Direction September 2012 taster

THE UNSUNG HEROES WE CAN’T DO WITHOUT Volunteers are the backbone of the Church PLUS THE MINISTRY WITH 8,000 VOLUNTEERS We talk to Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre

WHAT’S A NON-VOLUNTEER SUNDAY? How Coventry Elim learned to value its volunteers Exciting initiative to benefit all Elim members

SHORT TERM MISSIONS WORK Don’t just stay at home, argues Chris Jones

WHY CARE ABOUT THE LAW? Stand up for truth, says Lyndon Bowring

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CAPPUCCINO COMMUNICATION

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SEPTEMBER 2012 Issue 132 £1.70

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CONTENTS 5

EDITORIAL John Glass thanks Elim’s volunteers

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EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A PRIEST...

What would happen if church volunteers didn’t turn up, wonders Duncan Clark

10 NEWS from Elim and the wider church 12 OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE GS John Glass opens his diary 14 CAPPUCCINO COMMUNICATION An exciting new initiative from the GS designed to benefit every Elim member 16 TAKING CHURCH OUT OF THE BOX How volunteers from across the Movement are showing God’s love in a variety of ways 22 WE NEED GOD’S GANG OF FRIENDS Serving in church is often done by ‘the few’ but there’s a better way, says Mark Ryan 25 STAYING STRONG FOR THE LORD Physiotherapist Michelle Lacy writes for Aspire about the need to stay healthy 26 WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Matthew Barnett explains what it’s like to lead a church with 8,000 volunteers

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30 YOUR MISSION... IF YOU ACCEPT IT Missions Director Chris Jones points to the benefits Elim teams see around the world 32 TOP TIPS FOR WORSHIP LEADERS Elim Sound musicians explain how worship leaders can best fulfil their critical role 35 WE ‘CARE’ ABOUT TRUTH IN LAWS Christian lobby group CARE’s Nola Leach and Lyndon Bowring follow Jesus’ example 38 MY FAITH IS ELEMENTARY says champion golfer Bubba Watson 40 IT ALL ADDS UP FOR THE TREASURER It’s not a difficult role, says Robert Millar 42 YOUTH WORK NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Olly Goldenberg and Keeth Bandara are seeking people who want to leave a legacy 44 PEOPLE WITH A SERVANT’S HEART Gordon Neale explains what elders and deacons do and why they are essential 45 BOOK REVIEWS with Richard Dodge 49 ANSWERS with Rajinder Buxton 50 AND FINALLY with John Lancaster

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Direction Magazine is the official publication of the Elim Pentecostal Church @elimpentecostal www.elim.org.uk 0845 302 6750

Elim Pentecostal Church

Editor-in-Chief: John Glass, General Superintendent Publishers: Elim Pentecostal Church Elim International Centre, De Walden Road, West Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4DF Charity no. 251549 (England)

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F I R S T WO R D S

Thank you for the work you do Our theme this month is ‘volunteering’, which reminds me of a true story.

In the USA there is a drama series about the emergency services called 911 – the number dialled in the States equivalent to our 999. It was the favourite programme of a six-year-old boy who watched it avidly every week, not really taking in that the series was simply fiction.

After watching one of the episodes he went to the phone and dialled the number. When the operator asked what he wanted they a heard small child excitedly say, “I am staying at granny’s house, could you come quickly?” after which the receiver was replaced.

Within minutes, an ambulance, a fire engine and two police cars screeched to a halt outside the house. Wondering what had happened, frantic parents and a grandmother rushed to the door to find out why they were there.

Responding to an urgent, “What’s the matter and who is hurt?” they were speechless until a little face appeared and said, “It’s me who called.

I watch what you do every week and just wanted to ask you round to say thank you for the wonderful job you are doing!”

Less dramatically, that is exactly what we want to say to all our readers who commit at so many levels to work with our local Elim churches and without whom we could not operate.

Elders, deacons, musicians, caterers, stewards, those who operate the sound or care for the crèche, cleaners, youth and children’s workers – the list is endless. We are calling round today – just to say thank you!

We are told there are over 100 titles of Christ portrayed throughout the Scriptures. Most of our readers could name many of them but few would include ‘volunteer’ in the long list.

Yet the most important verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says that God so loved the world that he gave – volunteered – his only Son. Jesus is the ultimate and universal volunteer in that he gave his life so that we could enjoy forgiveness of sins, a purpose in life and a destiny in heaven.

A person may never be an apostle, pastor, leader, musician, embrace a spotlight or enjoy celebrity status – but we can all follow the ultimate example of Jesus by being a volunteer.

Some use the word ‘volunteer’ in the same way that they use the word ‘amateur’ – using it disparagingly as if it was synonymous with that which was second best. Of that we must say two things.

The first is that the word ‘amateur’ comes from the 17th Century French ‘amatore’ and the Latin ‘amator’ – both words denoting love that comes from the heart.

The second observation is that, as we all know, amateurs built the Ark and it was professionals who built the Titanic!

Volunteers, on behalf of myself and the National Leadership Team, thank you so very much!

John Glass General Superintendent Elim Pentecostal Church

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What would happen if your church’s army of volunteers didn’t turn up for work one Sunday? Elim minister Duncan Clark found out…

Remember every Christian is a priest!

At the start of 2010, Coventry, along with much of the UK, experienced a deep freeze.

Record levels of heavy snow accompanied arctic weather conditions. Coventry ground to a halt.

Schools closed. Shops shut early.

Buses remained at their depot and cars stayed in their garages.

While our kids rejoiced at the sight of snow and rediscovered their sledging skills, something aggravated the adults. Bin collections were cancelled. It was front page news for a fortnight.

Refuse lorries were unable to cope with the icy residential roads and therefore Coventry became a city of overflowing wheelie bins. Piles of black bags lined the streets. Ripped bin liners poured rubbish onto the roads and residents started talking about increasing rat populations and infectious diseases. Coventrians were up in arms!

It got me thinking. What would happen if people who provide a service suddenly stopped what they were doing?

We discovered what would happen if refuse collectors couldn’t do their job, but what if doctors just quit for a week, or firefighters stopped for a fortnight, or midwives stopped delivering babies, or carers stopped caring, or teachers stopped teaching.

What would happen if those who have the responsibility to provide a service just threw in the towel and quit? How about something a little closer

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‘It only took a few hours on a Sunday morning for us to discover that the growth and health of a local church does not just rest in the hands of those who get a salary.’

Above Pastor Duncan Clark Main image Just a few of the many volunteers who make things happen at Coventry Elim

to home for a pastor… what if every volunteer in our churches stopped serving? A colleague of mine posed this question, “What if everyone in our church who doesn’t get paid a salary just quit?

What would that look like for us?”

For a moment we imagined what it would be like. We tried to visualise a church without volunteers.

And then it happened.

In a moment of madness, ‘Non-Volunteer Sunday’ was born. Not a catchy title I know, but rather than simply painting an imaginary picture of what church would look like without the services of unpaid volunteers, we decided to experience the reality of it.

It was an ugly mess. No welcome team. No stewards.

No musicians. No PA. No song words. No car park attendants.

No post-service coffee (maybe a blessing?). No one to serve communion. No one to count the offering. No one to record the sermon (another blessing?).

Only those on the church payroll served the church that Sunday morning – and the gaps were obvious.

It only took a few hours on a Sunday morning for us to discover that the growth and health of a local church does not just rest in the hands of those who get a salary.

It takes the willingness of women and men from all walks of life to give their time voluntarily in order to see a church grow.

We learned a valuable lesson that day.

We’re all priests In fact, we rediscovered something of the original plan that God has for his Church. We remembered that every Christian is a priest. No flowing gowns.

No special theological training.

No vicarage or prayer book. But yes, a priest.

Peter, the ex-f isherman turned Early Church apostle, wrote to ordinary Christians located in ordinary churches scattered around the Roman Empire, and he told them that they were priests. Radical teaching!

Peter challenged the centuries-old concept of the priesthood. A priest was a man. He was born into the right family and had a specific ancestry. A priest – and only a priest – was allowed to do ‘ministry’ in God’s house.

He was God’s representative on earth who communicated with God. He was a member of the religious elite. The priesthood was a closed shop, only accessible for the chosen few.

Enter Jesus. He tells ordinary people that they can speak to God directly and call him ‘Father’.

He looks common people in the eye and tells them that they are the ‘light of the world’. He gathers a gang of guys who have everyday jobs and tells them, “You will be my witnesses.”

Change has started. Enter the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. A

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group of non-priestly followers of Jesus huddle together in an upper room. Then comes the violent wind and tongues of fire.

The Holy Spirit enters the room and ‘rests on each of them’, not some of them. Not those born into the right family. Not just the men, all of them!

Peter, the former foulmouthed fisherman, stands up before the inquisitive crowd and recites the beautiful words of Scripture, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Not a few people; not the chosen elite, but all people. A paradigm shift has begun.

Peter s tar ts writing to churches telling the Christ-followers that they are all priests.

All of them are ministers. All of them are empowered by the Spirit. All of them are given gifts to help them serve. All of them!

New day dawns Paul, a former member of the Jewish elite, plays catch-up. He starts to compare church members with body parts. Strange comparison, I know, but genius.

Each body part plays a specific and important role. Each depends on the other. Each church member plays a specific and important role. Each depends on the other. Not just a chosen few. All of them!

A new day dawns. A new model for ministry is born. From few of them, to each of them.

From few people, to all people.

From the elite, to the ordinary.

Everyone becomes a priest.

You will probably have heard of the ‘Pareto Principle’.

You might know it as the ‘8020 rule’. It basically states that 80 per cent of the effects come from 20 per cent of the causes.

So, generally speaking, 80 per cent of the work is done by 20 per cent of the people; 80 per cent of the land is owned by 20 per cent of the landowners; 80 per cent of crimes are committed by 20 per cent of the crimi-

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‘Maybe the fault lies with congregations who believe that ministry is something they observe, rather than something they participate in’

Above Duncan Clark during a service in Coventry

nals; 80 per cent of sales will come from 20 per cent of your customers. You get the point!

You will have heard this principle applied to church life.

It’s claimed that 80 per cent of the ministry is done by 20 per cent of the people. Correct? If so, we have drifted from the Early Church model, and returned to the old.

Maybe the fault lies with the clergy. A clerical monopoly.

Paid professionals who do all of the ministry, control freaks who have forgotten that their responsibility is to prepare God’s people for works of service. “It’s my job,” they say.

Maybe the fault lies with congregations who believe that ministry is something they observe, rather than something they participate in. “Isn’t that the reason we pay the pastor a salary?” they say.

Maybe the fault lies with our consumer mindset. Spectators

not servants. “Feed me. Serve me. Care for me. Fix my kids. I am here to receive,” we say.

Here’s the truth. A local church will never reach its potential if its leaders refuse to equip people to serve. The body of Christ will never be healthy if its members down tools while they watch others work.

You are not consumers – you are not spectators. You are not observers or bystanders – you are ministers and servants of God. The vitality and impact of your church is dependent on you seeing yourself with new eyes. You are priests. You may not look like one or feel like one, but you are one, each of you.

One Sunday we discovered what church would look like if ‘all of them’ became ‘a few of them’, if priests laid down their priestly calling and ministers gave up their ministry. Never again!

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Throughout the nation Elim volunteers are helping to reach thousands of people with God’s love in a variety of ways.

Over the following five pages Becky Barlow features just a few of the Movement’s many exciting projects s an

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Ipswich homeless support Elim’s Ipswich International Church (IIC) has been working with neighbouring Ipswich Community Church since 2008 at a soup kitchen, which is run every evening in the centre of the town.

Deacon and volunteer Colin Howe has been involved right from the start.

“We started to work together every other Friday,” he says.

“Volunteers from other groups helped us with all we needed to get it right at first.”

The outreach is set up outside using portable tables on the street opposite the town’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau. For an hour – from 8pm until 9pm – food, soup, coffee and teas

are supplied to the homeless and needy.

“We make soup and sandwiches and warm up sausage rolls in the church kitchen from 6.30pm,” Colin explains. “Some of the volunteers bring biscuits and fruit. After prayer, we go out to give these to the 25-40 people that come.

“The numbers have risen in recent months. At any one time there are about 15 volunteers that take turns, six to eight each time.

“God provides opportunities to know and help those who are in need. Over the years many of the clients have told me they appreciate having people to talk to as much as the food.

“I always look forward to my

monthly turn to be part of the team. I often get into entertaining and interesting conversations. I was surprised to discover the sense of community among those that use the kitchen.”

Following the initial success, a winter night shelter was run from December 2011 to February 2012. Over 300 volunteers from churches across Ipswich supported the project.

“Around 25 members of IIC volunteered at this,” Colin says.

“While the soup kitchen is an emergency sticking plaster, the night shelter moved closer to fully addressing homelessness.

“It was a great witness to many people as Christians were able to bring together all the relevant organisations to support those in need. As a volunteer,

I have been able to work with teams to fulfil the purposes to which God calls me. Working with other churches truly inspires me to feel part of God’s overcoming army.

“My experience is that by giving your time as an example of God’s love you receive his love back to fill the reservoir of love inside you. Volunteering only requires small time commitments but the Holy Spirit will lead you to grow closer to Christ.

“Whatever you chose to do, people will ask you why you are doing it. They then listen to your testimony of the impact of God’s love.

“They have already seen it in practice, so are more likely to listen.” 

Taking church out of the box

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Debt counselling service sees surge in demand Cheltenham debt counselling At the Elim Church in Cheltenham, a Christians Against Poverty centre is struggling to cope with the demand for its services.

A recent study showed that the average amount of debt owed is £13,000 per person, compared to £10,000 in 2011.

The increase in financial mayhem means that people needing help have to wait longer for advice and counselling. Ruth Bird,

manager of Christians Against Poverty based in Cheltenham’s Elim Christian Centre, says the need for services providing a helping hand was increasing.

She says, “We have been inundated with those needing help and there’s always a waiting list.

It can be frustrating when people have to wait before we’re able to see them. We’re getting more referrals from outside agencies and when you consider that agencies such as the Citizens Advice

Bureau are having their funding slashed, there will be even more need for people to find debt advice from somewhere. I see ourselves as working alongside them. At our current levels there’s more need than we can meet.”

Ruth is keen to stress that volunteering can take the form of many roles. “To be a befriender or a support worker you don’t need to have anything to do with the finance side of things,” she says. “To be a volunteer you just

need to be compassionate and loving.”

One client, who asked not to be named, said the CAP centre had been a ‘God-send’. They add, “I’d never heard of CAP until last summer when a friend told me about them, but now, thanks to them I’m debt free.

“It’s changed my life in that I’m not burdened any more. I don’t wake up worrying about debt and have money to do things I couldn’t do because of what I owed.”

Bill said the project had given out nearly 11 tonnes of food in the last 12 months to struggling families and individuals.

“The figures are surprising,” he says. “The thing we found most amazing is the number of children being supported. Some

people come in and they are very embarrassed, but the team is good at making them feel at ease.”

Food bank co-ordinator Claire Childs added, “I didn’t know the severity of the problem. More than 1,700 people have been fed through our food bank.”

More than 1,700 use food bank Llanelli food bank Myrtle House food bank marked its first birthday as it was revealed that more than 1,700 people had used its services to receive an emergency food parcel since it was set up in April 2010.

Members of the Elim Pentecostal Church, based at Myrtle Terrace, in Llanelli, held an event in May inviting people who had either used or supported the service to come along for tea and cake.

Pastor Bill Chapman, who runs the food bank with his wife, Ellen, says that while the popularity of the food bank showed there was a lot of need in the area, it also brought out the best in the community, through the use of volunteers. “The food bank isn’t an institution looking after peo-

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Claire Childs from the Myrtle House food bank

ple,” he says. “It’s people caring about people in their community.

I love the idea of community helping community – that’s sustainable.

“We’re not dependent on funding, only the hearts of people.

And people have good hearts.”

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Jesus calls us to follow him, the Servant King, says Lyndon Bowring and Nola Leach, of Christian political lobbying organisation CARE

We CARE about God’s truth in UK’s laws How would you describe the work of CARE? Lyndon: At the heart of CARE’s vision is the belief in human dignity – dignity which comes from the fact that we are made in God’s image. Indeed, as Psalm 8 so beautifully explains, we were created ‘a little lower’ than God himself.

We are therefore called to protect and care for the vulnerable, whether it be the trafficked woman, the baby in the womb or those who suffer or are near the end of their lives.

This is what has motivated us in CARE from the earliest days as we have sought to uphold

‘We are called to be the image of God where we live and work, influencing thinking and attitudes’ Above Nola Leach, Chief Executive, and Lyndon Bowring, founder and Executive Chairman of CARE

God’s truth in the laws of the land and demonstrate his love in action.

Nola: CARE’s offices in Westminster are a stone’s throw from the Houses of Parliament and over the years we have built some significant working relationships with MPs and peers who are Christians and who share our concerns.

Our aim is to serve these politicians, which we do through research, writing speeches, mobilising Christians to campaign and, most importantly, through prayer. Having an active Christian presence in Brussels is

also extremely important, and the Care For Europe office is right next to the EU Parliament building.

How can individual Christians and local churches engage with government locally and nationally?

Lyndon: CARE works at the heart of government to bring a Christian influence to bear on our laws. Our briefings and research carry so much more weight when we say that we represent the 60,000 plus Christians who support us. So, if you are not on our

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DENY YOUR FAITH OR LOSE YOUR DAUGHTER! Agonising choice forced on Iranian mother PLUS ONCE A JUNKIE ALWAYS A JUNKIE? How a young Sikh addict found freedom in Christ

PLANS LAID FOR YEAR OF PRAYER

Centenary hopes must be lifted up, says Alistair Cole

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY NC

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Nigel Tween on the importance of leaving a legacy

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How Chelmsford Elim is lifting its game

John Cuthbert uncovers the shocking truth

EL SP Y GO A T W EA EA EA GR GIV ID PU

LIFE IN BRITAIN’S NEWEST CITY ARE MORMONS CHRISTIANS?

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JULY 2012 Issue 130 £1.70

ELIM HISTORY IN THE MAKING

John Glass voted in for historic fourth term as GS

CELEBRATING NEW ELIM ORDINANDS EBW 2012 ordination service for 27 new ministers

LOOKING FORWARD AFTER COLLAPSE Amazing grace as Ilford’s new building comes down

‘I WANTED TO PUNCH PASTOR’ How hard man Les Deane found faith

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MAKING LIFE WORK BETTER

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CHURCH & TOWN BOTH ON THE UP

How to get your church into the news

New format proves a recipe for success

B TIP E S LI TT FO FE ER R A

Heavenly Father got me through, says Christine Caine We visit Elim Christian Centre in Rotherham

SE H PO R D GL MO CAST O NS SU BA G CC L! O ESS

UNWANTED AND ADOPTED AS A BABY

AUGUST 2012 Issue 131 £1.70

TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

Learning to influence others for Christ

PLUS THE DAY GOD CALLED ME BY NAME How a Muslim drug dealer found freedom in Christ

WHY THE CHURCH MUST BLESS ISRAEL We have to find balance in the Bible, says Mervyn Tilley

REACHING OUT ON A ROUNDABOUT Newport Elim is making the most of its location

PUT FOOD IN ITS PROPER PLACE How to help people with eating disorders

RUNNING LIFE ON EMPTY?

Tips to recharge your spiritual batteries

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Chris Cartwright puts the spotlight on leading ministers

ALL CHANGE AT ELIM BIBLE WEEK 2012 PLUS

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CELEBRATING SIX ELIM CHAMPIONS

TH T TO E B GA GA E BLO T TH W PA HE ER N A CE RS ING WAY !

PLUS POP STAR BOWS DOWN TO JESUS

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Life turns into lyrics for new album

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LIFE IS ON SONG FOR LARA MARTIN

Dax O’Callaghan leads worship at Kensington Temple

JUNE 2012 Issue 129 £1.70

SEPTEMBER 2012 Issue 132 £1.70

THE UNSUNG HEROES WE CAN’T DO WITHOUT

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Direction Magazine

Volunteers are the backbone of the Church PLUS THE MINISTRY WITH 8,000 VOLUNTEERS We talk to Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre

WHAT’S A NON-VOLUNTEER SUNDAY? How Coventry Elim learned to value its volunteers

ever y mon th

CAPPUCCINO COMMUNICATION Exciting initiative to benefit all Elim members

SHORT TERM MISSIONS WORK

E IC RV E S

Ch ris t h t ian at p wo rea roj rk lly ect s

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