dispatch Autumn 2011 Northern Ireland Edition
Welcome 2 A message from Carl 4 Our Council of Reference 5 Introducing ‘Spud’ 6 Stand for Something 8
Welcome A huge WELCOME to our first Northern Ireland edition of Dispatch, the newsletter of CVM and the Codelife movement of men. In this special edition we want to introduce you to Christian Vision for Men (CVM) and tell you a bit about ourselves. Our vision is plain and simple, to: ‘Equip the Church to introduce every man in the UK to Jesus.’ CVM is a reaction to the exodus of men who have left the UK church in the last 30 years. It is a movement of men across the UK who have pinned their colours to the mast for the sake of Jesus’ message. Recent statistics show that out of 30 million blokes in the UK, only 750,000 are regular church-goers. If the next 30 years plays out identically as the previous three decades, the British church will see a total wipe out of Christian men. CVM is a line in the sand. It is a vision, which connects men across the country unashamedly making Jesus known through actions and words.
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CVM hosts church gatherings in every major city in the UK in a bid to remind Christian men from every denomination that the message of Jesus still saves people today. The movement also produces bespoke evangelistic resources, which explain the message of Jesus in a bloke-friendly way. Men are coming to faith because CVM drew a line in the sand. We are sold out to introduce millions of men to Jesus here in the UK. CVM is a catalyst for an emerging band of brothers across the UK existing to see the nation won for Jesus. CVM is focused primarily on introducing men in the UK to Jesus and getting them gripped and excited by their faith and equipped to live the adventure. In everything it does, CVM has the local church in mind and many of the team have years of local church leadership experience. CVM resources the local church with the tools to reach men with the message of Jesus. For more information about CVM and the Codelife movement, visit: www.cvm.org.uk and www.codelife.org (Photos from CVM’s ‘The Gathering’ 2011, courtesy of Paul Lewis.)
‘Thanks be to God who always leads us in the triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.’ 2 Corinthians 2:14
www.cvm.org.uk | 01246 271713 |
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A message from Carl CVM lives and breathes telling men about Jesus. Our passion is that through grass roots mens work and through churches that are effective and reaching and discipling men, we will see one million men across the UK come to faith in Jesus. With that in mind, a big priority for us was to find a man in Northern Ireland who could spear-head the work and meet some friends and ministry partners who could help us and stand with us. So we were thrilled to meet Spud. It was one of those ‘moments’ that left everybody in no doubt that God had organised the meeting. Through Spud and a newly emerging network of mens group leaders, area coordinators, CVM approved speakers and our resources, we want to help local churches in Northern Ireland communicate the Gospel to as many men as possible. We are in it for the long haul and are investing heavily and in faith into the work. By partnering with CVM, you will not only be supporting Spud but also helping CVM NI to produce more evangelistic resources for you to use, as well as gain access to our speakers list for your events and much more. Across the whole of our work from the mainland to Wales and Scotland, we have never seen as many men coming to faith on a regular basis as now. We long to see the same happening in NI and believe that now is the time! Finally, a big thank you from myself and the CVM team for such an incredibly warm welcome to NI. Thank you to Mitch and the Crown Jesus team and many others for standing with us as brothers as we seek to learn, work alongside, grow and support evangelism and ministry across Ireland. Your brother in Christ, Carl Beech, General Director CVM
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Our Council of Reference REV ANDREW THOMPSON Andrew is the Minister of Edendale Presbyterian Church in Lisburn and also serves as the current Chaplain of the Ulster Rugby Team.
MATT BAGGOTT Matt is the current Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the President of the Christian Police Association.
PASTOR JACK MCKEE Jack is the Senior Pastor of New Life City Church and the CEO of Stadium Youth Project and City Life Centre
MITCH Mitch is an Evangelist serving with Crown Jesus Ministries working throughout all of Ireland. They join the existing CVM council of reference of: • Rev David Coffey, President,
• J John, Philo Trust • Roy Crowne, Hope Together • Lyndon Bowring, CARE • Canon David MacInnes, recently of St Aldates, Oxford • Hugh O’Connor, St Barnabus Church,
Baptist World Alliance
• Rev Stephen Gaukroger, Clarion Trust International
• Ram Gidoomal, Chairman, South Asian Concern
• John Glass,
Kensington
General Superintendent, Elim
• Rev Jim Graham, Goldhill Baptist Church
• Peter Meadows, World Vision UK • Graham Kendrick
www.cvm.org.uk | 01246 271713 |
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Staff Profile: ‘Spud’ WHO IS SPUD? Born: Belfast, Northern Ireland | Age: 31 Married to Lizi with two kids: Lily, 3 and Zach, 7 months STORY SO FAR… I’ve previously worked for over 12 years as a tax man (I can hear the boos now!) I’ve also worked with Crown Jesus Ministries here in Northern Ireland as a Youth Worker, travelling all around the country working with various schools and churches before moving onto my current role in New Life City Church. I’m a member of our senior leadership team looking after our men’s ministry: ‘moMENtum’. PASSIONS My passion is simply the hope for the world; the Church, yours and mine; to see it rise up to its full potential in lifting the name of Jesus higher. HOBBIES I enjoy golf, football (Everton & Northern Ireland), and I’m getting into this cycling thing. I’m also a self confessed geek and can often be found on my Mac trying to do something! THE FUTURE… As we begin the work of CVM in Northern Ireland, I’m looking forward to get along side the local church, help them, resource them and work with them in seeing men won over for Jesus. I want to see men in the local church rise up, take a stand, with active roles within their churches & communities—not locking themselves away at home in front of a TV, computer or Xbox!
CVM NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE The new CVM office is uniquely situated in City Life Centre at the lower end of the Shankill and Falls communities of West Belfast: CVM Office, City Life Centre, 143 Northumberland Street, Belfast BT13 2JF Email: spud@cvm.org.uk Tel: 07590 544924
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Beechy & Willmott
Drivetime Show Now on iTunes
new podcast
cvmen.org.uk/podcast
it’s time for a new kind of man The Code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Jesus is my Captain, Brother, Rescuer and Friend. I owe everything to Him. I will do anything for Him. I will unashamedly make Him known through my actions and words. I will not cheat in anything, personal or professional. I will look away from the gutter, but be prepared to pull people out of it. I will keep my body fit and free from any addictions. I will put the welfare of those closest to me before my own welfare. I will treat all men and women as brothers and sisters. I will lead as He would lead. I will honour my leaders provided this also honours Him. I will follow Him in company with my sisters and brothers. X I will use my strength to protect the weak and stand against the abuse of power. XI I will protect the world that God has made. XII If I fail I will not give up. He never gives up on me. © Copyright CVM 2010
A 12-month series of resources to gear men up to follow Jesus codelife is a faith order of 12 codes which help men keep their eyes fixed on Jesus in all aspects of their lives. Each month in 2011 CVM is launching a new resource in conjunction with each code including podcasts, testimonies and various publications. Start downloading them for free now at:
www.cvm.org.uk | 01246 271713 |
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Stand for Something As the vision for CVM continues to grow, we are reliant on men across the UK to stand with us in prayer and practical support. Would you include us in your prayers for this nation? Also, if you can spare £3 a month it would help us make more resources anchored with the message of Jesus for blokes in every town and city in the UK. Fill out the form below and return it to CVM, or take two minutes and fill out the form online at www.cvm.org.uk/donate Thanks for standing with us as we continue to follow God’s call on our lives to reach a million men with the life-changing Christian message. CVM, St Thomas’ Brampton, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield S40 3AW 01246 271713 | info@cvm.org.uk | Visit www.cvm.org.uk to help the movement Name: Address:
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