Interact Sep 2016

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SGM Lifewords — Freely sharing the Bible’s life words since 1888

Breadcrumbs of Grace Bringing good news to hard places

Issue 3 2016

Celebrating a Vision Resourcing evangelism in Indonesia

Contents

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Breadcrumbs of Grace Bringing good news to hard places

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News The latest news from the SGM Lifewords global family

10 Celebrating a Vision Resourcing evangelism in Indonesia with a new training centre

12 A Place of Prayer Offering tourists space for reflection

14 5 Stories About …

Interact Issue 65 /3 - 2016 Editorial team: Jess Bee Danielle Welch Steve Bassett Photographs: SGM Lifewords, except for p..9 © Chris Schwarz – Government of Alberta Design: S2 Design & Advertising Ltd Print: Yeomans Creative Interact is published in the UK by SGM Lifewords Ltd, CN. 05908817 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 SGM Lifewords global family of organisations (see page 14)

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How Pavement Project has changed children’s lives

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and know that I am God

‘‘

‘‘Be still,

Danielle Welch Executive Director SGM Lifewords

Psalm 46:10, NIV

Welcome to another edition of !

This verse from Psalm 46 is often quoted as an encouragement for us to sit quietly, to rest and to listen to God – all of which are good thoughts. But it is written at the end of a Psalm that is anything but quiet and restful. Psalm 46 is a song of trouble as well as hope: “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall …” The imperative to “be still, and know’” comes in the midst of chaos, not aside from it.

I was reminded of this, reading – a new Bible booklet that you can learn about on pages 4-7 of this issue. We asked women from the Azalea Project – many of whom find themselves surrounded by trouble and chaos – to talk to us about their experience of God, and of the Bible. The result is page after page of dialogue between real-life

that God finds us in both our gladness and our trouble, and invites us to know “that I am God”.

You will also read on pages 12-13 about the opening of a new “mission and evangelism”centre as a base for SGM Lifewords’ work in Indonesia. Many of you gave generously to the vision for supporting pastors and evangelists with Bible tools and training. Your support has helped us confidently sign a lease, with the first two years’ rent secured. Thank you!

With our grateful thanks for your prayer and partnership in making the Bible’s life words known.

Welcome

experience, and the Bible’s life words. The whole booklet is a reminder

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Breadcrumbs of Grace

Through persistent love and the unchanging power of God’s Word, vulnerable women are discovering the impact the Bible can have on their lives. Jeremy Williams reports on a collaborative approach to Bible ministry.

Jeremy Williams

“Dozens of women come and go from the Azalea dropin, stopping by for food, to use the washing machine, to talk or to pray”

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I am in a flat on the 7th floor of a tower block in an English airport town. There is one bedroom, and a living room with a galley kitchen at one end and a balcony at the other. This is Katie’s* flat – she is sitting on the sofa in her dressing gown.

I’m here with Ruth Robb and Vicki Miller from Azalea, a project that supports women caught in sexual exploitation.

They have known Katie for several years, meeting her when she was working in prostitution, and supporting her through prison, hospital, rehab, church; through tragedy and triumph, to the place where she is today – in her own home, on good terms

with her family, free of drugs and moving on. Today we are here to talk about the Bible.

PATIENCE AND GRACE Azalea knows the power of God’s Word to change lives, and uses SGM Lifewords resources regularly, sometimes giving booklets away, or reading through them one-to-one at its drop-in centre. The Azalea team use pastoral and seasonal booklets to help the women understand that they are loved

by God and have worth beyond their current circumstances.

Not that Katie has much time for Bible booklets: “Not to be rude about your stuff,” she

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says, “but I used to just throw them in a corner. The girls, their life is hectic. It’s alcohol, it’s drugs. So you have to introduce it slowly, go through it. You have to be persistent. Ruth used to chase me, didn’t you Ruth?”

Ruth nods. She first met Katie through the outreach car, which drives around the streets where the women wait for clients. The car takes the Azalea team to meet people and offer friendship, cakes, and somewhere warm to come back to at the drop-in. Katie didn’t have much time for that either: “I used to see the car coming and run – them lot again! If you try and throw Jesus at someone out trying to make money, they’ll run like I did. If you say ‘come and have a hot meal’, it’s different. You have to be patient, encourage people to come back.

You win them over slowly.”

Dozens of women come and go from the Azalea drop-in, stopping by for food, to use the washing machine, to talk or to pray. Each of the women is matched up with a volunteer key-worker who will meet with them and support them. On any given day that may involve driving someone to the dentist, dropping off a donated sofa to a woman who’s just been re-housed, or visiting them in prison. Many of the women have been in and out of prison all their lives.

Ruth has decades of experience working with women caught in sexual exploitation, in London, Glasgow, Afghanistan, and now here. Alongside leading Azalea, she advises other organisations around the world on ministry in this challenging context, with all its complications around safeguarding, mental

Ruth Robb

health, addiction, and politics.

It requires enormous grace, prayer and patience. Azalea have seen many women move on, but others go through rehab and then relapse. Some are pushed back into old lifestyles by controlling men and unhealthy relationships. Many have been victims of violence.

Progress is always slow – two steps forward and one step back – and Azalea has known more than its share of tragedy. At the same time, the Spirit is alive and at work in the lives of the women, and an important moment or a key conversation can happen at any time.

“The Spirit is alive and at work in the lives of the women, and an important moment or a key conversation can happen at any time”

Azalea volunteers and supporters

A DIFFERENT APPROACH For these women, Bible-reading notes or discipleship resources are often difficult for them to relate to. Nothing quite meets their particular needs so we realised that the best way to explain the Bible’s message of love was to do it in their voice.

Nobody knows their situation better than the women themselves, so we decided to ask 5

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Azalea volunteers training

“I never felt a father’s love in my life and I didn’t think I ever could until I accepted God. He makes me feel like my new childhood overtakes my real one”

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them to write the Bible booklet.

We collaborated with the women using writing workshops and one-to-one conversations about the Bible. What stories from the Gospels are most powerful?

What themes resonate? What do the verses make them think about? Katie picks out Isaiah 43:4 as a favourite. It’s one of the most direct expressions of God’s love for his people: “You are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you.” “It’s amazing how God can make you feel special,” she says.

“He shows you a love you don’t experience. I had never felt a father’s love in my life and I didn’t think I ever could until I accepted God. He makes me feel like my new childhood overtakes my real one. Being special is the hardest thing to come to terms with, because everybody looks down at working girls.”

A PLACE TO BELONG A couple of weeks later, I am at the Azalea drop-in on a Monday morning, working through the first draft of the manuscript with some of the women. We are sitting at the craft table, where the women take part in art

therapy sessions. There are tubs full of pens and pencils, stacks of coloured paper. Every hue of pink is catered for. The rug and the cushions are pink too. “The drop-in is an escape from the streets,” says Ruth of the décor.

“It has to be welcoming, bright, safe. It has to feel like home.”

One of the women had a birthday that week, so they had a celebration and made her a cake. “That kind of thing changes people,” says Ruth.

“She’s been back and forth here for years. She came as a woman in prostitution, someone who needed our services, and that defined her. You come because you’re a mess. But then she had her birthday, and she became an individual. We got to show her that she matters, that she has value and she is loved. That can be a breakthrough moment.”

We are interrupted by a knock at the door. A young woman in a grey jumper is on the doorstep, the hood pulled up around her head. “I know you’re not open,” she says, “but I saw the lights on.” Ruth welcomes her in without hesitation and makes her a coffee in the openplan kitchen. The woman takes it, cradles it in both hands and curls up into a ball on the sofa – one more kindness in a long line, a breadcrumb trail of grace.

GOD AT WORK The final result of our collaboration with Azalea is an unorthodox book of Bible readings. It has a verse for each day of the month, with commentary from the women.

Some of them have found faith and moved on, but this was not a prerequisite for participation.

The booklet is full of hope,

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FIND OUT MORE Find out more about Azalea’s work with women caught in sexual exploitation by visiting www.azalea.org.uk

acceptance and forgiveness, the testimony of changed lives.

But it also has questions, lament, brutal honesty. It is a true reflection of God at work in difficult circumstances, in stories that are unresolved, and that don’t necessarily have happy endings in this life.

We know that God can bring beauty and new life from the messiest of situations. And if we are honest with ourselves, we know that our own hearts

are a mess too, that all of us are tangled and conflicted. It’s why we’re calling the booklet This is where God operates. It’s the best place to discover the amazing truth of a God who gave everything to call us his children, and who sees us as his treasured possession. As one of the women prayed at the drop-in recently, “Help me believe the truth about myself, no matter how beautiful it is.”

“Nobody knows their situation better than the women themselves, so we decided to ask them write the Bible booklet”

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Give thanks for the work of Azalea for the hundreds of women they have ministered to over the years. Praise God for those women who have experienced God’s grace and love.

Pray for the women that Azalea reaches out to – ask God to protect them, shelter them and provide escape and rescue from oppressive relationships and hopeless situations.

Praise God for ‘Wildflowers’. Pray that the Bible would speak to many women and that they would discover their worth, purpose and calling as they meet Jesus.

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World News

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History, heritage and faith

Prodigal sons SGM Lifewords resources have inspired a prison chaplain to run a course for inmates on the prodigal son. David Beedon ministers at HM Prison Ranby in Nottinghamshire, which holds 1,100 adult males. He had the idea to run the faith-based course after reading , which uses the parable from Luke 15.

“In the prison chapel hangs a large reproduction of Rembrandt’s famous picture ” says David. “The picture and the story are talking points for many prisoners with chaplains – [it] clearly speaks to the inmates with a message of hope rooted in God’s transforming love.

Many of the lives we encounter behind bars are deeply damaged and such transformation is not a quick fix. But what the parable teaches is that at the heart of such profound change is compassion.” was given to participants for them to take back to their cells for personal reflection and prayer. “[The story] provides excellent teaching material about God, showing his unconditional love and mercy in response to human rebellion. Whether it be in the pastoral care the prison chaplaincy offers, or the welcome that churches can extend to ex-offenders, compassion is key.”

SGM Lifewords collaborated with the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, to share 6,000 Bible resources during their major exhibition in honour of Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary. The exhibition offered a rare opportunity for visitors to view two iconic texts: the Shakespeare First Folio (1623) and a first edition of the King James Bible (1611).

“We believe this was an incredible opportunity for mission and evangelism, to introduce or re-introduce visitors to the gospel and the love of Christ,” said Alycia Smith-Howard, exhibition curator.

“We wanted to provide each visitor with a copy of Scripture to take away with them – and were ideal.”

The launch event was opened by Dame Judi Dench, who shared her passion for Shakespeare and her love for the English language. “Dame Judi was struck by the tremendous generosity of SGM Lifewords,” said Alycia, “and acknowledged [its] efforts to share the Word and love of God through our project as a beautiful act of charity.

“The addition of SGM Lifewords resources to our exhibition materials was a Godsend. It lifted our project from being merely a cultural undertaking to a rare opportunity for unique and strategic evangelism. It gave our work the crucial centre and focus it needed.”

Dame Judi Dench at the exhibition

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Empowered to RISE

Finding hope Over the summer the Bible brought hope to thousands affected by the Fort McMurray wildfires in Alberta, Canada.

Covering an area larger than Greater London, the fires forced the largest evacuation in Alberta's history and consumed nearly 600,000 hectares of forest.

Lawson Murray of SGM Canada says: “[People] were sheltering in work camps, campus dorms, evacuation centres, friends' homes, churches, or any place they could find. Many of the things that they looked to for security – like jobs and a safe place to live – were stripped away. They needed comfort and hope, and the church was quick to respond.”

The Salvation Army, who took a leading role in the relief efforts, used SGM Lifewords resources to meet people’s spiritual needs. Some evacuees were given relief parcels by the Salvation Army in Calgary, all of which included a copy of Children found the evacuation particularly difficult, being uprooted from their homes, schools and friends. Bethel Bible Fellowship Assembly shared with these children as they sought to help them deal with their new circumstances.

In total over 5,000 Bible resources brought hope to evacuees over the three months that the wildfires took hold of Fort McMurray and the people who live there.

PHOTOS: © CHRIS SCHWARZ - GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA

SGM Lifewords RISE Bible Clubs are having a profound impact on the lives of students in Thika Valley, central Kenya. Back in February 400 girls at St Francis Girls Mang’u began studying together in small discussion groups. We have since heard amazing testimonies of how the Bible has deepened their faith and shown them that they are precious children of God. “ has helped me a lot,” Mary, a form three student, says. “Through sharing with my classmates [I have] got to know so much about God and have become a firm Christian. It has also helped me to know that God still loves me no matter how worthless I thought I was.”

Discussion groups encourage students to talk about the issues they face in their own lives and discover together how the Bible can speak into their situation. “[Studying] has helped me to open up,” explains Victoria. This openness and sharing is an essential part of the clubs – over the term the teenagers form close faithfriendships and learn to support each other outside of the weekly course. Christine says: “[The club] has taught me a lot about loving myself and [showing] love to others too.”

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Celebrating a vision After months of prayer and preparation, a new mission and evangelism training centre is up and running. Jess Bee reports on a milestone for SGM Lifewords in Indonesia.

Jess Bee

“Every act of worship, every conversation, every new relationship was a sign of the exciting things that God has planned for this place”

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Picture the scene: a room crammed full of people, spilling out into the corridor and stairwell.

Pastors, students, volunteers, board members, ministry partners all gathered to celebrate the culmination of a vision.

April this year saw the grand opening of the SGM Lifewords Ministry Centre in Tangerang where over 120 people came together to worship, pray, connect and thank God for this exciting new resource. The day was about giving thanks for all that God has done so far but every act of worship, every conversation, every new relationship was a sign of the exciting things that God has planned for this place. “Many people hung around for hours, looking through our booklet range, watching our films, and wanting to find out more about

The Visible Story and Pavement Project,” says Dan Hardie, SGM Lifewords Australia Director.

A VISION COMES TO LIFE The training centre is a milestone on the journey of SGM Lifewords ministry in Indonesia.

“It was really special for Pak Frans and Pak Gunar having spent many years sowing into the SGM Lifewords ministry to have a tiny part of the vision come true,” says Dan. Gunar Sahari, Indonesia Director continues: “We have been training people with The Visible Story, Pavement Project and mobile mission events for many years now. Not having a proper place of our own, we have borrowed rooms at Bible colleges, used church halls and met in homes. This is sure to continue, but it is such a blessing

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to be able to rent our own space, and to offer accommodation and an established training venue for those who come from afar to spend several days with us in prayer and Bible training. I can see that this will be a great blessing for many.”

Over the past months much prayer and organisation has gone into making this vision a reality and now SGM Lifewords Indonesia has a three-storey training centre almost fully equipped with televisions, storage, furniture, and a PA sound system. Many of these things have arrived through the generosity of local supporters: “A friend of mine popped in to the centre to take a look at how it was coming together,” says Gunar. “I told him that we hoped to have a television showing films of our work and possibly another for the training room.

The next day my friend returned with two brand new televisions.

This happened half a dozen times as people have started to catch the vision.”

AN EXCITING FUTURE But the training centre isn’t just about one day of celebration. Its purpose is to engage, equip and empower local pastors and workers to share God’s Word in Indonesia. Just two days after the launch the first training day took place. Dan explains: “A group of 12 local-area pastors were invited to join the training. We kept our expectations in check as it was a Monday and usually a busy time.

However, 32 people turned up to receive booklets and specific training on how to use them in their own ministries. One elderly pastor who has been in ministry for 30 years told us that these booklets are exactly what he

"Its purpose is to engage, equip and empower local pastors and workers to share God’s Word in Indonesia" needs, and that he wants to bring all the volunteers and team members to the next training.”

The centre is also a key resource for people to build relationships and encourage one another in their ministries.

“Three pastors who had never met each other previously vowed to stay in contact, pray for one another and meet monthly for encouragement as they shared a number of ministry challenges in common,” says Dan. “’Where should we meet?’ one asked.

‘Let’s ask Pak Gunar if we can meet here,’ suggested another.”

For Gunar and Dan – and all the pastors, students and workers who will benefit from the centre – the launch was an opportunity to reflect, give thanks, and look to the future.

“It was evident that the celebration was not about a building,” says Dan, “but was about the people who would receive words of life, both for themselves and to share with others.”

GET INVOLVED Our work in Indonesia requires continuous funding for staff, ministry resources and support. We freely provide resources for the rural pastors and mission workers who live off very little, often subsistence farmers who have a passion for the Lord and are sustained by a small family crop. Pastors are making a sacrifice to bring the Bible to the people in their village, and we make sure that we are able to freely give God’s Word and training to those in greatest need. If you would like to support our work in Indonesia please visit www.sgmlifewords.com/ give.

PRAY WITH US n

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First training event

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Give thanks for the opening of the training centre and all that it offers for ministry in Indonesia.

Praise God for all the pastors and workers who will benefit from this resource. Ask God to guide them in their work and give them wisdom, grace and compassion for those they serve.

Give thanks for Gunar and the SGM Lifewords team in Indonesia. Ask God to continue to inspire them with his vision for their country.

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A Place of Prayer In a wooded valley next to Buckfast Abbey stands a small, unimposing chapel. Bethan Collingridge went to see this tranquil place where God’s Word and prayer are making an impact on visiting tourists.

Bethan Collingridge

“Buckfast Chapel is very understated compared to its surroundings, yet it welcomes thousands of people through its doors every year” Buckfast Chapel

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As I enter the grounds of Buckfast Abbey in Devon, my eyes are drawn to the impressive architecture of the church and adjoining monastery. I hear the bustle of the restaurant, the gift shop, and the chat of tourists and school groups snapping pictures. It could be easy to miss the little stone chapel on the right. With its plain outer walls and simple interior, Buckfast Chapel is very understated compared to its surroundings, yet it welcomes thousands of people through its doors every year.

The Methodist chapel is nestled inside the expansive Abbey grounds. I sit down to a service with the small congregation of 15 and they tell me how the chapel was built in 1881 opposite the old catholic Abbey, abandoned after the dissolution of the monasteries.

In 1882, exiled French Benedictine monks settled at Buckfast and

rebuilt the Abbey Church, which has since become a major tourist attraction that surrounds the small Methodist chapel on all sides.

A SIMPLE SERVICE Despite its size, Buckfast Chapel has an extraordinary opportunity to reach thousands of tourists with the gospel. “The Abbey attracts over 250,000 visitors a year,” Revd Gordon Davis tells me. “Even if just 10% of them visit our chapel, that’s an incredible number of people coming through our doors. I think [they] like the simplicity, it’s very different to the rest of the buildings on site. People come in to look around and often pause for quiet reflection and to pray.”

Prayer is very much at the heart of the chapel’s ministry.

A small board in the corner is crammed full of requests from visitors, every one of which is personally read out and prayed for

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in the Sunday service and into the next week. People have been extremely touched by this gesture – chapel steward Anne Kenyon recalls: “Once we had 50 prayers on that board. It was the last outdoor service we did […] and I read out all 50. A lady came up to me at the end and said: ‘I came in this morning and I put a prayer on that board for my husband. I saw how many prayers were on there and I never expected him to be mentioned by name. The fact that you mentioned him personally means so much.’ For me, that prayer board is important. Prayer is really our ” CONNECTING WITH GOD SGM Lifewords literature plays a vital role in this service.

Pastoral and evangelistic booklets are placed around the chapel to guide visitors as they search and pray. “Your [literature] goes remarkably rapidly, particularly " says Anne.

“There’s a constant stream of visitors through this church on an ordinary day, and your booklets are always picked up.”

Anne and her fellow steward often get into conversations with tourists and hand them a

booklet or prayer card. With up to 14 coachloads of visitors arriving each day in summer, having Bible literature in foreign languages as well as English is a great way to invite European tourists to connect with God during their visit.

There is certainly something about Buckfast Chapel that draws you in. For over 130 years it has been a place of prayer for people from all over the world.

The peace it emanates is the result of years of a few faithful Christians sharing and living out the Bible’s life words in their context. As I finish my cup of tea after the service, Revd Gordon says to me: “We can’t do things that the larger churches do; we don’t have capacity for children’s work, we don’t have kitchen facilities, we don’t even have any toilets. But what we can do is pray.”

Revd Gordon Davis

SHARE THE BIBLE IN YOUR CHURCH To find out more about how your church can share God's Word with visitors and tourists visit www.sgmlifewords.com/ church or contact your local office.

Buckfast Abbey

PRAY WITH US n Praise God for Buckfast

Chapel and for the many lives it impacts each year. Give thanks for the faith and commitment of those who serve there. n Pray for the individuals

who visit the chapel, that no matter their situation they will feel welcomed and loved, and will meet with God. n Pray for the chapels,

churches and sacred spaces all over the UK that are visited by tourists. Ask that these visitors would experience the peace and power of God as they enter his presence.

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… stories about how Pavement Project has changed children’s lives

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PARAGUAY Estefania, who is 10 years old, is adopted because her father left home and her mother didn’t want to look after her. As Estefania heard about how much Jesus loved her she prayed for her family and felt at peace.

A children’s project has since been supporting her, and her parents are receiving counselling and are rebuilding their home.

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BOLIVIA Laila had been looking after a young girl who ate some rat poison when Laila was distracted for a second. Because of this her entire family hated her and said she was dead to them. Laila was consumed with guilt and she felt lost with nowhere to go. When she heard about Jesus’ love for her, she found security and forgiveness.

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DRC Paul’s stepmother dreamt that he was going to attack her with a machete. She and Paul’s father accused him of being a witch and he ran away to live on the streets. Paul felt rejected and alone, but by the end of his Pavement Project counselling session he felt that he was loved and valued by God, and could be loved by other people.

PERU Fernando had no friends and felt like didn’t deserve them, so he would behave badly towards other children. He was counselled three times with to work through the pain and trauma from his past. Fernando is now a healthy child with good behaviour. He has a relationship with God and close friendships with his peers.

UGANDA Maria had been performing very poorly in class, and was particularly closed and unresponsive. Since meeting with one of the Pavement Project volunteers, she has shown great improvement. She gets very high grades, is happier, and regularly attends school, expressing herself freely and openly sharing with teachers and her friends.

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CONTACT US Have you got a story to share of the Bible’s life words at work? Get in touch with the SGM Lifewords global family. Find us on the web at www.sgmlifewords.com, or contact your local office.

Australia: +61 437 705 947

Canada: +1 683 6482

Indonesia: +62 816 714 983

Poland:

australia@sgmlifewords.com

info@sgmcanada.ca

indonesia@sgmlifewords.com

europe@sgmlifewords.com

Brazil:

Kenya: +254 20 2730100

India: +91-80-2529 6587

UK (International office):

projectoc@sgmlifewords.com

kenya@sgmlifewords.com

india@sgmlifewords.com

+44 (0)20 7730 2155 uk@sgmlifewords.com

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Christmas Range RESOURCES IN ACTION

A closer look at our Bible resources and how they make a difference

SGM Lifewords

Q: What story from the Bible features most-often in SGM Lifewords’ range of Bible booklets?

A: The story of the Nativity. We have booklets telling the story of the first Christmas for adults, children, teenagers, and whole families. We have PowerPoints and graphics to download, and everything from sets of postcards to (this year) a fold-out “surprise” booklet.

So why do we make so many versions of the Christmas story?

We know Christmas is the time when more people visit churches or attend services and events, than at any other point in the year. For many people this is their only interaction with church. And for many churches, this is the time of year when they have the most opportunity to share something of the Christian story in schools, and at civic and community events. So every year, our message is: “Whatever you’re doing to reach out to people this Christmas, take the opportunity to share the story of Jesus’ birth and all that means – in the Bible’s own words.”

Each year, we try to create something fresh and interesting, that will give churches a new reason to share the Bible.

And share it they do! We usually send out over 100,000 Christmas resources through the autumn months – many in English, but in other languages too. What a great opportunity to invite people to experience the real story of Christmas – of which the nativity is just the beginning. As this year’s booklet points out – Jesus’ extraordinary birth was just the start of an extraordinary life, as God ”became flesh and blood and walked among us”. We hope you’ll find the chance to tell this amazing truth afresh this year – take a look at our Christmas range, and get planning how to share the Bible’s life words! www.sgmlifewords.com/ christmas

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED This Christmas, share the story of Jesus’ extraordinary birth and life with this fold-out booklet.

Designed for story-telling with a group, or one-to-one with a child. Each page uncovers a surprise reminding us that this was no ordinary birth, and no ordinary life. Storytelling PowerPoint and other resources available free online, to help you make the most of the booklet.

See the whole Christmas range and place your order at www.sgmlifewords.com/christmas