Interact January 2018

Good News for everyone

ISSUE 1 2018

INTERACT

Experiments in Evangelism Innovating for the gospel Out of the Classroom New opportunities for Choose Life

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 1

05/12/2017 15:23

CONTENTS 04 08 10 12 14 Experiments in Evangelism Innovative ways of sharing good news

News

The latest news from the Lifewords global family

Out of the Classroom

New opportunities for Choose Life

Young Hearts, Run Free

How Little Book of Chaos is making a difference

Lifewords and you Sharing the Bible all over the world

Issue 68 / 1-2018 Editorial team: Jess Bee Danielle Welch Steve Bassett Photographs: Lifewords unless otherwise stated Design: S2 Design & Advertising Ltd Print: Yeomans Creative

Lifewords is the operating name of Scripture Gift Mission (Inc), registered charity in England and Wales, 219055.

Registered office: 1A The Chandlery 50 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7QY Interact is free, available three times a year from your nearest member of the Lifewords global family of organisations (see page 14)

2

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 2

05/12/2017 15:23

WELCOMe “You are the salt of the earth …

You are the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:13,14, NIV

These words, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, tell us that at the heart of Jesus’ message is an extraordinary evangelistic imperative. Not just “go and tell” but “live and transform”; demonstrate the good news of the kingdom with every breath and every action and every value that you hold.

Be like salt that flavours everything.

Danielle Welch Executive Director UK & International

On pages 4–7 you can read how we’re working out this imperative with new ways to inspire people (young and old) about the transformation that knowing Jesus brings. What does it mean for us to follow Jesus in the detail of our daily lives and culture?

We’re asking the same question every week through our Choose Life programme in Kenyan (and now Brazilian) schools – as young people relate the teaching of the Bible to the practical realities of their everyday choices and relationships.

On pages 10–11 you can read how Choose Life is changing lives outside of the classroom – in community groups, football clubs, and now in the harsh environment of Nairobi’s prisons.

Thank you for your support, that makes it possible for so many people to receive life words as good news for their lives – and salt and light for the world.

In Christ,

Danielle Welch

3

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 3

05/12/2017 15:24

© jonathan Watkins/Greenbelt 2017

Experiments in Evangelism A card game, a city walking tour, and a music album. What do these all have in common? Danielle Welch reports on how life words are reaching new people and new places.

It’s a hot August night, and thousands of teenagers are singing worship songs and listening to teaching together on showgrounds in Stafford, Peterborough, Malvern and Kinross. As on every other evening this week dozens of young people are responding to the invitation to follow Jesus.

This was the scene this summer as almost 2,000 young people responded to calls to make a faith commitment at Soul Survivor and Elim Limitless – two Bible festivals aimed at teenagers and young adults. Thanks to a partnership between Youthscape and Lifewords, all 2,000 of these young people received a card game, designed to

help them take their first steps into Christian life. The game – designed

by Youthscape and called Shuffle – gives young people 40 cards to work through, each with a Bible verse, something to provoke prayer, and a “practice” for them to do.

Those practices range from telling someone about why they’re a Christian, to practicing generosity, or choosing a way to serve others, or praying for a friend.

Shuffle The challenge is to complete all 40 cards. Young people hand one card to a youth leader or another Christian, letting them know they’re setting out on this new journey.

4

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 4

05/12/2017 15:24

Then their job is to tick off each card on an A4 poster that comes in the pack. if the card they pick feels too hard for today, then they can simply “shuffle” the deck and choose something else. Every day they’ll be reading the Bible as they complete the tasks – and the pack includes cards prompting them to keep reading by following Lifewords’ VerseFirst project on social media.

Youthscape creates resources and trains youth workers on a national scale – and they also do local youth and schools work in Luton. They’ve been using Shuffle there; Deputy CEO Martin Saunders says: “i am absolutely convinced that this simple bit of ‘gamification’ is helping significant numbers of young people pray, engage with the Bible (perhaps for the first time) and pursue God daily. it doesn’t work for every young person – but nor does it only engage middle class, churched teenagers like so many other resources. We are seeing young people from poorer socio-economic backgrounds connect with the idea and with the content of Shuffle, and they’re growing in faith as a result.”

“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God …” The group are about to embark on a short walking tour, taking in Guildhall, the ruins of the London wall, and an unremarkable garden outside Smithfield Market – once the site of public executions. The walk is organised by Labyrinth who offer city tours both in person and via an app. The app plays to a growing market for self-guided travel experiences. Labyrinth uniquely helps visitors explore the stories that cities – their architecture, street design, and public art – tell.

So far the project has “hacked” Melbourne, London, dallas, Washington – and other cities are planned. We’ve worked with Labyrinth to develop one version of the London walk that interweaves stories from Mark’s gospel, which are told as the tour progresses – helping participants consider questions of power, politics (ancient and modern) and the identity and mission of this Messiah, Jesus.

“Shuffle is helping significant numbers of young people pray, engage with the Bible and pursue God daily”

A Labyrinth tour in London

good newS for everyone Shuffle is one of several ways (large and small) that we are experimenting with what it means to bring good news to everyone – partnering with other organisations and focusing on people and places where the Bible is not necessarily known, or not known as good news. imagine this scene: it’s a Saturday afternoon in London, and a group of ten people are standing in front of the royal Exchange in the middle of the City, listening to the opening words of Mark’s gospel: 5

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 5

05/12/2017 15:24

political and religious systems, NINE BEATS is speaking into spaces where formal church activities may not reach. Jesus’ way of trust, lament, humility, justice, compassion, right motive, peace-making, suffering and radical love is as compelling and lifetransforming for this new generation as for any other, if only they have the chance to hear it for the good news that it is. The beatitudes speak as a manifesto for a new world order, a new rhythm, a new beat.

The project includes web resources and a “learning lab” course (and book) invites people to explore the beatitudes together as a way of life and practice, and discover Jesus in the process. Groups are already running across this country, in the USA, and online – and youth versions of these resources are planned for next year. NINE BEATS was launched this summer in the UK at Greenbelt Festival – and also through online music platforms and music press.

© alex baker/Greenbelt 2017

NINE BEATS at Greenbelt Festival

A manifesto for a new generation Let’s switch scene again – this time to a recording studio in Birmingham where producer Tony Bean and the project’s founder, Lifewords’ Creative Director Steve Bassett, are putting the final touches to an album of music inspired by the beatitudes.

The musicians on the album are from three continents – and from cities as diverse as Copenhagen, New York, and Kampala. The album is part of NINE BEATS – a wide ranging initiative sponsored by Lifewords, aiming to share the ancient wisdom of the beatitudes and the way of Jesus in contemporary culture.

The project is made up of a collective of artists, all of whom are producing music, thought, art, and activism inspired by these nine beat(itude)s. In a world marked by division and where younger generations seem increasingly disengaged and disillusioned with

6

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 6

05/12/2017 15:24

Reviews of the album from “secular” press have tapped into both the quality of the music, but also the message of the beatitudes themselves: “Beautiful, hypnotic and – above all – compelling.” As one mainstream reviewer said: “Often, music inspired by the spiritual can find itself in something of a niche.

Whether it’s through the fear of being preached to … sometimes those outside the specific realm of the music can be left cold. However, the NINE BEATS Collective have managed to change all that. Inspired by a popular section of the Bible known as The Beatitudes, their new album is a hugely inclusive release of its type … Maybe it’s just because these verses are simply used as a framing device through which to view the world we all live in … this epic collection of tracks is just as affecting for those who don’t believe as for those who do …

Keep an open mind with this album, and there’s lots to fall for.”

Forwarding the Gospel We’re grateful to the work of funders who make this kind of innovation possible. NINE BEATS, for example, was supported with seed money from Deo Gloria Trust – in a “Dragon’s Den” style competition for new evangelistic projects – and Jerusalem Trust. We’ve just

skimmed the surface of three projects in this article, but hopefully you have some sense of the exciting ways in which we’re engaging new opportunities to introduce people to the good news of Jesus – outside the walls of our churches, and alongside our ongoing literature ministry and Bible programmes. it’s our constant challenge and calling to reach beyond those who have already heard; to meet with those who may count themselves out of Christianity or organised religion, and share good news. The gospel is unchanging, but as theologian Helmut Thielicke put it: “It must be preached afresh and told in new ways to every generation, since every generation has its own unique questions. This is why the gospel must be constantly forwarded to a new address, because the recipient is repeatedly changing their place of residence.”

NINE BEATS musicians in the studio

NINE BEATS Find out more about the NINE BEATS Collective and explore the beatitudes in new ways at www.9beats.org.

Pray Praise God for almost 2,000 young people becoming Christians at summer festivals.

Give thanks for innovative partnerships with Youthscape, Labyrinth and NINE BEATS. Pray that new generations would find unique meaning in the story and person of Jesus.

7

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 7

05/12/2017 15:24

world NEWS God’s presence in tough times The Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, India provides hospital treatment for thousands of people. Lifewords is providing 25,000 copies of Why Me? in Bengali to bring good news to these patients.

CMC has more than 2,700 beds across five campuses, and the hospital caters for nearly every medical speciality.

Serah Thomas of Lifewords India explains: “As well as physical ailments, patients and their families often undergo a lot of emotional and spiritual unrest, asking God why they are going through this pain and distress. Why Me? is specially designed to help those who find themselves in difficult situations, such as facing a serious illness or a major operation. It helps bring hope and the assurance of God’s presence though Bible verses.”

Doctors plan to use this booklet to begin a conversation with patients, and then connect them with the Bengali chaplain.

Thanks to generous donations from two supporters we have made a start on producing Why Me?, but we still need further funds for printing and distribution, as well as to reprint other evangelistic and pastoral titles in Bengali which are in huge demand. If you would like to support this project please visit www.lifewords.global/give to make a donation.

CMCH Vellore

Women line up to receive care

A lasting impact Dima Solyakov regularly uses Lifewords booklets to introduce the Bible to residents in his community in Ukraine. Throughout September he decided to visit several nursing homes in his local town Zmiev. “When my grandparents were in a nursing home they would express how much it meant to them when a couple visited each week, talking about Jesus,” said Dima. “That has always remained with me. I am desperate to make a God-impact every day, and using Day by Day, An Invitation and The Way to Life has helped me so much to open up faith conversations.”

In one of the nursing homes, Dima spoke with an elderly, blind man called Ivan. “After two of my visits,” said Dima, “Ivan told me that although he was unable to see physically, he believed he could see Jesus and always felt full of joy.

“I also met another man – Artem – who received Jesus in his heart during one of my visits. He told me that reading The Way to Life gave him a new perspective on life, something he didn’t think would be possible at his age!”

8

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 8

05/12/2017 15:24

Spiritual health Gavin Dickson, an ASR for The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA), used the Active Service John’s Gospel to challenge soldiers about their spiritual health at a Health Fair at Barker Barracks in Germany.

“The fair’s objective was to provide educational and interactive health advice to the base’s soldiers,” says Gavin. “So keeping to the theme I staffed a stand on health as well – spiritual health! I presented the gospel to small groups of soldiers and I was able to explain that they were more than just a bag of bones in the here and now.” After talking to the soldiers Gavin gave them army camouflage Bibles and copies of the Active Service John’s Gospel asking them to turn to John 3:16 to read about God’s mission.

Gavin uses the Gospel in many other situations including in the run up to Remembrance Day. “I am pleased to report that these Gospels are always taken with real eagerness,” says Gavin.

“Soldiers love them. It is my prayer that they will love to read them too. November 11th is such a significant and powerful date for the British Army. The soldiers reflected on history and they spent some moments contemplating their own future.”

Evangelism training Last September when Pelita Dunia Seminary in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia welcomed 50 new students it was an opportunity for Lifewords to continue its relationship with the school. One of the ways Lifewords partners with the seminary is by offering out-of-theclassroom weekend training for evangelism.

Every Saturday students learn how to share the good news in public, in places such as shopping centres, bus terminals and train stations. “We train them how to use booklets before they are going to share the gospel,” says Gunar Sahari, Lifewords Indonesia Director. “After practising with each other, we pray together. Then we send them out in groups of four or five students.”

When they return every student has the opportunity to share about their experience and how God has blessed their ministry. “Everyone has a different experience,” says Gunar. “Some of them feel afraid at the beginning but they encourage each other to share the gospel. All the students really appreciate what Lifewords does in providing booklets that are very easy to use. Even those who see them for the first time, feel ready and confident to use them.”

9

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 9

05/12/2017 15:24

Out of the Classroom Originally designed for use in a school setting, Choose Life is now changing lives outside the classroom. Jess Bee reports.

“Esther has seen the positive impact of Choose Life’s biblical values both on the pitch and off it”

Esther Nduku loves football. That is to say, Esther Nduku – a pastor in Nairobi – loves reaching young people through football.

Since early 2016 teacher and pastor Esther, and one of the trainers for Choose Life, has been using football to engage with children from her local community.

As boys and girls gather together to run around, kick a ball and have fun, Esther teaches them God’s values of love, peace, freedom, right-living and concern for others. The children enjoy the combination of learning and sport, and Esther has seen the positive impact of Choose Life’s biblical values both on the pitch and off it. “The children say they are now able to take care of each other as they play ball games,” says Jane Kihiu, Choose Life Co-ordinator.

“There is peace in the football – pitch violence in the game is no longer there … and they no longer go to watch pornographic movies in the movie dens of the town.”

Holistic care Through weekly gatherings and holiday clubs Esther spends a lot of time with the children she’s ministering to. She takes time with those who are most affected by chaotic home lives and poverty, and uses the principles of Choose Life to help them make the right choices. Esther visits their families and through her church, Life Hope Ministries, has established a feeding programme when the children gather for a week-long vocational Choose Life Bible school every holiday. The church even engages

10

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 10

05/12/2017 15:24

m

people who can offer medical attention and advice to the young people involved in the football team.

The church has plans to fundraise for the football club so that even more young people can be part of this life-giving initiative.

They hope to buy more balls and a football kit. Esther also hopes to offer snacks to the children and give bus fares to those who need to travel from further away.

Freedom to live differently In another part of Nairobi, is a different group of young people, in very different circumstances.

The Eastlands part of Nairobi is home to Industrial Area Remand Prison where over 200 teenage boys are held. These boys are angry and disillusioned. Vulnerable and scared. But Choose Life is helping them discover a different way to live.

The boys’ stories are all different but a common thread is anger towards their parents and the police. Teacher and pastor Monica Kitaka says that the program helps the boys to express their anger and other emotions: “Most of them are very angry with the police whom they say they are the middlemen who landed them in prison. [They are] bitter towards their parents who didn’t play their role properly in their upbringing.

Some really value their mothers who kept cautioning them on bad behaviour, but many are bitter towards their fathers who were busy drinking as the boys went deeper and deeper into crime.”

A new life Choose Life is helping these boys consider their life, both while inside and for the future on their release. “They want to make the right choices like keeping their bodies and clothes clean in prison, not fighting with each other, and they hope to keep the right company once they get out of prison,” says Jane.

Prison chaplains in Industrial Area Remand Prison and others across Kenya explain that the program is helping young people in their moral decision making.

Some of them have never had opportunities for good instruction before coming to prison; some are orphans and didn’t have parents to teach them as they were growing up. “The teachers get an opportunity through the programme to be parents and pastors as well as instructors,” says Jane.

For both Esther teaching football and the prison chaplains, Choose Life offers just this – a chance for them to offer a new way of thinking for these young people while providing a safe, compassionate space for them to grow and change.

“These boys are angry and disillusioned.

But Choose Life is helping them discover a different way to live”

Pray Give thanks for new, creative ways to use Choose Life.

Give thanks for Esther – ask God to strengthen and resource her work.

Pray for the new groups of young people who are being reached.

Choose Life football club

11

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 11

05/12/2017 15:24

Rob Reeve, Australia Board Chair (centre) and Dan Hardie (right) with young people at the launch event

Young Hearts, Run Free As Little Book of Chaos launches in Australia, Beverley Agyeman reports on how good news is changing young lives.

“With so much uncertainty and change the Bible offers a solid rock and unchanging view on life”

“For me, it started with bullying in primary school. Other girls just picked on me with names, laughing at me, isolating me and just making me feel like I didn’t fit. It affected my self-esteem and soon I felt depressed all the time.” – Kayley For young people all over the world navigating relationships, school, family life, world events and the future can be scary and exhausting.

With so much uncertainty and change the Bible offers a solid rock and unchanging view on life – Little Book of Chaos is giving young people a way into the Bible and its words of hope, peace and reassurance.

In October Lifewords launched Little Book of Chaos in Australia as part of Mental Health Awareness

Week. The event was attended by teachers, youth workers, parents and young people.

Strength and dignity Kayley was one of those young people. She shared her story and how life words have helped her feel differently about herself. Reflecting on her experience of being bullied and rejected, she talked with enthusiasm about the Bible: “My favourite Scripture at the time was in Proverbs 31:25, where it talks about a woman who ‘is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future’. I had been so crippled by social anxiety, and fear that I’d never make anything good of my life, that no one will like me. Laughter has been one of my

12

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 12

05/12/2017 15:24

friends, and I love to laugh and just have fun. I often laugh when I start to fear the future, trying to trust that everything will be ok.”

Dom, another young person at the event also spoke about his journey. “We’ve had some serious mental health stuff happen in my family over the past 3–4 years. My sister was admitted to hospital for 8 weeks, and I was scared she wasn’t coming out. My mum has had depression and it can get pretty serious. Having heavy stuff happen in my family has got me down at times. It’s not always easy to be strong in faith. But I always relied on the verse in Philippians 4:13 that says we can do everything through Christ who gives us strength. I’ve needed his strength.”

Little Book of Chaos is part of our broader VerseFirst initiative that works to help young people both read the Bible, and put it into practice in their lives, living out the way of Jesus. Little Book of Chaos came about because we wanted to give young people, their parents, youth leaders and adults a tool for talking about mental health. VerseFirst has online resources available, but we wanted to make a physical resource that would be shareable, and used for real conversation and prayer. The message of the booklet is not that everything needs fixing, or can be fixed – but that God is present and unchanging through both the ups and downs of life, loving us and calling us on.

VerseFirst needs you!

If you could make a regular or one-off gift to support the work of VerseFirst, please call your nearest office or go to www. lifewords.global/ projects.

Thank you!

Dan Hardie

Transforming the chaos It’s exciting to hear these young people talk so passionately about the Bible and the impact its had on them. They are sure of its power to transform and bring hope. “I’ve got so many friends who would benefit from Little Book of Chaos,” says Dom. “At school everyone is stressed and worried. They don’t know what they will do when they leave and there’s lots of pressure. Chaos is a good word for it!”

Dan Hardie, Lifewords Australia Director is excited about the potential for Little Book of Chaos: “We expect this resource to be very popular and gain broad use. We know there are many young people who need to hear these words of hope and possibility, especially when life is difficult. In October we completed the printing of 10,000 copies and have sent out booklets to schools, youth groups and prison chaplains.”

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 13

Pray

Kayley

Thank God for Kayley and Dom’s stories.

Pray that Little Book of Chaos would provide light in the darkness.

Pray that many more young people would find liberation in Jesus.

13

05/12/2017 15:24

GET INVOLVED Lifewords and YOU

Bake for Baghdad When Clenir dos Santos visited churches in America last summer she came home with new support for Pavement Project and 10 tablets to take to workers in the Middle East.

Here’s what happened and how you can help fund a further 90 tablets and 210 bags in 2018.

Fundraising dinner (left) and yard sale (right)

In summer 2017 Clenir dos Santos, Pavement Project Director, travelled to America to talk to churches and groups about Pavement Project.

One amazing group of people hosted a dinner where Clenir shared about Lifewords’ hopes for Pavement Project’s next chapter: the development of an app and provision of tablets for workers, starting with workers in the Middle

East. After hearing Clenir speak the group provided five tablets and pledged to cover the cost of a further five. Clenir also visited a church and a group of pastors, who agreed to raise money for 12 bags to be used in Iraq. Just last week, the group sent pictures of a yard sale that had raised enough money for seven bags.

So, how can you help us to meet our target of 100 tablets and 210 bags this year? We have partners ready in the Middle East and in South and Central America to help bring hope to children in crisis through Pavement Project counselling.

You can make a gift of any size, or you can sponsor a green bag of counselling resources for £75, or a tablet with a counselling app for £50.

14

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 14

05/12/2017 15:24

Why not get together with your church, your small group or your friends? You could simply sponsor a bag or tablet as a group, or organise a fundraiser.

There are loads of fun ways your community can contribute. You could organise a bake sale, a dinner, a film night, a sponsored walk … we would love to hear what you’re doing. Each bag and tablet will help dozens of children every year find healing from trauma, and freedom in Jesus. Get in touch with your stories at uk@lifewords.global.

Get stuck into the Bible Do you want to know more about what the Bible says and how to live according to its principles? Do you want to read your Bible more and consider its role in your life and the world?

Do you want to be inspired to action and to practice?

Lawson Murray, SGM Canada Director, has written Bible Engagement Basics, a book that helps us strengthen our connection with God’s story and our relationship with Jesus.

The book is full of practical approaches, tools and resources that help us engage more with the Bible so that we “connect with God’s story in ways that lead to meaningful encounters with Jesus”.

This book is for Christians who want to discover Bible engagement as a way of life and learn the how-to of improving and enhancing their reading, understanding and application of the Bible. Through short, pithy chapters, Lawson leads the reader through different topics, and hundreds of ideas and tips for all ages and temperaments.

Bible Engagement Basics is available for sale at www. sgmcanada.ca – but Lifewords UK have 30 copies to give away.

If you would like a free copy, email uk@lifewords.global or call us on 020 7730 2155.

CONTACT US Get in touch with the Lifewords global family. Find us online at www.lifewords.global, or contact your local office.

Australia

+61 437 705 947 australia@lifewords.global Brazil

projectoc@lifewords.global Canada

+1 683 6482 info@sgmcanada.ca Kenya

+254 20 2730100 kenya@lifewords.global Indonesia

+62 816714983 indonesia@lifewords.global India

+91-80-25296587 india@lifewords.global Poland

europe@lifewords.global UK & International office

+44 (0) 20 7730 2155 uk@lifewords.global 15

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 15

05/12/2017 15:24

Interact_1_2018MK6.indd 16

05/12/2017 15:24