Keep the faith issue 85

GOSPEL NEWS 11

Britain’s leading Black communityfocused publication

ISSUE 85

promoting and supporting faith and family values

PASTORS:

Find out how to nurture lasting marriages in your congregation

REV DAVID SHOSANYA

shares relationship insights gleaned from Celebrity Big Brother

IT’S TIME TO BRING BACK

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT

SUBMISSION IN MARRIAGE?

CHURCH CHOIRS

BRUCE & JANINE DYER talk life, love and ministry TAMELA MANN WINS BIG AT GOSPEL’S

BIGGEST AWARDS EVENT www.keepthefaith.co.uk

WELCOME 03

CONTENTS ISSUE 85 16

11 Dear Reader

Welcome to the first edition of Keep The Faith for 2014, which comes out in February - the month of love. With this fact in mind, there is a focus on the subjects of love, sex and marriage.

We’ve interviewed former Premier League footballer, Bruce Dyer - the first teenage footballer in the UK to be signed for £1million.

Bruce is now a Christian, happily married to Janine. They spoke to Keep The Faith about their life, love and working together in ministry; it makes for an inspiring read.

Pastor Clement Okusi shares how he ensures the marriages that he performs in his church are long-lasting; Dr Antonio Christopher explains why Christians should save sex for a faithful, committed marriage; Rev David Shosanya, gleaning insights derived from Celebrity Big Brother, writes about the complex nature of relationships, whilst Dionne Gravesande looks at the thorny issue of submission in marriage.

We also have a profile of Rev Millicent Brown, the Head of Women’s Ministries at one of Britain’s largest churches – the New Testament Church of God, as well as features about depression amongst church leaders; why Christians should continue the fight against racism; the importance of living holy, and why we should be grateful to God for everything.

Do check out our new columns for 2014: People and Places, which profiles Christians impacting the church and society, and Mind, Body and Soul, by personal trainer Lola Olarewaju, which focuses on health and fitness issues.

Of course, there are all the regulars and, if you’re reading this magazine for the first time, I hope you find something that uplifts your soul and encourages you to keep the faith.

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34

WELCOME

04 Food 4 Thought by Marcia Dixon 06 Readers’ Letters

NEWS

07 News pages

GOSPEL

10 Gospel News by Marcia Dixon 12 Bring back church gospel choirs

by Juliet Fletcher 14 People and Places by Dami Abajingin 16 Keep The Faith About Town

INTERVIEW

18 Interview with Bruce and Janine Dyer 21 Interview with Millicent Brown

FEATURE

22 The Boys’ Brigade - Faith in young people 24 The Metropolitan Police 26 Do you hunger for holiness?

by Esther Kuku 27 What’s so good about submission?

by Dionne Gravesande

COMMENT

28 Thus sayeth the Lord: Prophecy and the prophetic gift by David Forster 30 Relationships are good for you - but can be messy by Rev David Shosanya 31 Thanks be to God by Rev Stephen Brooks 32 The fight against racism must continue

by Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts

LIFESTYLE

34 Mind, Body and Soul by Lola Olarewaju 35 Heart to Heart by Esther Fenty 36 Why wait until marriage for sex?

by Dr Antonio Christopher 38 Church can build strong marriages

by Pastor Clement Okusi 39 How a ‘romantic’ getaway with God transformed my life by Jemma Regis 40 Pastors’ Column by Lara Rufus 42 Business Matters by Denise Roberts 43 Tips for a financially successful 2014

by Isaac Carter 44 Cyber Corner by Keno Ogbo

MISSION

46 A Haitian hope by Lucy Cooper

Keep The Faith Tel: 0845 193 4433 R

www.keepthefaith.co.uk www.blackchristiandirectory.com

Publisher: Shirley McGreal admin@keepthefaith.co.uk Editor: Marcia Dixon editorial@keepthefaith.co.uk Advertising: advertising@keepthefaith.co.uk Admin and Subscriptions: admin@keepthefaith.co.uk Twitter: @keepthefaithmag

Many thanks from Keep The Faith to: Marcia Dixon, Becky Wybrow, Jackie Raymond, Juliet Fletcher, Dami Abajingin, Rachel Brown, Esther Kuku, Dionne Gravesande, David Forster, Rev David Shosanya, Rev Stephen Brooks, Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts, Lola Olarewaju, Esther Fenty, Dr Antonio Christoper, Pastor Clement Okusi, Jemma Regis, Lara Rufus, Denise Roberts, Isaac Carter, Lucy Cooper and Keno Ogbo. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher.

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04 WELCOME

FOOD 4 THOUGHT

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOU IN 2014 This is my first Food for Thought column for 2014 – a year I have welcomed and am looking forward to, no matter what happens.

A new year should always be embraced - even if the preceding year was a terrible one - because a new year provides an opportunity to physically and metaphorically leave the past behind and embrace, what one hopes to be, a positive future.

In fact, the moment the year changes from 2013 to 2014, you’ve entered a new season, however you feel, so it makes sense to make the most of it.

A new year brings with it a chance to set new goals, pursue new opportunities, leave behind the hurts and bad experiences of the previous year, and embrace the good things one hopes a new year will bring. It’s even better when God is in the mix.

Jeremiah 29:11 states, ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”’

These are Scriptures that many Christians - and non-Christians for that matter - have taken to their hearts, as it’s important to believe that God has some good things in our future. And, in order to experience what’s written in the above verse, one has to believe it, for the truth of the matter is that oftentimes the only difference between having a successful year and an unsuccessful year is one’s mindset.

Whilst no-one knows what the future holds, there are steps we can take to build a prosperous and hopeful future.

Believe that God has your life in His hands, that He has everything under control, that He is with you through the good times and the bad, and is working out everything for your good.

Bring every aspect of your life to God through prayer. He will direct your path, help you make the right decisions, and strengthen and comfort you when life gets tough.

Let go of emotional baggage, and forgive those who have hurt, betrayed and despitefully used you. Don’t give such individuals free space in your head.

If you are a person of faith, be prepared to take God-inspired risks. If God has given you dreams and visions to fulfil, He will give you the resources you need to do so.

See every experience – the good, the bad and the ugly – as something from which you’ll learn a life lesson with which you can help, encourage, support or counsel someone else.

Enjoy your life, your family; laugh, have fun, travel, try new foods, make new friends, take up a sport, listen to music, go out. Basically, live life to the full.

Love God, love others and love yourself, because in so doing you fulfil God’s greatest commandments.

Have a great 2014.

It’s all about love in 2014

With February being the month of love, people’s minds will, unsurprisingly, turn to issues of sex, love and marriage.

There’s no doubt that 21st century relationships are hard going. Numerous singles experience difficulties finding love, whilst numerous married couples are finding it hard to stay in love. This is true of the Christian community also.

Relationships - whether with God, our family, friends, significant others - are the cornerstone of life. In fact, they are what makes life worth living, and there’s a correct way to handle this area of our lives so that our relationships are enriching, life-enhancing, loving and beneficial.

Let’s make 2014 the year we really work on learning how to build strong relationships – firstly with God, then ourselves and with others. And, if we need guidance on how to do this, then we need look no further than 1 Corinthians 13.

If, as Christians, we endeavour to follow the truths contained in this Scripture, we will find that we will experience much better relationships and, in the process, encourage others to glorify our Father in Heaven.

So let’s do it.

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BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CHURCH AND POLITICS I read an interesting blog by political activist, Lee Jasper, recently, which accused Britain’s Black churches of being more in love with mammon and materialism, as opposed to pursuing equality and social justice.

It’s a sad day when community leaders and members of the general public start to believe that churches are more concerned in filling its coffers with money than saving souls.

It’s obvious that, like their American counterparts, many people here in the UK want the Black church to fulfil a quasipolitical role, which entails not just preaching the Gospel, but combatting social injustice, and serving as advocates for the poor and the powerless – very noble and worthy aims.

Whilst there are, unfortunately, churches that exist, whose sole aim is to make money, I’ll stick my head above the parapet to say that they are far outweighed by churches that seek to fulfil the tenets of the Gospel. And, whilst they may not be involved in politics in an overt way, they do their best to serve as advocates for the people in their pastoral care, and support the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged, both practically and spiritually.

Maybe it’s time for those involved in Black politics, who want to engage the support of the churches for some of their endeavours, to find ways to bridge the gulf between the Church and Britain’s Black political classes.

Meet them for lunch, visit their churches, invite them to your events. Maybe, just maybe, support from churches might be more forthcoming if Black politicians started building mutually beneficial relationships with the Church.

They might be pleasantly surprised at how their attempts to build bridges are welcomed.

05

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06 LETTERS

Mandela was the greatest

I was so pleased that Keep The Faith paid tribute to Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest men to ever walk the world’s stage.

Even though I am saddened by his death, I - and the world - have no doubt that he’s left a worldwide legacy that has demonstrated to all, who’ve taken note, that it’s better to choose peace over war, unity as opposed to disunity, and love rather than hate. Your front page heading was so apt: ‘What a man, what a life, what a legacy’.

Julia McGovern, London

Mandela’s legacy must remain

After watching the news coverage of Nelson Mandela, it’s obvious that when men of colour allow spirituality and a connection with God to play an important role in their lives, they bring something very special to general political discourse. In my mind, Nelson Mandela was a great person, humanitarian and politician and, although there is much to be done to bring about true equality in South Africa, his action, in dismantling the oppressive political system of apartheid by brokering a peaceful transition to Black rule following his release from prison, has to be admired. My prayer is that his legacy will be cherished, and that those who follow in his wake will strive to build a peaceful and equitable South Africa.

Joseph Peters, London

Coverage of Mandela made me proud to be Black

Readers’ Letters

We’d love to hear your views on Keep The Faith and the featured articles. Send your letters to Keep The Faith Letters, PO Box 574, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 9BW or better still, email letters@keepthefaith.co.uk

True love exists in our community

Wow, wow, wow! is all I could say, after reading your interview with Kevin Thomas. There are so many negative stories about Black men in the Media, and how they are incapable of being loving and faithful. Kevin Thomas turns such a view on its head. Not only is he a godly man, but he was willing to make the necessary sacrifices – including giving up a great job – to be a carer for his wife, after she suffered a brain aneurysm. Men like Kevin are not only inspirational, they are heroes, and they are the kind of men we need to be reading more about in our media, and hearing more about in our churches. Thanks for sharing his story with us. It was an uplifting read.

Hazel Smith, Bristol

As I watched the news coverage of Nelson Mandela’s death, I felt proud to be Black. The Media often like to depict Black people as criminals, unintelligent, etc, but here was a man who could stand head and shoulders alongside many of the great men of history, and who the world reveres and celebrates.

Mandela’s life exemplifies the importance of self-sacrifice, determination, perseverance, forgiveness and embracing everyone – no matter what their age, class or ethnicity. His accomplishments are amazing, and I’m glad I lived during the time that the fruits of his sacrifices were realised.

Peter Folu, Manchester

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Media story was inspirational

I was so inspired after reading Touching Lives Through The Media. I’m so glad that there are more and more Christians presenting shows in all kind of media, which make the wider community aware of how our faith in Jesus impacts our lives. I would just like to encourage the four people featured - Esther Olufunmi, Pastor Abbiih Oloyede, Ask Patricia and Ibe Giantkiller - to continue their good work, and my prayer is that God enlarges and expands their territory during 2014.

Hazel Smith, Bristol

Good governance is a requisite for our churches

Rev Stephen Brooks’ article, The Need For Good Governance, was so needed.

During 2014, our churches should make sure that they not only set up good administrative systems, but also ensure that their leadership teams get properly trained, so that they have the right skills necessary to govern and manage a church properly. Maybe Keep The Faith could consider organising some workshop about how churches can establish good administrative practice and governance structures. I’m sure people would be interested in attending, particularly if organised by a publication as respected as yours.

Michelle Broughton, Wolverhampton

Thank you for your honesty

I have to applaud the honesty of Selene Jordan, who shared her story of how she got into £23,000 debt and how she was able to clear it.

Her experience brought home: (i) how easy it is for individuals to get into debt; (ii) how soul destroying it is, and (iii) that it is possible to get out of debt. Thank God that organisations like CAP exist to help people get out of debt.

Angela Henderson, London

NEWS 07

Jesus House volunteers visit Westminster Palace

Fifty lucky volunteers, who attend megachurch, Jesus House based in Brent, north London, were the special guests at a reception held in their honour at Westminster Palace recently.

Hosted by local MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, the reception was his way to say thank you to Jesus House volunteers for helping to deliver Christmas hampers to residents in his constituency and across Barnet during Christmas season.

MP Mike Freer said, “I am delighted to welcome volunteers from Jesus House to the House of Commons for a thank you reception.

The Christmas Hamper initiative helps so many local people, and it is only right that the excellent work of the church and the volunteers is recognised.”

Every year, Jesus House runs a Christmas Lunch on Jesus (CLOJ) project, which sees Jesus House join forces with other churches in the London Borough of Barnet, to deliver food hampers to needy families. Over 300 volunteers take part in this initiative.

Ngozi Molokwu, CLOJ Project Manager said, “As a huge supporter of Christmas Lunch on Jesus, each year Mike Freer effortlessly helps to pack over 1,000 hampers to be delivered to homes of the less privileged over Christmas. The entire CLOJ team and its volunteers were delighted to attend the reception and, on behalf of all of us, we would like to say thank you for all your support.”

CoE diocese issues social media commandments With rising numbers of people using social media, like Facebook and Twitter, the Church of England diocese of Bath and Wells has decided to issue some guidelines and commandments that believers can follow to engage safely and in a godly manner.

The Social Media Commandments, targeted at both laity and clergy, encourage Christians to use social media, but to do so responsibly.

The nine commandments are: 1. Don’t rush in 2. Remember updates are transient yet permanent 3. You’re an ambassador for the Church 4. Don’t hide behind anonymity 5. Think about the blurring of public/private life boundaries

6. Safeguarding: Communicating directly online is like meeting someone in private 7. Stay within the legal framework 8. Respect confidentiality 9. Be mindful of your own security

GOSPEL COMMUNITY MOURNS PASSING OF DEREK WADE

The UK Gospel music community is mourning the death of Derek Wade, of pioneering UK gospel group, The Wades, who died on January 6 from a heart attack aged 47.

Derek was the third eldest of The Wades – a gospel group comprised of four brothers: Denis, David, Derek and Lloyd.

They got their big break in 1985, after performing at Kensington Temple, west London, and became an in-demand gospel group.

They appeared on pioneering gospel show, People Get Ready, performed at the Chicago Gospel Festival, and were regulars at Spring Harvest. They even signed a deal with Kingsway Music - unheard of for a Black gospel group during the 1990s.

In latter years, Derek concentrated on raising his four sons, as well as supporting his brothers, Denis and David, who are both pastors of churches in south London.

Derek was also heavily involved in community work and ran a sports project.

He also ran his own jewellery business, which he was seeking to grow.

Denis Wade, pastor of Micah Community church and the eldest Wade brother, shared, “It was an honour to sing alongside Derek all those years, performing in The Wades. Now that he’s gone, we have to soldier on as a family, and ensure that his four sons are looked after the way he would want.”

His funeral took place at Ruach Ministries on February 7th.

Derek is survived by his four sons, his former wife of 20+ years, his six siblings, his mother and numerous nieces and nephews.

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08 NEWS

Leading Bishop jailed for theft Popular church leader, Bishop Gerald Edmund, 77, has been sentenced to two years in jail, after pleading guilty to one count of fraud by false representation and two of theft whilst working as a Line Manager at Bethel Convention Centre (BCC) in West Bromwich.

During a six-month period, Bishop Edmund stole £186,000. His crime came to light when Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic, owners of BCC, found there was not enough money to pay its bills.

Amounts misappropriated by Bishop Edmund included £14,000 of petty cash; the transferring of £15,000 out of a church account, and cashing cheques totalling £157,000 while serving as a church treasurer.

The Bishop, who served as a magistrate and once presided over the largest Black Pentecostal congregation in Bristol, had been duped by an online scam into believing he had inherited millions of pounds in a will left by a religious leader in the Congo.

Det Con Simon Hughes, from West Midlands Police, said: “Initially, [Edmund] claimed the money was to pay admin fees of solicitors acting for followers around the world, who had passed away and left money to the church.

“His suggestion was this would release millions of pounds, so the church would ultimately benefit.”

Judge Melbourne Inman QC accepted some of the stolen money had been taken because Edmund was himself a victim of fraud.

The defence counsel, Satvir Aujla, described Edmund as a “broken

man, suffering ill health.”

Passing sentence, Judge Inman acknowledged Edmund had done “a great deal of good” during his Christian work, but told him: “You were able to take the money because of the high degree of trust that was placed in you by your church.”

Following the sentencing, Bethel United Church of Christ Apostolic released a statement, part of which stated, “We deeply regret the impact that this may have on the Christian and non-Christian community, and sincerely pray that these events will not dishearten people from putting their faith in God’s church.”

RUACH MINISTER RECEIVES MBE One person, for whom the New Year started off with a bang, is Rev Clinton P McFarlane, a minister at Ruach City Church.

A son of leading church pioneer, Bishop Harry McFarlane, Rev McFarlane was featured in the Queen’s New Year Honours list, and awarded an MBE for his community work in Hackney, east London.

The married father of three children has worked on a number of community initiatives in the Hackney area, including chairing Hackney’s Independent Advisory Group; chairing meetings for Hackney’s Youth Offending Team, as part of their restorative justice programme, and working as a school governor.

WIDOWER FINDS NEW LOVE

Last year, Keep The Faith published a story about Philip Noel, a preacher and teacher, who was widowed in 2011 and left to bring up their five children by himself, following the unexpected death of Barbara, his wife of 25 years.

Commenting on his award, Rev McFarlane stated, “I am pleased to have received this award in the New Year Honours list, and I see it as recognition of the ongoing work that is needed to promote a better understanding between our institutions and communities.

“My hope is that this award will be a catalyst for me to do even more for our young people and adults not just in the borough of Hackney, but further and beyond.”

Well, Keep The Faith love to be the bearers of good news, and are happy to report that Philip has found love again, and got married to Siam Hurlock last October, in a moving ceremony at his home church, Jesus House in Brent, north London, attended by friends and wellwishers.

The couple were introduced by a mutual friend, and it was ‘interest at first sight’ for both of them!!! And marriage seems to suit them.

Philip told Keep The Faith, “Without a doubt, being married is everything it is made out to be, and then some. Mrs Siam Noel tells me, ‘Phil, one hand cannot clap.’ I readily agree with her. I missed being married, and I have been humbled that God would give me another season of joy. Every day seems like an adventure.

“I feel honoured and blessed to have been given a wife who shares the same vision as I do. We laugh at the same things, and I feel secure in what God has asked us to do in our time on earth. The work is now continuing.”

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09

RESURRECTION

Resurrection…and what it means for our city today!

He’s ALIVE!

Jesus is alive today! He’s dealt with our sins! He’s ruling in heaven right now! He’s coming back soon to judge! He’ll resurrect the creation! For Chr-istians saved by his grace alone, our resurrection is guaranteed by his! And much more....

This is HUGE!

The resurrection of Jesus is massive. It was absolutely central in the preaching of the early church. But...

It’s NEGLECTED!

Jesus’ resurrection is unknown to most of London today and often undervalued in our churches...

This year’s London Men’s Convention, Resurrection, is dedicated to rediscovering and celebrating the glory of Jesus’ resurrection and ours in the Bible - and learning how it transforms and challenges our lives as men, our witness, our work and our involvement in our communities.

The Convention takes place on Saturday 26 April, 2014 at Central Hall Westminster and is repeated twice (10.00am – 3.00pm, 4.00pm - 8.30pm). You choose which time suits you best!

Central Hall Westminster seats around 2000 and we long to see both sessions full to the rafters with men coming under the sound of God’s Word and singing His praises!

For further information, including booking details, please go to www.christianconventions.org.uk/lmc or telephone 0845 225 0899.

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10 GOSPEL NEWS

L E P S GO WS NE 2014 seems set to be a great year for Isabella One African artist making great inroads is Isabella, who was the recipient of Best Female Artiste in Diaspora at the Nigeria Gospel Music Awards held at the end of 2013. Commenting on her award win, Isabella stated, “It is encouraging to know that the gift that God has given me is recognised and celebrated. I know it is the grace of God, and I do not take that for granted.”

2013 was a great year for Isabella, which saw her win a slew of awards, including Artiste of the Year Europe at the Africa Gospel Music Awards, as well as an award at the Woman of Praise Awards UK 2013.

Isabella is an in-demand and talented artist, who has ministered throughout Europe, America and Africa. She serves as worship pastor at The Father’s House International Church, where her husband is one of the pastors; runs worship seminars, and has authored a book on worship, ‘The Worshipper After the Father’s Heart’.

She is gearing up for the release of her fifth – yes, fifth contemporary worship album – All That I Am, which features guest appearances from Wole Awolola and Remi Odumesi.

And, if 2014 is anything like 2013 for Isabella, she is likely to soar to even higher heights and enjoy an even more incredulous year - including more awards.

For more details, visit www.isabellamelodies.com

Meet the Artist: Tara Brown Tara Brown is a new artist on the horizon, who has just released her debut album, ‘Disappear Imperfect’. She spoke to Keep The Faith about the release, launching it at the Jazz Café, and her plans for 2014.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): How do you feel about the release of ‘Disappear Imperfect’ - your first ever album?

TARA BROWN (TB): Absolutely over the moon! Particularly because many of the songs on my album were written a few years ago; some were musically composed with a mate of mine, Rob J Hurst. It’s really rewarding to see songs I’d written come to light in such a positive way, and I have my producer, Nicky Brown, to thank, for allowing us to really keep that authenticity.

KTF: What’s the inspiration behind the release, and what kind of message do you want to convey to listeners?

TB: The songs were all birthed out of experiences I have had during my Christian walk. The ultimate message I want to convey to listeners, I guess, is that God is present - no matter what you’re going through. I guess I was tired of having a perception of Christianity that, once you get ‘saved’, your life is set. I want to show through my music that, actually, salvation is a process, and some of this walk gets gritty and grimy, but you’re not alone, and God is present. Ultimately, this process of salvation is the finding of yourself.

KTF: You took part in UK gospel talent show, Time To Shine. What did you enjoy most about being in it, and what were the key lessons you learnt about being a gospel artist?

TB: The whole process was amazing. I met some really beautiful people, and I definitely enjoyed seeing people evolve from being nervous candidates at the start, to being gospel superstars at the finals. I think my key lesson was to never assume anything, and to ensure that whatever happens back stage never filters into your onstage performance. On stage, it’s just you and God, that’s it.

KTF: You got the opportunity to launch your album at the legendary Jazz Café last year. What was that experience like?

TB: The Jazz Café, for me, was like God seriously fulfilling one of my heart’s desires.

I remember going there years ago to see an artist before he blew up. The whole time I kept thinking ‘One day I’m going to perform on that stage’. Lo and behold, my manager, T, calls me and he’s like: “Tara, guess where your album will be launching this year?” and I’m like: “Where?” and he’s like: “The Jazz Café!” I absolutely couldn’t believe it.

The experience of performing at the Jazz Café was like the cherry on top of the icing

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of a very large and beautiful cake! It was a brilliant experience, it was the Launch!

KTF: Can you share how you got into music ministry?

TB: I always sang in church and had a heart for singing and music. I wrote my first song when I was about 10, but once I got saved and went to university, I played in a uni band called ‘Nexus’, and toured university pubs and London clubs for a couple of years.

When I was 19 and started singing in a church band, that was when I got a revelation about singing for Jesus, and I started changing up the lyrics to songs I had previously written and began writing new songs, but with a different focus and energy.

KTF: Aside from your album release, what else should we expect from you in 2014?

TB: In 2014, expect to see me in a lot of places. I’m planning to do quite a few gigs to get this album heard by all of you lovely people out there, both inside and outside the UK. I will also be performing at this year’s Big Church Day Out in May, which I am very much looking forward to, so book up your tickets for that.

KTF: Describe yourself in five words.

TB: Five words only!? OK… bubbly, bold, bright, earthy and tenacious For more details, visit www.tarabrownmusic.com

GOSPEL NEWS 11

HAVING A BLESSED DAY WITH BLESSED SOULS

Award-winning gospel artist and worship leader, Adelaide McKenzie, is getting in the mood for love, as she prepares for her Blessed Soul Valentine’s special on February 15, 2014.

Artists performing at this special Valentine’s event include: Mide, Annastasia Baker, winner of last year’s Time 2 Shine gospel talent search, Gracey Lloyd, plus Adelaide and her Mac Band!

Blessed Souls is a much-loved open mic show and music showcase for up-and-coming - as well as established – talent, started by Adelaide six years ago. Artists that have graced the stage of this unique event over the years include X Factor finalist Rachel Hylton, Greenjade, Lyrical Healer, Royal Priesthood, Ruth Brown (a finalist in BBC’s The Voice) and Jahaziel.

Not only will people hear some great songs about love at this month’s special Blessed Souls event, but they’ll also enjoy a musical tribute to the late Whitney Houston, and be able to buy a meal if they wish, so they can enjoy a night out with their loved ones.

If you plan to visit Blessed Souls this Valentines, it’ll be at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9HD. Admission is £10 in advance (£13 on the door).

Visit www.blessedsoulsuk.com for more information.

ARTIST WATCH: LAWRENCE ROWE Described by Bazil Meade as ‘Mr Dynamite with the Gutsy Voice; Get him on your radar’, Lawrence Rowe is a young Christian who is fast becoming a soul/r ‘n’b singer to watch.

You may have seen Lawrence singing in the London Community Gospel Choir; spied him ministering at his local church, or even had the privilege of seeing him headline his own show and, if you’ve had the chance to see this young man perform, you’ll know he is indeed a talent to watch. A former Brit School student and aged just 21, Lawrence has an impressive resumé. Aside from singing with Britain’s most well-known choir, he was a member of the gospel ensemble featured in the stage run of classic theatre play, ‘The Amen Corner’; performed at the MOBOs when IDMC supported Jahméne Douglas, and recently released his well-received debut EP, ‘19 Expressions .Vol 1’ on iTunes. The last time he headlined his own show was in December 2013 where, by all accounts, not only was it a sell-out, but it was also very, very good. With his soulful voice, coupled with a dynamic delivery style, Lawrence Rowe is a singer destined for the top. Just remember you read about him first in Keep The Faith. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/LawrenceRoweSings

GOSPEL NEWS BITES Fred Hammond has been giving his Facebook fans updates about the knee replacement operation he underwent on January 3rd. Prior to the operation, Fred had informed his FB followers about the problems he’d experienced walking and performing, due to bad knees.

This will now hopefully be a thing of the past following his operation and, if the pics he’s posting online are anything to go by, the king of urban praise is definitely in recovery mode.

I Will Arise is the new album release from Joyce Fadeyi, who also co-pastors Grace Outreach church, based in Peckham, south London, alongside her husband, Bishop Paul Fadeyi.

Produced by Lloyd Wade, the album is a collection of contemporary praise songs that Joyce has wanted to bring to people’s attention for the past 10 years. Now that she has done so, she hopes listeners will be encouraged and enthused to serve God.

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12 GOSPEL NEWS

BRING BACK CHURCH GOSPEL CHOIRS! Juliet Fletcher states that the demise of choirs within the Church has not been a beneficial development, and makes a plea for more churches to establish good, dynamic choirs

JULIET FLETCHER

H

is a former BBC Producer and founding Executive of the GMIA

ave you noticed the growth of community choirs, university choirs, workplace choirs, corporate choirs, school choirs? It’s seems as if you can find an explosion of gospel choirs everywhere – EXCEPT AT CHURCH!!! How weird is that?!!!

OK, we have Ruach, New Wine and thank God for the Adventist choral tradition, where a church choir can still be found in the local branch. And that is my referral: ‘local church choir’. We see choirs at conventions, but why are local church choirs less visible?

ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE REASONS The church choir is the true nurturing ground for everything to do with the authentic nature and purpose of making gospel music unto the Lord. Together, the musicians, the lead singers, the choir director and the choral ensemble formed and fused an intricate mix that affected the ability of each individual, while simultaneously creating a bigger, more powerful and potent base for all the configurations we are familiar with, eg. quartets, duos, bands, etc. The decline in choirs has affected both the numbers and the quality of vocalists and musicianship, and has compromised richness, depth and breadth of ability and, above all, the ‘authentic gospel feel’. Learning vocal and instrumental riffs is not enough.

Here are a few of the ACCEPTABLE and UNACCEPTABLE reasons I’ve heard for the decline of choirs:

Reason 1: Praise and worship teams have replaced church choirs, because our churches are modern now.

My response: UNACCEPTABLE. Churches that have allowed choirs to disband for so-called ‘modernity’ have been given bad advice, and

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have destroyed the power found in choral praise enjoined with congregational singing. They have also lost a natural pathway for lay members to share their commitment to the local church and to express the Great Commission. Many of my peers can testify how their local choir positively impacted their lives and others in church.

Reason 2: Choirs are for young people, but they’re not interested, and we are too old.

My response: UNACCEPTABLE. This reason, given as the key cause for the decline, is the one that makes my blood run cold. If we had kept going, while mentoring and grooming our young people to take over, the love and joy of the singing in church would’ve been maintained.

In the US churches, we see all ages taking part in the choir stall.

Reason 3: Over the years, pastors haven’t seemed to care either way.

My response: An ACCEPTABLE reason although, in my experience, not all pastors are happy about NOT having a choir in the house. Historically, choirs were a sign of church growth, and some may reluctantly admit that the traditional Black-Majority churches have experienced a general decline in church membership – hence the loss.

US Gospel’s legacy of church-based choirs is maintained by the pastors, who invest in the music of the church. And, as the style and delivery of contemporary choirs have been influenced by other sub-genres and performance modes, one can still directly follow the breadcrumb trail and benefits right back to the Church!

SAVE OUR SOUND Reason 4: We haven’t had big choir festivals, which might’ve reversed the situation.

My response: ACCEPTABLE. Indeed, I partly believe the growth of community, corporate and school choirs occurred because the voice of the church choir became ‘silent’. ‘But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the very stones

will cry out!”’ (Luke 19:40). But the sound of ‘the rocks and stones’ certainly is not the same as that of ‘the children of Abraham’.

Noel Robinson, founder of Kingdom Worship Movement, is often cited as the person who first popularised praise and worship teams in our churches. He believes the church choir should be at the forefront of British Gospel, and a festival might be part of the solution.

“The church choir is the true nurturing ground for everything to do with the authentic nature and purpose of making gospel music unto the Lord” Last year, the BBC staged the first ever BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir Of The Year. Mostly community choirs applied. Interestingly, four of the six finalists were led by respected church-based choir directors, and in those choirs there were mainly singers you would find in church. Sadly, only one was an actual church choir, but it does indicate that if our choir directors were properly supported, we would still have the legacy of ability to nurture church choirs. It’s important that, when the competition returns this spring/summer, more choirs enter under a CHURCH DENOMINATION’s name.

What a fantastic opportunity to put your local church on the map!

When choirs declined in the ’90s, the vacuum was filled by the sounds of rap, hip-hop, r‘n’b and praise and worship modes. Because ‘perception is king’, it was interpreted that this was ‘the authentic sound of gospel’. Every authentic, roots-based genre of music in the world has its ambassadors and systems that sustain them. If we are to save the authentic sound of our music, we must bring the legacy of our authentic church-based choirs to the fore.

Juliet is founding Executive of the GMIA. For details visit www.gmia.org.uk or phone 020 3086 8348

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14 PEOPLE AND PLACES

PEOPLE PLACES

DAMI ABAJINGIN

is a freelance journalist, lover of God, carbs and literature, in that order. Follow her at @dami___

AND

Welcome to People and Places, providing an insight into some of the things Christians are doing within the Church, and how they are sharing Gospel values in society at large

The Legendary Radio Pioneer: Dave P

W

ith a career spanning almost 30 years, Dave P is a legend in the radio world. He started his career in pirate radio in Birmingham; progressed to becoming a presenter on Capital XTRA (previously Choice FM); is now a presenter on Premier Gospel, and runs his own online radio station, Urban Gospel Network Jamz (UGN).

While on paper his CV may read like a dream, his life has not been without its challenges. He told Keep the Faith: “During the course of my career, I’ve had issues - be they financial or relationships - when I just wanted to give up and not broadcast at all. I’ve had constant debates with God, when I’ve asked, “Why me?” and He’s always told me, “Son, it’s your ministry; you just have to do it.”

He certainly is fulfilling his ministry with his latest endeavour. UGN was initially set up as a web-based magazine for churches and artists, who needed their profiles raised. It has now developed into one of the most innovative gospel radio stations we have in the UK. Dave P is very discerning about what is played on his station. He told us:“You can’t tell me ‘It’s got Jesus in it, it’s gospel, you’ve got to play it.’ No, is it really good? Does it stand out?

That’s what I listen out for. Quality stands out a lot, and people notice that.”

Despite now being a radio station, UGN has not neglected its roots.

Dave P works tirelessly to provide support for a plethora of projects, from community-based initiatives to concerts. Last year, the station sponsored An Audience With Angie Le Mar. This year, they are sponsoring the MOBOnominated gospel singer/songwriter, Lurine Cato, in concert on January 31st.

This spring, UGN will begin a series of their own concerts, which will showcase the best that the UK Gospel scene has to offer. Not only will these concerts promote good music, but they will also promote unity. Dave P is very passionate about breaking down the cultural lines which often impact the Christian community in the UK. He shared, “You have this culture now, where the Africans and the Caribbeans are not together; you have one concert over here, another over there… We want to change that, and bring great artists together on one stage.”

For more information, visit www.urbangospelnetwork.co.uk.

The playwright

C

hristians who want to see their stories reflected on stage, and believers looking to work on faith-based productions need to watch out for Silvano Griffith-Francis, an award-winning businesswoman, actor, playwright and producer.

Silvano has been writing Christian-themed plays since she was 17, and took a leap of faith last year by resigning from her job as a Business Development Executive at the BBC to further develop her company, SVG Productions. Its aims are manifold. Silvano explained, “Firstly, it’s to provide a platform for Christian actors and directors to use their God-given talents without feeling they are compromising, and secondly, it’s to get more Christian productions into theatres across the UK.” It’s currently all systems go at SVG Productions,

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PEOPLE AND PLACES 15

The man bringing about change: Duro ‘2020’ Oye

M

eet Duro Oye, a multi-talented 28-year-old, who is making waves in a wide range of fields. He is a filmmaker/social entrepreneur/founder and chief executive of 2020 Change, a youth foundation seeking to revolutionise the way gang culture is dealt with in the UK. The Foundation was established to help young males, who have been impacted by gang culture, to discover a life away from crime.

Not a stranger to street-life himself, Duro was able to turn his around life by coming to know Jesus on a personal level. He told Keep the Faith: “I walked into church on 16th August 2006, and I never walked back out.

My faith is my fuel; without it, none of this would have been possible.”

Duro also attributes his transformation to his older brother, who was a constant source of encouragement. With 2020 Change, he is extending this brotherly support to young men nationwide. He told us, “If you can touch one life, think about the impact that person will have within their family and their community.”

One of the main aims of the Foundation is to show former gang leaders the potential they possess, and to teach them how to channel it in a more positive direction, by setting up businesses and helping those they formally led.

The pilot programme of 2020 Change, Goldmine, was launched in October of last year. The 12-week programme mentored six young males from different backgrounds for three hours once a week. Issues such as ‘Understanding your mind’, ‘What is success?’ and ‘How to find your purpose in life’ were dealt with. The result? Two of the mentees have begun to develop businesses; two have successfully enrolled in university, and two have secured employment.

In less than a year, 2020 Change has already made a huge impact, and in 2014 the Foundation is on the trajectory to have an even bigger one. There is already high demand for Goldmine to be implemented within local authorities, as well as in prisons. Steps are being taken to

implement the programme outside of the capital - with Birmingham and Manchester being next on the list. The female equivalent of the programme will also be launching later this year. In honour of the Foundation’s first anniversary, there will be a major screening of their film, Change, which will be released all over the UK. Watch this space.

For more details, visit www.2020change.org

touching hearts: Silvano Griffith-Francis as Silvano gears up for the third run of her play, Life Begins, a comedy drama which focuses on the lives of four Christians, who are 40 and single for a multitude of reasons. Rob is divorced, and seeking to reconcile with his wife. Julie is trying to keep a straight head about her singleness.

Steven is fussy – no woman seems to meet his high standards, and Amanda just wants to have a baby.

Life Begins has already been seen by over 800 people, and the figure will be surpassed when it is staged at the Broadway Theatre in Barking, Essex, over the Valentine weekend. It is just one of a series of Christian-themed productions that Silvano aims to put on throughout 2014.

“In May, we are going to be staging Family Secrets at the Broadway Theatre in Barking. It’s a play we’ve done a few times now, in 2011-2012

in London, Manchester and Birmingham. I’ve also got a number of scripts which I am finishing off as well, so hopefully, if we can get the funding together, we’ll have two new productions out by the end of the year.”

Aside from being able to write entertaining dramas, Silvano, who has studied Theology, is a prolific traveller and loves different cultures. To date, she has visited over 38 countries worldwide, and she loves to cook.

More than that however, she is committed to entertaining believers and non-believers alike, through Christian art. 2014 seems set to be the year her artistry comes to the fore.

Life Begins can be seen at the Broadway Theatre, Broadway, Barking, IG11 7LS from 15th to 16th February, 7.30pm. For more details, visit www.svgproductions.co.uk

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16 KTF ABOUT TOWN

STELLAR AWARDS SPECIAL: TAMELA MANN WINS BIG AT GOSPEL’S BIGGEST AWARDS EVENT

T

amela ‘Take Me To The King’ Mann was the big winner at the 29th Annual Stellar Gospel Awards held at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, where she received a total of seven awards, including the top award of Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, and CD of the Year.

Hosted by TV presenter Sherri Shepherd and comedian Rickey Smiley, a total of ten awards were handed out during the live broadcast of the Stellars.

Gospel newcomer, Tasha Cobbs (who was in the UK recently), won Contemporary CD of the Year, Contemporary Female of the Year and New Artist of the Year. Hezekiah Walker walked away with three awards, and tied with Cobbs as the second most honoured artist of the evening. Fred Hammond, John P Kee and Anthony Brown were the only other artists to earn multiple Stellar Awards, each receiving two.

Brown won Contemporary Male of the Year and Group/Duo of the Year, with Kee winning Traditional Male of the Year and Traditional Group/Duo of the Year. Kee performed with New Life, and Brown with Group Therapy, which shared the Group/Duo awards with their front men. Tye Tribbett, the most nominated artist, took home the trophy for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Performers at The Stellars included Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir, Erica Campbell, Jekalyn Carr, Latice Crawford and Lexi, who performed a medley together, and a highlight of the night was Jennifer

Tamela Mann

AT&T ARTIST OF THE YEAR Tamela Mann, Best Days FORD SONG OF THE YEAR Kirk Franklin, Take Me To The King MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Tye Tribbett, Greater Man

Holliday bringing the house down with ‘Make Them Hear You.’ Other performers included Shirley Caesar, Tasha Cobbs, Isaac Carree and Kirk Franklin.

Annually, the Stellar Awards recognises the accomplishments of gospel music icons and individuals instrumental in advocating gospel music.

Hezekiah Walker received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments, and was acknowledged in a video message by Joel Osteen.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee received the Thomas A Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for her career accomplishments on Capitol Hill, and for authoring the bill designating September as National Gospel Music Month. Pastor Maceo L Woods was honoured with the Dr Bobby Jones Legends Award, presented by its namesake, Dr Jones.

The 29th Stellars was a night to remember.

Roll on Stellar Awards 30.

Tye Tribbett &Erica Campbell

Erica Campbell

Gospel Music legend Shirley Caesar

Kirk Franklin

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The 2014 Stellar Award winners are:

UNCF NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR Tasha Cobbs - Grace, Gospel CD OF THE YEAR Tamela Mann, Best Days STATE FARM CHOIR OF THE YEAR Hezekiah Walker, Azusa: The Next Generation PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Fred Hammond & Derek “DC” Clark - United Tenors: Hammond Hollister Roberson Wilson CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR Fred Hammond United Tenors, United Tenors: Hammond Hollister Roberson Wilson CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR Tasha Cobbs, Grace TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR Tamela Mann, Best Days CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR Tasha Cobbs, Grace URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Tamela Mann, Take Me To The King RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR LeCrae, Gravity

Stellar Awards co-hosts Sherri Shepherd and Rickey Smiley

18 INTERVIEW

INTERV IE W WITH

BRUCE AND JANINE DYER Bruce and Janine Dyer are an inspiring example of a young couple, who love each other, their family and their community, and who also serve in ministry together.

Though both Londoners, born and bred, the dynamic duo now reside in Barnsley, where they are viewed by some as the ‘Posh and Becks of the North’. The couple have been touching people’s lives via a prison ministry, gospel music and their annual Love Life Festival, which attracts up to 5,000 people. The couple, who have been married for 13 years and have three children together plus one on the way, spoke to Keep The Faith about their marriage, their ministry and their love for the Lord.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): What inspired you to move to Barnsley, and what’s it like up there in the North?

BRUCE DYER (BD): When I first heard that Barnsley FC wanted to sign me, I told my agent (my Dad) that I didn’t want to go. All I could think of was how cold it would be in winter, and not being able to understand the northern culture. I am a Londoner through and through, so it was a big decision to move up North, but my father advised me to at least go and have a conversation with the chairman of Barnsley FC. After our meeting, it felt so right to sign for Barnsley FC and, I must say, it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career. Life up North is great; I love it. Life up North is so much slower and calmer than in London and, since becoming a Christian, I live a very quiet life, so life up North is perfect for me.

KTF: You had an illustrious career as a Premier League footballer, and were the first teenager to be signed for £1million. When you reflect on your football career, what memories stick out the most for you?

BD: I will always remember the day I signed for Crystal Palace in that record transfer fee. The thought of being part of UK history was really special and then, one month after signing for Crystal Palace, we were promoted to the Premiership, and my dream of playing in the Premiership became a reality. Four weeks later, I was picked to play for the England U21s so, in the space of three months, my world was turned upside down in a good way.

KTF: You remain active via various community activities, one of which is a very vibrant prison ministry. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

BD: Love Life UK launched Love Life UK Outreach in 2012. We conduct weekly Bible studies in a prison; we travel across the UK doing Sunday Follow us on Twitter @keepthefaithmag

morning services in prisons, and we host Black History events in prisons across the UK. We are really blessed at Love Life UK Outreach to have awarding-winning artists, well-known musicians and well-known sportsmen, who volunteer their time to support the work we are doing in prisons across the UK. We have found that football and music are great ways to engage with offenders; it’s like a key that opens the door of their heart and breaks down barriers, which enables us to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a relevant way. Love Life UK Outreach is also heavily involved in the lives of offenders on their release. We help offenders get connected into a local church, and we help create an environment that enables them to stay accountable.

KTF: What do you enjoy most about your prison ministry work, and can you give me some examples of success you’ve experienced?

BD: You cannot beat seeing a genuine response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to a total transformation of a prisoner’s life. I remember a Bible study we were conducting, and we got onto the subject of fatherhood, and a few of the prisoners mentioned how they had failed their kids, because of the amount of time they had spent in prison. One of the prisoners mentioned that he had been in and out of prison for eight years, and had no real relationship with his children. I could sense he wanted a change, and we prayed that on his release he would be the father God desired him to be. We also prayed that God would provide for him, and bring stability into his life. Within a month, he was released; within three months, he was granted access to see his daughters, and then, three months later, his daughter moved in with him and the transformation in this family life has been miraculous. Our prayer for restoration and stability had been answered.

KTF: The people of Barnsley seem to have taken you and your wife, Janine Dyer, to their hearts. How did you and your wife become such key people of influence in the area?

BD: The people of Barnsley have been so good to us, and our time in Barnsley has been awesome. Sport and music are great tools to be used to engage with people, and both my career at Barnsley Football Club and Janine’s career as a singer have opened many doors for us. We are utilising our influence for the purpose of spreading the love of Jesus Christ. One of the ways we have been doing this is through the Love Life Festival; it has something for the whole family. The Festival consists of football, gospel music, funfair rides, bouncy castles and food. We have had some high profile guests

INTERVIEW 19

attend our Festival: the ex-England and Manchester Utd defender, Rio Ferdinand, Fabrice Muamba and many others. Last year’s Festival saw over 5,000 people attend. There has never been a Christian event like it in Barnsley, and people have been so blessed. I get some lovely messages via social networks from people in Barnsley, who genuinely appreciate the work Love Life is doing, and many have begun to ask questions about the Christian faith.

KTF: You and Janine seem to have a strong marriage. How did you both meet?

BD: I actually met her when I became a Christian and going to as many concerts as possible to have a social life. At that time, Raymond & Co were singing everywhere; I was going everywhere, so I saw quite a lot of Janine. I was quite discreet about how I felt about her.

Janine Dyer (JD): I knew Isaiah-Raymond, who is Bruce’s brother. I didn’t know that IsaiahRaymond had a brother; I only knew his sisters.

After Bruce became a Christian, he was just around, and I said to Raymond, ‘You kept your brother a secret!’

KTF: When did you know that you were destined to be together?

BD: One night, Raymond & Co were rehearsing, and Isaiah and Janine came to my sister’s; it was her birthday. It was really late at night and Janine was stranded in east London. I had my eldest son with me, who was five at the time.

Isaiah said to me, ‘It’s really late. Can you do us a favour and drop Janine home?’ I said, ‘Yes, no problem.’ When we were in the car - as strange as this sounds - I felt love in the car, and felt that we were a family. I remember I went to put some petrol in the car, and something said to me that I’m going to be with Janine for the rest of my life.

JD: It was my friends who told me that Bruce

Bruce Dyer, Janine Dyer, Fabrice Muamba and Kevin Beckett

liked me. I was really green, but my friends were, like, ‘He likes you’. To me, he wasn’t being how someone would be if they liked you. One day, when he was coming to the end of a trip to Holland with his football club, he said, ‘Would you mind if we went somewhere for dinner?

You don’t have to go with me on your own, you can invite one of your friends.’ We went out to dinner when he came back. We were both very nervous, but sitting down at the table with him, I just knew we were going to be married, and we didn’t even say anything. It was just like a spiritual connection.

KTF: What do you love most about your wife and being married?

BD: I love her looks. I love how she engages with people. She’s fun. She’s a good mum. She’s caring.

It’s a beautiful thing to know that you are with

the person that God wants you to be with. For me, being an ex-professional football player, a big thing with footballers is trust. I’ve never been able to trust a woman apart from Janine, and I love the fact that I can trust my wife. She’s got my best interests at heart and vice versa.

KTF: What’s it like doing ministry together as a couple?

BD: It’s a blessing. And sometimes it can be funny because Janine is a strong character. It’s a pleasure to play my part in helping to make a difference to someone’s life, and knowing that my wife and I are doing that together.

JD: It has its ups and downs, but it’s nice. It’s great, because we can be together serving and doing things for the Lord. I think it encourages other couples and people when they see a couple together, united. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

20 INTERVIEW

Football team for 5 a side tournament in Sheffield L to R: Ronan Walker, John Parkin, Leon McKenzie, Bruce Dyer, Barry Miller, Raymond Dyer, Richard Rufus, John Bostock

KTF: You are both committed Christians. What role does your faith play in your marriage?

JD: Our faith comes first. I don’t even think we’d be together so long without Christ. It plays a very important role with our children: how we raise them; what we try to teach them and instil in them; what decisions we make in our lives, and practical things. In everything, we put God first. We always think ‘What would Jesus do?’ and trust Him to lead us and direct us.

KTF: Although you seem like the perfect couple, no doubt you have arguments. How do you resolve your conflicts?

BD: What I really love about Janine and myself is, if we have a disagreement, because we’re Christians, there comes a time where we have to humble ourselves and acknowledge when we’re wrong. We try our utmost to let God’s Word have the final say, and just submit to Him and be humble about it. We’re never too big to apologise.

JD: My mother-in-law always says ‘Never go to bed on an argument’, because the enemy wants to try and come in; the little foxes spoil the vine and cause bad feeling and division. We try to always sort things out and, even if it means one of us has to back down first, then that’s what we do and we just say we forgive each other, love each other, resolve things and just move on.

when we got married, and we are very committed to those vows. When our children are older, I hope we can just go and enjoy ourselves and be on holiday all the time, and that the kids will look after us, lol. The children will get older at some point, and we won’t be too old to enjoy each other, carry on in ministry together and have fun together.

KTF: What’s your hope for the future, where your marriage is concerned?

BD: By the grace of God, to honour our vows and to be an example to other young couples that you can stay married and stay faithful; enjoy life and be a Christian. Just to be a role model, if I’m honest.

JD: I hope it lasts; we made those vows at the beginning, and believed those vows

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INTERVIEW 21

FIRST LADY, TAKE A BOW!

2014 will be the final year that Rev Millicent Brown serves as National Women’s president of the New Testament Church of God. She spoke with Rachel Brown about her role and achievements

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ast October, over 2,000 women alighted at the Bethel Conference Centre in West Bromwich to attend something of a ‘not to be missed’ annual event in the New Testament Church of God (NTCG) calendar: the Women’s Empowerment Conference. The theme was the aptly entitled ‘Wise Women Redeem the Time’, not least because the organisation’s National Women’s president, Sister Millicent Brown, took her final bow after 12 years at the helm.

Over the years, the themes have encapsulated the essence of what it is to be an effective woman of God in the 21st century, and how to live a life brimming with purpose. From ‘God’s Exceptional Woman’ to ‘Shaped by the Potter’s Hand’ and, in the subsequent year, ‘Shaped – What Then?’, it is clear that Millicent and her board have wanted all their conferences to relate to women in their personal lives, and to leave them enriched, empowered, and ready to face the challenges and opportunities in their homes, communities and places of work.

Some might say that being able to find a clip from last year’s ‘Go, Grow, Glow’ Women’s Empowerment Conference on YouTube, which showed hundreds of women worshipping while waving torches in the air, is indeed proof that this conference has truly crossed over into the territory of popular culture.

Millicent – or ‘First Lady’, as she is known - says that serving women across the UK has been ‘a glorious experience’. She realised what a huge responsibility it would be to help direct thousands of women towards God and into their God-given destiny, through the Word, prayer and tools for practical living, but admits that her initial response was “‘No, Lord, please, not me.’ I was convicted on my knees, but I didn’t want to do it.”

Fortunately, leading people is a skill the First Lady has made look rather easy. Like many who are called to ‘front-line ministry’ because of their gifting, Millicent was not looking for it. Her

professional background would have undoubtedly helped her for the role of National Women’s president: she was an administration manager at the NHS for many years, managing her workload as well as that of her team.

Not everything can be taught, however.

Diplomacy, warmth, confidentiality and people-skills are vital in a role like this one and, fortunately, Millicent has them in abundance.

Could these qualities be part of the reason her tenure has been so successful? “I just like people,” Millicent says simply. “I’ve tried to make women feel comfortable in themselves and in God. I want the single woman, the divorced, the married, the widowed – to feel at ease.”

One of Millicent’s proudest achievements as National Women’s president has been the purchase of a house for the sole purpose of aiding and assisting vulnerable women. Based in Birmingham, the home - named ‘SHAPE’ (Supporting and Helping young women Achieve Potential through Education) - is already housing women, and there is much excitement about where God will lead the project next.

One wonders where First Lady Millicent Brown draws her own inspiration from when she is constantly busy pouring into other people’s lives. But sources are always close at hand. She is constantly inspired by her board members – whom she calls friends – who have undergirded her throughout the seasons, and who have helped the Women’s department to become more focused and purposeful than ever before.

She is inspired by the members in the churches

she visits across the country, where women are excited about their own personal development, and striving for excellence in everything they do. There is also high praise for her husband, the Administrative Bishop, Dr Eric Brown. “He has been marvellously supportive, my prayer partner, and we’ve been able to share creative ideas. He’s enjoyed the journey with me and has supported me throughout the process.”

The road has not always been easy. There will indubitably be challenges in a role that is primarily about serving people and responding to people’s needs; and with this has come opposition at times. How has the First Lady managed to deal with criticism? “It’s not everything you have to respond to”, she says matter-of-factly. “You need stamina. You need to be able to deal with stress. I have to tell myself that I will not allow certain things to hinder me. I feel the strain of things, because I’m not a superhuman. But I’ve asked the Lord to help me deal with stress, so that I can still respond to people positively.”

These principles have served the First Lady well during her 12 years in the role, which she began at the age of 54. She is still as effervescent as ever, and it is clear that, while she may be taking her final bow next year, she is showing no signs of fatigue.

For more information about the activities of NTCG’s Women’s Ministries Department, visit http://www.ntcg.org.uk/wmd/ www.keepthefaith.co.uk

22 FEATURE

THE BOYS’ BRIGADE FAITH IN YOUNG PEOPLE

S

ince 1883, the Boys’ Brigade (BB) has shared the Gospel with millions of children and young people. Today, we are passionate about partnering with churches to build bridges into local communities and to engage a generation with a message of hope rooted in Jesus. Through the BB, children and young people get involved in local churches by means of weekly groups, residentials, special events, community projects and training programmes. These activities are led by thousands of volunteers, who are trained and supported to work as effective children’s and youth workers in a Christian context. Whilst our work is in the UK and Ireland, we are part of a worldwide organisation reaching over one million children and young people.

The Boys’ Brigade wants to...

PARTNER YOUR CHURCH IN OUTREACH We are all aware that over recent years many churches have experienced increasing difficulties in getting young people through their doors.

Yet each week, the BB works with thousands of young people and, for many of them, this is their only connection with the Church.

OUR EXPERIENCE TELLS US THREE THINGS: • If you want 16 year olds in your church, you need to start with 5 year olds.

• If you provide age-appropriate activities, then children and young people will keep on coming.

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• If you get children and young people coming to church and church events, the rest of their family and friends could follow.

WE READ IN 1 CORINTHIANS 3:7 “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.”

We are stronger when we work together for the Kingdom of God, and that’s why the idea of partnership is really important to us.

Whilst the Boys’ Brigade was originally set up for boys, churches can now set up units for both boys and girls.

The BB has a proven track record. It has a recognisable name as a safe place that parents can trust. By partnering with your church, we can help you reach out to children and young people not only in your church, but also in your local community. We want to be your partner in outreach. Therefore, as an organisation, we are flexible to the needs of your church. The BB belongs to the church, and we hope that what happens during the week will be seen as just as important as what happens at the weekend!

Since January 2013, we have been supported by the Government’s Social Inclusion Programme, which is administered by the Youth United Foundation. This funding has enabled us to employ development workers in 10 areas of England, where we have partnered with churches to engage with children and young people.

During 2013, we registered 80 new BB units, and brought over 1000 young people into the

fellowship of a local church. During 2014, we want to build on this progress and form partnerships in many more areas where the need for Christian Youth Work is just as great.

If you are keen for your church to reach out to more children and young people in your community, please do contact us. We will be delighted to send you further information and arrange for a member of staff to visit you to discuss how the BB can partner your church in its mission.

For more information, contact: The Boys’ Brigade, Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0BL Tel 01442 231681 ext 212.

Or enquiries@boys-brigade.org.uk You can also visit our website at www.boys-brigade.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

“IT MAKES MY FAMILY PROUD TO KNOW THAT I’M PART OF AN ORGANISATION THAT’S TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.” Michael Wallace is a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Service, or “the Met”. Having grown up within a Christian family in London, he now works in the borough of Barnet as a Safer Schools Officer. For Michael, the satisfaction of being an officer comes from being out and about in the local area, talking to people and building relationships. “Presence is a big thing,” he says. “You have to be out there, in the community, especially with my role, working with young people. They have to see you to be in touch with you.”

Building bridges every day Police officers are the face of the Met, working out on the frontline every day. People such as PC Wallace use their skills and background not just to protect the capital, but to connect with Londoners and the many diverse communities they serve. It is an element of the job that PC Wallace enjoys and takes great pride in. But as a young man, his future as a Met Officer was by no means certain. “When I was growing up, there was a lot of negativity surrounding the police, what with the Brixton Riots and so forth. But I looked beyond that and was always interested because of the challenges. There are a lot of barriers that have been broken down over the years and I am so proud to be able to build those bridges. It makes my family proud to know that I’m part of an organisation that’s trying to do something positive.”

Policing an increasingly diverse city London is a vibrant, multi-cultural city that’s home to more than eight million people, who between them speak more than 300 different languages. This level of diversity is only set to increase.

It’s predicted that by 2020, 50 per cent of London’s population will be from black and minority ethnic communities. It’s therefore critical that the Met has a diverse workforce which reflects the city it serves — people who are part of this population and can build links within it. PC Wallace recognises the importance of this and believes efforts that police in his borough have made to work with the local community have been a success.

“Barnet is a very diverse borough because of the make-up of different communities,” he says. “It’s really important to touch in with them and try and work with them. Not so long ago, we opened up our doors at Colindale so that all the communities could come in and see how the police work.”

“I think that’s a good thing, a way of breaking down barriers. I think that preventative role, working in the community, is very much a success.”

A police officer’s role All Met police officers are expected to support victims and witnesses, providing reassurance and instilling confidence.

They patrol day and night, help vulnerable people, are often first at the scene of an incident and give guidance and protection to those who need it most. In short, it is varied, fulfilling and challenging work — but it is not for everyone.

A wealth of career options For those who have what it takes, becoming a police officer is immensely rewarding, with the Met saying those who show commitment, resilience and integrity, “could look forward to a career that really is as unique as London itself”. With an organisation so vast, with so many different teams and divisions, the options for career development are wide and varied. So what would PC Wallace say to anyone else thinking of joining?

“I would certainly recommend the Met Police,” he says. “I have recommended friends, who are now in the Service themselves, and I would say it gives you opportunities that maybe no other workforce can give you.”

Could you be an officer?

If you think you have got what it takes to become a police officer, and you want to join a world-class organisation where being you means being able to reduce crime and the fear of crime, register online at www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/newconstable where you can also hear more about PC Michael Wallace’s story.

Applying to join the Met All new Met Police recruits must have obtained the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing (CKP) before they start training. Undertaking the CKP requires an investment of time and money. You can find out more about the CKP on the Met’s website.

26 FEATURE

DO YOU HUNGER FOR HOLINESS?

ESTHER KUKU

is presenter of Premier Gospel’s Family Hour, which airs every Saturday from 11am - 12pm

Esther Kuku argues that, despite society’s values being at odds with God’s eternal laws, it’s important for Christians to still obey God’s laws and strive for holiness

I

’ve witnessed the wreckage and heartache of undisciplined lives: Christians who believe that it is possible to be good without God, updating the Scriptures to fit a modern-day, more palatable belief system, only to find that this just doesn’t work.

I sat in a room full of mature Christians recently, talking about the phrase ‘shacking up’.

I confidently declared that it was wrong for people to live together before they were married, only to find that I was the only one in the room who shared that view. The discussion was borne out of an episode of the hit US reality show, Preachers of LA. One of the well-known preachers on the show, Deitrick Haddon, was preparing to get married. Struggling with being apart from his future wife in the run-up to wedding, he made it quite clear that ‘shacking up’ wasn’t a problem for him. There was also Bishop Noel Jones, a senior church leader in the series, struggling to commit to a woman who had been a companion of his for sixteen years, citing his childhood as a reason for finding it hard to commit.

I found the whole series concerning. It really made me think: how are we supposed to be salt and light in the earth, if the world looks at our lifestyles and it is no different from theirs? It is fine to have issues and things we are dealing with, and to speak openly about them. But is a reality show the best place for us to take the masks off and air our dirty laundry? From the pulpit to the pew - the quiet erosion of holiness in the Church is leaving us without a better option to present to those in need of a Saviour.

The Bible tells us that we are the body of Christ, sent forth as His ambassadors Follow us on Twitter @keepthefaithmag

(representatives). However, it seems as if many Christians believe that, because we are saved by grace, it means we don’t have to abide by biblical principles. You have people gossiping, being jealous of what other people have, and not waiting to get married before having sex, which is considered by some to be ‘old-fashioned’. They say that “It’s our heart that matters”, but God’s Word is straightforward. It says that whatever is in our hearts will determine our actions and words. We need to be clear; we are not to be legalistic, but we are called to righteous living.

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14, ‘Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no-one will see the Lord’, and in 1 Peter 1:15-16, we are reminded: “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

So, how are we supposed to live holy lives?

The book of James (1:21) talks about receiving with meekness the engrafted Word which, implanted in our hearts, contains the power to save our souls. Engraft comes from the word ‘engrave’, which means to carve, etch or cut in!

I believe that God uses the analogy of engraft to show us how the Word is supposed to function in our lives. Engraft suggests something that takes time; it isn’t something that happens overnight.

I recently got married, and we had our wedding rings handmade. My husband and I went to the workshop and watched the lady shape our rings. When we first saw them, they were rugged pieces of dirty metal - it was fascinating - nothing like what they looked like on our wedding day! The jeweller carefully carved our names into the inside of the rings, rubbing and polishing them as she engraved each letter. There was a process.

If we want to be holy, we need to engraft 1 Peter 1:15-16 into our hearts, and be committed to the process. This means meditating on this verse until it produces the spiritual fruit of holiness in our hearts. Holiness isn’t for ‘special people’, who are ordained to a higher standard of living. If you are saved, then you are part of this chosen generation; you are royalty and a citizen of this holy nation. Let’s not compromise and make excuses.

‘From the pulpit to the pew - the quiet erosion of holiness in the Church is leaving us without a better option to present to those in need of a Saviour.’

We all go through issues, but we can’t keep blaming our childhood or bad parenting for where we are today. The Bible says, ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, all things have been made new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we come to Christ, we are like how our wedding rings started off: dirty pieces of metal. But, as we grow in Christ, He polishes us up, and we polish ourselves up as we spend time in the Word.

Dirty living is not an option, and it becomes harder to excuse.

In this issue of Keep The Faith, we’re talking about love. Holy living demonstrates to the world that Christ is able to not only love us as we are, but that His love can also change us into His image, as we spend time with Him.

FEATURE 27

What’s so good about submission?

Dionne Gravesande explores the thorny and contentious issue of submission in 21st century Christian marriages

DIONNE GRAVESANDE

D

is Head of Church Advocacy at Christian Aid

uring a pre-Christmas meal with some friends, an area of conversation we touched on was the subject of submission. Without breaking confidence of the discussion, I found it interesting that the single women suggested blind marital submission was out of the question but, if the man treated the woman right, they would yield to male leadership in the home.

Meanwhile, those around the table, who were married, suggested such thinking was fantasy; in the real world, leadership in the home is shared by both parties, particularly if women are in professional careers earning high incomes. In such cases, submission is selective, and agreed as part of a holistic, negotiated relationship. This I found intriguing, as it seems to hinder the traditional reading of Scripture and interpretation of the subject.

What does the Bible mean when it says that wives are to submit to their husbands? Some believe that being submissive means to simply obey and to deny personal feelings, desires, expectations and dreams. In some cases, Christian teaching on male headship in marriage has been used as a weapon against women. For example, I read of a painfully and too-often-reported story: a tearful young woman shared that her Christian husband was angrily demanding her absolute submission.

This included, among other things, that she clean their house according to his strict standards, and that she engage in sexual acts that made her feel uncomfortable and dirty.

This lady was not demanding her rights or trying to be disrespectful.

She was a godly, humble woman, who obviously wanted to please the Lord. But she had been beaten emotionally, and she was receiving

little help from her church, who was either unwilling or unprepared to confront wife abuse. And, in some UK churches, women are told that obedience to God is measured by their wifely submission - even if their husbands are addicted to alcohol or pornography or involved in adulterous affairs.

This distortion of biblical teaching on submission has plunged countless Christian women into depression and emotional trauma.

I’m not sure which is worse: the harsh words they hear from their husbands, or the perverse way the Bible is used to justify domestic abuse.We cannot allow the churches to go back to a time when victims are ignored and violence against women dismissed.

Here are three areas we must explore in order to move beyond the current predicament: 1. Marriage is not a hierarchy.

Traditionalists assume that a Christian marriage is defined as a dominant husband, who makes all family decisions while the wife graciously obeys without input.

Yet Scripture actually portrays marriage as a loving partnership.

Paul taught that, in the realm of sexuality, husbands and wives share equal authority over each other’s bodies (1 Corinthians 7:4).

In other words, submission in this most intimate part of a marriage covenant is mutual.

2. Headship is not a license to control. Traditionalists also cite Ephesians 5:23 to remind wives that their husbands are their ‘heads’ and they believe this term requires some type of dictatorial control in marriage. Headship should not mean heavy-handed authority, or be used to enforce male domination.

In its essence, headship is about the husband and wife being intimately connected in a mystical union that is unlike any other human relationship.

3. Men who abuse their wives are out of fellowship with God.

Scripture is clear (1 Peter 3:7): wives should be honoured and respected.

Wife abuse is no trivial sin. Any man who berates his wife, treats her as inferior, or engages in abusive behaviour (including hitting, kicking, raping, cursing at or threatening punishment) will jeopardise his relationship with God.

‘This distortion of biblical teaching on submission has plunged countless Christian women into depression and emotional trauma.’

And, in the same way, I believe pastors who silently support abusive husbands - by refusing to confront their behaviour, or who tell women to submit to the pain - participate in this sin and could find their own prayers hindered.

The false concept of submission is too often used to manipulate and control women. It advocates quiet obedience and subservience, and denies a woman’s irreplaceable value in her marital relationship.

Some Christian leaders have contributed to this false concept of submission by overlooking the husband’s obligation to love his wife. This is an extreme misrepresentation of Paul’s intent in Ephesians 5:22-30. At the time

of writing, the Apostle Paul was living in a day when men used marriage to position themselves into families of power and wealth.

Paul strongly stated that husbands were obligated to love their wives.

This statement is too often forgotten when citing the ‘wives must submit’ rhetoric. In a culture where many men married not for love but for financial gain, could it be that Paul’s thoughts were not those of a man who degraded women and wanted to ‘keep them in their place’, but the opposite: to elevate women to a place where they are to be loved as Christ loves the Church?

Paul regarded marriage so highly that it is used as an analogy of Christ and His relationship to the Church. A husband’s love should be sacrificial, nourishing, cherishing and protective. No one is to demand or force another to yield; submission is voluntary.

Marriage, according to God’s design, is a relationship that returns love for love, service for service.

Husbands and wives love and sacrifice for one another differently.

Both the husband and the wife are given vast opportunities to show Christ’s love to one another. It is not always easy, but we can best reflect God’s redemptive work in our lives by following the principles of Christlike love and submission. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

28 COMMENT

THUS SAYETH THE LORD: Prophecy and the prophetic gift

David Forster looks at the history and the important role of prophetic ministry within the Church and wider society, and encourages all Christians to develop a prophetic gift

DAVID FORSTER

I

is an enthusiastic preacher and prophetic teacher

n the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, there are many covenants.

After the Exodus from Egypt, the nation of Israel lived under one of these, the Law of Moses. It contained 10 Commandments and 603 by-laws. The priests, who were part of the tribe of Levi, taught the people this covenant after they arrived in the Promised Land. The two primary ministries of this period were kings and prophets. The king ruled the nation; the prophet was the mouthpiece of God to the nation. He could bring a message that was independent of political and religious bias.

Each prophet had a specific commission from God, and a time-frame and context for its fulfilment. Recognition came as he carried through his commission. For example, Moses and Samuel were prophets to the nation of Israel. Moses was also a national leader. Elijah and Elisha were prophets to the nation, but outside of the political and religious systems.

Nathan and Gad were personal prophets to David, the king. Daniel and Joseph were prophets to Babylon and Egypt, respectively (both secular powers). As such, they worked within their political systems and were subject to the authority of their leaders.

The prophet, under the Old Covenant, was very important to God. He represented God to the people, just as the priest represented the people to God. What the prophet said had to be accurate, because he was God’s mouthpiece.

Under the New Covenant, the prophet operates under grace rather than Law. The New Covenant Church, which includes people from other nations as well as Israel, has five ministries.

These are individuals that God has appointed in the Church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-16). Each operates under New Covenant grace and may function in church government. However, only apostles and prophets are foundational, ie. essential for the establishing and building of the Church, both locally and universally.

The purpose of the five ministries is to bring the Church to maturity of service: every member is to minister. To help facilitate this, the gifts of the Spirit are given (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 & Romans 12:3-8) to each believer, as the Spirit

wills, to enable him/her to be a witness and to operate in the supernatural dimension.

Jesus was the embodiment of all five of the ministries given to the Church. Each ministry represents an aspect of the ministry of Jesus.

The prophetic ministry is characterised by understanding, the apostle by wisdom. The apostle is an initiator and builder; the prophet brings revelation and understanding (see Proverbs 7:4 and 24:3). Prophetic ministry is not simply about revelation of the future, it is also about revelation and understanding about the present and the past – be it situations, circumstances or people.

“Every Christian, under the New Covenant, is a minister to those in his/her sphere of living, and is, therefore, a line of divine communication. God wants the whole Church to be prophetic!”

Like each of the other ministries, the prophet should be subject to checks and balances. God’s revelation to prophets is not an individual thing.

Each prophet receives part of the picture, but not the whole. The Lord reveals His purposes to His servants, the prophets. No single prophet has exclusive right to revelation and understanding from God. Prophetic revelation to an individual or group is partial, progressive and conditional. This means that no prophet receives it all; it comes in stages, and its fulfilment depends on cooperation with

Each of the five ministries, like the rest of the God from the individual or group receiving it.

Church, may function in some or all of the spiritual gifts. There are also various levels and contexts in which prophets function: some are international, some national, some local (to one church or group of churches), some extra-local (they function across church boundaries).

Other prophets operate outside of the Church: in industry, government, education, commerce or the arts. God wants to communicate with everyone: believer, unbeliever, agnostic and atheist.

The question is, can everyone learn to hear what God is saying?

God communicates in dream, vision, picture, speech, the voice of our conscience, spiritual gifts and what we feel/sense inside. Prophets and prophetic ministries model, demonstrate and teach people how to hear God speak to them. They can also speak on behalf of God. The Church and the world need to hear what God has to say. Remember Jesus’ words: “I do only what I see the Father doing; I speak only what I hear the Father saying.” This is the primary function of prophets and prophetic ministers, but not their function exclusively.

Every Christian, under the New Covenant, is a minister to those in his/her sphere of living, and is, therefore, a line of divine communication.

God wants the whole Church to be prophetic!

David Forster hosts prophetic workshops and teaches in churches across the UK. For more details visit www.reachingtheheights.com

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29

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30 COMMENT

Relationships are good for you - but can be messy

Rev David Shosanya shares some personal and spiritual insights he has learnt about the beauty, complexity, difficulty and sometimes messiness of relationships from the recent series of Celebrity Big Brother

REV DAVID SHOSANYA

is a Regional Minister & Director with the London Baptist Association

L

ee. Casey. Jasmine. What more need I say?

Even a casual observer of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) would be shocked at the shenanigans that are the love triangle between Lee Ryan from Blue, the glamour model, Casey Batchelor, and the American actress, Jasmine Waltz.

For those of you reading this article, who have not been watching CBB (or at least not admitting to doing so, in the pious company of good Christian sisters and brothers), allow me to offer a very brief summary of what has taken place.

On entering the Big Brother House, each housemate was handcuffed to another celebrity.

Lee was handcuffed to Casey. They did everything together, as did other housemates. They, however, developed an affection for each other, and things became heated between the two of them. To all intents and purposes, they were an item. But then Jasmine caught Lee’s attention and Casey was, well ...., let’s just say no longer the focus of Lee’s affection.

Viewers were up in arms and Casey was beside herself with rage and feelings of being humiliated. Lee and Jasmine carelessly flaunted their affection for each other in Casey’s face.

Housemates and the general public were shocked. And so was Lee, when Jasmine got evicted from the house! Lee and Casey quickly rekindled their romance.

One last thing. CBB has introduced a ‘freeze frame’ feature. When the Big Brother House clock chimed, and housemates had to freeze.

A friend or family member of a contestant then enters the house for a few minutes. As that clock chimed, Jasmine re-entered the house, as Lee and Casey cosied up to one another on the sofa. It was an awkward and insightful moment, as Jasmine expressed her sense of hurt and humiliation to Casey and Lee, respectively.

Two thoughts have been provoked in my mind as I have reflected on this year’s CBB. The first is this: relationships are risky! They are risky because they require vulnerability and trust in order to be meaningful and mutually rewarding. Why? Often, we are consciously or unconsciously reticent to offer and to embody these twin foundational pillars of any successful relationship.

The possibilities they offer are clouded by our Follow us on Twitter @keepthefaithmag

pasts, or by never having positively experienced them ourselves. We all know that the potential to be exploited or abused is always a very real and present danger. However, creating meaningful relationships requires that we intentionally and honestly confront and seek to negotiate the competing tensions we carry that can prevent us from being fully present.

Those tensions threaten to undermine our capacity to be vulnerable and grow towards one another. They can prevent us from daring to be courageous enough to take the risks associated with creating an expanding relationship.

“Relationships are risky!

They are risky because they require vulnerability and trust in order to be meaningful and mutually rewarding.”

Secondly, relationships are not transactional. By that, I mean that the most secure and rewarding relationships are not exclusively or predominantly motivated by what one partner can get from the other, but by a mutual sharing of life experiences, resources and support mechanisms that benefit both parties equally and, as a result, enhance their individual and shared sense of wellbeing.

In attempting to gain an insight on a national Measure for Wellbeing, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) asked respondents to list what factors affected, influenced or contributed to their sense of wellbeing;

relationships with their partners featured highly.

Research has been conducted that demonstrates that strong, loving, romantic relationships enhance emotional, psychological and physical wellness to such an extent that there are discernible and measurable differences between married couples, those that co-habit and singles.

Relationships that are grounded and rooted in one partner’s love for the other person have the capacity to challenge and transform an individual’s perspective of themselves, of others and of the world. When there is an absence of security, safety and self, the human spirit is crushed, and the possibility for the most deeplyrooted fears we carry are able and likely to be released in such an environment. Interactions between two people in such an environment are reduced to a series of transactions, which are effectively calculated and measured responses towards one partner by the other. These responses are rooted in fear, suspicion and a deep sense of mistrust, which ultimately results in a kind of emotional asphyxiation of the relationship.

Both partners are left decimated by the lack of love (oxygen) in the relationship.

We will all do well to learn from the debacle of the CBB House, rather than just offer dismissive commentary about the utter ridiculousness of the contestants. Human needs and emotions are complex, and we as Christians are not immune from that complexity. We may not be so obviously misguided, but we each know the challenges we face that are hidden from the public’s gaze!

COMMENT 31

Thanks be to God Rev Stephen Brooks’ timely article reminds us that it’s good to be grateful to God for everything – the good, the bad and, most importantly, the fact that we are alive

REV STEPHEN BROOKS

G

is National Development Manager for Excell 3

iving thanks is a practice that does not come easily to many people because, when they look at their lives, some believe there is nothing worth thanking God for. Unthankfulness is listed as a common trait among people in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5), and is a sign of an ungodly mind (Romans 1:18-21).

It is normal at the start of any year to reflect on the past, look to the present, and contemplate the future. We find ourselves reflecting on what God has done and what He will do in the future. In tough times, when we feel alone or vulnerable, it is easy to worry about our future and feel as though we have to make things happen by ourselves, without God. Thinking always precedes thanking. When we receive a gift, it is only as we stop to think of the significance and meaning of the gift that we are led to express our thankfulness.

Each breath we breathe is a gift from God, but many are not in the least bit thankful.

When things are going well, it’s counted as coincidence, chance or their own hard work; they never thank God. However, let something terrible happen, and many cry, “Why, God? Why me?”, as though He’s responsible. Why is it always God’s fault when things go wrong, but when things go well, He has nothing to do with it?

There isn’t a single person, especially living in the United Kingdom, who does not have a reason to be thankful to God. Just consider the following:

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are ahead of 500 million people.

If you can attend a Christian church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people.

Many of us are ungrateful for God’s kindnesses and manifold blessings in our lives. We are so concerned about what is yet to happen that we fail to see what has happened. We are so mindful of prayers that are yet to be answered that we overlook answered prayers we are already enjoying.

Which one do you think is better? Not to have an accident, or to survive an accident?

Which one do we always consider as the testimony in church? This is how we rob God from His praise. We think that falling sick and being healed is a greater miracle than enjoying divine health and not falling sick in the first place. It has been said that whatever you don’t appreciate will depreciate in your estimation.

While all ten lepers had received physical healing, only the Samaritan had the faith for spiritual healing as well. All ten lepers were cleansed of the disease, but only the thankful leper was saved by being thankful to Jesus.

This man received something greater than mere physical healing; he was saved from his sins (Luke 17:19).

There is no time, place or circumstance in which we are not to give God thanks. The Bible makes this very clear:

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“Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” - Ephesians 5:20 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” - Colossians 3:17 Not only are we to always give thanks, but we are to do it willingly (Leviticus 22:29).

Ungratefulness indicates immaturity, either physical or spiritual. Children do not always appreciate what parents do for them; they have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for me yesterday, but what are you doing for me right now. The past is worthless and so is the future; they live only in the present. As we grow up, we learn to appreciate what others do for us. But, as we grow physically and spiritually, if we do not learn to express thankfulness to others and to God, it is a sign of immaturity.

From today, may your thankfulness involve not only what you are grateful for on a material level, but also that which you love and feel gratitude for on the spiritual level of your life.

For more information about Excell3 visit www.excell3.com. You can contact Rev Brooks at sbrooksaui@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07940 237959.

“There isn’t a single person, especially living in the United Kingdom, who does not have a reason to be thankful to God.”

If you have food in the fridge; clothes on your back; a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of people in the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your pocket, and spare change somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are doing better than the 1 million who will not survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, loneliness of imprisonment, agony of torture, or pangs of starving, you

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32 COMMENT

The fight against racism

must continue

Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts writes that the fight against racism and injustice must be continued and fought from both within and outside major institutions that tolerate and harbour it

REV WALE HUDSON-ROBERTS

I

is the Racial Justice Co-ordinator for the Baptist Union of Great Britain

t gave me great delight to read the most recent comments made by Baroness Lawrence. She was spot on; the continued marginalisation of Black youngsters does not appear to be getting better. Under-representation of people of colour in education and politics is reason for continued concern; she rightly bemoaned her contribution to the debate on race issues, and raised some interesting concerns.

Now that Doreen Lawrence is a Baroness, a part of the institution, is it still possible for her to condemn racial injustice with the same rigour and determination as before? Her critics argue No, she is now part of the establishment.

The House of Lords will do more than curtail her voice; it might even silence it. No longer will she be able to speak to the issues that wage war on the Black and ethnic minority communities with the same authority as before. How can she possibly speak truth to the power that has elected her? The second concern, which is similar to the first, is this: Is it possible for a prophetess and pioneer of the order of Baroness Lawrence to be prophetic in the House of Lords? Or might she unwittingly lose her prophetic edge, and begin to gradually collude, stop calling for reform and justice for the marginalised; silenced by the monolithic and homogenous nature of The House (as we call the Lords)?

Frankly, I was surprised and disappointed to hear her critics, some senior Black leaders, condemn Baroness Lawrence’s appointment to the House of Lords for the reasons mentioned.

Dare I say it, their arguments are a little simplistic. They fail to appreciate the impact that some people of colour continue to have in White-led institutions. The question is this:

How can people of colour continue to speak truth to power and bring about some concrete change to mainly White-led institutions?

1 Corinthians 12:4 onwards reads: ‘Now there are diversities of gifts, and the same Spirit.

And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, and it is the same God. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same and Spirit, to another the gift of healing by that same Spirit.’

This text* sheds some light on the question which ought to be explored within its social and political context.

At this stage in Paul’s writing, Corinth had become a Roman colony. Shaped by the rules of Empire and forced to live by Roman standards, the church in Corinth was under pressure to abandon justice-telling, and reflect some, if not all, of the values of Rome. Paul’s advice to the Corinthian saints, a minority in number, was: the Spirit is concerned about injustice in the body.

Such truth should not absolve people of colour from working towards a more justice-centred organisation, that much is obvious, but recognise that the centrality of the Spirit in the text confirms the Spirit’s commitment to justice and His quest to create an institution that echoes the justice of God. But, too, institutional justice will only progress if done collaboratively, both with the Spirit of God and those within and outside the body of Christ. For the church at Corinth, this meant those with the gifts of wisdom working strategically with those with the gifts of healing,

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knowledge and the range of other gifted people in the church. The hope is that this collaborative approach will yield some concrete results that are able to inform and shape the the Corinthian body, and help it deliver on justice matters. In short, then, a close working relationship with the Spirit of God and others is a vital ingredient for reform from within. Notwithstanding that few people appear to know where Mandela stood with Christ, I am sure that much of his leadership success - the dissolving of legal apartheid in South Africa - was due to the activity of the Spirit silently challenging and reforming unethical spaces within the higher echelons of political power, as well as Mandela’s ability to effectively work with and empower the gifts of others.

“How can people of colour continue to speak truth to power and bring about some concrete change to mainly White-led institutions?”

Working within White-led institutions is not easy. The goal for a genuine playing field for all is a herculean challenge, requiring people of colour to work towards reforming the organisation. Lasting change is infrequently quick, but it does require the Black prophet to work with the Black politician, Black politician with the Black strategist, Black strategist with the Black teacher, Black teacher with the Black pioneer, Black pioneer with the Black apostle and Black apostle with the Black pastor. (*taken from YLT and NIV versions)

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34 LIFESTYLE

Mind, Body & Soul

Honour God with our bodies

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his morning, during my morning run, I thought about what honouring God with my body meant to me, and two words came to mind: I do. Let me explain.

Most of us know the benefits that regular exercise - coupled with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains - has on the body, but do nothing with this knowledge. I admit I am in the minority; that is why I am an instructor.

To become more than the many that say, “I try,” you have to take this knowledge every day as you exercise your body. Leave behind “I try” to eat fruits and vegetables, and turn it into “I do”. Why? Because 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells me that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in me, whom I received from God. I am not my own; I was bought at a price. For me, this Scripture means I have a responsibility to look after this body to the best of my ability because, for a start, it isn’t mine. I was bought at a price and, when I made my decision to join the ‘Jesus Christ club’, I surrendered to Him ownership of

all I am, including my body. Another reason is because I choose to honour God by how I use my body. Therefore, every time I exercise my body, not only does it help me control my weight, reduce my risk of heart disease, strengthen my bones and muscles, help improve my mood and boost my energy (because more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to my tissues, and help my cardiovascular system to work more efficiently), the best thing of all is that I honour God with the daily choices I make on a physical level, which inevitably benefits the spirit.

I often get asked the question of what is the relationship between the spirit and the body, and my answer is always the same. We (humans) are made of both dust (the physical) and the spirit, and both are intertwined. For as long as we are here on this earth, we need both spirit and body to exist and function. One cannot do without the other. Without the body, our spirits here on earth can do nothing. We need both the physical body and the spirit to work hand in hand to fulfil God’s will in our daily lives. A fitter body with more energy can enable us to read and study our Bibles more, pray more, fast more, draw closer to God. A fitter body means our bodies are stronger and better equipped to fight and recover more quickly from sicknesses and diseases, leaving us with more strength to do the things God instructs us to do. How do you honour God with your body? Are you like me and willing to leave “I try” behind for “I do”, because we desire to honour God? And, even though you may not get it right all the time, you can still give out a loud “I do”.

If your attitude is one of ‘it’s my body and I can do what I like with it’, just remember 1 Corinthians 6:19 - “You are not your own, you were bought at a price.” So why not join me, and let’s “I do” together. Happy New Year!

LOLA OLAREWAJU

is a Personal Trainer, freelance Certified Lifestyle Coach and Owner of Final Measure - a fitness and lifestyle company

GREEN TEA

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f you’re looking for a drink that will not only quench your thirst, but is also very good for you, then I’d suggest ‘Green Tea’. I was reacquainted with this very old friend of mine over the Christmas holidays, and I haven’t stopped drinking it.

I love it! Not only does it taste great, but it is also packed with loads of health benefits, such as helping to improve your immunity; it can also help prevent heart disease, burn fat, protect against diabetes and cancer, lower blood pressure, fight allergies, protect against Alzheimer’s disease, and the list goes on and on. Not only is this tea called a super food/drink, it’s a great way to help you get your daily water intake, also tastes fabulous, and is packed with lots of goodies for your body. So take it from me, and get drinking.

Healthy living can reduce high blood pressure

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hat is high blood pressure? Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body. If this pressure is too high, it puts a strain on your arteries and on your heart, which makes it more likely that you will suffer either a heart attack, stroke or kidney disease. Known as the “ Silent Killer”, around 30% of people in England today have high blood pressure, and many don’t even realise it.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), people from an African/Caribbean background are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, and are amongst the

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highest risk for type 2 diabetes than other ethnic groups. There’s no single reason for this finding; however, a genetic element is believed to be a factor. If left untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. It has no obvious signs or symptoms, which means the only way of knowing if there is a problem is to have your blood pressure measured by your GP. You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by losing weight if you need to, exercising regularly, eating a healthy balanced diet, and cutting down on salt. For more information, visit www.bhf.org.uk.

LIFESTYLE 35

HEARTTOHEART

ESTHER FENTY is a qualified psychologist and pastor’s wife

2013 was a terrible year.

How can I make 2014 better?

2013 was not a good year for me. I lost my job and am still unemployed; had some health issues, and a promising relationship that I thought would lead to marriage ended. I found this upsetting, but have decided to have a positive attitude in 2014.

I mean, things can only get better.

I just wonder what tips you can share to help me in my quest to draw closer to God and get my life back on track in 2014.

Funmi, Surrey

Esther Fenty says:

I don’t want to fight and argue with my children’s father anymore

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have two children (a boy and a girl) aged 8 and 10 and, ever since they were born, their father has played a very minimal role in their lives in terms of the time he spends with them and the money he contributes to their upkeep. Ever since I had our children, it has been a battle to get anything out of him, hence we have had numerous arguments over the years, some of which have become violent and, I’m ashamed to say, the violence has been instigated by me out of my frustration and hurt. I confess I have a lot of festering anger and bitterness towards my children’s father. I’m so angry at his behaviour, partly because it was a joint decision to have our children, and he has totally abrogated his duties. I became a Christian last year, and know I need to deal with my negative feelings towards my children’s father and build a better relationship with him (if I can).

Any advice you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Janet, High Wycombe

Esther Fenty says:

As a new Christian, who has had to contend with the disappointing behaviour of your children’s father in the past, I can see that you are already on the right path in dealing with your negative feelings towards him. However, you will need to be aware that this may be a long process. Do not be surprised to find yourself slipping back into negativity but, with prayer and support, you will overcome. The first step is to recognise that you have these feelings and, though the reasons for these are understandable, you do not have

the ‘rights’ to these, and Jesus expects you to let them go.

Secondly, acknowledge these feelings to God. He is able to help you through these heartaches as you tell Him exactly how you feel. You might need the prayer support of a trusted friend - or your leadership team - as you struggle with your feelings.

In addition, you will need to study the Scriptures relating to forgiveness, so that you can use these to pray. Our decision to forgive is based on the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us and paid the penalty for our sins. Therefore, as you read the Scriptures, determine in your mind that you will forgive. Remember that you are trying to change yourself, but it is possible that a change in you will lead to a change in your children’s father. Allow the Holy Spirit to deal with him.

You may want to write a letter to your children’s father before asking for a meeting.

In that way, he will be already prepared for a discussion rather than a fight. If it is possible, replay the previous scenes where you instigated the violence through frustration.

How will you handle this differently, if he refuses to pay any maintenance or spend time with the children? You may need to practise what you will say. If,after all your preparation, you find yourself getting angry, walk away from the situation. Agree to meet another time and also be willing to apologise for your behaviour. Commit him and your children to the Lord in prayer, knowing that even if their earthly father does not help, their heavenly Father is more than able.

Just like the recent weather we have been having, when it rains, it pours.

The Bible tells us that the righteous have many problems, but the Lord delivers us out of them all. With so much having gone wrong last year, it would be easy to draw close to God, hoping that things will get better.

I cannot promise you that you won’t have more disappointments, but I can assure you that if you draw close to God, He will draw close to you.

There is no better place to start than in asking for forgiveness, and then determine to spend time in daily devotion with Him. In your devotion, you could be asking for direction in jobs and marriage. Is God calling you to a particular job or area of ministry?

I’m not sure of your age or other commitments, but is this a time to think of retraining or further studies?

As you pray, do some research, and apply for jobs/courses, etc, and see where He leads. Do not rush into a new relationship, but trust Him as you wait for His direction.

Esther Fenty provides godly and practical advice on a wide range of issues. To contact Esther email editorial@keepthefaith.co.uk www.keepthefaith.co.uk

36 LIFESTYLE

DR ANTONIO CHRISTOPHER

runs Rightly Dividing the Word Ministries, and is Senior Pastor of Alpha & Omega Christian Fellowship

WHY WAIT UNTIL MARRIAGE FOR SEX?

‘God designed sex to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage, and this is its true purpose.’

Pastor and teacher, Dr Antonio Christopher, shares the range of reasons why Christians should aim to save sex for marriage

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remarital sex involves any kind of sexual contact prior to entering into a legal marriage relationship. When I say any, I mean exactly that. This includes all types of sexual stimulation, sexual foreplay, and all types of sexual simulation. Basically, anything that leads up to the act of sex can be considered as premarital sex.

There are a several reasons why God’s wisdom says sex is for marriage. God designed sex to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage, and this is its true purpose. To remove it from that context is to pervert its use and severely handicap its fulfilling enjoyment. Myles Munroe often says, “Where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.” Not only have we abused God’s gift, we have also fallen into the realm of perversion which basically means a moving away from God’s original intent. It is God Himself who sanctioned the “one flesh” clause in a relationship. Genesis 2:24 tells us that a man will leave his family, join to his wife, and become “one flesh” with her.

This same notion is also conveyed within the New Testament in Matthew 19:5 and Mark 10:7.

We are living in a highly sexualised society; it is literally saturated with promiscuity and extremely loose standards. The Media, commercials and advertising giants have realised that sex is a money generator and, therefore, good for their bank accounts. They depend heavily upon sexually-charged images to sell and advertise their products in almost every capacity.

This ranges from selling cars, movies, alcohol, vacations and cigarettes. Everything and anything is fair game to become over-sexualised. They understand their market, their clients, and mankind’s basic underlying instinct to react and respond to sexual images and stimuli. They peddle their services and goods by using images that will captivate and seize the thoughts, minds and the attention of the consumer, especially males.

Let us consider some of the reasons why it is better to wait until marriage, before we engage in any and all sexual activity.

Abstinence is the only way that one is guaranteed absolute protection against the many STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases) that are currently running rampant in our society.

In my opinion, it is very irresponsible for any school to arbitrarily hand out condoms to students in schools, ‘just in case’ they have sex. It is the handing out of these condoms that sends a very dangerous message that “if you do have sex, then wear these.” The problem with this nonchalant attitude is that condoms do not and cannot guarantee you 100% protection from STDs.

the physical and emotional attachments that come with such a powerful emotional tie at such a young age. There have been some studies that seem to suggest that, when young students are sexually involved with one another, their studies take a sudden nosedive. Could this be a reason why there are just so many unwanted babies, teenage pregnancies and unwed mothers? How much longer should we stand by and witness the deterioration of our society and communities in this regard? Are there lessons that we can learn from God’s Word? Absolutely!

Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, thrush, AIDS, HIV, genital warts, herpes, hepatitis B, and many other sexually-transmitted diseases are fast becoming very resistant to the drugs designed to treat them. These are all very real and horrible diseases that God would like to protect us from.

Waiting until you are married, and staying true to your partner, will prevent you from the terrible alternative. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither FORNICATORS, nor idolators, nor ADULTERERS, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)

Premarital sex is like playing Russian roulette: no matter how much protection you wear, ingest or administer, you will always run the risk of becoming pregnant or of impregnating a girl, producing illegitimate children. Children need the love and protection of both mother and father. Most young boys, on learning that the girl is pregnant, usually try to push for an abortion, which further compounds the sin, or just become absentee fathers, realising that they were just not ready for a child.

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Sexual activity among young people affects their psychological and emotional make up. It also has a profound effect upon their development academically and socially. Have you ever noticed the emotional upheavals a young boy or girl has while trying to study at school?

Sexual entanglements affect the way they study and the results they receive on their tests. Why is this? Well, the adolescent mind is not mentally mature enough, equipped or prepared to handle

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The Bible’s message on sex before marriage is absolute and very clear. If its principles were to be adhered to and practised, there would not be as many sexually-transmitted diseases, abortions, unwed mothers and fatherless children. What we are witnessing today is the result of trying to replace God’s wisdom in this regard with that of man’s politically correct message in a ‘do-as-you-feel society’.

Dr Christopher has a series of CDs/DVDs for sale entitled ‘SEX: God’s Intention vs Satan’s Perversion & Lies’ (£19.99). Email achrist109@aol.com or phone 07824 511038 for more details.

Love thy neighbour?

Ever wanted to do more to change your community? Join Street Pastors in a community or city near you today!

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38 LIFESTYLE

I

PASTOR CLEMENT OKUSI

got married in my early twenties, and this year marks our eighteenth wedding anniversary.

During my ministry, I have officiated in over 40 weddings. Every couple that I have married is still (by the grace of God) married. So, when I hear statistics that say the divorce rate is the same outside of the Church as inside the Church, I am troubled.

I am not sure that it is actually true. I have been a growing Christian for the last twenty years, and have been a guest at over 60 Christian weddings. I can only think of three Christian couples that have been divorced in the last twenty years!

Of the three couples I know who got divorced, in every instance one spouse left (backslid) the Christian faith.

It is important for the Church to be a witness when it comes to marriage. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-16), Jesus teaches us that, as His disciples, we are ‘the salt of the earth’ and that, if we lose our flavour, we become ‘good for nothing’. Jesus further teaches us that we are ‘the light of the world’, and that we should let this ‘light shine’ so that others may ‘glorify God’. Jesus also clearly teaches us, in Matthew 19:1-12, that divorce is wrong and happens because of a hardness of the human heart.

There exists a lot of spiritual darkness surrounding marriage at the moment. We see the nuclear family almost disappearing, especially from the Black community (70% of children born out of wedlock with an absent father).

We see the redefinition of marriage by politicians and pressure groups.

So it is in this ‘darkened’ climate that the Christian light should shine brightest.

Within our church (PHCCC), we do a number of things to facilitate marriages.

We do not marry people we do not know - Some denominations are happy to hire out their minister and premises to anybody. In fact, for many struggling churches this is a much-needed source of income!

But we see this as part of the problem. Many people getting married in a Christian church by a

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Church can build strong marriages Pastor Clement Okusi has presided at over 40 successful marriages at his church, and shares how he helps couples to build strong marriages before and after their weddings Christian minister may wrongly assume they are a Christian, even though they are not members of that (or any) Christian church.

Marrying people that you, as a pastor, know, has at least two benefits: (i) You can testify to their Christian conduct. This does not mean they are perfect, but you can be a witness to their personality and character up until that point. (ii) Allows you to more effectively speak into their lives. If you are married by a minister, whom you do not know, where do you go for marriage counselling?

We carry out several classes of pre-marital counselling Many people have a ‘make it up as you go along’ approach to marriage.

Would you allow yourself to be driven by a person who had no experience of driving, but would reassure you they would ‘make it up as they go along’? Would you buy a car without first being taught how to drive?

It is important for the Church to be a witness when it comes to marriage In pre-marital counselling, we deliberately divert attention away from the wedding day, to the married life. Unfortunately, many (especially women) are so focused (intoxicated) on their wedding day, they give little or no thought to their marriage. I always ask the couple what does it take to be a good husband or wife, and am often met with quizzical expressions which reveal this is the first time they have given thought to the question!

How many couples have read their Bible (from Genesis to Revelation), marriage books or attended pre-marital seminars before getting married?

In pre-marital counselling we cover issues such as: • Pre-marital sexual behaviour (false notions of intimacy, sexual sin, etc.)

• Blood testing (HIV, Sickle Cell, etc.)

• The Man’s status/role in the home (Provider, Protector, Priest, etc.)

• The Woman’s status/role in the home (Helper, Homemaker, Honourer, etc.)

• Finances (transparency, joint accounts, existing debt, budgeting, etc.)

• Family (Do they already have kids? Do they want kids? etc.)

• Communication (conflict resolution, tone of voice, timing, temper, etc.)

• Potential baggage from the past (past events of life, violations, hurts, etc.)

• Immigration issues, if any • In-laws We also host annual marriage seminars – Annually, all married couples (no children allowed) go away (out of town) to a relaxing 4* hotel for two nights’ bed, breakfast and dinner. We typically have four teaching sessions on marriage per day, with Q&A and prayer following.

We also have an anonymous question box, where questions of a sensitive nature may be addressed.

This is a critical ingredient to help us build strong marriages.

Often, just being away from the daily pressures of life, being waited on hand and foot, without children, allows married couples to invest in their relationship, and to be reminded as to why they got married in the first place.

We also offer marital help through pastoral counselling and preaching. My encouragement to pastors would be that strong marriages help build strong families, strong churches and strong communities. Therefore, devote a lot of time and energy in prayerfully preparing people for the reality of marriage. This may even lead to you temporarily refusing to perform some weddings until certain things are in order.

May we, as the Church of the living God, through our marital witness show that God really does make a difference in marriage.

Pastor Clement Okusi is Senior Pastor of Potter’s House Christian Centre in Thornton Heath, Surrey. For more details visit www.phccc.com

LIFESTYLE 39

How a ‘romantic’ getaway with God transformed my life Although viewed as successful, Christian businesswoman and author, Jemma Regis, was inwardly racked by doubt, depression and fear. She shares how spending two months of solitude with God transformed her life

JEMMA REGIS

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is the author of ‘God’s Romantic Getaway’’

orn into a typically strict Caribbean family, my days were governed by church, chores and methods of punishment that today would be described as child abuse. The severe punishments caused me to run away from home on occasions, too scared to face the music. My childhood left me timid, paranoid, stripped of all confidence, and with low self-esteem. I loved and adored my parents, but also feared them. My mindset was: if I could be good they would love me, and the discipline would stop.

God was never too far from my thoughts and, at thirteen, my decision to get baptised stemmed from my desire to know Him and to live right, but the painful memories of my past influenced my life. I was insecure, self-conscious and introvert. Later on, my struggle turned to self-hate and jealousy, and I started to covet the popularity that my older sister had. How I longed to walk in the confidence she glowed in.

In 1987, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and I still struggle to comprehend it today. My older sister and I found ourselves undertaking roles we weren’t emotionally prepared to handle. How could

the absence of one person divide what appeared to be a solid family unit?

At 17, I classed myself as an adult, no longer in need of the motherly love and guidance I would later come to crave. I had misjudged the power my past would have over me, so too the grieving process and, with no one to turn to, I began searching for the God that the Bible spoke of. I was a mess, scared and vulnerable, but also hungry, thirsty, but for what? Losing mummy brought pain, pressure, responsibility and grief, and it wasn’t long before depression and suicidal tendencies stepped in.

Many called me a beautiful young, talented woman, but I couldn’t see this for myself. I left college highly qualified, ready to walk into any job I desired, but my insecurities led me to worthless jobs where I could work alone, fuelling my innate fear of crowds. With much encouragement I started my own business; I had big dreams. I threw myself into it, hoping it would bring satisfaction, but instead it created loneliness. I was seen as a thriving businesswoman, a role I played for my audience but I was living a lie.

“Who would have thought that sitting with God in utter silence and allowing Him all the time He needed would bring about such intimate healing?”

Many labelled me miserable because I couldn’t appreciate all I had going for me, which hurt because I wasn’t that person, but everything inside me was manifesting itself in ways that made me appear miserable, and I hated the fact I couldn’t see my own potential. I carried this mentality throughout adulthood, tearfully allowing myself to be used by men, accepting what I believed to be love under the belief it was all I deserved.

I poured my heart out to God on numerous occasions, but He was silent.

In 2000, I made a conscious decision to pursue God with all my heart, which started with daily devotional sessions and, as a result, began to draw closer to Him. By 2004, my relationship with Him was the strongest it

had ever been; however, my past crept in, periodically causing long bouts of depression, the longest of which lasted for three years and almost cost me my life.

Broken by the effects of a past I couldn’t shake off, and the battle between doubt and belief in God, faced with life or death I put everything on hold, went away, and I spent two months undisturbed in God’s presence.

Choosing life meant my depressive triggers had to be destroyed. I needed a new start, not a self-help away break, or a stint of counselling which I had previously tried. My current state was killing me from the inside out. My journey involved me letting go of the person that circumstances had turned me into. In order to be my Father’s child, I had to let go, and let go I did.

My time was spent LISTENING to God; He spoke directly into every area of my life and, when He spoke, rather than debate, I adjusted my thinking and actions. My time with Him totally transformed my life. I now know the true meaning of salvation. Who would have thought that sitting with God in utter silence and allowing Him all the time He needed would bring about such intimate healing?

Today almost three years on, and for the first time in over 40 years, I am living life as God intended. Sometimes the accusations of my past still present themselves, but unlike before, I refuse to entertain them for one second, regardless of the circumstances.

My intimate relationship with God is the most important thing in my life and being still, just listening and hearing is the key to that intimacy.

Jemma Regis has chronicled her experiences in her first book, God’s Romantic Getaway (£9.99 for a limited time). It’s available from www.authors-choice.com or www.amazon.co.uk

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40 LIFESTYLE

Pastors’ Column

LARA RUFUS

CASE STUDY

BA, MSc is CEO of Crowne Consultancy

Battling against depression Lara Rufus looks at the issue of depression within the pastoral ministry, and the steps that can be taken to combat it

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o many of us, a ‘depressed Christian leader’ seems somewhat of an oxymoron.

Surely Christians are not supposed to be depressed? After all, the “the joy of the Lord is our strength” and, yes, whilst this is true, we cannot afford to neglect the fact that depression and Christian leadership is a real and ever-present issue.

A new study, conducted among more than 1,700 pastors, found that members of the clergy are at far greater risk of depression and anxiety - mostly due to stress - than those with other occupations.

Many in church leadership, who constantly pour into the lives of their flock, may be in desperate need of help themselves. Question: Who does the pastor turn to if the pastor needs help?

The recent spate of suicides in the US, by a number of pastors linked with depression, is evidence of this, and is a real wake-up call to the Church - and one not to be ignored.

Depression

Having worked for a large Christian charity, I personally know of at least three people - all committed Christians - who have been clinically diagnosed with depression, including those in very senior positions.

Depression, often described as that ‘dark night of the soul’, is a real issue with many in leadership, but is often frowned upon or swept under the carpet. It can be linked with spiritual weakness or demonic activity, and many may be quick to judge it as a direct result of disobedience to God, using Saul as a reference point, who became plagued with depression after having disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15). For many, though, depression is not linked to any form of known disobedience.

Elijah fell into depression, and suicidal thoughts were part of his dark episode. ‘He prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough!

Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”’ (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah’s situation highlights

The journey into a profound spirituality for me began when I finally said, “I quit.”

Refusing to continue pretending everything was ‘fine’, I told my husband, Pete, I was quitting the church – and he was the pastor!

The powerful journey we took together – to ‘quit’ the things that really do not belong to God’s Kingdom, and to embrace the things that do – changed our personal lives, our marriage, and our church. One of the key issues for me related to over-functioning. Most of us in leadership struggle with this, including myself. Like an archaeological tell, the depth of the issue only becomes clearer with time.

Over-functioning can be defined as: “Doing for others what they can and should do for themselves.”

Courtesy of Leaders.com

several problems that can lead to depression. He was physically exhausted - another reason many people succumb to depression. By the time Elijah got to Sinai, he was weak from fatigue.

Spiritual depression is a recurrent theme throughout Scripture. Other known Bible greats in Scripture who, it would appear, suffered from bouts of depression - aside from Elijah on the run from Jezebel - include Gideon in the threshing fields, and David fleeing from Saul, evident in the bookof Psalms.

Types of depression

Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Doctors use the term clinical depression to describe the more severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder.

The Signs

So what are the signs should we look out for? Well, some symptoms of depression can include: • continuous low mood or sadness • feeling hopeless and helpless • having low self-esteem • feeling tearful • feeling guilt-ridden • feeling anxious or worried • having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself

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Physical symptoms include: • moving or speaking more slowly than usual • change in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased) • disturbed sleep (for example, finding it hard to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning) Social symptoms include: • not doing well at work • taking part in fewer social activities and avoiding contact with friends • neglecting your hobbies and interests • having difficulties in your home and family life Courtesy of the NHS, 2013.

This is not an exhaustive list, more of an indication. However, this should be reviewed wisely and with professional guidance. If you know you have a problem with depression, then one would be wise to seek medical help. One should also ‘know thyself’ and be conscious of any of these symptoms. Depression can come on gradually, so it can be difficult to notice something is wrong.

The good news is that help is available; with prayer, support and adequate counselling, depression needn’t control your life.

The National Health Service (NHS) has an excellent website, which provides a self-assessment and offers some great tips on getting help. See www.nhs.uk/ conditions/depression There are other forms of help, too, like Cornelius Browne’s, Mind Café, based in Hackney, east London.

This is a great Christian initiative, offering support tools to those from BME backgrounds, who might be suffering with mental and emotional health problems.

See www.mindcafeonline.com/ Premier’s Mind and Soul is another great initiative supporting Church leaders, who need support with their emotional health and who seek deeper understanding of mental health issues, as well as those who have mental health problems but also have a strong Christian faith. For more information see www.mindandsoul.info/ Depression is real, and is becoming more and more evident in the Church. Don’t ignore it - let’s deal with it!

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

Lara is former Chair of the Black Fundraisers’ Network. Visit www.crowneconsultancy.co.uk or email info@crowneconsultancy.co.uk

42 LIFESTYLE

Business Matters

She’s soft, but no pushover

W

hen Merlene Carrington started her life coach consultancy 14 years ago, she had a good reason for doing so. “No one can give me the job I want to do,” she said.

She developed her talent in some tough environments: 17 years at the Foreign Office as a Disabled Persons’ Officer, in what she describes as a “culture that was unforgiving”, another four at the political think-tank, Operation Black Vote, and eight years as a Magistrate.

“I spoke to lots of people, who had their disabilities as one set of issues, but their confidence and self esteem as another set.

I spent a lot of time speaking with them about ways of coping and managing anxiety; colleagues’ lack of understanding, and enforcing the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.”

Her career has always been about encouraging people to be active in civic society – as school governors, board members, community activists – rather than to passively accept the decisions other people make about their lives. Today, Merlene helps “people to live out the thing that God has put them here to do”. She has mentored people at the School for

DENISE ROBERTS

is founder of Christian Women in Business UK and Loud Voice Communications

Social Entrepreneurs and on the award-winning Breakthrough mentoring programme, aimed at senior and junior civil servants.

“Some of the most amazing things happened,” she said, reflecting on what she calls one of the high moments of her career. “When you start with the closed fist of someone who has shut down, and then end up with an open hand or flower, a person empowered to move forward… nothing else gives me that level of satisfaction.”

Struggles and challenges

There are life coaches everywhere, which begs the question: What makes Merlene so special?

“People say it’s my level of compassion, yet they still understand that I will accept no excuses! If you are not willing to work with the process, then you are not ready,” she said.

“My approach to life coaching is holistic. I was doing it long before they gave it a fancy name.

Sometimes, the problem at work can be found in another area of life, as we have many aspects to our character, so I can’t say I just focus on career or eating. I’m a life coach.”

It also helps that she speaks candidly of her own challenges and struggles, so people know they are in the presence of someone “real”.

“There have been times when I have been clear that God has been directing my path and telling me what He wants me to do, and then other times when I have been in tears saying, ‘Where are You, what is going on, what does this mean?’

“I have tried things and been disappointed.

I have had the mountain and valley experiences, and God has taught me so much. One of the biggest lessons is nothing I do will ever be wasted. Another is to keep going through the storm and the sun will eventually shine.”

Merlene runs two monthly seminars, one on Career Crossroads and another on Finding Your Purpose. For more details, visit www.merlenecarringtonconsultancy. wordpress.com

Does business law make you yawn?

Many business owners don’t address important legal aspects around doing business, because they are unaware of its requirements or don’t understand the jargon.

That’s why the HiB Business Advice Centre is running a free workshop that looks at business law in plain English. It is aimed at start-ups, small businesses, owner-managed businesses and medium-sized enterprises to help them understand the basic principles of the legal, regulatory and compliance frameworks that impact upon their businesses.

The topics under discussion include: Business Structures; Contracts; Company Law; The obligations on directors or private limited companies; Employment issues, and Legal notices and e-commerce contacts to be used on the business website.

The workshop, designed to empower small and medium businesses, is being run in partnership with Christian The Law Firm. It takes place on Thursday, 27 February 2014 from 1pm to 3pm in London. See the website at www.harrowinbusiness.com for further details.

Follow us on Twitter @keepthefaithmag

How to inject a little love into your business Expecting employees to work in a corporately sterile environment is, thankfully, a culture of the past.

Today, big companies make huge investments to create workplaces where people love to come to work, because happy workers lead to lower staff turnover and better served customers and clients.

Here are a few tips on creating a loving work environment: • Be mindful of the dreams, interests and aspirations employees have. Find ways to link these to their role.

• Set regular supervision periods to sit and talk with employees about how they feel about their work and progress.

• Use Scriptures as the basis for workplace guidelines and policies.

For example, “Treat your colleagues as you would have them treat you”. Do the same with customer care.

• Since we like to surprise loved ones, why not introduce an element of surprise for employees or customers? It is great as a marketing incentive, but even better if you spring the surprise after they have actually made a purchase: “It’s just as well you ordered that meal, because today we’re giving away a free orange juice with each one sold.”

They will surely come back.

• Respond quickly to enquiries and complaints. The quicker you do, the more your customers will love you.

LIFESTYLE 43

TIPS FOR A

financially successful 2014

In this era of financial challenges, Isaac Carter provides some useful ways we can save and make money during 2014

ISAAC CARTER

A

is the author of ‘Go to the Ant’

nother new year brings more financial challenges.

2014 is here, and it comes with austerity in full swing: benefit cuts, bedroom tax, increases in train, bus and tube fares, increases in energy prices and a general increase in the cost of living. All of this means that in 2014 you must get the best out of your money!

So, here are some practical tips for a financially successful 2014: 1. Recycle old mobile phones, DVDs, CDs and clothes Mazumamobile.com will buy your old mobile phone. MusicMagpie. co.uk will give you money for your old CDs, DVDs and games. You can also sell any unwanted clothes on the website, or alternatively, use sites like eBay.

2. Use comparison sites to find the cheapest supermarket prices Mysupermarket.co.uk compares the prices of individual items at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Waitrose, Asda and Aldi, so you can get the best deals.

5. Switch energy suppliers Households could save up to £300 if they switch energy suppliers, but millions don’t. The process is simple. You can.

6. Use discount websites to save on days out Sites like groupon.co.uk, vouchercodes.co.uk and wowcher. co.uk offer daily deals and discounts on events, activities, travel and restaurants, to name a few.

7. Cycle/walk to work rather than drive or take the Tube Getting the bus will often save you money, too.

9. Open a savings account If you have money sitting in the bank, opening a savings account can provide some extra income.

10. Check to see if your children are entitled to any benefits, including free school meals and uniforms.

14. Use supermarket loyalty cards Using a supermarket loyalty scheme could save you money on your weekly shop. Tesco’s ClubCard, Sainsbury’s Nectar Card and Boots Advantage card, among others, offer points for every item purchased in store. This is then turned into money off your next shop.

15. Use a budget for your household finances Make a budget, totting up every household expense you will have to pay, including mortgage/rent, groceries, transport, utility bills, insurance, phone bills, and everything else, to ensure you don’t overspend.

16. Turn electrical appliances off when not in use Across the UK, households spend between £50 and £86 a year on gadgets in a ‘non-active’ or standby state.

11. Make sure your child isn’t paying tax on their savings account Children under 18 can earn interest before tax, but their parents must fill in a special form, called an R85, which stops 20% tax being deducted at source.

12. Don’t buy bottled water; fill up a re-usable bottle with tap water Not only is buying bottled water bad for the environment, it is also expensive. The average UK consumer gulps their way through £25,000 of bottled water in a lifetime. Furthermore, an estimated 30% of supermarket bottled water is tap water anyway.

3. Use balance transfer credit cards to transfer debt from your current credit card (that charges a high rate of interest) to one that charges 0% interest.

4. Buy own-brand goods at the supermarket Tesco’s Everyday Value goods cost on average 50% less than branded goods. Quite often, the non-branded options can taste better.

juicer - will save you the expense of buying these drinks in the shops.

13. Make your own drinks Making your own juices and smoothies - with a blender or

17. Make your own meals rather than buy takeaways Save money on buying takeaways, which you can make yourself, or buy from the supermarket much more cheaply.

18. Avoid the January sales Even though you might feel like you’re getting a bargain, it is likely you are buying something you never really needed, and would never have bought in the first place had it not been on sale.

19. Shop at discount supermarkets rather than high-end ones According to a poll of 30,000 households, more than half shopped at either Aldi or Lidl in the three months to December. So why not see how much you could save on your weekly shop?

20. Rent out a spare room Renting out a spare room in your house could make you several hundreds of pounds each month.

21. Cut down on the cost of car insurance 22. Collect loose change and pennies in a jar, and cash them in at the end of the year.

Without even realising, you could have saved £40 or £50.

23. Get cashback for shopping online Cashback sites, like Quidco.com or Topcashback.co.uk, give you cashback on your purchases once you have created an account with the respective site.

24. Install a smart meter Installing a smart meter will allow more accurate billing, which will cut out overcharging, as well as allow you to manage your electricity usage better.

25. Don’t waste food The average UK household wastes £470 worth of food each year, or £700 for a family with children.

This is equivalent to around £60 each month. Plan your meals, store your food correctly, get your portions right and eat leftovers.

26. Switch to high-interest current account If your bank pays a low rate of interest on your current account, opt for a better one.

28. Say No to things you don’t need, can’t afford, or won’t use!!

Have a great 2014!

Isaac Carter is the author of “Go to the Ant” a simple but effective guide to money management. www.gototheant.co.uk www.keepthefaith.co.uk

44 LIFESTYLE

Cyber Corner

KENO OGBO

is a Writer and Web Designer

Are you online? Don’t settle for less than exponential growth

R

ecently, one of my clients asked me why I felt it was important for her to be on social media. She had just started a business, and had listed Direct Marketing as her main (and only) marketing strategy. In her own words, she felt the only way to achieve orders was to pick up the phone and call the people on her mailing list to explain why the product would bring value and convenience to them.

She also explained that this method worked. One of the people she called raised several objections and, through the direct conversation, she was able to address most of his objections. He is now one of her best clients. “There”, she told me. “Direct marketing is the way forward for my business!”

I was shocked. Perhaps you agree with her?

It does make sense. Perhaps in preaching the Gospel, one-on-one evangelism is what works.

But in business? Really? Let’s think this through.

How many phone conversations can you have with new customers in a day? Discount the number of times you spend on leaving messages, holding on while the other person is distracted, and so on? Perhaps 8 to 10 conversations at the most. By which time you are worn out answering the same questions and repeating the same sales pitch. Let’s compare this with using a blog.

You write your sales pitch in an engaging, informative manner, and invite people to find out more by offering a free item of value, perhaps a 20% discount on the first order.

You publish testimonials from people who

My Choice App

have used your service; perhaps include a video of a testimonial, or get them to write something down, which you can publish on YouTube. You then create an infographic about your business, and publish this on your blog. Also, you can address some of the frequent objections as to why people may not find your product or service useful.

These are examples of content you can create - for FREE - using either Wordpress or Tumblr. You then share this content on your Facebook profile or page, in relevant groups, on LinkedIn - basically anywhere your audience may be.

Keep your content light and your post relevant, and people will spread the message for you . . . exponentially.

The next call you make, get their email address and follow this up with a link to your blog or your Facebook page. Add the same link to your email signature, and watch your growth in comparison to direct calls.

KENO OGBO runs Spiral Web Solutions, based in London. She is passionate about helping businesses achieve their goals using websites and other online marketing tools. To contact Keno email keno@spiralwebsolutions.com, or call 07958 004 739.

Tracking your goals

Goal Streaks is an IOS-only app for tracking your New Year resolutions and goals on a daily basis. It is easy to use and intuitive, and you can set reminders or schedule the activities that will help you reach your goal. The app sets a streak for all your activities towards your goals, and gives you a visual reminder of how well you are doing. The app is priced at £2.49, and is an easy starting point for you to keep track of your goals. www.goalstreaks.com

Pay attention to your online reputation

D

o you know what people are saying about you, your church or your organisation online, particularly via social media?

Whilst people may say great things about you, they can also write untrue or misunderstood facts about you, which can be tweeted, followed, re-written and shared with a wider audience.

However, this perceived problem could also be an opportunity - if handled properly. The Bible exhorts us to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks for a reason of the hope that is in you.

Why not see every comment - whether praise or complaint - as an opportunity to share the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord? First, you have to find out what people are saying.

Set up Google Alerts Google will email you the latest Google results based on your queries. This means that anytime your query (which could be your name, church or organisation name) is used on the web, as soon as it gets captured by the huge Google machinery, an alert is emailed to you. www.google.co.uk/alerts Set up Social Media alerts Google spiders are frequently unable to access social media websites and comment feeds, depending on the users’ privacy settings. Social Mention is a search engine specifically for user-generated content, such as blogs, comments, feeds and videos. Social Mention is one of a number of websites that perform this search, and provides data regarding the search, such as top users and the sentiment behind your search query.

What to do with an online comment Firstly, DO NOT ignore it. See it as an opportunity to give a gracious loving answer that would point to the Christ in you. It could be a comment on your business or customer service, or even the behaviour of people in church. The Bible teaches that a soft answer turns away wrath. Perhaps apologise or empathise, and then give a reason or some feedback with the intent of bringing reconciliation. The Internet brings us this opportunity; let’s use it.

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45

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46 MISSION

A

A HAITIAN HOPE

young boy, once destined for delinquency and a lack of education, is now bringing hope to his country as a member of the Haitian Parliament.

His mother, a single parent and widow struggling to provide for her family, could never have imagined that Beguens would one day make decisions that influence the lives of families such as her own.

Elected as a congressman in the Haitian Parliament in 2011, Beguens Theus is deputy of Gonave Island. Also a university professor and successful writer, he is advocating for the good of his native community - the biggest island in Haiti - and is as passionate as ever about releasing local children from poverty in Jesus’ Name.

“When I was a boy, I used to walk the shores of the island I lived on, and dream of what could be… getting out of poverty, making something of my life, and living out my dreams. And now, after all these years, that day has finally arrived: I stand here before you as a newly-elected Congressman. I love God, and I love the people of Haiti,” he said.

A new start

Born into a family of five, in the small, poor community of Petit-Fond on Gonave Island, Beguens’ father passed away in a shipwreck when he was just one year old.

Raising her children on her own was a tough challenge for Beguens’ mother, who feared she would see her children grow up with no access to education - not uncommon in an impoverished country like Haiti.

The opportunity for Beguens to enrol in Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Programme changed everything. He was able to start school at the age of five, and benefit from the project’s nutritious food, medical attention and, above all, a chance to get to know Jesus.

“I got a new start. I knew I needed to work hard, become educated and focus on the commandments of God,” said Beguens.

Beguens was able to join Compassion’s Leadership Development Programme, which helped shape him into the leader he is today.

He began studying accounting, and growing in confidence and direction. He then went on Follow us on Twitter @keepthefaithmag

to pursue the study of politics, international relations and a Masters degree in population studies. Beguens realised the value of education, and has enriched the Haitian library by writing books on the power of local community development, NGOs, poverty, women’s rights, education policy and aid.

Leading the way

La Gonave is one of the poorest places in Haiti, due to its lack of basic infrastructure.

Speaking up for central government to hear the cry of Gonave Island residents is far from straightforward, but Beguens believes it starts at grassroots: “I believe that if every leader empowered with authority focuses on addressing issues that can serve the development of his native community, the efforts of each of these leaders of all communities in Haiti put together will bring national growth in the country.

“I take up the fight for my people and become their voice in parliament. This thirst for a better tomorrow was so great that it pressed me to emerge as a leader, and God favoured me by allowing me to become the deputy here.”

horrors of poverty. Just as Compassion gave me a new life, I want to do the same for all the children of Haiti. God is using Compassion to write a new story in Haiti, one of hope and a new future,” said Beguens.

Beguens knows he is privileged to be able to impact the lives of many children. He has helped more than two thousand local children go to school, and the schools he set up are on track to become public, meaning they would be managed by the central government.

A vision for the next generation

“The suffering of our people is heavy on my heart,” said Beguens. “We have endured more than we can bear for so many years.

Earthquakes, fighting, riots, floods...there is so much we must do to make things right.

I believe it starts with our children. Will they face the same hardship the generations before them faced? Will they be educated enough to make the right decisions?

“It’s my vision, as a government official and a man of God, to save our little ones from the

“I know that education can transform a destiny. I am nearly at the end of my term as deputy of Gonave Island, and I can really be proud for all the milestones that I have reached.”

Lucy Cooper, Compassion UK

www.compassionuk.org

GOSPEL NEWS 11

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