Britain’s leading Black and multi-ethnic community-focused publication
ISSUE 96
supporting unity, faith and family values
A tribute to the Queen
FOUR KINGS THE FINAL GAME OF THRONES
Transforming Theological Education
PROSTATE CANCER AND BLACK MEN
Who wears
?
the trousers
Inter view with:
PASTOR CLEM ESOMOWEI
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CONTENTS ISSUE 96
Dear Readers Welcome! In this issue we are celebrating ‘men’, as we are very thankful for men and their contributions to the wider world. We have an interview with Pastor Clem Esomowei, senior pastor of Triumphant Church International; D’Mott, a US pastor, musician and recording artist, and Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, the man behind The Black Farmer brand, entrepreneur and game changer. Did you know, one in four Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and are also more likely to develop the disease earlier, with many diagnosed in their 40s? Prostate Cancer UK is pushing to find out why this is the case, and highlights five key facts that every Black man should be armed with. We also have a testimony of a prostate cancer survivor. EuGene Jordan, the founder of the ‘Men and Marriage’ blog, asks: ‘Who wears the trousers?’; Pastor Peter Nembhard writes about the challenges and conflicts that Black men have to overcome to survive and thrive, while Reverend Stephen Brooks asks: ‘What is religious terrorism?’ Sherry Ann Dixon introduces us to Her Excellency Madame Justina Mutale and Funke Abimbola FRSA, whilst the ‘Juicy Ladies’, Lavinia and Adaeze, keep us up to date with juicy news, events, music and entertainment. Plus we have all our regular wonderful contributors. Last but not least, we are in the season of celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, and Rev Canon J John and Jason Loh both write a salute to the Queen. Happy Birthday, Ma’am! May God continue to bless you, keep you, cause His face to shine upon you, and give you peace.
Blessings
Shirley McGreal Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief
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KEEP THE FAITH MAGAZINE R
Keep The Faith Ltd keepthefaithteam Suite 48 @keepthefaithmag 88-90 Hatton Garden keepthefaithmagazine London EC1N 8PN www.keepthefaith.co.uk T: 0845 193 4433 www.blackchristiandirectory.com
NEWS
08
04 Sheffield religious leaders help out with friendly visiting
GOSPEL NEWS
06 Keeping it ‘juicy’ with Vinejuice 10 Is freeness killing gospel music? by Juliet Fletcher
INTERVIEW
12 Pastor Clem Esomowei 14 D’Mott 16 Mandy Thomas 17 Sonia Poleon
12 17
FEATURE
18 Who wears the trousers? by EuGene Jordan 20 Stand up, Black man! by Pastor Peter Nembhard 22 Prostate cancer and Black men 23 Testimony of a cancer survivor by A Samuels 24 Four Kings: The Final Game of Thrones 26 Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones: The Black Farmer
COMMENT
27 Misinterpreted truth and terrorism by Rev Stephen Brooks 28 Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s by Dionne Gravesande 29 A tribute to the Queen by Canon J. John 30 Food 4 Thought by Marcia Dixon
TESTIMONY
36
32 Welcome to ‘the Journey’ by Sam Opeche 33 Get well, stay well by Felicity Corbin Wheeler 34 A story of wonders and miracles by Peter Shaw
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
36 Women making a difference by Sherry Ann Dixon Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Shirley McGreal FCMI Sub-Editor: Jackie Raymond Design: Becky Wybrow Advertising: Anna Shaw Josie McFarlane Admin & Accounts: Nicola Hammond All enquiries: admin@keepthefaith.co.uk
The Publisher would like to thank Rev Stephen Brooks, Dionne Gravesande, Canon J. John, Pastor Peter Nembhard, Juliet Fletcher, Marcia Dixon, A Samuels, EuGene Jordan, Anna Shaw, Sherry Ann Dixon, Jason Loh, Gladys Famoriyo, Keno Ogbo, Lavinia Goddard, Adaeze Chiwoko, Angela Brivett, Vanessa Grossett, Patricia Benjamin, Milton Allen, Mark Storey and Jacquie Malcolm. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher.
LIFESTYLE
38 How does your garden grow? by Jason Loh 40 Give God your heart, not lip service by Gladys Famoriyo 41 Jacquie Malcolm - the dreamcatcher 42 The Literary Agent by Vanessa Grossett 43 Cyber Corner by Keno Ogbo 44 A privilege to enjoy everyday life by Angela Brivett 46 Transforming Theological Education www.keepthefaith.co.uk
04 NEWS
Street Pastors founder calls for more resources to tackle knife crime and youth violence A prominent church leader has called for more resources to be made available to tackle youth violence and crime, following the latest spate of reports of young people either being injured or losing their lives through knife crime at the hand of another young person. Rev Les Isaac is head of the Ascension Trust, the umbrella organisation for Street Pastors - a nationwide community safety initiative, which was initially launched in 2003 to tackle inner city gun and knife crime - and Word for Weapon, a scheme that places knife bins in prominent places, so that people can hand in dangerous weapons anonymously. Over the past seven years, over 22,000 weapons have been dropped in Word for Weapon knife bins stationed in London and the West Midlands. Rev Isaac shared, “Young people, who live in the inner city, and the struggles they face particularly those around violence and crime are very much on my heart, and have become the focus of public and private prayer. However, I have become very concerned at the numerous news reports that I read, which chronicles young people whose lives have been cut short by stabbings. It’s also disheartening to learn that the number of youth stabbings taking place in London and other inner cities is on the rise.” He continued, “Churches are doing the best they can to tackle this issue, but it is evident more resources are needed for them to be more effective.” Rev Isaac would like to see more resources made available to finance youth work. He said, “Many voluntary organisations do great work with at-risk young people, but they are under-resourced. We need youth workers to be out on the streets in the evenings, working with gangs, working with young people and running youth clubs that are supporting youth.” For more information, visit www.streetpastors.org. Join Rev Les Isaac in raising funds for the Ascension Trust (see advert below).
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SHEFFIELD RELIGIOUS LEADERS HELP OUT WITH FRIENDLY VISITING A Sheffield charity is benefiting from the involvement of key religious leaders in the city as they host their ‘Friendly Visiting’ month during April. The charity, Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC), celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, and provides a range of services that support older people, including a project that helps to prevent loneliness. The Friendly Visiting Scheme uses volunteers, who visit an older person on a weekly basis to try to limit the loneliness they face. Many of the older people visited have difficulties that prevent them getting around on their own, affecting their independence and making it difficult for them to socialise. The volunteers with the charity help bring a sense of connection to the outside world, and contribute to improving the lives of those they visit. Friendly Visiting Month will see the Bishop of Sheffield, the Bishop of Hallam and the Sheffield Methodist District Chair visiting older people within the community, along with volunteers from the charity. The Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, says: “Visiting someone else is an act of love and kindness and, invariably, the visitor receives as much Rt Rev Dr as the person they Steven Croft visit. I hope and pray that SCCCC will be able to recruit a new generation of volunteers from the churches and faith communities to continue and build on their excellent work into the future.” Volunteers are supported by the charity,
given appropriate training, and then matched with older people by needs and preferences, such as finding someone who lives close by, or someone who can play dominoes with them. Dot Fisher, the charity’s Good Neighbour Scheme coordinator, says: “After 50 years visiting Sheffield’s older people, we know that our wonderful volunteer ‘Friendly Visitors’ are needed more than ever in the fight to combat loneliness. The older people who get a visitor are the lucky ones. So many more people could benefit, if we had more volunteers who could give just a little time.” The charity is currently looking for volunteers, and welcomes applications from anybody who considers themselves to be patient and reliable. If you are interested in finding out more about friendly visiting with Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care, visit www.scccc.co.uk, or get in touch with the Volunteer Co-ordinator on 0114 250 5293. Mark Storey
06 GOSPEL NEWS
Keeping it ‘Juicy’ with Vinejuice!
F
ounded by Adaeze Chiwoko and Lavinia Goddard, aka the ‘Juicy Ladies’, Vinejuice is a media company based in Manchester, which works to promote all the good stuff coming out of the Christian, community and charity sectors - including events, music, and juicy news and entertainment. Using Vinejuice’s vibrant and highly engaging website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and YouTube) and radio, Vinejuice is fast becoming the ‘go-to’ platform for all that is ‘juicy’ in the North West and across the UK. Visit vinejuice.co.uk to discover and promote all that is ‘juicy’ in your area.
Ex-Christian rapper, Jahaziel, finally speaks out to Christian media Over the past few months, Christian hip-hop fans in the UK and across the world have responded in various ways to the revelation that the prominent Christian rapper, Jahaziel, has denounced his Christian faith. The artist, who brought us songs like ‘Jesus’, ‘Help Me, God’ and ‘I Said Yeah’, and who worked with artists such as Christon Gray, Sean C Johnson and Guvna B, denounced Christianity in a vocal, almost ‘no holds barred’ manner on social media. His declaration was met with thousands of comments from confused, disappointed and shocked fans, amidst comments from some people congratulating the artist for his “bold and intelligent” move. Jahaziel has since avoided speaking directly with Christian media. However, he recently chose to have a chat with the Juicy Ladies, stating that he was “now ready”. The Juicy Ladies took the opportunity to ask the rapper, “Why?“ Well, it was more like: “Jahaziel…WAH GWARN???” And he was gracious enough to answer us. Watch the full interview on the Vinejuice YouTube Channel.
New Music: Devotion ‘Darkest Days’ Brother and sister r&b duo, Devotion, are back in 2016 with brand new single and video, ‘Darkest Days’. ‘Darkest Days’ sees the duo reflecting on struggles emerging from their darkest of days leading into what they describe as “a beautiful freedom”. The song aims to take listeners on a journey that encourages them to reminisce about their own experiences of rising above their own past dilemmas. The south-east London singers first hit the music scene back in 2013, with the release of their mixtape, ‘R.E.D: The Beginning’, followed by EP, ‘Miracle of Hope’. Since then, they have been busy gigging and working on new material, the first of which being a beautiful ballad called ‘Loving You’, released last month around Valentine’s. Watch Devotion’s ‘Darkest Days’ video, and listen to ‘Loving You’ on www.vinejuice.co.uk/music.
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GOSPEL NEWS 07
JayEss is Back and ‘Going In’ with New Album 7even After five years’ silence, JayEss - one of the most innovative artists in UK Rap has returned and announced that his sophomore album ‘7even’ is set to drop on 24th May 2016. The MOBO, Stellar and Dove Awards-nominated artist calls this album his “most complete work to date”, and we agree with him. We love this guy’s ability to go hard and then completely change direction in a way that is not jarring at all. You definitely can’t place him in a box, and actually you wouldn’t want to. If you have been a JayEss fan since he released his debut album, ‘Genesis Snapshot’, you will definitely hear growth in this new project in regards to lyrical content, flow and just his overall approach. And, if you’re new to this London-based rapper, then welcome to story-telling on beats and melodies that will keep you hooked. ‘7even’ is littered with some interesting featured artists, such as Lola Godheld, Kwest and J Williams. ‘Going In’, featuring Rell Riley, is the first single on the album. Check out the official video at www.vinejuice.co.uk/music.
Israel Houghton defends new girlfriend’s honour on Facebook Leading gospel artist, Israel Houghton, has taken to Facebook again - this time to defend the honour of his confirmed new girlfriend, Adrienne Bailon. Following the circulation of pictures of the couple on holiday in Mexico this March, many of Israel’s fans posted comments suggesting that Adrienne may have been the cause of Israel’s divorce from his wife of 20 years, Meleasa Houghton (which Israel also announced on Facebook). Israel has slammed such rumours in an open and honest statement: “In the midst of all that’s going on in the world… suffering, terrorism, deciding a future for our country, and making the world safer, it is sad that I am even having to address this matter… I understand that gossip and salacious untrue speculative stories are far more interesting and entertaining than the truth and facts. But it’s incredibly unfair to allow someone to carry the burden, blame and shame of something they had nothing to do with… “I met Adrienne Bailon a bit over two years ago; we worked together and became friends… Our circles connected and we remained good friends. From a friendship, as two single adults, we have very recently begun to explore a dating relationship. “As I previously wrote in a statement I released a while back, my marriage had been over for quite some time before going public with my divorce announcement. Where I shared – or, as some have pointed out, ‘over-shared’ - my failure in my marriage… from over five years prior, it seems to be simple math that I had not even yet met Adrienne during the time my marriage was falling apart. “It deeply saddens me that an innocent party would be dragged into this situation that I have taken personal responsibility for. Adrienne is a woman of integrity and character… Most of all, she is a true friend, and she should not be blamed for my past indiscretions. I assure you – I am willing to own my wrongs and I have in the past. God knows and sees all things. I appreciate your prayers, and I join you in praying for the issues of life that truly matter today all over the world.”
New Music: Lecrae ‘Illuminate’ Lecrae - the ‘Beast’, the ‘Workhorse’, the ‘Gift That Keeps on Giving’ - is back AGAIN with a brand new track called ‘Illuminate’ featuring Dria. As promo ramps up for the publication of Lecrae’s coveted book, ‘Unashamed’, which goes on general release May 3rd 2016, Lecrae has made this new track, ‘Illuminate’, only available as an instant gratification download for those who pre-order the book. As an additional incentive, Lecrae has also released an excerpt from a chapter of ‘Unashamed’ for fans to get a flavour of what’s to come. The chapter entitled ‘Lost Man On Campus’ gives us insight into the rapper’s experiences of being a young, troubled teen, trying to discover himself and his place in the world. Visit www.vinejuice.co.uk/music to read the excerpt from ‘Unashamed’ and to place your pre-order.
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08 GOSPEL NEWS
New Music: William Murphy releases new EP with new album to follow
Da T.R.U.T.H. challenges truth with ‘Religion’
Christian rapper, Da T.R.U.T.H., recently dropped a brand new single and video entitled ‘Religion’, the first of his highly anticipated new album called ‘It’s Complicated’ due out soon. In a very clever stunt to raise awareness and conversation, he took to Twitter to raise some, let’s say, ‘complicated’ questions about faith and religion that were answered by none other than world renowned, hugely respected Bible scholar and Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias! Questions like “Is his name Allah, or his name a lie? Is it really important the right name or not?” and “How many paths to God…?” Turns out that these questions and answers are all featured within the ‘Religion’ track. The video was beautifully shot in London back in February, during a recent visit by Da T.R.U.T.H. to the city where he performed at the last leg of the Faith Child tour. The video starts with the question: “Wouldn’t the world be a more peaceful place without religion?” followed by the question: “Am I a Christian because I really believe it or because that’s what I’ve
been taught to believe?” Deep! Da T.R.U.T.H. actually went there. The track is deeply thought provoking, which is brilliantly portrayed in the video, and it’s good that not only does Da T.R.U.T.H. raise these questions - that frankly many of us have considered from time to time - but you also have the voice of Ravi Zacharias to interject with solid answers. At the point of the video’s release, Da T.R.U.T.H. fans instantly took to Twitter to show their support for the track, saying things such as: “@truthonduty I’m proud of you~I am FIRM believer in God allows our doubt because He is confident in His Sovereignty n faithfulness! Feel me?” “@RaviZacharias & @truthonduty, Best collaboration since Jordan & Pippen. Apologetics never sounded so good.#truth”
If you love yourself some William Murphy, then you’ll be excited to hear that he released a new EP, entitled ‘Arise’, in early April. Arise is a 3-track EP by the Bishop and songwriter, which gives a little bit of a taster of what is to come from him later in the year. So, what is to come? Well, it’s a full album called ‘Demonstrate’ that he is set to drop on 24th June – just to get your summer off on the right praise and worship step. Visit www.vinejuice.co.uk/music to have a listen to the audio video of the lead track off the EP, ‘Arise’ – available at all digital outlets now.
Visit www.vinejuice.co.uk/music to watch the ‘Religion’ video – track available at all digital outlets now.
Battered and broken to brave and beautiful - A testimony of domestic violence victory When you haven’t been through it yourself, it’s extremely difficult to imagine how much strength it takes to come out of a relationship infected with domestic violence and abuse, and attempt to rebuild a life with meaning, worth and confidence. To then share your story for the world to see, in a homemade video on Facebook, is a greater display of inner strength and of the level of healing that has taken place through the love of Jesus Christ. Earlier this year, Manchester-based Worship Minister at Fresh Fire Church in Stockport and mother of one, Leona Grant, took to Facebook to share her moving story of how she found herself in a horrific and life-threatening abusive relationship. Leona shares how only the desire to protect her son finally forced her to leave. She shares how the Lord supernaturally came to her rescue at one of her most alarming abusive encounters, and how His love transformed her from “battered and broken to brave and beautiful”. When asked why she had decided to share her story so publicly, she said that the Holy Spirit had asked her to do so one evening, after she had returned home from a worship session. Since posting, the video has been shared 372 times and viewed by over 29,000 people! As a result, Leona has been inundated with messages and emails from people who have been touched and encouraged by her testimony. Watch the full video on www.vinejuice.co.uk/news. Find us on Facebook: KEEP THE FAITH Magazine
GOSPEL NEWS 09
Donnie McClurkin releases new single with no promo
O
ne of the world’s most recognised and respected artists in gospel music, Donnie McClurkin, dropped a surprise release of his brand new single. ‘I Need You’ on Monday 11th April. It was a surprise to his many fans, but it was just as much of a surprise to Donnie himself, since he only found out about the song’s planned release a couple of days in advance! Apparently, ‘I Need You’ was released with no publicity or marketing strategy by Donnie’s label, RCA Records, as this is the last project that Donnie will release with the recording company. In response to RCA’s actions (or lack thereof), Donnie McClurkin said: “The record company is being unreasonable in not putting any effort or publicity or advertisement behind this. But be that as it may, that will be an ongoing battle until Jesus comes back, because the record company has their mode of operations and artists always think that they know better... and I can’t lie, I’m one of them.” The singer admits to having an ‘ongoing struggle’ since signing to the label, but goes on to commend the record company and says that without them we wouldn’t have had access to the majority of the music that we enjoy. He also says that the record company has been key in the success of his past ventures. So, although Donnie is somewhat outraged that RCA are not doing any sort of promotion or marketing for his new song, he can’t help but acknowledge that his three Grammys and other successes have come whilst under the same record label. For that he says “Thank you” albeit through gritted teeth. But hey…new music from Donnie McClurkin? YASSS!!! That’s
always good news, promo or no promo. And it seems to be the new way of releasing music these days. We’ve called it ‘The Beyoncé Drop’, as she was one of the first artists to take such a risky move – and it worked for her. Since then, a number of artists, including gospel artists, have adopted the same strategy. ‘I Need You’ will be available on iTunes and other digital outlets but, until then, head over to www.vinejuice.co.uk/music to listen to a snippet of the new song.
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10 GOSPEL NEWS
IS FREENESS
KILLING GOSPEL MUSIC? JULIET FLETCHER
is a former BBC Producer and funding Executive of the GMIA
Y
ou may think this question is OTT, but it just expresses a deep unease I feel as I observe matters. Hopefully you will take time to read and think, because it affects all of us - those of us who love gospel and particularly those who make the music happen. Of late, individuals like me, who are industry developers concerned with the longevity and productivity of our sector, are observing an increase in the number of gospel artists, promoters and record producers financially struggling to maintain their creative force and professional businesses. In my own struggle to understand the reasons, I’m beginning to believe that FREENESS is possibly a real contributing factor.
The Scenario For a while now, artists have been offering complete albums as free downloads, and non-charitable concerts or events are being staged without charging an entrance fee. Of course, it’s the prerogative of an artist to give away their music or to feature in events that don’t charge. However, I’ve come to a conclusion that there’s a genuine lack of awareness and education on the impact this may be having on the scene - both on the side of those involved in gospel music AND the audience they serve.
Who REALLY gives away FREE? Sometimes what we see happening in mainstream music doesn’t mean we should just follow, particularly because our industry is not structured in the same way as others. When pop artists give away music, it’s normally from a basis of success already gained and often where they are well established in royalty-generating streams of income. Even if, at the end of a giveaway campaign, it only produces a 10,000-email database as the reward, there is a definite plan to market to that database, which will probably add ten Find us on Twitter: @KeepTheFaithmag
GOSPEL NEWS 11
times the value to that artist’s profile, plus engagement with their fan base. In other words, it’s part of a strategic marketing plan. As the saying goes: ‘There is no such thing as a free lunch’. And I state this without any cynicism, because we are in (the music) business. There are gospel artists giving away an album’s worth of free music, and they have no strategy that will help them connect to the people who sincerely love their music. Firstly, they haven’t registered their music with the correct royalty collection societies; they don’t collect contact details of the people who download their music, and even if they do, they have no genuine strategy for keeping in touch with their fans. Often their websites are out of date by many months, if not longer! I’m not condemning free downloads, as this can be a very effective way to attract listeners - a point brought out by industry colleague Audrey Gray of AG Consultancy, who said: “it can be a great way for first-time artists to get their profiles up and off the ground.” Artists like Guvna B and Ricardo RocStarr Williams have used free downloads to good effect, but it’s a delicate balancing act. Veteran musician and choir director of IDMC, John Fisher, is not a fan of free music: “I believe in buying an artist’s album. I do it all the time, because I know the hard graft and investment it takes. There is no better accolade to an artist than buying fully into their creative legacy.”
The WIN-WIN paying cycle When an artist creates an album, booking studio time, securing a good music producer, hiring musicians and singers, paying the manufacturer to press CDs, and distributors and retailers to sell are all part of that which enables the artists to make back their initial investment so that they write the next album. Then an independent promoter, who wants to bring the artist to an audience, stages a concert/event, normally they have personally raised the money to pay for all the aspects: venue, performers, marketing, equipment hire, etc. Their plan is to earn enough money to pay the bills, pay themselves and set up the next Guvna B
FaithChild
Erica Campbell
concert event - all for an audience that wants to see that minister of music on a great night out! That is the promoter’s business cycle; they have got to get it right, or else they’re out of business. The audience/consumer - you and I - hear online or through other broadcast mediums and decide ‘I want that album or to see that person LIVE!’ For this, we pay an average of £10 per person - that is for the album or live event. I’ve described a simplified version of how our industry works - the cycle that keeps everyone in PLAY mode. I recall some time ago that around 10 fairly high profile artists were giving their music away for free and, at the same time, another well-known artist was promoting their new album for a retail price. It wasn’t intentional but they were not happy, and neither was I. I truly felt it for them, as sales fell well below expectations during the critical period of new release.
“I believe in buying an artist’s album. I do it all the time, because I know the hard graft and investment it takes. There is no better accolade to an artist than buying fully into their creative legacy.” John Fisher As options increase for how we utilise our spare time and spend our available cash, ‘the Christian pound’ is in demand more than ever before. We need to make sure our audience know how important they are to us, that they are part of an important perpetual working cycle. As a music community, we need to realise this as something to protect, especially when we see aspects that threaten the loss of incredible talent and livelihoods. Preaching the Gospel of GMIA - we should respond collectively, effectively and wisely.
Free music vs free events Free music has had an impact on events, although in recent times there has been a rise in larger quality-produced events. [An example is Black Grape’s promotion of Anastasia Baker, which featured Erica Campbell (of Mary Mary fame)]. It was excellent from start to finish. However, prior to this change, the scene suffered because the sheer cost of staging shows
featuring international artists became financially unviable for independent promoters. This occurred because major gospel acts were appearing in church-based events that were priced within convention or conference structures, and the ‘show’ elements that attracted the general public were subsumed in the ‘believers’ worship experience’. Now, I am not (repeat NOT) saying this is wrong. However, it has inadvertently and unintentionally affected this aspect of gospel music promotions in the independent music scene. The issue raises its head higher where (particularly new) UK-based artists feel compelled to cut out the ‘middle-man’ promoter, and stage their own shows because of costs. Invariably they have financial difficulties and, without expertise, lack ability in marketing to an audience. We have to admire the FaithChilds, Lurine Catos, Natalie Phillipses, Ni-Colas, David Bs and many others who actually pull it off. “Freeness creates a norm with consumers that makes it difficult for promoters to get the right price point for paid events. Getting the best for less perpetuates the cry for free events, and demotes paid events” is Audrey Gray’s business analysis. It is indeed something to be avoided. This sense of FREENESS has dulled the ‘buy in’ sensibilities of our core audience. It has had a devaluing effect and we need to affect a mindset transformation - somehow. I hope writing this has helped, making us aware of our role and importance in the ‘WIN-WIN paying cycle’.
FREENESS Context - Contained - Communicated Free concerts for good causes or outreach ministries remain unquestioned. And good music given away should always be relevant to an artist’s purpose. Outside of this, FREENESS should be utilised in context, contained within a project/campaign and communicated to the audience, who can then appreciate ‘why’ and not make it a ‘comparethemarket.com’ situ. Everybody along the chain needs to feel they are valued and receive the right exchange for their ‘investment’. When we ‘come correct’ with this understanding, a sustainable industry will evolve. You’re free to dismiss or challenge and disprove. (Note: See you on social media ). www.keepthefaith.co.uk
12 INTERVIEW
Pastor Clem Esomowei Pastor, Author, Motivational Speaker, Business Mentor
Pastor Clem Esomowei is the senior pastor of Triumphant Church International, London, with apostolic oversight over branches in Durban, South Africa; Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and Cape Town, South Africa, and outreach centres in other parts of the world. He is also a motivational speaker, business mentor and successful author, and is married to Marjorie Esomowei, his wife of over 30 years.
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Keep The Faith (KTF): Tell us about yourself, your family and growing up. Pastor Clem Esomowei (PCE): I was born in Patani in Delta State of Nigeria. My father was a civil servant, who served with the Ministry of Health hospitals, and my mother was a trader and home keeper. They had 13 children. My dad was a very conscientious husband and father, who was always there for us. He missed formal education at the village school because his dad, my grandfather, withdrew him from school, because his teacher used to flog him. When he grew up as a young man, realising the disadvantages of a lack of formal education, he educated himself informally so that he would be qualified for the future ahead of him. He vowed thereafter to do everything he could to ensure his children were educated. My father was stricter than my mother, but never believed in flogging children. He believed in moral instruction and Christian values. I attended various Catholic primary schools, as my dad’s job often transferred him to different locations: from Abeokuta (Ogun State) in the southwest region of Nigeria, to Forcados (Delta State) and finally to Benin City (also called Edo), where I attended Edo College, Benin City, one of the best secondary Schools in Nigeria. It was at secondary school where I received the instruction and discipline I needed to succeed anywhere in the world. Thereafter, I studied Pharmacy at the prestigious University of Ife (now called Obafemi Awolowo University) and served with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline) in Lagos, Nigeria, retiring after a ten-year service as a medical representative and export manager. KTF: What were you like as a child? Did you enjoy school, and what were your favourite subjects? PCE: As a child, I was a very soft spoken, reserved, gentle but playful. I started off as an average student in my early years, because I never used to prepare for examinations until my dad started putting some pressure on me. He enrolled me in after-school lessons, where my potential was exposed by a seasoned schoolteacher, Mr Uwadiae - a teacher I can never forget and pray to meet him or his children someday. My favourite subjects at primary school were English, Arithmetic and Geography. At secondary level, I scored As in Additional Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and English. I passed the concessional entrance examinations to three top universities in Nigeria: to study Petroleum Engineering at the University of Ibadan; Pharmacy at the University of Ife, and Medicine at the University of Benin. I originally chose Petroleum Engineering, but my dad intervened asking me what would I be doing when the crude oil wells dry up? I didn’t want to do Medicine, and he prevailed on me to study Pharmacy. My ambition was to build up a financial base to begin a community pharmacy practice.
KTF: How did your life change when you became a Christian? PCE: My life turned around when I got born again in 1984 - one year after I started working with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals as a medical representative. My values changed, my commitment to Christ increased, and I soon became the Company Export Manager (Africa). I ministered the Gospel to everyone I met in those nations I visited. As I served the company conscientiously, I saw many saved and healed supernaturally. Churches were planted in the Gambia through my evangelistic efforts. Several churches were planted in Nigeria through the Word Ambassadors, a crusade team I led. Finally, in 1992, after much divine pressure and apostolic confirmations, I resigned my vocational job as Export Manager with Glaxo, to serve God and His Son, Jesus Christ, full time for the rest of my life. I was sent as missionary pastor to break the ground for my local church in the United Kingdom. KTF: You have been married for over 30 years to your beautiful wife, Marjorie. How did you meet, and what can you tell us about her? PCE: We met at church in 1985, after I dreamt that a deaconess in the church introduced a young lady to me. It happened just as I dreamt some weeks later, and the revelation flashed in my mind; I just knew she was the person I would be spending the rest of my life with. She was a very pleasant, pretty, determined, focused, God-fearing young lady. We got married on 14th February, 1986, in Lagos, Nigeria. It was very glorious and modest, but not as flamboyant and financially intensive as weddings are today! My wife is very special. She is so very pretty and a hardcore Jesus-lover, who is passionate about the call of God upon her life. She started as a banking officer with a regional state bank; moved to a new generation merchant bank, and rose to become General Manager of the bank’s subsidiary. She served pari passu as the head of the children’s ministry at our local church, growing the children’s ministry from about 200 to 1,500, when she left to join me in the UK. KTF: And what about the church you founded, Triumphant Church International? PCE: Triumphant Church International began on 19th September 1999. Our mission is to restore people to their full potential in Christ, and to inculcate in them a lifestyle of prayer, outreach and intimate relationship with God. We have several community and ministry groups, such as: foodbank every week; Christmas angels; fitness centre for the 40s to 80s; homeless feeding twice a week; women and men’s ministries; singles’ and married couples’ ministries; youth and children’s ministries; church service ministries; community outreach ministries; international
outreach ministries and media ministries. These ministries have one way or another led to the growth of the church in general. We have established branches of Triumphant Church International nationally and internationally. KTF: Triumphant Church International is also very active overseas. Where and how do you minister abroad? PCE: By the grace of God, we have branches and chapels in Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Durban, South Africa and, in the UK, in Birmingham, Basildon, Chatham and Leeds. Our overseas missions include our annual Back To School project for over 250 children; our annual Widows In Need Project (WIN); an annual outreach to red light districts in Den Haag (Holland); medical missions for prostrate cancer, malaria and diabetes tests in Africa; collaboration with our women’s ministry, as we are building orphanage bungalows in Nigeria, and collaboration with other overseas ministries in mission. KTF: In addition to being a pastor, you have written a number of books and are also a motivational speaker and business mentor. Can you tell us more about this area of your ministry? PCE: I thank God for enabling me and putting me in ministry to express the revelations I receive from God in the books I have written, like The Successful Christian Business Man and Woman - this was written in my quest to see Christian businessmen and -women succeed in business, to finance the spreading of the Gospel. The Da Vinci Code Truly Fiction was written to debunk the false doctrines spread by the writers of Da Vinci Code, which became a popular movie of misinformation about the life of Christ. Making Progress is more of a theological exegesis and eisegesis. Divine Decrees I, II & III are prayer proclamation books on various 21st century issues. Victory Over Offences exposes the dangers of living in offences, unforgiveness and bitterness. The bestseller so far is the Divine Decrees
trilogy, which has spread to Africa, the Americas, China, India, South Korea and other countries of Asia. I enjoy ministering at conferences and training church leaders, which I have done in Europe, Africa and the United States of America. God has raised up several successful international businessmen and women through my ministry; they are a tremendous blessing to the ministry and to the community at large. KTF: Who is the one person, besides Christ, who has most helped to shape your leadership, and how did they help you? PCE: I can’t really name one person, but it has been a combination of my desire for reading developmental books by Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Pastor Taiwo Odukoya in my early days, and Dr Myles Munroe, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, John Maxwell and Pastor Paula White for ministry development. KTF: In which direction do you believe God is calling your ministry in the next 5 to 10 years? PCE: In the next five to ten years, we plan to expand the present church premises to accommodate church attendants; plant five more international branches and ten national branches; purchase permanent sites at some of our UK and overseas branches, and to start and fully run the TCI internet radio and internet TV stations. KTF: Just for fun, what are three words other people would use to describe you? PCE: Reliable and amiable, God-fearing and humble. Oops, that’s four!
For more information about Pastor Clem and Triumphant Church International, visit triumphant.org.uk, Twitter - @caesomowei, Facebook - Triumphant Church INT’L TCI, or email admin@ triumphant.org.uk. www.keepthefaith.co.uk
14 INTERVIEW
D’Mott
by Milton Allen Global Music Link
Pastor/Musician/Recording Artist
M
y name is De’Juaine Glen Motley, known professionally as ‘D’Mott’, and I am a gospel artist/musician/producer and songwriter, who happens to be a pastor as well. My connection with the love of God was instilled in me early in life by my parents, who were Christians/believers, and by both sets of grandparents, who were also believers. Not attending church service was never an option, so I had no choice but to get excited about the House of God. I am really grateful for the opportunities God is opening up in my life, including touring London this month and speaking with Keep The Faith magazine. I am so looking forward to meeting my brothers and sisters in Christ across the ocean. I am the youngest of three children from Buffalo, New York, and being the baby caused me a lot of displeasure in church, because I wasn’t allowed to show what I could do musically until I was seven years old. My ability to lead was something that I had always wanted to exhibit, but it never seemed as though I would ever get the chance to sing or play at church. My desire to play instruments proved beneficial when the organ player at church gave me a shot to play drums one Wednesday Bible study night. The rest is history. I picked up every instrument I could find to learn how to play. I excelled on the drums and vocals. As I grew older, my love for God remained evident, but my respect for leaders and the world in general started to diminish the more I grew to understand sin. I lost hope in trusting others and, when I developed hurts in and from the church, it caused me to blame God, and I decided to live both lives of trying to please God a little, and myself plenty! Needless to say that it didn’t work, but I thank God for redemption. My testimony really isn’t different from anybody else’s, but I have decided to share with the world my story of redemption in my life. In short, I am an ex-everything: ex-liar, ex-adulterer, ex-drug dealer, but God delivered me from myself by showing me myself. The reason why I pastor, the reason why I sing, and the reason I produce God’s music is because I am most grateful that, out of all the Most High knows about me, He has never failed to extend His perfect grace to me.
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Professionally, as either a drummer or a singer, I have been fortunate enough to share His talents with artists such as Darwin Hobbs, Beverly Crawford, The Gospel Keynotes, Men of Standard, Lenny Williams, Ben Tankard, Dianna Hobbs, Earth, Wind and Fire and Kool and the Gang. I was blessed to have two singles on ‘The Scroll Movie’ soundtrack, featuring TD Jakes, Marvin Sapp, Noel Jones and Paul Morton. When God chose me for ministry, I didn’t hesitate. I pastor the Remnant House Outreach Church in Buffalo, NY, where we believe that all emphasis of the faith has to be a movement aimed directly towards touching the heart of God. All are loved and welcome to share in the worshipping of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - no matter what has transpired in our lives and no matter what we’ve done. Having been a believer and sinner, I finally and completely sold out in representing the truth about Christ’s love for us, and that’s why singing has become a focal point of ministry for me. I believe the more the Word flows out of my mouth, the more integrity has to play a role in my life and ministry as an example of redemption. God has shown me so much mercy that now my life’s purpose is to share with the world that no matter what our personal struggles or hand-ups are, He is waiting to redeem us. The Word of God is clear in the fact that, if we seek Him, we will find Him. I am just a messenger testifying to the fact that it is not God that is lost, it is us. People of God, keep persevering through your struggle with faith in the loving power and mercies of God. The enemy’s greatest trick is to make God look like a liar. Remember that there is nothing that is so powerful, nor any sin that you have committed that can’t be forgiven. God/Christ is our Friend. We win now and in the end. As I embark on this newest chapter of his life in music ministry, my desires are to encourage men and women in the Gospel, by showing them that God’s grace and mercies are real and they are brand new every day. I want everyone to know his life is testimony that no matter what you’ve done, the love that God has for us never changes towards us! For more information, visit www.dmottmusic.com
INTERVIEW 15
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16 INTERVIEW
Mandy Thomas is an author, poet, artist and photographer, and a justice advocate and media commentator for domestic violence. She is a ‘Survivor Ambassador’ for Women’s Aid, raising awareness and funds for domestic violence, and a main speaker at conferences and in the Media.
Pastel painting ‘Daniel’ by Mandy Thomas. Mandy’s son Daniel was driven to suicide by a father who subjected the whole family to years of horrific abuse.
Mandy and Jahméne
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n 2014, Mandy was awarded the ‘Women of Power Award’ by Marie Hanson, CEO of STORM. She was also awarded the ‘Grace House Honour Award’ and is now Patron for ‘Breaking the Silence’ run by Raj Holness (www.btsuk.org). Today, she continues to fight for justice and her book, You Can’t Run, is a memoir of real-life horrific events, published by Penguin/Random House, which she hopes will help others in their fight. Mandy’s book, You Can’t Run, is the moving true story of how Mandy had her mind, body and spirit crushed by an evil, calculated and manipulative man; her partner for 18 years, and how she found the strength to rebuild her life in the aftermath of one of Britain’s most horrifying domestic violence cases. Her ex-partner, Eustace, was eventually jailed for nine years, with another six-year term to serve concurrently for rape, over his abusive behaviour, which included dragging Mandy - by her hair - naked through the house; using knives on her, and torturing her with a blowtorch. Her faith kept her alive. Even when she was being tortured by the blowtorch, her ex would mock her by saying, “Where’s your God now, huh?” and he would also strangle her with her crucifix! He was released after serving five years in prison. Over 20,000 copies have been sold, since it was published in October 2015, and the book is being used in schools, universities, refuges and even doctors’ surgeries up and down the country. “This book is about my life from the age of eighteen. Having had a contract for an 80,000word book, and actually having 500,000 words, there’s a lot left out!” said Mandy. “The main purpose of this book is to highlight the flaws within the system: where cutbacks cause lost lives; where mistakes cause lost lives, and also Find us on Facebook: KEEP THE FAITH Magazine
to show what needs to be done now,” she continues. “There also needs to be an understanding of this ‘disease’ called Domestic Violence. There needs to be an overhaul in the system, one that dictates to the world that we will NOT accept violence. There needs to be a change that represents and respects the deaths of those before us, and gives their lives meaning and worth - a change that would deter this misunderstood human crime.” Mandy has a fundraising page to help raise funds for Women’s Aid, (www.everyclick. com/helpwomensaid) a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. “We need funds to actually keep refuges open, as some have had to close. They are run on skeleton staff 24/7. They need clothes, toys, food, bedding and toiletries. Then there are the other local sectors that have had funding cut to the point that some of them no longer exist. Splitz in Swindon, for me, was a lifeline. Now it’s gone, there’s no replacement locally.” She is also a parent ambassador for Free Your Mind (www.freeyourmindcic.com) a charity that supports individuals that suffer with mental illness due to the traumatic experience of childhood domestic violence. Mandy is also a well-known artist, exhibiting up and down the country. Her works are of a realism style. She is a member of the Swindon Artists Forum and has her own studio. Her lifelike portraits can be found on various art websites, and displays of her work are often showcased at local art groups and exhibitions. Since winning ‘Artist of the Year’ back in 2007, she has travelled far and wide with her works, and her Longleat Lions even made their way to the Royal Crescent of Bath for a very distinguished exhibition. As well as being an accomplished artist,
Mandy also has a keen interest in photography, and has photographed weddings, children and nature. Now she is able to travel globally, and over the last ten years she has captured culture and scenery from around the world. Always looking at life through different eyes, she sees the world full of colour and adventure, and is known for capturing candid one-off shots from rather peculiar angles. For over 40 years, Mandy has been an avid poet and has built up a rather large collection of varied pieces. Her love of reading and writing has increased over the last few years. “My father died when I was nine years old. What better way to express such difficult emotions than in poetry? Right through high school to my last year, I was winning poetry competitions: first for our local town and then for the county. As the years passed, I penned emotions down and entered competitions in England and then online globally.” Mandy is part of the Gateway church and her son Jahmene Douglas the former X Factor contestant is also a Christian. She loves Malmesbury Abbey and often attends their services. She goes to Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing to their evening sessions for healing prayers, and receives counselling at Willows, a Christian-based service. Her dream is to go on a healing holiday, as she still suffers from ailments relating to her injuries internally and externally caused by her ex-partner. For more information, visit www.mandythomas.com. You can buy her book You Can’t Run on Amazon Follow her on Twitter @goldylonglocks
INTERVIEW 17
Sonia Poleon interview with:
by Patricia Benjamin
As someone who has been presenting shows about love over the radio for a number of years, when I heard about this new book, entitled The Love List by Sonia Poleon, I had to meet her to find out more. When I caught up with her for a chat, it was both fun and engaging - and a real eye opener. The book is the result of her own search for someone who would love her, and the 15 proposals she has accumulated along the way. Patricia Benjamin (PB): Congratulations on your best-selling book, Sonia. I love the title and, before we get into it, let me ask the first question that comes to mind, which is: What is your definition of love? Sonia Poleon (SP): The union of two people who have come to the realisation that they can no longer live without each other. This includes supporting each other, and sharing their space, thoughts, ideas and time with each other. Always displaying acts of kindness. Always being caring. Treating each other like they are the most important person in the world. It’s when a King meets his Queen and they treat each other accordingly. PB: Why do some women choose to settle? SP: I think we get to a place in life where we have achieved most things, and finally now we want a companion - someone to share our travels with, go to the theatre, and do things of interest together. PB: What are your thoughts of the single woman in church, who is waiting for her Boaz to turn up? Is it harder for Christian women to find love, especially after 50? SP: It is very hard for a single woman in church, waiting for her Boaz to turn up. But, if you carry yourself in a certain way, when Boaz is looking, he will find you. I don’t believe it is all up to the man; we have to prepare ourselves, and ensure we are in the right place. This means not staying at home all the time, thinking he will turn up. If you are out and about, eventually your Boaz will see you. PB: So you’ve been waiting and dating, and various men have come calling, but none have been Boaz! I won’t do the joke with
all the variations on the name Boaz, but you’ve had 15 proposals to date, and none have passed muster! How did you manage to gather all those proposals, when some sisters are waiting for just one? SP: Most of my marriage proposals came when I wasn’t looking to be in a relationship with anyone. I had just come out of a long-term marriage; my children were still very young, so finding another partner was nowhere on my list. However, I do believe I have a caring nature. My personality type is transparent, and people often see me as a resourceful person, so I am assuming they have seen these qualities and decided I am the person they would like to share their space with. PB: What was the most unlikely proposal you received? SP: Probably the last one, as I definitely wasn’t expecting it. It was a builder, who was doing work on my house, and he thought with my brains and his skills we could become wealthy, so he thought it was a good idea to ask me to marry him. PB: Which ones were ‘nearly, almost, but not quite’? Any near misses? SP: Someone I agreed to marry, then realised that there were many things we didn’t have in common. I knew it wasn’t what God had wanted for me, so I had to tell him. That was awful. PB: So tell us about The Love List? How did you compose it? SP: The Love List – this is amazing, because almost everyone wants to know what is on my list! I started the list with two columns: Must Have and Can’t Stand. As time went by, I changed the titles and expanded it to three columns, and made it sound a bit like a job description. It took me ages to refine it and, from time to time, I do change things on my list. PB: Could men be intimidated by the fact that they have to pass a series of questions? Is it counter-productive? SP: I think they find it a challenge. They always
ask what I am looking for and I don’t say. The more I don’t say, the more they are intrigued. Most men love the chase, and love the idea that they want to know what is on the list so they can match it. PB: How will your book help single women who are wondering if love is passing them by, or who are just cheesed off from the dating scene? Will it help them, too? SP: They will find it useful if they have not actually compiled a Love List for themselves. It will get them thinking about how they are as a person. It will also get them thinking about the characteristics of the kind of person they really want to share their life with. They will also go through self assessment. They already know what they DON’T want, but this will help them to stay away from that. PB: Where can women buy your book? SP: It’s available on Amazon. Sonia Poleon is a multi award-winning businesswoman, radio presenter, author and keynote speaker. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @SoniaPoleon.She will be among the women speaking at the ‘Highly Fabulous Woman’ Conference, here in London. Meet her there, as she will be going into detail about love, and shares her own experience of finding love after divorce.
18 FEATURE
Who wears the EUGENE JORDAN
is the founder of the ‘Men and Marriage’ blog. www.menandmarriage.com
“When you tug at a single thing in the world, you find that it’s attached to everything else.” John Muir (misquote)
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think this (mis)quote best sums up where we are currently with the roles we play in our relationships and marriages. Whilst speaking with an old colleague, she proudly boasted that she wears the trousers in her marriage, because her husband is “rubbish at that kind of stuff”. This got me thinking. What does it mean to ‘wear the trousers’ in a relationship? The ‘trouser’ has become a symbol that represents a man who is decisive, leads and provides, however the truth is that in the society we currently live in, the trouser has become optional for the man to wear within a relationship. In essence, when a man opts out of wearing the trousers, he pulls away from fulfilling his roles within a relationship; he creates a vacancy, which his partner will ultimately fill, in order to keep things ticking over. I’m going to call this process “The Tug”. You may have heard a married woman confess to planning all of her date nights, or maybe she’s openly shared that she is the one who makes all the decisions and guides the direction of her marriage. These statements seem quite acceptable on the surface; however, these are both statements that simply highlight areas in a relationship, where a void has been created by a man, who hasn’t fully stepped UP and stepped IN to HIS trousers. We’ve all been there
at some point, but the question is this: How do we get back into our grease-stained, Old Spice-smelling trousers again? How can we be intentional about getting back into the driver’s seat and become that symbol of a man, who’s decisive, leads, provides and knows how to expose a relationship to experiences again? Here are nine things we could all be doing today, in order to make sure we are wearing our own trousers again, and fulfilling our natural role within the relationship. 1. Up your game Don’t reduce her to the level that you are currently underperforming at. DO MORE! Be better, be encouraged and feel challenged to push yourself to grow beyond capacity. Be committed to becoming a man who IS dedicated to stretching himself, and work on self-development. When you grow, she grows, and when she grows, so does the rest of the family. It’s a no-brainer! Most men can quite easily be content with repeating the same routine, year in year out but, it turns out, most women like variety, change and progression. So increase your drive, up your game, and work on providing an environment that allows your wife (and others) to feel inspired to grow also. 2. Initiate date night Dates can be fun, but if single people are the only ones who get to go on them, then... well, you’re better off not getting married. We often neglect to initiate dates once we are married, so surprise her by asking her out on a date! Just because you’ve got your dream woman, it doesn’t mean that the fun and the chase stops there. The fun has just begun! Set the date and be intentional about creating new experiences. There is nothing worse than taking her to the same place over and over again, because she told you ONCE that she really liked the food there. Think outside of the box. 3. Bring out the best in her Find out what she is passionate about. What takes her to that ‘happy place’? Lead her there. When you take the time to just reconnect with each other, and tap back into those characteristics that attracted you to each other in the first place, you can begin to rediscover what she is passionate about and what makes her happy. It’s good to take a side step out of your current situation and remind yourself of why you promised to commit to this woman. Look for the best in her - even when she is mad at you. If you focus on what you love about her, and work on bringing that out of her more, you can’t help but be driven by that love to forgive and overlook the things you don’t.
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4. Don’t try to change her If you’re anything like me, you probably have plenty of work to do on yourself. Concern yourself with that. Men often moan and criticise their wives, but I think if you were to swap the word ‘brother’ for ‘wife’, this quote from the Bible would sum it up perfectly: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Your job is to love her as she is. Nothing more, nothing less. 5. A happy wife makes a happy life You are the engine that powers that happy train! My father has always said, “A happy wife is a happy life.” And I have to admit... he was right. I have found that it’s in the little moments where my joy has been topped up by simply seeing her happy. The environments we live in may not always be conducive to building a happy life, however, as men, it’s our job to do our very best to work on cultivating and changing the environment around us that breeds happy moments! 6. Have fun! Laughter! Remember that? I know that life can sometimes knock the fun out of us, but try not to take life so seriously. Have fun; jump on her (not too hard!), and be playful (wink wink). Make her laugh. Take risks and make a fool of yourself... for her. Take an unplanned road trip - or whatever else you need to do - to kick-start the fun. It’s been said that the best curve on a woman’s body is her smile. So put yourself in positions that take you outside of your comfort zone, and chase after new, adventurous experiences and put a smile on her face. 7. Unplug! With all of the distractions around us, we can often mistake being ‘there’ for being ‘present’. Don’t focus on simply being in her presence; focus on engaging with her mentally. Create an unplugged moment! Switch off the TV, go for
FEATURE 19
trousers? a walk, talk, share your visions and goals for your family, and listen to her views and feedback. Regularly set aside time to give her all your time, your focus and all of your attention. 100% of it. 8. Absence makes the heart grow fonder Time together is great. However, I’ve found that spending time apart can actually help create a space that allows us to enjoy our own time as individuals, and have more to talk about when we reconnect. If you have children, or even if you don’t, allow her to take time for herself. We all need that space every now and then to have a moment where we can just indulge in something tailored just for us. The bonus is that if you don’t have children, then whilst she is having her time off you can also have yours! Everyone’s a winner!
Conclusion At some point, we mistook the meaning of the word ‘equality’ for the word ‘same’. My wife and I are equal, however, we are not the same, and so our roles are both equally important though they function in very different ways. If we forget our roles as men, and allow our women to step in, then we will ultimately end up depriving our women - and those around us - of a resource that is very much needed in this day and age. Let’s start wearing the trousers again, so she doesn’t have to!
For more information visit the website www.menandmarriage.com, like on Facebook @MenandMarriage, or follow on Twitter @Eu_GeneTweets.
‘I have found that it’s in the little moments where my joy has been topped up by simply seeing her happy.’ 9. Learn to lead Whether you’re a natural born leader or you’ve had to learn leadership skills along the way, every man CAN and SHOULD lead in his relationship. Our relationships are like the tango. There are two roles needed in order to execute this dance properly: a male part and a female part. The key to making this dance work and function as it was designed is to have a strong and confident male that... LEADS. Once the male is able to lead in this dance, it makes it very easy for the female to then follow in any direction that he leads. Marriage is no different. Leading is a man’s innate function, however HOW we choose to lead must first be learned. So get learning! You can learn by changing your circle of friends, and start hanging out with other guys whose wives can vouch for them as men and as husbands. Take tips, lead and introduce her to new unexplored paths within your relationship. A man who can “tango” well will have a woman who is confident in his ability to lead and will follow him to the ends of the Earth. www.keepthefaith.co.uk
20 FEATURE
STAND UP, BLACK MAN! BY PASTOR PETER NEMBHARD
N
o one can deny there are many challenges and conflicts that Black men living in the 21st Century have to fight and overcome - not only to survive, but also to thrive. These challenges come from a number of sources. For instance, when it comes to health matters, Black men are more susceptible to diseases like prostate cancer. Where family relationships are concerned, many have experienced fatherlessness; many Black men have never had a relationship with their father or been fathered. Then there’s the fight against violence: too many lives - and very young ones at that - are ending before their time, due to guns, gangs and knife crime. And then there’s the fight against injustice. Black men are more likely to be imprisoned than any other race in this country… I could go on and on. I know for a fact, that if the Black man is going to survive and thrive in British society, he has a mighty fight on his hands, and it’s a fight that isn’t helped by the negative stereotypes perpetuated in the Media, or the fact that many sisters, for various reasons, don’t seem to believe in or support their men. When the many challenges Black men have to face are taken into account, the question must be asked: Why has the Black man been so severely targeted and challenged?
Because he is strong! I sincerely believe that there is a conspiracy to erase the Black man from society. In her book, The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander argues that, by targeting Black men through the war on drugs and decimating communities of colour, the US criminal justice system functions as a contemporary system of racial control - relegating millions to a permanent second-class status. However, despite everything they have gone through, it is my belief that the Black man is a strong man - only the Black man could survive 400 years of slavery and still continue to exist in a world that is set up to make him fail. I have a message for men of colour: You are strong and if we, as men, unite to face the challenges we experience together, not only can we survive, but we can also advance and follow in the footsteps of men like Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama, whose lives clearly demonstrate there are no limits to how high we can rise if we believe in ourselves and have faith. We need Black men to stand up and take their place as head of their homes, and we need our sisters, who have carried so many responsibilities on their own over the years, to relax, chill and let men lead, and not be afraid to accept help when it is offered. Just recently, I offered to help a Black woman carry her shopping trolley up the stairs and she refused. I was surprised, and told her it’s time for the Black women to allow Black men to demonstrate chivalry. I know we have dropped the ball on so many occasions, but please help us arise. She was speechless. Black man, I encourage you to be the best father you can be, and to be INTENTIONALLY proactive in fathering Find us on Facebook: KEEP THE FAITH Magazine
your children. And, if you haven’t always been there for your children, be strong enough to apologise, and tell them that you have let them down. With Father’s Day approaching, why not write a letter to your children and explain your struggles with them and ask for forgiveness? Black man, I need you to stand up for your community; our young boys are killing each other and dying in the streets. They need us to be the mentors and role models they are crying out for. I want you to take a stand against fatherlessness and, if you’re a Christian, be concerned that there is a lack of men in our churches. Let’s build strong men’s ministries in our congregations, and pray for and evangelise men into the Kingdom.
Conclusion I am totally committed to helping support, strengthen and unite the men in the community and, in June will be joining with various men’s groups and churches across London, including Arc Kings, Men United, Fathers Destiny Men, Victory Outreach Shepherds Bush - and many others - for a time of prayer, fellowship and looking at ways in which we can work together. And, such is my desire to support men, I will be launching a radio show and ministry in June called MANOLOGY on UGN that will discuss the issues men face, and create forums and resources where men, especially Black men, can find hope and healing. I strongly believe that, despite the challenges Black men face, we are strong enough to overcome them and fulfil our God-given purpose and potential. And, with faith in our Creator, we will win the fight.
Pastor Peter Nembhard is Senior Pastor at ARC – A Radical Church - in Forest Gate, east London. You can hear him on UGN every Sunday at 10am, and follow him on Facebook.
16 JUNE 2016 WESTMINSTER, LONDON
It is one year since CUFI UK held its launch event with nearly 1000 present and we are delighted to be returning to Westminster to celebrate the nation of Israel in the heart of our capital. This event is YOUR opportunity to unite with Christians and Jews together and show support for Israel at such an important time in the history of our two nations.
Book Tickets: 01793 862 210 ¡ www.cuďŹ .org.uk/events www.keepthefaith.co.uk
22 FEATURE
PROSTATE CANCER AND BLACK MEN
O
ne in four Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime - double the one in eight risk faced by all men in the UK. What’s more, Black men are also more likely to develop the disease earlier, with many diagnosed in their 40s. The stats are concerning and give rise to an essential question – why are Black men more likely to develop prostate cancer than other groups? The harsh truth is, nobody knows, and that’s why Prostate Cancer UK is pushing to find the answers. Here’s what we do know: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, one man dies of the disease every hour, and there are over 330,000 men living with it in the UK today. If diagnosed early enough, prostate cancer can often be successfully treated. But according to recent research, nine in ten Black men are unaware of their increased risk. Couple this with the fact that many men don’t experience any symptoms, and it can become incredibly difficult to detect prostate cancer at an early stage. Here are five key facts that every Black man should be armed with: 1. 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer: Awareness is key. Telling one person about their risk could save a life. 2. Know your risk: As well as Black men, if you’re over 50 or have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer, then you are at a higher risk.
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3. Know your symptoms: Do you go to the toilet frequently, have difficult starting to pee or a weak flow when you pee? If you do, get things checked out, even if it is just to put your mind at rest. 4. Know you can get support : If you are worried about prostate problems or think you’re at risk, you can speak to a Prostate Cancer UK Specialist Nurse for support and information on 0800 074 8383. 5. Know how to act: If you are a Black man over the age of 45 and worried about your prostate cancer risk, speak to your doctor about the PSA blood test. In May 2013, Fitz Lawson, a youth support worker from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 54. Originally from Jamaica, Fitz was aware of prostate cancer as his father sadly died from the disease in 1996. With his family history, Fitz knew he was at increased risk. However, at the young age of 54, his diagnosis still came as a tremendous shock. Fitz is still undergoing treatment for his cancer. However he has recently turned his attention to raising awareness of the disease amongst Black men and wants to encourage more men to be proactive about their prostate health, and to help dispel the many myths that surround the disease. To find out more about the work that Prostate Cancer UK is doing to address the increased risk of prostate cancer in Black men or to get involved, visit prostatecanceruk.org/keepthefaith. Tony Wong
FEATURE 23
TESTIMONY OF A
PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR
I
was informed in January 2012 by my GP that I had cancer, and subsequent tests revealed that it was, in fact, Advanced Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Stage 4 with a Gleason score of 4+3. Stunned, shocked, and in self-denial, I sat and listened to his distressing words. As we conversed, I felt a strange angelic presence surrounding me, and it remained throughout my entire journey. Due to the severity of the diagnosis, time was of the essence, and a GP oversight meant we were already behind. I had passed the stage of surgery, and the only option available was a revolutionary medication: the newly available drugs, abiraterone and Prostap®. “Normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels go up to 2.5 nanograms per millilitre for ages 40 to 49; 4.0 nanograms per millilitre for 50 to 59; 4.5 nanograms per millilitre for 60 to 69, and 6.5 nanograms per millilitre for 70 to 79,” according to MedicineNet. These figures vary by race. My PSA level at the time was 509 ng/ml. I sat in front of different oncologists, nurses and specialists, who could not believe what was unfolding in front of them. Then one day, in late 2012, I attended my sister Doreen’s church in south London, where I was introduced to Pastor Stephen Ramos. The pastor prayed for me in church and also outside of church. Being a very open-minded individual, and someone brought up in the church in my younger years, I received the prayers warmly. A message was passed on to me from my sister that the pastor had a message from God. I was stunned. The message was “This man is going to be OK.” A few weeks later, the cancer pains became aggressive, and I was blue-lighted to hospital. For over four hours, in the presence of my family, the doctors and nurses attempted to alleviate my pain. For the next five days, I remained bedridden in hospital
given me a wake-up call. There was so much that I needed to be doing that I had never thought of, before I came to realise that God is in control, not I. God is so wonderful, I have lived to see my granddaughter, Jaya, growing into a beautiful, loving, kind child. Being able to impart my story as a sinner saved by God’s grace is the most important thing in my entire life.
‘...God had not given up on me like I had on Him and the moment I was diagnosed, I always felt that some form of angelic being was walking next to me’
By Alfred Samuels as they investigated the cause of this lower back and spine pain. Amongst my visitors was Pastor Ramos, who again informed me that he had engaged in banter with God, and had asked Him again about my condition. The answer came back: “I have told you already that this man will be fine.” With this firmly entrenched in my mind, my recovery started to accelerate, and days later I was discharged. A few days after my discharge, Pastor Stephen Ramos died unexpectedly of a brain haemorrhage. This messenger from God had attended me at a time when I needed spiritual comfort. You need to know that for years I did not live a ‘religious’ life. I couldn’t be called a ‘practising’ anything from the time I was aged 15. I guess I was a backsliding Christian, if you’re familiar with the term. I believe now that you are either on the
Lord’s side or you are on satan’s side. I guess I know where I was standing for all those years from 1973 to 2012. But God had not given up on me like I had on Him and, like I said earlier, the moment I was diagnosed, I always felt that some form of angelic being was walking next to me. Couple this with the late Pastor Ramos’ words, and you begin to see what I mean. The question on my mind and all around me was, why had I been spared? There had to be a reason, because my condition was one of death. I overcame things that would make a soldier blush, things that I would prefer to keep private. People cannot understand how I thank God for the cancer. I have to thank God for all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I know I was not taking care of myself with good food, rest and care, as I should have been. My cancer diagnosis had
I continue to tell anyone who will listen or read my blogs and articles about my life story. Maybe this is my future, to be a messenger just like the late Pastor Ramos. For more information, visit comingouttheotherside.com or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ comingouttheotherside Twitter: @accsamuels
www.keepthefaith.co.uk
Q: Why a sermon series on the four kings found in the book of Revelation?
Pastor Hagee: The Bible clearly states that at the end of days, four kings will walk out onto the world stage with the intention of global domination, to wage war in Israel and gain control of the city of Jerusalem.
Q: Why study Bible prophecy?
Pastor Hagee: Because Bible prophecy is absolutely accurate! Consider the birth of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, Daniel told us the time of His birth. Isaiah 7 told us He would be born of a virgin. Micah 5 told us that He would be born in Bethlehem. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 give us more than 20 exact details of the life and death of Jesus Christ! Psalms 16 tells us about His resurrection. One world-class mathematician has calculated that there would be one chance in 87 followed by 93 zeroes that the Bible could be right on the basis of random truth. The fact is…the Bible says, “Thy Word is truth (John 17:17).” The Bible says, “…My counsel will stand (Isaiah 46:10).”
Q: How accurate do you think Bible prophecy is?
Pastor Hagee: It’s all true, or none of it is true. Twenty-five percent of the Bible, when it was written was prophecy. The Bible says that all Scripture is the inspiration of God. If you believe the doctrines of salvation, baptism, holy communion…
ENJOY THIS
POWERFUL, PROPHETIC SERIES
you must believe the prophetic Scripture, because God would not use one-fourth of the Bible to put something in our hearts and minds that was anything less than totally accurate.
Q: What does Bible prophecy prove?
Pastor Hagee: Bible prophecy proves that there is no god like our God…who knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:910 says, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”
Q: What does Bible prophecy bring us?
Pastor Hagee: Bible prophecy brings peace. Why? Because when we know the future, we have peace. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die on the cross, and they were deeply troubled. They asked, “Who is going to teach us? Who is going to lead us? What about the future?” And Jesus explained the future, because He knew the future…and they were absolutely at peace.
Q: Why this series on the four kings?
Pastor Hagee: Because the world as we know it is shattering. It is going to be financially, morally, and physically destroyed systematically. “When, where and what does that have to do with your life?” This is what Bible prophecy tells us.
FOUR KINGS: THE FINAL GAME OF THRONES 5 CD Set • £15 5 DVD Set • £24
BY PASTOR HAGEE.
Bible prophecy clearly reveals that immediately prior to the rapture of the Church, four powerful kings will race onto the stage of world history with two objectives. What are they? Where do the four kings come from and what do they signify? See why Pastor Hagee believes that we are in the beginning stages of World War III and how this will eventually take us to the Battle of Armageddon. Get your note-taking materials. Each sermon is drenched in research and Scripture, making the Word of God come to life as Pastor vividly describes the key players that signify…the King is coming!
BONUS SERMON:
THE KING OF KINGS TO ORDER THIS SERIES CALL 01793 862 146 VISIT WWW.JHM.ORG
JO H N H AG E E M I N I S T R I E S
PROPHECY & HEALING
A PROPHETIC WORLD VIEW & HEALING ANOINTING SERVICE We invite you, your family and friends to join Pastor John Hagee, his wife Diana and the John Hagee Ministries team for a spirit-filled weekend of events. On Friday evening, Pastor John Hagee will take us on a journey through the Word of God and reveal how current world events intersect with Bible prophecy. God is the Architect of the universe and His Word explains our past and reflects the world’s future. On Saturday you will have your faith renewed as you experience God’s anointing in a fresh way with teachings on the anointing culminating in a powerful healing anointing service. With every passing day we move closer to Christ’s return and it is more imperative than ever that we reach our Divine destiny. Join us at Westminster Chapel, London for these life-changing events.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS TIMELY EVENT 01793 862 146 · www.jhm.org/events · PO Box 2959, Swindon, SN6 7WS
26 FEATURE
WILFRED EMMANUEL-JONES The Man Behind The Black Farmer Brand, Entrepreneur and Game Changer
W
ilfred is a classic entrepreneur and has an ‘anything is possible’ attitude to everything he approaches – even his health. Within a year of his close brush with death - from leukaemia and a stem cell transplant, which confined him to a hospital bed for the best part of 2014 - and still in the early days in his recovery, Wilfred is fired up and ready for a new challenge. Always a game changer, this time he is shaking up the well-established world of TV advertising. “Many people after a serious illness want to change their lives, or take a step back. I don’t. I love what I do and, if anything, the thought that I might not have the opportunity to do the things I want to do has spurred me on. But I do want to do the things I have always wanted, and to give back – I don’t want to leave this life with regrets. All my energy is going into taking The Black Farmer to its next stage of development, and part of that was to make a TV commercial - something I have longed to do for many years. To bring together a team of creative people, including my hero and Hollywood legend, director Tony Kaye, and to create a game-changing ad was exhilarating. And it gave voice to the things that make me tick as an individual, as The Black Farmer, including Morris dancing. It has given me the opportunity to shout about my love of and support for rural Britain, its place in our lives and its traditions.
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Watch the full length advert here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=53twFqvOJ5Q. The launch of the campaign also gave Wilfred the opportunity to say Thank You to the doctors, nurses and staff at UCLH, where he was treated. “The care I received from the team at UCLH was extraordinary. I can honestly say that it is thanks to them that I am alive today. When I was in hospital, I used to look out of the window and see this poster site, and vowed that one day I would display my message on it to say Thank You. I am delighted that two years into my recovery I am in a position to do just that,” he says. And to celebrate the launch of his groundbreaking TV commercial, which gives an insight into his own soul, he launched #thisismysoul – a campaign to celebrate the unique stories of people from all walks of life across the UK. Wilfred is inviting everyone to take part and share their stories at http://www.theblackfarmer. com/this-is-my-soul. Wilfred’s own story shapes everything he does. From his own humble beginnings in Jamaica and then inner-city Birmingham, to TV director, to buying his Devon farm and launching his now hugely successful The Black Farmer brand, you can catch a glimpse into the soul that makes this man so formidable. “The importance of sharing our stories unites us, makes us stronger. I find people and their stories endlessly fascinating and enriching. I never stop learning and being amazed at what drives and inspires us. We can learn so much from each other,” he says. And what of Wilfred’s soul? “I just love flamenco dancing. I also love Morris dancers and British
eccentricity. I want to celebrate the traditional side of being British, and reclaim the flag to show that nationalism is not just the preserve of the sports field. Championing rural Britain is in my soul.” Wilfred’s life journey has taken him on an interesting route. He left school with no qualifications, a difficult student and undiagnosed dyslexic. After an unsuccessful episode in the Army, for a number of years Wilfred worked as a chef, before pursuing a career in the BBC, becoming a producer/director mainly working on food and drink programmes. He is credited with bringing many of the top celebrity chefs to the small screen, including Gordon Ramsay, Antony Worrall-Thompson, Brian Turner and James Martin. As well as taking time to write a cookery book (published by Simon & Schuster) and give motivational talks to young entrepreneurs, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Marketing by Plymouth University. Reflecting Wilfred’s own story, The Black Farmer supports Leuka cancer charity, British Dyslexic Association and CHICKS – providing respite breaks for disadvantaged children in the UK. Flavours without Frontiers – the promise offered by his products - also goes a long way to sum up his personality. He is certainly not one to be confined by race, convention or tradition.
www.theblackfarmer.com Twitter @theblackfarmer
COMMENT 27
Misinterpreted Truth and Terrorism REV STEPHEN BROOKS
National Development Manager for Excell 3 www.excell3.com
T
oday, the incidence of religious terrorism is disproportionately committed by radical Islamists but there is, of course, no Muslim monopoly in the field of religious radicalism. In recent times, religious terrorism has increased in its frequency, scale of violence and global reach. What is religious terrorism? What are its fundamental attributes? Religious terrorism is a type of political violence, motivated by an absolute belief that a deity has sanctioned and commanded violence for the greater glory of the faith. Acts committed in the name of the faith will be forgiven by the deity and perhaps rewarded in an afterlife. In essence, one’s religious faith legitimises violence, as long as such violence is an expression of the will of one’s deity. History is littered with examples of extremist people and nations, who engage in violence to promote their beliefs. Within the Judeo-Christian belief system, references in the Bible are not only to assassinations and conquests, but also to the complete annihilation of enemy nations in the name of the faith. One such campaign is described in the Book of Joshua (chapter 11 verses 1, 4-8, 10-14). The story of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan is the story of the culmination of the ancient Hebrews’ return to Canaan. To Joshua and his followers, this was the Promised Land of the covenant between God and the chosen people. According to the Bible, the Canaanite cities were destroyed, and the Canaanites attacked until ‘there was no one left who breathed’ - assuming that Joshua and his army put to the sword all the inhabitants of the 31 cities mentioned in the Bible. To the ancient Hebrews, the Promised Land had been occupied by enemy trespassers. To fulfil God’s covenant, it was rational and necessary - from their perspective - to drive them from the land, exterminating them when required. During the Middle Ages, Christian (Roman Catholic) Crusades launched at least nine invasions of the Islamic east, the first one in 1095. These invasions were called the Crusades, because they were conducted in the name of the Cross. The purpose of the Crusades was to capture the holy lands from the Muslims, to whom they referred collectively as Saracens. Christian knights and soldiers answered the call
for many reasons: the promise of land, treasure and glory were certainly central. Another important reason was the spiritual promise, made by Pope Urban II, that fighting and dying in the name of the Cross would ensure martyrdom and thereby guarantee a place in heaven. Liberation of the holy lands would bring eternal salvation. Thus, a ‘“knight who, with religious intent, took the Cross would earn a remission from temporal penalties for all his sins; if he died in battle, he would earn remission of his sins.” This religious ideology was reflected in the war cry of the early Crusades: “Deus lo volt!” (“God wills it!”).’
‘Religious terrorism is a type of political violence, motivated by an absolute belief that a deity has sanctioned and commanded violence for the greater glory of the faith’ Most religious traditions have produced extremist movements, whose members believe that their faith and value system are superior. This concept of the one true faith has been used by many fundamentalists to justify violent religious intolerance. Religious terrorists are modern manifestations of historical traditions of extremism within the world’s major faiths. For example: within Christianity, the medieval Crusades were a series of exceptionally violent military campaigns against Muslims, Jews and unorthodox Christian sects. Later, during the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic and Protestant Christians waged relentless brutal wars against each other. In the modern era, Christian terrorists and extremists have participated in communal fighting in numerous countries like Northern Island
and, in the United States, have bombed abortion clinics and committed other acts of violence. Within Islam, the relative tolerance of the 15th and 16th centuries is counterbalanced by intolerance today among movements such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Examples of political and public violence, waged in the name of Islam, are numerous. Modern religious extremism is arguably rooted in faith-based natural law. Natural law is a result of human reason and references to moral traditions and religious texts. In fact, most religious texts have passages that can be selectively interpreted to encourage extremist intolerance; for example, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Matthew 5:38). Among those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, there are as many conflicting doctrines as there are denominations and sects. The apostle Peter states the sad fact that millions are in the grip of deception: “…speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those (epistles of Paul) that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as (they distort and misinterpret) the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16, KJV/ Amplified Parallel Bible). The simplicity of the Gospel message is stressed by the Apostle Paul in the first chapter of the Book of 1 Corinthians. When the simple message is preached, and the Holy Spirit does His work in the heart, the intent is that everyone recognises the supernatural power involved, with all praise and honour pointing to Jesus Christ. The Bible warns us of the danger of having our own personal interpretation of Scriptures that simply lead to misunderstanding, man-made traditions and religious conviction - without the transformational experience of revival. www.keepthefaith.co.uk
28 COMMENT
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s … DIONNE GRAVESANDE
is Head of Church Advocacy at Christian Aid
…and to God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17). So what is owed to Caesar? This imperative is difficult for people when taxation facilitates expenditure with which they disagree - whether a new generation of nuclear weaponry, all military armaments, or ‘bailing out’ banks with taxpayers’ money that could have been used otherwise. And therein is the problem: while some of us have no option but to pay taxes, others (usually very wealthy folk) opt out. The startling revelations that have come to light in the Panama Papers a few weeks back was another example of corruption in the already corrupted and convoluted developing world – specifically in the case of Latin America and Panama being exploited by rich elites in both the developed and developing world. Attention was understandably focused on the famous and infamous people, who were being shamed and exposed. There is, however, another, far larger but almost invisible group of people involved in the Panama Papers story - and all other tales of corruption, tax evasion, tax avoidance and money laundering. They are the millions of mums, dads, brothers, daughters, teachers, nurses, postmen – the ‘ordinary’ people – whose lives are more difficult, and often more dangerous, because money is being siphoned away from the services they rely on, to line the pockets of some of the world’s wealthiest people. When a powerful people steal public money, there is a direct and potentially deadly impact on a vastly greater number of powerless people, who are too easily forgotten amid the spectacle of the latest leak. Let me introduce Asana Abugre. She has a small shop in Accra, Ghana, where she makes and sells batiks and tie-dyed textiles. Asana pays her taxes regularly. Women like her, working in markets across the city, sometimes pay up to 37% of their income in tax. Tax collectors come Find us on Facebook: KEEP THE FAITH Magazine
to their shops to collect taxes, and there is no chance of them not paying, regardless of how little money they might have made that day. Of course, this isn’t the tax story that everyone’s been talking about. The release of the Panama Papers by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is the biggest data leak in history, and this time it’s some of the world’s most powerful people who have cause to worry, with the spotlight finally falling on their own secretive tax arrangements.
‘When those at the top of the economic pyramid find ways to pay little or no tax, the impact is felt hardest by those at the bottom...’ Blaming the Global South for its problems of corruption is something we in the west do very well, but the corruption, evasion and avoidance by the world elite is happening in our own back garden; it is happening in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. When those at the top of the economic pyramid find ways to pay little or no tax, the impact is felt hardest by those at the bottom - people like Asana, the family next door that rely on food banks, and our young people who desperately need support services. Tax evasion in British Overseas Territories is not only a national embarrassment; it denies funds that could be spent on public services at home, and helps in part to enable global poverty. Many developing nations are seriously affected by the way in which some multinational companies manipulate their profits in a way that allows them to pay little or no tax in the countries in which
they are working. For me, this simply feels wrong. My Christian values mean I believe that human life is best understood when lived in relationship with others, and that who we are is shaped by the ways in which we relate both to God and to our neighbours (understood in the broadest sense). Our humanity is shaped by our social and community relationships and through our economic relations, which in turn influence our personal identity. So I want to revisit my earlier question: What is owed to Caesar? What properly belongs to the public purse and what does not? How much and what type(s) of tax should be paid? Should a company pay a contribution to the society where it is based, but in which the government has granted tax exemptions? One cannot render unto Caesar until one knows what Caesar is asking for, and sometimes ‘Caesar’ does not always have the interests of the country at heart. But, in well-governed societies, the politics of taxation have to do with building together the infrastructure needed for common life, citizenship and the free worship of God. How much of this infrastructure should be provided for by public taxation is open to debate. At its most basic level, good government provides those conditions within which the people may flourish - for example: free education, free healthcare, policy and security. Taxation is the means by which the conditions for societal flourishing are made possible. We all have a responsibility to hold leaders to account in whatever way we can and, if the current international structures are not working, then we should seek alternatives. After all, Christian believers are driven by the vision to build the Kingdom of God in the here and now. In doing that, we are working towards a kingdom whose hallmarks are justice, fairness and access is given for all citizens and nothing is withheld - not even taxes.
A Salute to the
Queen REV CANON J. JOHN
is Director of the Philo Trust www.canonjjohn.com
W
e are in a season of celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her actual birthday is 21st April, but the official celebrations will be in June. For either (or both) let me add my voice to the many who are wishing the Queen a very happy birthday. Sometimes with birthdays of ‘a significant age’, you are celebrating no more than the fact that someone has survived for a very long time. In the case of Queen Elizabeth II, however, we do not simply celebrate years but virtues as well. For me, I think our Queen has demonstrated three great virtues, all particularly commendable because they are rare in our age. The first virtue the Queen has displayed is that of service. In 1947, at the tender age of 21, she said this in a broadcast to the nation: ”I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” The ‘imperial family’ has long since faded into history, but she has kept that promise. I know little about what the Queen will be doing this week, but I imagine that it will be pretty much business as usual. She will maintain her conscientious daily watch on the affairs of state; will meet with the Prime Minister, where she will be consulted and will advise, and she will no doubt attend the usual functions with her habitual grace and charm. We take her service to the nation for granted, but it’s worth remembering that we live at a time when putting yourself first is almost universally taken to be the first rule of life. Ours is an age of self-indulgence, self-expression and, ultimately, self-centredness. Denying this, our Queen has served – and continues to serve – her people and nation. The second virtue the Queen has displayed is that of duty. We have a Queen on whose shoulders have fallen enormous responsibilities, yet who has remained committed over six decades to fulfilling them. And duty it has been. One shudders to think of all the handshakes she has endured; the speeches she has had to listen to; the smiles she has been forced to make, and the many times she must have had to hold
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her tongue. This lifelong commitment is striking given how unpopular duty is in our age. One of the overriding trends in Western culture has been the gradual erosion of commitment and obligation in almost every area of life. Whether in private or public life, we find that where there were once solemn bonds there are now only loose, breakable and disposable links. Behind this trend is the belief – now celebrated as a universal truth – that we human beings can only find the true purpose of life if we have the freedom to seek our own pleasure. Here, too, the Queen has gone against the flow. The third virtue Queen Elizabeth has displayed is that of perseverance. In one sense, perseverance – steadfastness or ‘stickability’ might be words we prefer – is the least of virtues. In another, it is the rarest. After all, we can all do a bit of duty and service for a few hours or even a few days; the challenge is to do it for a lifetime. And that is exactly what the Queen has done. Here again we find that perseverance is not one of the values of our unsettled age. During her long reign, the currents of shifting values and fashion have flowed so fast and fierce through British life that age-old traditions and social patterns have been swept away. Cultural moods have exploded on the scene and then, just as suddenly, vanished. Amidst it all, the Queen
has persevered, enduring as a fixed element in the tumult of our time. Indeed, as the bonds that unite the peoples of Britain seem to become fewer and more strained, her role as the embodiment of what we are as a nation has become even more vital. There can be no higher praise for the Queen’s role here than the fact that it is troubling to imagine the thought of Britain without her. The Queen has demonstrated service, duty and perseverance. That she has been able to do this against the spirit of the world is surely because she takes her bearings not from the world and its wisdom, but from something else. That something else is her strong Christian faith, something that Her Majesty has openly and unashamedly talked about. The qualities she has displayed are Christian virtues, lived out to the full in Jesus Christ, who came to serve and to give His own life for the world. The Queen exhibits these virtues not simply because she seeks to imitate Christ, but because she has a relationship with Him. She knows, I believe, the great truth that in order to live out Christ’s teaching you must live in Christ. In Her Majesty Elizabeth II we see a great Queen, but her greatness comes from the fact that she has trusted in an even greater King. Happy birthday, Ma’am! www.keepthefaith.co.uk
30 COMMENT
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oo few churches seem keen on addressing the key problem we have in the Black community at the moment, which is a moral decline, evidenced by our broken families, youth killings, gang crime, hopelessness and poverty. Members of the Windrush Generation (WG) must be turning in their graves at some of the things happening in our community at the moment - things they most probably never conceived would occur. One has to admire the courage and audaciousness of those West Indians who, in the late 1940s, 50s and 60s, left their homes and families in the sunny climates of the Caribbean, to travel across the Atlantic to take advantage of the work opportunities Britain was offering. Husbands usually came first and, when they had saved enough money, sent for their wives and children. And together, they worked hard to build a life together and provide a strong foundation for their children, so that they could enjoy the benefits that came with living in England, such as getting access to free education; being able to get well-paid work; buy their own home and live a prosperous life. In my view, the foundation laid by the WGs (as I call them) for their children and their children’s children was a good one. They may not have had a lot of material wealth, but they were rich in the values necessary to succeed in
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life, which they passed on to their children. They taught about the value of hard work; the importance of education; honesty, respect for self and others; faith in God and much more. Some have passed these values on, but many are disbanding them and existing in a kind of moral abyss, devoid of substance and direction. Of late, there has been a lot of talk about what the African Caribbean community can take to combat some of its key issues. Surely one of the things that must take place is a return to our core roots and values. Jeremiah 6:16 states: ‘This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.” But you said, “We will not walk in it.”’ In order to move forward, we’ll have to look back to reclaim and re-institute the values that our community once held dear. It might be difficult to do, but not impossible. More importantly, it must be done. The WGs didn’t immigrate into the UK to just survive; they came so that we could thrive and prosper. Our churches must be at the forefront of helping the community find that ancient good path, but find it we must, if we are to achieve all that the WGs prayed for with the next generation.
I don’t think many of us recognise the awesomeness of God, and the fact that He is really waiting on us to make big, bold audacious prayers that give Him an opportunity to demonstrate how truly great and wonderful He is - and blow our minds in the process. Ephesians 3:20-21 states: ‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ Let’s stretch our imaginations and start to pray prayers that bring about God’s purposes on earth. Let’s pray for justice to reign. Let’s pray for the healing of relationships. Let’s pray for community and societal transformation, taking into consideration the fact that God is desirous to surpass our expectations. The question I’ve got to ask is: What’s stopping you from praying big prayers? God wants you to, so get praying!
PRESSING FORWARD WITH NO REGRETS
No one shares that, from the mid 40s onwards, individuals undergo a lot of self reflection about their lives. It goes without saying that, if you’ve lived a relatively drama-free life, made wise decisions, and had all your prayers answered, looking back on your life is not painful at all. However, if you’ve experienced drama, trauma, are haunted by poor decisions and mistakes you’ve made, or are still waiting on God to answer heartfelt prayers, then your reflections will be filled with pain, hurt and regret. Even anger. It’s no wonder, then, that the Apostle Paul wrote: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). He would have had much to regret, because he persecuted the church prior to his conversion. It’s good, however, that he recognised there was merit in pushing forward and not looking back, because no one can change the past, only learn from it. And this is what we have to do when pain and regret come knocking on our door. We can’t change the past, but we can learn wisdom from the lessons it taught us and, if the occasion arises, share the wisdom we’ve gained with others who seem set to make similar mistakes. And, in those instances where we are overwhelmed with guilt because of our bad behaviour or negatives decisions, we should confess our sins to God, and accept the forgiveness He freely offers to all.
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18 FEATURE 32 TESTIMONY
Friday 31st December 1993 was the start of a journey that was to lead a young man from darkness into light. Heaven seemed to touch the earth as death was replaced for life, and the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, that amazing grace, came into force and pulled him off the path of death onto the way of life. That young man is SAM OPECHE, and the remarkable event that ensued on that night was so indelible that his life has never been the same since.
I
n 1992, in a bid to try new frontiers, Sam moved over to Abuja - the new capital city of Nigeria - to join his parents, having just finished High School in Lagos. This was a calculated move because, at this time, Abuja was a fresh and upcoming city. It was virgin and fallow, and Sam felt that he would be in a pivot position to shine through in the music scene, through experiences gained from the more cosmopolitan city of Lagos, where he was born. On arrival in Abuja, Sam quickly hooked up with a well-known promoter, and soon began performing at parties. His fame was growing, and his soulish baritone voice endeared him to local fun-seeking partygoers; he rapidly became well sought-after at gigs and other events. It was on one such night, on his way to what should have become his biggest show ever at the time - his first performance in a nightclub on New Year’s Eve, Friday 31st December 1993 - that the story changed and so did ‘the journey’. Sam recalls that his dad did not approve of his razzmatazz lifestyle, and was determined to deter him from living that way. Sam was making little earnings from these gigs to keep body and soul together, which meant a lot to someone growing up in an environment of abject poverty. However, “My dad didn’t see it that way,” Sam said, “because he wanted me to stay on the straight and narrow.” That night, as Sam prepared to leave the house for this much-
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‘the Journey’ anticipated gig, his father stood by the door preventing him from stepping out. “You are my first son and I cannot watch you waste your life like this. You should be going to church and not a nightclub. Why are you doing this to yourself?” but Sam was having none of that. Soon, a bout between father and son ensued, and Sam somehow found a way of escape from the clutches of his dad and stormed out of the house, determined to get to his destination and live up to the expectations of his growing fans. Unbeknown to this very eager young man, this was not to be – God had other plans for his life. About 800 metres from his father’s house, where the tussle had taken place almost 20 minutes earlier, Sam was standing by the road waiting for his transportation to arrive. He felt a strong force overwhelm him, and the next thing he knew was that he slumped to the ground groaning, and then suddenly slipped into a state of unconsciousness, totally unaware of his surroundings. His recollection of what followed that night was like something out of a movie. In this movie, Sam saw people wailing and screaming as if in torment, and they were crying out for help. As this went on, he seemed to hear a voice say to him that he would end up like the people in the
movie, if he did not change course. The movie, according to him, was unpleasant and scary. He knew right there and then that God was speaking to him, but he couldn’t comprehend the significance of this event until later in life, when he began using his singing abilities to glorify God. When he got up from the spot where he had this encounter, at about 1.15 in the morning of New Year’s Day 1994, he knew that he couldn’t continue with his plan to be at the nightclub, but instead walked back to the same house he had stormed out of at 10pm the previous night.
www.samopeche.com
Email: sam@samopeche.com Mobile: 07916293134
Under the gaze of his surprised father, he picked up a Bible and headed for a church – not speaking to anyone. He was apprehensive and gravely disturbed by the experience he’d just had, that “any church would do, so long as I could spend what was left of the New Year’s celebration in the presence of God, and someone could pray for me and assure me that all is well,” Sam said. Yes, you guessed right; Sam gave his life to Jesus and became a born-again Christian. He now sings for Jesus, and is a delight to the body of Christ - and the world at large - through his Spirit-led songwriting and singing abilities. He is a worship leader at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, and has three albums and three singles under his belt. In 2011, his single, ‘Believe Again’, earned him the NCM (New Christian Music) Best Male Gospel Singer award. In 2013, his video, ‘I’ll Wait’, was nominated in the Best Video category in the first-ever UK Gospel Music Video Awards. He has also authored two books, ‘The G.A.T.E.S of Life’ and ‘Today Is Good’ – both available on Amazon. Sam’s latest single, ‘O Jesus’, a singalong worship song in the contemporary/soft rock gospel genre, produced by Sam Opeche and ‘keyboard maestro’ Thimmy Abioye, is out now on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other online stores. The song is simple yet atmosphere changing, with a powerful testimony behind it. Sam is happily married to Elizabeth, and they are blessed with three miraculous children.
TESTIMONY 33
Get Well Stay Well with Felicity Corbin Wheeler
D
iagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given six weeks to live in 2003, now healed by God and helping others to heal when they come close to Him! God stepped in and healed me with His Healing Word in Genesis 1:29-30. Having lost a beautiful daughter to cancer in 1989, I started my Get Well Stay Well ministry in memory of her, to spread the suppressed truth about natural health, and to give all the glory to God for our wonderful immune systems, which can heal us against all the odds. I have just appeared in a nine-episode docu series called The Truth About Cancer, which I urge readers to research. 131 doctors and patients reveal the truth about cancer and other diseases. I have also been invited to become a senior associate of the Royal Society of Medicine in London, and have led two days there for Revelation viewers to my Get Well Stay Well weekly show. I am now enjoying better health than I have ever had and, at 75, am spreading the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ around the world on “the Church Without Walls” - the wonderful Revelation TV.
I am Felicity Corbin Wheeler, and God has opened a door for me to reach millions each week on Revelation Christian TV. Some watch my weekly, hour-long Get Well Stay Well programme on satellite TV around the world, but the vast majority watch on computers and smartphones. I am a Channel Islands woman, but grew up in Africa, where I was filled with the Holy Spirit as a child. I trained as a British Red Cross nurse in London, and also worked in the houses of
Parliament as a researcher. It was there I discovered that the food lobbies are very political! The meat and dairy industry and the big pharmaceutical companies have a huge say in how health ministers around the world use strategy for their own agenda. The current epidemic of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, auto immune disease and all the other labels are, I believe, due to toxicity at cellular level. Our food is now being processed, genetically modified, and is being grown in mineral-depleted soil. So, even if we have the perfect organic vegan diet, we can still get ill because the minerals and vitamins are lacking. As Bible believers, we know God created us from the dust of the ground, that is, the minerals. We need at least 75 minerals for our cells, our blood, our organs - and therefore our bodies - to be healthy! Pure water is also essential, and I have discovered that the only unadulterated water is water we distil ourselves, with an inexpensive countertop distiller. So much sickness is caused by heavy metals, chemicals, antibiotics, second hand hormones, that have contaminated our water supply, either public or private in wells. Many suffer from anxiety and depression as well, due to lack of minerals, vitamin D and natural sunshine. When we have a darker skin, of course, we need much more vitamin D. And then there is STRESS! Our parents and grandparents lived a much calmer life, many of them growing their own food and working in the fresh air, and they were lithe and fit. Very few were obese. Now, we see such obesity in
the western world, where people have changed their diets from healthy natural foods to processed foods and sugary drinks. Sugar is known as the Sweet Deception, and it is deliberately put into our food and drinks by scientists, who are paid a great deal of money to feed our addiction. We need to return to God’s Genesis creation diet: herbs, fruit, vegetables, seeds, nut and green plant and, when we do, people heal. I did, and thousands of others have also been healed on the Gerson Therapy, which comprises coffee enemas, like colonics, and reverting to organic fruit and vegetable juices. An easy way of getting this raw living food into our bodies is by juicing. We can buy an inexpensive hand-cranked juicer on Amazon. In these last days, so reminiscent of the Book of Revelation, it is wise, I think, to prepare ourselves to be as independent of governments and authorities as possible. I have come to rely solely on God and my Revelation Family. I have a very active website, www.FelicityCorbinWheeler.org, with masses of free information. If people want more, they can book a one-to-one phone consultation, come on a week’s holiday course, or simply download my 22,800-word Get Well Stay Well Course, or any of my books. Or you can join me on Mondays 12.30 lunchtime, when I do the live show (repeated on Tuesdays at 6am) and again on Saturdays at 10.30am, when I produce and present the live TV show. These are, of course, viewable 24/7 on www.RevelationTV.com/ CatchUp/GetWellStayWell. I will give you a wave from the TV next time! Blessings, and Get Well and Stay Well!
www.keepthefaith.co.uk
34 TESTIMONY
READER’S TESTIMONY
A story of wonders and miracles...
M
usic and its role and effect in the Church is as vast a subject as music itself. Music has both blessed and offended throughout church history, yet church life would be dry without it. Its role has to be to praise God, first of all; then its power to touch emotions gives it a place in evangelism, as we preach the Word through song. William Booth, English evangelist and founder of the Salvation Army, said: “Music is for the soul what wind is for the ship, blowing her onwards in the direction in which she is steered.” Mr Booth knew that light, happy melodies would relax people and put them at ease to listen to the Gospel message. One of his famous sayings was: ”Why should the devil have all the good music?” Music is spiritual and therefore has a spiritual effect. The reason music gives us the ability to meditate on spiritual things is not just emotion alone. Its beauty and variation help to lead us closer to God. To quote William Temple: “To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God; to feed the mind with the truth of God; to purge the imagination by the beauty of God; to open the heart to the love of God; to devote the will to the purpose of God.” Music is a tool and vehicle of Holy Spirit. My husband, Peter J Shaw, was a Christian singer-songwriter (7 May 1949 to 29 November 2013) and was born in Derbyshire, England. He had been a semi-professional singer and guitarist for over 40 years in dance, jazz and country bands. He became a Christian in the 80s; he met with the Lord and He delivered him out of occult practices. Peter switched from playing in clubs and pubs to leading worship. We met at Cliff Bible College, in Derbyshire in 1999, where we both studied (the first two paragraphs of this article are from Pete’s dissertation about music), then came to Lincolnshire to minister through music and word in various churches.
In 2013, Pete had a stroke that damaged both sides of his brain and left his heart not working properly. I remember receiving a message and trying to get to his workplace as fast as possible to pray with him. God truly had His hand upon him. A neurologist specialist was surprised to see Pete standing and walking a few weeks following his results. As we prayed for a full healing to happen in his body, God started pouring in the songs. It was God’s leading and inspiration that made these songs happen! I remember seeing Pete continually writing whenever he was inspired; he was unable to stop. Previously we wondered if he would ever be able to play guitar, but he started playing again by playing the chords of his new songs. He was recovering well, and it has been a long journey, but praise God for bringing us both through this. I learnt to play bass guitar just because he needed a bass guitarist, and we’ve recorded the songs together. Our daughter,
Lucy, was born in 2007 and she grew up learning the words of the songs as she was learning to speak! His first CD was released in 2005: Spirit & Truth. The second CD, the extended version of the first one, was completed in 2008. Third, Your Grace, was released early in 2013 with nine songs. When Pete was promoted to glory in November 2013, we were preparing his fourth CD, Only by Faith, and thanks to a great team that God brought together from different corners of the world, we finished it in November 2015! Pete was a man with a mission: to minister with music and God’s Word. He lived it, breathed it, and spoke into situations and people’s lives to break bondages and set the captives free! He was always seeking God’s will. Matthew 6:33 says ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’ Pete went to be with Jesus on 29th November 2013, but the songs inspired by the Holy Spirit live on, and continue to touch, bless and speak to many people!
Only By Faith is out now on CD, and the songs are also available to download on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and CDBaby, with the majority of the proceeds going to support Indian orphanages. Please visit the website to find out more, download lyrics and chords at www.shawcoastchristiansongs.co.uk. Anna Shaw
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36 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Her Excellency Madame Justina Mutale
H
er Excellency Madame Justina Mutale has been globally acclaimed as one of the most influential and inspirational African women. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious title of ‘African Woman of the Year’. Ms Mutale is Founder and President of the Justina Mutale Foundation for (women’s) Leadership. Named as one of Africa’s most respected names, well-known faces and influential voices, Ms Mutale is a Distinguished Member of the Royal Biographical Institute and the Global Institute for Human Excellence. She is the Global Ambassador for Gender Equality and Spokesperson of the International Women’s Think Tank. Ms Mutale serves on the Advisory Board of the World Leaders Forum, and is a civil society delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development. A recipient of numerous international
WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY SHERRY ANN DIXON
Founder & Director, Women on the Crossroads E: info@sherrydixon.co.uk www.sherrydixon.co.uk www.womenonthecrossroads.com @sherrydixon sherryanndixon sherry.dixon
In the last issue, we featured three women who were making a difference in our community. These women were well received by our readers, and many have sent positive messages of adulation, encouraging us to continue focusing on more women in our community - women who are not often mentioned in mainstream media, yet they are making a big difference around the world with the work they do. In this issue, we focus on two women, who are raising the bar. I am a believer of action and pursuing dreams of renewal, freedom, justice for women and young girls. I believe in a holistic approach to living in freedom and eradicating poverty in all its forms. Education in all aspects encourages and empowers. By sharing the profiles of women who are working at making a difference, we share hope for another to try, the spark that ignites a dream. We all talk about change, that word which equates a vision of what can be! Vision has a power to focus and ignite the human spirit.
awards, honours and accolades, Ms Mutale has been honoured as a Global Official of Dignity in the GOD Awards held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She has received the WAF-mdg Award from the Women Advancement Forum, presented in recognition of her efforts towards the actualisation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Ms Mutale is featured on the Black Women in Europe Power List and in the Black 100+ Hall of Fame - an exhibition and legacy of the top 100 Black achievers in modern Britain. She serves as President, Patron, Ambassador, Trustee and Advisory Board Member of several humanitarian, community and charitable organisations in the UK and overseas. Prior to founding her own organisation, Ms Mutale worked in the Gender Section of the Commonwealth Secretariat, which deals with advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in Commonwealth countries. In addition, Ms Mutale is part of the Bond Network, which represents the largest household names in the UK international development sector who influence key decision-makers at national, European and global levels, and serves on Bond’s European Policy Working Group on Gender. She is also a member of the African Union Diaspora Coalition and a civil society delegate to the African Gender Ministers’ Meeting, held in the wings of the African Union Heads of State Summit.
“I was brought up in an environment that emphasises the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others what you would want them to do unto you’ by going beyond self-actualisation and personal development to benefit others. God is my greatest Mentor. God shows us that we live in a world of abundance and should, therefore, share and care for others,” said Justina.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT 37
Funke Abimbola FRSA General Counsel & Company Secretary, Roche UK
F
unke is a senior leader for the world’s largest biotech company. She is a practising solicitor, leading the legal and corporate compliance, company secretarial and data protection functions that support the company’s pharmaceutical operations in the UK, Ireland, Malta and Gibraltar. A multi award-winning solicitor, Funke is currently the most senior Black lawyer working within the UK pharmaceutical industry, and is one of the most senior globally. In addition, she is a multi award-winning diversity campaigner and has received both national and European recognition for her diversity work. She speaks regularly at conferences in the UK and abroad, with extensive reach and impact in doing so. She has impacted thousands of lives across all ages, races, genders and social backgrounds. Passionate about the next generation, she addresses and advises state school students as a speaker for Speakers4Schools (www.speakers4schools. org), and spoke to over 1,000 school children during 2015 alone. As a Professional Ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors (www.aspiringsolicitors. co.uk) - an organisation founded to break down entry-level barriers to the legal profession - she supports university students by providing guidance, work experience and mentoring, as well as speaking at universities and at graduate recruitment events. She created a summer placement scheme within her team at work, offering future law students valuable work experience within a global, blue-chip organisation. Now in its fifth year, the scheme has changed the career trajectories of over 20 students. She also created an annual internship role within her team, specifically aimed at bright, A-level students taking a gap year before university. This paid internship not only gives students the opportunity to gain work experience before furthering their studies, but also encourages them to save valuable funds to assist with their tuition fees and other expenses. Other speaking engagements include speaking at the 30% Club, The Law Society, the BBC and in Parliament. In addition, she has participated in several ‘roundtable’ events held by The Law Society Gazette. She is a champion for both the Women in Law London network, supporting the pipeline of women lawyers (www.womeninlawlondon.com) and the First 100 Years Project, a groundbreaking initiative that will create a digital library to celebrate 100 years of women lawyers in the UK. The library will be archived at the British Library in 2019 (www.first100years.org.uk). In addition, she is a Steering Committee
member of DRIVE (Diversity Recruitment Institute of Value and Excellence), a diversity in recruitment initiative founded by Green Park Interim & Executive Search with the aim of effecting an extra 10,000 diverse hires per annum. The initiative is chaired by Baroness Royall, a former leader at the House of Lords (www.green-park. co.uk/drive-diversity-recruitment).
‘My faith in God is everything to me, and has seen me come through so many tough situations in life victorious’ In 2015, she founded the Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law network, the only network of its kind, supporting the international pipeline of female legal talent within the life sciences sector. She also personally sponsored a 2015 report called ‘Opening up or shutting out’, focusing specifically on social mobility issues across the legal profession (see copy of report at www.byfieldconsultancy.com/wp-content/ uploads/Opening-up-or-shutting-out_ Social-mobility-in-the-legal-profession.pdf). The report was successfully launched with an exclusive in The Times, followed by several articles written by Funke (for example, for The Times, Managing Partner magazine and New Law Journal). Funke is now working with the
Government’s Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission to make impactful changes across the UK with the many social mobility challenges posed by the elite professions, including law. Funke is an expert mentor and sponsor. As a proud working mother to a 13-year-old son, Funke is also a single mother, with principle day-to-day responsibility for her son. She juggles the demands of career and home, advising working mothers on how to achieve life balance. She is passionate about the law, diversity, education and the healthcare sector. A regular media commentator, she is also a keen fundraiser for various charities, including Cancer Research UK. She has twice served as a school governor and as a board director. She was recently appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, to recognise the impact of her diversity work within the UK’s legal profession and British society. “My faith in God is everything to me, and has seen me come through so many tough situations in life victorious. When things have looked impossible and hopeless, my faith has sustained me and given me the hope I need to continue. I pray several times a day - for favour, grace, wisdom and guidance. God has never let me down, and I know that He never will.”
Follow Funke on Twitter: @Diversity Champ1 Facebook: Funke Abimbola www.keepthefaith.co.uk
38 LIFESTYLE
How does your garden grow?
JASON LOH
worked as a property solicitor before training in landscape and garden design www.jasonloh.co.uk
ROYALTY
A
s we celebrate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen this year, one reflects on some of the important seasons in her lifetime. 2012 - an amazing year. Chelsea won the European Cup for the first time. Andy Murray made it to the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Finals, losing to Roger Federer but then beating him at the London Olympics to win Team GB’s 16th gold medal. It was the Queen’s 60th year as reigning monarch, her Diamond Jubilee. For me, the moment forever etched into my memory is that of seeing James Bond escort the Queen to the Olympic Stadium… she then appears to parachute out of a helicopter to arrive in spectacular fashion at the Opening Ceremony! She has been through wars, dramatic cultural and social upheavals, and advised a succession of 12 UK prime ministers. All this, however, belies the silent strength and radiant grace that surrounds Britain’s longest reigning monarch, which she attributes to her faith in Jesus. Defender of the Faith The Queen holds the title ‘Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England’. I recently read in ‘The Servant Queen and the King She Serves’ (by Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher) that the Queen attends church and prays daily, but never tells anyone to go church. When she is in residence at Sandringham, she often attends service at the Sandringham Church - unannounced via the side door. Her faith is quietly held, but well-known (as can be heard in her inspiring and thoughtful Christmas messages). The Queen’s actual birthday is on 21st April (a day before mine!). Since 1748, the official birthday of the British sovereign is celebrated on a Saturday in June. This year, the ceremony of ‘Trooping the Colour’ is held on 11th June on Horse Guards Parade by St James’s Park. In honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday, Actaea simplex
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I have created a planting scheme based on two royal colours - purple and white. Trooping the Colour - a Royal Horticultural Theme The plants in this selection would be sited in dappled shade - the contrast of brightness and warmth that has the occasional cover of cool shade. The interplay creates interesting shadow patterns, and highlights certain sections of the border at different times of the day. This represents the Queen’s adaptability throughout the decades of her reign. The soil conditions are moist and nutrient rich - conditions which one may say are highly productive and yet offer sustenance to those in need. The physical movement of the larger plants (stature) are complemented by the graceful forms of the delicate ferns (mercy).Interspersed within the planting are a variety of rocks that show markings of character and the passage of time. The seemingly immovable structures
Anthriscus sylvestris
Ajuga reptans
represent the core foundational values one expects to find in one’s sovereign. The deep rich tones of purple are partnered beautifully with the flashes of white. I have given you the plant list here, but if you would like to know how to assemble the planting scheme to best effect, please feel free to email me directly at design@jasonloh.co.uk. Happy birthday, Your Majesty
Plant selection Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’ Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ Asplenium scolopendrium Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum ‘Metallicum’ Borinda papyrifera Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ Phalaris arundinacea ‘Feesey’s Form’ Polemonium caeruleum ‘White Pearl’ Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Crowborough’ Asplenium scolopendrium
LIFESTYLE 39
PURPLE Historically, purple is the colour that signifies royalty and great importance. The Greek word, ‘porphura’, refers to purple and to a species of shell fish or mussel from which the dye colour is derived. This species was very rare, and thus the purple dye was quite valuable during the reign of the Roman Empire. David Jacoby once remarked that 12,000 of these molluscs yielded no more than 1.4g of pure dye, which is enough to colour only the trim of a single garment.
WHITE Associated with purity, righteousness. The Zantedeschia shows off elegance, whilst Anthriscus flower heads provide an air of delicacy and the Lamiums look like fresh soft snowfall. In the Bible, a picture is given of a returning King, riding in a victory on a white horse (Revelation 6:2 and 19:11). Royal biographer, William Shawcross, records this of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953: ‘It was the moment when the holy oil was applied to her, rather than her crowning with St Edward’s Crown of solid gold, that was of supreme importance for the Queen. Indeed, it was the most solemn and important moment of her entire life.’ The anointing of oil took place when the Queen was in her elegant white silk dress - after the removal of the Sword of State, Robe Royal, Sovereign’s Orb, Queen’s Ring and other royal regalia. It was the only moment not shown on TV at the time, as it was considered too sacred to be televised. www.keepthefaith.co.uk
40 LIFESTYLE
GIVE GOD YOUR HEART, NOT LIP SERVICE How to experience intimacy with God every day BY GLADYS FAMORIYO
www.gladysf.com
D
o you remember when you dedicated your life to the Lord? Didn’t it seem like you couldn’t get enough of Him, like you had an insatiable appetite for all things ‘God’? Well, fast forward some years later, would you say you still have the same passion and zeal for Him? Whilst some of us could boast of having some semblance of time with God each day, sadly, it is a far cry from when we started the journey, or from where God wants us to be. And so, I think I can safely say that for everyone of us, we could all do with notching up our intimacy with God. Cos when it comes to this, there is no such thing as reaching the top or never needing to press in even more. Therefore, we should strive towards experiencing daily transformation and revival, which will then overflow into our workplaces, schools, churches, communities and nations. After all, we are to be ‘salt’ to give the flavour and aroma of Christ; a light to a dark world, and a beacon on a hill to help the world navigate their way to Christ. But alas, the reality is that many of us are so far removed from this, we no longer resemble the Great One who sent us.
MODERN TRAPS There are many traps, but I will focus on just two: Trap 1: The busy life I have long since held the opinion that a key strategy of the enemy is busyness and distractions. And boy, is it working! No need to look far. It is all around us. And this can be so subtle that you don’t realise what’s going on. From the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep, life does its best to get all our attention: from the ringing phone, to the demanding boss; from the screaming child, to the umpteen emails. With daily commutes, Find us on Facebook: KEEP THE FAITH Magazine
school runs, the needs of ageing parents, our multiple roles and responsibilities (both in and out of church), bills accumulating and life challenges… you can see how our attention and hearts end up drifting away.
wanted, is for Him to be our God and we to be His people. Simple! He wants us to grant Him full access to our hearts - living/breathing Him, every waking moment. He wants to be involved in every detail of our lives.
Trap 2: Working for God equates to walking with God (Not!) Brothers and sisters, let’s not get this twisted. Serving God - whether it be in ministry/church, in business, through the expression of your gift/ call/assignment - is not to be confused with developing intimacy with God, though it can lead to that, if we keep our hearts right. Whilst no one sets out to lose God along the way, sadly, that’s what happens to many of us (ask me how I know). I love what Peter Scazzero says in his book, ‘The Emotionally Healthy Leader’, that there is more to us than just our service to God. The problem we encounter is measuring our growth in God by the growth of what we busy ourselves in, which gives a false impression of how we are really doing. We can all do phenomenal things for God, and yet have our hearts drifting away or have unresolved issues with God, others or ourselves. So, we really need to sit up and take note, lest we be disqualified from the race (2 Corinthians 9:25-27).
Preserve your 1:1 times with God Whatever shape or form it takes, make it a priority. The fact is, life will always happen! There will never be a time when we will have nothing on our plates. So, the solution is to prioritise our times with God. After all, it’s in those moments with Him that we get what we need to face, head on, whatever life throws at us. Without it, we will be fighting a losing battle, as we cannot make it alone.
INTIMACY WITH GOD So, what can we do to (re)gain intimacy with God? Well, we can start with the following suggestions: Grant God full custody! God wants full custody of your life, not weekly visits. This might sound strange and you might say God already owns your life. But does He really? Often, we treat Him like an elderly relative abandoned in a care home, with little or no visits. Yet all Father wants, and has always
Return to your first love This is all about (re)discovering God. By the way, this is not about ritualistic religious activities. For instance, some of us might pray because we are told to do so by our pastors/leaders. Or we might pray, but just enough to stay away from hell and still be called believers. We might learn how to act or speak ‘Christianese’, but that’s all it is: an act or performance that ends after church service. What is lacking is creating such platforms in our homes/closets and not simply performing in the limelight. Therefore, may I suggest we go back to basics: spending quality time in the Word, prayer, praise and worship? That’s a great place to start. In closing, my prayer is that we learn to yield our hearts to God, so as to cultivate deep intimacy with Him. And, as a result, we can expect a God-rich life, with the supernatural becoming the natural, as we walk with God.
By Gladys Famoriyo - Speaker and Author of ‘Bounce Back!’, ‘Quit Hiding, Start Living!’, ‘Healing A Discouraged Heart’ and ‘Overcoming Emotional Baggage’.
LIFESTYLE 41
JACQUELINE MALCOLM PES: THE DREAMCATCHER
Just like the great orator and visionary, Martin Luther King Jr, everyone has a dream.
E
veryone has a desire - whether God-given or born of a personal hope - that flitters in and out of his or her thoughts and prayers throughout the day. They see a picture of doing or being something different to their present circumstance or situation – something that is bigger than themselves, something that seems impossible to achieve except by a miracle. Sometimes the greatest challenge can be to get that dream mapped out as a workable plan. After complaining to God about the state of His people, Israel, God had revealed to Habakkuk the prophet His plans on how He intended to deal with the situation, by raising up the Babylonian army. Then, in Habakkuk 2:2, God instructs Habakkuk to “Write the vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it.” Indeed, time and time again throughout the Bible, we read how God instructs His prophets and vision bearers to write down what He has revealed to them, so that
the person reading it can clearly understand the instruction that God has given, and the message can spread easily so that the work can be done. By writing down the vision and mapping out the blueprint, dreams have a chance of becoming reality, and Jacqueline Malcolm: Project & Event Strategist is one such dreamcatcher. Working with a myriad of ministries from around the globe, Jacqueline has committed her time and talents to serving the Kingdom, by working with ministries and individuals with a God-given vision for London and beyond to see their visions become a reality. Whether that’s a full arena-sized gathering, an evangelistic outreach in a local park, or a prayer meeting with pastors and church leaders on the 69th floor of The Shard, Jacquie will work relentlessly to support you fulfil God’s mandate for your life.
A strategist with a Masters in Theatrical Directing, and a career spanning well over 20 years in Administration and Project/Event Management to Executive level, Jacquie brings to the table a plethora of skills and knowledge. If you book an initial consultation with her, you’ll probably find that much of the time you will be answering the simple question of ‘Why?’ as she seeks to help you create something that is unique and not a caricature of what has already been done. 2016 is a year of innovative ideas – of big dreams that are executed to a standard that surpasses what the commercial world has to offer and, if you have a dream or a vision that you’re not entirely sure how to get from your heart to paper to fulfilment, it’s definitely worth dropping Jacquie an email and booking an initial consultation. Book a free 30-minute strategic planning consultation with Jacqueline Malcolm. This year you can hear Jacqueline Malcolm speak at the Bliss Conference on Tuesday, May 17th 2016. This is part of the Christian Resources Exhibition and Jacqueline will be offering a FREE 30-minute strategic consultation on any project of your choice for all those who attend her session. You can book to attend the Bliss Conference by visiting www.creonline.co.uk/visitors/ international/conferences-excel-2016 Jacqueline Malcolm: Project & Event Strategist Email: jacquie@jacquelinemalcolmpes.com Mobile: 07787 028 559 www.jacquelinemalcolmpes.com
42 LIFESTYLE
THE
LITERARY AGENT VANESSA GROSSETT
www.theauthorscare.co.uk
A
literary agent plays a very important role within the publishing industry. Personally I would describe this role as the author’s silent business partner. Though they are not in the limelight, behind the scenes they work just as extensively as the author. When I tell people that I am a literary agent, I often get asked: What does my job entail? Does a writer need a literary agent? Are literary agents still needed, especially with the rise of self-publishing? While Christian-based literary agents are very common in countries like America, they are not that common here in the UK. In this article, I will address the role of a literary agent, using the most frequently asked questions that I receive. Role of the literary agent: A literary agent represents an author throughout their career. Though many think our job is just to sell manuscripts to the publisher, this is not the case. A good literary agent will help build an author’s career; for example, give ideas or refer them to a publicist to help with marketing. Agents help the author to improve their manuscripts to the highest standard, ready for the publisher; they get involved with the book process and give general guidance and support. Do I need an agent? Your need of an agent depends on factors like the publishing methods you choose. If you want to self publish, then you don’t need an agent. However, if you want to go traditional, especially to the larger publishing houses, then you do, as the larger publishing houses prefer agented submissions. If you go to the smaller to medium-sized traditional houses, then you don’t need an agent, as they accept un-agented submissions. However, there are some authors who are published by smaller to medium-sized publishing houses but also prefer to have agents. Is it easy to get an agent? The truth is, getting an agent can be just as difficult as getting a Find us on Twitter: @KeepTheFaithmag
publisher. Why? Because the agent’s income is commission-based; they take a percentage of the author’s royalties. If the authors don’t sell any books, then the agent doesn’t get paid. For this reason, just as with some publishers, there are agents who won’t take on new authors, because the commission from a new untested author will rarely be as considerable as what can be earned when they represent an established client. There are some agents who take new as well as established clients. However, just like myself, they are looking for serious, dedicated and committed authors, who will produce book after book after book - authors who are passionate about writing, and are willing to work hard to market their product, as well as build their credibility and reputation. Agents are not looking for time-wasters. If you want to get an agent you have to be persistent, and be prepared for rejections. It will take someone who believes in you and your work to represent you. As a Christian literary agent, I like to keep God in the centre, and pray as to whether I should represent a particular client. I thank God that I have been blessed with professional, dedicated, hardworking authors, who are as serious about their career as much as I am. Because of their commitment, they have become bestsellers, and their fan base is rapidly growing on a daily basis. Keep on pursuing, and eventually God will connect you with the right agent for you. Do I need to pay for a literary agent? No, as mentioned before, the agent’s income is based on commission. There has been a stigma about agents who charge a fee to join their agency - they are seen as unprofessional – but this is not necessarily true. I know this stigma has made it very difficult for agents to take on new authors. As I mentioned earlier, the agent has to really believe in you and your work. Unfortunately, people sometimes fail to
understand that this work is an agent’s livelihood; it is their business. We are not going to make the kind of money we would like immediately and, if an agent has an office and staff, expenses need to be paid, which means the agent has to look for other ways to make money while they are waiting for the royalty cheque - especially if they don’t have investors. If the agent has a good reputation, and they charge expenses (eg. for photocopying) or an agency fee, this doesn’t mean they’re ‘bad’ or unprofessional; they are simply running a business. However, do make sure that you do your own research before you enter into any contractual agreement. Are literary agents still needed? Yes. Being an author can be a very lonely career path. There are some writing issues an author may be dealing with, which family members won’t always understand (unless they are in the business), and which they may not want to discuss with other authors. Authors are human beings, and there are times when personal issues can affect their performance. They may feel uncomfortable informing the publisher because - bottom line - the publisher wants the sales to make a return on their investment. Once an author has an agent, especially if they have a good relationship with one, they will be able to confide in them with both writing and personal issues. Working together, and with prayer, they will be able to resolve these issues, so the author can get back on track. Authors need guidance and support, especially in this competitive industry, and I believe the agent is the best person to provide that, as well as to help build an author’s career. So, there you have it: the role of a literary agent. In my next article, I will be talking about the role of authors - the major players in the publishing industry.
LIFESTYLE 43
Cyber Corner
KENO OGBO
is a Digital Consultant, Writer and Entrepreneur Twitter: @spiralwebs
5 technology strategies to adopt in organisations
G
rowing an organisation to the top of its game is not a task for the faint-hearted. A lot of organisations - whether business, charitable or spiritual - sometimes do not reach the potential they could. As a believer in Christ, I know that God has a part to play in our success, and Jesus is the beginning and end of all things, including our success. However, the Scriptures teach us that we have a huge part to play ourselves. It is Christ who works in us, but we work out our salvation. There are the prophetic (spiritual) and pragmatic (practical) aspects to building a house. The builders labour (not sleep), but we know the Lord gives purpose to the labour. So this article focuses on five things organisations will have to adopt, in order to succeed in a world run by technology.
1
Use software applications to make your business more effective Most businesses use a software application in their day-to-day activities. From Word processing software, to spreadsheets, online diaries, online accounting systems, some of us use these every day. But you can also design technology specifically for business processes. Identify some of the tasks you perform regularly, such as sending letters, reminders, updating a database, reconciling figures and tasks. Automating these processes will streamline your activities and make you more efficient.
business idea, either. Just a couple of months ago, a campaign – GoFundme, to raise funds for a doctor injured whilst on holiday - raised over £198,000 and was critical in ensuring his treatment and return to the UK. Other websites, such as Kickstarter, Voom and other crowdfunding platforms can promote your business or idea to thousands of people searching for innovative or charitable causes.
4
Use social media to increase your sales Almost everyone is on an online social network, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. The 2015 statistics from the PEW Research reports that over 76% of online adults use a social media network. Your target market is within this figure, and you can use social media to connect with them.
5
Get an app The world has gone mobile. Mobile use has been on the increase year after year. On a social level, most people have their mobile phones in the near vicinity all the time. Some people even sleep with their mobile phones. In 2015, mobile traffic exceeded that of desktop users. It is time to go mobile and connect with your users online.
2
Use the Internet to extend your reach The Internet is a world without borders, and you can reach people that are beyond your geographical boundaries simply by going online. If you do not have a website or a Facebook page, this is your starting point.
3
Use the Internet to finance your business Did you know that you could post your business idea on a number of websites and attract funding? It does not have to be a
APP OF THE MONTH
I am really excited about the Bible in One Year app, developed by Nicky Gumbel, vicar of HTB and pioneer of Alpha. The app is unbelievably simple - and that works for me - allowing time for you to add your own worship and personal interaction with God. www.bibleinoneyear.org
Wearing your technology
F
ashion has always been a viral trend, so it is not surprising that technology and fashion have now crossed paths. The humble mobile phone is no longer a functional piece of equipment, but a ‘must-have’ fashion trend, with a range of models, colours, covers and sizes. Headphones are no longer used just to listen to music, but there are a huge variety of designs on the market catering for every type of fashion taste. Everyday things are now embedded with software connectivity (wireless/Bluetooth, etc), and almost everything we use or wear on a day-to-day basis can have a form of technology for a variety of purposes. My favourite pieces of wearable technology are fitness trackers. Users can track information, such as number of steps walked, number of steps climbed, heart rate during activity, hours of exercise, distance achieved, number of hours slept and lots more. In addition, you can now connect with friends, enter competitions, and track a wide range of set goals and targets. Although wearable technology is seen as a fad by a number of people, there are industry sectors where this type of information would be highly valued. Is this something you can see in your church or business? The magazine, Forbes, did a study in 2014 and 71% of young people (16-24 year olds) would want to wear their technology. This may become part of the future. Should the Church be ready for this?
Keno is Creative Director at Spiral Web Solutions, a digital marketing agency helping organisations achieve results online. Call 07958 004 739 or email keno@spiralwebsolutions.com to book a complimentary 45-minute strategy session.
www.keepthefaith.co.uk
44 LIFESTYLE
A privilege to enjoy everyday life Salome Ahenkora talks about business, life and sustaining happiness with Angela Brivett
ministry’s weekly prayer meeting in our house. I now inspire others to live their dreams through speaking engagements.
Angela Brivett (AB): Chigwell Tours is your baby. Why Chigwell and why tours? Salome Ahenkora (SA): First of all, I thank God for the different things I have done and for the privilege to enjoy everyday life. Chigwell Tours was an opportunity to share this privilege with others, by devising tranquil country walks and family-oriented tours, ie. summer tours to the seaside. We know first hand that a well packaged family tour strengthens family bonds. AB: What has been the highlight of your business this year? SA: At Chigwell Tours we aim to provide unique memories for people. Our tailor-made tours are inspired by our customers; for example, we are planning a new City and Countryside tour to Bicester Village, giving families the chance to shop for designer labels and bargains. We recently created a ‘Mystery Tour of Chigwell’, concluding with mouth-watering afternoon tea at the grand Country Park Hotel. We were thrilled when, at the end of this tour, seasoned tourists hugged our team to say, “Thanks for making my day.” AB: You created Chigwell tours in 2012 on the back the Olympics. Is the tourist industry still riding on the crest of its wave? SA: While we cater for people coming to the UK, for us, our passion is also for Londoners to enjoy their lives: experiencing the city and the countryside; iconic people and places; the buzz of the city and the serenity of the countryside. We are still growing, offering opportunities for new tour guides, particularly young people who are passionate about their environment and for businesses, networks and associations. Last Christmas, we were busy
Salome Ahenkora promoting our Christmas Celebration Boating packages. AB: You have managed other companies. Can you tell us a little about this? SA: I manage Concept Consulting RMT Ltd - a research, management and training consultancy. We worked with several Sure Start programmes as consultants, writing strategic plans and evaluating programmes. We delivered the research project, National Franchise Survey, among people with visual impairment. I co-managed Timeless Touch, a publishing company that produced my book, ‘Smiling at the Glass Ceiling’. The book contains inspirational quotes by women for women, covering different aspects of their lives. Our special edition ‘prayer diaries’ were sold at most leading bookshops in the country. I received the Robert McNamara World Bank Fellowship in 1995, and explored a decade of Ghanaian women’s participation in
development. A year later, I also obtained the Canadian International Development Agency funding for the study, ‘Gender and the mesolinkages of Structural Adjustment in Ghana’. AB: You received an award in 2015. Tell us about it. SA: My response to the Inspirational Women’s Awards tells it all: “I am excited to be an Inspirational Woman Awards 2015 Winner. Not only does it symbolise my Christian faith and indomitable spirit, it also inspires me to do my best for my family, business, church and community.” I won the award in March this year. It brought back memories when, in 2000, the Woman Alive magazine featured me in an article entitled, ‘I will survive’. It was three years after I had lost my sight but, within that period, I became a mother, retrained using assistive technologies, started my business, and was hosting our local church’s prayer
AB: What plans do you have for the next three to five years? SA: In the medium term, we are working on Chigwell Tours to make it the specialty city and countryside tour company of choice, especially within the UK inbound market. I am putting affiliate and partnership programmes in place, so that I am less needed at Chigwell Tours. Then I will spend more time writing ’Inspire action’ and on speaking engagement programmes. Meanwhile, my plans for this year are very exciting. You won’t want to miss our Mothering Sunday tours. Our regular London City and Chigwell Countryside Tour is scheduled twice a week throughout the summer and autumn. Our Bicester Village Shopping Tour will take place regularly, plus the summer family tours twice a week. Our Mystery Tours will feature Central London with afternoon tea at Kettners, China Town. In the autumn, we will visit the Dickensian Festival with the Chigwell-Rochester Tour. There is much to look forward to and to live for in Christ. Visit www.chigwelltours.co.uk for more information, or call and speak to Salome Ahenkora on 020 8500 9912 or email salome@chigwelltours.co.uk
Angela Brivett
Planet Sport Football Africa
– introducing football fans in Africa to Jesus • A weekly 30-minute radio show produced in Africa • Broadcast on 40 radio stations and online at www.planetsportfootballafrica.com • Focuses on African football, what’s happening around the continent and what African players are doing overseas • Designed to engage football fans in Africa and introduce them to Jesus • Includes testimonies of top footballers, discussions and match analysis
Reporter Solomon Izang Ashoms interviews fans in South Africa
What our listeners say:
“Last Friday’s edition was definitely a marvellous one. Thanks for all you are doing.” Saidou, The Gambia “I listen to the show and I am very interested. I like hearing about African football.” Paulus, Namibia “I’m a very big fan of Planet Sport Football Africa, you are doing such a great job.” Musa, The Gambia Join the Planet Sport Football Africa community! Listen at www.planetsportfootballafrica.com Whats App: +44-7955-232780 planetsportfootballafrica planetsportFA e-mail: office@passionforsport.com Tel: 01392 580624 Planet Sport Football Africa is a Passion for Sport production Passion for Sport is a working name of 2K Plus International Sports Media, a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity number 1019141 and UK registered company limited by guarantee number 4286195. Registered office: Whittingham Riddell LLP, Belmont House, Shrewsbury Business Park, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG
Producer Steve Vickers, also orter known to listeners as a rep ica) with BBC World Ser vice (Afr
At the London School of Theology (LST) we believe that the Bible is a rich, complex and exciting book, fundamental to the Christian faith. As such, it is vital for us to grasp not only the message of the Bible but also how this message relates to those around us and that is what studying theology will help you do. LST students develop a better understanding of the content of the Bible and the tools necessary for its interpretation and then go on to change the world for God. But just how well does Christian theology integrate with the real world? LST has launched a new cutting edge Masters qualification - the ‘MA in Integrative Theology’ (MAiTh). This Masters programme has been designed to Integrate Bible based theology with real life more than ever before and includes subject streams which will be useful across a range of roles and careers such as: Social Justice, Public Leadership, Theology, Music & Arts along with Systematic Theology and Old and New Testament studies. The MAiTh takes students beyond applied theology and can be accessed and completed online worldwide or on campus in London – whichever suits your lifestyle or needs better.
study material that will develop you academically, pastorally and spiritually distance-learning courses could be for you. You can choose the learning that suits you and your situation.
A Masters Level qualification can be an excellent way to further your career or ministry options or just to go deeper in a subject area that interests you. But even if you’ve never studied theology before, there are a comprehensive range of courses available at LST which is the largest interdenominational evangelical theological college in Europe. From a single module through to a one year Certificate, a two year Diploma or a full three year BA Hons at Undergraduate Level. There are also research options at Masters and PhD level too. Online / offline / distance learning? The busyness of modern life can mean that many think they simply do not have time to study. This is why more than 1,000 people choose open or distance learning with LST which can be a great way to fit study in around your current commitments – as you do not have to travel to the college. If you have a desire to grow your biblical knowledge and
A good way to find out more and get a real feel for what is required when studying – especially if you’ve not studied for a while is to attend a ‘Discovery Day’ where you can experience a sample lecture, meet faculty and current students who can give you best feedback as to what to expect. Places on Discovery Days at LST can be booked at: www.lst.ac.uk/discover At LST we offer combination qualifications such as Theology & Counselling and Theology & Worship programmes. These are unique joint honours that include placement opportunities and knowledge bases that form a significant boost to any church ministry. But whether you are / or aspire to be a church leader, a worship leader, a Christian Counsellor, a youth worker or just better equipped to represent God wherever you work – choosing theology is a great option and we’d love to discuss it further with you! Be open to God’s will for your life and ready to step up to the challenge if He is calling you to study at LST. BY MATT ADCOCK Director of Communications, London School of Theology
Build your
MINISTRY on the
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F O U N D A T I O N S
BIBLICAL TH EO LO GY F RO M T H E LO NDO N S CH O O L O F T H EO LO GY ( L ST )
STUDY AT THE LARGEST EVANGELICAL INTERDENOMINATIONAL THEOLOGY COLLEGE IN EUROPE: ONLINE AND ON CAMPUS.
FIRST CHOICE FOR: Theology | Theology, Music & Worship | Theology & Counselling From a single module, certificate, diploma or BA, up to PhD. Find out more at www.lst.ac.uk
“Studying at LST laid essential foundations for our ministry. It was God’s way of preparing us for the last 17 years of church leadership and fostering in us a lifelong love of His timeless Word. Thank God for LST!”
BOOK YOUR PLACE ON THE NEXT LST DISCOVERY DAY For more info, visit lst.ac.uk
Tim Roberts, Senior Minister at Wellspring Church, Watford
London School of Theology Green Lane, Northwood, HA6 2UW tel: 01923 456000 email: enquiries@lst.ac.uk ‘Like’ us on Facebook: facebook.com/LondonSchoolofTheology | Twitter: @LSTheology | www.lst.ac.uk
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I will y m d l i bu
church
For all the latest information and to buy tickets go to CREonline.co .uk or call 01793 418218
THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND A HUGE RANGE OF CHURCH RESOURCES UNDER ONE ROOF!
2016 dates CRE International: 17 – 20 May Excel, London
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CRE South East: 12 + 13 October Kent Event Centre, Maidstone Christian Resources Exhibitions is part of Bible Society (Charity Reg. No 232759)