Keep The Faith magazine issue 80

ISSUE 80

PARENTS: ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM REACTION FACTOR?

REV WALE HUDSONROBERTS

explores the sensitive issue of child abuse Life lessons Christians can learn from Pope Francis

WINNERS OF WISE WOMEN AWARDS 2013 ANNOUNCED

SHAUNA MUAMBA: The woman who got

the nation to pray

WELCOME 03

CONTENTS ISSUE 80 08

10

Dear Reader Aren’t you happy the sun has finally showed its face and is allowing us to bask in its warmth? I know that I am. And I happy to be sharing with you details of the contents of this month’s Keep The Faith magazine.

We have profiled two amazing ladies: Shauna Muamba, winner of this year’s Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award, who encouraged the nation to pray for her husband, Fabrice Muamba, after he collapsed and ‘died’ whilst playing football. She talks about how God has used that unique experience to touch the world.

The other great lady is the late Pastor Io Smith MBE, a pioneer of the UK Black church movement. A special service is being planned in her memory, and her daughter, Sheila Belgrave, shares why her mother’s legacy should be celebrated.

We’ve also got a report on the inspirational Wise Women Awards that Keep The Faith organised in conjunction with Wisdom for Women International - we had a ball - and Rev Stephen Brooks’ article reminding believers that it’s OK to laugh.

Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts explores the sensitive issue of child abuse; Jacqueline Laing looks at the lessons Christians can learn from the new leader of the Catholic church, Pope Francis; Dr Stuart Pattico reminds us of the healing power of Jesus, whilst Pastor Dawn Davis-Lawrence inspires women to have faith that makes a difference.

Do check out Gospel News; it includes details of LCGC’s special choir festival celebrating their 30th anniversary and of the Time2Shine gospel talent show for budding gospel artists. In addition, don’t forget all the amazing news, features and stories contained in this month’s Keep The Faith.

Happy reading

Editor Marcia Dixon editorial@keepthefaith.co.uk

14

24

16 20 WELCOME

28

04 Food 4 Thought by Marcia Dixon 06 Readers’ Letters

NEWS 07 News pages 10 C O V E R S T O R Y The Wise Women Awards 2013

COVER STORY

Life lessons Christians can learn from Pope Francis by Jacqueline Laing 29 Become a woman whose faith moves mountains by Pastor Dawn Davis-Lawrence

COMMENT

12 The gospel scene: 40 years on

by Juliet Fletcher 14 Gospel News by Marcia Dixon

30 Biblical truths vs cultural movements

by Rev David Shosanya 32 C O V E R S T O R Y Don’t let the children suffer

by Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts 33 It’s OK for believers to laugh!

by Rev Stephen Brooks

INTERVIEW

INSPIRATION

16

Interview with Shauna Muamba 20 Interview with Sheila Belgrave, daughter of Pastor Io Smith

34 The healing power of Jesus

by Dr Stuart Pattico 36 Drop the labels and unveil the real you

by Gladys Famoriyo

FEATURE

LIFESTYLE

22 Grace or works - which comes first?

by Esther Williams 24 Positive relationships bring positive change across the UK

by Patrick Regan OBE 26 What’s love got to do with it?

by Dionne Gravesande

38 Cyber Corner: Going viral, reaching millions by Keno Ogbo 39 Business Matters by Denise Roberts 40 Heart to Heart by Esther Fenty 41 Parents: Are you suffering from the reaction factor? by Amie Buhari 42 Charity Affairs by Lara Rufus

GOSPEL NEWS

COVER STORY

Keep The Faith R Postal Address: Suite 48 88-90 Hatton Garden London EC1N 8PN Tel: 0845 193 4431

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

Many thanks from Keep The Faith to: Rev David Shosanya, Rev Stephen Brooks, Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts, Marcia Dixon, Dionne Gravesande, Esther Williams, Amie Buhari, Juliet Fletcher, Gladys Famoriyo, Keno Ogbo, Esther Fenty, Lara Rufus, Becky Wybrow, Isaac Carter, Denise Roberts, Patrick Regan OBE, Jacqueline Laing, Pastor Dawn Davis-Lawrence, Dr Stuart Pattico, Jackie Raymond, our supporters and all our advertisers. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher.

Front cover image © Lee Thompson/NI Syndication

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

04 WELCOME

FOOD 4 THOUGHT

BY

MARCIA DIXON

..........................................................................................................................................

SHOULD THE BLACK CHURCH BE MORE POLITICAL? ‘Why isn’t the Black Church more political?’ is an often-asked question by individuals keen to harness its power and influence to advance Britain’s African and AfricanCaribbean community economically, professionally and politically.

It’s understandable that the question is asked, particularly when comparisons are made between the Black Church in the UK and its counterparts in the US and in South Africa. Both these countries have a well-known narrative of the Church playing a key role in standing alongside individuals, political lobby groups and the general Black populace in their fight for civil rights, and winning them.

I believe the Church should be involved in politics, but not necessarily party politics, which many Black commentators seem keen for Black churches (and by Black churches I mean their leaders) to be involved with. It’s imperative that the Church is seen as non-partisan, serving as the moral conscience of a nation, and speaking out against unjust laws, societal injustices, immorality and defending the powerless, disadvantaged and vulnerable. The Church should also inspire, empower and signpost its members to get involved in the political process, whether on a local, regional or a national level.

In the US, for instance, many of its greatest Black politicians are Christians; the first ever Black President of the US, Barack Obama, was, for many years, a member of Pilgrim Congregational

United Church of Christ when he lived in Chicago.

Those who write off the Church, because it is not involved in party politics, misunderstand its role. It is the vehicle God uses to share the Gospel message and to build His Kingdom. It should also be noted that great church leaders/ preachers don’t necessarily make great politicians, but what they can do is: (i) provide a platform for politicians to engage with their congregations, and (ii) forge links with key institutions that can help facilitate the progress of our community.

What people should be looking for churches to do is to undergird and support the moral and behavioural foundations that facilitate the success of a community: strong families; a commitment to education and life-long learning; an aversion to crime and criminal behaviour; mental wellbeing; entrepreneurship, and support for the disadvantaged and the vulnerable. And, let’s be honest, most of Britain’s most successful Black folk (professionally and otherwise) have some kind of involvement with the church. There’s something about being part of the Black faith community that helps facilitate success.

Only time will tell if the Black Church will become more political but, in the interim, let’s not forget many churches are doing what churches do best: preaching the Gospel; supporting the weak, and inspiring believers to utilise their talents in all sectors of society, including the political arena.

WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS? We live in a society that can sometimes appear to be anti-male.

Men are constantly berated for their seeming inability to be faithful in relationships, multi-task, tap into their emotions, as well as their inertia, a propensity to be aggressive and violent… The list could go on.

As much as there is some truth in these comments, it’s not the whole truth.

Men have a valuable and unique role to play in society. For instance, the rise in gangs across the country highlights what can happen when men are absent en-masse from communities. With too few exemplary men around for young boys and teenagers to model themselves on, men who are criminally inclined are more than willing to take their place.

Health - not wealth - needs to be the focus During the past 10 years, there has been an inordinate focus within some Black churches on teaching believers how to grow rich and become people of influence.

Whilst there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with encouraging Christians to generate wealth, when considering the susceptibility of people of African and African-Caribbean descent to certain diseases, shouldn’t there also be a focus within our churches to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle, so that our bodies are strong and fit enough to carry out God’s purposes in this earth?

For instance, whilst diabetes is rampaging its way through the First World, due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles, Black people are three times more likely to suffer from diabetes than the general population. We are also more susceptible to high Rick blood pressure, with Warren statistics stating that we are 3-4 times more likely to suffer from this disease than the general population. It’s the same for strokes.

Although some already do so, churches would be doing a great public service by putting on more events with health professionals – many of whom attend our churches - which promote healthy living. When so many saints are susceptible to debilitating sickness, health - not wealth - needs to be our new focus.

@keepthefaithmag

Too few people are taking into consideration how all this male-bashing is affecting young boys. What kind of men will they become if all they hear is a constant stream of comments of how worthless men are?

Isn’t it time for us to start highlighting those men who are trying to live godly, honourable lives? Not all men are bad, and if we want the next generation of men (our young boys) to be better, we need to show them how, and this means focusing our attention on those men doing positive, praiseworthy things. They exist. Let’s promote them even if it’s just to provide inspiration for our young boys.

06 LETTERS

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

Britain a postracial society?

I don’t think so!

Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts’ article, ‘Is Britain A Post-Racial Society?’ was an eye opener. Why do people believe that just because the US has elected its first ever Black president, and that there are more people in positions of influence, that the world has become colour blind? In America, Black people are still overrepresented in the prison system; still likely to be unemployed, and still at the bottom of the pile when it comes to education, health and poverty. The same is true here in the UK, too, and there is still some truth in the old saying, “If you’re Black, stay back; if you’re Brown, stick around; if you’re Yellow, you’re mellow; if you’re White, you’re all right.” And, although Black people are moving forward, and there are increased opportunities for the most talented/ disciplined/entrepreneurial in our community to rise to the top, there’s no way that Britain can be described as a post-racial society. That will only happen when Jesus comes back to the earth.

Peter Ongono, Manchester

God is the ultimate giver Thank God for Felicia T Scott’s article, ‘Godly Giving Replenishes’ in Issue 79 of Keep The Faith. I am naturally a giver; I like to share the good things God has given me my time, energy, money and support - with others, but sometimes I feel I give too much and get little in return. Felicia’s article reminded me that I should give from a place of emotional wholeness; choose when and to whom I give, and to always remember that God is the ultimate Giver.

Jennifer Jones, Bristol

I love the Heart to Heart column Esther Fenty’s Heart to Heart column is one of my favourite sections of Keep The Faith magazine. I love the advice she gives out; it’s practical, biblically-based and very sound. However, the key reason why I enjoy Heart to Heart so much is because it serves as a timely reminder that Christians do not live perfect lives; that they experience problems just like everyone else, and that help and support are available from the Christian community to help us overcome them.

Isabel Martin, London

Jesus House initiative is good I’d like to say Congratulations to Jesus House for joining forces with Elevation Networks and Barnet Council to launch the Barnet Youth Business Incubator (BaYBI), which will help train a new generation of young entrepreneurs. People like to criticise the Church by saying it isn’t doing anything, but our churches are doing a lot, and the BaYBI Project is just one of the innovative initiatives being undertaken by our churches.

Kenneth Jones, Wolverhampton

@keepthefaithmag

Rev Bailey’s views on same-sex marriage misguided I could not believe my eyes when I read the Keep The Faith interview with Rev Paul Bailey (Issue 79), who is the first Black minister in Britain to publicly declare his support for same-sex marriage. Although he gave seemingly reasonable arguments as to why he believes the Bible allows same-sex marriage, I feel he is totally misguided. Whilst the Bible calls believers to love their neighbour, to not be judgmental of others and to be accepting of those excluded from society, to stretch these biblical injunctions to state that the Scriptures are accepting of same-sex marriage is taking things a little too far.

Nowhere at all do the Scriptures sanction same-sex relationships or marriage between two people of the same sex - no matter how loving or faithful they are - and any person who wants to call themselves a Christian cannot or should not be condoning same-sex relationships.

Joseph Andrews, Birmingham

The Church must show gays compassion I wish that all Black church leaders could be like Rev Paul Bailey. It was refreshing to read his well thought through views about why he believes the Bible supports same-sex relationships/marriage.

I have known of Christians with homosexual leanings, who have left the Church because they experienced little compassion and understanding when they shared details of their struggles, neither did they receive the spiritual support they felt they needed. Through being very public with his views, Rev Bailey has made the homosexual community recognise that there is a place for them in the Church, and that they have freedom to love whosoever they want - without fear of condemnation.

Jonathan Levett, London

NEWS 07

Keep The Faith at Downing Street reception Keep The Faith publisher, Shirley McGreal, was one of the many guests at a special reception for Christians across the denominational spectrum, held at 10 Downing Street during Easter.

Young boy encourages children to get A’s The Iloyi family, comprising husband and wife gospel duo, Royal Priesthood, and their children, are keen to promote a positive image of the Black Christian family.

The Reception was hosted by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who shared with those present, which included Bishop John Francis of Ruach Ministries, and Bishop Joe Aldred of Churches Together in England, the importance of faith and faith institutions in the UK. He told the gathered crowd: “This Government does care about faith; it does care about the institutions of faith, and it does want to stand up and oppose the aggressive secularisation that can sometimes happen in our society.”

“As I’ve said, it’s a good week to celebrate not just the importance of faith in our country, but also the importance of faith institutions in our country in this week when we’ve seen a new Pope and we will see a new Archbishop, because these institutions do matter.”

Shirley McGreal said, “It was an honour to attend this Reception, representing Keep The Faith magazine, the UK’s leading magazine about Black faith community, and to see the current Government acknowledge the contribution the Christian community makes in wider society.”

Leading Black church leader in hospital Christians throughout the country are praying for Bishop Wilton Powell, one of the most loved church leaders within the UK Black church community, who is in hospital after suffering a heart attack on Easter Sunday.

Bishop Powell serves as National Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy UK & France (COGOP) and as Vice Chairman of West Midlands housing association, Nehemiah UCHA. At the time of writing, Bishop Powell is in hospital and, according to a statement issued by the church, is ‘in a critical condition’. The statement goes on to say “There are encouraging signs that he is making steady progress towards recovery, and we pray he continues to improve.”

Since Bishop Powell’s heart attack, the Executive Board of the COGOP has met to make arrangements to support Bishop Powell and his family, as well as to assist with the national leadership of COGOP whilst Bishop Powell is recovering.

Bishop Powell’s family have expressed their thanks for the many, many kind messages of support they have received during this difficult time.

In 2011, their middle son, Khaliyl, caused a media storm when a video of him rapping alongside his father Femi went viral, and led to it being broadcast on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. To date, it has attracted over 2 million views.

This time, Kieyen, the eldest son of gospel duo, Femi and Roucheon Iloyi, is inspiring young children to do well in school with his self-penned song, ‘I Get A’s’.

The song, which has been released as a video, has struck a chord with parents and children alike, and has inspired Kieyen’s parents to produce T-shirts and bags with ‘I Get A’s’ emblazoned across.

They’re responding to demands from parents, who want to give their children products with the positive slogan on them.

Roucheon explained, “The song is my son’s creative expression, and it’s inspiring young children to do well in school and to be their best in whatever they do. It’s good for children to feel secure and good about themselves; to be hopeful about their contribution to their lives, and to have a good sense of self worth.”

For more details, visit www.feromedia.co.uk

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

08 NEWS

CHURCH DRUMMER WINS NATIONAL COMPETITION Matthew Brown, son of leading gospel producer and musician Nicholas Brown, has been crowned Young Drummer of the Year, after beating off 400 competitors in a nationwide competition.

The 16-year-old drummer, who honed his skills whilst playing in the Calvary Church of God in Christ’s National Youth Department, impressed the panel of judges, which included Robbie Williams and Donavan Hepburn, with the ‘maturity and control’, dynamism and funky feel of his drumming.

Commenting on his win, an elated Matthew stated, “I realise that it’s not really about winning, as the last ten were amazing, so I’m really humbled that the judges chose me. I tried to use all the skills I’ve learned from watching my Uncle and my Dad, and being around other amazing musicians.” He added, “Church sets you up to win, because it’s such an inspirational but competitive atmosphere; there are so many talented and amazing people everywhere you

If you’re a single Christian experiencing difficulties in finding a life partner, then you might want to take advantage of a new Christian-inspired matchmaking service.

look. I guess the performance element of church helps your confidence, too.”

The future looks bright for Matthew, who confesses to being a fan of Richard Smallwood and Marvin Sapp. He’s set to start a college course, go on a nationwide clinic tour as part of his winning prize, and has been approached by numerous companies interested in sponsoring him.

And he’s excited by what the future holds for him. “I hope to continue making music and pushing the envelope for myself and all gospel musicians who are my age. I’m just a young guy who loves God and loves music, and I hope to make people happy when I play.”

NTCG Youth Convention to celebrate 50th anniversary The youth department of one of Britain’s oldest Black Pentecostal churches will be celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary this May Bank Holiday.

Over 3000 people are expected to attend the 50th Annual Youth Convention of the New Testament Church of God (NTCG), being held at Bethel Convention Centre, West Bromwich from 3-5 May. In celebration of this special event, the NTCG Youth Department has produced a booklet/DVD, which documents how the Department has changed over the years, and special guest preachers taking part include Rev Joel Edwards (pictured) and Nerissa Dubidad.

Young people from across the denominational spectrum, as well as NTCG churches, have attended the National Youth Convention over the years, and Ruben King, the current head of the NTCG Youth and Education Department, feels that the event has played an important role in young people’s spiritual development. He told Keep The Faith, “The conventions have impacted the lives of children, youth and young people over five decades in many ways. For young people, they have been a conduit for spiritual renewal and revival, discovery of vocation and calling, and a place to give thanks to God for the blessing of another year. The Scripture says that ‘iron sharpens iron’, and every family needs ‘family time’, so long may youth conventions continue.” For more details, visit www.ntcg.org.uk @keepthefaithmag

Meet your match with Divine Introductions

Andrina Davis is founder of Divine Introductions, a company founded earlier this year, which aims to match Christians with potential suitors.

Explaining her reasons for setting up Divine Introductions, Andrina explained, “I started the service to fill the gap. Whilst there are many non-Christian introduction services, there are very few that are specifically for Christians. So I wanted to do something practical and effective that would help single Christian people to meet and, if I meet my own match along the way, then even better!”

Although based in Birmingham, Andrina has received enquiries from believers across the country since launching her unique service. She believes that a matchmaking service removes the trial and error element of online dating, making it easier for someone to find someone they are more suited to.

“I believe God uses many different ways to bring people together, and I’m a big advocate of trying new things and having new experiences.

“I understand that the service won't be for everybody, but I ask people not to discourage other people from trying it, as that may be the way that they find love.”

For more details, visit www.divineintroductions.co.uk

10 NEWS

Top row left, Angie Le Mar, Wise Women Award Host Middle row L to R: Pastor Marjorie Esomowei with Christine Ohuruogu and Pastor Clem Esomowei, Silvano Francis-Griffith with her Award, Pastor Abbiih Oloyede, presenter of the WWA Women in Media Award, Shekinah Griffith giving her acceptance speech Bottom row L to R: Jennifer Blake with her Mum, Christine Ohuruogu, Shauna Muamba and Dulcie Dixon with their WWA Awards

WISE WOMEN AWARDS 2013 WHAT A BALL!!!

Keep The Faith magazine reports on the 9th Wise Women Awards, the only Awards in the UK to recognise the contributions of Christian women in the Church and wider society

W

ise Women Awards 2013 was, to coin a popular phrase, ‘off the hook’. The Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel Banqueting Suite was filled to capacity, as women and men from across the UK gathered at the Hilton Tower Bridge hotel, London, to celebrate and recognise the achievements of Christian women.

Angie Le Mar was the consummate host for the WWA, now in its 9th year, and elicited belly hugging laughs with her reminiscences of church life, whilst holding the event together. Singers Lurine Cato, Dayo Bello and Clif’n’Marie struck the right notes with their renditions, and Dionne Gravesande, who gave the keynote, encouraged women to care and support each other.

The night, however, belonged to the nominees and Award winners, who provided inspiration in abundance with their heart-warming stories of how they overcame personal trauma, or how their faith in the Lord inspired them to serve their communities in various ways.

The oldest WWA recipient was Enid Jackson, 82, who won the Naomi Award for founding Culture Dementia UK when she was 67. The youngest winner was Shekinah Griffith, a member of the New Testament Church of God in Nottingham, who is involved in children’s ministry, and is one of the youngest directors of a Credit Union here in the UK.

@keepthefaithmag

Other recipients included BBC Leicester’s Dulcie Dixon, who won the Women in Media award for many years of service; Yvonne Brooks, co-pastor of the New Jerusalem Apostolic Church, who received the Women in Ministry Award; gospel pioneer, Juliet Fletcher, who won the Women in Music Award, and former gang leader-cum-Christian, Jennifer Blake, brought her mother to the stage with her to collect the Life Transformation Award, and publicly thanked her for praying for her whilst she was out in the world.

Former Olympic champion and silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, Christine Ohuruogu wiped tears from her eyes as Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, founder of the Wise Women Awards, talked about her accomplishments and Christian faith, before presenting her with the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award, whilst Shauna Muamba was almost overcome with emotion as she gave her acceptance speech after receiving the Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award for the faith she demonstrated when her husband, Fabrice Muamba, technically died for 72 minutes on the football pitch when his heart stopped beating, and she got the nation to pray for him.

All in all, the Wise Women Awards was an event to be remembered – roll on Wise Women Awards 2014.

WWA Award winners L to R: Shauna Muamba, Dulcie Dixon, Yazmin McKenzie, Folashade Lemo, Jennifer Blake, Joan Todd, Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, Shekinah Griffith, Silvano Griffith-Francis, Enid Jackson, Pastor Yvonne Brooks, Adejare Osho

AWA R D W I N N E R S Exceptional Young Woman Award - Shekinah Griffith Naomi Award (sponsored by Rainbow Medical Services) - Enid Jackson Women in Music Award - Juliet Fletcher Women in Media Award (sponsored by OH TV) - Dulcie Dixon Women in Business Award (sponsored by Dial a Carer) - Silvano Griffith-Francis Life Transformation Award (sponsored by Compassion UK) - Jennifer Blake Missions Award (sponsored by Christian Aid) - Pearl Jarrett Women in the Community Award (sponsored by PJs Community Group) - Juliet Coley Women in Ministry Award - Pastor Yvonne Brooks Triumphant Church Exceptional Women Award 2013 - Folashade Lemo Triumphant Church Exceptional Women Award 2013 - Adejare Osho TCI Inspirational Woman Award - Christine Ohuruogu Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award - Shauna Muamba

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

12 GOSPEL NEWS

The Gospel scene:

40yearson Juliet Fletcher shares her reflections of being in UK Gospel for 40 years, and how the scene has changed for the better during that time

JULIET FLETCHER is Director of GreenTree, a specialist music consultancy and production company

T

his year, I am marking my 40th year in UK Gospel; it’s an amazing time for me.

I often write about my experiences in this column as a way of advising and encouraging those in gospel. As you can imagine, I have seen many changes over the years, but I thought it might be interesting to contrast a list of THEN and NOW. LCGC

Trumpets of Zion, and Adventist group, Prophecy, attracting a 2000+ audience.

NOW: Gospel promoters have all but disappeared, with churches now putting on concerts with US acts, and UK artists regularly staging and headlining their own big concerts, instead of supporting US acts. LCGC regularly sell out concerts at venues like the Jazz Café, the Royal Festival and Royal Albert Halls; Muyiwa’s string of sell-out shows at Indigo O2 and the Apollo Hammersmith; Urban acts and brands, like Guvna B and GL Live, and John Fisher’s We Sing U Sing and iGospel school-based shows are just a few of the artist-branded events of today. But I do think we need the gospel promoter back in place.

Lavine Hudson

Yet, we still need more quality products, which move beyond the UK territory. The signs are that this could happen rapidly in the months ahead.

Recording Artists THEN: Getting signed by a record company was the goal - such was their interest in the genre at the time. Seventies groups like The Harmonizers, The Persuaders, Soul Seekers, The Heaven Bound Brothers, The Heavenly Hopes, Majestic Singers and Kainos did. In the 80s and early 90s, LCGC, The Inspirational Choir, Lavine Hudson and Nu Colors were amongst the artists who succeeded in getting signed to majors. Just a tip: If you have a copy of any of these recordings, keep it in good condition and safe!

Concerts THEN: The gospel concert scene of the late 70s to 90s was driven by promoters and, in most instances, US artists were the major draw. The first big concert I saw was in 1979: Andrae Crouch and The Disciples, recorded live at the Hammersmith Apollo, London.

Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, Birmingham Town Hall and, in London, Islington and Camden Town Hall were ‘hot gospel’ places to see your favourite international and UK artists. Who remembers (the late) Dannibelle Hall - composer/artist extraordinaire for songs like Ordinary People and I Go To Rock, Take Me Back live at Camden Town Hall?

UK artists also delivered awesome concerts. The night LCGC launched at Kensington Temple in 1981, and the great Singspirations at NTA Tooting rate high. And the first All Star UK line-up of the Oasis Awards Poll Winners Concert (of ’84), featuring LCGC, Paradise, @keepthefaithmag

NOW: Technology has changed everything. The first three months of this year has seen a record number of releases, including Guvna B, Aaron T. Aaron, Sandra Godley and Muyiwa & Riversongz.

TV & Radio – General Media THEN: The 1980s ITV television series, People Get Ready, has to be the ultimate representation of the talent which existed at that time on British screens.

During the 90s, The Gospel Train on BBC Radio 2 was the first nationally broadcast radio show – direct from the Black Church. As the Researcher/ Producer of this show, I am very proud of it. We were nominated for a Sony Radio Academy Award, and also won The National Gospel Music Awards Contribution to Gospel Music category. In addition to community-based stations, BBC Local Radio across the UK featured gospel shows, including the noted late Frank Stewart (West Midlands), Dulcie Dixon (Leicester) and John McPherson (Sheffield). Community and pirate radio stations transformed awareness, too.

NOW: Sadly, neither People Get Ready nor BBC’s Gospel Train exist or have equal replacements on terrestrial TV and radio – to date. Most of the BBC local and regional programmes are few and far between. Dulcie Dixon on BBC Radio Leicester; Nikki Tapper on BBC West Midlands, and Howard McCalla on BBC Three Counties count among the remnant. However, the rise of DAB radio with Premier Gospel, UCB Gospel, and the growth in satellite and online stations have created a much richer landscape that we can all navigate.

Professionals & Industry THEN: Since the late 70s, from having no experience to becoming professional experts in Guvna B

GOSPEL NEWS 13

gospel music, we learnt about touring into Europe; producing shows; acting as agents; negotiating deals with record companies, and so on. In the 90s, we described ourselves as a ‘cottage industry’.

Then GreenTree Productions established the Gospel Summit – the annual industry event for UK Gospel, which successfully provided a showcase for artists, training workshops, international engagement, and an opportunity for key leaders and others to meet and discuss industry issues.

NOW: The number of specialists operating in our sector has increased. The GMIA (Gospel Music Industry Alliance) has given us representation in the music industry. However, the most significant development for the past 40 years has to be the recent launch of the first ever Official UK Christian And Gospel Album Chart. It has given UK Gospel true potential for industry growth and success.

Artists need to seriously consider what they must do, now that they have access to the opportunity of representing their genre through a WEEKLY Chart. #NoSlackingThePace #NoTimeWastersNeedApply I’m truly thankful to God for the past, but so excited for all of us in this new era.

Juliet Fletcher is a former BBC Producer and founding Executive of the GMIA. Visit www.gmia.org.uk for more details, or phone 020 3086 8348.

BE INSPIRED BY KEEP THE FAITH Muyiwa

Subscribe online at www.keepthefaith.co.uk

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

14 GOSPEL NEWS

GOSPEL NEWS LCGC 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WEEKEND This Bank Holiday weekend - 4-6 May - LCGC will be celebrating its 30-year anniversary with a gathering of at least thirty choirs from across the world, including countries such as France, Italy and Spain, which will feature expert workshops, unique performance opportunities, a Guinness World Record challenge and a mega-concert at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.

LCGC will perform a spectacular concert on May 5 for all of the choirs taking part, as well as members of the public, and there will be guest appearances from some of LCGC’s well-known friends, with whom they have performed over the last 30 years.

The LCGC 30 Choir Festival weekend is an amazing opportunity for choirs - and also for individual members of the public - to get up close and personal with LCGC for expert tutorage, advice and performances, as well as to be part of history in the making with the Guinness World Record attempt.

If you are interested in getting tickets or finding out how you can register to take part, visit www.30choirfestival.com

meet the

artist UK rapper SO has caused a storm throughout the world with his sophomore album, So It Continues, and has embarked on a tour promoting its release. He spoke to Keep The Faith about his music, his faith and the future.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): When your sophomore album So It Continues was released last year, it hit the top 5 of iTunes hip hop charts in the US, Canada and the UK during its first week of release. How did you feel about that?

SO: It felt great to know that my music was not just well received in the UK, but all around the world. It actually excited me to see that God was doing such a great thing through my music - not to sound cliché.

KTF: Why do you think So It Continues received so much love from hip hop music lovers?

SO: I honestly think that love was shown because of the honesty in my music. I’m often called an emo-rapper, but the reality is that most people enjoy art they can relate to. My music is relational; I talk about real life issues from a Christian perspective, and people can relate to it. Also because of the groundwork I had previously laid: my first album was free; I have done multiple shows, and been busy on social networks.

KTF: What are the key themes you are trying to convey on this album?

SO: A key theme would be life and doctrine: how does what I believe affect the way I am living. In reality, saying ‘I believe in God or Jesus’ does not mean too much. James says that even the demons believe and they shudder! Jesus is all about belief affecting life, and on So It Continues I wanted to write about my life through a Christian lens.

KTF: You’re a rap artist, who has a Theology degree. Why did you choose to

do that degree, and why did you decide to pursue becoming a rap artist?

SO: I got a degree in Theology, because I wanted to know the God that I believe in even more than I did! As to why I decided to become a rapper, I believe I have a gift and God was opening doors that I was not chasing. I met some great people who helped me on my way. I’m still pursuing becoming a rap artist; I have not arrived.

KTF: Have you ever used what you’ve learned in your music?

SO: Oh absolutely! My first project was called ‘The 5 Solas Mixtape’, so that was me rapping about biblical truths and using big words and throwing in some Latin!

KTF: What’s the inspiration behind your T-shirt design collaboration with Grateful Apparel, and what impact are you hoping they will have?

SO: The inspiration of the shirt comes from a song of mine entitled ‘I Can Bear’. We are hoping people see the dopeness of the design and say ‘Hey, that’s a cool shirt’. We don’t want to leave people there; we want to engage them with the reality of God’s keeping grace, that though we go through many trials and tribulations, these things are not because He hates us but that His grace is sufficient.

KTF: 2013 has started off well for you with the announcement of a tour. What are you hoping the rest of 2013 holds for you?

SO: More tours, more videos, more music, more serving in my church, more growing in Jesus, more serving of other people.

For more details of SO’s ministry, visit www.lampmode.bandcamp.com/album/so-it-continues

@keepthefaithmag

GOSPEL NEWS 15

TIME2SHINE TALENT QUEST IS BACK The Time2Shine Gospel Talent quest is bigger and better this year. Now in its third year, this year over £100,000 worth of prizes will be up for grabs.

The winner of Time2Shine 2013 will win a cash prize of £10,000 plus a management deal, record deal, music video, photo shoot, and will get to perform at the Barbados Gospel Fest.

Diane Louise Jordan has been confirmed as the show’s presenter, and judges include Mark Beswick, Angie Le Mar and Guvna B, and the competition’s brainchild, Mercy B. In another new departure, auditions will be held across the UK: in Birmingham on May 4, Manchester on May 11, and London on May 18. Those who make it through the auditions will get a callback and, if they are lucky, will be chosen for a place on the Time2Shine bootcamp taking place in August. The Final is scheduled to take place at The O2 Indigo, London, on October 13.

If you think you have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of previous winners, Divine Divine and Boma Diri, then visit the website at www.time2shineministry.com to register your interest and garner your place in the UK’s leading gospel talent quest.

ARTIST

WATCH

Guvna B

P

eter Francis and The Jabez Family are a worship ensemble, who are making musical and spiritual waves in the UK and Europe, namely Poland and Denmark, with their inspiring music. They have been a performing choir since 2004, and released their debut EP ‘With All My Heart’ last year. It has received numerous plaudits for its memorable and inspiring songs, and has opened new doors and opportunities for the Choir. Peter Francis, the director and founder of The Jabez Family, has directed numerous choral outfits over the years, including LCGC and the Ruach Ministry Choir. He is continuing to use his directing skills to good effect with The Jabez Family, an outfit focused on producing music that causes “souls to be saved, strongholds defeated and torn down, deliverance through songs.” The Jabez Family has big plans for 2013, including launching a gospel academy to provide musical and vocal training for choirs and vocalists. All in all, the future looks bright for The Jabez Family. Visit www.thejabezfamily.com for more details.

GOSPEL NEWS BITES BBC Songs of Praise is hosting its first ever gospel choir competition. Amateur gospel choirs from across Britain are being invited to submit their entries by video, featuring two songs (including a hymn) sung in a gospel style, and a song chosen from a specially-compiled list by the BBC. Closing date for entries is May 10, but for more information, please visit the website www.bbc.co.uk/songsofpraise

Reggae gospel artist, Marky T, will be launching his EP ‘Upliftment’ at a special concert on May 11 at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY at 6pm. He’ll be performing some of his hit songs, including ‘Millionaire’, ‘Marnin Worship’ as well as new songs from his EP. Admission is £10 and includes an EP. If you’d like to attend, email radicalfamily@hotmail.com, or phone 07415 337 171 for tickets.

Urban praise king, Fred Hammond (pictured), has brought together vocalists Brian Courtney Wilson, Dave Hollister and Eric Roberson and himself to record the United Tenors project, which is out now.

Hammond, forever the gospel music innovator, says that he has formed this male ensemble to “bring the sound of men worshipping back to the forefront in the music world.” There’s talk of the group doing tours, a stage play and even a movie. Whatever these brothers decide to do - watch this space.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

16 INTERVIEW

Interview with

Shauna Muamba

S

hauna Muamba, recipient of the Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award at this year’s Wise Women Awards, is a very special lady. Last March, her husband - footballer, Fabrice Muamba - collapsed whilst playing for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham Hotspurs. His heart stopped beating for 72 minutes, and doctors tried frantically to revive him. When he arrived at hospital, desperately sick, his wife Shauna Muamba tweeted ‘God Is In Control’ and ‘Pray For Muamba’ and, as a result, got the whole world to pray for him. He has now recovered, and the Muambas have become worldwide symbols of the miracle-working power of God. Keep The Faith spoke to Shauna Muamba, 28, about that difficult time in her life, the role of faith in her life, and her plans for the future.

@keepthefaithmag

INTERVIEW 17

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Congratulations on winning the Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award. How did you feel about winning the Award?

SHAUNA MUAMBA (SM): As I wasn’t even aware that I was being awarded anything, receiving an Award was overwhelming. It was a huge honour, and I feel very privileged that I was even considered. To summarise, I feel amazing.

KTF: Many people are amazed at the courage you showed when your husband fell ill. How did you maintain your spiritual composure and trust in God, knowing you were in a situation that could either end in joy or tragedy?

SM: It’s funny how we sometimes take for granted our own existence. I grew strength from my relationship with God, especially during that time.

Praying and seeking guidance enabled me to mentally cope with the magnitude of the situation regardless of the outcome. My faith and trust in God got me through that period in my life.

KTF: What was your reaction when the media, football fans and the nation responded positively to your tweets ‘God Is In Control’ and ‘Pray For Muamba’, and actually started praying for him?

SM: I was grateful that so many people took the time to say a word of prayer for him. I didn’t tweet for attention; I did it for positivity, and to show that I knew God had always had this in Fab’s life plan.

KTF: Why do you think your heartfelt tweets struck such a mighty chord with people, not just in the UK? SM: It was received so well, as I think it’s almost taboo for people to openly speak about God. I was the only source of communication during that time, so people analysed my every word more closely. It was a great opportunity to show who controls my life and all situations: God Almighty.

KTF: And what was your reaction, when your husband started responding positively to the medical treatment, and opened his eyes and came around?

SM: I knew, in that moment, that I’d witnessed a miracle. The day he woke up, I felt a feeling of peace and serenity wash over me as I had woken up, and I could feel something good was going to happen. Prayer was my immediate reaction, a prayer of gratitude.

KTF: Looking back to last year, what were the key things you learnt about God, yourself and your husband?

SM: That everything is possible when you have faith. Also, that God is performing modern-day miracles in people’s lives, and that the power of prayer actually works. As a couple, we realised just how important our relationship with God is, and recognised even more how blessed we are as a family.

KTF: How did you and your husband meet?

SM: We met in a nightclub in Birmingham when I was in university, and he was at BCFC (Birmingham City FC). That was seven years ago; time has flown by.

KTF: When did you decide that he was the man for you?

SM: We just clicked from our initial meeting, and I loved that he feared God and read his Bible every day. He just dispelled any stereotypes of a typical footballer, and his core values were similar to mine. That’s when I knew our relationship could progress potentially to marriage, which it did.

KTF: In what ways have his collapse, subsequent recovery, and this new media spotlight on the both of you impacted your relationship?

SM: It’s drawn us closer to God, but it’s also drawn us even closer together. The impact has only been one of positivity, where we both know that in a crisis we'll always be there for each other.

KTF: For many people, your life - and that of your husband - is a testimony of the greatness and healing power of God. How are you hoping God will continue using your experience to be a blessing to others?

SM: I think He used Fabrice as a platform to show what He’s capable of; to renew people’s faith and to invite people, who were not aware of His

’

As a couple, we realised just how important our relationship with God is, and recognised even more how blessed we are as a family.

power, to seek Him. So many have approached us and told us that our miracle has turned them to Christ. That, in itself, is a blessing.

KTF: We know a lot about your husband, but not so much about you. Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood: where you grew up, how many siblings you have, etc, and the role God/church played in your upbringing?

SM: That’s because I like to stay in the background and do all the behind–the–scenes stuff :). I was born in the UK, but left for Jamaica at the age of eight. I was raised in a rural, agricultural village called Denbigh in Clarendon. Like most Jamaican homes, church was a standard Sunday ritual for our family, and I also attended a Christian private school in May Pen. In high school, the Lord’s Prayer was recited daily; God and church attendance were the norm in my childhood, and in that of my family and friends. It’s something that has been instilled within me from a very >>> www.keepthefaith.co.uk

18 INTERVIEW

young age. When I returned to the UK - at 18 for university - God was already a huge part of my life.

KTF: What were your aspirations with your career, and what have you achieved to date? I understand that you run a catering company, tell us a bit about your love affair with food, and some of the famous people who have tasted your food.

SM: I really wanted to do something mediarelated, thus I got a BA in Media and Communication, then a Masters in Media Enterprise. God had a different plan for my life, and I just recently closed my catering business to focus on my family, and to develop a new range of cooking sauces so everyone can experience my food in their own home. Cooking has always been a love of my mine, and I specialise in Caribbean cuisine. My business started as a hobby and, as the requests came in for my food, the concept just catalysed from there. I get great pleasure from preparing and watching people consume and appreciate my food. Caribbean food is very niche in the north of England, and my clientele consisted of many high-profile football players and TV personalities. I’ve cooked for the likes of Tyson Beckford, Ricky Whittle, Joleon Lescott, Anderson, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Young and Emile Heskey - to name a few. People wanted a new culinary experience, and have fallen in love with Caribbean food. I still take special requests to cater for events, but only on a smaller scale while I focus on my cooking sauces.

KTF: When did you make that decision to become a Christian, and how has it impacted your life?

SM: I’ve been a practising Christian since an early age. I don’t proclaim to be perfect, and I’ve made mistakes in my life - like most people. What I know is that my relationship with God has honed me into the person I am today, and I try to live by His Word in my everyday experiences.

KTF: Congratulations! You are about to be a mother for the second time. When is your child due, and what do you love most about motherhood?

SM: My baby is due in June, and what I love most about being a mother is the awesome cuddles I get from my son, and the fact that I have the ability to raise him to become a good God-fearing man.

KTF: What does the future hold (or what do you hope it holds) for Shauna Muamba?

SM: As I mentioned earlier, I’m currently developing some Caribbean cooking sauces to be sold nationally in all major supermarkets. I want the quality cuisine that I prepare for my clients to be available to the UK public, and I realised that to do this, I had to make a product that’s readily available to everyone. I’m in a very exciting period of my life, and it's amazing to watch my idea turn into a reality.

The cooking sauces will be available early next year.

KTF: And lastly, what message of hope would you like to share with Keep The Faith readers?

SM: As long as you put your trust and faith in God, all things are possible. It can

@keepthefaithmag

’

What I know is that my relationship with God has honed me into the person I am today, and I try to live by His Word in my everyday experiences

be easy to question God’s actions, but just remember that, even if things don’t go the way you hoped or planned, God always has a plan for your life.

Fabrice Muamba is one the special guests who will be taking part in the Love Life Festival taking place at Barnsley FC, Oakwell Stadium, Grove Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S71 1ET on May 6 from 1pm to 6pm. There will be a funfair, stalls, live music and a street ball tournament.

Visit www.lovelifeukfestival.com.

Like Shauna on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaMuam baFineJamaicanCuisine?fref=ts Follow on Twitter @ShaunaMuamba

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

20 INTERVIEW

Pastor

Io Smith Sheila Belgrave, the daughter of legendary Black church leader, Pastor Io Smith (15.9.1937 - 11.5.2008), is organising a memorial service on May 11 to celebrate her amazing legacy.

Pastor Io Smith was a key pioneer of the Black church movement here in the UK, and through her pastorate, her community activities (both here and abroad) and ecumenical work, she made a lasting impact on the church and wider society that exists to this day. Her achievements include founding a school in Ghana, which now has a school roll of 500+ pupils; establishing a Christian Training Institute; starting a children’s fund in Jamaica for the disadvantaged; launching Day Care Centres and Sheltered Housing for the elderly; establishing the New Testament Assembly as a denomination to be reckoned with, and receiving an MBE from the Queen.

Sheila Belgrave spoke to Keep The Faith about her mother’s life, her contributions to the church, and her enduring legacy.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Pastor Io Smith led Leyton New Testament Assembly (NTA) which, during the 1980s, was one of the most well-known Black churches in the country. What caused the church to get such a high profile?

SHEILA BELGRAVE (SB): My mother was fundamentally not only a Pentecostal Minister; she was a woman of the people. She believed in living a life that brought joy to others. She believed that the Church should not remain insular, and should not reserve its activities to just Sundays.

She believed in sharing, caring and reaching those in need. In the early years of her ministry, my mother would fellowship with all churches locally and nationally. She travelled nationally and internationally. She preached, taught and socialised with all kinds of people who could influence and help her achieve her vision for growth and expansion in the community.

KTF: What were your mother’s key passions during her years of ministry, and how were these lived out in her life?

SB: Mum’s real passion was for young people and education. She believed that ‘Children are the future’. This passion was manifested as early as the

INTERVIEW 21 late 70s, when my mother started the Vacation Bible School (VBS). It was a great time where, during the summer holidays, young people of all ages were brought together in the summer. VBS spread across the NTA. She also started the Institute of Christian Training (ICT) in 1981. It became affiliated with the University of Wales in 1984.

She was involved in numerous projects in Waltham Forest. In the 1970s, she set up a Youth Outreach Service in Leytonstone to keep youngsters off the streets, which was ground-breaking for that era. She ran a hugely successful club for senior citizens from the Caribbean. When I reflect on the 70s and 80s, I can recall the vast number of young people who became Christians under the ministry of my mother, and her passion for young people to change their lives.

KTF: Pastor Io Smith MBE is considered an exemplary female pastor and pioneering Black Christian leader. What do you think have been her key contributions to the Church here in the UK? SB: I often hear people say she was a formidable role model for female leaders in the Church. She paved the way for women to be recognised in the Church in a male-dominated environment; she crossed the boundaries between the Church and the community. She took the church to the streets, into businesses and into projects that had an impact.

She started projects in the Caribbean, and helped to establish the Mother Smith International School in Ghana - a ministry of the NTA. KTF: What kind of things have people said to you about how Pastor Smith’s ministry touched their lives?

SB: My mother passed away five years ago, and still today people say that she lives in their hearts forever. She helped people believe that they can achieve anything they want to, by trusting God, being determined, fighting for what is right, and having a positive attitude to life. People have said how my mother blessed them financially, allowing them to start a business or by paying for a child’s tuition fees, which allowed them to have an education. I have numerous testimonies of where people have said my mother took them in and fed them, clothed them and helped them get back on their feet. She has even taken off her wedding ring and married a couple who were so desperate to get married!

KTF: When you think about your mum, what kind of thoughts come to mind about her as a person, and her as a minister?

SB: Powerful, no nonsense, formidable, strong, family-loving, who believed in women having the same rights as men. A mother who loved to pray without ceasing for her children, her family and the Church. As a minister, one who knew the Word, loved a church that could worship, and was Spirit-led and Spirit-filled, and that catered for the needs of people. A church that had a thriving Sunday school and Youth department. A minister who built relationships and partnerships with her ministerial colleagues. She demonstrated that church leadership was not dependent on gender.

as she felt her world had “come to an end.” It was when she came to London to join her husband that she had the call to ministry. She attended the Richmond Road Church in East London, and there she was called and it became the dawn and preparation of her ministry. She joined her brother, Rev Powell, and friends, Rev Bernard and Rev Doyley, and we saw the birth of the NTA.

KTF: One of your mother’s most enduring legacies is the school she set up in Ghana.

Can you tell us a bit about it and its key achievements?

SB: The Mother Smith International School (MSIS) was founded in 1984, under the leadership of the NTA Ghana, as a ministry of the NTA. MSIS now has approximately 550 pupils, 18 teachers and eight staff. The school has been going for over a quarter of a century and was, reportedly, the best school in the district for academic performance.

The MSIS provides good quality education, with a fee level affordable to the poor as its ‘unique selling point’, as well as being an essential service to the general residents of the area. The school has produced doctors, lawyers, accountants and numerous other professionals. There is a strong sponsorship programme in place.

KTF: Can you tell me a bit about your mum’s upbringing; how she became a Christian, and what inspired her to become a church leader?

SB: My mother was born in the village of Aberdeen in the parish St Elizabeth, Jamaica. She was the fifth of nine children, and her father was a Baptist minister, the local councillor and community leader.

At home, mum would have to participate in family worship before breakfast and the last thing at night.

My grandfather’s philosophy was that a ‘family that prayed together stayed together’. That was the foundation of her life. She described her childhood as an extremely happy one, being with her siblings and enjoying the large extended family she loved, particularly her elder brother, the late Bishop Melvin Lee Powell.

My mother’s world almost came to an end when my grandmother died when she was 12.

She said that at the time she “wanted to die too”

KTF: You are planning a special event to celebrate her life. What’s going to be happening, and who will be taking part?

SB: This service will be held on the anniversary of her death, five years to the day. It will be a celebration of her achievements and her ‘enduring legacy’. We hope people from her past, present and future will come together to reflect on what she has achieved. We hope to have some of her close friends there, like Rev Joe Aldred and Rev Les Isaac OBE. Of course, the NTA will be represented also, with numerous other church leaders from a range of denominations that knew my mother. We will also be doing a presentation on the school in Ghana and on the sponsorship programme.

There will be special guest singers and wonderful praise and worship.

KTF: What do you think your mum would say about the state of the Black Church if she were alive today?

SB: I believe in all honesty that my mother would be saddened. I believe she would be disappointed to see that not enough is being done in the community to help those who are in need and, in particular, for young people. She would want to see the Church at the forefront of key issues affecting the Black community, such as youth crime and the rise in ill health in our elderly people. She would also want to see more unity amongst the Black-led churches, and would be troubled by the lack of vision in some elements of the Church community. I believe that she would want to see church leaders in politics, and in positions where they can influence and make a difference. She always felt that the Church should break down barriers, and that church leaders should sit around every table that affects our community.

KTF: And what are the main things you would like people to draw from Pastor Io Smith’s life and legacy?

SB: Her courage, her strength of character, her sense of achievement in all things. Her sense of purpose and fulfilment. That people matter, and that if you live in this world you can make a difference. That as a child of God, you must not settle for less.My mother would always say “Only what I do for Christ will last…”

An Enduring Legacy, a thanksgiving service celebrating the life of Pastor Io Smith, takes place on May 11 at the New Testament Assembly, 214 Langthorne Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4HS at 6pm. For more details visit www.facebook.com/DrIoSmith www.keepthefaith.co.uk

22 FEATURE

Grace or works -which comes first?

Since the start of Christianity, the question of whether believers are saved by faith or by works has sparked major discussion. Esther Williams adds her unique views to the debate

ESTHER WILLIAMS is an international Development Journalist

I

You can follow Esther on Twitter @mew36

’ve been mulling over the subject of faith and works and asking myself: Should I be constantly striving to do more for God? And can my works or service get in the way of my relationship with my heavenly Father?

I love serving in God’s house, but I realised that sometimes I say Yes to things that I should say No to. This triggered a self-audit. I had to ask myself the question: Has God asked me to do these things? When was the last time I spent quality time with my family? When was the last time I spent quality time with God? The Bible says, in the book of James: ‘You see that a man is justified by works and not faith alone,’ and it goes on to say in James 2:14-17: ‘What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.’

Ephesians 2:8-9 says: ‘For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast.’

These two Scriptures tell me that faith and works are both essential components of my Christian walk, but they have different roles to play. We need faith in God - combined with a holy lifestyle - to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

@keepthefaithmag

It takes faith in God for a person to say, ‘I feel like I have been running around all over the place doing laudable things, but I need to take a break and be still, so I can hear from God.’ This is because the moment you say that, immediately logic says: ‘Well, if I don’t do it - who will?’ Or ‘What will people think?’ On the other hand, it is our good works that have the power to lead a lost soul into eternal life. So how do we strike a balance between the two?

I learnt a valuable lesson from a friend of mine, whose actions served as a stark reminder that it is not all about the works we do that people see, but the hidden actions of the heart.

‘Faith and works are both essential components of my Christian walk, but they have different roles to play.’

My friend serves faithfully in church; she loves God with all her heart. But, occasionally, she is not in church. Sometimes, she has to buy shopping for an elderly neighbour who lives in London - several miles away from her home.

I discovered this early on in our friendship, and was challenged. She had moved out of that neighbourhood years ago, but still gets on the motorway every month and does shopping for that little old man.

Recently, he became sick; he had a stroke.

My dear friend took time out of church to ensure he was OK; visited him in hospital, and made sure he knew that in his winter years he was loved and cared for. My friend is a breathtaking

example of the Scripture in Matthew 5:16, ‘Let your light shine forth before others that they may see your good works and glorify God in Heaven’. She has combined her faith with a holy lifestyle (James 2:22).

She has little regard for what people think; there may be people in church who think she is inconsistent - sometimes she’s around, sometimes she isn’t, can we rely on her? But God can rely on her. Who knows if she hasn’t been called to that elderly man for such a time as this, to bring him to Christ in his final days?

Genuine ‘saving faith’ will always reveal itself through good works that flow from a heart that is right before God. We need to overcome the opinion of others, and focus on doing the works that Christ has called us to do - not the things that people think we should be doing.

This is where I believe we can find the balance and a place of peace.

I am determined to do more for Him this year, but I am minded that the Bible also said that it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Spirit-led works will not result in us being tired or lead to frustration. God will always empower us with strength to fulfil His will and good pleasure, but we must remember that everything we do must be about Him, not about being seen or noticed.

True faith will always be backed up by good works, which are the evidence of a life surrendered to Christ. Someone once called works the ‘proof in the pudding, the visible result of being justified by faith.’

Let’s live a life of service that is bowed low before Him. It doesn’t matter whether people notice what we do, what matters is that our Father is glorified in the process. In this place, you will always find rest. God bless you.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

24 FEATURE

POSITIVE RELATIONSH POSITIVE CHANGE AC Patrick Regan OBE, founder of youth charity XLP, shares details about the XL mentoring programme that

PATRICK REGAN OBE is founder of London youth charity, XLP, and was recently awarded an OBE

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

- Nelson Mandela On a Monday morning, in All Hallows on the Wall, a church that sits astride the old Roman Wall in London, you will find over sixty people, mostly, but not all - young, meeting to pray and plan the work of an organisation called XLP, a Christian charity that I started over 18 years ago, which aims to create positive futures for young people living in our inner cities. We now work with more than 1000 young people, one-to-one and in small groups, on a weekly basis, many of whom are struggling to cope with issues such as family breakdown, educational failure, poverty, drugs and gang culture.

Samuel is one example. Last week, I met with Samuel and his mum, whose lives have recently

@keepthefaithmag

dramatically changed for the better. She told me, “It’s a whole new world for us.” Samuel was struggling in school, and his increasingly disruptive behaviour had led to temporary exclusion; he was fast moving towards expulsion if he had carried on the way he was going. Samuel’s mum was at the end of her tether, unable to work and constantly arguing with Samuel, and seemingly losing the daily battle to be there for her son. Samuel hadn’t always been like this; he started to change for the worse when his mum and dad split up, and things were going downhill fast. The school eventually referred Samuel and his mum to XLP’s XLMentoring Project. They introduced James to the family – a trained volunteer mentor from the local church. Samuel began meeting regularly with James for a couple of hours each week. Over time, he began to calm down, to better control his anger and frustration. His concentration and grades improved at school, and his relationship with his mum began to be restored. She is now able to work whilst Samuel is in school, and the change in her life has been as dramatic and significant as

Samuel’s – all because one person from the local church had the courage and the commitment to be there for them; to be committed to seeing Samuel succeed in school, and to helping him to make positive choices about his future.

Helping young people to stay in school and do well in their education is incredibly important.

When young people are excluded from school, the consequences to them and their family are all too often devastating and life-long. The latest figures show that more than 5000 children and young people across the UK were permanently expelled in 2010-11. Not just in inner London, but all across the UK, in villages, towns and cities, there are vulnerable young people struggling with difficult circumstances and not coping and, as a result, they are at risk of not getting a good education; involvement in criminality and gang culture; becoming unable to access training or employment, and not fulfilling their Godgiven potential.

FEATURE 25

HIPS BRING CROSS THE UK will be rolled out to churches across the UK this spring I wrote in Keep the Faith in September 2012 about how mentors involved in XLP’s XL-Mentoring project are changing the lives and futures of young people growing up in inner London, and how good mentoring relationships can have a real lasting, positive impact for even the most vulnerable and marginalised.

’

I am incredibly excited at the prospect of the Church being able to provide thousands of mentors in every kind of community across the UK to help young people.

XLP has just launched the XLM National programme to equip churches all across the country to set up their own XL-Mentoring projects that can reach out to those young people who are struggling in their communities; encouraging them to stay in school; to choose not to get involved in crime and gang culture; to set goals, and to work hard to achieve them.

I am incredibly excited at the prospect of the Church being able to provide thousands of mentors in every kind of community across the UK to help young people in this way. I refuse to believe this is a lost generation, as some have said. I’ve seen countless young people and families courageously overcome incredible challenges in their lives by drawing on a strength they never knew they had – a strength that was only unlocked when someone came alongside them and committed to offer consistent support and encouragement.

Les Isaac OBE, CEO and Founder of the Ascension Trust, supports the programme: “I’m always excited and thrilled about the work of XLP. I believe that their work with young people is having a significant impact. When churches get involved with XLP Mentoring, they are able to extend their contribution to the life of a young person.”

Patrick’s new book, No Ceiling to Hope (published by Monarch) is out now. If you/your church would like to get involved in XL-Mentoring, visit www.xlm.org.uk for more details. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

26 FEATURE

DIONNE GRAVESANDE is Head of Church and Young People’s Relationships at Christian Aid

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? Dionne Gravesande notes the growing competitive streak that churches have with each other, and calls for it to be counteracted by a spirit of love, graciousness and greater cooperation

W

hat do Cliff Richards, Tina Turner and the Church have in common?

The single, ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ It was originally written for Cliff Richard, but was rejected by his team, however Tina Turner made it her most successful hit song. Meanwhile, the notion of ‘love’, and how we encounter each other in the light of love, has everything to do with how we live out our lives. After all, we believe God is love (1 John 4:8), and it’s still one of my favourite Bible verse about love. In fact, under closer examination, the entire passage found in 1 John 4:7-21 speaks of God’s loving nature.

Scripture speaks of different types of love, for example philia love, which means close friendship or brotherly love in Greek. We also read of storge, which is family love, the bond among mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, and within the Church there’s the reference to agapé love, which is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the types of love found in the Scriptures.

If, then, the Christian faith is driven by love, why is it we experience so much competition rather than cooperation amongst the churches?

Academic, Perry Buffington, gave me food for thought. He asked, “Which works better: competition or co-operation? The answer, without equivocation, is cooperation. Although most people are surprised by this, scientists have repeatedly verified it in hundreds of studies over the last 200 years. Yet big business, the educational system, the healthcare community and most parents continue to encourage competition, almost totally neglecting the power of cooperation.” Unfortunately, churches seem to be part of the list.

It seems none of these groups realises that persistent competition decreases human achievement. And, if competition brings out the @keepthefaithmag

‘beast’ in us, then research demonstrates that cooperation surely brings out the ‘best’ in us.

This finding has been verified in virtually every occupation, skill or behaviour tested. If there is a disconnect between our preaching love and cooperation versus our behaviours and competitiveness, then the witness of our churches is weakened and, in turn, our effectiveness is lessened. This is definitely not what the collective body of the Church wants or needs. As much as God is love, God is also Spirit. If we, being Spirit-led people, listen and move in tune with the Spirit, what is God saying to the churches today? Scripture cites ‘God is not the Author of confusion, but of peace.’ When we are led by the Spirit, we will not be confused. Instead, we will have direction and move forward in peace.

’

If competition brings out the ‘beast’ in us, then research demonstrates that cooperation surely brings out the ‘best’ in us.

So, how do we seek peace with others? It’s always easier to be dismissive of people you disagree with, rather than trying to find some common ground and attempting to engage productively with them. I, myself, have learned a lot about this over the last few months, but it seems that those, whom Jesus refers to as the peacemakers, so often appear to be in short supply, particularly at it relates to issues such as inter-church relationships.

I think love and unity are both a goal of the Church and a gift of the Spirit. Primarily, it is the saving work of Christ that unites us. Secondarily, it is the essential doctrines that define orthodoxy.

We have, as a common heritage, the blood of

Christ that has been shed for the forgiveness of our sins. True Christians serve the true and living God, and we know Jesus in a personal and intimate way (1 Corinthians 1:9). We have been redeemed by God Himself. Furthermore, we have the Bible, which tells us the essentials of the faith, and deviating from these essentials means to be outside the camp of Christ. It is the essential doctrines that we must know and unite in.

Why, then, for all practical purposes, do we elevate the non-essentials to the place of essentials? Could it be that immaturity and pride in various Christians have crept into our midst?

Should we not sacrifice our ‘perfect’ opinion on a biblical matter for being gracious to another brother or sister in Christ? Of course we should, but when that doesn’t happen, we have denominational splits. I cannot see how such a huge fragmentation in the Christian Church in denominations and sects glorifies God. We need to press the pause button for a moment and examine ourselves. We need to look at our churches and one at another, and decide that we will stand on the essential doctrines of the faith and that we will be united against the enemy lest, in our distractions, we succumb to the thief in the night! Those of us, who are united by the blood of Christ, are not each other’s enemies, whether we be Pentecostal or Baptist or Reformist. It may be difficult for many of us to look lovingly into the eyes of those of a different denomination, without thinking in our hearts that they are wrong about this doctrine or that doctrine, but we need to be reminded that there is neither a Pentecostal nor a Baptist nor a Reformist on the throne of God. All of us, I am sure, will have our theologies corrected when we stand before the throne of God. Therefore, we need to seek to work together to further the Kingdom of God.

27

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

28 FEATURE

Life lessons Christians can learn from

Pope Francis Pope Francis, the new leader of the Catholic Church, has eschewed the luxuries of high office and has opted for simple Christian living. Jacqueline Laing explores the lessons believers can learn from his approach to life

JACQUELINE LAING has a BA in Theology, and is a writer and speaker.

She is also the founder of a company called Lovefro, and is on the ‘rocky road’ to ministry.

“Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony. Go out and interact with your brothers. Go out and share. Go out and ask. Become the Word in body, as well as spirit” are the words of the man who, on 13th March 2013, became the leader of the Catholic Church - one of the world’s largest religious organisations - and its 1.2 billion followers.

Jorge Bergoglio, the unassuming cardinal from Argentina, was elected the 266th pope after five rounds of voting. Pope Francis took to the balcony of the Vatican to greet onlookers, confer a blessing and, most importantly, solicit the prayers of those whom he was about to serve. Just in that deferment alone, we began to get a snapshot of one of the world’s most high profile religious leaders; a man aware of his own humanity, and in need of prayer.

As important was his decision to name himself ‘Francis’ after St Francis of Assisi - the founder of the Order of the Friars Minor (Franciscans), known for their regard of nature, emphasis on humility, and service to the poor and destitute.

This symbolic move, alongside his Jesuit desire ‘to help souls’ engage, coupled with social action, humility, advocacy and the shunning of the trappings of Catholicism, has made Cardinal Jorge’s arrival at the papal office even more unique.

Although his Jesuit roots are important, his embrace of Franciscan theology is far more interesting. At the heart of their theology is the notion of kenosis - the total self-giving/selfemptying of God in Christ, manifested in the human condition. As such, this divine willingness to become human reveals a love for that which is ‘other’ (ie. not divine and/or different, as in you and me) which the Franciscan Order understands as poverty. It is this understanding of poverty aligning oneself with one’s neighbour, whatever his or her condition may be - and other Franciscan beliefs, like engaging with those of faith and none, and the call to ‘repair and rebuild a church @keepthefaithmag

in ruins’ that ought to make us question why such an unassuming ‘outsider’ should hold one of the most powerful positions in the world.

Indeed to many, rehearsing a theology alien to the world of evangelicalism might be unnecessary. However, the mark of a mature faith is the ability to consider the world around us, and to ask whether something like the induction of Pope Francis is simply a fluke, meaningful only to a group of people who we may view as a tad cuckoo, or might it be possible that God in His omniscience took what is ‘foolish’ to introduce a new way of being - a new order - not only to one of the most influential religious systems in the world, but as an example to Pentecostals and Evangelicals alike, that there is another way of living and leading in the world as Christians?

I believe it to be the latter. However, my fear is that it is all too easy for us to pour scorn on the comings and goings of other religious orders, and dismiss what might be a genuine move of God, simply because we don’t like or understand the messenger. How many times in Scripture did God use uncommon, unholy things and people to move, liberate, accomplish a task and/or deliver a message? So why should it be different today?

Clearly, society is in need of liberation, with a message not of words but of action. Here in the UK, 1 in 5 of the UK population falls below the poverty line1; 33% suffer multiple deprivation2, and over 30 million people are experiencing financial insecurity3. In light of this, it is incumbent upon us to ask whether our response to the poor, disabled and marginalised has truly been the liberating force God intended it to be, and whether our desire to aspire and accumulate in the name of ‘prosperity’ has led us to a place of greater compassion, understanding and

“In Pope Francis, I believe that God, in His wisdom, has again presented to us a model of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.”

Christlikeness. Further, have we, in our bid to ‘be like’ our neighbour, rather than ‘counter’ our neighbour through love and simplicity of life, alienated ourselves as a ‘church’ that is far from reality?

These are questions only you and I can answer - just like Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, on his journey to the Vatican, had to answer also.

This doesn’t mean that tomorrow we take a vow of poverty, and forgo valid aspirations, but again it does mean that our Christian journey ought not to be consumed with the tangible ‘more’, but rather with a way of being and thinking about the ‘more’ within the veil of simplicity, humility and purpose.

In Pope Francis, I believe that God, in His wisdom, has again presented to us a model of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Indeed, the dogma of the Catholic Church, such as women, sex and contraception, sullies his message a little bit; however, we choose what we see.

In this instance, Pope Francis’ work and lifestyle amongst the poorest speak volumes, and testify that God never leaves Himself without a human witness; a conduit, demonstrating how the ‘Word became flesh’ offering hope to the poor, marginalised and oppressed.

FEATURE 29

PASTOR DAWN DAVIS-LAWRENCE is founder of New Harvest Community Church in Leicester

“Faith isn’t some kind of religious experience for the elite; it’s the glue that helps hold people’s lives together.”

I

t is said that a ‘woman of faith’ is someone who believes in a spiritual truth beyond the physical. She is inspired and directed by her ‘with faith’ attitude, which she frequently practises publicly, privately, individually and collectively. However, while this may well be true, the biggest obstacle to women operating in faith is fear. It is essential that women overcome their fears, by moving from purely being ‘women of faith’ to being ‘women with faith’. For, while being a ‘woman of faith’ is good, its power is limited, as it speaks purely of her heritage - her past - whereas being a ‘woman with faith’ indicates all she has embraced over the days, months and years throughout her life. This transition is not easy but necessary, if she is to achieve her true potential.

Biblical accounts clearly note a plethora of women enlisting a ‘with faith’ attitude to accomplish their goals; overcome their challenges, and defeat their enemies. Today’s Christian women cannot afford to have a lesser faith than their biblical counterparts. Indeed, there are still spiritual walls to come down; nations to be saved; internal and external battles to be fought and won; families to preserve, and rulers to encourage.

Today’s Esther still needs a ‘with faith’ belief to bring about change; today’s Ruth still requires a ‘with faith’ trust to hold on to her family; today’s Rahab still needs a ‘with faith’ assurance to preserve her life and that of her household.

The times and the seasons may have changed, but the challenges and obstacles are still very much the same.

The prolific Bible teacher, speaker and author, Warren Wiersbe, once said, “The people who jest about faith don’t realise how big a part it plays in everyday affairs. It takes faith to get married. It takes faith to send children off to school.

It takes faith to get a prescription filled.

It takes faith to eat in a restaurant; deposit money in a bank; sign a contract; drive on the highway, or get on an airplane or into an elevator. Faith isn’t some kind of religious experience for the elite; it’s the glue that helps hold people’s lives together.”

In my book, “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?”, I speak about discontentment and how, if acted on, it can literally shift you from inaction to action, essentially from being a ‘woman of faith’ to being a ‘woman with faith’.

Become a woman whose faith moves mountains Pastor Dawn Davis-Lawrence shares how believers can make the transition from being a woman of faith to a woman who acts on her faith and, in the process, touches lives and communities I recall some years ago, sitting in a rousing Sunday morning service, and experiencing a strong sense of discontentment and frustration.

I remember thinking, ‘There has to be more to church life than this.’ As I listened to the various speakers sharing their testimonies, all I could hear were tales of hardship, unemployment, marital distress and more. As the congregation resounded with the words “Amen” and “We’ll pray for you” after each speaker, discontentment and frustration consumed me! ‘We should be doing more,’ I thought. Suddenly it dawned on me it wasn’t that ‘We should be doing more’, but that ‘I should be doing more.’

There was more to me than I was settling for, more I could give, more I could do. It’s amazing how God will use discontentment and frustration as vehicles to move you into living a ‘with faith’ life.

Driven by this discontentment and frustration, mingled with mustard seed faith, I decided to step out – my first priority became helping struggling mothers. Utilising my former Early Years experience and training, I set about setting up an Early Years day care centre. God will use what you’ve got, but perhaps haven’t recognised, to get the job done. My vision was to provide affordable day care, specifically tailored to the needs of single mothers. I wanted to start a day care centre, which would provide jobs and training for unemployed Christians, and be staffed by

Christians. After 18 months of stepping out ‘with faith’, I opened the Early Years day care and training centre – it was amazing! A month later, I received a phone call from a Christian woman who’d heard about the Centre; she’d lost her job and wondered if the Centre had any vacancies. It was a great feeling to be able to offer her a position. I’d done it! Discontentment had been the precursor to moving me from being a discontented, frustrated ‘woman of faith’ to a ‘woman with faith’.

Today, the Centre provides Early Years care services, after school care, and extended services for under achievers to over fifty families. The Centre takes young people on work experience from local secondary schools, and partners with SureStart, the Special Educational Needs Teams, Leicester College, New College Nottingham and Leicester City Council to present a range of services.

Despite the challenges and difficulties, I am proof that today’s Christian women can use a ‘with faith’ mindset to propel them into new levels and ventures beyond perceived boundaries to explore new opportunities.

The new book, ‘Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?’ by Pastor Davis-Lawrence is out now. Learn more about her ministry at www.dawnlawrence.co.uk or www.newharvestcccog.org.uk ........................................................

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

30 COMMENT

BIBLICAL TRUTHS VS CULTURAL MOVEMENTS REV DAVID SHOSANYA is a Regional Minister & Director with the London Baptist Association

Rev David Shosanya looks at the tensions between Christianity, modern culture and African traditions, and calls on believers to uphold their Christian beliefs, despite societal pressure to change them

H

istorically, Christianity has been viewed by many Africans as a White man’s religion. Perhaps this sentiment was most clearly captured and communicated in the novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’, widely recognised as the seminal and perhaps most influential work of the late great African writer, Professor Chinua Achebe, the ‘Father of African Literature’. In ‘Things Fall Apart’, set in precolonial Africa in the 1890s, Professor Achebe narrates the fictional story of a local hero named Onkonko; the arrival of Christianity to his little village in Nigeria, and the community’s reaction to Western missionaries.

There is much about the richness of pre-colonial African culture that can be learnt and celebrated through this work of literary genius.

As I cast my mind back a number of years ago to when I first read the book, I remember feeling a deep sense of cultural pride, a feeling that I shamefully have to admit I had only experienced a few times prior, as a result of the negative and stereotypical misrepresentations and distortions of the African continent and of Africans. Through his masterly command of the English language and his fertile imagination, Professor Achebe skilfully and powerfully introduced and exposed me to the raw beauty, richness, texture and sophistication of longstanding historical African cultural traditions and customs. Sadly, they had largely evaded my consciousness as a result of being born in the West.

The novel further serves to offer an insight into the spirited fight put up by Africans to retain the treasures and values of their cultural heritage, which was directly under threat as a result of embracing the forms of Christianity that some missionaries sought to superimpose upon Africans who responded to the Gospel and chose to follow Christ. Part of that struggle meant that, while African individuals and communities accepted the call to follow Christ, some continued to retain an allegiance to traditional beliefs.

While retaining an allegiance to traditional African religions postconversion is not acceptable, it is possible to see how it was an initial attempt to hold on to aspects of African culture that some missionaries sought to eradicate through their demands for converts to change their name and to dress like Europeans. In other words, we see at the very genesis of African expressions of Christianity a culture of ‘resistance’ that has been present ever since.

It would not be an exaggeration to claim that the contemporary expressions of African Christianity and spirituality seen on the continent and beyond find their roots in this culture of resistance, and that it is this culture that makes African Christianity, Christians and spirituality as

@keepthefaithmag

“African Christians must resist the pressure to be coerced into adopting positions that do not resonate with them culturally or theologically.”

resilient as it is to external narratives that seek to define and reshape it.

This is an important lesson that African Christians, who have migrated to the UK and beyond, need to constantly hold in the forefront of their minds. The very real danger is that, having arrived in the UK and discovered that individuals are often judged by the colour of their skin or the thickness of their accent, African Christians may consciously or unconsciously embark on a journey of seeking acceptance from the dominant cultural group and, in the process, lose or compromise on the convictions that have sustained them up until that point.

One particular arena, where this sense of acceptance may be sought, relates to how we understand Scripture and negotiate the traditional teachings of the Church in the light of the very real pressures from contemporary society. Many current cultural discourses are directly and indirectly challenging the Church to rethink historical, biblical and theological standpoints, in order to be aligned with what is often referred to as ‘civilised’ or ‘progressive’ thinking. African Christians must resist the pressure to be coerced into adopting positions that do not resonate with them culturally or theologically, insofar as those convictions are consistent with the revelation of Scripture.

Clearly, there is no doubt that it is important for Christians from the Global South to wrestle with various issues that emerge in the context of post-modern Western culture; this is imperative, if they are to be effective in evangelism and social action within the communities they are seeking to reach as God’s agents of transformation. However, a willingness to engage in debate does not and should not mean the readiness to jettison longstanding traditions of the Church, in order to have the status of ‘civilised’ or ‘progressive’ conferred by those whose views differ from their own.

The truth is that even the most ardent and vociferous advocate for the West would find it difficult to argue, with any real sense of conviction and integrity, that the radical shifts in the belief that has characterised the culture have not left it weaker than it once was. Some may even find it harder to believe that perhaps it is Africans and others from the Global South, whom God might be bringing to the UK to restore what has been lost.

But that, in fact, may be the case, so please hold fast to the courage of your convictions, my African sisters and brothers!

ADVERTISE IN KEEP THE FAITH For more details call 0845 193 4431 or email advertising@keepthefaith.co.uk

EXPERIENCED IN ADVERTISING SALES? KTF are currently seeking a Sales Agency or proven Sales & Marketing individuals.

You will need to: • be capable of independent research • be happy to cold call prospects • be willing to chase leads • have ability to negotiate • be confident in closing • build rapport with prospective new clients • have ability to work under pressure • meet targets The role will be a mix between new business, up selling and selling to existing clients, whilst cross-selling on all publications, websites and projects within the company portfolio.

This is a brilliant opportunity to develop your portfolio, account management skills or career with our market leading niche publications.

Please send CV or details to: admin@keepthefaith.co.uk www.keepthefaith.co.uk

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

32 COMMENT

Don’t let the children suffer Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts explores the sensitive issue of child abuse, and looks at how the Church should treat the victim and offender

REV WALE HUDSON-ROBERTS is the Racial Justice Co-ordinator for the Baptist Union of Great Britain

H

is quiet disposition, sharp mind and depth of spirituality endeared him to a wide range of people. For those not in the know, his retirement came as a shock - a bolt out of the blue. He was respected by legions. Yet still, the sex and child abuse scandals that erupted under his papacy will be among the many things for which he is remembered.

For the many people whose childhoods and adult lives were wrecked by sexual and physical abuse at the hands of the Roman Catholic clergy, Pope Benedict XVI is an unloved pontiff who will not be missed.

Even though churches were angered at the extent of the Catholic Church’s paedophilia, it was the Pope’s inability to stand up to reactionary elements in the Church, and its determination to keep the scandals under lock and key, that further fuelled deep-rooted anger. But, let’s face it, the BBC’s response was no different. At what point did they know about Savile’s heinous behaviour? And why did they bury the evidence?

I am uncomfortable about writing about paedophilia - a so-called psychiatric disorder, characterised by primary or exclusive sexual interest toward children. But in a world that thinks little of stretching morality, such conversations have become necessary.

In some countries, paedophilia is acceptable.

In Afghanistan, for example, older powerful men boost their social status by keeping boys as sexual playthings. British officers, fighting in Afghanistan, requested a study into Pashtun sexuality, to help them get their heads around the sexual behaviour of the locals, because young male soldiers were being propositioned.

The practice of ‘bacha bazi’ - or ‘boy play’ is known throughout Afghanistan. It is where pre-pubescent boys are widely admired and used as sexual toys. This practice is regarded as paedophilia in most countries - and a criminal

@keepthefaithmag

offence - but in Afghanistan, a country regarded as culturally-progressive by some, this behaviour has become acceptable. Most people would surely hope that other countries do not embrace Afghanistan’s ungodly views but, as we know, sexual assaults on children are on the increase both in this country and abroad.

With leading ministers, such as Eddie Long, (pictured) accused of coercing four young men into sexual relationships; priests thinking they have a licence to abuse children, and journalists racking up unparalleled evidence, you could be forgiven for believing that sexual abuse on children has reached unprecedented levels.

Recently, a South African cardinal, who helped elect the new head of the Catholic Church (namely, Pope Francis), has described paedophilia as a psychological illness and not a ‘criminal condition’. He maintains that children can become paedophiles because they have been the victims of past abuse, and cannot be regarded as criminally responsible for their actions in the same way as ‘somebody who chooses to do something like that’. But where do you draw the line? That a murderer with a highly dysfunctional past should not be found to be criminally responsible for their actions?

Paedophilia is what it is: the intentional and ruthless abuse of the image of God in another human being - a child of God. How evil is this?

Surely, no matter how dysfunctional the offender’s past, proportionate punishment must be considered?

I cannot imagine the pain and feelings of isolation that abused children experience. It must be a private hell as they battle against feelings of inferiority and rejection. Such feelings can live with the offended for their entire lives. Building walls of distrust and suspicion towards men and towards those in authority; and women, plagued by insecurity, troubled by their sexuality, and struggling with long-term relationships, are just some of the recurring symptoms suffered by those who have been abused. Even a one-off experience can leave a lifelong legacy with wounds that barely heal.

This is where the place of the Church is

essential. It can bring succour and immense healing to the sufferers. But the Church must be willing to talk about these matters so that, when such a situation appears, it is adept at expressing itself, and brings care in words and actions to the wounded. The fact that these are emotive and complex issues, which usually evoke the most passionate of responses, should not be a reason for churches to shy away from discussing child abuse. But, in terms of putting in place preventative strategies, every church should have a Child Protection policy, and encourage child protection training for its staff. Granted, this may not prevent child abuse, but it certainly makes it less likely and, if it does surface, information should be at hand to help address the situation.

‘Paedophilia is what it is: the intentional and ruthless abuse of the image of God in another human being - a child of God.’ Communicating ‘every child matters’ is also very important. Having first class youth groups and championing children and young people can help communicate this. When a child and young person feel valued and secure, they should be less reluctant to speak out against any wrong done to them. If, however, they feel undervalued in church, a part of the church’s ‘fixture’, so to speak, some children can feel that abuse is something they deserve, and do not report an offence in fear that they are labelled a liar, reinforcing their low self-esteem.

Yet the South African Cardinal’s suggestion, that whilst providing pastoral care for the offended we should not forget the offender, is right. It is easy to shout punishment for the offender and to make their lives a misery. It is important that we do not forget that the offender is also created in the image of God, loved and cherished by God. We do well to encourage the judicial system to roll out justice.

And for the Church of Christ, whilst continuing to protect its little ones, to do what it should do best and sometimes does do: to show mercy and love to all people, namely the victim and the offender.

COMMENT 33

‘If we could have been in the crowd, listening to Jesus’ colourful and humorous word pictures driving home His message, I think we would have laughed.’

REV STEPHEN BROOKS is National Development Manager for Excell 3

H

umour is an essential feature of good human nature that we don’t often associate with the Bible, and there can be little doubt that Jesus had a healthy dose of it - after all, His Father invented it!

Humour can be a powerful vehicle for making important points, and the Gospels show that Jesus used it liberally.

Some humour is lost in language, age or cultural translation, but most of Christ’s humour translates well if we look at it with fresh eyes. Many of the Proverbs communicate timeless wisdom with a smile and a wink.

Could it be that we’ve become so familiar with Jesus’ teaching illustrations that they fail to bring a smile? We have all read about putting a camel through the eye of a needle; straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel; men being whitewashed, full of dead men’s bones; washing the outside of a cup and leaving the grime inside; Pharisees screwing up their faces to look painfully religious…

People who heard and visualised these teachings for the first time probably smiled.

If we could have been in the crowd, listening to Jesus’ colourful and humorous word pictures driving home His message, I think we would have laughed. Perhaps we need to retune our minds to approach Scripture with fresh eyes, a lightness of spirit and a new awareness to the Bible, where it says God laughs (Psalm 59:8). Many Christians have bought into the false stereotype of a Jesus who was always sorrowful, pious-appearing, and serious in speech and demeanour.

In fact, most of Jesus’ ministry is characterised by His joyful interaction with people. Jesus did not fit the pattern of what people expected a holy man to be like. The pious Pharisees accused Him and His disciples of being party animals: lots of banqueting, laughing, eating and drinking. His first miracle at a wedding wasn’t turning the party into a wake, but turning water into wine to keep the party going! Jesus lets Levi throw Him a banquet, with all Levi’s tax-collector friends invited (Luke 5:2739). The party causes the Pharisees to criticise and talk of fasting and prayer.

It’s OK for believers to laugh!

Christians can sometimes be too serious for their own good. Rev Stephen Brooks reveals the humorous side of Jesus, and highlights some Bible passages that should cause believers to smile Jesus never compared the Kingdom of God to a religious experience in a temple, but with a party or celebration!

Jesus’ humour could be sharp and earthy at times, like when He said, “The lawyers and Pharisees are full of cr*p!” Check it out in Mark 7. Jesus is speaking openly about bowel movements; that what comes out of the body is what is unclean, and that unrepentant men are full of spiritually unclean stuff. Jesus taught in figures and parables nearly all the time, so approaching them with a pious literalism will cause us to miss His humour. The disciple Nathanael liked to tease Phillip, who came from the poor region of Nazareth: “Can anything good come from there?” When Jesus finally meets Nathanael, He has a witty response for him: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Of course, Jacob was the father of the Israelites, and his name meant ‘full of guile’ or ‘deceiver’. With a touch of sarcasm, Jesus is saying, “Well, I declare, we’ve found the first guile-less son of Jacob!”

You and I know that the speakers we most like to listen to are those who have weighty things to say, and who can say them in ways that capture our attention; reach both our intellect and emotion, and can season their words with appropriate humour. Jesus must have been a very effective, captivating speaker, yet we have nothing that He actually wrote.

Nevertheless, His disciples could recall His stories, parables and teachings with such vivid clarity, I think His various uses of humour helped imbed His teachings in their minds. Good preaching is memorable. Even the grumpy John Calvin (known for burning opponents at the stake) had to admit in his Institutes of the Christian Religion III: “We are nowhere forbidden to laugh, or to be satisfied with food, or to be delighted with music or to drink wine.” Too many religious Christians are so reserved and sour, they repel people rather than draw them, having a great eye for criticism, but a dull ear for humour.

One morning, a mother came into her son’s room and said, “William, it’s Sunday. Time to get up and go to church! Get up!”

From under the covers came mumbles, “I don’t want to go!”

“What do you mean?” she said.

“That’s silly! Now get up and get dressed and go to church!”

“No!” he responded. “I’ll give you two reasons: I don’t like them and they don’t like me!”

“Nonsense,” she told him. “I’ll give you two reasons to go. First, you are 42 years old and second, you are the Pastor!”

The New Jerusalem Bible translates Colossians 4:6, “Talk to them agreeably and with a flavour of wit, and try to fit your answers to the needs of each one.”

Jesus died and rose again that the believer might have life in abundance, and that our joy might be full.

For more information about Excell 3 visit www.excell3.com

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

34 INSPIRATION

THE

HEALING POWER OF JESUS God has given the Church power - via the Holy Spirit - to heal sicknesses. Rev Dr Stuart Pattico shares how Christians can tap into that healing power

3

Realise that sickness and disease can hear you

4

Realise that God wants people to participate in their healing

On one occasion, Jesus was hungry. He went to a fig tree, hoping to find some fruit, but found none. “Let no fruit grow on you ever again,” He said, and the fig tree immediately withered away (Matthew 21:18-19). Now, what was Jesus doing speaking to a tree? The answer is simple: He realised it could hear Him! Again, it is easy to think that the tree could hear Him because He was the Son of God. But Jesus then said to His disciples: “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done” (Matthew 21:21).

Wow! We can do exactly what Jesus did to the fig tree. We can speak to things, and they will obey us. It’s important to realise that sickness and disease can hear us when we speak to it. We can command it ‘out’ and it must leave. It can hear us! Be bold, and say to the sickness “Out! In Jesus’ Name!”

Whilst it’s not wrong to ask God to do something, often people beg God to heal someone, when God wants them to realise they can command the sickness to leave. However, it’s important that when we speak to sickness, we do so with faith, believing that what we are saying is happening.

DR STUART PATTICO is an author, Bible teacher and preacher who is available for preaching engagements

F

or some time now, there has been a lot of talk in the Church about ‘the supernatural’. This is good, because the Holy Spirit is causing His people to realise that supernatural power is available for them to continue the works of Jesus Christ. One such ‘work’ is the ministry of supernaturally healing those who are physically sick.

About this, Jesus stated that we who believe in Him would “lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

But how can we begin to operate in this healing power? Well, let’s look at four keys that I share when teaching others to move in this area:

1

Depend on the power of the Holy Spirit

It’s easy to think that Jesus was able to heal the sick because He was God. Whilst He always remained 100% God, He also became 100% Man, and all the miracles that He did, He did as a Man, dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19). Jesus didn’t heal anyone in His own power; He depended on the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that the power of the Holy Spirit is available to you, too! (Acts 1:8). So right now, put out your hands and say, “Holy Spirit, release Your healing anointing on me!”

Typically, when ministering to the sick, I first ask the Holy Spirit to come upon the sick area. After all, He is the Healer.

2

Realise that God loves people and wants them to be well

Have you noticed that Jesus never refused to heal anyone? Jesus healed everyone who came to Him. Acts 10:38 explicitly states that He went about ‘healing all who were oppressed by the devil.’ Why did He do this? Well, He knew that God loves people and wants them to be well. Imagine that someone you love wasn’t well, and you had the power to instantly cure them. Wouldn’t you heal them? Of course you would. You would do that simply because you love them. Well, God is Perfect Love, and He heals people because He loves them! When you minister to the sick, know that you are ministering God’s perfect love to people, and never doubt that He wants that person to be well!

There was a man who had a withered hand. Jesus said to him, “Stretch out your hand” and he was healed (Matthew 12:13). Notice that Jesus told the man to do something: “stretch out your hand.”

God wants people to participate in their healing. When I minister to the sick, if they have a measurable symptom, after commanding the sickness “Out! In Jesus’ Name,” I immediately get them to test their condition. Because I have said it in faith, I fully expect them to say, “the pain has gone!”

’

When you minister to the sick, know that you are ministering God’s perfect love to people, and never doubt that He wants that person to be well!

So, ask the person what they believe will happen when you pray for them. (It’s important that they believe - Matthew 9:22 – but don’t make people feel bad if they lack faith; instead, encourage them.)

Depend on the Spirit’s power, knowing that God wants people to be well, and realise that sickness can hear you as you command it out.

Get people to immediately test their conditions, and watch what Jesus does… I believe He will amaze you!

DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Visit your doctor about your condition. Always consult your GP before stopping any medication.

For more details visit www.stuartpattico.com

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

36 INSPIRATION

GLADYS FAMORIYO is a speaker and author of ‘Quit Hiding, Start Living!’, ‘Healing A Discouraged Heart’ and ‘Overcoming Emotional Baggage’.

D

o you ever feel unsure of who you really are? If so, you are not the only one. Many of us wander around with no sense of identity or understanding of who we are, much less of what we want. This is no surprise when you consider the fact that we get tagged with various ‘labels’, such as ‘loser’, ‘unlovable’, ‘forsaken’ and ‘damaged’, as we make our way through life. This ends up skewing our sense of who God created us to be. We base our identities on who/what others say we are, and then spend our lives trying to fit into their mould. As a result, we never feel comfortable within ourselves, nor can we get on with the purpose of our existence.

If you feel you have lost sight of your identity, the best place to start is to see yourself through God’s eyes. Pick up the Bible and see what He says about you. For instance, He says He made you in His image (Genesis 1:27). He affirms you with the fact that you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). So, getting a glimpse of who God and not others - says you are is crucial. Take this on board, and you are well on your way to discovering your real self and who you have been created to be. To progress further, consider the following strategies to help you along.

DROP THE LABELS AND UNVEIL THE REAL YOU Do you allow the opinions of others to dictate how you think about yourself?

If so, Gladys Famoriyo calls on you to ignore those opinions, and see yourself as God sees you

Stand your ground The fact is, when you start the process of untangling yourself from the ungodly, worldly labels, and purpose to align yourself with your God-given identity, others will challenge you. (Sadly, this can include our brothers/sisters in Christ.) Therefore, I suggest you stand your ground. To help you, consider wearing the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). After all, you are in a battle. Ask Him to change the way you think, because your thoughts fuel your behaviours (Romans 12:1-2). Your goal is to uncover the magnificent person God created you to be, and to walk away from the world’s notion of your identity.

Learn more about yourself Whilst this is not rocket science, you would be amazed how easy it is to lose sight of ourselves. With all the different hats we wear, our experiences and the busyness of life, it gets a tad obscured. Over the years, I have lost track of the number of clients I have worked with who find themselves in this quandary. When asked basic questions about themselves (such as below), many seemed to hit a brick wall.

Some simple questions I ask are: • What are your likes and dislikes?

• What do you consider to be your strengths and the areas you need to develop?

(Notice I did not say ‘weaknesses’.)

• What special gifts/talents or skills do you possess?

• What gives you a sense of joy and satisfaction?

• Given the opportunity, what would you like to spend the rest of your life doing? @keepthefaithmag

or more areas of your life, because you have been labelled as someone who can’t achieve one thing or another. Whilst you may not be able to silence the naysayers, you may want to create a rule that says, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Then meditate on this until it becomes part of your very being. That way, you start to change the tunes you dance to. You no longer answer to ‘loser’ and such.

Next, find more godly labels and replace the ones you were given. Thankfully, the ‘mud’ others throw at us does not have to stick. We have God’s Word to cleanse us and renew our minds.

If you have a hard time struggling with this, perhaps you may need to pause yourself and reflect on them. By starting this process, you start a journey of self-discovery. You start getting clarity about the person God created you to be. By the way, have you noticed that when you fail to answer these questions for yourself, others will fill in the gaps for you? Others start to dictate what you should like/dislike, or what career path to take, based on their perception of your strengths. The media is guilty of this, but so are those near us, too (friends/family, employers, leaders, etc).

When that happens, you spend your life dancing to the tune of others. Moreover, you lose your joy and peace.

Change the record!

Perhaps by now, you have discovered that you have assumed the wrong identity. If this is the case, make the decision to change your outlook and the principles that govern your life. Using God’s Word as a basis, map out the person you really are and how you want to live your life. For example, perhaps you have been limited in one

’

If you feel you have lost sight of your identity, the best place to start is to see yourself through God’s eyes. Pick up the Bible and see what He says about you.

In closing, I heard a beautiful story by Max Lucado, entitled You Are Special, that touched me. It is a heart-warming children’s tale that I believe all adults must read; it affirms our God-given identities and encourages us to take off the labels others place upon us. Perhaps this book may be your starting point. Or maybe you simply need to get into God’s Word more.

Whatever you do, drop the labels, remove the veil, and bask in the magnificent person God created you to be.

For details of her ministry call 0870 750 1969 or visit www.gladysf.com

BE INSPIRED BY KEEP THE FAITH

“It’s a must read for every Christian.

The magazine keeps you abreast from the best perspective and is a great resource for ministry.”

Be inspired by Keep The Faith magazine - Britain’s leading Black community-focused publication, promoting and supporting faith and family values.

If you require a quick, effective and more importantly inexpensive way to reach Britain’s Black community, contact Keep The Faith for all your marketing, PR and promotional needs. We are market leaders. We can help you to: • • • • • • •

Promote your business, project, event, concert, church or ministry Generate leads for your business Raise awareness of your charity/voluntary organisation or business Boost attendance at your events Get media coverage for your initiatives Market your book, album, business or product Make people aware of your business services or products

Keep The Faith magazine is distributed nationwide each month, directly into Black-led, Black-majority churches, community groups, businesses, organisations and also selected Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison supermarkets in key urban areas in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Aside from reaching our audience in print, and to an additional 15,000+ people on our electronic database, we can promote your message to a further 7,500+ on our social media networks Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Keep The Faith in print, online and coming soon to an app near you! Call us now 0845 193 4431 or email advertising@keepthefaith.co.uk

“I would encourage churches and individuals to support this endeavour by taking out a subscription.

Keep The Faith is a great inspirational read.”

“Just a few lines to congratulate you on the excellent magazine you produce and the high standards you are setting. Keep the Faith is a must read for me.”

38 LIFESTYLE

KENO OGBO

Cyber Corner

is a writer and web desginer

Going viral, reaching millions

M

ost people would have noticed the rising success in spreading messages through video memes or by videos going viral. Most popular examples would be the Gangnam Style video, which had numerous parodies and over 1,000 million views.

YouTube, in my opinion, is the top website when it comes to spreading an idea or a story.

It has created famous brands of the most unlikely candidates - overnight. Earlier on, the top ten YouTube viral videos were homemade or amateurish videos. In 2012, however, nine of the top ten videos were made by professional producers, including Gangnam Style mentioned above.

Lately, members of Facebook have been sharing one of the most successful video memes, the Harlem Shake, where a single person in a mask dances weirdly to the song for the first 15 seconds, and then the crowd joins in, with even weirder masks and dances for the next 15 seconds.

Video memes are an interesting example, as they tend to spread cultural information.

So, what makes a video viral?

There are a number of things that would make a video viral (spread and be seen by millions).

Some of these are contrived, and others are the results of unexpected situations.

Humour A large number of viral videos are based on humour, and almost all parodies contain an element of humour, with some of them being very popular. 25 seconds of Taylor Swift (I Knew You Were Trouble) and the Singing Goat has hiked up over 4 million views, and I still dissolve into laughter watching this.

Fenton, of the Richmond Park fame, has over 8 million views and now has a clothing range and website dedicated to its antics.

(Fenton is a dog, by the way.)

Controversy Facebook Parenting: For The Troubled Teen (over 37 million views) showed a father shooting his daughter’s laptop after she used it to make not-so-complimentary comments about him.

Hugely controversial, it has sparked debates on National TV in America, social media and discussion websites.

Tweet of the month

@keepthefaithmag

Cute Clever videos of cats, dogs and animals doing funny things are sure bankers; Charlie Bit My Finger has been viewed over 514 million times.

Music and dance From Justin Bieber to the One Pound Fish 2000 years ago, Man at Upton Park Jesus Christ was (11 million views) one of the most controversial Men and flash mobs on the planet (Christmas Hallelujah, posted by Alphabet Photography, has over 41 million views), music and dance have produced popular videos.

These figures are mind-boggling, and my burning thought, as I research this topic, is ‘What should the Church be doing in the age of digital channels leading the way in the spread of cultural information?” Is this a bandwagon we should jump on?

2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was one of the most controversial Men on the planet. If people uploaded videos of some of His actions, would they be trending? Definitely yes. So why not today? Maybe this is something your church or organisation should think about.

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. Contact her on 07958 004 739, or email keno@spiralwebsolutions.com

YOU NEED TO SHOUT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS! Running a small business or your own organisation requires dedication, persistence and hard work. Pastors, entrepreneurs and service providers often find themselves bogged down with the day-to-day tasks of the business. Often, one key task is left undone, and this is: getting your message out.

There is great value in being persistent with your message. I recently spoke to a client, who was not receiving enough hits on her website and wanted to hire an SEO expert, which would have cost her hundreds of pounds per month.

For some businesses, it is certainly worth the investment. But there was a lot this client was not doing for herself.

She was not shouting enough about her business.

I rarely saw updates from her on Facebook or LinkedIn. She has no Twitter account, and had not published her business in relevant online directories. She had no testimonials, no stories. But she was hard working, and wanted her business to succeed.

You need to consistently pass on the message about your business. What new products or services have you created lately? What has a recent client said? What is new in your industry?

Get the message out.

My Choice App Dragon Dictation I first came across Dragon Dictation as a piece of software over nine years ago. I spent valuable time trying to get it to recognise my voice, and eventually gave up. But since then, Nuance Communications have developed the software in leaps and bounds, and the Dragon Dictation app for iPad and iPhone (and iPod Touch) is one of my most useful apps. It improves your productivity with quick and accurate text to speech dictation once it has learnt your voice. It is easy to use, and I recommend this app especially for ideas people to record new ideas, To Do lists and reminders.

LIFESTYLE 39

BUSINESSMATTERS

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

Thinking big leads to Better Days He’s an international life coach, who uses his gifts as a speaker, singer, songwriter, author and documentary maker to get his straight-talk message out, that if you’re not successful it’s because you don’t want it badly enough.

That may seem a little harsh, but Steve Whyte, who has worked with people living in the ghetto towns of South Africa to top football players in England, insists anyone can create ‘Better Days’ - as his company is called - if they truly want to.

Combatting failure begins with knowing why ‘you keep saying you’re going to do something and you just don’t do it’, he says in his recently-launched Winners Challenge YouTube video. What holds people back is often negative speech, faultfinding, consistency in the wrong actions, fear, negative thinking, laziness, complaining, and preferring shortcuts to putting in the hard work.

Steve, who once wrote three books in one year and now has ten titles under his belt (and he’s barely 26), built his coaching business to international reach within just a few years, by applying the same techniques he teaches. This, he says, is what makes him different to many other coaches. “I never promise that I will change anyone’s life but that I will help people to make the changes,” he said. “I only share what I have done myself. I never teach what I’ve heard second hand, or what hasn’t worked for me.”

People of all ages and backgrounds access his coaching and teaching through one-to-one or group sessions, talks and seminars, or through social media initiatives, such as the Winners Challenge.

The 14-day Challenge forces you to confront the habits and attitudes that have held you back, by challenging you to practise a number of new behaviours. The idea is that, over the 14 days, you form new habits to succeed, but if you break any one of them you have to start all over again. The Challenge has over 500 followers, and features Steve in a no-nonsense stance that leaves no place for cowards to hide.

He started coaching after noticing how therapeutic it felt to encourage other people and, after completing his coaching qualification, continued because, one, he saw how God had allowed the business to grow, and two, “because of my children; I want to show them what happens if they do what I tell them,”

How to do content marketing Content marketing combines editorial and marketing skills to enable you to use articles to engage your readers.

It’s a simple concept but, as with most things, there is a ‘best practice’ way to do it. Here are a few tips: says Steve. “They can aspire to be something they see in their own home, rather than something on TV, so it is real to them.”

Steve’s audience spans the world, including Australia, the UK and South Africa. In fact, it was while in South Africa that he had one of the most exciting experiences in his career - a visit to the home of Nelson Mandela.

Mandela was ill at the time, so Steve was not able to meet him in person, but being in the house had an effect on him. “There were business people discussing ideas around a table. It was great to see African men doing really well.”

Then Enoch Perry, who had shared a cell with Mandela, asked Steve: “What’s your goal?” Steve said he wanted to open three educational shelters, but Perry laughed at him.

“He said, ‘That’s the problem - you think too small. Do you think Nelson Mandela overcame so much on the level of wanting to open up three educational centres?’ I felt like a little kid!” said Steve. “So I left there thinking, I need to think bigger.”

For more details, visit:

www.iamstevewhyte.com

Think quality - Your content must be well researched and produced to provide useful information to readers.

Regurgitated, sub-standard stuff defeats the objective, as your audience will not read it.

Use multiple formats - Produce a range of content to suit different consumption preferences, such as articles, guides, whitepapers, podcasts and videos.

Use multiple channels - Include your own website, social media and networks, and print. It ensures a wider reach for your content, and helps you measure which channels are most effective for which audience.

Measure and act - Introduce methods to measure the results, and adapt your strategy to suit your reports.

Encourage sharing - Encourage your audience to share your content with others, by making it easy for them to do so. This viral form of marketing can spread news about your business like wild fire.

Conference for businesswomen event If you’re a female businesswoman wanting to sharpen your skills and be inspired by other successful business women, then you need to attend ‘Taking Your Business from Good to Great’ - a Conference for women taking place on 16th May at Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DA from 9.15am - 2pm. Admission is free. It will be hosted by Charlene White, who presents London Tonight, and speakers include Deirdre Bounds, voted as one of the North’s top entrepreneurs and Emma Sinclair, CEO of Target Parking. Phone 0845 64 34 940 or visit www.forwardladies.com for more details.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

40 LIFESTYLE

HEART TOHEART

ESTHER FENTY is a qualified psychologist and pastor’s wife

My pastor husband had a child with a church member

I

have been distraught these past few months, after finding out that my husband of 12 years, who also pastors a church, fathered a child with a member of the congregation. I found out by accident. The mother of his 6-year-old son came to my home to tell me she was taking my husband to court to get maintenance, as he had stopped paying it. I confronted my husband, and he confessed that he’d had sex with this woman when I was pregnant with our third child, but that ‘it was nothing’. I feel betrayed, my trust in my husband has gone, and I’m at a loss to know what to do.

It’s only because I need to look after my kids that has helped me maintain my sanity. My husband has done nothing to show me that he’s sorry for what he has done, and I’m wondering if it’s worth staying in a marriage with a supposed man of God, who feels no remorse for the suffering he has caused me. I’ve prayed but can get no answer.

What do you think I should do?

Name and address withheld

Esther Fenty says Is your reluctance to stay in the marriage due mainly to the infidelity of your husband, or to his lack of remorse? Some Christians, irrespective of their position in church, fall into sexual sin. Some will recognise their error and seek immediate forgiveness, while others will only confess when they get caught. Unfortunately, your husband seems to have fallen into the latter category.

Yet, as a pastor and, I assume, a preacher of the Word, I am surprised that he did not consider that his secret might one day be revealed. It was always going to be a shock whenever you found out, as one doesn’t expect a Christian husband to be unfaithful, much less one who is a pastor.

Yet, it is possible that knowing that he has hurt you and the church, he probably did not think he could confess. He might have felt that he has confessed to God, and helping to support his child was enough - until he stopped paying maintenance. How does one tell their wife that sexual gratification with another woman (leading to another child) was more important at a time when she was carrying his child and needed his support the most?

However, the trouble is, the longer one lives in deception, the more one accepts it as the norm.

Thus, as the Scripture says, the heart becomes hardened to correction. You will need to involve a third party, such as the leadership team if it is an independent team - or the overseer/bishop, etc, if your church is affiliated to a wider organisation - to help both your family and the church. In addition to sound, biblical principles for doing this, it is @keepthefaithmag

I don’t want to end up childless and single like my church sisters I’m in my 20s and attend a church where there are a lot of single women in their 30s, 40s and older, who aren’t married and don’t have any children. If I’m honest, I’m frightened of ending up like them.

They are great women, but their lives seem very lonely to me, and one of my dreams is to be a wife and a mother. What can I do so that I achieve my goals in this area?

Andrea, Bristol

Esther Fenty says better to sort this out now, than for it to go through the courts and make newspaper headlines. There are also some sensitive relationships that will need to be negotiated with your children, and with their sibling and his mother.

At the moment, you are overwhelmed by this news. Try not to make a decision based on your emotions but, as you continue to pray and work with the leadership team, you will discern the will of God for you. What has your relationship been like over the last six years? Is there anything worth fighting for? Could you stay if he showed remorse?

You can find biblical grounds both for leaving and for staying. However, at some stage, you will need to let go of the past. You can forgive and still leave the marriage, or you can forgive and stay in the marriage. Only you can decide!

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

I understand that it may be quite frightening to end up like many of the women in your church. However, before making assumptions about them, getting to know them might reveal that their lives are quite fulfilled. They may help you to avoid some of their pitfalls, and they may impact on your life spiritually.

Marriage and children will not be for everyone, but if they are your goals, then pursue them with all of your heart!

Just because you are surrounded by so many single women does not mean that you will end up unmarried.

I am assuming that there are not many young men in the church, or you may not have been so concerned. Try to develop healthy relationships with men, without seeing them as potential partners. A friendship might just blossom into a loving relationship.

There are men in different churches, so do not limit yourself to your local church. There are many denominational/interdenominational events/activities which are advertised in Christian magazines/radio stations, where you can meet young men: courses, concerts, retreats, single clubs, etc. You might want to pursue a hobby, or develop your interests through joining some Christian clubs and societies where you can meet young men.

LIFESTYLE 41

AMIE BUHARI is a youth leader and actress

Parents: Are you suffering from the reaction factor?

Amie Buhari writes about ‘reaction factor’ parents in the Black community. She believes this unique parenting style negatively impacts a child’s development and the opportunities available to them. Read on to find out more

I

’m going to sound really old now, but I believe that some parents are in real danger of holding their kids back from achieving.

You would think that with all the opportunities available to young people nowadays - the advancement of technology, the variety of rights and resources, and the ability to dream bigger than previous generations parents would be excited for their young people’s future. However, I have noticed that there are a growing number of parents, mainly in the Black community who, in thinking that they are giving their children freedom to be who they want to be, are in fact hindering and holding back their kids from achieving!

These parents are suffering from what I call the ‘reaction factor’. This is when parents don’t want their children to experience any of the restrictions they were under when they were growing up. They don’t want to force their kids into doing anything they don’t want to. They want their young people to explore whatever they want to do, and not conform to rules. In theory, this is a nice idea – our young people grow up in an environment where no one can tell them what they can or can’t be or do. They are free to pursue anything they want, without the pressure of expectations. But this idea comes with its own health warnings and, if not careful, can deliver results parents were trying to avoid in the first place.

You see, the ‘reaction factor’ is when parents react to their own circumstances growing up. They vow never to treat their kids as their parents treated them, and go against every discipline or teaching they were given, as it is seen as curtailing their freedom. They say, “How I hated instruction/ discipline, and my heart despised reproof!”

(Proverbs 5:12).

So they bring up their young people in a ‘dowhat-you-want’ atmosphere. Now, many parents have good reason to rebel against an oppressive childhood, however wisdom is needed in bringing up young people, so as not to repeat the sins of our fathers. Going to the other extreme, however, can have the same negative effect. As I said, I have seen this attitude come back to bite parents in the proverbial butt, with their kids being the ‘thorn in their side’ or ‘a pain in the neck’.

Let me give you an example of the ‘reaction factor’.

Recently, we ran a project for young people, showcasing various careers, which gave them the opportunity to take part in various career workshops. One particular parent would only allow their child to take part in the workshops they wanted to do. They refused to entertain talking to the child about the option of exploring other workshops that could potentially be beneficial for them, stating that they would not force them to do anything. So what happens?

The young person decides they want to now do the workshop, and I have to have a long conversation with the parent to convince them that the young person is by no means being pressured into taking part but, in fact, is operating out of their own free will. This parent’s use of the reaction factor is typical. In their desire to not subject their child to an experience they went through at that age, they go beyond all rationale to prove a point, at the expense of hindering the child’s chance to grow! Any sensible parent would encourage a young person to do as much as possible, in the hope that they find out what they are good at, but these reaction factor parents don’t realise they are shortening young people’s prospects with their unreasonable attempts at ‘freedom’.

With this attitude, parents are inviting their young people to become lazy and to not want to do anything, because there is no push for them to do otherwise. Instead of finding a healthy balance between encouragement and freedom, some have moved to the other extreme, and are in danger of actually achieving the very thing they are reacting against.

‘The ‘reaction factor’ is when parents react to their own circumstances growing up. They vow never to treat their kids as their parents treated them, and go against every discipline or teaching they were given’.

This is why many parents are losing control of their young people, because they are forgoing disciplining their children. Young people are growing up without boundaries, without direction, without the knowledge to know that they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it, because parents who suffer from the reaction factor are not instilling into them the attitude that they should push hard to take every good opportunity presented to them, and that discipline is not a bad thing.

“Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not [indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and] set yourself to his ruin” (Proverbs 19:18 Amplified).

We have to be careful that, whilst we try to give freedom to our kids, we are not actually hindering them from a future of possibilities. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

42 LIFESTYLE

CHARITYAFFAIRS

LARA RUFUS BA, MSc is Managing Director of Crowne Consultancy.

Stay true to your mission...

I

t is so easy to slip into mission drift. A little compromise here, a little compromise there, and before you know it, you’ve compromised your mission for the sake of funding! This is particularly true with statutory (government) funding.

Having worked with many churches and Christian-based organisations in my years of fundraising, I have recognised that organisations are not exempt from mission drift.

The Vision As a Charity, if you have a vision, then you should have objectives and tasks that comply with the vision God has given you. Your vision is akin to your long term dream. (It’s OK to dream!) It should be just out of reach. During my time as Chair of the Black Fundraisers’ Network (BFN), working with the Committee, our vision was to ensure that every Black fundraiser had the skills, expertise and support to become a leader within the fundraising sector.

Birthed out of the BFN was the first ever Black person to become Chair of the UK’s Institute of Fundraising, Paul Amadi. Many dreams can start off as dreams but, as you continue to hold the vision in high esteem, it can slowly become a reality.

KICC, the UK’s largest Pentecostal church, has a vision statement which would impress anyone. It aims to grow the church from 10,000 to 25,000 members; pioneer city churches around the world; open a KICC bank to empower God’s people economically, and build a 5,000-seater church building and a four-storey office - some of which they are already working towards!

Your mission statement should provide the legs for your vision, and essentially sets out: • where the organisation is going • the guiding principles as to how it will function • what you are about • what you believe in • what you intend to achieve

It should also be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound), with challenging but focused objectives.

Case Study X Christian Centre A small congregational church, based in London, received a grant from their local council for a recycling project.

They had a flourishing food bank, and were making a significant impact in their local community and even beyond.

However, there was a strong temptation to distort the truth regarding the Project and, albeit unintentionally, fabricate the truth to secure the required funding.

One of the trustees recognised this, and brought this to the attention of the Board of Trustees, who realised how easy it was to digress from the truth and fabricate the facts to suit the requirement of the funder. Ultimately, they refrained from compromising the truth, and stated the facts as they were. They secured the necessary funding, and continue this day to impact their local community as a result of the funding.

The key is to ensure that your vision and mission statements are not compromised. If these have been given careful consideration from the outset, then there should be no need to compromise. Many charities have fallen into the trap of ‘chasing the funds’ - don’t fall into the same trap. Fit the funds around your mission, and not vice versa. Stay true to your mission!

Funding Focus for your Ministry CINNAMON NETWORK DEVELOPMENT GRANTS The Cinnamon Network would like to hear from local churches, social enterprises and Christian organisations that have developed a new and unique community franchise model. The Cinnamon Network is particularly interested in adopting new models which are Black-

@keepthefaithmag

led, social enterprise-funded, rural-based, and address one of their priority areas, eg. worklessness.

Funding is up to £6,000 (which has to be matched by £6,000, which can include the value of: cash, gifts in kind, premises, professional pro-bono services, asset items, salaries).

Deadline is 31st August 2013. For more details visit www.cinnamonnetwork.co.uk/development-grants/

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES The Trustee’s Role in Sustainable Funding Date: 20th May Venue: NCVO Conference Suite, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL Cost: £200 This half-day session is aimed at trustees who want to be strategic about their organisation’s financial sustainability. Participants will learn about the operational and cultural issues they need to think about when accessing new income, as well as key considerations in overseeing a change in the way the organisation is funded.

Topics that will be covered include: • Taking a strategic approach: What is sustainable funding?

• Legal duties and responsibilities • Financial oversight • Good governance • Identifying opportunities to diversify your income • Identifying risk and costs of fundraising • Planning for change For further information, please contact Emma Clements by emailing sfp@ncvo-vol.org.uk.

Lara Rufus BA, MSc is Managing Director of Crowne Consultancy, former Chair of the Black Fundraisers’ Network; email her at info@crowneconsultancy.co.uk or visit www.crowneconsultancy.co.uk for help with fundraising and project building.