Flow Magazine – Issue 03

ISSUE

SUMMER 2010

03 ONLINE V ERS I O N

The Magazine of Manchester’s Best Kept Secret, The Message Trust www.message.org.uk/flow

A decade of Words & Actions ...what’s changed?

PLUS: William Booth / Eden Bus / Simon Guillebaud

THE MESSAGE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 03

Editor:

I am 50 this year and, for probably the first time in my life, I’ve been having some melancholic thoughts about how short life is. It wasn’t helped by a sermon I heard recently where we were encouraged to ‘count our days’.

The preacher drew attention to Psalm 90:10

Alistair Metcalfe

where we are reminded that ‘the length of our days

Associate Editor:

is seventy years – or eighty, if we have strength’. He

Ian Rowbottom

Senior Art Director:

encouraged us to think of our life as a seven-day week,

Dan Hasler

with perhaps a bank holiday added on if we were

Graphic Designer:

lucky. Well, if that’s the case I’m fast approaching

Bethan Ranftler

Contributors:

Bruce Marshall, Simon Guillebaud, Lindz West

Advertising:

Friday night with just the weekend ahead of me.

Where has the week gone, I was asking myself?

it’s not really that depressing, because for Christian

E: advertising@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300

people it means that we are that much nearer eternity.

Subscription & Supporter Enquiries:

But it’s also right to remember that when we get to

Jo Nicholson E: jo.nicholson@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2328 Cover Illustration: Bethan Ranftler

Contributing Photographers:

Actually, when you drill down into this thought

heaven there will be no poor, broken, lost or hurting people – and that these few years we have on earth are our only chance to pray for them, give to them, care

Jenah Lynne Photography: pieces.of.a.melody@gmail.com

for them and share God’s love for them.

Lucy West: www.lucywestimages.co.uk

THE MESSAGE: Ian Rowbottom, Alan Saunders & Matt Wilson

Contact: E: flow@message.org.uk T: 0161 946 2300 flow – The Message Magazine Lancaster House Harper Road Sharston Manchester M22 4RG

www.message.org.uk/flow

Welcome to

, the

Details of the exciting new Genetik course for Sept 2010. Page 6 >>>4–5

>>>6–7

>>>14–15

>>>16–17

Willian Booth becomes the latest of our Message ‘Legends’. Page 17

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It also makes a lot of sense to wake up to the fact that the only things that last are those that are done for Christ. I want to say thanks to so many of you who have realised that and so decided to give, pray, and serve alongside us in so many different and sacrificial ways.

I know I say it often but we really do have

unprecedented opportunities right now, especially as the Eden Network spreads nationwide and the exciting Shine Your Light initiative gathers momentum (see page 14). So your support is so valuable right now.

‘...the only things that last are those that are done for Christ’

I’m actually hoping that I might get more than

one ‘bank holiday’ at the end of my life and I’m more determined than ever to do all I can to focus on the things that really count – my relationship with God and other people, and working hard to reach out to a world in need.

God bless, FOUNDER AND CEO

magazine of The Message Trust How Eden Bus is helping fight antisocial behaviour in Limeside. Pages 10-11 >>>8–9

>>>10–11

>>>12–13

Extreme evangelist Simon Guillebaud talks about the gospel in dark places. Page 19

>>>18–19

>>>20–21

>>>22–23 flow_the message magazine_

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ŠJenah Lynne Photography 2010

Twelve24 in the USA: Ryan, Josh and Christina performing a set at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, New London, Connecticut in March.

The band took in ten stops on a week-long tour of schools and churches in Connecticut, performing to over 4,000 young people.

SHOR T S

Manchester expresses its Heart for Haiti Last-minute concert raises funds and recruits volunteers to help needy nation Shortly after the last issue of Flow went to press, we learnt of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake which hit Haiti, devastating the country and particularly the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The Haitian government reported an estimated 230,000 deaths with many more injured. A quarter of a million homes were destroyed by the quake and its aftershocks, leaving over a million people homeless.

Haiti has long been close to The Message’s heart. Over the last decade, we have partnered with Compassion in sponsoring hundreds of children in poverty and funded prison ministry and water projects on the island of La Gonave.

Andy Hawthorne, Lindz West and others have visited and spent time getting to know the people and those working to make life better.

‘Outside of Manchester, Haiti, perhaps more than any place on earth is the most special for us’ wrote Andy. ‘It was so traumatic as the full scale of the horror unfolded. I knew that people I had met and grown to love would almost certainly be amongst those horrifying numbers and everybody would be affected in one way or another.’

So when Andy was invited by development charity Lemon Aid to be part of an emergency relief trip just days after the quake, he jumped at the chance. With a small team, including Ivy Manchester pastor Anthony Delaney, he delivered 1000kg of emergency medical supplies to hospitals rapidly running out.

On February 4, just days after their return, Andy and Anthony staged Heart for Haiti, a fundraising concert at the Manchester Apollo featuring Message bands and a guest appearance from Hollywood star Stephen Baldwin. Thanks to a packed audience and wide media interest, the night raised over £60,000 for more supplies.

At the concert, an appeal was also made for doctors and skilled tradesmen willing to go to Haiti on future relief trips. Among those to respond was 26year-old Peter Hulme, an emergency medicine doctor at Trafford General.

‘My wife and I looked at each other and knew I had to go,’ remarks Peter.

We prayed about it and the door swung open – the hospital gave me two weeks special leave and we found the funding.’

Above: Dr Peter Hulme who travelled to Haiti

Peter found himself on a plane with Lemon Aid by midMarch. He spent two weeks in the hospital on LaGonave, working alongside local doctors and a surgeon from the US.

‘When we got into Haiti we could still see the damage from the earthquake. What struck me the most were the tents in Portau-Prince – not proper tents, just sheets really – because of all the collapsed buildings. On LaGonave we saw massive refugee camps full of people who had fled the capital because it seemed safer there.

Above: Ivy Manchester Pastor Anthony Delaney interviews Hollywood star Stephen Baldwin in front of a packed Apollo

‘It was hard work but it was great to go and help in whatever way we could. We got to encourage the Haitian doctors who had been working flat-out for two months saving lives and give them a bit of a break. Everyone was extremely open to us praying for them and hearing about Jesus.’

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SHOR T S

New Genetik courses take The Message to the next generation

The Message is refreshing its Genetik training course to serve a new generation of Christian youth workers.

Over the last ten years The Message has trained well over 150 young people in front-line youth work, drawing on the organisation’s rich talent pool of teachers and artists.

Two tracks will hone students’ gifting as performers or urban evangelists: Urban Ministry students will learn from intensive placements with Eden teams across the city. Creative Ministry students will get expert tuition to nurture their skill as dancers, rappers, DJs, musicians and vocalists.

Genetik Youth Work Accreditation Course is designed to give existing youth workers fast-track access to official accreditation. Students attend ten monthly training days and are assessed in observed placements.

In September, a new Genetik course will open its doors to a new generation of aspiring 18-25 youth evangelists, with two streams designed to radically grow their character and gifting. Both streams respond to the increasing desire among youth workers for professional accreditation and proposed legislation requiring all youth workers to have a qualification.

They are accredited to VRQ Level 3, also giving graduates potential access to university degree courses in youth work.

‘Since we began training young evangelists ten years ago, the world has changed,’ comments course leader Mat Walls. ‘More churches are offering their own “year-out” schemes.

That’s why we’re giving the option for a flexible way to get the best of The Message’s experience in a monthly one-day format.’

Genetik Gap Year is the new flagship training course.

Run over a full academic year (ten months), the course puts students right at the heart of Message life – living with families connected to the ministry or in Eden homes across Manchester. Daily training and placements with Message teams will equip young people to share the gospel relevantly and live evangelistically.

Demand for the two courses has been high but places are still available and potential students are encouraged to submit applications now. More details can be found at: www.message.org.uk/genetik

Above: Former Genetik student Stephen Ambrose during a class session in a Manchester school

In a typical month, Eden teams across Greater Manchester work with 1,300 young people in over 3,000 hours of activities run by staff and volunteers.

MORE GREAT PRISONS NEWS

Reflex’s work with female young offenders in HMP Styal is going from strength to strength.

The team was recently asked to expand their work on one wing because prison authorities saw a clear link between the quality of activities that the team were delivering and a marked reduction in incidences of selfharm and attempted suicides.

Since June 2009, the team has delivered sessions to around 500 prisoners on Willow Wing, all linked to addressing the four main reasons identified as why young people offend (non-constructive use of leisure time, lack of significant positive role models, low self-esteem and lack of achievement).

In a recent report, Young Offender Manager at HMP Styal, Alex Devlin wrote: ‘We have noticed a marked improvement in the attitude and behaviour of our prisoners. Prisoners are interested in attending activities on the unit, group dynamics and inter-personal skills have improved. The number of incidents on the unit has reduced dramatically, control and restraint is rarely used and fights between prisoners are now usually arguments as opposed to physical violence.’

Read our profile on Reflex, New Life Inside, from Issue 2 of Flow. Visit www.message.org.uk/flow

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Get ‘Start Something’ for free

The Message’s youth discipleship resource Start Something is now available to download free of charge.

Featuring Lindz West, Andy Hawthorne and members of Blush, Start Something answers 12 burning questions facing young Christians and includes tracks from the bands. Previously fullpriced at £4.99, well over 5,000 copies of Start Something have already found their way into the hands of young people.

To download Start Something for free, check out the Message Podcast by searching for ‘Message’ on iTunes or via our homepage, www.message.org.uk.

LZ7: NEW Line-UP

LZ7 lead singer Lindz West has been talking about the band’s new line-up from July. Joining him and drummer Rob are singer-dancer Nana, who choreographs and dances with Futunity dance group, and Nic Scholey, formerly with Blush.

‘I believe the new four-piece is going to take LZ7 to a whole new level,’ said Lindz. ‘Nana’s a real soul man – a cross between Seal and Will.i.am, he’ll make a great wingman. Everybody already knows and loves Nic, who sees this a perfect opportunity to continue her heart for young people. Her singing will bring another string to our bow.’

Lindz’s right-hand man from the start, DJ Face (Louis Read), leaves the band to join an Oasis Trust academy in Southampton: ‘He’s faithfully been by my side for the last five years. He’s sown so much into the band and will be sorely missed.’

LZ7 will be performing at all the major festivals this summer (see page 15) ahead of the chart release of single This Little Light and a new album. ‘Whenever we’re not in schools we’re working to make this album the album of our lives,’ added Lindz.

Shane Claiborne & Tony Campolo at The Message The Message will be welcoming two very special guests to our monthly Prayer Days over the summer and we want to let our valued supporters special access to what they have to say.

Shane Claiborne, activist and author of bestseller The Irresistible Revolution, and legendary speaker and author Tony Campolo will be addressing Message staff over the next few months. Both are sure to bring thought-provoking and challenging messages and we’re really looking forward to what they have to say.

We thought you might be too. So, for the first time ever, we’ll be producing their addresses as video podcasts available for free download from our website, www.message.org.uk, or via iTunes (search for ‘Message Podcast’).

John Mhango (1980-2010)

At the start of this year, our dear friend and colleague John Mhango went to be with the Lord. He worked as part of the Finance team from 2004 to 2010.

Bruce Marshall remembers his life:

‘I first met John through music. My lunch was often accompanied by the sound of a keyboard.

Being curious, I discovered John, lost in melody, his trademark hat sitting precariously on his head.

He would always smile warmly, nod and keep on playing. He encouraged me to join in and despite my protests he found me a bongo drum and insisted I play.

‘John had a gift of putting people at ease with a boyish playful manner. He was, I discovered, a great conversationalist – affable, calm and gently encouraging. I remember John fondly as a warm, smiling man, stylish, quietly confident and always armed with a compliment.

‘It was evident at his memorial service that John was well loved by his many friends and family and that he was a man of hidden depth and talent. He is missed by his friends at The Message.’ flow_the message magazine_

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Blush’s farewell gig took place at the Wythenshawe Forum on May 7. Hundreds of Blush fans old and new enjoyed songs from through the band’s seven-year career. On the night, over forty young people made first-time responses to the gospel.

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60 gather for landmark Eden Partners’ Day

Over sixty key Eden Network leaders gathered at a landmark Partners’ Day in Manchester on May 18.

MESSAGE CO-FOUNDER’S MISSION TO INDIA

Helping the poorest of the poor has always been at the heart of The Message, with our long-standing association with Compassion in aid of Haiti just one expression.

For the last 20 years, Message co-founder Simon Hawthorne has been leading an initiative to help the poorest people in the vast country of India.

The Dalits, sometimes known as ‘untouchables’, are the victims of India’s strict caste system. Approximately 250 million people suffer poverty and prejudice as a result of this religious ideology.

A recent survey conducted among rural villages in India found caste discrimination was overwhelmingly prevalent.

Dalits are frequently forbidden from using communal water supplies, prevented from attending schools and denied other basic human rights. This makes them a target for human trafficking – particularly young women and girls.

Since 1995, Simon’s organisation Life Association has built schools and orphanages providing a loving home for Dalit street children in Mumbai. But now he feels the time is right to do more.

Message HQ hosted team leaders and church partners from as far away as London and Newcastle, for a day spent together hearing from National Director Matt Wilson and special guest Shane Claiborne.

‘It was a huge day of partnership – of meeting one another, encouraging and praying for each other, and hearing ideas,’ said Matt. ‘Everyone there has invited Eden into partnership with them at the local level to move forward their with their work with young people in some of the nation’s most challenging high-density, high-population neighbourhoods.’

Strategic leaders travelled from as far afield as London, Newcastle, Middlesborough, Bradford, Sheffield and Humberside to be part of the day.

With less far to go were those from Eden’s birthplace, Greater Manchester. In the last year, five new projects have launched in Manchester, bringing the total to 11.

New since May 2009 are partnerships in Westwood and Limeside in Oldham; Leigh; Gorton and Eccles.

‘It was a real milestone moment for Eden,’ reflects Matt. ‘It’s so important to us that we are creating Eden partnerships, not Eden projects. Eden works with, for and through local church and relationship is at the heart of it – we are journeying together.

‘There was a lot of warmth and a great buzz generated in the room among those who share a heart for the least, the last and the lost.’

More news from the Eden Network can be found at: www.eden-network.org.

‘This is a modern-day story of slavery – with strong parallels to the Israelites before the exodus,’ explains Simon.

‘We feel that God has heard the cries of the Dalits, just as he heard the Israelites in Exodus 3. Now our role is to raise awareness of their plight, working with schools, churches, the government and other organisations.

‘The Dalits urgently need a voice, one that applies international pressure on the Indian Government to enforce their own laws and introduce a fair system that protects the rights of the individual.’

Life Association is now working to spread the news of the Dalits’ plight in schools and churches, through child sponsorship and by selling candles made in the slums of Mumbai. More details on their website: www.lifeassociation.co.uk.

There are 202 high schools in Greater Manchester.

Over the last year, our teams will have run schools weeks or special events in 60 of them.

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E D E N B US

Youth work on wheels In Greater Manchester and beyond, Eden Bus works with police, churches and communities to tackle the problems caused by bored young people. outh crime, ASBOs, dispersal orders… problematic behaviour caused by groups of young people on the streets, particularly at night, is an issue for all our cities. Until recently Greater Manchester was known as the ‘ASBO capital of the UK’ reflecting the high number of antisocial behaviour orders imposed across the city since they were introduced in 1999. Around half were imposed on youths under the age of 17.

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Above and right: Scenes from an Eden Bus session in Limeside, Oldham _flow_the message magazine

But that’s beginning to change thanks in part to new partnerships between the police, communities, churches and organisations like The Message. Leading the way is the innovative Eden Bus project. Its two double decker buses show up weekly in some of Manchester’s toughest neighbourhoods, acting as a focus for long-term youth work, and a remedy for youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Bus Project Manager Julie Mason explains: ‘On our estates in the city there are so many young people just hanging around, nothing to do, nowhere to go. At the same time, within our churches we’ve got hundreds of people who really care about the kids in their own communities. What the Eden Bus does is put the two together.’

Each bus is fitted out with hi-tech gadgets and games but more traditional games, including skipping, football and rounders, are just as popular: ‘We try to get kids involved in activities which cause them to chat to each other and interact with the adult volunteers on the bus’, adds Julie.

The Eden Bus team works in partnership with local churches who supply volunteers with a heart for local young people. Increasingly support is also being provided by police and local authorities who are beginning to see the bus as a powerful way of fighting nuisance behaviour and crime.

One partnership that has seen particular success over the last year is in the Limeside area of Oldham.

There, local police turned to churches and third-sector organisations to help tackle problem behaviour among young people around Limeside.

In the autumn of 2009, neighbourhood police Inspector David Stopford began planning with local groups for a three-month dispersal order. But the approach was different from the beginning.

‘Dispersal orders are often initiated by the police on their own, without partners,’ Inspector Stopford told us.

‘It’s one tool in the toolbox to deal with young people acting in an antisocial manner. This is fine but what you can end up doing is simply moving a problem from A to B, and not really solving the root issues.’

‘What we tried to do this time is to work with partners to provide positive diversionary activities for young people. So it’s not just been about law enforcement, it’s been about providing good facilities for young people to go to, rather than hanging around on street corners.’

By the time the dispersal order began in December, several new initiatives for young people were in place, including the Eden Bus, strongly supported locally by New Life Church in Failsworth.

The partnership was a huge success. Inspector Stopford’s team saw a reduction of over 50% in calls about antisocial behaviour from the general public from December to March. Reports of associated crimes such as criminal damage and vehicle crime were also down. It’s a trend that he believes will continue: ‘It’s had a great impact. Right from the launch of the initiative in December, the young people have understood why we’re running this dispersal order and seen how groups of young people can be intimidating to other residents.

They’ve also seen our motivation to put something on for them – facilities, initiatives, opportunities – and these things will continue even though the dispersal order has finished.’

The project has also succeeded in changing young people’s attitudes towards the police, their community and the church, believes Julie Mason: ‘We can certainly see a difference within the young people and the way they interact, both with us and the police. They were quite sceptical at first but that’s disappeared. They’re starting to come to the bus volunteers with issues and asking for support in the things they want to achieve in their lives. It’s a real testament to the people working on the project.

‘Barriers between young and older people in the community are beginning to break down. I’m delighted that the Eden Bus has played a part in that.’

Find out more

To find out more about the Eden Bus project, visit www.message.org.uk/bus or call Julie Mason on 0161 946 2300.

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Ten years ago this summer, we embarked upon a project that would permanently change the way we shared the gospel: Message 2000.

I can still remember feeling the shock when, during the planning for Message 2000, Mike Pilavachi sat me down and told me he was convinced that at least half the young people involved should be out there performing random acts of kindness,’ recalls Message CEO, Andy Hawthorne.

‘I was surprised. What on earth did washing someone’s car have to do with the gospel? How did painting park benches lead to salvation? I couldn’t remember Jesus talking about the importance of weeding communal gardens!’

But his decision to agree with the Soul Survivor leader led to the creation of Message 2000, an unprecedented festival of ‘word and deed’ evangelism that was to set the tone for the rest of the next ten years.

Over ten summer days in July 2000, 400 community action projects across Greater Manchester involved over 10,000 young Christian volunteers in social, environmental and crime reduction projects on some of the city’s roughest and toughest estates. The results were instant and dramatic. New life burst out on old streets.

Andy continues: ‘There was something remarkable about that time we spent together in the summer of 2000.

It was as if we did ten years’ work in ten days. Perhaps some of our earlier attempts at ‘hit and run evangelism’ had led people to believe that we were some kind of foaming-at-themouth fundamentalists. But suddenly we had the police and local authorities on our side, seeing us as a real force for good rather than people to be avoided.’

In the coming years, The Message built on this momentum with Message 2K1 (2001); Festival: Manchester, in partnership with the Luis Palau Association (2003); the Big Deal weekends in Salford, Stockport and Macclesfield (2005-6); the UK-wide Hope ‘08 initiative in partnership with dozens of other agencies and thousands of local churches (2008), and last summer’s 10,000 Hours of Hope, part of the !Audacious youth conference.

Stories of how lives were changed and whole new initiatives were birthed as a result of Message 2000 and subsequent word and deed evangelism find their way back to The Message all the time.

Communities benefitted from the sudden influx of fired-up young people with a paint brush in their hand and a smile on their face. In several cases, whole new churches or community organisations were set up as a direct consequence of people being inspired by what they saw was possible when churches worked together to make a difference.

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L E A D S T OR Y

One of the most remarked-upon aspects of community action evangelism events is how they act as a catalyst for unity among churches. This always produces results far greater than churches could ever see alone.

Momentum from unity-building work among churches for Festival:Manchester in 2003 resulted in the creation of an initiative designed to help churches support their local police and the public sector, Redeeming Our Communities.

The strength of the partnership which has developed over the years will be shown by a Community Showcase event at the Manchester Velodrome on June 30, held in association with Greater Manchester Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

And the results speak for themselves: Greater Manchester Police’s latest figures show crime at its lowest level for 10 years – a fact which they attribute to their operations, changes to policing and new initiatives like Redeeming Our Communities.

What was pioneered in Manchester is now being investigated and adopted by other cities. A Merseyside initiative launched last year; Birmingham launches in November 2010 and London in April 2011. Redeeming Our Communities is also now working with the police nationally through the National Policing Improvement Agency which works with all 43 police divisions in Engalnd and Wales and the Home Office.

Above: Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of GMP and Debra Green

Debra Green, founder, remarks: ‘There has been a bridge built across the sacredsecular divide which we would never in our wildest dreams have thought possible ten years ago. The idea that we could put on a big event that politicians, police, local authorities would gladly come and be a part of – and that is unashamedly Christian – was inconceivable.’

Perhaps the most powerful change in all has been in the lives of the thousands of individuals who took part in serving during ‘word and deed’ events.

One young man, Tim Mycock, was 19 at the time of Message 2000. He had made a commitment to Christ at a World Wide Message Tribe gig some years earlier and had volunteered to help on the merchandise stand during Message 2000. Finding himself with a bit of time on his hands during the day, Tim volunteered to help wherever he was needed and was soon asked to go and help with a project in Oldham where a particular young man had been causing discipline problems. Tim picks up the story:

‘There has been a bridge built across the sacred secular divide which we would never have thought possible ten years ago.’

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‘My first introduction to this kid was to stop him bringing a chair down on the head of another young person. He was a troubled young man but through the week as I got to know his story and understand him, God broke my heart for him and other young men on the margins, the disaffected.’

‘A police officer I talked to told me about him. He called him a lost cause, a hopeless case. I knew that wasn’t true – that God could change his life if he’d let him. On the last night of the event, miraculously this kid showed up and I had the chance to pray with him as he gave his life to Christ.’

As a result of serving on Message 2000, Tim gave up his ambition to be a music teacher and instead trained with The Message’s Xcelerate course. Today he works with young offenders with the Reflex prisons team. ‘I never saw him again so I don’t know where he ended up. But I wish I could have a chance to let that young man know that getting to know him had a profound impact on my life.’

Since Message 2000, The Message has been involved with well over a thousand more community action projects in every corner of Greater Manchester.

‘We’ve cleaned and painted and fixed and helped, and as a result, crime has come down, whole areas have been changed, and – yes – we’ve been privileged to have some great opportunities to share our faith,’ says Andy Hawthorne. ‘For me the secret to success in any ministry is to genuinely combine word and deed. We have to ditch the dualism that says that it’s only words that matter, or that actions win out every time. We have to have both, because that’s how Jesus did it.’

The latest in this long line of word and deed evangelism projects is this year’s Shine Your Light campaign. This nationwide initiative fronted by Lindz West and LZ7 kicked off earlier this year with the Shine Your Light website. It will continue throughout the summer on a long tour of Christian festivals (see box, right).

PRAY – that Shine Your Light will be a great platform for the gospel in 2010.

GET INVOLVED – Visit www.shineyourlight.com to see how you or your youth group can shine this summer. Or get along to the Redeeming Our Communities Community Showcase on June 30.

Get to a gig – at one of the festival stops our bands are doing this year.

Read – the whole story in Andy’s Diary of a Dangerous Vision and Hope Unleashed.

For more, visit

www.message.org.uk

‘Facebook and social networking make peer-to-peer evangelism easier than ever before.’

The campaign challenges young people to do fifteen specific acts of kindness for their friends, family and local community, including spending time with the elderly, buying lunch for a homeless person or dropping in a thank you card to the local police station.

After completing each challenge, young people are encouraged to post pictures, videos and stories on the website and Facebook, helping spread the positive and encourage others to do the same. The goal is the same as ever – that these small acts of kindness will point towards a generous God and provide opportunities for the good news.

‘Facebook and social networking give us an unprecedented way of communicating with vast numbers of people,’ comments Andy. ‘They make peer-to-peer evangelism easier than ever before.’

Shine Your Light ties in with a government campaign for young people, Shine Week, running from July 12-16. Over 6,000 school and organisations took part in Shine Week last year, involving nearly 1 million young people, showcasing their talent and putting young people in a positive light.

Shine Week’s theme song is none other than LZ7’s This Little Light, which will be released into the UK charts at the end of the summer.

A nationwide competition to create a music video for the expected chart hit is one of the ways young people will be able to engage with Shine Week, bringing many into contact with The Message’s bands for the first time.

‘Shine Your Light and Shine Week really are awesome opportunities for the good news to go further than ever – quickly and relevantly,’ says Andy. ‘This has all the potential to be the biggest thing we’ve ever been involved with.’

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LEGENDS

WILLIAM BOOTH ANDY HAWTHORNE WRITES:

My great grandfather Captain Robert Hawthorne was one of the first Salvation Army missionaries to India.

It’s been said that The Message is like a modern day Salvation Army. The truth is of course we can’t hold a candle to those incredible men and women who cared for more people, preached more boldly and transformed more communities than anyone in the history of street ministry. So for this issue of flow we are looking at the legend of all legends, the founder of this movement – William Booth.

‘Some men’s ambition is art Some men’s ambition is fame.

Some men’s ambition is gold.

My ambition is the souls of men.’

William Booth

William Booth was born in Nottingham in 1829. At the age of 13 he was sent to work as an apprentice in a pawnbroker’s shop to help support his mother and sisters.

He did not enjoy his job but it made him only too aware of the poverty in which people lived and how they suffered humiliation and degradation because of it. During his teenage years he became a Christian and spent much of his spare time trying to persuade other people to become Christians too.

When his apprenticeship was completed he moved to London, again to work in the pawn-broking trade. He joined up with the local Methodist Church and later decided to become a minister.

After his marriage to Catherine Mumford in 1855 he spent several years as a Methodist minister, travelling all around the country, preaching and sharing God’s word to all who would listen. Yet he felt that God wanted more from him, that he should be doing more to reach ordinary people. He returned to London with his family, having resigned his position as a Methodist minister.

One day in 1865 he found himself in the East End of London, preaching to crowds of people in the streets. Outside the Blind Beggar pub some missioners heard him speaking and were so impressed by his powerful preaching that they asked him to lead a series of meetings they were holding in a large tent.

The tent was situated on an old Quaker burial ground on Mile End waste in Whitechapel. The date for the first meeting was set for 2 July, 1865. To the poor and wretched of London’s East End, Booth brought the good news of Jesus Christ and his love for all men. Booth soon realised he had found his destiny. He formed his own movement, which he called ‘The Christian Mission’.

Slowly the mission began to grow but the work was hard and Booth would ‘stumble home night after night haggard with fatigue, often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where a stone had struck’, as his wife wrote.

Evening meetings were held in an old warehouse where urchins threw stones and fireworks through the window.

Outposts were eventually established and in time attracted converts, yet the results remained discouraging – this was just another of the 500 charitable and religious groups trying to help in the East End.

It was not until 1878, when The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army, that things began to happen. The impetus changed. The idea of an Army fighting sin caught the imagination of the people and the Army began to grow rapidly. Booth’s fiery sermons and sharp imagery drove the message home and more and more people found themselves willing to leave their past behind and start a new life as a soldier in The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army soon spread abroad and by the time Booth was ‘promoted to Glory’ in 1912, was at work in 58 countries. Today, the Salvation Army is at work in 120 nations and one of the world’s largest Christian charities.

‘The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.’

William Booth.

With thanks to the Salvation Army: www.salvationarmy.org.uk flow_the message magazine_

17

For 20 years Life Association has been building schools and orphanages in India amongst the Untouchables, or Dalits as they prefer to be known.

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For centuries, the Dalits have been forced to drink from disposable clay cups due to their so called untouchability. It is this symbol of oppression that has inspired us to launch our range of clay cup candle pots that are

schools

and churches and working with Government to raise awareness of the plight of the Dalits and the caste discrimination they continue to suffer.

handcrafted in the Dharavi slums in Mumbai.

They are filled with organic beeswax by Dalit women, providing valuable employment.

You can buy our candles online at:

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Or to make a donation visit:

www.lifeassociation.co.uk For more information visit our web site, e-mail: info@lifeassociation.co.uk phone: 01663 734 374 or mail us at; Life Association, Sitch House, Taxal, Whaley Bridge, High Peak SK23 7EA

T E ACHING

In the darkest places the light shines brightest, says evangelist Simon Guillebaud e’ve been working recently in Eastern Congo.

According to the UN, 5.4 million people have died there in the last few years. It is by miles the worst place in the world in terms of sheer suffering. I’m 36, but I didn’t think I’d still be alive by now – people have tried to kill me and people I care about have been killed.

What you learn through living in very grim situations is that every day’s a gift. If you think you might die next week, you’re going to make today count. This gospel is worth our whole lives.

And in the grimmest and the darkest places, the light shines brightest.

Each year we send out more and more people to do the acts of the apostles. Last summer we trained up 426 young evangelists and sent them out into the bush for two weeks. They didn’t know where they’d sleep, what they’d eat, who they’d talk to – they were just going out in the power of the Spirit to be Jesus’ mouthpiece, his hands and his feet. We saw some miraculous things.

One time our team was being harassed by a woman shouting profanities, saying, ‘We’re not interested in listening to you or your Jesus!’ But she did say she’d listen to us if we healed a demon-possessed girl then and there. So we gathered round, prayed and whoosh!, all these demons came out of her.

On the spot, this antagonistic woman – and twenty others – gave their lives to Christ.

When witch doctors come to Christ, it’s particularly powerful. A local witch doctor gave his life to Jesus and got six of his witch doctor mates to do the same. You might remember in Acts 19, where Paul gets hassled and put in prison because he’s threatening the livelihoods of the guys who makes shrines to Artemis. Well that happened to us: these converted witch doctors all burnt their jujus – their

superstitious artifacts. Of course this naffed off the guys who made their jujus, who then had them arrested and imprisoned!

While they were in the process of being released, a tornado came towards them – in their culture they see that as a python underground, a manifestation of Satan. The policemen legged it, in fear of their lives. But the believers stood their ground and watched as the tornado split in two and destroyed both houses either side of where they were. The policemen came back, stunned, saying ‘Who is this Jesus?’

I t’s so exciting. In two weeks of intentional saturation evangelism, the team spoke to over 60,000 people one-on-one in 33 areas of the country.

26,000 people made professions of faith.

I know that’s the heartbeat of The Message too. Maybe Africa’s a bit different to Manchester, but it’s the same gospel. If we’re intentional, strategic, systematic, the kingdom of God comes.

PROFILE:

SIMON GUILLEBAUD Simon Guillebaud is the founder of Great Lakes Outreach and author of More Than Conquerors, published

by Monarch. Find out more at www.more-than-conquerors.com

More free teaching on our Podcast

This article is based on Simon’s address to Message staff in March 2010.

To listen to the full teaching, check out our free podcast on iTunes or via the Message website. www.message.org.uk.

flow_the message magazine_

19

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You may not be in a position to give financially to The Message, but there’s another great way you can help: do a sponsored event for us.

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We now offer all of the following challenge events:

UK Three Peaks 24 Hour Challenge 6-8 August 2010*

Climbing to Everest Base Camp

5-21 November 2010* (special offer available)

Skydiving, taking place throughout the UK On any day suitable for you

Trekking along the Great Wall of China 11-19 September 2010*

Diving with sharks, taking place in Cheshire On any day suitable to you

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 29 September-10 October 2010*

OR COME UP WITH YOUR OWN! For more information on any of the above, visit www.message.org.uk or contact Tess Hartley on 0161 946 2304. * NB, more dates available for most challenges None of these challenge events are for the faint hearted, so are more than worthy of you asking your friends and family to sponsor you! You will not only have the experience of a lifetime, but you’ll have a huge sense of achievement as you raise much-needed funds for the young people of Greater Manchester.

YOUR LETTERS THANK YOU AND Just wanted to write to say ‘WOW’! The Blush gig on May 7 at the Wythenshawe Forum was amazing – beyond all expectations. It was such a great tribute to their many years serving and loving the young people of Manchester.

GOOD NIGHT

There was a lovely atmosphere in the air and it was fantastic to see old and new singing on the stage together and to see the mix of screaming kids at the front and older ones enjoying the show.

It was particularly amazing to see over 40 young people going forward to respond including one of my young people’s friends.

What a treat!

Thanks to everyone that served at that gig. The stage looked phenomenal and the dancers and cheerleaders were amazing. And to the girls themselves who looked beyond stunning and gave the show of their lives.

The next day my youth group had a song writing session and all the words that were spoken over them the night before really helped empower them.

I can’t thank you enough.

Beth, youth leader, Northwich.

Thanks Beth – we had a great time too! You can see a selection of pictures from the night on page 8.

ENCOURAGING WORDS

I get the Word 4U 2day posted to me every three months. I love reading the different articles each day and find them very good and encouraging. I look forward to reading them each day and I like it how you link issues in life to stories in the Bible.

God bless, Sophie.

Thanks for the encouragement, Sophie! If you’re a young person and you’d like to receive inspiring Bible teaching every day, sign up to receive it from our partner UCB at www.ucb.co.uk/word4U2day

k ge.org.u a s s e m info@ EMAIL: 46 2300 9 1 6 1 0 TEL: ck ation pa c i l p p a for an

From the Editor

Thanks very much for reading this edition of Flow. We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas for future issues so get in touch. flow@message.org.uk

*10 MONTH ACADEMIC YEAR

T E ACHING

Andy Hawthorne on what we should expect to see as people give their lives to Christ one

aul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is perhaps the greatest conversion in the history of the world – and certainly the one with the most impact.

Tom Wright said, ‘We call this event a conversion… it was more like a volcanic eruption, a thunder storm and tidal wave all coming together. If the death and resurrection of Jesus is the hinge on which the great door of history swung open at last, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus was the moment when all the promises of God… came hurtling through that open door and out into the wide world beyond.’

Recently a politician cornered me at a breakfast meeting and said, ‘My big problem is, you’re all about conversion, aren’t you?’ He spat it out like it was a dirty word. But we’re not ashamed of conversion. We know so often we don’t see external change until we see internal change first.

There are five things about Paul’s wonderful conversion in Acts 9 that we should fully expect to see every time someone comes to know Christ.

It’s always a result of God’s intervention. What chance did Saul of Tarsus have unless God stepped in? The good news is, the Lord loves taking the initiative. It’s what he specialises in.

Right now God is drawing the toughest people in our city to himself. He loves to do it.

two

It always involves a personal encounter with Jesus.

Everyone has a moment when they finally see Jesus for who he is. At a baptism service I spoke at recently one young women described it to me as ‘a moment of clarity’ where she got it and saw Jesus clearly for who he was.

three

It always involves surrendering to Jesus as Lord. One other guy I was talking to recently genuinely knew he stood to lose everything if he became a Christian as he’d likely be disowned. So it was incredible when I got a text from him late one night saying ‘I can’t let fear hold me back any more… I’m genuinely excited to start a new life with him as Lord.’ There’s a guy who’s counted the cost.

four

The church is always God’s instrument of conversion.

Occasionally he’ll reach people without the church – but only, as far as I can see, where there are no Christians around. Wherever his people are, he fully expects us to take up the challenge to get involved in the wonderful business of conversion.

five

Hear more great teaching

Hear more great teaching from Andy and others for free on the Message Podcast.

Go to iTunes and search for ‘Message Podcast’ or access through our website: www.message.org.uk

22

_flow_the message magazine

It always involves people becoming witnesses. There’s no such thing as one person coming to Christ. Every time someone does that they also get sent. Here’s Paul’s charge: ‘Go… you are my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles…’ That was the race marked out for him. Every single young person who gets converted similarly gets a call on their life. There’s a race marked out for them too. It’s not just one person who comes to know Jesus; their friends and their family get in on the act too – an ever-expanding sphere of influence.

With more

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