paradoxology – by the
Alliance’s executive
director: churches
in mission, Dr Krish
Kandiah, will be released.
Paradoxology deals with the 13 most
difficult paradoxes in the Bible which face
the average Christian.
The book, I think, challenges us to step
out of our comfort zones, to stop living
on the warm plateau we reached in our
Christian faith and to climb higher in the
spiritual realm. It’s not for the faint-hearted.
When it comes to publicity and press, I
believe that many churches and Christian
organisations are similar to the people this
book is targeting.
Most are happy to stay within their
certain comfort zone pitching only to the
Christian media. One of the reasons could
be because they feel that the secular media
is not interested in them because they are
Christian and they talk about the Bible.
That is not true.
At the Truth, Power and Communication:
Faith and Media in dialogue conference held
at Windsor Castle recently which brought
together mainstream journalists with
Christian communicators, one of the clear
messages which came out of the two-day
meeting was that the secular press is definitely
not against us because we are Christians.
dedicated to helping other people who
are now in the same situation.
They want quality output from us –
genuine newsworthy content. By remaining
silent and shunning the secular media, we
may well be remaining silent on things that
may make a great story.
It was quality content which was snapped
up by the BBC, ITV and many local and
regional newspapers. The secular media
did stories before the awards and after the
awards. Within minutes of receiving the
award in parliament, BBC radio was on
the phone to obtain the first reaction from
the winner in the Inspiring Individual
category. BBC and ITV sent cameras to
parliament to document their work.
Our recent Inspire Awards was a
demonstration of this. We had a great
story to tell. It was about a couple who had
provided food and help for thousands of
homeless people in their town over the
last 10 years.
These stories are a dime a dozen across
the UK so what makes it unique? It was
the fact that this couple were themselves
homeless. They and their five children
were kicked out on the street and remained
homeless for more than a year. With the
help of their church they were able to
rebuild their lives which they have since
In their interviews Carol and Len Fowler
unashamedly spoke about Jesus Christ,
which the media happily broadcasted.
If the research is done, I am sure that
there are more Christians who tune into the
secular media than those who tune into the
Christian media. The secular media wants
our quality, unique stories and we should
not be afraid to pitch our material to them.
MOORLANDS MIDLANDS
Children & Schools Work Studies;
Community & Family Studies;
Cross-Cultural Studies;
Missional Leadership Studies;
Missional Youth Work Studies.
MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 5
in the media
eauk.org/join
The Alliance welcomes
the following new members…
churches
christian growth centre, Basildon » church of
god mission international, London » rccg the
salvation trumpeters angel, London » victory
believers church international, London »
divine connection international church,
London » tabernacle of david, London » rccg
the fountain church, barking » leicester
malayalam church, London » Rccg Victory
Centre, Walsall » Rccg Victory Centre
Plumstead, London » Rccg Triumphant
Christian Connections, Romford » New Life
Baptist Church, Guildford » St. Theodore’s
Church, Leicester » Leicester Vineyard Church,
Leicester » Calvary Love Assemblies Of God
Church, London » Fijian Assembly Of God (Gb)
Aldershot » Network Church Sheffield, Sheffield
» Apostolic Grace Ministries, London » Asian
Christian Church Bolton, Bolton » Aylesbury
Vineyard Church, Aylesbury » Rccg Hope Hall
Chelmsford, Chelmsford » Rccg House Of Mercy
– Abbey Wood, London » St. Andrew’s Church,
Crawley » Rccg House Of Praise – Nechells,
Birmingham » Rccg House Of Praise – Grays,
Grays » Rccg God’s House International
Centre, Bristol » Church Of The Resurrection,
Leicester » Kingdom Citizens Church – Reading,
Reading » Kingdom Citizens Church – London,
London » Love Temple Christian Church, London
» Rccg Emmanuel Chapel Kettering, Kettering »
Netherauldhouse Evangelical Church,
Glasgow » Rccg Harvest Fellowship, Rugby »
Whitley Lodge Baptist Church, Whitley Bay »
Erdington Elim Church, Birmingham » Rccg
Covenant Restoration Assembly Peckham,
London » Rccg Covenant Restoration Assembly
St Ann’s, Nottingham » Living Waters Church
International (Uk), Manchester » Rccg Green
Pastures Parish, Leicester » Rccg Faith &
Holiness Centre, Thornton Heath » Rccg House
Of Praise Birmingham, Birmingham » Church Of
God World Fellowship – Blackheath, London »
Rccg Kingdom Of Praise And Thanksgiving
Hackney, London » Lighthouse To The Nations,
Bristol » Rccg House Of Prayer Manchester,
Manchester » Rccg International Bible
Christian Fellowship, Middlesbrough » Rccg
Jubilee House For All Nations, Romford »
World Outreach Church International,
Leicester » Rccg Living Faith House Brockley,
London » All Saints Church – Belgrave, Leicester
» Perfect Covenant Family Church, Thornton
Heath » Gateway Church, Barnsley » Rccg Pillar
Of Power Parish, London » The Everlasting
Arms Ministries, London » Fusion Church,
Morecambe » Rccg King’s Chapel Plumstead,
London » Rccg Living Water Parish Wimbledon,
London » Assemblies Of The First Born
Battersea Hq, London » City Of God Christian
Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne » Rccg My Father’s
House, Salford » Victory Church, Cwmbran » Rccg
Palace Of Grace Parish, Eastleigh » Rccg Praise
Tabernacle, Wembley » Rccg House Of Joy
Parish, Manchester » Rccg Testimony Parish,
IDEA MAGAZINE / 6
Birmingham » Dundonald Church, London » Rccg
Living Water Parish Stoke-On-Trent,
Stoke-On-Trent » Barton Evangelical Church,
Canterbury » Rccg Salvation Theatre
Birmingham, Birmingham » Gospel Of Christ
International Prayer Ministries, London »
Rccg Living Bread Parish, Newcastle Upon Tyne »
Rccg Peace And Love Assembly, Rochester » Rccg
Haven Of Rest, Preston » Rccg Great High Place,
Welling » Rccg House Of Glory For All Nations,
Feltham » Rccg Christ Domain Sidcup, Sidcup »
Rccg Unchangeable God Chapel Sydenham,
London » Rccg Sanctuary Of Mercy, London »
Rccg Inspiration House, Harlow » Rccg The
Risen Christ, Knebworth » Rccg Everlasting
Father’s Arena, York » Angelus Temple
Foursquare Gospel Church, London » christ
church earlsfield, London » rccg
resurrection house shoreditch, London » Rccg
Rivers Of Joy, Dagenham » Rccg The King’s
Parish Walthamstow, London » Rccg The Lord’s
Vine Harlow, Harlow » Rccg Covenant
Restoration Assembly, Nottingham » Rccg
Turning Point Parish, Barking » Rccg The
Promised Land, London » Rccg House Of Mercy
High Wycombe, High Wycombe » Rccg Testimony
Assembly Birmingham, Birmingham » rccg
testimony chapel @ west bromwich, West
Bromwich » Rccg Jesus Praise Tabernacle
Battersea, London » Rccg Still Waters
Colchester, Colchester » Rccg Holy Ghost Zone,
London » Rccg Solution Assembly, Newcastle
Upon Tyne » Christ Church Exmouth, Exmouth »
Rccg Vine Branch Parish Lewisham, London »
Rccg The New Creation Assembly For All
Nations, London » Rccg House Of Mercy
Aylesbury, Aylesbury » Rccg The Gateway
Church New Addington, Croydon » Rccg The Zoe
Parish Paisley, Paisley » Rccg Unchangeable
God Centre Bournemouth, Bournemouth » Rccg
Holy Ghost Zone Norwich, Norwich » New Life
Church, Dorking » Oasis Of Love Christian
Centre, London » The Apex Church, Cowes »
Mosaic, Leicester » Heritage Church, Preston »
Rccg Chapel Of Grace Bradford, Bradford »
Rccg Peace House Stoke-On-Trent, Stoke-OnTrent » Kirkby Baptist Church, Liverpool » Christ
Church, Inverness » The Gateway Church,King’s
Lynn » Foursquare Gospel Church Praise
Chapel, London » St Mark’s Gabalfa Cardiff,
Cardiff » Worship Tabernacle, London » Goshen
Light Church, London » Charlbury Baptist
Church, Chipping Norton » Cornerstone Global
Ministries, Southampton » St. Johns Hampton
Wick, Kingston Upon Thames » Rccg Victorious
Family Parish, Rochester » Rccg Victory
Assembly Sidcup, London » Rccg Victory Centre
Leeds, Leeds » Rccg Victory Centre Oxford,
Oxford » Rccg Winners Way Chatham, Chatham,
Mount Zion Christian Ministries – Freedom
Arena, London » Cardiff Vineyard Church,
Cardiff » Miracle Christian Centre
International Ministries, Watford » Family
Church Waterside, Southampton » Onelife
Church, Slough » Celebration Church Uk,
Watford » Rccg Victory Centre For All Nations
Lincoln, Lincoln » Rccg Victory Centre For All
Nations, Luton » Freedom Church, Chester » Rccg
My Father’s House Dunstable, Dunstable » God
Central Church, Harlow » Rccg Praise City,
London » Southgate Family Church, Birmingham
» Rccg Kingdom Light Centre Hatfield, Hatfield
» Breath Of Life Faith Ministries, Bournemouth »
Verwood Family Church, Verwood » The Potters
House Church, Bury St. Edmunds » Rccg
Lighthouse Parish, Clydebank » The King’s
Church, Stowmarket » Rccg Covenant
Restoration Assembly Dudley, Dudley » Rccg
The Pathfinder Parish, Manchester » Rccg River
Of Love Woolwich, London » Rccg Precious
Peoples Parish Manchester, Manchester » Rccg
Glorious High Throne, Wallington » Rccg House
Of Peace For All Nations Southall, Southall »
Rccg Kingdom Life Assembly Brighton, Brighton
» Derby Hall Assemblies, London » The Potters
House Pentecostal Church, Stockport » Rccg
Chapel Of Glory International Watford,
Watford » Rccg Breakthrough Chapel,
Hornchurch » Rccg Renewal Ground, London »
The Potters House Christian Fellowship,
London » Maranatha Center, London »
Llanishen Evangelical Church, Cardiff » Rccg
Testimony Assembly Romford, Romford » New
Life Evangelistic Ministries International,
London » Victory International Church Uk,
London » Rccg Covenant Restoration
Assembly, Dunfermline » Rccg Kingdom Life
Assembly Doncaster, Doncaster » Rccg The
Potter’s House, London » Holy Ghost Christian
Centre, London » Rccg Good News Haven
Thamesmead, London.
Organisations
Belfast Bible College, Belfast » Inspire
Movement, Chesterfield » Kingdom Life Tv, London
» Partners In Harvest (Europe), Hemel
Hempstead » The Chinese Overseas Christian
Mission, Milton Keynes » Westminster
Theological Centre, Cheltenham » Azalea, Luton.
Corporate Supporoter
2Buy2, Bridgend.
We are committed to seeing the Church living
out this unity as we seek to be good news people.
60 seconds with...
Geoff Tunnicliffe
As secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance
(WEA) – which started in 1952 – Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe
has a unique perspective on the Church around the
world. We caught up with him to hear about his vision
for the WEA as it prepares for its general assembly in
October this year.
idea: How did you become general
secretary of the WEA?
What are the major issues facing the
Church in the next decade?
I usually tell people that I drank a lot of
coffee (or tea) with people around the
world. That is actually not far from the
truth. For many years I was an executive
with an international mission agency. In
that role I saw a great need for much more
collaboration. On leaving this agency I
began to serve the Evangelical Fellowship
of Canada as director of global initiatives
with the mandate of building such a
strategy. It was out of this context I began
to work with the WEA and was eventually
asked to serve as secretary general. I was
deeply humbled to be offered that role
more than nine years ago.
We are facing both huge challenges and
opportunities in the next 10 years. With the
continued growth, particular in the majority
of the evangelical Church world, how will
we steward our influence and resources for
greater kingdom impact? How will we seek
greater Christian unity not only among
evangelicals but in the broader Christian
family? How will we deepen our biblical
engagement so that all of life is guided
and influenced by scripture? How will we
deal with on one hand greater radical
secularisation and on the other radical
religious movements? How will we more
fully engage as a global community to
respond to the big issues facing the planet;
extreme poverty, corruption, environmental
degradation, national and regional conflicts/
wars, human trafficking etc. How will we
connect Sunday to the rest of the week so
that all Christians are equipped, empowered
and released for service? How will we more
effectively disciple the nations? I think
there are more but I will stop there.
What excites you about the
WEA’s vision?
I have seen the transformative impact
of the Church when it is united and works
together. At the heart of WEA we are
committed to seeing the Church living
out this unity as we seek to be good news
people. It is a great privilege to serve as
a platform that builds this collaboration.
We have also seen remarkable open
doors to speak to the highest level of
governments, international bodies and
other faith communities.
So the WEA is holding its general
assembly in Seoul, South Korea, this
October. What are your hopes for
the gathering?
Geoff Tunnicliffe is secretary general
of the World Evangelical Alliance
The WEA holds a member meeting every
six years. At this working assembly we lay
out a strategy for the following years. It is
our intent that we will develop collaborative
strategies for some of the issues I have
already mentioned. It also gives a unique
opportunity to equip the leaders of our
national and regional alliances to help
them to be more effective in their work.
How would you describe the work of
the Alliance in the UK?
I love what EAUK is doing. It is a great
model on how to build unity for strategic
purposes. We deeply respect how EAUK
engages with many challenging and
complex issues faced by the UK Church
with a prophetic yet respectful voice.
What’s your favourite Bible verse?
I have been thinking a lot about Acts 4:13:
“When they saw the courage of Peter
and John and realised that they were
unschooled, ordinary men, they were
astonished and they took note that these
men had been with Jesus.” I ask myself
more than my knowledge, position or
education, will people see that I have
been with Jesus?.
For more information on the WEA
General Assembly, visit wea2014.org
SOUTH KOREA
MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 7
NEWS
Inspire Awards ceremony
Carol and Len Fowler of The Well Centre with
Alliance general director Steve Clifford
Inspiring faith in
the community
Evangelical Christians are good news for
their local communities. That’s what the latest
Inspire Awards – run by Inspire magazine
in collaboration with the Evangelical
Alliance – found.
Among the 2013 winners were a former homeless couple, a
youth project leader and the pioneer behind a debt advice
counselling centre.
The awards celebrate unsung Christian heroes whose work
has helped to change lives in their communities.
Winners were announced in the House of Commons by
shadow employment minister Stephen Timms MP, Evangelical
Alliance general director Steve Clifford and Inspire magazine
editor Russ Bravo.
Carol and Len Fowler, who were once destitute, opened The
Well Centre in Blackpool, Lancashire, for the homeless 10 years
ago. It has since expanded and is now helping hundreds of
people every year. They were the unsung heroes of the year in the
Inspiring Project category.
On winning the award, Carol said: “It’s about showing God’s
love, grace and mercy and this is what we are trying to do and in
a small way show people there is hope. Sometimes we have had
people come in who are suicidal and we have been able to sit
down with them and say ‘there is hope’ because Jesus is our hope.
We have seen lives changed and we just thank God that we have
been able to be part of this ministry and it will continue to grow.”
Hannah Gibbons, an award-winning financial adviser, picked
up the Inspiring Individual award for her work in setting up
and running the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) centre that
Gillingham Community Church, Dorset, had been longing to start.
Since its establishment in 2008 they have helped more than 400
people, some of whom were at their wits end.
In Bournemouth, Dorset, The Shine Project which helps teenage
girls with problems of self-identity was the winner in the Inspiring
Youth/Children’s Initiative category. The youth programme is in big
demand by schools across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch
requiring it to put on more programmes to cope with the demand.
Shadow employment minister Stephen Timms MP, speaking at
the awards, said: “Believing in Jesus inspires people to do wonderful
things. You don’t have to be a believer to realise that. Believing in
Jesus moves people on to not just think something is a good idea,
but to act on it. The contributions we are celebrating this afternoon
are examples not of a dying phenomenon, but a growing one.”
Churches start 40 Days with Jesus
It’s a familiar problem: churches are packed
on Easter Sunday with guests. They are the
same guests that fill the pews at Christmas
time. But what happens to them in between?
KingsGate Community Church, a member of the Evangelical
Alliance, and CWR are giving churches a helping hand in how to
engage with guests post-Easter by launching a new resource, 40
Days with Jesus. Instead of having Easter Sunday as a standalone
celebration, it is marked as Part 1 – the start of a six-week journey.
Senior Pastor Dave Smith said: “How can we make sure that
Easter is not just a one-off event? What would happen if we said
‘Welcome to week one of a journey’ and invited people to come
with us.”
The six weeks explore the post-resurrection appearances of
Jesus and the way he changed the lives of those he encountered.
The resource is based around a successful teaching series
which was run at Alliance member KingsGate Community Church
in Peterborough following Easter 2012.
What initially started as a six-week sermon series has now
IDEA MAGAZINE / 8
developed into a range of resources designed to help churches go
on this 40-day journey for themselves and learn together. Based
around a new 40-day book, 40 Days with Jesus comes with free
sermon outlines, small group studies and video teaching.
40 Days with Jesus has already received praise from church
leaders including Greg Haslam
of Westminster Chapel, who
said: “Here is heart-warming
devotional reading of the first
order, colourful theological
fire-crackers, and unforgettable
glimpses of the real Jesus
convincing his friends, and even
us, that he is really alive! Six
weeks that could completely
restore your life.”
40days.info
cwr.org.uk/
40days
Watch The video
EASTER
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
For you:
Be strengthened as you read this
40-day devotional exploring the
life-changing encounters biblical
characters had with the risen Jesus.
For your small group:
Free online videos and study guides
to help small groups learn and share
together as they work through the
40-day devotional.
For your church:
Free online sermon outlines for
church leaders exploring each of
the 6 encounters highlighted in the
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Bulk buy available for small groups
and churches
ISBN: 978-1-78259-138-2
RRP £6.99 each
ALSO AVAILABLE IN EBOOK FORMATS
Dave Smith is one of the most inspirational Christian leaders in the
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only profound insights into the teachings of the New Testament but
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For more information visit www.40days.info or call 01252 784710
Applying God’s Word
to everyday life and relationships
MAR/APR 2014
PUBLISHING & MEDIA
www.cwr.org.uk
IDEA MAGAZINE / 9
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Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord
On the Job
I n praise of
the church
secretary
by Richard Woodall
There is often a
temptation in church to
get wrapped up in our
own acts of ‘service’,
enjoy what we do, and
secretly like the attention
it brings. But what about
the roles in which the
hard work takes place
behind the scenes?
It certainly isn’t the glamour role of
worship leader and doesn’t have the trendy
image associated with a youth worker, but
nonetheless without it a church would
cease to function.
Being a church secretary or administration
guru can often mean picking up the pieces
from tasks which others have failed to do.
Making sure the church minutes are kept
up-to-date, drawing up rotas for cleaning;
it can be a lonely and burdensome role.
And the tasks that come with the role often
go under the radar.
Alan Cameron, aged 64, has been
administrator manager at Coton Green
Church in Tamworth for almost eight years.
He describes his role at the evangelical free
church as that of a facilitator. A qualified
accountant, prior to taking up the role he
spent almost 30 years in the public and
charity sector. Initially full-time, he now
works three-and-a-half days a week.
Describing his job as “pivotal” and one
which encompasses finance and human
resources, he sees it as helping to bring
about the kingdom of God in Tamworth.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 10
Alan Cameron
“I have a passion to see God’s kingdom
grow and people saved,” he said. “This role
alongside my skills and experience allows
me to contribute to God’s overall purpose.
“As the senior non-pastoral employee I
line-manage the 10 paid staff that look after
our building, run the pre-school, and carry
out administration tasks including our IT
infrastructure and communications.
“In addition, I advise trustees and elders
on the financial and legal implications of
decisions taken in the life of the church.
“Often I describe my role as that of
facilitator – allowing the eldership to lead
the church as the spirit leads while keeping
the trustees out of jail!”
A notably full-on role, but why do it?
Does he ever get frustrated by being the
point of reference for church-related queries?
“I believe this job is God’s calling on
my life and that He has equipped me
through education, training and
experience equipped me to do it.
“Without hesitation, I would recommend
to others such a role. In my opinion, there
is no other role which gives such job
satisfaction. I’ve had many jobs over the
years – this is an opportunity to work on
behalf of the Lord with and for a great
bunch of people.”
Recognition more readily comes to
worship leaders and musicians rather than
church secretaries or cleaners. What is
Alan’s experience? Does he wish he had
more chance to stand in the limelight or
to get credit, and what frustrates him?
“It all depends on our attitude of mind.
I believe we all, in whatever capacity, work
unto the Lord so our job title is essentially
irrelevant. It is our desire to serve the Lord
that binds us together, whatever our role.
We are blessed that this view is shared
by our leadership and our congregation.
“We all get frustrated from time to time.
In my case it’s usually when I have a self
-imposed deadline to meet and I feel that
I’m getting sidetracked – then the Holy Spirit
usually reminds me it is God’s timing that’s
important not man’s, least of all my own.”
What does a day in the life of Alan look
like? The church secretary, who is married to
Thelma, said: “It’s hard to describe but it
would usually start at about 9am with a
coffee and a chat with our senior pastor to
discuss any issues that need addressing.
“Depending on the time of the month I
may spend time on financial reports for our
trustees and members or in preparing our
accounts required by the Charity
Commission at the end of our year.
“Payroll or personnel issues may take
up a fair amount of the day but being
available to speak with members of the
congregation on a whole range of issues is
a prime part of my role. It supports the
relational aspect of our church and my
place in it.”
Alan – who has two grown-up daughters
called Isobel and Philippa – doubles up
as an elder of the church, a house group
leader and oversees a weekly outreach.
How and why does he do it all? He says
it comes with being authentic in all aspects
of his paid role at church.
“I do not believe the role I undertake
would be sustainable or effective without
this close connection because of the
complexity of our organisation.”
Mono-ethnic churches: Good or bad?
We hear two sides of the argument.
Good Question
re mono-ethnic churches
A
a good thing?
“Anything that makes
us exclusive in
our thinking also
tends to limit
our ability to
influence.”
Carl Terlecki and wife Taryn are on the leadership
team at Jubilee Training Centre in Maidstone
In Galatians 3:26-29 we are all called sons of God. Our identity is
found in Christ and ethnicity should not play any negative role in
how we relate to one another and engage with kingdom work.
In Ephesians 4:12-13, Paul writes about Christians attaining
unity in the faith, growing up and becoming mature, being knitted
together with all parts of the body working properly, and all of this
in love.
One question that comes to mind is: ‘Do mono-ethnic
churches help to build up the body of Christ?’ After visiting and
working with many churches in different countries and cultures,
I can conclude that mono-ethnic churches struggle with their
redemptive call to impact and transform community. Anything
that makes us exclusive in our thinking also tends to limit our
ability to influence. God has called us to penetrate and impact all
walks of society, which becomes difficult when we are focused on
only one particular population group.
Does this mean that a mono-ethnic church is a bad thing for
God’s kingdom? Well, if we are in a part of a nation with a uniform
culture, a mono-ethnic church is going to be representative of its
community. Most situations that churches face in today’s ‘global
village’ are not like this. The norm is a mix of nationalities and
cultures. So, in multi-cultural communities, are mono-ethnic
churches fulfilling their redemptive call? Are they engaging with
their community and are they helping to build up the body of Christ?
I look forward to a day in which our cultural and social biases
are less of a hindrance in kingdom work. There is nothing better
than being in an environment where the different flavours of
various cultures and backgrounds join together informed by
kingdom values, rather than working against kingdom values.
Then we will truly reflect the Father’s creative and diverse
character as we celebrate Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth.
Jesus came that we would have life and life to the full; he came
to break down the walls of separation and give us freedom. Let us
strive to do the same!
MAR/APR 2014
“We need to see mono-ethnic
churches in the right context and
the specific functions they serve.”
Central to this question is the
conundrum of the one and
the many.
The gospel’s transformative
power has reconciled alienated
humanity into the one kingdom
of God. With this comes the
desire to unite all people into
the body of Christ. Therefore,
one may logically ask whether
mono-ethnic churches are
theologically sound as they
Wien Fung is pastoral worker for the
seemingly detach themselves
English congregation at the Chinese
from the many and huddle
Church in London. It has five congregations.
together as one.
First, we need to ask what makes a church a body of Christ?
“The Church” is a universal entity that embraces all believers.
Christ’s fullness is mediated in the diversity of the body and fills
all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23). Therefore, every church does not
exist on its own as a detached entity.
By partaking of the “one bread”, the many can be one body
(1 Corinthians 10:17). We share in the joy with the universal
Church and are united with those who are diverse and beyond
our particular community. Furthermore, this releases us from
the need to manufacture unity.
The present Church is a single body with diverse parts. In
Revelation 7:9, we see a redemptive ideal of the eschatological
community where all peoples worship Christ together. When we
celebrate and learn from the diversity (ethnicity, age, gender,
class, life-stages, culture, physical, emotional, and intellectual
conditions) within the Christian community, we do experience
a glimpse and a foretaste of the eschatological hope. However,
the question is whether diversity (ethnicity and all other forms)
should and could be actualised in every particular community
in the here and now? I would argue that a drive to do so will be
in danger of elevating the particular over the universal.
Second, we need to see mono-ethnic churches in the right
context and the specific functions they serve. Without seeing
their location in a multicultural context, one may conclude that
churches in mono-ethnic countries are bad unless they import
multi-ethnic worshippers into their communities!
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the language barriers faced
by diasporas (even multi-ethnic churches need to operate by
a dominant language). Ethnic churches provide the necessary
language and cultural bridge for the gospel among diasporas and
they facilitate the crucial reintegration of disciples to their monoethnic cultures upon their return to their homelands.
When we see mono-ethnic churches from these theological
and missional perspectives, we can begin to see them as a thing
to be welcomed.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 11
F
TURE
Working around the globe
to inspire the local Church
by Lucy Cooper
Often, as local church, we feel like we can make
little difference to global poverty. But we can create
powerful partnerships and personal connections
across communities that can change lives,
according to international missionary organisations.
The Church is called to engage with God’s
heart for people in poverty and to reach out
in mission, not only locally but to all nations.
We want to care for the lost and least but how
can we do this without our efforts feeling
like a demoralising drop in the ocean?
International church partnerships enable
local churches not only to understand
global issues better but to form bonds with
another community in a different part of
the world, working together to bring change
to their area. UK churches that connect with
church projects abroad find that it brings
change closer to home than they expected.
“Traditionally, churches just send
money abroad. Now we are realising that,
as churches and communities, if we walk
together we learn from one another,” said
Jamie Fyleman, head of UK church
relationships at Tearfund.
“When local UK churches unite around
a theme that people are interested in, the
whole community gets involved and the
Church becomes more relevant. To have a
genuine two-way relationship, a spiritual
exchange, is incredibly powerful.”
Kerith Community Church in Bracknell
partners with a church project in Serenje,
Zambia, through Tearfund’s Connected
Church programme. The lively family
church, convicted to respond to the global
HIV/Aids epidemic, focus their commitment,
giving and prayer on the community where
many are affected by the disease.
A visit was just the start: “When you’ve
IDEA MAGAZINE / 12
sat with a family and watched them with no
hope in their eyes you feel you just have to
do something,” said Simon Benham. “On
our return we shared our passion for Serenje
and it provoked interest from those outside
the church too. A local football team
donated kits and we received offers of help
from the whole community.”
Holy Trinity Church Springfield in
Chelmsford has a vision for sending Bibles
to China. Through the Bible Society’s
partnership scheme, B The Word, they
support Bible printing and distribution and
receive updates about the impact scripture
is having in the country.
Vicar Keith Roddy said: “We give
through regular mission giving and the
weekly collection from our Planet Life
Sunday School. When people see the desire
of the people in China for scripture, it
draws them into mission. “They say: ‘If
they value it so much, I should too’. The
spread of God’s word is an essential part of
mission. We benefit from seeing the global
perspective, rather than just the local.”
Peter Ivermee, a disaster relief volunteer
with Samaritan’s Purse, spoke of the benefit
of a direct connection between gift and
outcome for churches. “A typhoon hit the
Philippines and we had to provide jerry cans
and chlorine to kill the germs in the water.
We needed £1,800 to buy this chlorine and
this was the exact amount that Christchurch
Baptist Church, Dorset, had donated. To tell
them that the money meant that 4,000
people did not get dysentery as a direct
result was great. The more visual and direct
the link, the better.”
Sheddocksley Baptist Church in
Aberdeen responded to the oppressed Dalit
community’s cry for help. The partnership,
through Operation Mobilisation (OM),
focuses on work in Lalganj, Uttar Pradesh in
India (pictured). The pastor Stephen Hibberd
and a team have helped build classrooms in
the local school and teams visit regularly
using their skills including running a
medical camp alongside local medics.
Stephen said: “The personal connection
with the work in Lalganj has been
tremendous. More than 60 people in the
church sponsor the education of a child at
the school. It’s been another way for us to
demonstrate to our community that our faith
impacts our daily life. Local schools have
joined with us to support the Lalgani school.”
Letchworth Garden City Church (LGCC)
has a strong partnership with churches in
Mbale, Uganda, through Compassion UK’s
church partnership programme, sponsoring
more than 200 children in one project.
“Some organisations more or less tell
the local church to pray, pay, then get out
of the way. Instead, both the sending and
receiving church is enabled to take its
rightful place on the front-line of mission,”
said senior pastor, Dominic De Souza.
On visits, churches have learned to let
go of pre-conceived ideas of mission and
instead to listen to the unique needs of that
local community. LGCC linked up with a
formerly sponsored child running training
for local pastors in Uganda and Dominic
helps leaders understand Islam and
evangelism in the strongly Muslim area.
Dominic added: “We have noticed
an increase in mission-consciousness
and activity in our church – not just
internationally but nationally and locally
too. Our heart is increasingly breaking for
the things that break God’s heart.”
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illustrating steps to faith through the Bible’s own words.
The Way to Life is ideal to give to friends who know little
about Jesus or are taking part in an introductory course.
Order now at www.sgmlifewords.com/waytolife or by
phone on 020 7730 2155.
While donations to help spread the Bible’s life words are very welcome,
our resources are free to those who are not able to contribute.
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MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 13
Confidence in the Gospel
Discipleship:
a time for action
by Krish Kandiah, executive director: churches in mission
Some 1,523 out of 2,228 passengers and
crew were drowned during the sinking of the
Titanic – a loss of 68 per cent. But according
to Peter Brierley’s research, of every class
of ten children in Sunday school in 1985
between the ages of zero and nine, only three
were still connected with the Church in 2005.
For some time a particular statistic has
haunted me. It’s been quietly displayed for
the last two years on the Alliance’s ‘It takes
a whole church’ microsite – but it’s still a
terrifying statistic. If true, it should send
shivers down our spines.
We have a titanic problem. As I have
travelled around the UK talking to 20
somethings at universities, festivals and
conferences, no one seems surprised by
these numbers. Most can point to their
own experience of friends who have
walked away from church and many from
faith. The main reason for this exodus?
Anecdotally it is time pressure, boredom,
or fear of ridicule.
Through friends at Open Doors I
arranged a live Skype link-up at a young
adults conference with 800 students from
the UK and one Egyptian 20-year-old. We
heard a little about the challenges facing
Egyptian Christians at that time. We heard
how police shot at protestors during a
peaceful protest march, we heard how
Christians had to hold prayer meetings in
caves for fear of persecution. This young
Egyptian believer prayed for the assembled
British students to remain faithful to God
despite facing challenges at college and
work. He prayed with such fervour and
urgency most of us were deeply challenged
at how small our challenges were to his
own. It was then it dawned on me that we
often blame the large numbers of young
adults leaving the Church on external
factors: social media, peer pressure,
education, the press, militant atheism.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 14
But around the world and throughout
history Christians face much sterner
external pressures and yet hold fast. We
are struggling to hold on to our own young
people, let alone reach the nation. When
you compare our situation with China
or the early Church – not only did they
hold on to their young people they saw
exponential growth in the Church. The
trouble does not seem to be external to the
Church; but internal. We are not producing
mature Christians that are able to endure
the pressures of ordinary life. This problem
is not confined to 20somethings but seems
to be endemic throughout the Church.
Many have identified the “discipleship
deficit” as the key challenge facing the
Church today. Take for example the South
African born missiologist Alan Hirsch:
“The Church in the West has largely
forgotten the art of disciple-making and
has largely reduced it to an intellectual
assimilation of theological ideas. As a
result, we have a rather anemic cultural
Christianity highly susceptible to the lures
of consumerism.”
Similarly Antoine Rutayisire, a
Rwandan church leader and seminary
principal, challenged the Third Lausanne
congress in Cape Town by providing a
startling autopsy of the Rwandan Genocide
that saw Christian Hutus killing Christian
Tutsis. He argued that the main challenge
was the flawed gospel and with it an
inadequate model of discipleship exported
from the West to the rest of the world.
“It’s time for us to decide about
discipleship – to not just stem the flow of
those leaving the Church but to see our
Church rise to the challenge of living for
God and reach our nation with the whole
of the good news of the gospel.”
One of the groups engaging with
discipleship is livelife123.org which
focuses on investing in accountable
and intentional relationships between
believers. It aims to encourage people to
be discipled, to be accountable to others
and to act as mentors for young people. It
is led by Urban Saints alongside several
partner organisations.
More closer to home at the next
Evangelical Alliance council meeting we
are gathering significant leaders from
across the UK to hear from God and from
one another to assess how we can move
forward collectively. No single stream
of the evangelical movement in the UK
has the answer to this. In fact we will be
hearing from:
• T
racy Cotterell from LICC about why
the workplace is the frontline for
disciple-making.
• P
aul Machonachie from 3DM challenging
us to take seriously creating a disciplemaking culture in our churches
• L
ucy Peppiatt from Westminster
Theological College encouraging the
Church to take the spiritual disciplines
Discipleship: We are struggling to hold
on to our own young people, let alone
reach the nation.
Confidence in the Gospel
“We are not producing mature
Christians that are able to
endure the pressures of
ordinary life.”
seriously for character formation
• J ohn Stevens from the FIEC arguing
for deeper biblical engagement in
forming disciples
• J im Brown from Exodus church in Belfast
presenting a mentoring model
for disciple-making
Not to mention a global perspective on
spiritual formation from Daniel Bourdenay,
the general secretary of IFES, and Paula
Gooder giving a biblical exposition on the
nature of New Testament disciple-making.
The fun begins as these different approaches
to discipleship interact and challenge one
another’s assumptions and we gain a
panoramic picture of the way forward in
this vital area. As usual most of the talks
will be available to download but we invite
you to join the conversation on what you
think is the key to seeing the discipleship
deficit across the UK transformed. Then
let’s pray it won’t be statistics that haunt
our imaginations but an overwhelming
vision of God’s Church empowered by
God’s spirit doing God’s work.
Look out for our next research report,
on the theme of discipleship, coming out
in April.
There’s still space to join us this April for an all-age teaching
and worship event. Prices from just £117 per person*
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MAGAZINE11:33
/ 15
NORTHERN IRELAND
National eauk.org/northernireland
Four corners:
churches working together
by Thomas McConaghie, Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland
As 2014 rolled in,
Northern Ireland
was hearing about
the outcome of the
Haass discussions.
The contentious issues brought little
agreement and commentators used many
‘un’ words to describe the results of
months of discourse. Uninspiring,
unremarkable, unexceptional.
As Christians we inhabit an alternative
narrative to the tired prevailing conversations.
We, who know our identity and story, believe
and preach a gospel which is inherently
hopeful. Our language and tone, therefore,
should reflect truth, hope and joy in the
public square.
It is this message that the 4 Corners
Festival humbly espouses, showing
how the Church in Belfast can, and does,
celebrate together. Focussing on what
unites rather than what divides, the festival
seeks to promote genuine cross-community
interaction and discussion through a series
of events in the different corners of the city.
Living in a city with a history like Belfast
can create a subtle illusion. I love Belfast; I
make that statement deliberately and often.
I consider it home. It will be the home for
my children. I want to see it flourish,
with its dwellers enjoying true peace and
reconciliation, all for the glory of God. Yet my
experience of the city has been significantly
narrowed by the choices I have made; where
I choose to live, where I shop, where I eat
and drink... Of the five years I’ve lived in
Belfast, most of my time has been spent in
the south, the east, and the city centre. I
don’t know the nuances and quirks of the
north and the west. I don’t know the best
cafés. I don’t have a favourite park there,
and I haven’t forged any meaningful
relationships in those parts.
Does this invalidate my claim to love
Belfast? Hardly. Rather than feeling
embarrassed or ridiculed for feeling like a
tourist in my own city, the 4 Corners Festival
enriched and affirmed my love for Belfast.
It brought us out of the comfort of the known,
IDEA MAGAZINE / 16
into the corners of the city which we have
avoided, intentionally or inadvertently.
The origins of the festival came about
over a coffee between Presbyterian minister
Steve Stockman and Father Martin Magill.
Martin invited Steve to his parochial house
in the west of the city, a world he’d never
entered before. Similarly, Martin travelled
to East Belfast for a local arts festival and
struggled to find his way around the area.
After this, they agreed that an event should
be held close to Christian Unity week.
The programme is filled with events of
significant togetherness. “4 Corners, 4 Stories
with local politicians” gave an opportunity
to listen to a few of our representatives talking
openly and honestly about their faith and
other reasons for getting into politics.
Professor Roddy Cowie – a psychologist from
Queen’s University – gave a fascinating talk
on the psychology of peace in the Sermon on
the Mount. Perhaps one of the most profound
evenings was listening to Pat Magee and Jo
Berry talk about peace and reconciliation.
Pat Magee was a Brighton bomber, involved
in the bomb which killed Jo Berry’s father.
It was a fascinating and moving story of
forgiveness, repentance and hope.
One of the most striking aspects of this
year’s festival was the opening event. It
kicked off with Christ-like unity, as charities
and church goers from each corner of the
city came together to serve a feast to the
homeless at Belfast’s City Hall, hosted by
the Lord Mayor. The last 15 months have
seen the City Hall stuck in the centre of a
divisive debate; yet, the 4 Corners Festival
inconspicuously rang decibels of hope and
selflessness by serving the vulnerable and
the marginalised.
This story reminds me of the parable of
great banquet in Luke 14:13-14: ‘“When you
give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled,
the lame, the blind, and you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection
of the just.’ A different people, a different
focus, a different narrative.
The exciting thing is that the 4 Corners
Festival is just one example of churches
working together for the wellbeing of our
city. When you hear the cynics preach that
Northern Ireland is stuck in a bigoted,
regressive and hopeless void, they are not
looking in the same places I am.
WALES
National eauk.org/wales
Ground-breaking charity
needs financial boost
by Gethin Russell-Jones
Just before the last
millennium celebrations,
someone in Wales
had a inspired idea.
In 1999, Dan Boucher, Evangelical Alliance
Wales’ then Assembly liaison officer,
invited a number of churches and
organisations to form an umbrella body for
the Christian voluntary sector in the nation.
Gweini was born; a collaboration between
Cornerstone Church, Swansea, Evangelical
Alliance Wales and Tearfund.
Since then, Gweini has established
local groups across Wales; harnessing and
mobilising Christian action in their localities.
Through conferences and workshops,
thousands of volunteers have been presented
with opportunities of service and encouraged
to reach out to others with the practical love
of Jesus. Reports and surveys have been
published, revealing the extent to which
local churches are working together to make
a difference in Wales. Last year saw the
publication of Power of Ten; how Christian
collaborations are changing the face of Wales.
Gweini is at the heart of promoting and
encouraging a wide range of programmes;
from foodbanks, Christians Against Poverty
and Street Pastors to local night shelters.
Tens of thousands of residents in Wales
are being cared for, kept safe and lifted
out of poverty through the enterprising
intervention of local Christians.
Among other highlights, last year Gweini
hosted the Equipping the Church in an
Addictive Society conference, showcasing
how Christian charities are helping people
deal with the effects of addictive behaviour.
A number of the speakers and participants
spoke openly about their addictive histories
and how personal faith and the help of
other Christians had brought them through.
It also gathered the expertise and support
of specialists throughout Wales with a view
to publishing a Manifesto for Wales. This
will represent Christian perspectives to the
various political parties in the build up to
the next government elections.
But Gweini is facing financial difficulty
and has launched an appeal to raise money
MAR/APR 2014
Domestic violence is just one of
the issues being tackled by Gweini.
to continue its work. As a charity it is
reliant upon the support of the Evangelical
Alliance Wales. Rev Elfed Godding,
national director for Evangelical Alliance
Wales, paints a realistic picture about the
current state of play.
to violence against women, which included
physical, mental and sexual abuse,
whether taking place in churches, homes,
friendships or communities. Domestic
violence against men is also a worrying
issue that needs to be tackled.
“To be frank, Gweini’s future is in danger,”
said Elfed. “We are in great financial need
at a time when the need for this work is
greatest. Without the generous support of
those who care deeply about a Christian
voice speaking out in Wales’ voluntary
sector, Gweini’s future looks bleak.
According to Christian charity Restored,
violence against women is as much an issue
within the Church as outside. Domestic
violence against men is also a problem that
must be tackled. It seems that the gates of
the faithful offer no greater protection than
anyone else’s. In fact the faith community
may create a conducive context for violence
against women through promoting ideas
of male headship and female submission.
“This is a need that is close to my heart.
Gweini is at the very core of the Welsh
Alliance’s vision and all that we are
working for to give Christians a voice.
Your generosity will enable us to speak
directly into your communities by
developing more local Gweinis, expressing
across the Welsh constituencies all that
Gweini is doing nationally.”
In his impassioned appeal, Rev Godding
illustrated Gweini’s role in hosting a
groundbreaking conference in January. One
in Three – the church’s response to violence
against women was held on Tuesday, 28
January, at Glenwood Church, Cardiff. The
conference sought to articulate a response
Although a dark subject, long neglected,
the conference demonstrated Gweini’s
courage to tackle taboo issues. But this
event, and many others, are not simply
talking shops. Through listening to and
working with churches, Gweini’s agenda is
always collaborative and practical. Shining
the light in the darkness is only one part
of the equation; setting the captives free
is also essential. And in the words of a
well-known slogan Gweini believes that in
partnership with local churches and other
organisations, we are better together.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 17
SCOTLAND
National eauk.org/scotland
Making a Deep Impact
Almost 400 youth workers gathered in Aviemore
in January for what was the largest Deep Impact
conference ever to be held in Scotland. Evangelical
Alliance Scotland’s Kieran Turner considers what
impact this could have for the future of the Church.
Deep Impact, which since 2009 has
officially been the youth wing of the
Evangelical Alliance in Scotland, has been
holding annual training conferences for
Scottish youth workers for the last 15 years.
Initially starting as a Youth for Christ
initiative for the Highlands and Islands,
it has now grown into Scotland’s largest
Christian youth work training event, and
with Danielle Strickland (Salvation Army,
Stop the Traffik) attending this year from
Canada, expectations were high for Deep
Impact 2014.
The format is simple: take over a large,
well-appointed hotel resort in a gorgeous
location at the start of the year. Offer a
programme of relaxation, worship, seminars
and space. Mix it with good food and just
about every Christian organisation in
Scotland and you have the essence of a
Deep Impact weekend.
Attending the event as somewhat of an
outsider (not a youth worker) it is immediately
striking how much this is valued. There is a
buzz of noise as people mill about the food
court, mixing with the stalls and catching
up with old friends. After a tentative start
worship and ministry are embraced and the
teaching is devoured as Danielle Strickland
encourages everyone to ‘wake up’ and not
be sleeping to what God is doing.
How we need to hear this in Scotland
where evangelical church involvement is at
its lowest level for generations, especially
among young people. While other parts of
the UK are experiencing fantastic renewal
and growth, driven by immigration and
evangelism, in many parts of Scotland the
Church is on life support.
It is all the more encouraging then that
God does seem to be doing something in
Scotland and that events like Deep Impact
are growing year on year. Powerpoint in
Edinburgh – which is a Christian youth
event – regularly attracts up to 1,000
young people and there is a growing
hunger among young people to engage
with God and transform their world. (The
initiative now works in Glasgow too).
For the second year running the
Powerpoint band led the worship and it
is hard to overstate the encouragement
of seeing an organic, home-grown group
stepping up and not relying on a big name
Deep Impact
to fill the gap. (Powerpoint Edinburgh is
a Christian youth event).
Going away from Aviemore it’s hard not
to think that if the Church is to really impact
our young people and our wider society it
will be through people in that room. There
is a huge challenge there, and there is no
mistaking that. However it also makes me
proud of the Evangelical Alliance and in so
many ways it is doing what we do best;
facilitating coalitions of partners, equipping
leaders and working to see the Church rise
up united, inspired for mission and
confident in voice.
Deep Impact is facilitated by the Scottish
Christian Youth Work Forum (SCYWF) and
is the youth wing of the Evangelical Alliance
in Scotland. Current partners include: Youth
Alpha, Tearfund, Scripture Union Scotland,
International Christian College, Youth for
Christ, OM UK, Firestarters, Baptist Union
of Scotland, DNA, Urban Saints Scotland,
YMCA Scotland and the Salvation Army.
deep-impact.org.uk
Referendum update
The Evangelical Alliance Scotland’s work in
the run-up to the independence referendum
continues at pace and we are delighted to
confirm that we have now booked the Members
Restaurant of the Scottish Parliament for 23
April to celebrate the publication of our new
report: What Kind of Nation?
We’re also pleased to announce that
Roseanna Cunningham MSP, minister with
responsibility for churches and faith groups,
has agreed to speak at the event.
We are anticipating a busy event but have
allocated a number of spaces for Alliance
members to attend. If you would like to join
us on the night please contact the Alliance
Scotland office for further details.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 18
Alex Salmond with the Alliance’s Kieran Turner. The SNP leader was
at a conference examining the role of churches in an independent
Scotland. In September, the people of Scotland will be asked whether
they think the country should be independent.
Glasgow’s
vibrant churches
mean streets are
full of energy bringing light to
dark places.
International Christian College
is a registered charity no: SC028032
Think again
For more information:
0141 552 4040
Training for Contemporary
Mission and Ministry
MAR/APR 2014
www.icc.ac.uk
facebook.com/icc.glasgow
IDEA MAGAZINE / 19
This is our Place
Hull: “Out of the shadows”
Once named one of the worst places to live in the UK, Hull is on the
up. The Church in Hull is making an impact in communities and
local leaders believe that the City of Culture 2017 award is just the
beginning. Is Hull truly emerging from the shadows? Lucy Cooper
talks to some of the leaders in the city…
A hard reputation has been hard to find for
the city of Hull. Dubbed by former residents
of the city as a “a sad story of unemployment,
teenage pregnancy, and rampant selfneglect”, you might think it an unlikely
candidate to win the UK City of Culture.
“But that is what it has done, seeing
off competition from Dundee, Leicester
and Swansea Bay to win the UK City of
Culture 2017.”
The city is the 10th most deprived of
the 326 local authority areas in England,
according to the government study Indices
of Multiple Deprivation 2010.
The Economist argued that, due to
deprivation, trying to revive places like
Hull, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton
with public money was foolish , instead
suggesting inhabitants find jobs and
houses in more successful cities.
The Church sees a very different, hopeful,
picture and the City of Culture judges clearly
agree. The panel concluded that Hull had
put forward the most compelling case of a
city “coming out of the shadows”.
Widespread and creative engagement with
the community is reminding locals of Hull’s
cultural past and future potential.
Rob Pritchard, who runs Longhill Link-Up
Trust which works to improve people’s lives
in the community, said: “People say Hull is
rubbish. This is nearly always from those who
have never been to this beautiful city of mine.
“It is a hidden gem. Yes, we have our
problems but we have a vibrant community
sector with volunteers and organisations
making a difference.”
A 2013 survey revealed that Christians in
Hull are making a major impact. Social and
Economic Action Resource of Churches
(SEARCH) published encouraging statistics
to coincide with a city-wide initiative called
‘Believe in Hull’.
It found 68 churches and Christian
organisations running 286 practical projects,
using around 1,800 volunteers and supporting
IDEA MAGAZINE / 20
Credit Hull City Council
approximately 10,000 people each week.
meet to pray each week.
In October 2013, ‘Believe in Hull’ saw
churches from across the city, and from
all denominations, come together to
demonstrate and share God’s love.
Hull Churches Home from Hospital
(HCHFH) supports older people in their
homes as they leave hospital. Mervyn Cross,
the mission apprentice at HCHFH, said:
“We assist people, through convalescence,
to continue to live confidently and
independently. Trained volunteers give
personal support and we link people into
local connections, activities and lunch clubs.”
Archbishop of York John Sentamu said:
“Hull is a wonderful city, full of energy and
life. God believes in Hull, and the people
of God ‘Believe in Hull’ – do you?”
The Bishop of Hull Rev Richard Frith
added: “We are called by God to love our
neighbours as ourselves, and the survey shows
how that is being worked out in practice.”
‘Believe in Hull’ sparked a fresh wave of
unity among churches, and leaders now
Longhill Link-Up Trust, set up by St
Michael All Angels Church, is a bustling
community centre running numerous
practical projects. Now it provides expelled
children and potential NEETs (not in
education, employment or training) with
This is our Place
support, after school clubs and mentoring.
The centre is also home to a job club, adult
education classes, debt advice, a community
café, a lunch club for pensioners, cooking
on a budget classes and a youth project.
“To avoid a dependency culture that
a foodbank might create, we encourage
people to grow food and bulk-buy in a
group. We give people advice and help
with job interviews,” added Rob.
A new mission apprentice two-year scheme
began in spring of 2013 funded by Church
of England Commissioners. Andy Dorton,
social responsibility officer for the Church
of England, explains the model: “We have
taken five local converts as mission
apprentices. They work with the churchconnected organisations through which
they came to faith. They meet and learn
together, share their faith in their contexts
and encourage others in practical mission
and discipleship.”
The five represented organisations are
Hull Churches Home from Hospital service,
St Michael’s Orchard Park Youth Project,
The Ark, Longhill Link-Up Trust and Hull
Youth for Christ.
“Those who have come to faith through
these various expressions of the body of
Christ are the best people to carry the good
news to those people who come from the
same circumstances that they do.”
“In this financially poor place, mission
can be difficult but this long-term action
across the city – the practical outworking of
the gospel – is really effective,” said Andy.
“Hull has changed dramatically from a
few years ago. The atmosphere is changing,
becoming more family friendly. There
is now greater awareness, and there has
been a reduction in crime and anti-social
behaviour. We were awarded a purple flag
for being an enjoyable place to visit. People
wouldn’t come to Hull before. Now they do.”
Neal Barnes, vicar of Holy Trinity church,
said: “After repeated knock-backs over the
years, the City of Culture announcement
heralded a red-letter day for our city. There
is a huge amount of grass-roots cultural
activity going on and we are already starting
to see Hull’s potential being realised. We
don’t have to wait until 2017 to see fruit.
“The concept of ‘coming out of the
shadows’ feels relevant and in line with
our mission to the city – emerging from the
shadow of poor perception.
Hull Street Angels Trinity has charitable
status and focuses on welcoming people to
Hull and making it a safer and more enjoyable
place to be. Working in partnership with
the council, police, the NHS, and nightlife
businesses, volunteers from all backgrounds
patrol the Trinity quarter in high-visibility
jackets, offering practical help and assistance.
“Cultural activities spring from God’s
creativity and the fact that we are, by nature,
creative and made in the image of God.
The Church can bring spiritual meaning to
cultural activities. I pray that Hull will come
out of the shadows in a spiritual sense too.
Karen Thompson, co-ordinator of Hull
Street Angels Trinity, said: “We have a
calming presence, helping people find their
“Into the city of culture, we want to
bring Jesus, who gives meaning to all life
and brings hope and healing.”
God’s Word
in today’s world
Trans World Radio exists to reach the world for
Jesus Christ. In the UK, TWR broadcasts quality,
speech-led Christian radio – committed to the
practical application of Scripture, to help you
from doubt to decision to discipleship
MAR/APR 2014
way home as they leave bars and clubs
intoxicated. We are trained in first aid,
assess them and want to stop too many
heading to A&E if they don’t need to.
Sky Guide 0138
Freesat channel 790
Online / twr.org.uk
TWR-UK App
www.twr.org.uk
twitter.com/TWRuk
facebook.com/TransWorldRadioUK
IDEA MAGAZINE / 21
in the thick of it
Manchseter United dressing room
Serving on
the frontline
Being a chaplain and acting as
a representative of the Church
can be challenging whatever the
environment. Richard Woodall
finds out more from those involved
in chaplaincy work.
The most important part of the Church’s ministry
takes place outside the building, you could argue.
That’s certainly the case for chaplains who
work across a wide variety of areas including
health, the police and the oil and gas industry.
Their growth in number over the last two decades
has put their role under the spotlight, with the
National Secular Society recently contending
that religious bodies should be funding
chaplains in hospitals rather than the NHS.
But what are chaplains here for? And does
their presence make a difference to the lives of
those they interact with or are they just viewed
as a unnecessary and irrelevant by the people
they spend time with?
Father-of-three Antony Feltham-White (pictured), aged 46, has
been a chaplain in the Armed Forces since 2005. He felt the calling
to become a chaplain because of a desire to spend more time with
those outside the Church.
He has toured on duty in Iraq for seven months as well as twice
going to Afghanistan. Despite admitting some tours involved a lot
of “getting shot at” he finds the time with troops fulfilling as well
as taxing.
“Each tour you go out on is different. Most army chaplains would
be prepared to serve on tour time and time again were it not so
exhausting. You find there are lots of people who want your time.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 22
John Boyers
But if you want to be a chaplain, why not go somewhere safer,
or more predictable?
“We send young men and women into dark places in the world
and it’s important we show them some light too. I help troops
focus on what they are doing, to be there if they are called to
exercise lethal force as a last resort.
“You have to let God take over – but I feel I am doing exactly
what God wants me to do.”
But it’s not just on the battlefield they need support, he said.
“There is an enormous legacy when
members of the Armed Forces lose a friend,
they have no time to grieve and are forced to
compartmentalise. Then when they come home
it’s difficult to bring it back and deal with it.”
Rev John Boyers, aged 64, is chaplain at
Manchester United and a Baptist minister.
Before taking up the post with the Premier
League side in 1992, he was chaplain at
Watford Football Club.
It has been a path that has allowed him to
build trust with some famous faces.
“Chaplaincy work in sport is about
relationship and trust. If people can’t trust
you, you have nothing to offer them.
“Over the years some of the players got to
know me when they were younger, well before
becoming household names. As relatively unknown members of
the academy development system, they got to trust me as 16 or
17-year-olds, appreciated my support and concern, and my role in
the club. Now, as members of the first team squad, their attitude
remains the same.
“The biggest challenge is the size of this club. When I was at
Watford there were 45 people including coaches and players on
the playing side and maybe 30 on the non-playing side. But
Manchester United is absolutely huge; there are 800-plus full-time
staff and 3,000 part-time staff.
“The constant challenge is building relationships and letting
people know how they can contact you.”
Chaplains: It’s not just spiritual;
it’s pastoral as well.
What about the biggest man at the football club? The manager.
Does he have any contact?
“Sir Alex was always very supportive and positive and I’ve
found David Moyes no less so,” he said. “The role of chaplain is
about providing part of a support network for players and other
members of staff. It’s not just spiritual; it’s pastoral as well, giving
help and encouragement when it’s needed.
“Chaplains don’t help all of the people all of the time, but for some
people, some of the time, the chaplain really is important. You see
both the pressures and problems of people who are world famous
– as well as those who do not make it professionally – and the issues
and challenges which face other ‘ordinary’ members of staff.”
Rev Bob Mayo, parish priest at St Stephen and St Thomas in
Shepherd’s Bush, London, is chaplain at Championship side
Queens Park Rangers.
The 51-year-old vicar said the role is “an intentional presence”.
“There tends to be a 50/50 interest from the players as well as
an underlying level of intrigue. They like the fact there is contact
but you’re very much on their territory. Some banter and others
like a deeper chat. You tend to be the one person who is known
across the club.”
Rev Mayo, a QPR fan, added: “It’s a really tough world as a
professional footballer. In most jobs you would be given three
months’ notice if your employers want to move you on; in football
if you get a transfer the new team often want you the next
Saturday. That’s hard if you have family and are settled.”
But it’s not just the glamorous or dangerous careers chaplains
MAR/APR 2014
in the thick of it
“We send young men and women into dark
places in the world and it’s important
we show them some light too.”
operate in. One big area is health and work in hospitals
particularly. Illness and death tend to be occasions when people
will ask questions they otherwise wouldn’t. It’s also an
opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and care.
Rev Rosie Finch, 74, is a chaplain volunteer at Gloucester
Hospital. She previously worked at Ipswich Hospital in a similar role.
In addition to offering Communion, one of the main roles when
visiting patients is simply listening.
“Some people will talk to a chaplain rather than their family or
friends if they have concerns about their health.
“Quite a lot of elderly people who are in hospital have some
sort of church connection but because they are immobile or their
vicar has changed they seem to have been forgotten by the
Church. When they come to hospital they reconnect with their
faith and that’s really important.
“Because the nurses are pressed for time they often don’t have
time to listen to patients. As chaplains the key thing we have is
time. But tragic circumstances also mean it’s not just the elderly
who occupy a chaplain’s time,” she said.
“Being called out to a parent who has just lost a child is very
difficult, or even where a young person has committed suicide.
You just have to rely on God.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 23
F
TURE
Till death
us do part?
Richard Woodall explores
the Church’s response
to rising rates of divorce
among Christians.
“To love and to cherish, till death us do
part.” We all know the vows. Couples on
their wedding day will have proclaimed
them aloud, and what a commitment those
words speak of.
The Bible tells us marriage is intended
to be a picture of Jesus and the Church.
And yet stubbornly thrown into this perfect
image is the D word: divorce.
Lawyers say the beginning of each year
produces a tide of inquiries about the
financial cost of a divorce, with experts
claiming £2,000 is the minimum you can
expect to pay – but this is without taking into
account of the cost of setting up a new home.
Within the Church, we think we know what
our own opinion of divorce is until it affects
someone close to us. And statistics suggest
the Church is only too familiar with it.
Eight per cent of the adult population in
England and Wales were either separated or
divorced in 2008. In the evangelical Church
latest figures from the Langham International
Partnership show 4.5 per cent of the total
evangelical population in England were
either divorced or separated.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 24
For the past 15 years Holy Trinity
Brompton Church (HTB) in London has run
its Restored Lives course for divorced or
separated couples.
Phil Green, aged 34, married his first
wife, Rebekah, at the age of 22. She was 20.
With a central theme of forgiveness,
it is geared towards those in and outside
of the Church.
“The first year of marriage was great –
that came as a surprise as everyone had
said it was going to be really difficult, and it
wasn’t. The second year was pretty good
too. It was the third year when the cracks
began to appear.
Rev Nicky Lee, associate vicar at HTB, said
the course originally launched in response to
the “break-down” in marriage across society.
Now other churches across the UK are
starting to run the course.
But does the availability of such a course
imply that divorce is ok and feed unrealistic
expectations of a fast spiritual and
emotional recovery? And does it also risk
alienating divorcees, marking them out as
special cases in need of a course? This appears
not to be the case, according to Rev Lee.
“Feedback from the course has been
really positive,” he said. “Not everyone on
it is divorced. Some on Restored Lives are
still married. As a result of doing the course
they feel in a position to have another go at
restoring their marriage. It is in no sense
promoting divorce, it’s quite the reverse.”
Five years later they separated; the
separation ended in divorce.
“In our case at least it was a mixture, of
unwise expectations and a growing number
of issues that we failed to deal with. We
changed, and instead of ensuring we grew
closer, we let ourselves grow apart.”
Phil added: “At first divorce wasn’t an
option either of us were prepared to
consider. However, as time went on, it
seemed like the least-worst option-for me at
least, I know Rebekah disagrees with me on
this. That’s not to say I thought it was
okay– I do believe, that in our particular
case, my choice to divorce was a sinful
choice. “Although I certainly don’t blame
our church, or the Church-at-large for this, I
do believe that it is absolutely essential that
“For quite a while I
hung on to the hope
that God would
restore what
was broken.”
F
TURE
(Malachi 2:16). It’s dangerous to have divorce
as an option as at times the temptation to
separate will be so strong. But we shouldn’t
demonise divorce as there are some
legitimate reasons for it.
“No matter how we interpret the Bible
on divorce, there’s the underpinning theme
of grace that goes far beyond the rightness or
wrongness of such a controversial debate.”
How would the wider Church family
react to couples getting divorced?
Neil Powell again: “We would seek to
counsel a member of our church a long
time before divorce. We want a culture in
church where we teach and equip all
married members to recognise unhealthy
patterns in a marriage. If all else fails we
would institute some form of church
discipline against a guilty party.”
Dan Steel noted each situation was
different but showing love and care was
always important.
churches provide the space and safety to
enable people to hold up their hands and say:
‘Hey, our marriage is a mess – we need help!’”
UK law allows five reasons for a divorce:
adultery, unreasonable behaviour,
desertion if you’ve lived apart for two years
and both parties consent, or five years of
living apart if one party doesn’t consent.
According to Grant Thornton research in
2011, the most common reason for a
marriage to end was couples claiming they
had fallen out of love and grown apart.
But what has the Church got to say
about marriages ending? Even among
evangelicals, there is no consensus.
Neil Powell is pastor at City Church in
Birmingham. “There is only one ground for
initiating divorce,” he said. “Jesus says that a
Christian may initiate a divorce on the single
ground of porneia which I take from Matthew
19 to be sexual immorality after marriage.
“Jesus does not say that people cannot
divorce but that they should not divorce.
Both the Old Testament and the New
Testament teach divorce is permissible but
only as a concession to sin.”
MAR/APR 2014
Others take a different view of when
divorce is permissible.
Dan Steel, pastor at Magdalen Road
Evangelical Church in Oxford, believes
biblical divorce can be permitted for marital
unfaithfulness, abandonment, and
circumstances of abuse. Even in a case of
unfaithfulness, divorce is not always
necessarily the right thing and
“reconciliation should be sought initially”.
Phil – who is now married to Hannah
– said: “I was overwhelmed with the
support and love I received from my church
and Christian friends and family. There
were people who challenged me. However,
with the benefit of hindsight I wonder if it
would have been good for more people to
challenge me sooner. That said, I take full
responsibility for my actions. I’m not trying
to pass the buck.”
His first wife, Rebekah, is on staff at The
Forge Church in Suffolk.
She said: “For quite a while I hung on
to the hope that God would restore what
was broken.
We have to remember God hates divorce
What does this all mean for couples who
’fall out of love’ or are unhappy in their
marriage? Should their church be praying
for the restoration of their marriage?
Dan Steel said: “Happiness is an
interesting concept that can be unhelpfully
foundational in our modern culture.
Marriage is not necessarily about
happiness. I would urge people to work
hard and stay together in this situation.”
Neil Powell agrees: “Staying married
may indeed be painful and lead to
unhappiness but the gospel is bigger than
sin. Marriage points to Jesus in that it is a
covenant where we make a ‘binding
promise of future love’ (Tim Keller, The
Meaning of Marriage) and that of course is
what the gospel is.”
Does he think evangelicals are becoming
more accepting of divorce? “Yes and
especially on the grounds of irreconcilable
breakdown. Increasingly the church will
decide to let divorces simply happen
without challenging people.”
For more information on Restored Lives
visit rdscourse.org.uk
IDEA MAGAZINE / 25
Church growth
Evidence: This cutting edge research
will shape our thinking for years to come.
Fresh Expressions
vital for the future of
the Church
by Amanda Pilz
Fresh Expressions of Church are
growing all over the country,
according to the Church of England’s
Church growth research programme.
The report, produced by the Church Army’s research unit as part
of the Church of England’s 18-month research programme,
examined all the Fresh Expressions in 10 representative dioceses.
On average within a diocese, Fresh Expressions make up 15 per
cent of the churches and 10 per cent of the attendance.
Between January 2012 and October 2013, the Church Army’s
research unit spoke to the leaders of 518 Fresh Expressions in the
dioceses of Liverpool, Canterbury, Leicester, Derby, Chelmsford,
Norwich, Ripon and Leeds, Blackburn, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Against a background of wider church decline, the report
found that these young churches were showing signs of growth.
For every one person sent out from an existing church to start a
Fresh Expression, there are now two and a half more people.
Nothing else in the Church of England has this impact. It is also
interesting to note that 66 per cent of them either continue to grow
numerically or maintain the growth gained.
As some people within the Church have anticipated, the report
found that many of the Fresh Expressions of Church (52 per cent)
are led by those who are not ordained, but what is new is that 40
per cent are led by people without any church accreditation and
often without formal training. They are also equally likely to be
led by women as men. Most often the men are ordained, working
full-time and paid, whereas the women are not ordained, parttime and voluntary.
George Lings, Church Army’s research unit leader, said: “As we
conducted the research here at the Church Army, it was energising
to hear the Fresh Expressions leaders talk about the growth they
are seeing. My view is that the Fresh Expressions movement is
very important for the future life of the Church of England and
now for the first time we have harder evidence to back up that
conviction, as we move from reliance on stories to having
statistics as well.”
In the report, the pace of change is quite striking: 40 per cent
of the Fresh Expressions of church researched had started in the
last three years and by 2012 more than four times as many per year
were being started compared to 2004 and the launch of the
Mission-shaped Church report.
The diversity of Fresh Expressions of Church is also significant.
It is a world of many young, diverse and small communities. The
average size is 44 people and these gatherings occur in all kinds
of social contexts – deeply rural, city centre, in rich or poor areas.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 26
United Network, Clitheroe (Diocese of Blackburn)
Reflecting on what has been unearthed by the report and what
still may need to be done, George Lings said: “Although we have
made a good start on assessing the impact of Fresh Expressions
of Church, our team feels that further research is advisable. The
feedback we’ve received from the dioceses surveyed is very
positive, enabling them to evaluate progress and sharpen strategy.
“As a team we have been energised by what has been
discovered and our hope and prayer is that the findings are an
encouragement and gift to the Church. This is especially apt as
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has made ‘evangelism
and witness’ one of his three top priorities.”
Church Army chief executive, Mark Russell, said: “Fresh
Expressions of Church are a huge part of our response to the
evangelistic challenge facing the Church. For some time we
have lacked hard data on the effectiveness of Fresh Expressions.
Church Army’s work provides the answer – Fresh Expressions
work. This cutting edge research will shape our thinking for
years to come.”
Church Army’s research unit is part of the Cranmer Hall,
St John’s College, Durham Consortium.
Jason Clark: is senior pastor
of Vineyard Church in Sutton.
Theology
What’s the point of church
For some, church has lost its meaning because it is no longer relevant
or sincere. But the concept outlined in Scripture shows us that being
part of a church is an important component of our faith.
Protestants and then evangelicals reacted
against the control of salvation by the Church.
They developed new understandings of the
Church, where the Church became a vehicle
to support the processes of salvation. Yet
this response continued on an unintended
trajectory. For it is a very short step from
‘using’ the Church to access the private
benefits of salvation, to viewing the church
as unnecessary – if not a primary obstacle
– to salvation.
Yet salvation is literally to be made part
of a new people and a new social body –
the body of Christ. Salvation is not a
guarantee of a way of life for individuals;
rather it is a way of life with God’s people in
the world, bringing a new way of living to
the world. So how does the Church enable
people to become this new distinct social
group in the world? It does so in the way it
has always done – with its worship.
The desire to live a comfortable life, to
own a great home, to have an abundance
of amazing relationships, to retire early and
live somewhere like we went on holiday,
is the dream most people are pursuing.
Christians in their worship, their prayers
and imaginations, all too often focus their
life on those dreams too. Worship is the
orientation of our time, energy and money
into what we think life is about – the
‘worthship’ of life. The only question
is: what are we worshipping?
The Church is a place for worship, where
our imaginations and dreams are invited to
be ones of redemption, the cross and God’s
kingdom. To be a Christian is to imagine
how we might bring the kingdom into the
world, instead of Christianity being a dream
for escape into a consumer fantasy. It is a call
to live out dreams of the kingdom – of what
Jesus is doing in the places we already live.
Jeremiah 29 provides a biblical example
of this dream, a way to imagine life as part
of God’s people, and one very relevant
to our 24/7 global society today. It also
provides an example of what that looks
like in everyday life and our worship.
All too often we jump to verse 11 of
MAR/APR 2014
Jeremiah 29: ‘“For I know the plans I have
for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you”. We are
all too quick to claim this verse, imagining
how God will bless us with wealth and the
good life. Yet Jeremiah 29 focuses on a way
of life that subverts those kinds of dreams.
For the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 is
predicated on the verses that precede it.
Verses five to nine carry the call to invest
the most important aspects of life: jobs,
homes, and relationships, and all the
dreams and aspirations we have for them,
for the welfare of the city, i.e. those around
us. God’s people in exile are called to pour
themselves into the world, not for their
dreams, but for God’s dreams for His world.
In a consumer society, who on earth
takes their home, jobs and relationships
and gives them to God for the welfare of
others? No wonder we need the promise
of verse 11! God knows that while the rest
of the Western world is keenly focused on
their dreams for their jobs, homes and
relationships, those who give those dreams
and realities over for the sake of God and
others, need to hear a promise; that God
will bless and not harm them.
Imagine what it would do to our world,
if instead of Christians obsessively praying
for great jobs, and moving to dream
destinations, if they invested their dreams
for the lives of others? Imagine the impact
on those living in fear of missing the good
life, tired from the commitments and
isolations needed to make a consumer life,
if they saw a people able to live fully in this
world, free from the self-obsessions of
consumer dreams.
The Church would be the place where
God’s people re-tell the dream of Jeremiah
29, reminding each other that despite the
pressures of consumer life, they live in a
different reality. It would be a place to
connect with each other, to share the
struggles and joys of investing life for the
welfare of others, centred on the worship
of God by His people. Maybe that’s the
point of church.
“The Church
is a place for
worship, where
our imaginations
and dreams are
invited to be ones
of redemption.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 27
SEASON 1
CHURCH EDITION IS HERE!
Superbook engages today’s kids with the stories of the Bible - in a fun and captivating way! Our Church Edition
is a fantastic resource that can be used in Sunday Schools and children ministries.
You will receive 13 brand new Superbook episodes on DVD and a downloadable Leader’s Guide and Activity
Sheet for every episode!
s!
Fee
ense
ic
L
- No
®
my
- Em
Special Offer for Alliance members:
ted
ina
Nom
£125
inc. postage in UK/Europe
Discount Code: EA125
boo
per
E Su
- FRE
p
k Ap
£150
fOR A pREvIEw AND TO ORDER:
www.SUpERbOOk.ORg.Uk OR CAll 0800 432 0700
IDEA MAGAZINE / 28
RESOURCES
Superbook for Alliance churches
Alliance churches are being
offered the chance to use an
innovative new animated series
which introduces children to the
amazing stories of the Bible.
As technology and visual
effects continue to advance, the
highest creative standards are
needed to capture children’s
attention. And this is certainly
true of Superbook a revised
and updated version of the
animated classic designed to
spark young people’s interest
in the Bible.
Created by Alliance member the Christian Broadcasting
Network (CBN), the series brings much-loved characters to life
to appeal to the minds and hearts of children around the world.
Senior Producer John Schafer and his team of artists,
creatives and industry veterans worked hard to ensure that
Superbook would be relevant to tech-savvy kids of today. The
first season of 13 episodes has been finished. Production of
season two episodes is nearly done with season three and four
in development.
Now CBN is launching its Superbook Church Edition – an
innovative resource for churches to use in their children’s work. This
resource includes 13 Superbook episodes of 25-minutes each, taking
viewers on a journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
With the Church Edition also comes a downloadable Leaders
Guide and Activity Sheet for each episode to help youth leaders
to relay the main lessons that can be learned from each story.
As an extension to the Superbook DVD’s we have launched a
brand new website at www.superbook.tv where children can learn
about God and the Bible in an entertaining and educative way.
“Whether it is our kids game, our kids radio, our character
creator, or our interactive questions about God, we want kids to
have fun on our site while simultaneously learning about the Bible
and growing in their relationship with Jesus,” say the creators.
But CBN are keen that Superbook does not replace quality
spiritual input much-needed from Christian parents. They said:
“We’ve designed our website to be a safe place for kids, but
the best safety children can have is their parents’ or guardians’
involvement with their online activities.
“We encourage you to spend time with your child online, not
only to supervise their activities and educate them, but also to
encourage them with what they are learning within our site.”
Churches that have already used the resource have been
wowed by it.
Leaders at Newfrontiers Gateway Church in Ashford said:
“This is the best Christian animated series out there. The
children love them and are hooked! “The lesson material is
excellent while we particularly like the object lessons as they
help connecting the Bible stories to real life.”
CBN is offering fellow Alliance members the Superbook
Church Edition at a special discounted rate of £125 instead
of £150. (postage included for orders within UK/Europe)
Orders can be made online at www.superbook.org.uk or over
the phone by calling 0800 432 0700. Just quote “EA125”.
REVIEWS
Popcultured: Thinking
Christianly About Style, Media
and Entertainment
by Steve Turner
(Inter-Varsity Press)
Many churches give little
assistance when it comes to
assessing popular culture
from a Christian point of
view. If you require help in
this area you will find much
wisdom in this book from
poet and journalist Steve
Turner. After discussing the
prevalence of the media and
pop culture the author goes
on to offer advice on how
Christians should respond
to television and the movies,
celebrity culture, fashion,
journalism, advertising, comedy and computer technology.
He avoids the opposite errors of rejecting popular culture
out of hand and becoming so immersed in it that critical
reflection becomes impossible.
Reviewed by Graham Hedges
Travels with an inflatable
elephant. Attempts to Make
Things Happen. And Not Happen
by Jerry Marshall
(Instant Apostle)
Leading a creative, risky
and faith-filled life and
sharing the hard-won
lessons in entrepreneurial
leadership are the themes of
Jerry Marshall’s book as he
applies his faith to (social)
enterprise, fighting poverty
and political campaigning.
His candidness about
failures and successes
provides rich insights
for life and the interplay
between work, family and
community. In the current
economic and social
turmoil, entrepreneurial initiatives that aim for the common
good; restore relationships and are undergirded by biblical
values bring transition from the ground up. The audacity,
skill, wit, trial and error leave me thoroughly refreshed
and challenged.
Reviewed by Marijke Hoek
superbook.org.uk
MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 29
Terry Virgo: We should expect to see
more evidence of the power of God.
Big INterview
erry Virgo:
T
Passing on
the baton
Richard Woodall meets Terry Virgo – one
of the best known faces in the charismatic
Church and an inspiration for thousands
of church leaders seeking to break new
ground and plant churches.
Mention the name Newfrontiers and there’s one name synonymous
with the charismatic church movement: Terry Virgo. But having
handed over the leadership of Newfrontiers, he is still just as eager
to see more people healed or enter the kingdom.
Since July 2011, the global group of churches – founded in
1980 with a mission to “establish the kingdom of God by making
disciples, training leaders and planting churches” – has no longer
been in the hands of a single leader.
Oversight of the UK Newfrontiers churches is now the
responsibility of various leaders with Terry having moved from
Christ the King Church, Brighton, to being based at King’s Church
in Kingston-upon-Thames.
From a 40-person office to working from his study in his
south-west London home, it’s quite a change.
But such a monumental change in the
leadership has not affected two important
emphases: salvation and healing.
Describing the Alpha course as one of the
“key weapons” in bringing people into the
kingdom, Terry is unequivocal about the impact
of the 900-plus worldwide network of
Newfrontiers churches, especially when it
comes to work in the UK.
“In my experience over the last five years,
we are seeing more people healed then we have
ever seen before. It’s not massively dramatic
but it never used to be there before. That
encourages me.
“People like Tim Keller have emphasised being evangelistic in
the midst of your church life. There’s much more church inclusion
that way.”
Passing on the leadership of Newfrontiers had been in his
thoughts long before it happened, but the final decision came
from perhaps an unexpected source.
“The climax was we had Mark Driscoll speaking for us at the
Brighton conference (in summer 2008). Without any warning, in
his final talk, he said ‘you need to think about handing over’. He
had been in my home and seen a photo of my daughter’s wedding
and he used the image to say ‘Terry needs to find a husband for
his ‘daughter’ (Newfrontiers being that ‘daughter’).
“It was in front of 5,000 people but right from the beginning I
knew it was God, immediately embraced Mark, and said ‘God has
spoken to us’. We had talked about it before as an international
team but we’d never had the edge to make it happen. Initially
we thought who would be the right person but we knew of other
church denominations who had handed over to one person and
it had not worked very well.
“Why look for one person if there are a number of fine leaders
around? Mark, by speaking as he did, put it in
our face.”
“We must be
faithful, keep
working, believe
the gospel
reaps and pray
for days of
visitation.”
“And we are seeing more people converted
too than we have ever seen before.
“In Brighton, we prayed one year: ‘Please may we see one
person saved every week this year’? It seemed to us at the time a
remarkably high goal to set. Latterly, if we had a Sunday where
two or three people weren’t saved we would be shocked because
we were seeing regular conversions.
“That’s not happening in Kingston yet – it’s a new church
IDEA MAGAZINE / 30
plant. We see Sundays as very much purpose built to be a gospel
presentation within the preaching.
“I felt God speaking to me,” said Terry. “It
was the trigger we needed. Sometimes you wake
up and realise everything has changed. The
guys have picked up the baton and are running
with it; it’s not in my hands anymore. It takes a
while to wake up to that.”
Could he ever have foreseen, even with an
expectant faith, the growth that Newfrontiers
has experienced?
“No. When we first started it was a number of
house churches all within an hour’s drive from
where I lived.”
Despite the fact Terry admits in the past
Newfrontiers did not have a strong enough
focus on social issues – foodbanks, debt advice etc – you could
make the case that in word and action Newfrontiers resembles a
modern-day New Testament Church. The miraculous is expected,
the lame are healed, and God speaks with clarity.
Could or should this be the pattern for other denominations?
Quoting Isaiah 9:7, Terry says: “Of the increase of his
government and peace, there will be no end. I believe for a Church
of impact in the end times. For impact there has to be power,
we should expect to see more evidence of the power of God in
terms of signs and wonders.
“Having said that, I realise there are times and seasons. The
Wesleyan era, the ministry of George Whitefield or the 1859
revival where 1,000,000 people were added to the British Church
in a few years; there are times when God seems to come in power.
“I keep praying we might yet see revival. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
said that if we don’t see revival England is in a real problem, and
that was before the so-called swinging 60s.”
So what should we do then?
“We must be faithful, keep working, believe the gospel reaps
and pray for days of visitation.”
But what does revival actually look like and how do we know
when it has come?
“It starts in the Church and it overflows,” says Terry. “A real
revival affects the culture. It’s God coming to His own people
initially and there being an awakening with an overspill in terms
of conversion.”
Although he doesn’t see such a revival yet, listening to him,
you sense the Church in the UK isn’t in too bad a place.
In light of that, what did he think of Mark Driscoll’s
controversial comments last year? The Seattle-based pastor said:
“Name for me the one young, good Bible teacher that is known
across Great Britain. You don’t have one – that’s the problem.
There are a bunch of cowards who aren’t telling the truth.”
What is of note about Terry’s answer is that he first chooses
to praise rather than criticise.
“Mark is a remarkable gospel preacher, a latter-day Spurgeon.
His appraisal of the UK – it’s hard to see where he is coming from
and have to name a name. There aren’t many high profile speakers
in the UK. J John maybe. But the UK is very different from America.
I think it’s just a bit of a silly rant from Mark.”
Terry – who formerly worked in the civil service in London prior
to being a church leader – also fended off criticism of charismatic
Christianity from US pastor John MacArthur who said in October it
“dishonours God” and “offers nothing to enrich true worship”.
“Someone said (to me) that he watches too much American
television and needs to go around the world. There’s much on
American television that is deplorable and it’s called charismatic
but much of it has nothing to do with charismatic churches. In
America if you say you are charismatic, people will think you are
into prosperity.”
Closer to home, how can the UK Church continue to be relevant
in 2014? His answer is more simplistic than I’d imagined it would be.
“It’s communicating the gospel to someone who thinks they’ve
rejected him but doesn’t understand what they are rejecting. We
see the Church presented on television on programmes like The
Vicar of Dibley or through national religious events.
“People think they understand but they don’t understand there
is a relevant gospel which helps you to live every day, raise your
family and do a good day’s work.
“Our challenge is to penetrate the culture with the gospel and
to help people discover.”
MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 31
Holly Price : is a writer with Damaris, which
provides free resources for Damaris Film Clubs
as well as the Damaris Film Blog. See
damaris.org/filmclubs and damaris.org/filmblog
Culture
Philomena:
Martin Sixsmith (Steve
Coogan) is lost. A BBC
journalist recently
fired after a brief foray
into politics, he has
been half-heartedly
entertaining the idea
of writing a book on
Russian history.
But when a woman approaches him with
the 50-year-old secret of a teenager whose
convent sold her toddler, he scoffs. That’s a
human interest story. That’s one direction
he’s certain is a dead end: “Human interest
story is a euphemism for stories about
vulnerable, weak-minded, ignorant people
to be read by vulnerable, weak-minded,
ignorant people.” And yet, perhaps, if he
were to inject a little drama and reunite
mother and long-lost son, he might get his
career back on track.
So Martin meets Philomena Lee (Judi
Dench), an elderly Irish-Catholic widow, who
– under Sixsmith’s cynical gaze – might be
described as the perfect protagonist of a
typical human interest saga. Philomena is
straight-talking; Martin is sarcastic. She is
effusively kind; he, excessively snooty. She
regularly attends churches to pray and
confess; he cannot abide the sight of them.
This delightfully mismatched pair set off in
search of Philomena’s lost child.
The institution and the ideal
Inspired by the investigative book The Lost
Child of Philomena Lee (2009), this film
portrays shocking real-life events. In Ireland,
1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent
after she fell pregnant out of wedlock. When
her child was three, the church sold him for
£1,000 to be adopted in America, and forced
Philomena to sign a document relinquishing
her right to find out what had become of him.
Director Stephen Frears (The Queen)
could easily have capitalised on the emotive
nature of these events, pitting the ‘evil’ nuns
against the ‘noble’ mother – as Sixsmith
intended at the beginning of the journey.
But the true story offers a more complex
narrative, and its power comes from realistic
contrasts. Martin and Philomena’s differing
approaches to life set the scene for another
IDEA MAGAZINE / 32
“God has offered
forgiveness to
every person,
regardless
of our past
misdemeanours.”
juxtaposition: we witness the hypocrisy of
an institution but also the integrity of a
personal faith.
However broad or narrow our definition
of ‘the Church’, as we look back on its
history it’s undeniable that it has at
times been responsible for horrendous
misrepresentations of God. If our mission is
to show the world what God is like, then it
is crucial that we keep asking, what is the
Church best-known for? And, as the people
who make up the Church, what kind of God
are our lives preaching? What kind of
gospel are we practising in our hearts?
Pain as penance
When he first meets her, Martin cannot help
but repeatedly roll his eyes at Philomena’s
ostensibly simple faith – both in people and
in God. As they travel to the convent and then
to America, he grows increasingly confused
and frustrated by it, and compensates for
her graciousness by being rude instead.
While Martin may be narrow-minded
when it comes to judging others, Philomena
remains blinkered also. In spite of her sincere
repentance, she cannot believe that God will
forgive her indiscretion. The nuns insisted
that her suffering would atone for her sins.
But, in spite of the drudgery of convent work
and the trauma of losing her son, the dead
weight of guilt still hangs on Philomena,
keeping her focus fixed on her past.
The heartbreaking truth is that, in reality,
just as Philomena longed to be reunited
with her son, God longed to be reconciled
with Philomena. He voluntarily sent His son
to suffer and die to atone for her sins, so
that He could bring justice as well as mercy.
In fact, the truth is that God has offered
forgiveness to every person, regardless of our
past misdemeanours. Sceptics like Martin
would decry this as ‘too easy’ – but it was
far from easy for God to be separated from
His only son. It was anything but easy for
Him to pour out all the punishment for our
wrongdoing on His innocent son. But He
did it gladly because He loves us:
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ
came at just the right time and died for us
sinners. Now, most people would not be
willing to die for an upright person, though
someone might perhaps be willing to die
for a person who is especially good. But
God showed His great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were
still sinners” (Romans 5:6-8, NLT).
Do we accept God’s forgiveness for us –
and even for those who have wronged us?
How might the world be transformed if the
Church was best-known for this, the most
astounding human interest story of all?
Philomena is released on DVD on 24
March 2014
Idea-list
5 things you’ll only
find in church
by Chine Mbubaegbu
1) Tambourines
How many times have you seen a tambourine played outside
your church building? Well, I can safely say I don’t think I’ve ever
seen one outside the Lord’s House. These biblical instruments
are referred to several times in the Psalms and clearly are
ways of expressing the joy of the Lord. But let’s just not get too
overzealous in our tambourine-playing, shall we?
2) Rota-obsession
Worship team rota, kids’ team rota, welcome rota, set-up rota,
set-down rota, flowers rota, lighting rota, coffee rota, organ rota,
offering rota, Alpha supper rota, readings rota, communion rota,
preaching rota, car-pooling rota, student lunch rota, new baby/
ill person meal-making rota, PA rota, service anchoring rota, new
visitor rota, chair curvature rota, prayer rota, counting-the-numberof-people-in-the-service-with-clicky-thing rota, crèche rota, car park
rota, washing up rota, babysitting rota, rota-making rota.
3) All ages
Although it might cause a few disagreements over the sound levels
of the worship team or choir, the Church is one of the few places
where you might be able to spend Sunday mornings and mid-week
evenings with people from across the generations. What a heartwarming sight it is to see great grandmothers holding newborn
babies and teenagers playing rounders with middle-aged people.
4) Bring and share lunches
Ah, the classic early Church influence of sharing-all-you-have with
your brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s all remember though that
this is absolutely not a competition over who can cook the best
quiche/lasagne/shepherd’s pie. This is about reflecting the triune
God who symbolises community. Indeed.
5) Notices
One of the highlights of the church service, I’d say. But seriously
under-rated. Often to be found in that graveyard slot between
sung worship and the sermon. Whether it’s a snazzy video
projection notice or someone popping their glasses on to read
from the printed church notice sheet, The Notices will try their
hardest to be heard over the din of people chatting, children
escaping to Sunday School and the stewards handing round the
collection buckets. Let’s show the notices a little love, my brothers
and sisters. A round of applause at the end is entirely appropriate.
MAR/APR 2014
ROYAL BATH & WEST
SHOWGROUND,
SHEPTON MALLET, SOMERSET
WEEK 1
Saturday 26 July – Friday 1 August
WEEK 2
Sunday 3 August – Saturday 9 August
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Christy Wimber, William P Young, John & Debby Wright,
Ken Costa, Steve & Charlotte Gambill.
See website for further details including prices,
children’s groups, teams information and more.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 33
MUSIC
Switchfoot:
who we are
Lucy Cooper finds
out more about the
Grammy awardwinning rock band.
With 15 years, eight albums, millions of
record sales and endless global tours under
their belt, you’d think that Grammy-awardwinning rock band Switchfoot wouldn’t feel
they needed to tell the world who they are.
But the band’s brand new album and
documentary film, both named Fading
West, not only tell of Switchfoot’s 2012 tour,
music inspiration, and life of rock ‘n’ roll
and surfing – they give glimpses into the
journey as a band, as individuals, and
understanding their true identity.
Guitarist Drew Shirley explained to
me that there are both epic and intimate
moments: “When we looked at footage for
the movie, we knew we had a story worth
telling. It is more than experiences and the
fabric of the band. You see into our souls,
our families, our struggles, our successes as
well as our failures, our grief and our joy.”
As husbands and fathers, the biggest
challenge for each member of Switchfoot is
having to spend so much time away from
their families while on the road.
While in Australia, lead singer and
songwriter Jon Foreman’s daughter was taken
into hospital for emergency surgery. He had
to fly home. “That is what establishes a
brotherhood. It is when you face life and
death as a family. It made us wrestle with
what we believe and what we sing about.
It’s in the toughest times that the issues of
faith and life come into perspective. You
make a choice to believe rather than
doubt,” says Jon in the Fading West film.
The guys also speak about needing to
press the reset button and keep things in
perspective through surfing and time at
home. “The stage is an over-inflated place.
It is a fake reality. People don’t really know
you. They think they like you and they want
to talk to you and listen to what you have to
say. But the reality is that they don’t know
you. We have to detox from that. Family is a
good way to do that – suddenly you’re
taking your child to use the potty,” says Drew.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 34
“Christianity is a faith
and not a genre of music.”
“I love what I do – but am I being a good
husband? Am I being a good father? Those
are the questions I ask myself all the time.
Marriage in rock ‘n’ roll is a wasteland. You
look around and a lot of them are tragically
affected in negative ways by stress, success,
travel, adultery or pressures. It is such a
blessing to have our wives and families
behind us 100 per cent.
“The song Who we are is all about
knowing your identity and living from a
place of security. Our kids sang the backing
on that track – a beautiful moment. I am
a father, a husband, a rock guitarist, a
friend, a music producer. Let who you are
determine what you do, not what you do
determine who you are.”
World tours include big gigs where they
lose power and huge music festivals with
tough crowds.
“We bring songs we believe in to
uncomfortable places. That is where they
can be heard. We want to share songs of
hope,” says Jon in the film.
Drew adds: “We will play music for
anyone and everyone. We play in neutral
venues. We play the same sets to very
different audiences – whether a Christian
festival or HFS festival in Baltimore”
“Being open to playing music in any
environment is good because we want to
be a light in darkness and we want to be
fishers of men not keepers of fish tanks.”
When asked if they consider themselves
to be a ‘Christian band’, Switchfoot say they
tend to shy away from that label.
“Christianity is a faith and not a genre of
music. God calls us to experience life and
express who we are as a believer. Christianity
is who I am and music is what I do.”
states Drew.
“Being a Christian is much more than just
being in a band and maybe playing a song
that someone might label as ‘Christian’. It
has to do with how you live. How you treat
your wife, your husband, your kids or your
co-workers. How you live life in private.”
In a recent blog, Jon responded to similar
questions: “None of these songs has been
born again, and to that end there is no such
thing as Christian music. Christ didn’t come
and die for my songs, he came for me. My
songs are a part of my life. But judging from
Scripture I can only conclude that our God
is much more interested in how I treat the
poor and the broken and the hungry than
the personal pronouns I use when I sing.
“An obligation to say this or do that does
not sound like the glorious freedom that
Christ died to afford me. My life will be
judged by my obedience, not my ability to
confine my lyrics to this box or that.”
Switchfoot are well known for songs
such as Dare you to move or Meant to live
which were written 10 or 15 years ago. “We
still enjoy those songs and glad we are
known for them but I love our latest songs.
They are the most exciting to me. I’ve told
Jon I think some of those lyrics took all
those years to write because they came
from experience and not just knowledge
or a good idea. He has lived it.
“We have struggled with our identity
and so can now produce songs like Who we
are or Worth the fight. The lyrics of Worth
the fight sum it all up for me: ‘Love alone is
worth the fight’. If you are gonna be a lover
you have to be a fighter because if you leave
things as they are they fall apart, crack and
crumble,” concludes Drew.
Switchfoot talk of the journey as faith
strengthening and a real time of growth
and fruit in their friendship, careers and
personal lives.
The Fading West film is available on
video streaming sites including iTunes
or Amazon. The Fading West album was
released in January.
switchfoot.com
CHARTS
Positions shown indicate total sales during the sales
period Sunday, 1 December 2013, to Saturday, 1 February
2014, hence the preponderance of carols in this sample.
1
Essential Carols
2
Carols from King’s College Cambridge
3
Your Grace Finds Me
4
The Flood
5
Glorious Ruins
6
Rise
7
Tides
8
The Best ofJohn Tavener
9
Voice of Joy
King’s College Choir/Willcocks (Decca)
King’s College Choir/Willcocks (Warner Classics)
Matt Redman (Six Steps)
Soul Survivor & Momentum (Integrity Music)
Skillet (Warner Bros)
Bethel Music (Integrity Music)
Various Artists (Classics for Pleasure)
Friar Alessandro (Decca)
Zion
11
We are Young & Free
12
10,000 Reasons
Hillsong United (Hillsong Music)
Y&F (Hillsong Music)
Matt Redman (Six Steps)
Classic FM - Carols from King’s
King’s College Choir/Willcocks (UCJ)
14
The Best Christmas Carols Album
15
Christmas at King’s
16
MY LIGHTHOUSE
Hillsong Live (Hillsong Music)
10
13
FEATURING KEY TRACK
Various Artists (Integrity Music)
King’s College Choir (Warner Classics)
Awake
Skillet (Atlantic)
17
Thrive
18
God’s Great Big Dance Floor - Step 02
19
Carols from King’s College Cambridge
20
Cornerstone
Casting Crowns (Reunion)
Martin Smith (Integrity Music)
King’s College Choir (Classic FM)
Hillsong Live (Hillsong Music)
©2014 Official Charts Company
IDEA MAGAZINE / 35
MAR/APR 2014
IdeaMagazine.indd 1
30/01/2014 16:15
Letters: Have your say.
IN YOUR WORDS
In your
words
e love hearing from you, so have your say on any
W
of the issues raised in idea or any comments about
the Evangelical Alliance by emailing idea@eauk.org
Relevant
It would be wonderful if young people were
able to “evaluate scientific evidence” (Alan
Cram, letters, Jan/Feb, p36). Unfortunately
the modern dumbed-down school science
syllabus makes this unlikely; there is little
scope for actual understanding.
On the contrary, I doubt if many
professional biologists have actually
evaluated the evidence for evolution. When
they do, they may develop concerns about
it but dismiss these on the grounds that
everyone else believes it so it must be true.
The herd instinct is quite strong in science,
and any biologist publicly expressing doubts
about evolution would find it difficult to
get a job. That means that serious research
into alternatives has to be carried out by
amateurs or academics in other disciplines.
There are good scientific reasons to
doubt evolution, quite apart from what the
Bible teaches. The apparently spontaneous
creation of information, in flat contradiction
to thermodynamics and information theory,
is one of them. To get round this most
biologists either ignore it or claim that life
is not fully subject to the laws of physics
(thus agreeing with creationists!). It suits
atheists to pretend there are ‘God vs. science’
debates. These are usually actually ‘science
vs. science’ debates. There can be no conflict
between true science and Christian belief.
Dr Dave Kimber, via email
Debt default
Some debt advice does seems to focus more
on the treatment than the cause – maybe
because it’s trying to reach everyone and
feels it can’t make ‘spiritual’ points. But I
think Dave Landrum is right to point out
causes: our modern ‘it’s my right’ etc. These
should be understood and challenged
much more profoundly.
We’ve all been affected and shocked
by the recent financial troubles not least
because they have been allowed to happen
by supposedly the best and brightest
financial minds in the world. How have
they, and we, been so comprehensively
hoodwinked? It’s hard to escape the sense
of a malevolent deceiver behind it all.
Could or should Christians have been
more vocal about the issues? There are
Christians working in the heart of the City.
Is our loving and just God trying to
teach our culture something that Christians
already know – but are missing out on
challenging society about? Perhaps we just
find it so difficult to find words that make
sense – but we have to, and more work like
Dave Landrum’s article would be welcome.
Jon Sharp, via email
Polygamous ways
The traditional Church view of monogamy
(Good Question on the same topic in the
Nov/Dec 2013 edition) is maybe rooted
in Genesis 2:24 and reiterated by Jesus
in Matthew 19:5, but polygamy is never
explicitly condemned in Scripture. Clearly
there was an issue in the early Church which
led Paul to say elders/deacons should be the
husband of one wife but that implies it was
still accepted practice. Secondly, the article
concentrates on the word ‘two’ in Genesis
2:24, ignoring the man leaving his mother
and father and joining his wife. Unless
you are arguing for plural ‘wives’ here the
argument about the word ‘two’ is irrelevant
as it is implicit already. The issue I want to
raise in the light of the changing attitude to
marriage as defined by parliament, is that
polygamy implies sexism, or you end up
with meaningless connection. Polygamy
is always seen as a man having more than
one wife. If you accept that either man or
woman can marry more than one, you have
a potential growing network of ill-defined
relationships. And in the new order of
Parliament, that could contain any number
or combination of men and women. So
further to your article, I believe monogamy
is logical in an egalitarian society.
Phil Platt, via email
Are you reading this, but haven’t yet signed up to become a member of the
Evangelical Alliance? What are you waiting for? Join us! eauk.org/join
IDEA MAGAZINE / 36
Heard in tweets
Steve Holmes@SteveRHolmes:
“@idea_mag: you’re quoted in
@TheScotsman this morning! scotsman.
com/news/politics/…”
HOPE @HOPEtogether:
“@idea_mag Thanks for the great feature
on the commemorations. Resources for
churches coming soon at bit.ly/1cqHPcx ”
Meg Underdown@MegUnderdown
@Craig4CardiffN good article on personal
debt & effects on the poorest: The debt
default eauk.co/1hhSbQF via @
DrDaveLandrum @idea_mag
CVM@CVMen
CVM’s @jeremygeake is in the latest @
idea_mag talking about 100yrs since #WW1
– with @HOPEtogether #greaterlove pic.
twitter.com/EoBuVcV16S
Editor
Chine Mbubaegbu – idea@eauk.org
Assistant editor
Richard Woodall
Consulting editors
Steve Morris, Krish Kandiah
Contributing writers
Terry Ally, Lucy Cooper, Amanda Pilz,
Holly Price, Daniel Webster
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Articles in idea may therefore express views
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Leaders’ questions
What’s the hardest part of being a church leader?
David Holden,
leader of New Community Church, London, part of the Newfrontiers family
“I would say the hardest part is making sure I only do what I know God has called me to do. It’s a constant
challenge when leading a church to do many things that others should do and therefore you need to be good
at delegation. God gives us grace and gifts to do what He’s called us to do, otherwise it just ends up as ‘work
only’. 1 Corinthians 15:10 has really helped me in this. It says: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His
grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that
was with me.”
Octavia Williams,
pastor at Walworth Christian Fellowship, Southwark
“As a church pastor I am challenged with people’s low commitment level to prayer. Prayer meetings record
the lowest level of church attendance. It is clear from Scripture (Acts 2) that after Jesus’ ascension the Church
was born on the day of Pentecost out of a 10-day prolonged prayer meeting in the Upper Room. One would
think that prayer would come naturally to a follower of Jesus but I have found mobilising the church to pray is
more often an uphill task. Nonetheless, I take consolation in knowing that there were more than 500 people
who had seen Jesus after he had risen but only 120 people assembled in the Upper Room to pray.”
John Marshall,
leader of Church Lane Evangelical Church, Stafford
“Loving people unconditionally is such a challenge. The love we must have for the congregation means we
want the best for them. It validates the personal sacrifices church leaders make. If that love is rebutted and
people treat church like a service industry, never giving, always taking and leaving on a whim then it is really
hard to love them. At the same time, it leaves me even more amazed at Christ’s unconditional love for me.”
Nick Atkins,
rector at St Matthew’s Church, Ipswich
“There are quite a few areas that make being a Christian leader difficult. Moving creates the problem of
leaving friends and making new relationships. As a vicar within the Anglican church, for a variety reasons,
combining parishes brings the problem of time management between the congregations and extra duties. In
addition levels of commitment amongst the church members can also be particularly disappointing at times.”
John Welsby,
leader of Emmanuel Christian Centre in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
“Well, Moses as Israel’s leader from Egypt to the Promised Land, had it all. He had grumbles, rebels, gossip,
disloyalty... but also loyal friends and family. Best of all, despite lapses of anger and disobedience with his
patience sorely tried and feeling like a failure, God loved him in his repentance and still used him. Why
therefore as a leader, do I empathise with Moses? Ecclesiastes 1:9 says: “What has been will be again, what
has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun’.”
Neil Powell,
church pastor at City Church, Birmingham
“For me it’s remembering that it’s not about me. It’s a daily decision to remember that all true ministry flows
out of a secure identity – I am in Christ – rather than out of a desperate desire to create an identity for myself.
Fail to grasp this one truth and I will be the biggest danger to my ministry.”
Want to receive idea for leaders our regular e-mail for church leaders? Sign up to receive it straight to your inbox: eauk.org/stay-in-the-loop
MAR/APR 2014
IDEA MAGAZINE / 37
Steve Clifford: The general director writes...
Twitter: @stevemclifford
LAST WORD
Christian Union, sharing her faith with
her pupils (I’m not sure you would be
allowed to in quite the same way today)
and her commitment to prayer. Here was
a life which at times struggled with fears
and insecurities but was far bigger than
it presented. People had come to faith;
others were called to and supported in
ministry; many thankful to God for the
influence of her life and faith.
A celebration
of life
This Christmas was
significant in the Clifford
family as at 9.15am
on Boxing Day morning
I received a phone call
saying that my mother
had died.
She had been unwell for a while but
deteriorated quickly and died peacefully
without regaining consciousness. I am sure
many of you will recognise the mixture of
emotions; sad that she was gone; relieved
she was free of the discomfort of her last
months; glad of the assurance she was in
a better place.
If you asked me about my mother (until
relatively recently) I would have described
a woman whose life had been dramatically
overturned by the death of her husband
less than six years after they married. A
young widow with two children without
security of home or income. Her life
became one of ‘survival’ – child rearing,
teaching (a profession she re-entered) and
IDEA MAGAZINE / 38
her church. She rarely left her home town
of Bradford and taught in the same school
for 28 years.
However, in the few years before her
death and the weeks that have followed,
another story emerged. She was not a highflying educated professional (thank God
for those who are called to this). She was
a primary school class teacher. In 28 years
of teaching she had responsibility for more
than 900 pupils.
I was in the pub having lunch with my
mother a few years ago when a man in his
40s came up and whispered in my ear:
“Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind me
asking, but is that Mrs Clifford?” She had
taught him 30 years earlier. He took the
moment to express his thanks to her for
being such a wonderful teacher. In fact he
was a plumber and indicated that if she
needed to, she should call him.
At the ‘Celebration of Life’ service
and in reading various letters and cards,
I realised the profound impact she had
had on so many lives – running a school
I began to reflect on what it means for
our lives to ‘count’, to ‘make a difference’.
As we read Christian literature, it’s so easy
to get the impression that there are certain
‘superstars’ of the faith: men and women
doing extraordinary work, influencing
culture, business, government and whole
sections of society. Let’s thank God for
these people. However, I have a suspicion
that in the age to come there will be other
stories being told. Stories of unsung heroes
of the faith who devotedly lived their lives,
day in day out, influencing others, giving
sacrificially but secretly, praying faithfully
and God being moved by their prayers.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of
meeting scores of such heroes. It’s so easy
to miss them in the crowd or perhaps in
the busyness of church life. However as
I’ve asked questions and listened hard,
I have begun to realise before me often
stands someone who has no idea that they
provoke ‘great smiles in heaven’.
The challenge of 1 Peter 2:12 rings in
my ear: “Live such good lives among the
pagans that though they accuse you of
doing wrong, they may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day He visits us.”
2014 will go down as the year of HOPE.
Churches all over the country are committed
to impacting their communities with the
gospel in words and actions. But how does
this work out for me in my street, place of
work or education, my social club or among
my family and friends? In the words of the
apostle Peter, what could my “good deeds”
look like? Are there little acts of kindness,
words of recognition/encouragement
or offers of prayer which will have an
influence way beyond my expectations?
You will be pleased to know my
mother left very clear instructions as to
the expectations of her two sons as they
planned her service of celebration (which
she insisted it was called): bright clothes,
no flowers (money to be donated to
charity), certain hymns and readings and
last but not least that her commode should
be returned to Bradford council. All of her
requests were fulfilled!
Land and
deliver
LEER, SOUTH SUDAN, 24.04.2012
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