CHURCH
LOVE LOVE
feb • mar • apr • may 2013
This March, !Audacious Church presents an Easter special featuring
This Easter Sunday | 31st March at 5:30pm Book your tickets via audaciouschurch.com
CONTENTS
06 10 24 30 DAYDREAMING Glyn Barrett
LIFE SUPPORT Aitee Okojie
PURPOSE Miriam Pye
LEADERSHIP Nicky Gumbel
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e h l l o. 4
W
e trust you’ve had an incredible start to 2013! Having kicked off the year with our series Daydreamers we’re really excited about seeing what God does through the dreams that have been stirred. Our theme, carried over from September 2012, and key until August this year, is “Love God Love Life” - our prayer is that you live out the bigger life God has called you to. In 2012 we saw 1,000 people respond to God across the life of !Audacious Church, and well over 100 people baptised in water. We also had our largest ever Sunday services and invitationals. There were thousands of lives changed and inspired through our A-Teams community programme, schools tours, conferences, UK and European band tours as well as all our regular programmes and events. These have all created the backdrop for another amazing year. We are breathing new life and impetus into our Wednesday Church programme with the Alpha Course currently happening in 35 locations around
Greater Manchester, a brand new teaching series and useful, practical courses. We’ve planned a great combination of holistic courses for you to pick from and we’d love as many of you as possible to access these throughout the year (every other Wednesday - see p16 for details). Much of the focus of Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament is on Discipleship. That is, not just knowing Jesus, but also walking with others in learning and in relationship. It is asking the harder questions, and living out an appropriate response. Wednesday Church is a huge part of this, and we know you will love it! There are also a number of great guests coming to visit including Ps Neil Smith from Planetshakers, Australia, Martin Smith from Delirious? and Nicky Gumbel, the man behind the Alpha Course and leader at Holy Trinity Brompton. Men, get ready for Brotherhood conference in May. Let’s make the most of every opportunity as we step into the dreams God has given us for 2013. All our love
Glyn & Sophia
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daydreamers*
Senior Pastor Glyn Barrett launches !Audacious Church into the new year with a paradigm-shattering message, “Dream a Bigger Dream”... T.E. Lawrence wrote, “All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible”. Dreaming is dangerous! We all remember the hours and hours we spent as children indulging in the realm of ‘let’s pretend’ but as we grew older and ‘matured’, daydreaming was discouraged (especially by teachers) and our language changed from ‘let’s pretend’ to ‘let’s be real’. But, what if the realm of the impossible is where we are supposed to live? What if daydreaming was our God-given birthright? The Bible is a book of dreams. In the first book of the bible, we read about Joseph who was notably one of the biggest dreamers of them all. It seems even the foundations of our world & faith are birthed in ‘dreaming!’ Genesis 37:5 says “Joseph had a dream”. Everything starts with a dream. The 6
chair you sit in, the vehicle you take to work, the TV you watch, the church you are in are all a result of someone having a dream. Even though Joseph had a bold, God-given dream there was still a massive gap to bridge between its inception and fulfillment. After unwisely sharing his dream with his brothers, Joseph was; thrown into a well, sold into slavery, accused of sexual impropriety, imprisoned, forgotten and abandoned - all before the dream became a reality! We all have good and bad days where our dreams are concerned; the risk is that we can let setbacks neutralise or extinguish our dream in its infancy. What are the main ways our dreams get snuffed out before their time? 1. ME I am my own worst nightmare when it comes to fulfilling my dreams ...and you are yours!! We have to learn to see ourselves as God sees, otherwise we will look at our God dreams and say “How on Earth
am I going to achieve that?” When God spoke to Moses his response was ‘Why me?’. Moses was speaking from a position of identity but God was speaking destiny. Are you seeing your self as God sees you? As his most beloved son? As his most cherished daughter? Joseph, too, was his own worst enemy when it came to the fulfilment of his dreams. Even before he shared his dream with his brothers, they already disliked him. In Genesis 37:2 we see Joseph bringing a ‘bad report’ on his brothers. He was a tell-tale! You might have a brilliant God dream but if you’re not likeable it’s going to be pretty hard to carry people along with you on the journey. Don’t underestimate the importance of being nice. My practical advice is to keep short accounts, look people in the eye and, even when you really want to get your point across to someone, be an active listener first. It’s amazing how people’s opinion of you will shift when they know you’re willing to listen to them!
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“All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But are dangerous, for they act out their dreams with open eyes 2. OTHER PEOPLE Another thing that can limit us in realising our dreams is other people. In Genesis 37:8-10 we read that Joseph’s brothers hated him because of his dream. Oftentimes, people will try to encourage you to think small or may even come against you because of your dream. The Bible tells us that there is “wisdom in a multitude of counsellors” (Prov 15:22) but you need to choose your counsel wisely. It is pointless going to a Sumo wrestling convention for tips on physical exercise & weight loss. Sure, it is a multitude - but wrong crowd!! Many people will come to you with ‘wise words’, from the ‘right place’ but the key thing is, ‘What is God saying? So many people shelve their dreams because of a negative word or piece of discouragement. Keep a tight hold of your dream and ‘set your face like flint’ (Luke 9:51) if you know God has given it. 3. UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS Who hasn’t been hurt by unfulfilled expectations? A failed marriage. An unsuccessful business venture. A university course not turning out to 8
be what you hoped. The Bible tells us that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov 13:12). For Joseph, things went from bad to worse as a result of the lies spoken about him and of being mistreated by others. If we don’t expect too much then we can’t get hurt, right? Are you willing to compromise your dream to live an inward looking, small and safe life? According to Proverbs, “ The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller & smaller.” (Prov 11:24 MSG). Are you willing to be generous with your time, your dream and your heart? 4. GETTING REAL We can all get weighed down about the expectations and responsibilities that life seems to put upon us. We feel the need to ‘get serious’. We start to focus on the fact that we have bills to pay, people to look after, things that need doing, a diary of commitments that need to be upheld. I think when Joseph was accused of sexual impropriety and thrown into jail he probably had to get serious too - but he didn’t let it cost him his dream. Everyone is free to dream!
t in the dusty recesses of t dreamers of the day s, to make it possible.”
T.E. Lawrence
5. BELIEF THAT DREAMING IS FOR THE KIDS Have you ever felt that you are too old to dream? Can a mature man or woman still really afford to? There is a temptation to resign ourselves to the idea that the period of time for goal-setting and ambition is over. Maybe similar thoughts went through Abraham’s mind as the years passed by and Sarah gave him no son. But God’s promise remained true. Nobody said that dreaming would be easy; indeed the scripture ‘pressed down, shaken together and running all over’ (Luke 6:38) describes a perfect image of blessing being messy; if you want to be blessed by God and see your dreams come true be prepared for a bumpy ride! Take a minute to think about what you might have inadvertently allowed to affect and infect your dreaming. Now start to think, ‘Should I?’, ‘Would I?’ ‘Could I?’ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23-24)
God chose to inhabit Earth as a man, and his death on the cross meant that we could afford to dream again. It meant that dreaming was our right and our responsibility. His demonstration of resurrection power was a guarantee that we could trust Him to make the impossible possible in our lives. I challenge you to set a higher goal; pray a bigger prayer; dream a bigger dream...
Ps Glyn Barrett
Scan to hear all of the Daydreamers series again 9
LIFE SUPPORT Aitee Okojie is a Macmillan Solutions volunteer, and she urges you to become one too! I joined the Macmillan Solutions team towards the end of 2011 after watching a video requesting for volunteers during a Life Groups meeting. At the time, 4 people I knew had just been diagnosed with cancer and volunteering seemed to be my opportunity to turn the sadness into a positive. I had also just completed my degree at university and wanted to put my spare time to good use so booked myself onto the training course. The sessions provided an opportunity to meet other like-minded people who shared the same aspirations as me. We all just wanted to support people through what would probably be the worst time of their lives and we wanted to be there for them in any way we could. In March 2012 I started supporting a lovely lady who certainly gave me a fresh perspective on life. My client spent her whole adult life working 10
to provide the best for her family and had put all her dreams on hold until she could retire. She explained that she looked forward to retirement as the time when she would finally catch up on life; - little did she know what was coming. She said with hindsight, “I would have travelled more, lived more and done all the things I kept postponing’til retirement”. She was diagnosed with cancer the year she retired and has spent the last two years battling with Parkinson’s and arthritis as well. She keeps reminding me to ‘live’, and not to put my dreams on hold like she did. I ring her every week to check things are OK and visit her once a month as this is the level of support she requires. She has a very strong family unit around her but our weekly chats give her an opportunity to ‘offload’ to someone outside of her family. During our chats, we try to talk about
everything but her illnesses because that is all she talks about with everyone else. Becoming a volunteer was one of my best decisions of 2012; it has given me an opportunity to truly make a difference in someone’s life. Volunteering helped shift the focus from me as an individual to someone else and has given me a greater appreciation for life. There are a number of ways to volunteer, even for people who work full-time. I was almost put off the idea of volunteering because I thought I could only support people during the day. The people being referred to !Audacious Church have got various needs; some people only want telephone support, some may only need help on the odd weekend. Sometimes (as I found out during the training), indirect support may be required too. There have been instances where children of cancer sufferers
need extra tutoring for up-coming exams, or a lift to football practice, for example, as the parent is no longer capable of doing this. I believe life is all about making an impact on my immediate sphere of influence, the small world around me, and being a Macmillan volunteer has helped me achieve this.
If you feel you have the time and skills to offer, or you know anyone who may need our support, then please get in touch. e-mail: macmillansolutions@audaciouschurch.com telephone: 07701249207 or via the !Audacious Church reception: 0161 830 7000 11
Hundreds of people came together for a great night of festive quizzing at The Great Manchester Quiz to support the work of A-Teams and Macmillan. It was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and finance for both groups, especially with the run up to Christmas. Designed to be a gift to our city, The Great Manchester Quiz will help A-Teams and Macmillan to reach so many more people and change more lives. Quizmasters Harry and Paul took the packed house through a night of live music, laughs and giveaways - an incredible time was had by everyone. And perhaps the most exciting part of the evening was having the majority of tables filled with faces never seen before at !Audacious Church. People got on board with inviting uni friends, work colleagues and family to join in supporting these fantastic causes.
A-TEAMS
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A-TEAMS
If you would like to help out with our community action programme, please email ateams@audaciouschurch.com
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Nights of Fire
Brotherhood | 10 - 11 May
Extended times of worship and opportunities for encountering God, mixed with incredible guest speakers, Nights of Fire are a chance for us to push through into deeper encounters with our Extraordinary God. Part of our Wednesday Church programme.
Join Ps Glyn Barrett (!Audacious) and Ps Neil Smith (Planetshakers Aus) for a powerful time of real encounter with God. Always a life-changing ‘line in the sand’ weekend, Brotherhood is a must for the modern Christian man!
rev
NICKY
24
gumbel
Holy Trinity Brompton / Alpha
APR
14
ps
RAY
andrews
NEWlife
MAY
29
Easter Production | 31st March This year’s Easter Show will be full of emotional highs, epic song, warm connection and the romantic comedy, “Obvious, Lee.” Invite your family and friends this Easter Sunday, 5:30pm. Free tickets available at audaciouschurch.com
SUNDAY SPEAKERS
We are very excited to announce that Martin Smith of Delirious? will be joining us in April for a full Sunday of inspirational worship and world-class teaching. With Delirious?, Martin has had numerous top 20 singles in the UK and has supported Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams on tour, as well as leading millions of Chrisians in powerful praise in over 40 countries worldwide. Don’t miss your chance to hear Martin play live - you’ll want to get here nice and early to bag yourself a seat. Buy the live recording of Martin’s recent New York gig with Jesus Culture from !Audacious Resources.
21 24 MARK
ritchie
73rd Trust
FEB
We are honoured to have Mark Ritchie with us again; no doubt he’ll be giving us all the details, highs and lows of his incredible Cross Britain tour and sharing the heart of God with us in his hilarious trademark style.
MARTIN of
smith
Delirious?
APR
ps NEIL smith
Planetshakers Melbourne AUS
Having been with on the journey with us from our launch over 5 years ago, and a key voice into the life of the !Audacious, Ps Neil brings a precision word every time, taking us to a new level.
12 MAY
15
FEB
6TH & 20TH The Alpha Course (in Life Groups)
WEDNESDAY CHURCH
13TH & 27TH • Finance Course • Pre-Marriage Course • Teaching series: The Father’s Heart
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MAR
6TH & 20TH The Alpha Course (in Life Groups) 13TH & 27TH • Marriage Course • DNA Course • Teaching series: Simply Jesus
APR
3RD & 17TH The Alpha Course (in Life Groups) 10TH
24TH
MAY
• Marriage Course • DNA Course • Teaching series: Simply Jesus The Alpha Course with Rev Nicky Gumbel (Life Groups together at !Audacious Church)
1ST & 15TH Life Groups 8TH & 22ND • The Blessed Life • Parenting Course • Teaching series: Encountering the Holy Spirit 29TH
Nights of Fire with Ps Ray Andrews
*Look out for the DNA:NEXT weekend on the 26th-27th April
If anyone has a reason to doubt God’s faithfulness, it’s single mum Mo Adeboyo. Yet she tells us how a life of faith and thankfulness has brought supernatural breakthrough to her and her son, Emmanuel. 17
When did you move the the UK and why? Well I was born and was schooled in Nigeria. In 2001, after my university study, I decided I wanted a different life; something better, something different. So I made my way here to the UK. It was a big surprise to a lot of people, even my family. Why the UK? Actually, I intended to go to America but I thought “I’ll stop over in the UK and maybe make my way to America”. I’m glad. I made the right choice. Did you know anyone here when you got here? Yeah, my brother and sister were living here, as well as cousins and other relatives. What made you leave then? What made you want to change your life? I think it’s every Nigerian’s dream. I wouldn’t say I was rebellious but I was just different from the others. My life was just different; I felt I needed to be out of that country. All my mates wanted to leave for safety, to make a better life for themselves. I had my family here in the UK. It was a great opportunity to move on to greater pastures really. How were things when you first arrived? For the first few months I knew nobody. I was just traveling back and forth within the UK visiting family and friends. Then it dawned on me that I needed to get myself together and be independent, responsible. It was tough. I started college and the education here was totally different to what I was used to in Nigeria. It was hard work. Here, whatever you put into your studies is what you get out of it! I had the intention of going on to university but then things changed. 18
What changed? Because of my [visa] status I had to pay international student fees. My parents didn’t support me being here in the first place so it was a case of “you’re on your own”. I know my dad would have sorted me out financially but I didn’t want to put that pressure on him. I’m not an only child; there are seven of us. I had to think “OK, I’d rather my little sister or brother got that opportunity than myself.” Nigerians are known for ‘struggling’; I was a struggler. I knew things would just work out and that they’d somehow be OK. So I didn’t go to university. This is my vision, my aim for next year now that I’ve been granted permission to remain after so many years! That’s such a testimony on its own. I’m grateful to God for that. Were you going to church in Nigeria? Yes, I was going to Fountain of Life Church. It was similar to !Audacious; I think that’s why I fitted in so well here. Nigerian churches are very loud, spiritual, crazy places. My old pastor was a wonderful woman that I looked up to. I gave my life [to Jesus] in 1995 and life just changed for me. I saw life differently but I was still learning as a young Christian. I wasn’t so spiritually filled; I went from church to church trying to find a place where I felt ‘at home’, in my spirit. I love Nigeria, and I would love people to go and experience life there, but the churches are very different. How did you start coming to !Audacious Church? Myself, Andy and Eileen Wilson were all looking for somewhere to call ‘home’. They came to !Audacious before me and invited me over. The first week I wasn’t sure, but I just became a part of !Audacious really.
What made you come back a second week? The style; it was so ‘me’. I was flabbergasted at the fact that Christians could actually praise the way that !Audacious praise. Everybody was so youthful; old, young, no matter the age they were there at the front, jumping, praising like the roof was going to fall down right now if they didn’t start praising God! It was just like, “Wow! This is amazing, God is here, I can not believe this. There are people here actually praising God.” I used to be very judgmental of people; how they dressed, etc. But everyone was just being themselves; so natural. It didn’t matter what the outside was, but the inside. I learned so much about appreciating people, not for what you see but for who they really are. That kept me coming. Tell us about your son, Emmanuel. He was born on September 12th, 2005 in Milton Keynes. I wasn’t expecting it; he was 3 weeks early and I was down South visiting my brother! A few weeks down the line, his Dad had to go back to Nigeria and has not been back since. That’s history. But I was left alone to look after him and discovered that he had learning difficulties - he’s autistic. He has some medical issues, parts of his body are ‘missing’. I feel like I can talk about it plainly like this because I know the miracles God has done in his life; how He has healed parts of his body and I believe that He will continue to do the same thing to perfection! He’s a wonderful little boy. He’s challenging but he is lovely. I am blessed that I have him, that I have a son. So blessed.
“I STARTED TAKING BOLD STEPS, DECLARING THINGS...I SAID, “GOD, THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU PROMISED FOR EMMANUEL.”
Did you ever feel that you couldn’t take any more? Yes, after Emmanuel’s dad left and all the [diagnoses] started coming up. I didn’t know anything, I was a first-time mum. I totally collapsed 19
at that point; I wasn’t sleeping, he wasn’t sleeping. He kept screaming and I didn’t know what to do. I thought, “What kind of child is this? What have I done wrong?” It was by the grace of God that I didn’t kill myself - I was depressed. So what got your through? Mostly I was crying and I just kept thinking, “I look like a baby!” I was pouring my heart out to God, “I can’t do this on my own, You need to tell me what to do”. Each day, by the time I’d woken up in the morning I was fine. Just seeing him again - I was fine. I would look and think “he’s just a baby”. I remember one time when I was really down, I was crying in bed and he slept next to me. He crawled towards me and put his cheek on my cheek and it just felt... I will never ever forget that moment. He ‘felt’ for me, like “Mum, I’m here for you.” It was comfort to me. That was really good.
“...IT’S ALL JUST ‘NAMES’. THERE IS NO NAME THAT’S ABOVE THE NAME OF JESUS SO I KNOW IF I KEEP CALLING ON THAT NAME, GOD WILL MAKE HIMSELF MANIFEST...” 20
Talk us through some of the things God has done for him. When he was young the Doctor said he would never walk and that he would be very slow. Now he’s walking! He crawled and he walked! He had a hunch on his back from six months; you could see it through his clothes. When I started coming to !Audacious my faith level just increased and things just started changing for me spiritually. I was seeking God more, trusting Him more. Even though I had moments where I thought God wasn’t there, He always proved that He was! I started taking bold steps, declaring things basically. So when we went for Emmanuel’s MRI scan to see about his back we found he had a curvature in his spine. The Doctors said if it got any bigger they would have to operate and put metal plates in. I said, “God, that is not what you
promised for Emmanuel.” I just started declaring it. Angela and some other ladies prayed with me, the next time we went for an MRI scan, and I asked God to prove His power. I said “God, let people see”. When I gave my life [to Jesus] I decided that my life and the lives of my children would be lives of testimony. When we went for the MRI results they said “There doesn’t seem to be anything there! That’s strange.” They brought the old scan images out and it was all clear - it had shifted. I don’t know how God did it but it was straight, and I’m talking three or four years down the line from the diagnosis. And that’s just one instance of God coming through!
testifying - at the moment he can’t speak. But all these things are just temporary because I know he will overcome them. I know and I believe in my heart, I don’t care what people say, that God chose Emmanuel for a reason and I think that’s why the enemy is trying to torment him with lot of different things. But it’s all just ‘names’. there is no name that’s above the name of Jesus so I know if I keep calling on THAT name, God will make Himself manifest in Emmanuel’s life. I’m looking forward to my old age, enjoying my children and my childrens’ children, you know?
What one thing are you most thankful to God for? One thing, wow. I’ve got quite a lot. For starters, I’m thankful that myself and Emmanuel are still alive today, to the glory of God. I’m thankful that despite all the battles that came my way, that God was with me throughout the journey. I’ve met lovely, down-to-Earth people and I’m thankful for every second of our lives; every day, just being alive, being a Christian and knowing I’m loved by God.
What would you say to a young woman who’s in a similar situation to the one you were in? Never doubt God. Never for a second believe that He is not with you. I know there are moments where we feel He doesn’t love us or He’s not answering, but you may be surprised to know that it doesn’t matter how we communicate, so long as we do communicate and have that relationship with Him. Never give up. And patience is a virtue. Wait on God and He will see you through. At the end of the day, what is happening to you that has not already happened to somebody else? Take it with all boldness in God. Be thankful; thanksgiving is a good thing. It’s good to be very, very grateful to God. That helped me as well; being positive that God is on the throne and is in control. As long as we have Christ on our side we’ll be fine.
God has clearly done a lot in your life and through Emmanuel. What are you still believing for? I know my future is safe, but you have to really believe God that He will make manifest the promises that He has made [over your life]. I’m looking forward to a great future and a great walk with God. Seeing Emmanuel standing up one day,
Please share your Praise Report with us on Sundays by filling in a form as you arrive at reception. We want to celebrate with you!
What does Emmanuel think of !Audacious Church? He loves it. When we used to get close [in the car], he would know we were going to church and he would get so excited! He really loves it.
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RE:VIEWKids’ special
Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train a child in the way he should go”. With that in mind we thought we would let cast your eyes over some handpicked faves from the new Kids’ section at !Audacious Resources, with a few exciting new releases thrown in for the grown-ups!
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READ & SHARE DEVOTIONAL
THE CUPCAKE BIBLE
TREASURE CHEST BIBLE
LOVING YOUR KIDS ON PURPOSE
Weekly Activities inspired by 52 Bible stories that lead to prayer-time and discussion on a broad range of ageappropriate topics. A brilliant resource to help make the most of your time together, while unwrapping the beauty of God’s love.
Full-text inspirational Children’s Bible full of colourful inserts and space for discussion and jotting thoughts on themes such as “How do I forgive?” and “How do I pray?” Guaranteed to engage your child and help them begin a life-long passion for the Word of God.
Perfect for any young adventurer that wants a cool looking Bible all of their own. Aside from its rugged feel it also provides budding pirates with fit-forpurpose activities, memory verses and reminders of God’s promises. ARRR! We love it and so will they!
This best-seller teaches us how to effectively instill Kingdom principles into our !Audacious kids. Ram packed with paradigms and practical tips rooted in scripture, linked to reallife experiences most parents can empathise with.
LIMITLESS CD PLANETSHAKERS
STILL BELIEVE CD KIM WALKER-SMITH
CROSSROADS A NOVEL
!AUDACIOUS RESOURCES WEBSITE
“Limitless” is the 25th album and most recent album from the Australian youth and young adult movement, Planetshakers. Recorded live at Planetshakers Conference, this album offers up songs of passionate, vertical praise and sung prayers creating an environment where you can encounter the presence of God. It is a proclamation that we can truly live a life without limits because of the sacrifice that Jesus has made for us.
“Still Believe” is the highly anticipated, second solo album from Kim Walker-Smith. Known worldwide as one of the leading voices in the Jesus Culture movement, Kim’s voice carries such a strong and beautiful anointing. “Still Believe” is a powerful album full of the presence and power of God.
From the author of mega-hit “The Shack” comes a new novel, “Crossroads”. It’s a story of redemption, with twists and turns that make it a fun and truly gripping read. The book tells the story of Anthony Spencer, a successful businessman who, following a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, awakes to find himself in a deserted wasteland. As a result he embarks on a journey of healing which was not how he orginally envisioned. Similar in parts to “The Shack”, Young describes a pursuing God who does not give up on those of us with embittered souls.
The !Audacious Resources website is back and it’s better than ever thanks to our webmaster (and all-round legend) Dave Ralph. All of !Audacious’ own stock is now available via the website. We also now deliver worldwide so if you have friends or relatives that you want to bless you can send directly from us. Have a look around at audaciousresources.com
If you enjoy a message and want to listen again you can order it the same day and have it in your hands that same week! Fill out an order form at Resources. 23
LIFE TO THE FULL One young adult shares with us her search for a full and significant life, and the decisions she had to make in the process.
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ave you ever thought, ‘There’s got to be more than doing the same old thing every day, every week, every month?’ That was me. I started asking those questions. You see, I’d always gone to Church and had been brought up in an amazing Christian home but somehow I had found myself, around the age of twenty, just floating around; semi-purposeless, shallow and with little vision for the future. My fear was that I was on the road to a mediocre, average and monotonous life, and that was scary. It was then that I decided something has got to change. I either sell out and give everything to God or I bow out and live a life purely for myself! ‘Selling out’ your life for God has got to be the most exciting thing you could ever do! It’s a life that is exhilarating and requires faith and resolve. So how does it work? What does selling out mean? Do I have to be at church 24/7? Well, no. Selling out is about committing your whole heart to God - meaning that every part of your life is for Him. Sometimes I think we compartmentalise life. We think, “This part is my work life, my family-andfriends life and then over here I have my Church life” but when you begin to understand that every part of life intertwines together it takes on a whole new meaning. God doesn’t just think about us on Sunday morning between ten-thirty and twelvethirty or five-thirty to seven-thirty. It says in Psalms 40:5, ‘Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.’ God thinks about us all 25
One of the key things I have learnt is that Jesus needs to be at the centre of my life. Not to the left or right or just for when something goes wrong but at the centre; firmly, always. When He is at the centre it means everything else falls into the right place at the right time. When I truly ‘sold out’ for the Kingdom of God, (that is, His Kingdom and His huge plan outworking here on Earth) Church then became the biggest priority in my life. I knew that the environment of the local Church was where I wanted to be, all the time! Even though I knew that Church is so much more than just a place we go to, it was there that I began serving and being involved in everything that was available to be involved in! After all, serving is not about what you’re doing but who you’re becoming in the process. Neither is serving a pathway to greatness; it’s actually what makes you great. When you make Jesus (who is the greatest servant of all) the centre of your life, you actually become a better person. This in turn affects every part of who you are. Relationships are healthier, friendships are truer, families are stronger, vision is sure and finances are blessed because the essence of who you are effects how you live. So if Jesus is at the centre of your life then every part of you will be blessed. Let’s be honest; sometimes this is easier-said-thandone. The challenge of keeping Jesus at the centre means fending off everything else that’s fighting for that place; work, family or friends. I have found 26
“
WE MUST CHOOSE TO WALK DIFFERENTLY, LIVE DIFFERENTLY AND STAND OUT... NO-ONE SAID IT WOULD BE EASY, BUT GOD DOES PROMISE THAT IT IS WORTH IT
“
the time and when we begin to live life with the perspective of God’s love and vision for us, our view of what it means to walk with Him becomes full of purpose.
that the key to success is non-negotiable living. Decide what the non-negotiables of your life are and live by them. My non-negotiables are living surrendered to God (holiding my own ideas lightly and being prepared for Him to speak to me and use me whenever) and my secret place with God. Practically, prayer, reading the Word and worship are essential. None of these things are anything to do with what I’m doing to be a better Christian but about positioning my heart better to hear from God and to be with Him. Another challenge we all face is to not live by the culture we live in but instead to live by the culture of God’s Kingdom. Decide that compromise will not live in your life. Every day we face situations that will challenge our decisions for Christ; our choice to walk with integrity and honesty every day. We must choose to walk differently, live differently and stand out. It’s not easy when everyday you’re surrounded by work colleagues or family who most likely live life to a different standard. The thing is, no-one said it would be easy, but God does promise that it is worth it, that he has “plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11) The things that we stand for are challenged all the time but with Jesus at the centre, with a definition of the non-negotiables in our life and a clear outline of what no compromise means, living ‘sold out’ is an act of servanthood that will truly mean you live out the greatest adventure of your life.
- Miriam Pye
BRING THE PRAISE - THE NEW ALBUM RECORDED LIVE AT !AUDACIOUS CONFERENCE AVAILABLE AT WWW.AUDACIOUSRESOURCES.COM AND ON iTUNES 27
CHAMPION November 2012 saw !Audacious Church step out in faith once more for the Champion Offering. This exciting opportunity to give into the development fund to improve our building and programmes will have a significant impact, most importantly, on the lives of the people who walk through the doors. Things you will see happening in and around the building as a result of the money given will be: -
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•
New heating in the foyer, to give you another reason to hang out with friends and family
•
Enlarged childrens facilities due to the amazing growth in !Audacious Kids (not just numerically...some of those guys are getting TALL!)
•
Insulation and sound-proofing to the roof of the main auditoium to keep our neighbours happy and keep our visitors warm!
•
A new and improved connections area, worthy of the guests that you want to bring on a Sunday.
•
A new rear entrance and reception area to serve the needs of those walking to Church from the City Centre.
•
Exciting plans for the long-term use of the auditorium including extra, raised seating and a balcony area and the addition of two-storey glass reception and coffee lounge area at the front of our building. Overleaf, scale drawings of how these might look help get us excited about the second phase of the building project.
Thankyou for your continued support as we believe, dream and achieve all that God has for us in this next phase of Church life. We’re glad you are on this journey with us.
Glyn, Sophia and the team
Conceptual pictures only
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SERVING THE VISION Ahead of his visit in April, founder of the Alpha course Nicky Gumbel shares with us four key thoughts on leading effectively.
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L
eadership is key. Leadership is about influence. It is key to government, businesses and the church. Everything rises or falls on leadership. Jesus is undoubtedly the greatest leader of all time. With 2,300 billion followers today, no one has ever been more influential than Jesus. Yet his model of leadership is radically different from the world’s (Mark 10:35–45). He says to his disciples in the context of leadership, ‘Not so with you’ (v.43) What does Jesus’ model of leadership look like? 1. IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING SERVED; IT’S ABOUT SERVING OTHERS. Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all’ (vv.43–44). In the King James Version of the Bible the word ‘leader’ appears six times. The word ‘servant’ appears 900 times. 2. IT’S NOT ABOUT POSITION; IT’S ABOUT EXAMPLE. Jesus continued by saying, ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (v.45). These words of Jesus came after the disciples had been having an argument about who was going to be greatest – who would sit at his right hand, who would sit at his left hand. Jesus replied to them, ‘Not so with you’ (v.43). Don’t go after position, but lead by example.
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Leadership is not about bossing people around. Eisenhower said, ‘You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.’
or small scale about Jesus’ vision. He came to give his life for the many. He had a very clear vision of what he wanted to achieve.
You do not need position to lead. Nelson Mandela led a nation from his prison cell. Martin Luther King said, ‘Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don’t need a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul saturated by love.’ Jesus had no position but he is the world’s greatest leader. Jesus’ act of giving his life as a ransom for many is the supreme demonstration of what it means to lead by example.
Let’s pursue a big vision – a vision to see this nation re-evangelised; to see our society transformed, to see marriage and family life re-established again as a foundation of a strong society; to see the prisons emptied; to see the nation again with Jesus Christ at its centre. That is a vision worth going for and I believe it could happen in our generation.
3. IT’S NOT ABOUT RIVALRY; IT’S ABOUT UNITY. The disciples were competing with each other for fame, success and glory (vv.37–41). Jesus says to them, ‘Not so with you’ (v.43). The Kingdom of God is not about rivalry; it is about unity. We are not rivals. We are in the same business. We are one body. We need to stop fighting one another. Truth matters, of course, but if we do not have unity, we do not have the whole truth because Jesus is the truth. The more united the church is, the more we will understand together the truth that is in Jesus. 4. IT’S NOT ABOUT POWER; IT’S ABOUT BEING VISIONARY. Jesus said, ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (v.45). There was nothing weak 32
DON’T MISS NICKY AT !AUDACIOUS CHURCH, WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL, 7:30PM
info: Nicky is vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church in central London with 11 Sunday services on four sites with a regular attendance of around 5,000 people. He is the pioneer of the Alpha course, a 15-session introduction to the Christian faith now running all over the world. He read law at Trinity College, Cambridge and practised as a barrister from 1977-1983. He is married to Pippa.
I’ve seen Alpha touch so many people over the years. I’ve seen it encourage people to find a simple faith. - Bear Grylls “What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions - life and death and their meaning.”
See reception or email info@audaciouschurch.com for more info
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Top 20 reasons why you NEED to be at !Audacious Youth Camp 2013... What: Youth Camp 2013 When: Thursday 28th-Saturday 30th March 2013 Where: Hallows School, North Wales Cost: £75 The countdown is on for !Audacious Youth Camp 2013! Join us for another explosive weekend away at what will be one of the highlights of your year! It’s gonna be bigger and better than ever before. More life changing moments and a huge Tribal Wars showdown! Get yourself booked in now and secure your place with us on a weekend you’ll never forget! Get ready...we’ll see you soon...
Love Josh, Carly & the !AY Team 34
CLASSIC BONFIRE!! LATE NIGHT EXTRA’S! - JEN YOLO!! - BRUCE
I HEARD JUSTIN BIEBER IS GOING? - VICKY YOU COULD MEET YOUR FUTURE WIFE/ HUSBAND!? - FRANKIE
YOUR LIFE IN WAYS IT’LL IMPACT & CHANGE E! PLUS: CRAZYYY, GIN IMA YOU COULD NEVER MEMORIES! - EMM FUN & UNFORGETTABLE CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE, LIFE CHANGING WEEKEND YOU’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER - ANDREA
WE’RE FAMILY & WE ALL WANT YOU THERE! - HALANDRA YOU’LL REGRET IT IF YOU DON’T GO! - REBECCA
YOU WILL LITERALLY HAVE THE BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE!! - ALEX YOU’LL COME BACK A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON, GET CLOSER WITH FRIENDS AND MAKE THE BEST MEMORIES EVER - TINUKE
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY FEBRUARY Fri 1st - BLING / BOYS NIGHT Thurs 7th // Fri 8th - CRASH NIGHT* Thurs 14th // Fri 15th - CRASH NIGHT* Thurs 21st // Fri 22nd - JAM INVITATIONAL** (Inflatable night) Thurs 28th
IT’S LITERALLY A LIFE CHANGING, GOD ENCOUNTERING, FANDABIDOZIE WEEKEND! - LAUREN
LOL, YOU’D WISH IT WAS LONGER THAN A WEEKEND - ALPHA THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU GET DRAGGED ACROSS THE FLOOR AND IT BE FUN - ALICIA YOU CAN COME AS YOU ARE AND MEET GOD NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES - MARTIN
IT’LL BRINGS OUT YOUR COMPETITIVE SIDE... EVEN IF YOU THOUGHT YOU DIDN’T HAVE ONE - BECKY IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND YOU CREATE MEMORIES THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER FOREVER! - ABBY ROAD-TRIP!! - RICKY IT’S GENERALLY MINT! - BEN
TRIBAL WARS 2013!!! - EMILY
MASS SLEEP OVER WITH ALL YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE. - BRITNEY
MARCH Fri 1st - CRASH NIGHT Thurs 7th // Fri 8th - JAM NIGHT** (Tribal Wars) Thurs 14th // Fri 15th - CRASH NIGHT* Thurs 21st // Fri 22nd - CRASH NIGHT* Thurs 28th - Fri 29th - YOUTH CAMP APRIL Thurs 4th // Fri 5th - CRASH NIGHT*
FRIDAYS AT CENTRAL CAMPUS 7-9PM FOR 11-18 YEARS *CRASH NIGHTS - The place to be every Friday night in Manchester! Feat. PreShow | !A Youth band | Encounter | Tribal Wars | Life Groups | LOL’s | **JAM NIGHTS - Every Jam night is unique & the best way to kick start your weekend! From huge inflatables to movies, festivals to roller discos! Making your Fridays better than average! THURSDAYS AT FLIXTON CAMPUS 6.30-7PM FOR Y7-Y9 // 8-9PM FOR Y9+ Don’t miss Thursday night at !Audacious Youth Flixton. Bringing you a burst of FUN in your week!! Feat. PreShow | Football | Games shows | Music | Chill | Create | 35
CHAMPIONS OF THE HOUSE What does it mean to you to be a Champion of !Audacious Church? 36
CAZ HICKLEY CHAMPION OF RESPONSE
ANDRINA PEARSON CHAMPION OF RESPONSE
MIKE DOUGLAS CHAMPION OF CONNECTIONS
I love serving at !Audacious. I’m a champion of Connections and Response because Church is all about people! I love being part of giving people their best experience of church. It’s the greatest feeling to be part of the start of someone’s relationship with God and see them grow through finding their place in church. For me serving is a privilege and not about doing just enough but going over and above because God loves people!
I have the honour and privilege to serve on the Response team, helping new Christians with the basic steps of getting to know the beauty of the LORD. I love encouraging people to embrace God’s fullness and discover the new exciting life He has for them. For me, being a Champion of the house means reflecting the attributes of the Lord in the world. I strive to display His love, generosity and kindness to all (especially those who don’t know Him personally).
It’s an absolute honour to serve in the house. I love helping make things run excellently on a Sunday. !Audacious is amazing; I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to Church every week. Its so good to serve alongside everybody at Church who are all fantastic and I love making new people feel welcome and connected. For me its worth it simply because God is great and its so exciting to be part of building Church and seeing people come to Jesus. 37
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ANDY BELTON CHMPION OF HOSTING
DAVE FIDLER CHAMPION OF MUSIC
DAN JAMES CHAMPION OF MUSIC
BARRY JAMES CHAMPION OF PRODUCTION
I serve on a number of teams in Church. I have an amazing relationship with God and I’m keen for others to know God like I do. My roles in church generally focus on enabling others to feel safe and comfortable enough to have an encounter and develop a personal relationship with God. This often requires me to step out of my own comfort zone and to put greater trust in God to help others. It’s an amazing feeling to see someone you help develop in faith. Serving develops my own relationship with God. I have had some amazing personal breakthrough as a result.
Philippians 2:5-7 tells us how Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of the whole world, made himself nothing. Wow! So much of the time we seek approval and recognition from others for the jobs that we do, instead of being secure in the fact that God sees our heart - the only thing that matters. Upon realising this everything changes, Jesus came to serve us! He had so much love and compassion for us that he made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant. This makes serving in church not just an amazing privilege, but something that we can’t afford to miss out on!
Like it say’s in Psalm 84, “Better is a day in God’s house than thousands elsewhere! I’d rather be a gatekeeper in God’s house than live in the houses of the wicked.” I consider it a privilege to serve in God’s house; there’s no greater cause to give your life to than that of building the Church. I believe we have a responsibility to bring honour to God in every area of our service, with an excellence that speaks of His greatness and draws people to Him! In everything I do I want my service to be an act of worship to bring praise to His name!
Last year I was able to get some Olympic tickets. What really stood out were the ‘games makers’. Their excitement, smiling faces and enthusiasm was contagious and set the tone for each event. Coming to church isn’t just something we do but something that should be experienced and will set the tone for the rest of the week. A Champion of the House has an enthusiasm and passion that is contagious! He or she will go the extra mile to help you feel at home. As people feel at home in God’s house they will be more open to experience God and connect with others.
#CHAMPION
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@audaciouschurch @audaciousband @liveaudacious @glynbarrett @sophiabarrett 39
It’s
SprinG Time
Stuck for something new and exciting to do with your little ones? !Audacious Kids Pastor Sarah Scholes-Reid gives us her
TOP 10 FUN DAYS OUT
AT
Check out one of these brilliant UK beaches and pack your picnic for a fun day out (take your wellies and splash in the rain - DON’T chicken out!!!) • Ainsdale Sands, Southport • Formby Point Red Squirrel Reserve • St Anne’s
S E T A D
ps rksho o H w C n AR D sio 2N M nic Explo Volca s d r for ki rm fo es a f H e C h i il ot RD MAR trip t d their fam 23 y a d n ly Fami ged 0-5 a a NE kids 1ST JU mp O T Ca TH MAY Kids s 30 u o i c 40 !Auda
• •
Diggerland (West Yorkshire) www.diggerland.com | £14.99 per person Gulliver’s World (Warrington) www.gulliversfun.co.uk | £13.50 per person
Most local cinemas have a Saturday-morning or holiday club screening for kids which usually cost around £1 per child. Movie Madness!
Visit one of the fabulous parks within Greater Manchester. Most have a play area, adventure trail, cafe, loo’s and some even have small animal farms and lake. !AK recommends: Heaton Park, Daisy Nook Country Park, Dunham Massey Country Park, Wythenshaw Park Farm, Lyme Park (with a Medieval deer park too)
• •
•
Manchester Aquatics Centre is free for under 16’s during the school holidays Salford Watersports Centre at Salford Quays has fully qualified instructors to supervise a variety of watersports including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and open canoeing and all for around a fiver! (Over 8’s only) Hathersage Open Air Pool, Hathersage
There are loads of ace museums and galleries around the city that are free to enter! Our faves are The Museum of Science & Industry (which has a working steam train ride) and The Manchester Museum (with its giant T-Rex skeleton!) Also try Manchester Art Gallery, The Lowry and the National Football Museum at the Urbis
We LOVE the Manchester Treasure Hunt www.treasuretrails.co.uk | £5.99 per family Alternatively, write your own clues, buy some treasure and set one up in a local park for your kids and their friends!
(well, almost...) The Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport offers a great day out for the whole family. Watch the planes take off, explore the on-site aircraft, visit the Aviation Shop and admire the flagship Concorde of the BA fleet in her custom-built hangar! Cool!
From around £4 you can get creative with pottery and take home your creations. • •
Pik A Pot n Paint (Stockport area) Pottery Corner (Chortlon)
Check out bbc.co.uk/showsandtours to have an interactive tour at Media City (check website for prices). Try bbc.co.uk/help/tvhelp to be on a show for free - fun for all the family! 41
Life Groups are small groups meeting in homes all around Manchester for coffee, a DVD, discussion and cake - the best way to connect and make friends. Alternate Wednesdays at 7:30pm Check out the map overleaf for your nearest Life Group. For more info, speak to New People’s pastors, Matt & Lyndsey Deaville or email: lyndseydeaville@audaciouschurch.com
LANCASH LANCASH
SWINTON M27 Dave & Sarah Sharpe SWINTON M27 DaveSWINTON & Sarah Sharpe M27 Dean & Hannah Needle SWINTON M27 Dean & Hannah Needle WORSLEY M28 Bill & Dawn Moffat WORSLEY M28 Bill & Dawn Moffat BROUGHTON GREEN M7 Adam & Rachel Atkins BROUGHTON GREEN M7 Adam & Rachel Atkins HIGHER BROUGHTON M7 Dan & Anna Owen HIGHER BROUGHTON M7 Dan & Anna Owen SALFORD M7 Matt & Elena Hill SALFORD M7 Matt & Elena Hill ECCLES M6 Miriam Pye & Rhys Badkin ECCLES M6 Miriam Pye & Rhys Badkin NEW BROUGHTON M7 Frankie Ball, NEW Hayley BROUGHTON M7 Charlton Frankie Ball, & Adam Shadlow Hayley Charlton & Adam Shadlow IRLAM M44 Dave & Michelle Ralph IRLAM M44 Dave & Michelle Ralph WARRINGTON WA3 Catherine Whelan WARRINGTON WA3 & Angela Smith Catherine Whelan & Angela Smith STRETFORD M Paul & Sarah Chapm STRETFORD Paul & Sarah Chap STRETFORD M Elaine Sharp & Jen Wh STRETFORD Elaine Sharp & Jen W SALE M Mike & Rosie Br SALE Mike & Rosie B OVER 50s STUDENTS
W W
REGIONAL PASTORS:
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BOLTON NORTH BL Dave & Lesley Hardma BOLTON NORTH B Dave & Lesley Hardm
NORTH
EAST
Julian & Kathryn Wolstencroft
Joel & Becky Weaver
SOUTH
WEST
CENTRAL
Matt & Lyndsey Deaville
Bill & Dawn Moffat
Ed Baptist & Miriam Pye
WARRING WARRIN
STUDENTS
OVER 50s
L2 an
BLACKBURN BB5 Mick & Wendy Whittaker
BURY BL9 Julian & Kathryn Wolstencroft
BOLTON EAST BL2 Paul & Zoe Reid
BLACKBURN
HIRE
WHITEFIELD M45 Mark & Michelle Steele
with Darwen
HIGHER BLACKLEY M9 Andy & Helen Gerling
CALDERDALE BOLTON
BURY
BRAMALL COURT M3 Morgan Lewis
WIGAN
GTON
PRESTWICH M25 Ian & Catherine Rowbottom
ROCHDALE
OLDHAM
M33 raye
CASTLE IRWELL M6 Chloe Houston & Ed Price
SALFORD
NEWTON HEATH M40 Andy & Jane Belton
MANCHESTER
NEWTON HEATH M40 Steve & Jen Webster
TAMESIDE
FAILSWORTH M35 Andy & Tracey Black FAILSWORTH M35 Nina & Jason Corke
TRAFFORD STOCKPORT
M32 man
M32 hite
ADELPHI CAMPUS M3 Jess Wilson & Lachie Scallion
GOLD
!AUDACIOUS GOLD Over 50s Alternate Wednesdays 11am - Failsworth M35 Dave & Anne Adams
CENTRAL M4 Caz Hickley & Sherozina Sharma
CHESHIRE SALE M33 Tony & Wendy Taylor
NEW BROUGHTON M7 Ed Baptist & Caroline Woods
HEATON MERSEY SK4 Jo & Dave Fidler DIDSBURY M20 Matt & Lyndsey Deaville
STOCKPORT SK3 Hannah & Lucas Lukianow OXFORD ROAD M1 Mike & Jen Tash
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FEB 10 14 - 27 15 - 18 19 - 26 27
Sophia at Influence Church, Richmond, UK !Audacious Academy UK Mission Sophia at Krakow City Church, Poland Glyn in Life Church, Capetown, South Africa Glyn at Mattersey Bible College, UK
MARCH 1 - 2 8 - 9 10 15 - 17 25 - 13
Glyn & !Audacious Band at Newton Aycliffe Xcel Centre Glyn at Kings Community Church, Aberdeen, UK !Audacious Band in The Wirral, UK Glyn in View Church, Capetown, South Africa Glyn at Planetshakers City Church, Melbourne, Australia
APRIL 20 27
Sophia at Stilettos 13 Conference, Tavistock, Devon, UK !Audacious Band in Newark, UK
MAY 7 - 9 Glyn at AOG Conference, UK 13 - 22 Glyn at iSEE Church, Brisbane, Australia 24 - 25 !Audacious Band in Sutton, UK
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BROTHERHOOD 10/11th May 2013 Fellas - Brotherhood is for you! It’s about building great friendships & inspiring each other to live significant lives for the Cause of Christ wherever you live and whatever you do. 1 Peter 2:17 says “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.” Joining us for two days is Pastor Neil Smith (Planetshakers, AUS).
Adul t Conc £40 . Yout £20 h £1 0
It’ll be outrageous. The brotherhood is waiting for you!
Glyn Ba ret
!Audacious Church, UK
audaciouschurch.com/brotherhood
With guest speaker Ps Neil Smith [Planetshakers, AUS]
WWW.AUDACIOUSCHURCH.COM